Malawi: reviews from our travellers

"We would hav benfitted by staying longer in Country.

Wilderness safaris gave us excellent drivers and cosrructive help on arrival and departure.

Suggestions for improvements:

I hope to use your company again to revisit Malawi and possibly South Africa and Namibia.
We hope to be able to save enough cash and keep healthy enough to make further trips." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 10 on a Malawi trip

"Overall, we got everything we wanted from this holiday. A great week's game viewing, then a short trip to a stunning beachside lodge on Lake Malawi for a week of luxury R&R.

The BA experience excluded, we were well looked after every inch of the way by Robin Pope and Expert Africa .
We would highly recommend Nikwali and Pumulani." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari

"We are first and foremost independent travellers and this is the first time that, due to making a late in the day travel decision, we have had somebody arrange a trip for us. While we enjoyed the venues the lack of independence that we experienced by e.g. not having our own vehicle would put us off going down this route again. This was acutely felt when we arrived at Chintheche and discovered that we would be 'stuck' there for 6 nights. Again, had it not been for Briony and her staff we are likely to have shortened our time there and headed off to SA earlier.

I think EA should spend a bit of time really understanding what type of travellers they have in front of them. E.g. I fully expected that as we were being driven between locations we would have a person standing with board with our names on when we came through arrivals. What we did not expect - and did not appreciate - was having somebody standing with a board on the runway tarmac to meet us and guide us through customs, baggage relclaim, etc as though we were unable to do this for ourselves. Nothing like the looks from your fellow travellers to drive this home.

Before we left I raised concerns that 6 days at Chitheche was too long a time and we would ideally liked to have spent an extra day at Mvuu and/or Mumbo only to be told that this was not possible as they were full. On leaving Mvuu Lodge, which caters for at least 12 people, we asked them if they were full only to be told that they only had 2 couples that night (so we could have stayed an extra night). Similarly on the day that we checked out of Mumbo there was space available. Having arrived at Chintheche, with the accommodation clearly in need of investment, we found this 'availability' irksome.

While at Chintheche we mountain biked (which by the way also need some investment in repairs) to Makuzi Beach. Why is this venue not offered by yourselves as it is so much better in terms of accommodation and communal areas verses the Inn? It is also much better placed for snorkelling, etc and their kyaks, etc, etc all appeared to be working.

The above comments are not aimed to be critical but constructive and I have to emphasis that we definitely both enjoyed our time in Malawi around the lake.

I think that if you are the type of person that likes to have everything arranged for you then I would recommend using Expert Africa. Everything did what it said it would do on the lable - and we cannot fault that.

I am happy to discuss any of the above with EA if you wish to discuss/expand/clarify anything." Read full review: 28 nights in Africa; 14 on a Malawi trip

"A wonderful trip - thank you - our third trip with you and just as good as the others.

The second half (post safari) was an attempt by us to get closer to the real Africa again and we most impressed at Kawaza, Kaya Mawa and Nkwichi by the responsible tourism and how the lodges are working sucessfully with the local people" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zambia safari

"Fantastic- we had a wonderful time!

Anna's advice was bang on and I thought of her several times during the trip, remembering her enthusiasm and wanting to say how much I agreed!

Suggestions for improvemnet:

Tell your clients to take plenty of dollars. Sterling is no good. They need money for taxes in Malawi as well as in Zambia. And lots of money for tips, which were much more standard than we had been led to believe in the Guide." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari

"Another excellent holiday with Expert Africa. This was our 4th trip to southern Africa with Sunvil/Expert Africa since 1998 and it will not be our last. You get what it says on the box without any flannel; organisation is good and any querries are answered straightforwardly. All we have to do is get on the plane at this end.

Zambia is an excellent destination & the Luangwa Valley with it's expert guiding is superb in all seasons.

We and especially Sue think Norman Carr Safaris are a really excellent crew- it's a good operation and we hope it continues as such under it's 'new' investor ownership." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari

"Before going, all the information and organisation had been extrremely good and this was refelected in the actual trip where everything went so smoothly and we could not fault it. The local agents (Wilderness, Kwando and Robin Pope) were wonderfully helpful and efficient.

However, one or two tips to pass on - firstly, forget travellers cheques on a trip like this - no one was interested in having or cashing them - cash dollars are king. Secondly, both in Nkwichi and Kaya Mawa, there are no advertised tariffs and although we could have asked, and we are aware that we had to pay for these extras, it would be helpful, particularly as cash is king, to know what you are letting yourself in for. Thirdly, forget immodium, carry Ciprin antibiotic for any stomach bug.

Finally many thanks to Claire for interpreting our requirements so well and ensuring that the places we went fulfilled all our ambitions for the trip. Oh and don't go to Luangwa or Nkwichi if you don't like snakes (particularly in your bedroom!)!" Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 5 on a Zambia safari

"Marvellous trip and Wilderness Safaris deserve great praise. They were efficient, friendly and welcoming. Their staff are of the highest quality and excellent drivers. They took great pains to make sure all went well. Our 2 drivers, Mike and John were knowledgeable and thoughtful. We could not have asked for better.

The only thing that could be improved is the choice of vehicle. We had a Toyota landcruiser first and this was fine. However, 2 long journies in a Landrover was tough as the seating is cramped and really uncomfortable. We think the landrovers should be pensioned off and replaced now! All round this was a wonderful experience and we would recommend the trip, without hesitation.

Expert Africa were very helpful , knowledgeable and efficient. A pleasure to deal with. Thanks from us all...we'll be back." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 4 on a Malawi trip

"What a wonderful holday.

We would like to extend a very big ‘thank you’ to all those concerned in making our recent trip to Malawi one of our best holidays ever, and they come in no particular order.

Lastly and by no means least, a very big thank you to yourselves and everyone at Expert Africa who put together such a wonderful and, we have to say, life changing experience.

The itinerary you laid out for us could not have been put together any better, allowing the stays we had to give us such a different and diverse look at the things Malawi had to offer. It has simply wet our appetite for so much more!

Having never been to Africa and knowing very little about Malawi we were, its true to say, a little apprehensive in our excitement about our forthcoming adventure." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 8 on a Malawi trip

"We have had a fantastic time and want to return in 2008." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari