Africa: Reviews from our travellers

"The experience was magical, we will definitely visit again next year.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

The only problems with this holiday was getting to and from Zambia, which we arranged ourselves, we will rethink this for next time and try to find an easier way to do it." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari

"Well worth the 2 1/2 year wait from booking to actually going! Tracy Lederer did a great job with the booking and subsequent changes, and hats off to Andrew for holding his prices for that length of time.

The only disappointment was that we did not see wild dogs as that had been one of main reasons for choosing to safari this way. Again, thank you to Andrew for his endeavours to find them, but they are wild animals and have huge territories. On that basis, all the more reason to return!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

None." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari

"This was my fourth trip to Africa, but my first to Botswana, and it was the most rewarding. Sightings in three of the five camps visited were incredible - cheetahs, leopards, pairs of mating lions, mating hippos, and fighting giraffes and impalas. As a solo and older traveler, I really appreciated the friendliness, hospitality and inclusiveness shown by the Botswana people.

Overall the accommodation was excellent, as was the food and service, and the guiding generally exceptional. Having had multiple hip surgeries, I was so grateful my agent Maruska Adye-Rowe had done an excellent job in securing accommodation close to the main lodges, and preferential seating on the game drives. Maruska not only rearranged my whole schedule due to the pandemic, but also remained on top of my itinerary noting the cancellation my British Airways homeward flight from Victoria Falls, and arranging and paying for a new flight from Livingstone. The flight arrangements from camp to camp, and the transfers by Wild Horizons between Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia were absolutely seamless.

Sadly I did not see any wild dogs on this trip, and elephant sightings were few, even at Chobe Elephant Camp. However, I was compensated by many "up close and personal" encounters with other animals, and thrilled at the huge variety of birds.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Both Maruska and Chris McIntyre were always available to answer any questions or concerns I had about this trip, and could not have been more helpful.

In hindsight, I wish I had probed for more information in terms of the manner in which the various camps operated, and also about the weather conditions. Being overly concerned about my luggage weight, I did not pack adequately for the very cold morning drives and huge swings in temperature. The camp schedules were also quite grueling for me - starting at 5:00 a.m. and going until after supper with very minimal "siesta breaks" in the hottest part of the day. However, I took some downtime at Okuti, where I also found a heavy fleecy jacket, and got my second wind!

Many thanks to you both for making this trip so memorable!" Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 14 on a Botswana safari

"My trip was really great. I saw may beautiful things in the almost pristine Botswana. I had a perfect mix of different habitats and plenty of wildlife. Wild dogs were one of the main drivers for this trip and I was able to see them in 3 out of the 6 camps.

So glad I included Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in my itinerary . What a great surprise. And what a nice camp, Camp Kalahari. And a meerkat experience which made me literally cry. Savute under Canvas was a bit of a disappointment. Due to the fact that this time the Savute channel was dry (no water - no life) and not the best guiding experience. Lebala I could have skipped without missing anything.

Great Plains offers superb wildlife experience. In very many ways. I have been very spoiled and lucky to have a car all to myself in both Duba plains and Selinda. Both are very pretty areas, and Duba plains even has a touch of magic.

I travelled alone and Botswana is a perfect and very safe destination. You travel alone, but are never alone. In the "posh" camps , people tempt to be a little bit more on their own, in the camps just below that level, all people join for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Logistics were arranged perfectly. Everybody knew when I was coming or going. It has been a wise - and very good - decision to book privates in several camps. Unique wildlife experience in your own pace. The " privates" in both Duba and Selinda were an extraordinary and great bonus." Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 20 on a Botswana safari

"I would do it again, but not in May!

I prefer a hotter climate and feel that the animal sightings are easier in early September.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

No suggestions necessary.

Very well organised and the meet and greet committee was wonderful." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari

"Another triumph, Maruska!

Justin and I had a fabulous time in Namibia; thank you so much for finally bringing this trip to life!!!" Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip

"I thought my first trip would be 'enough' and now I'm thinking, "Maybe a third time".

Zambia is an amazing destination for a safari (I tell everyone who will listen) - the range and volume of animals/birds, the expert knowledge and skills of the guides.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Nope." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 11 on a Zambia safari

"This trip was amazing !

The whole itinerary was tailor made to our needs and interests. It really couldn't have been any better.

Thanks a lot Lucy :)" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 13 on a Zambia safari

"The trip was great. I really enjoyed the logistic and how the trip like this is arranged with a sort of self drive but also guided excursions.
Thank you to Tom tips we enjoyed a lot exploring this Country.

The only remark I have it’s maybe preparing people a bit more because the streets are really bad" Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip

"A very well balanced trip, as it encompassed magnificent landscapes, several excellent wildlife experiences, and provided some insight into both indigenous and colonial cultures." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 19 on a Namibia trip