Africa: Reviews from our travellers

"Claire Scott organised us our third trip with expert Africa and all have been fantastic

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As far as we are concerned our trips have been perfection." Read full review: 24 nights in Africa; 17 on a Tanzania safari

"We saw so many amazing animals and were given a friendly welcome throughout.

Our own arrangements at the end of the holiday made us realise that a permanent camp in the Serengeti rather than the mobile camp we chose at Olakira would have been a more satisfactory option, particularly as the Ndutu area was so busy with other safari goers. When discussing Kusini with you as an alternative at the planning stage, this aspect was not pointed out. As it happened the Migration had moved closer to Kusini (Maswa area) away from Ndutu but we were not offered the opportunity to drive out in this direction, despite staying for four nights at Olakira." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 11 on a Tanzania safari

"I really can not thank Ellie too much for the service she provided at Expertb Africa.

She assessed with great patience the sort of pople wevwere and our interests and past experience of Africa and then quitely recommended where we should go. She was spot on with these suggestions and provided us , as aresult, with a truly memorable trip. Not a fault or confusion anywjhere. We wre always met promptly at every arrival by efficient handlers.

Expert Africa is clearly well regarded at the Camps and not surpisingly. many thanks.

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You have my individual assessments. For me it was all faultless but then somewhere basic like Kwihala fits my personal bill perfectly but might not others, perhaps particularly the ladies, who might prefer more luxuries. However, Ellie pointed this out to me and already knew neither Jill nor I wanted the 'Hilton Bubble' experience. However, youneed to make sure that your clients do fit the style of the camp....but recommend it nevertheless as something thoroughly worth the extra effort!!" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari

"Fantastic!

Selous and Ruaha gave us the variety of countryside and wildlife we wanted, and we thoroughly enjoyed the tented camps. A few relaxing days at Unguja made the perfect end to our trip. We loved Tanzania and the people we met.

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Your service was excellent, especially in one way that you do not ask about: we were not sure which country we wanted to visit, and our ideas were quite vague to start with. Your team were very skilled at questioning me, proposing ideas and narrowing the choices down gradually. This plus the layout of your website helped us make the right choice.

I am happy for you to contact us by email but I would rather not receive regular brochures; they often get thrown away, so are such a waste of paper." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari

"Namibia is a wonderful country. Friendly people, organised, great places to stay with a few exceptions. We went initially to work for a conservation project P.A.W.S. affiliated to Africat - which was a wonderful experience of trying to turn the land back for the cheetah and leopard, which has been desimated by cattle grazing. A well run and brilliant conservation project with lots of chance to be up close and personal to large game and birds. We then used Expert Africa to organise the rest of our trip to see wildlife and birds.

It was off season as lots of rain and water, so the wildlife were scattered, but we found it to be a good time of year as few people and vehicles and lots of flowers and great green spaces to see. Windhoek was a disappointment, but Sossuavlei and Swakopmund both well worth spending time. We took a private flight over the dunes - the only way to get a real feel of how spectacular they are. Apparently there is little left on the Skeleton Coast as many bones and ship wrecks removed - so miles and miles of nothing.

The roads are good, but met several people who did not have a guide, so not good in the rainy season as they did not know where to look for game and often saw little or nothing.

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Our itinerary was changed a few times because of accommodation changes. Expert Africa's team in Namibia gave us an out of date itinerary when we arrived. They supplied us with just the very best guide - Orlando Haraseb who really made our trip. He and his colleagues were most helpful when we decided we did not wish to stay 2 nights in Okaukuejo as we thought it very poor and immediately had us transferred to Halali Lodge for an extra night.

We all thought that there was much waste of time on our itinerary in Windhoek as per my email. Swakopmund has lots more to offer, is cleaner, lovely shops, great restaurants, great views and lots of opportunities for extra activities and we had a wonderful and very informative sea kayak trip with Craig in Walvis Bay, who taught us much about the birdlife, seals and local salt mines etc. He also provided lunch which we had paid for in our itinerary also. It is necessary to point out that Jan/Feb whales will not be seen as it is not the season for them to be there or for dolphins (we saw one). Can recommend The Tug for dinner - great food.

I have covered more points in my detailed email of today which I would like responses too, particularly as we were overcharged/incorrectly charged at River Crossing." Read full review: 28 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip

"It was a very good trip, and the arrangements made by Expert Africa were excellent.

The Zanzibar Guide Book was extremely helpful, and you are to be congratulated on including it in the pre-trip package. We would - will - certainly use Expert Africa again. Thank you.

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I have nothing more to add!" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zanzibar holiday

"As a whole the trip was excellent. We had the most wonderful and at times exciting trip. The trip was in many ways better than we had expected.

Our main intent for taking the trip at that time was for birds with any animal sightings (which we had been advised could be difficult due to high grass and many water holes away from the lodges) being regarded as bonus. In the event we saw most of the possible animals and in close proximity. We missed cats and rhino. Getting around in our not 4X4 was mostly possible though not without some mud and water problems. These could mostly be overcome with a litle thought and careful manoevering of the car.

The lodgings were all great and all very different. People in the lodges and outside were all very friendly and helpful. Grateful too when we gave them lifts.
As is indicated below we were very pleased with the way Sabina dealt with all aspect of setting up the trip for us and especially the way the problem of the delayed outward flight was overcome.

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I'm mostly using this box to feed back other findings from the trip for information which may be useful to others. In our information we were told that we needed documentation and to take the car into Botswana that this would be taken from us at the border and that we'd have to purchase another to take the car back into Namibia. None of this happened. Other than the driver filling in details of the car in a book at each of the four posts (out and into Namibia, into and out of Botswana) they weren't particularly interested in the car as such. However, we did have to purchase documents to enter Botswana. These were - 1 year's road tax and 1 month entry permission (for the car) costing together 160 Rand (we had no Pula). I think our information only mentioned the entry permission. The tax thing may be new.

We were able to use debit and credit cards in petrol (Shell) stations in Bowsana though one insisted (at the junction onto the Trans-Kalahari Highway) in taking an amount from the card before pumping gas.

Information on the difficulties relation to the electrical sockets and lack of adapters may be useful." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"We love Africa and this holiday exceeded expectations.

We saw a lot of wildlife, lions every day, and without exception everyone we met was welcoming and eager to give us a good time. We thought we saw more wildlife at Selous Safari but at Beho Beho there were lots of new experiences for us. What was good was that we saw very few other vehicles when on our game drives, it was not like the Serengeti or Ngorongoro where there are often 20 vehicles around one lion!

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We have now used Expert Africa 3 times - Namibia, Botswana and now Tanzania - and can't fault you for your efficiency and helpfulness. Am now looking at your new brochure for ideas for our next triop to Africa!" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 10 on a Tanzania safari

"Wonderful a great adventure and a beautiful country.
Sorry about the comments on some of the stopovers, but you did ask for opinions!!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Just to say if you gave the kms or miles from each camp and Guest houses and very approx. time is should take.

Try to insist to the client a second spare wheel is part of the hire deal, to get a punture and know you still have 200Kms to cover on gravel roads is a little daunting." Read full review: 45 nights in Africa; 19 on a Namibia trip

"We had a wonderful time. Our Expert Africa consultant, Maruska Adye, was excellent!!! Her initial response to our queries was the reason we choose this company to help plan our safari. Her advice was invaluable. I would highly recommend her, and Expert Africa, to anyone planning a safari.

Although there are several places that we would not return to, we had a great time experiencing them on this trip. Once you have visited some places, there is no reason to return. If we were fortunate enough to plan another safari I would certainly ask Maruska and Expert Africa for their help and guidance.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

[Ed: Referring to our electronic feedback form]

Like to be able to save the file to our PC or at least print it out as one document, including the full comments...not just the part visible on the form." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 13 on a Botswana safari