Africa: Reviews from our travellers
Latest news: unedited reviews from Expert Africa's most recent travellers
"My Jun 2012 trip"
We had a really great trip. Many thanks to Angela Griffin at Expert Africa - we had such a good time in Namibia. The high lights were the dunes at Sossusvlei, kayaking with Jeanne among seals at Walvis Bay and - according to our sons - when our host Bruno at Mundulea caught a puff adder (!). In addition we had our most enjoyable and relaxing afternoon in our lives at Grootberg Lodge, really. We would't mind staying there one more night. The rental car - a Nissan X-trail - was very comfortable but the trunk had no space for an extra spare tyre above our four suitcases, but that didn't matter because we had our only flat tyre on B1 (bad luck, probably a big nail on the tar road) just north of Windhoek on our way back home. It was a nightmare to swift tyres when big lorries past us in 100 km/h, but we kept calm. When the car was picked up by Budget we used the form Expert Africa recommends in their brochure, so there will be no problems, either with the flat tyre or anything else about the car. The Budget staff were very professional.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Maybe more information about spare tyres:
- If you go four persons in a Nissan X-trail there is no space for a second spare tyre.
- The spare tyre allows you to drive only at 80 km/h. We were lucky to have just 70 km left to Windhoek. Maybe you could order a fifth tyre instead of a normal spare tyre, so you can proceed at a higher speed?
And more information about warm clothes......." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 10 on a Namibia trip
"Our June 2012 trip"
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No!" Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip
"Zambia/Botswana June 2012"
All the Kwando staff were excellent - we do not want to pick out any one of our guides, but must say that the personal service they gave, whether while on an activity or around camp, was exemplary. As intimated before, we would have enjoyed more sightings of cats in the first half of the trip, but our time at Kwara made up for this in many ways - overall, we had a "very satisfactory" safari, with a number of specific experiences/memories that will survive the years as highlights." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari
"fabulous trip"
Many thanks for all you did to make my dream trip to Africa a reality.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
None--service was outstanding." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari
"South Luangwa Trip Jun 2012"
Once again, Ellie and Expert Africa had organised everything very well which meant that we had no worries about the connections between the camps and everything went very smoothly.
In retrospect, everyone preferred Tafika to Mwamba and all thought they would go back. We were disappointed with the Camp Out and all felt that it was Patrick who made Mwamba. Perhaps Mwamba was a little too rustic.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We are very pleased with the high quality of service that you offer, and your personal knowledge of the camps." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zambia safari
"Norman Carr 2012"
As ever a very warm welcome from everyone there in all the camps and this was much appreciated.
One note, just a day before we arrived the currency switched from dollars to kwachas only, this wasn't a problem as there was an ATM at Lusaka airport. This does mean that taxes etc must now be paid in Kwachas.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No" Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari
"Our June 2012 Trip"
There's no getting around the fact that Vic Falls airport is a pain in the bum. Long delays and a completely unhelpful immigration staff." Read full review: 5 nights in Africa; 5 on a Zimbabwe safari
"Excellent"
Shenton Safaris was everything I wanted, and I can't wait to return.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
For someone who is used to piecing together entire trips on my own, I am hugely impressed by Expert Africa's knowledge and service. When I first contacted Ellie I thought I knew exactly what I wanted, but with just a few emails back and forth she ended up proposing the ideal itinerary - thank you!
I will be recommending you highly, and will certainly use you again for future trips to Africa." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 6 on a Zambia safari
"North East Botswana trip June 2012"
Excellent place to see doggies (my main reason for coming here), high standard of camps/lodges.
Surprisingly pretty landscape outside of the delta. this of course has for an important part to do with all the water returning to the area.
Excellent, really excellent guides without exception.
By the way, Bradt's Botswana guide was a great help in planning the trip.
Everything was taken care of in an excellent manner, so no worries - only pleasure and excitement- at all!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Botswana safari
"3-week self-drive of Namibia in June 2012"
Driving was overall a pleasure with empty roads and those with gravel surfaces mostly very well maintained apart from part of the road between Sesriem and Walvis Bay which is fairly rough, but without potholes. I think we saw graders at work every single day. There were no problems with fuel supply.
June is low season (most lodges said their bookings would be full from late July onwards). As a result, with few guests, we received very personal service. Day time temperatures were in the low to mid-tweties C, which was very pleasant, but evenings and nights were cold and many lodges provided hot-water bottles. We were glad that we had taken layered clothing.
Meals seem to have received criticism from other visitors for being boring. We have never experienced such tender and tasty meat (mainly beef fillet, kudu and oryx) although a three-week diet of red meat is not nutritionally recommended! Vegetables were varied, soups delicious and some of the desserts imaginative so we have no complaints.
The standard of the guiding, where we used it, was very high and our experience at Mundulea exceptional.
We never felt unsafe, which can't be said for many other African countries.
So, a perfect holiday - just 1400 photographs to sort through.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I think you are already way ahead of the competition.
Coming to your office to meet with Gwynneth was well worthwhile to get her views, as a Namibian, on our plans. Communication between booking and our departure was good, and as we have found in the past, you actually take note of feedback unlike most other companies.
Please keep up the good work and we shall certainly travel with you again. Thank you or arranging a wonderful holiday." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip