Africa: Reviews from our travellers

"Overall, we were very, very satisfied with our first safari.

The advice we received from Maruska at Expert Africa was spot on and prevented us from making common mistakes, such as trying to fit to many camps into our allotted time.

Communication with Expert Africa was always accurate and timely and all of the lodging, flights, and transfers were expertly organized and came off without a hitch. We would be happy to use their services again and we will recommend them to our friends and colleagues." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"Although I have tried to provide some constructive criticism, we loved our trip to Namibia and would repeat it in a heartbeat.

It was one of our finest international trips ever.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Maruska did a terrific job & we thought our trip was fairly priced. We appreciated getting a copy of Chris's guidebook as well." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"We were very glad we decided to fly between most of the camps. The trip would have taken several weeks by road but each and every flight was "scenic" and you only get a real appreciation of the topography from the air. Landscapes in particular are unlike anywhere else we have visited. We enjoyed the whole trip hugely: so different from other safari holidays taken. We saw everything we had hoped for - from desert adapted lions and elephants to walking with black rhino and cheetah. We thought the level of knowledge of the guides in general was not as extensive as other African countries we have visited. Bruno at Mundulea stood head and shoulders above the rest in this regard. Advice for other vegetarians is that this is a very meat-based society but the overall quality of the offerings - with one or two notable exceptions - was uniformly poor and way below our experience in Botswana and Tanzania. It didn't detract from our enjoyment but would have enhanced it! Thanks to Sabina for picking up the organising reins mid-way, in particular flagging up an earlier bush flight on our arrival day." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip

"Our 5th visit to South Luangwa and this was probably the most enjoyable." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari

"Brilliant

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

You are doing everything really brilliantly. You also have the advantage of the best country in Africa.

I hope the staff are well paid for their troubles." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zambia safari

"This trip is one we have wanted to do for a while. We were invited to a wedding in Franschhoek which gave us the excuse to do it.

We had a good idea where we wanted to go, and Tracy very skilfully interpreted this and put the trip together for us - nowhere did it disappoint.

We would do it again at a different time of year - spring being the ideal time to see the Western and Northern Cape. We'd stay longer at Klein Aus.

If we hadn't been booked to come home, we could quite easily have spent a couple of days in Windhoek and readied ourselves to go in another direction...........hopefully there will be a next time." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 7 on a Namibia trip

"Overall it was fabulous. I was giving feedback to Sabina along the way.

Two things come to mind: I wish I had been given a bit of warning about the heat and about the problems with electronica.

Fly-in is the best way to do it (or on the Desert Express, which was my initial plan).

Great Job!!" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 10 on a Namibia trip

"We are happier and richer with our Namibia experience.

Although it was not an easy task for Megan and later Tom because we booked fairly late and many of the camps were fully booked but they managed excellently and we got just the type of camps we wished for, the distance between the camps for self-drive was ideal.

Everything worked just like clockwork, only pleasant surprises. Many thanks to both Megan and Tom for outstanding job!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Just a feed back about using Tracks4Africa Namibia map on our Ipad. We downloaded the map at home to be used off-line (no roaming) in Namibia than used it together with the traditional map provided and found the two to be very good and cheap combination. (Our Garmin had broke on a previous trip and we didn't want to buy a new one) The GPS of the Ipad (or Iphone) was accurate for us to be able to see where we are, plan and see if we are heading the right direction. We can safely recommend to use it together with a map.

Route to Damaraland Camp: the pick up point was NOT marked out on the map and had to call the camp for advice (and we later found that we could have driven all the way up to the camp as the road was almost better than the main gravel road).

The route from Anderson's Camp to Mundulea was NOT marked out at all on the map provided by Wilderness Safaris. We asked the staff at Anderson's Camp and they pointed out the tarred road (Otjiwarongo and up to Otavi). In retrospect, may be, starting early enough, we could have driven through Etosha and then turned South to Tsumeb and Otavi instead and still made it to Mundulea by 14:30. IF driving through Etosha to the East then turn South is an possible alternative to get to Mundulea I wish Expert Africa had pointed out for us and we could have planned that day differently.

About guides on nature or game drives; Most of them drive and stay too closely to the animals, less than five meters to lions or ten meters to elephants for example. We experienced this both on our Botswana and in Namibia trips ( Wilderness Safari's camps). Probable reasons; previous guests asked them to get closer or they do it in the hope of more tips, or just show off. But most of visitors have binoculars and good cameras they should not insist. In fact it is far more exciting to watch game from some distance and the animals tend to stay longer, too. Guests and guides alike need to be informed and/or reminded about a recommended (regulated?!) distances to be kept ." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 8 on a Namibia trip

"We did a two-week self drive tour of Namibia. First of all, literally all the arrangements made by Expert Africa worked out perfectly - no surprises. Everything was as it was supposed to be - and the communications between Expert and all the local vendors was seamless. Expert laid out a route for us, arranged all the accommodations and a car. The planning process was a great blend of good listening to what we wanted (or thought we wanted!) combined with helpful guidance and development of choices - all very appropriate given that, while we are experienced travelers, this would be our first trip to Namibia and we were self-driving.

The car was terrific - perfect choice for us: 4/4 but automatic drive. We loved the driving tho it is challenging in parts - some long stretches of "washboard" road. But we and the car held up fine - and the drives are all worth it for the wonderful experience of being immersed in a beautiful and complicated country with endlessly interesting landscapes - and people.

The accommodations were also varied; most were just delightful - a few exceptional and unique experiences. We were especially surprised by the delicious and fresh (and healthy!) meals we had in some very remote areas. Two of the accommodations were not quite as perfect a match for our style but that was completely because of our late scheduling and trying to match our other preferences re: access and route with what was available.

All in all a great experience; we'd highly recommend Expert Africa and would be happy to use them again.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Would be really hard to say as all aspects were so well managed. Perhaps one thing that might be useful is a bit more detail on how to get to a few of the accommodations. The map was great - and well used - but while the GPS, which we used to supplement the maps, was most often excellent - when it was wrong, it was dramatically wrong - sending us on a road that didn't exist, for example. Some more detailed instructions about the last portion of the route to any particular accommodation could help.

Maruska was terrific to work with and planned a great trip; she was also very responsive while we were there, although little contact was needed fortunately. She was particularly tenacious about us getting a refund for a minor expense related to a flat tire that just got a little complicated because of credit card issues. [The folks from Wilderness Safaris in the Windhoek airport were amazingly helpful also.]" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"A holiday of a lifetime - so many different experiences on a variety of levels.

Beautiful country, lovely people

Overall - amazing!" Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 17 on a Namibia trip