Botswana: reviews from our travellers

"It was a trip of a lifetime! The planning was superb, everything just flowed from one place to another. The experience was better than anything we could have imagined.

I am ready to go again.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

None. Maruska was fantastic, we were so lucky to have her." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 10 on a Namibia trip

"Fantastic holiday" Read full review: 32 nights in Africa; 11 on a Namibia trip

"Everyone enjoyed the trip enormously. We are able to compare with both South Africa (the Kruger National Park) and Tanzania (Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara). The wildlife viewing experiences were hugely more pleasant [Ed: Here in Botswana!] because of the fewer numbers viewing the game. This meant that it was easy to get up close and your enjoyment wasn't impacted by crowding out by others. The standard of accommodation was massively better than we had in Tanzania, but that was down to the budget allocated to the trip.

The organisation of the day (which was the same in each of the camps) seemed good and designed to make the most of potential wildlife sightings.

The density of wildlife is probably not greater [Ed: in Botswana] than Tanzania (especially Ngorngoro) but the viewing much more enjoyable.

Perhaps one small criticism would be a lack of variety between the three different camps, although they were selected to give us a variation, in reality the differences between them were really fairly insignificant. If we were doing something similar in the future we would certainly ensure the different locations all offered something quite different.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Not really, the organisation and logistics were all excellent.

We met people who had booked with other agencies and then found your website afterwards and said that it was much more informative than what they had seen previously.

A small point, we visited Zambia and i changed some money which i probably didn't really need to do, and now I can't get anyone to change it back. It might be worth drawing this to the attention of customers. Small local tips can all be paid in dollars." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari

"An excellent itinerary (with the exception of 3 nights at Mazambala being too long).

We loved Namibia and would highly recommend a self drive of this type in this country for a family with similar aged children ( 10 and 14)

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Everything went completely smoothly throughout. There are only a couple of minor constructive suggestions:

Charges at border into Botswana are higher than we were advised ( 140bwp rather than 70, comprised of 40 for road permit, 50 for MV Insurance, 50 Road Fund)

Make people aware of limitations of barbecue facilities at Okaukuejo and that meat cannot be taken into park

Some hesitation with Nkwazi lodge as detailed on our feedback- also note your website is incorrect - no air con, mini bar fridges and no electricity for us after 9.20pm.

Other friends who have done similar trips have had a little itinierary brochure with details of how long it takes to drive to the next lodge and some general infomation about the lodge. This is by no means an essential but would be an extra nicety perhaps.

Overall a really excellent trip. We would thoroughly recommend EA to others" Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 7 on a Namibia trip

"My trip couldn't have been better. Nick Hobbs did a superb job of arranging all the logistics so that almost everything went smoothly. I have to send my special thanks to managing director Chris McIntyre for sending me my binoculars after I misplaced them on a flight between Tuba Tree Camp and Lagoon Camps. I received them at City Lodge and Chris even paid for shipping them. I was truly impressed by his kindness and generosity.

This was my second safari with Expert Africa and I'm already going to another one next year. I've already been on five safaris, but I still have along bucket list of locations in Africa I want to either visit or revisit.

I love the fact that unlike it's numerous competitors in Great Britain, the United States, and South Africa Expert Africa places the emphasis as much as possible on visiting unfenced national park or concessions, and staying at lodges which aren't fenced as well. This in my experience and many other safari goers I've met greatly improves gong on safari.

I will undoubtedly take more safaris with ExpertAfrica." Read full review: 24 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zimbabwe safari

"This was our first time traveling in this part of the world and the first time we spent so much time planning in advance. It paid off - the trip was successful and the travelers happy.

As a family of three with an eight year old child, we valued the planning process and the considerations brought to our attention by Maruska. She helped us through a number of itineraries, patiently making suggestions/changes as our knowledge of the area expanded. Maruska's input was always thorough, professional and thoughtful.

The travel went off as planned and we are happy with the choices made thanks to Maruska's shepherding. I would absolutely use Expert Africa again and have already recommended it to others." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 9 on a Namibia trip

"This was more than anything we could have dreamed or hoped for. Everything was very well organized, professional, and efficiently run by the various camp staffs.

Flight arrangements between the camps and the attention paid by guides and staff was outstanding. Awesome trip.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Be sure to advise clients on checking through baggage on return from Botswana." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 12 on a Botswana safari

"Our trip was phenomenal! I am so glad we booked our safari through Expert Africa. Nick Hobbs spent a great deal of time to understand our expectations and put together an amazing package for us.

We began our journey in Livingstone and then traveled to three camps/lodges in Botswana (Savute, the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park). At each location, we seemed to be staying in prime units with respect to views and privacy and the guides, activities and food were all excellent. Winter in Botswana was a great time to take a safari…pleasant day-time temperatures, no snakes, bugs were minimal and the animals were quite visible in the low foliage.

Before the trip, I was afraid the nights in Botswana would be too cold. The nights and early mornings were indeed crisp, but we dressed accordingly and had a wonderful time." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"it is a small point, but it would have been better to have known the arrangements for our pick up from the cresta lodge ahead of our stay there. Otherwise info good.

Chris/ Sabina - there are some points I have not included on our stay to Nkasa which you might find helpful to know. Particularly re the awful track and bridge that you have to negotiate to get to the lodge!

Re Nhoma and Nkasa - we would be very happy to be contacted by other families/ couples contemplating staying at either of these camps, if that would be helpful." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"Where do I start? As usual Botswana was amazing. The scenery, the wildlife, the excellent Wilderness Safaris camps all as good as ever.


As usual Expert Africa ensured that everything ran like clockwork. All just as we have come to expect on our repeated visits to this area.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I cannot think of any way it could be improved.

Expert Africa staff could not be more responsive, helpful and generally good to deal with." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 11 on a Botswana safari