Africa: Reviews from our travellers

"i feel horrible putting fairly satisfactory as it was very satisfactory really, but the fact i spent 2 full nights without a bed adn on each night awake at least 3 hours as there was no fans was maybe insurmountable but the hotels should have contacted expert africa to say there was no electricity and then we couldhave either cancelled or changed to lamu or mombasa for example.

this was my first holiday for 13 years a huge expense involved in leaving 4 young children with full time care at home as well etc and I was pretty irritated about the twin room problems and generator timings. cecilia is very asthmatic, so it was a worry for her too at nights.

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expert africa are fantastic, they understand completely africa and what notes and advice gtravellers need. it was blooming brilliant!! and the guide book is fabulous too, you should get a copy in each hotel too out there.

i would ask one thing, that in the back of your notes to tanzania you h ave a copy of the maps of stone town that you can remove and carry about. it saves taking the whole book with you and in my case i had a tiny purse so ended up tearing out the town pages so i cuold refer to them when we got lost. i am sad my book is torn, but no hotels had maps of stone town and i didn't want to take a handbag with a book in it to the festival etc etc.

we never handed over any of the vouchers you gave us, nobody asked for them. the wallet you sent was also very useful, many thanks.

i hope we can sort out the 2 nights i had to spend on the push up bed and barazzas. i feel the hotels should give me my money back in full for these nights. It is unforgiveable and I am not a student traveller. I also think there should have been something from all 3 hotels to compensate for the lack of fans during the night. A free bottle of wine or soemthing would have taken care of this at each hotel, especially since they had obviously had loads of cancellations and in need of customers, instead of feeling we had been `done' . the goodwill gesture was missing.

i wonder did expert africa know there was no electricity on Zanzibar and it was all generator run, for hours at a time?

i will recommend claire and expert africa to anyone i can. many many thanks." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 6 on a Zanzibar holiday

"From the relaxation of Pole Pole to the vibrancy of Zanzibar, this was a great holiday that i would love to do again!" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 5 on a Zanzibar holiday

"Absolutely fantastic.

Sorry Claire that it has taken so long to sing your praises but you and others created the most amazing trip for us yet again ." Read full review: 23 nights in Africa; 13 on a Tanzania safari

"We are likely to return, which is something we don't often do.

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Claire was excellent - she had an informed answer to every question we asked." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 9 on a South Africa trip

"We had amazing safaris, and saw so much more Big Game than we dared hope. The camps were fabulous.

All the Guides, Trackers, Drivers and Ascari were of the highest standard.... Huge thanks to them all.

Diving on Mafia Island, I saw amazing corals, shark, ray, and swam with Whale Shark. Wow

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Planning a return........" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Tanzania safari

"Before going out to these places, I had very high expectation. Nothing and nobody changed my opinion. I have once again seen what I wanted to see and achieved just what I wanted.

South Luangwa, still the best, Northern Botswana a close second. Very happy and I hope to produce a Dvd that will be sent to all the lodges and camps concerned, last year's Dvd has already been shown and went down rather well. It has been a pleasure to go and stay at these magical places, where the animals, the birds, the grasses and inland seas humble me. Africa beckons, please go and see for yourselves.

Thankyou to everyone that contributed in making this another special trip to 'minha' Africa.

Ashante sana.

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The bush camps that Norman Carr safaris operate can be a great selling point, Kapani lodge is already perfect." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"Trip was excellent. Thank you.

Expert Africa did a splendid job of arranging the Dik Dik self-drive trip with some itinerary modification which worked out well (day trip to Sandwich Harbour instead of kayaking in Walvis Bay lagoon, extra time in Swakopmund). As it turned out, the extra time in Swakopmund was a good thing because I was attached by a dog in the street requiring a visit to the police, a doctor, a pharmacy, the bank, etc.

Had I not had an extra day there, I'd not have seen Swakopmund -- an interesting and unusual place. That is not say that extra time should be built in to all itineraries to permit post dog-attack activities. As it turns out, there is no rabies in Namibia -- or at least not in Swakopmund district -- and the dog's owner paid my N$900 expenses.

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I should note that Angela Griffin also helped arrange this trip and she did an excellent job of it. Thanks." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 9 on a Namibia trip

"Our trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar was our first to the african continent and I can truly say that we have come back with some incredible memories- of friendly people, endearing culture, breathtaking scenery and amazing wildlife.

Our experience surpassed all expectations and the variety of locations and accommodation made this the trip of a lifetime. Thank you to all at Expert Africa, especially Claire, for helping to make the holiday so special. (and so easy!)

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The service was so efficient that we really can't think of anything that might improve it." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zanzibar holiday

"Very well put together itinery and we were impressed by the precise puntuality of those meeting us and delivering us at various places.

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We found out latterly that it is possible to go onto BA website just before 24hours before take off and purchase (if there is room) greatly reduced upgrades to Premium Class, which we would have like to have been told." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari

"Bottom line we enjoyed our trip a great deal and thought it was money well spent. Our guides Eric, Emmanuel and Jackson and their vehicles provided us opportunities that may not have been present if we were sharing vehicle or along with a group. The (3) gentlemen were very professional with a sincere interest in our well being and happiness. The lodges and camp were comfortable and had great staffs.

A few notes of what was not, it was not hot, there was not a lot of bugs, there was no traveler sickness, there were no bad meals, there were no cold showers, there was not dry/brown surroundings, there was no concern for safety.

Thanks again for all your help with our trip and we will recommend your services to our friends and family. Someday we hope to visit Africa again and have so many wonderful memories from this trip. Happy New Year to you and your staff.

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Our transfer from Olakira Camp (Serengeti) to Rhino Lodge (Ngorongoro Crater) was a full morning and we did not arrive until after 2:00 pm which was past lunch serving period. The Rhino Lodge kitchen staff really went out of their way to get us a hot lunch and it was very good. It may have been better for Olakira to send us off with a box lunch?

Either way, Pam and I were not concerned and the meal was worth the wait. We just hoped we did not put the kitchen in a distressful position." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari