Africa: Reviews from our travellers

"We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to the Kgalagadi and Cape Town - and would happily, and enthusiastically, recommend it to others! The trip isn't for the faint hearted - or for anyone who is looking for a holiday on a plate - but if you love exploring, don't mind driving around (a lot!) and have been on safari before so you know that you won't see animals at every turn - then this trip is for you. The order you do things is important - so we would recommend Augrabies Falls, followed by the Kgalagadi, followed by Cape Town.

The wildlife we saw in the Kgalagadi was fabulous - and included the Black Maned Kalahari Lions (including a pair mating, as well as a couple of family groups and individuals), Cheetahs (including a pair lying in the shade right next to the road) and an amazing selection of antelopes, deer and other smaller mammals (including Bat Eared Foxes - and Meerkats!). As the tourist numbers in the the Kgalagadi are very low compared to other destinations in Africa, you have the chance to sit, watch and enjoy without interruption - which is a real privilege.

Cape Town is fantastic - and our only regret is not getting out to Robben Island (if you're going - make sure you pre-book ferry tickets to Robben Island in advance, as getting them when you're there is not easy).

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

We think you should recommend to travellers who plan to visit the Kgalagadi that they should consider upgrading to a 4*4 vehicle. Although the roads are very good in the dry, it's a different story in the wet. But also - and perhaps more importantly - a number of the roads are below the vegetation height of the scrub/bush either side - so unless you have a high vehicle, you struggle to see the wildlife (we bumped into several people who were disappointed by the lack of wildlife - and all of them were travelling in saloon cars. Either we were lucky - or the height really did make a difference!)" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 11 on a South Africa trip

"Zanzibar was lovely, getting there and back had its downsides.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Dont send people to Dar hotel." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zanzibar holiday

"We loved our second trip to Botswana.

It is expensive compared to East Africa for example but really suits us - generally quiet without too many people, we enjoy the little planes to fly in and out of camps, the wildlife and birdlife is great. The camp suggestions were good and Lucy and Nick were patient in helping find out availability for various combinations of camp.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Have a better system for passing messages internally.

We called and left messages 3 times which were not returned before we were able to speak to someone about Botswana. We know the team is busy but, if we had been first time callers to Expert Africa, we might not have persevered. It was only the fact that we've had such good experiences in the past with Expert Africa that meant we continued to call!" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 11 on a Botswana safari

"Namibia exceeded all expectations. We keep coming back to words like 'spectacular' and 'epic' in an attempt to describe the landscapes and feeling of space.

We always felt comfortable, people are friendly and it must be the safest country in Africa. Driving is an absolute pleasure.

Accommodation and overall general standards are high. When you think how remote many of the locations were, the logistics of the lodge operations in providing those standards is very impressive.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I can think of nothing I'm afraid. We have been very impressed and will certainly consider you and other companies in your group for future holidays." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 19 on a Namibia trip

"We travelled a little over 2,600 miles in 3 weeks and could have carried on! We had an excellent holiday and really appreciated the differing styles of accomodation. We learnt a lot and thoroughly enjoyed Namibia. What a range of things to see and do. We would recommend Turnstone Tours who gave us an excellent trip to Sandwhich Harbour.

Chris McIntyre is clearly well regarded in this country as his name was mentioned several times.

This is our second holiday organised by Expert Africa and we would not consider travelling with anyone else to the African countries they deal with.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

No - you had this one absolutley spot on. Sabina had taken on board our likes and preferences and had suggested an ideal itinery" Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 17 on a Namibia trip

"We loved our honeymoon - thank you Claire for all your hard work in putting together our trip!

It was lovely not having to worry about anything - all the flights, transfers and the lodges/hotels were just what we asked for and everything worked like clockwork.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

We are very impressed by your whole setup and having only just returned want to go back, thank you Claire and team for a job well done." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari

"Excellent organisation and coordination ( travel connections : plane - car - boat - connecting flights etc )
Wherever we expected someone : he was present, knowledgeable and up to his job.

Very well organised. ( greetings at airports - assistance to jump the VISA queue on arrival in Lusaka )
Quality of the provided services = superb.

In our first contact - by phone - : perfect selection of the camps by Chris McIntyre .
( although a bit handicapped by the timing of the trip : several camps were closed or closing )

Adminstrative follow-up by Lucy Copsen : very efficient , very friendly


It might look as us being easy going , easily satisfied travellers. We are not.
Our quotations are as we feel : Very satisfied.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Keep us informed by mail and/ or brochure !

We keep telling people how pleased we are." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari

"We had a great trip to Selous and Ruaha which was well reccommended and organised by Liz.

Ruaha has made it into our top 5 parks now and is definately my favorite within Tanzaina. Selous unfortunately was a bit of a dissapointment as there is a so much more potential there, both in the management of the game reserve and the lake manze camp set-up.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

just one little thing... a reminder for when we have to pay off the final balance would be great... this is the second time i have forgotten!" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari

"Many thanks to Maruska who organized such a great trip for us" Read full review: 5 nights in Africa; 4 on a Botswana safari

"The trip was well planned, and delivered what we expected. We had a lovely time.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

One comment. Your warning about forged 200 rand notes came too late as we had already changed our money and we did have some trouble in getting them accepted.

In addition one petrol station would not take 100 rand notes." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 9 on a Namibia trip