Africa: Reviews from our travellers

"We had the most wonderful trip from start to finish - Claire at Expert Africa was incredibly helpful & efficient, made really excellent suggestions. The guidance notes were very helpful and it was a lovely touch to received the Brandt guide & the beautiful wallet.

All our ground arrangements were perfect. The two guides they supplied were very good and knowledgeable. The six days we spent with Gabrielle were fantastic - he was happy to allow us to spend hours just observing animal behaviour & took great trouble to explain & identify various animals & plants.

Both guides were keen to make sure that Richard was put into the best available spot as he is a very keen photographer. Two picnics stand our in particular - one with David in Ngorongoro were we had our lunch in a spectacular location away from the other tourists! and with Gabrielle we had a brilliant 'breakfast with hippos' experience!

It was lovely to have a break at Arusha on the way to the airport, it was much appreciated to be able to have a shower, repack for the flight & have a rest before travelling home overnight. Although Onsea House is lovely we felt the staff somewhat lacked the charm & care that we had experienced elsewhere.

We would have no hesitation in recommending Expert Africa - an extremely professional organisation." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari

"Great holiday, Expert Africa arranged everything without a glitch and delivered exactly what was asked." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari

"Thank you Expert Africa, especially Maruska, for making our honeymoon such a dream.

We had a fabulous time in Africa and we enjoyed all three places (Nkwichi Lodge, Mwamba Bushcamp and Old Mondoro) enormously.

We absolutely intend to return to Africa - next trip Botswana!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Something we had not fully understood (being first time Safari goers) is how much time we would spend with other guests.

We had such a terrific time at Nkwichi Lodge with like-minded people; suffered terribly uncomfortable dinners at Mwamba Bushcamp with a taciturn guest; and felt as if we had to be on our best behaviour at Old Mondoro with the terribly middle-aged and middle class Britons.

We do acknowledge it is the luck of the draw and I think Maruska did a great job of planning for us. But next time we will ask to be with people in our demographic as much as possible :-)" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zambia safari

"Loved Namibia, particularly its geological diversity. Easy driving. Good food - particularly if you are a 'free-range' meat-eater.

Highlights: walk down the Quiver Tree Gorge in the Naukluft, Sessriem dune walks and Dead Vlei, reptile tracking in the desert, moonlit dinner at Ongava.

Swakopmund rather dull and uninteresting - but we expected this. Enjoyed the tented camps." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip

"Overall this was a fabulous holiday, only marred by poor food in Zanzibar and apallling service from Precision air who not only made us miss our last day of holiday but lied outright to us about the flights.

Would definitly recommned Beho Beho to anyone. Unguja was lovely but with some things to improve." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 6 on a Zanzibar holiday

"This trip was everything we had hoped for and more. The lodges we stayed at and the whole seemlessness of the logistics to facilitate it was excellent!
What more can I say?

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I don't really have any suggestions.

This was our first experience of a tailor made safari and it has certainly made me feel confident to do this again. I had been slightly worried about how it would all link together and who would meet us and help us get from place to place and this could not really be faulted. I felt that even if I had been travelling alone I would have felt happy that someone was there to help me." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zimbabwe safari

"Expert Africa helped me plan a fabulous week of safari at Mfuwe National Park where I capped off a three week stay in Zambia, after visiting Lusaka and Livingstone, and staying in an Eastern Province village with U.S. Peace Corps volunteers. It was a perfect finale.

During the planning of my safari week, Maruska assisted with every aspect, answering all my questions with great care and patience. She knows Zambia and the safari camps first hand. It was such a relief knowing she had arranged every fine detail including a seamless transfer between two camps at mid-point.

I wholeheartedly recommend Expert Africa.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

This is not a criticism, but an observation about tipping. Expert Africa materials and other materials I've read, all seem to imply that tipping is not expected in Zambia. I think there was a suggestion that it might be appropriate to leave something for the guide. I did that at Flatdogs (for the guide and the assistant who rode at night with the light). However, I'm wondering if I should have left something additional for the staff.

When I got to Tena Tena, among the informational materials in the tent were envelopes to use for tipping at the end, specifying host(s), guide(s), camp staff. Of course I was happy to do that...but felt awkward I didn't do the same at Flatdogs if people were expecting it...So this is really just a heads up since you might want to see if the practice is changing at other places in addition to Robin Pope Safaris. Happy to talk with you about it if you want.

What a wonderful time I had. Thank you so much for helping make my journey unforgettably special." Read full review: 5 nights in Africa; 5 on a Zambia safari

"The trip was superb.

We are very happy with your recommendations, with your help and with the whole planning of the holiday.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Would be nice to indicate people traveling around Namibia in a self-driving trip the distances between locations.

We knew that and for us it was OK, but I think that for some elder drivers some of the distances between one hotel to the next can be fairly long." Read full review: 34 nights in Africa; 21 on a Namibia trip

"Had a lovely time. Everything better than expected.

Met some lovely people, both from Botswana and elsewhere. Only moan we have is about South African Airways who we will not fly with again." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari

"Lovely time, great venues and superb organisation (except BA on the way out).

Liz was superb and the feedback about her and the team when I was in speaking to the staff at venues (especially Beho Beho) was very very positive. Thank you!" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari