Africa: Reviews from our travellers

"Fantastic!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

N/a" Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 11 on a South Africa trip

"This trip met and exceeded our expectations. All the arrangements in Africa were perfect, and the selection of where to go and stay made the trip interesting.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

As this was our first trip to Africa, Claire was very helpful in planning our trip." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari

"This was our fourth trip to Africa arranged by Expert Africa, and our third to Namibia.

We feel that Expert Africa operate to very high standards, which is why we wanted them to arrange this trip even though we have now moved from the UK to Australia. Thankfully there is now an office in New Zealand, and Maruska (and Saskia) did an excellent job of arranging our trip. Maruska was very knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, efficient and responsive. All our arrangements were perfect, and the documentation was faultless.

As for Namibia, our trips just seem to get better and better. The trip was perfect. We even received a free upgrade to our hire car, and in several places we were allocated what seemed to be the best rooms with amazing views (Erongo, Ongava, Waterberg). We visited some new areas which we particularly liked (Erongo and Waterberg), but we also visited places where we had enjoyed staying on previous occasions (Ongava and Kulala) and found that they were even better than we remembered! The management and staff at Kulala Desert Lodge provided my husband with a 50th birthday to remember.

All of our accommodation was attractive, well run, clean, comfortable and well maintained at the very least. We felt welcome everywhere, and everyone was polite and helpful. We experienced no problems or difficulties anywhere.

The driving was straightforward, and we found that staff at filling stations, shops, cafes, national park entrances etc were generally polite, friendly and helpful.

The scenery was beautiful, and the wildlife (our main reason for the trip) was wonderful. We had some excellent sightings, and wonderful experiences. We managed to do more walking on this trip than on previous occasions. This had the double benefit of being very welcome after a long car journey, and it helped us to work off all the delicious meals!

We hope to be able to return to Namibia.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Nothing that I can think of. Keep up the good work." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip

"The organisation of the trip was great and everything worked perfectly. The guides and their landcruisers were excellent.

The change in location of the Serengeti Safari Camp to be by the Mara River was great - and as it was a new site it was amazing to be there on its first night ever. The re-arrangement of our transfers and flights worked very smoothly to our relief.

We had said that this would be our last safari, but we had such a great time that I suspect we'll be going again.......

We felt that we were glad to have gone gorilla trekking now, as we soon wouldn't have the energy to climb the mountains - the climb is from 7,000' to about 9,000'. Not impossible, but we were the oldest in our groups by more than somewhat on our gorilla trekking days, so we were the slowest." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 13 on a Tanzania safari

"We couldn't have asked for a better honeymoon - adventure, relaxation, some fantastic sights and amazing food and drink.

The Expert Africa team delivered the honeymoon we were after and suggested the perfect resorts to suit the type of holiday we wanted, in line with our personalities and expectations. All flights, connections and bookings happened as promised and it was a smooth transition through each stage of our break.

We wanted to go away and start our married life together in a beautiful country and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime holiday, without having to worry about the admin and minor details of transfers, etc. Expert Africa delivered exactly what we wanted and I would recommend anyone considering a safari to get in touch with the team so they can use their experience to deliver exactly what you want.

uggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

None." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zanzibar holiday

"We had a fantastic two weeks experiencing wildlife and culture of Zambia and Malawi and we can't wait to return to Africa in the near future!

The highlight was the walking and the smooth organisation made our trip very comfortable and effort free. Little details were very thoughtful, and there was no chance of going hungry!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Perhaps a warning of cold weather in Malawi!" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari

"I had a terrific time in Mozambique, especially at Explore Gorongosa.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Not at this time." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 3 on a Mozambique holiday

"This is the second trip we have made with Expert Africa. Staff are helpful, patient and knowledgeable.

I like the fact that we can talk to a member of staff with first hand experience of the lodges we planned to visit.

Both trips we have undertaken have exceeded expectation. This last one was absolutely fantastic. Every detail was taken care of and we didn't have to worry about anything. All we had to do was pack our bags, turn up at the airport and have the time of our lives.

All three camps were exceptional - I do believe that we chose the best. Staff were efficient, friendly and did everything they could to make our stay very enjoyable. Meals were comparable to good city restaurants which is remarkable considering the logistics of getting supplies.

Expert Africa is the only company I have ever come across that gives travellers a card with Staff emergency telephone numbers. This reflects the care that the company takes to ensure that clients have the best possible service. I wouldn't travel to Africa with any other company.

Thanks everyone - we had a wonderful time. We hope to return." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 11 on a Zambia safari

"The whole trip was excellent - well planned, organised and executed.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

We had not been on a safari-type holiday before so I don't know if the Wilderness approach to engaging with the local staff is unusual, or whether that is just the Namibian way. It was all a pleasant surprise, although maybe a bit more information before travel about the Wilderness organisation might have been helpful and interesting.

The Namibia guidebook supplied before travel was great." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 7 on a Namibia trip

"Our trip was the trip of a lifetime. It more than met all of our expectations, and it was like a dream - a good one. In looking back at the whole thing, everything went almost flawlessly. We did not miss any flights, we were always expected when we arrived, and we felt that our needs were always being met. The items mentioned on the previous items [Ed: see individual reviews, below] did not detract from the magic of the trip, and we never missed any game drives. As I commented to my wife, we never felt bored at any time.

The agent from Wilderness Air who met us at the Maun airport (both times) was extremely helpful and professional. His help was almost essential to our transfer there; he really has to know what he's doing at that airport, which is somewhat chaotic.

On the other hand, we were somewhat confused when we arrived in Johannesburg on the flight from London. They gave instructions towards the end of the flight about whether to go to the transit line, etc. Since we had not checked our bags through, we had to just go through passport control and customs as if we were just going to Johannesburg. We figured it out, and got into the main terminal. Then, we were somewhat clueless about where to go next. A porter came up to us, and asked us where we needed to go. Although we are always cautious about being in unfamiliar airports in other countries, he took us to the right counter for Air Botswana, and we got checked in on time, and to our departure gate. It would have been difficult for us to find the right counter - it was at the very end of many closed counters.

I would recommend that, if possible, some more detailed instructions should be given for navigating the Johannesburg airport. It all went OK, but it was a bit tense. We did better on the way back. The lines were long, but we had plenty of time. Substantial layovers are well advised.

I did check my records. When I went to Botswana, including the Okavango Delta in 1991, the tour operator was Wilderness Safaris. And that was a wonderful trip, too, although the facilities were a lot more primitive.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Your organization did a first-rate job organizing our trip. Although we had no experience with you, I would highly recommend you services. Ms. Adye was excellent." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari