Africa: Reviews from our travellers

"Amazing trip - even better than I expected.

I'm so glad I chose Zambia and specifically South Luangwa National Park for my first safari. I'm a little worried that I may have been spoiled - apparently it's not normal to see so many animals practically at will and sometimes you may have to wait.

I had already decided on Zambia, SLNP and Norman Carr Safaris before booking with Expert Africa. Lucy organised me beautifully and I didn't need much persuading to add a side trip to Victoria Falls. I was glad to have Lucy to fall back on when I managed to miss an internal flight, though fortunately I only needed her help (and reassurance!) to let the camp know my new arrival time.

At Livingstone, I stayed at Waterberry Lodge – loved my chalet with its verandah overlooking the lagoon, lunch on the deck serenaded by hippos grunting in the Zambezi. Had a wonderful helicopter flight over the falls and through the gorge.

Norman Carr Safaris were all they appear to be - truly excellent. I stayed at Kakuli, Mchenja and Nsolo. All three bushcamps were beautifully situated and well laid-out.

All the chalets I stayed in at each bushcamp were superbly comfortable - superking beds (given the full four-poster effect at night with mosquito nets) and hot water bottles if it was slightly chilly; solar-powered lamps and hot water; open air en-suite; inside and outside seating. Stupendously high roof, the beams and thatch are practically works of art themselves. Each room had fresh cold drinking water in a thermos, Peaceful Sleep mosquito spray and toiletries, I managed to resist the temptation to blow the emergency horn or whistle. There's a two-way cupboard in one of the walls where an early morning cup of tea/coffee will be delivered on request.

All the staff attached to the camps were so very welcoming and friendly, accommodating everyone's needs and wishes, and providing great meals. They really do work hard to ensure you are comfortable and get what you want out of your trip. I was unable to do any walking unfortunately, but there was no quibble about arranging an extra guide when needed. Quite often it was me, a guide and jeep and the beauty and bounty of SLNP - bliss.

As far as I'm concerned, the animals practically line up to greet you. It's just a constant parade of lions, hippos, elephants, leopards, giraffe, buffalo, hyena, wild dogs, kudu, puku, impala, mongoose, wildebeest, genets.... I'm terrible with bird names but there were many and often lovely (lilac-breasted roller, bee-eaters, fish eagle, giant eagle owl). Every game drive or walk is an adventure, as you don't know what you'll find but you know it'll be interesting!

My only concern is that safaris might become expensively addictive..." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari

"Have used expert Africa a few times and always impressed with efficiency and customer service. Very knowledgeable team and really listen to what you would like. Always respond promptly to emails." Read full review: 5 nights in Africa; 5 on a Zambia safari

"We arrange many of our own trips as well as using travel services. We feel we got high value from the service provided by Megan at Expert Africa. She took loads of time to listen, consider our requirements and preferences. She made the suggestion that boosted our trip from good to great, hiring a private mobile guide service. Especially well done that it was Andrew. Top notch guiding was our priority. He met that and then some. He also makes a super camp, it truly defined "glamping"! We are going camping this weekend and we will laugh to think of no longer having a staff to wait on us and make camp!

The back and forth of the entire itinerary was time consuming, paring down stopovers, arranging guest houses. Megan was up to it and then some. She never failed to respond with timely, logical ideas. If we end up in London soon enough we'd love to stop at the office and shake her hand in thanks for her very professional, expedient work.

It was a trip of a lifetime, though we travel a lot. It bears now only great memories and nothing we would change. We have hundreds of fine photos that we are thoroughly enjoying. Carolyn's journal is loaded with entries describing our encounters, and sketches and paintings of the abundant beauty we shared.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Megan deserves a large Christmas bonus. At least a larger portion of plum pudding! We will refer our friends to you and use you again when Africa hits the travel calendar. Perhaps Tanzania or Madagascar. We do a different continent most every year." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 12 on a Botswana safari

"This was truly an experience of a lifetime!

The only things I would've changed is to try to have one additional night at Victoria Falls, and nicer accommodations in Lusaka. Overall, given that we were able to book our flights using award miles and had other obligations to work around, we certainly made the most of our time.

I was so impressed with our safari camps, and will definitely recommend them." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari

"Communication with Expert Africa was excellent.

You transformed our requirements into a truly wonderful experience.

The accommodation was way beyond our expectations (for the most part)." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip

"This was our first ever trip to Africa and it certainly won't be the last.

Botswana and our trip really exceeded our expectations." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"This past trip to Africa really gave me a new perspective on what the northern part of the Serengeti has to offer. There is a particular beauty and wildness in this part of the park which I enjoyed. Lemala Kuria Hills camp was so comfortable and the setting so beautiful, I enjoyed every moment that I was there and truly bathed in the privacy that I had with the location of my tent.
On the game drives you could see that there was so much food and space for the animals and therefore the herds were much larger than what I have become accustomed to in the Serengeti. For instance, I would see herds of 50 to 70 topi, hundreds of Thompson gazell, large harems of impala; it was spectacular." Read full review: 4 nights in Africa; 4 on a Tanzania safari

"We love wildlife safaris, and this Selous/Ruaha venture was no exception in most aspects.

The overall efforts from Lyndsey at Expert Africa meant that the whole itinerary unfolded as planned - no hitches. She provided all of the necessary information from London to us in Oz. for me to feel confident of the outcome.

Our experiences in both Selous and Ruaha were what we had hoped for in respect to the vast wilderness feel to both regions, the variety of vegetation and topography, as well as the absence of hordes of other safari vehicles. We were a little disappointed that due to several factors ( maybe vegetation cover/animal numbers of some species) we didn't locate wild dog, cheetah or leopard in either location. We've never based our trips on seeing particular wildlife because often it's more luck than anything, and no one factor can change this.

The camps chosen were equal to anything we had previously encountered, and would recommend both Impala and Mwagusi.

Overall a great trip." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari

"If we did it again, we would have gone to Chongwe River Camp first, it was good there, but Kakuli and especially Mchenja were simply amazing and hard to match.

Apart from that, this was a wonderful trip, really well organised by EA, staying at 3 excellent camps where we really felt comfortable and at home.

Game and bird viewing in this region is fantastic, and the guides have a first class knowledge of the wild.

Simply an amazing holiday which will stay in the memory for a long time." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari

"Great with the disappointment of no diving in Zanzibar" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zanzibar holiday