Africa: Reviews from our travellers

"Absolutely fantastic and lived up to and in fact exceeded our expectations. We had been wanting to go on a safari for several years and when this year we finally decided that we would go we thought it was going to be Botswana.

However having had many very useful and informative phone calls with the Ellie and other members of the Expert Africa team we ended up going to Tanzania, and were delighted with our choice. Everything that Ellie said was accurate in every respect and we would not hesitate to return to a wonderful country, with fantastic people, scenery and wildlife

Ellie could not have been more helpful and our overall experience with the Expert Africa team was excellent. I would not hesitate to use Expert Africa again or indeed recommend them to other people.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

No!" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 10 on a Tanzania safari

"We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Botswana which is a wonderful country.

We would recommend it to others." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari

"We had a wonderful trip. The Tanzanian people are very friendly and genuine.

It was a brilliant combination of safari, beach and culture." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 5 on a Zanzibar holiday

"It was a great trip overall.

Namibia is very safe & comfortable country for those who want to travel independetly without a guide. You can easily travel with kids too!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

When we want to visit Africa again, I will certainly return to plan our trip with Expert Africa team. Saskia was great: very helpful & provided practical useful comments while helping us to plan our trip. Thank you Saskia!" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"We did have a great time, but all the little things mentioned before just meant that we had a good time and not a special time which we felt we had when we came back from Tanzania the last time we went on safari (and to be fair I expected for the amount of money we spent). For example in Tanzania the camp manager would sit down with us the evening before and discuss our activities for the next day, the communication was not very good on this holiday, we were not given a choice on drives or told where we were doing except in Nsefu. When we went to go on an alternative route in Tena Tena we had to turn around as the guide said we cannot go that way as they are going there (which was the two French guys).

At Robin's house Helen was given a lot of food she could eat that was especially made, and whilst Polly made an effort at mealtimes, Helen was limited with snacks etc at both Nsefu and Tena Tena, ( I put on weight eating all the cakes etc and she lost weight). But Helen did have sandwiches on the last day from Tena Tena out of rice flour.

The holiday was a 9 or 9.5 out of 10 but so easily could have been a 10 which was the disappointing part for all of us but especially Helen with it being her first safari.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I was very pleased with the service we received from both Maruska and you as a company, I would certainly recommend you and would be keen to book with you again." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari

"The trip had the uncanny quality of feeling once in a lifetime whilst making you desperate to return.

We had great advice from Elizabeth in the Expert Africa team and couldn't have been more delighted with the choices we made on where to stay and what to do with our time. The planning was well done in advance and every element hung together seemlessly - every connection was made, all transport was waiting, everyone with whom we were staying knew to expect us.

We're already thinking about where to go next and wouldn't hesitate to pick up the phone to Expert Africa in the future to help us plan another great trip." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zanzibar holiday

"1. A few thoughts about the Nissan X-Trail

Almost all of the time this was an adequate and comfortable vehicle for touring Namibia. The ground clearance was quite good, the tyres were good, no punctures in 3710kms. The visibility for gameviewing and birdwatching was good. However we did take it to Terrace Bay and nearly lost traction in some of the stretches of soft sand in the final 50kms of the road up the Skeleton Coast on the way there; coming back we attacked the sand with a bit more speed and got through without a problem but we did bottom the vehicle fortunately without damage but the brakes did squeal until all the sand and gravel had worked their way out. Our advice would be not to attempt this final bit of road in anything less rugged than an X-Trail and even then care should be taken and the use of a 4x4 vehicle seriously considered.

Fuel economy was quite good and there was never a problem. We had had concerns about the lack of a fuel station at the Dolomite Camp in Western Etosha but this was not an issue. The tank capacity of an X-Trail is 65litres and we were using fuel at the rate of 1litre per 11kms, giving us a range of well over 600kms. After refuelling at Kamanjab the distnce to the Dolomite Camp was 110kms; during our two days of game viewing we travelled 259kms; the journey from Dolomite to Okaukuejo was 177kms. Thus we did 546kms before refuelling at Okaukuejo where we put 43.41litres into the tank meaning that we had at least 20litres left. We thought that this information may be of use to you if anyone else queries the range of an X-Trail and is worried about the lack of a fuel station in Western Etosha. Our opinion is that there should be no problems provided you have a good idea of the capacity and consumption of your vehicle and keep an eye on the distance you travel.

2. A few thoughts about our route.

We had a really good tour. As we had been before we had a good idea of what to expect with regard to road surfaces and the lack of other traffic, so that was fine. The distances we set ourselves to travel each day were not too far; our longest drives were from Swakopmund to Terrace Bay and from Onguma to Windhoek. Both of these were no problem after early morning starts, reaching our destinations well before 1600h. We deviated slightly from the route suggested by Sabina when we left the Damaraland Camp and went to Kamanjab on the C43 over the Grootberg Pass instead of on the C39 at the suggestion of the guides at Damaraland, they said it would be quicker, we're not sure about this but it certainly was an interesting drive. Some of the other drives we had were really spectacular.

3. The places we visited and the things we did.

Erongo was excellent, good walks, very interesting bird watching for us Europeans.
Swakopmundwe were not sure about; it has become a styllish resort which caters for a different type of holiday. We did the Welwitschia Drive and had a splendid day in the desert although it was a bit disturbing to see so much mining prospecting taking place and the transformation of Goanicontes into a camping resort is amazing. Swakopmund does now have some good shops to stock up for trips further north.
We have mentioned Terrace Bay, Damaraland and the camps in Etosha already. All gave us really memorable experiences. Overall our animal watching was very successful, We would have liked to have seen cheetahs in Etosha as we had done on our previous visits but the number of rhinos we saw and the splendid views of a leopard made up for it. We found some parts of Etosha a bit busy, particularly around Namutoni where there seemed to be quite a few large coaches making a lot of noise- not a good way to travel around Etosha and a bit disruptive for everyone else.
As well as the wildlife and rhe wonderful scenery our trip was made special by the warmth and friendliness of all the people we met. Even filling up the car becomes a social event!

And finally, of coursr, we have to thank Sabina and her colleagues for organising such a great trip. we are already our next one in our minds, maybe in 2014." Read full review: 24 nights in Africa; 22 on a Namibia trip

"The fact that we have now made ten trips with EA since 2006 speaks for itself - and this one was right up there with the best. We continue to have no hesitation recommending Chris and his team to others." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zimbabwe safari

"I can't find enough superlatives to describe the overall experience of the trip (despite the few difficulties listed in the wider feedback). In fact, even the tyre problems, listed at the begining of the document, were a part of the overall experience and have now become a signifiicant part of the 'adventure' and of the telling.

This was very well organised and the accomodation excellent. I can't thank Sabina enough.

A great trip though hard work at times. Deffinitely not a holiday for those with poolside inclinations but what an adventure.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Some additional recomendations for any one doing a similar trip at this time i.e probably wanting to see the flowers. Don't miss out a trip round the cape for wild protea. Don't miss out Kirstenbosch. On the journey north take the coast road from Cape Town and take in the West Coast National Park with the Postberg reserve. The flowers are stunning and there are also game and bird viewings to be had. The coast road is good with good tarmac. Make sure your car has a ZA sticker on the back as the Namibian police at the Orange river border will threaten to fine you if you don't get one put on at the service station just after the border.

As soon as you get into Namibia go to the service station anyway and get your type pressures checked and deflated to about 1.80 - 2.00Atm for the gravel roads or you risk having punctures." Read full review: 23 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip

"Our trip was a once in a lifetime experience. One that will never be forgotten.

All the camps and lodges were different, as were the national parks and animal reserves. And we loved them all. We saw all the animals and birds in their natural habitat. Our guides were wonderful and very knowledgeable. WE were lucky that we had our own guide and jeep all the time, except for Lamai Serengeti. It made it easy for us to see all the animals in comfort. We have more Camps and Lodges to see in Tanzania.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

None, you have done a marvelous safari tour for us." Read full review: 39 nights in Africa; 34 on a Tanzania safari