Africa: Reviews from our travellers

"The holiday matched and superceded our expectations. Thank you" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari

"We are hard to satisfy as we have traveled a lot and always have hight expectations. This was a very well organized trip and expertafrica is truly a specialist in its field. They delivered great service with a lot of patience for our various demands.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

It may be a good idea to monitor the professional qualifications of the safari guides as there are clearly differences which the visitor should know about prior to deciding on the camp. At Ruaha the guide had started as a waiter in the camp and then worked his way up and got trained by Fox himself. In SA Sabi Sabi we came across guides with a degree as a safari field guide and he was the third generation and practically started training with his grandfather.

We met a lot of experienced safari tourists who are interested in very knowledgable guides. We also believe it is important to have a driver and a guide rather than a single driver guide who we had in Selous. There needs to be a lot more information avaibable in your brochures and website on the training the guides have received for us to make an informed decision which trip and camp to book.

To manage expectations you should also explain the various areas to go on safari - for example: you get very close to wildlife if you are on a private game park safari (SA) in contrast to a National Park (Ruaha), where there are stricter rules to not follow the animals beyond the tracks. You may also point out that the local game parks provide shooting licenses for parts of the park (to make more money) which is affecting the behaviour of wildlife and visibility when you are on a safari close to such an area. (Selous)" Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari

"we really appreciate the approach of expert africa in allowing us the freedom to outline our wishes and make individual arrangements as needed but can rely 100% on your expertise in arranging venues and other aspects so efficiently. We like the personal touch and feel we know you well!

Gwyneth was able to help us when we had a problem with vehicle hire (see below) this was timely and efficient!

We have often recommended your services and have no hesitation whatsoever in planning to 'use'you for our next trip which is already formulating in our minds!

We also appreciate the extra information and notes, additional items you supply

The comprehensive feedback is appreciated as we know you continually monitor and check on venues and arrangements

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Please don't relax your careful 'quality control' which makes you such a reliable company and such good value for money!

Our only suggestion is that for (the presumably small number) guests who wish as we did to make driving part of our holiday and who want 4x4 vehicles you consider linking to one of the specialist 4x4 suppliers. Budget SA really did not come 'up to the mark ' in this respect.

They advertise 4x4 vehicles but then do not supply as expected...in our case we effectively were provided with a 'bakkie' from the truck hire division The trouble with this is they are not on site at the airport and when we had a problem with the vehicle allocated we had to await the truck hire manager to arrive and as you know he then was not very helpful in allowing an alternative vehicle!

Also the idea that vehicles for use in Namibia should have a double fuel tank was completely denied by both the car hire staff and the truck division manager (despite what I think is a statement on their website)" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 5 on a Namibia trip

"I had a fantastic time saw so much learnt so much and met some wonderful people

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I only want to say a huge thank you the holiday was all that you advertised but in fact it turn out better than I hoped so yes keep up the good work and thanks once again from a very happy client" Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 15 on a Zambia safari

"We had the most wonderful trip - all the camps far exceeded our expectations - the staff were lovely, and couldn't be more helpful - the guides were knowledgeible, expecially at Kwara - and we enjoyed every minure of the trip, even being chased by an elephant which was a bit scary!!!

Thank you for being able to assess the sort of thing we wanted, making a trip which suited us and giving us a trip of a lifetime. All three of us had the best holiday we have ever had.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Just need to add that the booklet you sent us with tips for the trips was extremely helpful, but we took your advice about only taking low denominations in dollars literally, and then had to spend ages dolling out one dollars for our visas. Maybe a slightly wider mix of bills might have been helpful. However, that is the only suggestion - everything else were great, even though I couldn't believe that we might need gloves - next time I'll take them!!" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari

"Our best ever trip to Namibia and we were very impressed with what we saw and did in Botswana, especially the school trip from Muchenje.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

The Red Zone is what the people at Muchenje Lodge call the very deep sandy part of their approach road where, almost certainly, a 2-wheel drive car will get stuck! JJ tells us that he is having this bit 'fixed' even as I write, but it might be worth checking. The local workmen who dragged us out in their Landrover said it was always happening with 2-wheel drive cars. Great fun all the same!!" Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 11 on a Namibia trip

"In a word, fabulous!

We have already decided to return in a couple of years time. Everyone in Africa was so very friendly and they made our trip into the fantastic memories we will cherish." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari

"Am aware that have not been able to offer any constructive criticism! It was beyond our expectattions and would offer the following.
Your advice regarding the itinery was spot on:
A break in Livingstone set us up after the long journey
Leballa - a really great introduction to Africa, the attitude of the staff was tangibly happy
Kwara - enabled full activities and so was a good mid point
NAxi Pan - peaceful and laid back, a great place to finish our trip.

Most impressed by all the transfers which all went off without a hitch, the drivers/pilots/airport staff all very keen to help, however a pocketful of $1 bills probab ly heped!!. Perhaps in you notes you could list a rough exchange rate for Rands, Kwacha and Pula as we got a bit confused at times esp in the airport souvenir shops! At one point were intriged to have a bill for 1.3 milliod kwacha for out Zambezi Sun extras ( about £170!). Perhaps beware of the prices in the Camp souvenier shops, pricey but there again reasonable when you consider having to transport it all there.

Really had a fabulous time and have started saving up for a repeat trip, perhaps in the rainy season next time.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Soory to not have any suggestions, really impressed by your service - better than your rivals!!

The animal book you sent us was great, just enough to whet the appetite, they guides all carried very detailed books in the jeeps for really detailed identification. The availability of laundry facilities allowed us to cut down on our packing, we both managed on 10kgs total and so had no probs with getting our cases on the small planes. Your notes for travellers were very detailed and helpful" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari

"Fantastic. Lived up to expectations and would go again and recommend to anyone" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 11 on a Botswana safari

"We had the most spectacular trip with one of the highlights visiting Livingstone Island on the Victoria Falls and making our way to the "Devil's Pool" - although I had no idea how dangerous it was until I was halfway there!!

Thanks so much for helping us organise a fabulous week in Africa and making our journey so special. It all went unbelievably well and I will send you my detailed blog posts on the trip as and when I write them.

Or check out my blog here in the next few weeks http://familyaffairsandothermatters.com

Thanks again.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Claire also helped us hugely and no, I can't think of ways of improving your service at the moment - apart from hiring me as your new Zambia expert!" Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zambia safari