Botswana: reviews from our travellers

"With the exception of ProFlight all ran to schedule. Ground handling good, no delays.

At Xakanaxa airstrip (which incidentally is a new runway positioned a little further from the camps than the 'old' strip) we were very pleasantly surprised to see Banda, our requested guide for Camp Xakanaxa where has been based since last January, albeit we were due at Camp Moremi first. Apparently in agreement with the D&DS marketing manager (regret don't know his name and was not aware he was the South African chap who wished us well as he leaving for the plane we arrived on) we were allocated Banda for the whole of our 5 night stay on an exclusive basis. This is an amazing example of D&DS customer service for which we are truly grateful. If you are aware of the chap's name please let me know and I will send a thank-you e-mail. Thanks should also be extended to all the D&DS staff including Setch and staff at Suvute and Albert (who was 'care-taking' between Moremi and Xakanaxa) and all the staff.

We will undoubtedly return to Nkwali, Savute and delta camps again - don't know when. However in future we will try to avoid Jo'burg airport if only due to the totally inefficient and unfriendly staff at passport control. It takes ages to be processed. Never enough staff on duty. As you maybe aware, there are 2 sections, one deals with SA residents, the other all non-SA passengers.

There are some 25 (maybe more) passport control booths on the non-SA section. Less than half were being manned on our first arrival and only 7 when we arrived form Maun. Coupled with the delays occurring to some families, presumably associated with the recently introduced regulations and paperwork required for people travelling with children, the delays are totally unacceptable. We were directed to stand in a queue behind a family which we were already aware had processing problems and had to wait 20 minutes while they continued to try and resolve without any apparent success so we asked to move and were eventually directed to stand in another queue. There is no efficient management system in place, it's a shambles.

It is not surprising that Lusaka airport is building a new terminal (by the Chinese!) and Maun wants to expand so that passengers can fly direct rather than via Jo'burg which attracts so much criticism. BA used to fly direct to Lusaka but apparently no more. We met people who flew with Emirates via Dubai so for the future it's worth considering another carrier. There may be others." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari

"We had the best time, totally exceeded our expectations and continued to amaze us throughout. W

e wouldn't hesitate to recommend Botswana to anyone looking for a really special trip and all the camps we stayed at were excellent." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari

"We save up for a few years to go on this trip and and with all the hype on the internet I was concerned the real thing could be a bit of an anticlimax. Suffice to say it was
anything but. It was truly outstanding in all aspects from the arrangements to Victoria Falls hotel and on to the lodges in Botswana.

A holiday that will live with us forever.
And I have 2'600 photographs to prove it!!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Cannot fault anything." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"It was a trip of a lifetime for both of us." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari

"I really think an indication should be given as to the likely preferences of other guests at the various camps. If the management at Selinda Explorers had not acted positively to my concerns my holiday would have been less enjoyable. Information should be given about private vehicles.

Please note the person who I booked with has left the firm. I have just selected a random to close this web site down." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari

"This trip was a great introduction to Africa! The amount of preparation and information provided by Expert Africa meant that there was very little that we had to worry about, but still felt that we were in control of our own adventure.

Overall our highlights were exploring the sand dunes at Sossusvlei, our day trip out of Swakopmund to Sandwich Harbour, the wildlife at Etosha NP, the village life and waterways of the Caprivi Strip and the up close and personal experience of Camp Hwange.

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We were incredibly impressed with the service we got from Maruska, she put together our trip at very short notice, was always quick to respond to emails, and seemed incredibly knowledgeable when we spoke to her on the phone. We would happily recommend her and Expert Africa to anyone wanting to book a trip to Africa." Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 5 on a Namibia trip

"It had been about nine years since we were last in Southern Africa and we had the pleasurable task of introducing some members of my family to this wonderful part of the world for the first time. It was a bit of a challenge to chart a course of safaris and 'chill-out' in the Cape when you have a combination of first-timers and a couple of 'old lags' to keep happy.

With the patient and knowledgeable Tracy at Expert Africa to help with suggestions and alternatives, I found the task was not as daunting as it might have been even when some members threw a bit of a curve ball at the end of the process, an eventuality that Tracy handled with professional grace and efficiency.

My partner and I have been clients of Expert Africa since Sunvil brought Chris in to broaden its product range. This he has delivered with peerless professionalism and has built a knowledgeable and very competent team over the years who, in this client's opinion, provide the best service available in the UK. Well done all and thanks to Tracy again." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"Thoroughly enjoyed the trip. well organised . good camps, good guiding a nice mix of camps.

the main disappointments were that there was less game than expected, especially at Linyanti, and less water than expected in Okavango.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

with hindsight we may have chosen to make our (probably) only visit to Okavango earlier in the year when water-levels are higher. overall, whilst very good, the difference from other safaris weve been on wasn't as great as expected" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"Well done Expert Africa you live up to your name again,, thanks

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OK since Peter is writing the review he would comment about the quotation! Not the cheapest of holidays however worth every penny and Expert Africa ensured that our money bought what Pamela wanted.

Peter was surprised and more than pleased that so much of this holiday was just a few guests.........or even just the two of us.

I think Expert Africa spoilt us and the next time we go on Safari will expect a vehicle and guide to ourselves. The one day we had to go on safari on a full vehicle neither of us enjoyed the experience half as much as our other drives. Getting old perhaps but we like to stop and watch ants or ducks parading.

Perhaps a highlight was walking in Mundulea and coming across a baby hog that was dying due to a Leopard bite. Cai's comment that he could smell a Leopard and that perhaps we should move on reminds me I must go.

Thanks for an excellent holiday, see you at the Travel Show perhaps." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip

"Incredible.

Attention to every detail from the first conversation with Megan to our departure from Victoria Falls.
We could not have asked for better service. Expert Africa knows what it is doing.

Very Satisfactory would be excellent if that were a choice.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I really can't think of anything to change.

Megan was responsive, knowledgable, and open to discussion." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari