Reviews of safaris to Central Highlands

"Overall we had a wonderful time and were grateful for the advice, recommendations and help with planning from Expert Africa..

Fuel stations were frequent and mostly took cards by staff at the pumps. The lodges were very well appointed with soap, shampoo, hairdryers, dressing gowns and fridges (not at Grootberg). Not all lodges provided laundry facilities, despite an indication that they would (under exclusions) on the itinerary.

We were travelling with friends who had their own car so bought walkie talkies which were very useful together with a free road map app that my husband downloaded to his phone which didn't need internet and it was invaluable. Highly recommend the app. We drove 2,500 kms, mostly on dirt roads, some better than others.

We thought all the tours (with the exception of Grootberg) were very good value with knowledgeable guides who certainly didn't clock watch. Staff were always helpful and friendly, the food was variable and the wine good quality and value." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip

"We had an amazing trip! Everything went really well. The information provided was totally reliable and our annotated map was a terrific help. Having Wilderness Safaris lounge and support from their team at the airport was great.

The accommodation was a good distance apart so no driving day was too difficult and we felt safe and confident driving ourselves around the country despite some very bumpy roads. This also gave us the opportunity to find small cafes (with excellent cakes) and helpful garages (we'll fix your slow puncture while you have coffee and cake!).

Everyone we met was friendly helpful and welcoming giving us a very positive impression of the country. People were especially helpful and supportive as we had older people travelling with us. They were also very responsive to our requests for including birdwathcing in all trips (114 species seen).

There was much greater variety than a traditional safari holiday. The game viewing was better than we had expected as we didn't include Etosha in our itinerary. However we also loved the varied landscapes such as Fish River Canyon, the dunes at Sossusvlei and Sandwich Harbour, and the bush in Damarland and Waterberg. Our tours were always in smaller groups which gave us more flexibility.

We will be recommending Namibia and Expert Africa to all our friends!" Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip

"We had a wonderful time. Namibia was stunning, the people are friendly and it’s easy to get around. Josh from Expert Africa was excellent with his local knowledge and we would thoroughly recommend. He booked some fabulous places for us to stay and really listened to what we wanted from our trip and delivered 100%." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Namibia trip

"Wonderful trip. We drove everywhere - not something to be afraid of. The roads are empty and so long as one is careful the gravel roads are fine ( but would recommend a 4 by 4 ). Yes, there are long distances, but I found driving through amazing scenery very enjoyable.

Our accommodation was consistently very good. It seems almost invidious to come up with highlights - everything was good, but my personal favourites were Desert Rhino Camp ( outstanding ), desert elephants at Doro Nawas, the dunes of Sossusvlei, lions in Etosha - I could go on.

Our first visit to Namibia ( but not Africa ) - I should say that I found the people very welcoming and friendly, and we felt perfectly safe everywhere." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip

"We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Namibia and would definitely return.

Having undertaken a 17 night stay that involved 2600km of driving I think we would not do such an extensive trip again but it was a really good way to see the contrasting parts of the country and we know where we would spend more time in any future visit.

Every location we stayed at was good and even where we have comments regarding improvements this didn't really detract from our enjoyment. Generally service was very good and people very friendly.

As others have reported, driving is very easy and as a disabled driver using hand controls, I can confirm it still remains easy.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Very little to add as the overall experience was very good. We were very grateful for the time and effort Josh put in to help us arrange the hand controls on our vehicle.

Only one minor point is that the folder the trip material arrives in is a nice design, but unfortunately not that practical and it began to disintegrate early in the tour!" Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 17 on a Namibia trip

"An excellent trip and intinerary. Comments are relative from one lodge to another because they were all very good.
Only adverse comment about the trip as a whole is that it was hard work driving on the gravel, even though the use of self drive was a very good way of seeing the country.." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"SABINA PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT SERVICE

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

NO

I WAS DELIGHTED BY EVERYTHING EXPERT AFRICA DID FOR US AND WOULD CERTAINLY RECOMMEND YOU TO OTHERS - INFACT I ALREADY HAVE THREE TIMES!" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"This was our third trip with Expert Africa and our biggest. I had planned this trip over a couple of years to celebrate my retirement and was not disappointed.

I would change a few things, with hindsight.

Erongo deserves at least two nights. Trust me.
Zimbabwe was a challenge. Getting in took ages. We did not feel at all welcome. I would advise staying in Zambia and travelling in to see the Falls.

As a general rule, lodges where you are able to go off road are better. The exception this rule is Chobe, just because of the scale of the wildlife experience that you are exposed to.
In future (God willing), I would transit through Jo'burg faster.

See you in a coupe of years, God willing.

I would be tempted by a lodge with perhaps more water based activities in the delta.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

No.
Keep doing what you are doing." Read full review: 27 nights in Africa; 10 on a Namibia trip

"We cannot praise Expert Africa highly enough. All your recommendations were spot on, there were no hiccups, and there were some little personal touches, such as marking up the locations of our lodges on the map, which we had no right to expect.

We did not see all Namibia has to offer but enough to appreciate how much it has to offer and be able to confidently recommend others to go. We would also recommend others to opt for the larger car. The driving was a joy. Although the distances varied each day we reached our destinations by 2 pm every day except the last and this allowed us to relax and, from Hohenstein, enjoy a swim,

Indeed the quality of the lodges (accommodation and food); their locations and scenery; and the chance to experience the cool freshness in the early morning and relax with a drink as the sun went down; were probably as important in our enjoyment as seeing the amazing dunes and the rich variety of game animals.

So, a huge thank you

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

We are lost to think of anything" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 11 on a Namibia trip

"I have always said that I would set foot on all seven continents before I was dead and gone and although I had been to Tunisia and Eqypt and therefore have set foot on the African continent it was never the "Africa" that comes to mind. But the seventh continent under our belt I never really considered a safari seriously until some friends went to Namibia with Expert Africa. They were full of praise for their experience with Expert Africa and Namibia in particular and so we gave it a go and how very VERY glad we did!!!!

We have fallen in love with Namibia, a beautiful vast country with helpful friendly people wherever we went and not just in the Lodges. The vast distances to travel over also do not detract from the experience but indeed add to it making me certainly feel I have travelled and experienced Africa to the fullest.

This trip has certainly eaten into my soul and that of my wife dictating that we will return to not just Namibia but also to neighbouring countries to see more of this fabulous continent and experience the wildlife up close and personal. As a photographer it has been a dream and trawling through my photographs I am longing to return!!!!!

Thank you Africa, Thank you Namibia, Thank you Expert Africa and Thank you Josh Flatman for your valued help and patience in arranging such a wonderful experience...............do you need a mystery shopper to go out for you to check on the Lodges?????????

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Absolutely none!!!!!" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip