Reviews of safaris to Central Highlands

"Unfortunately we had quite a lot of hassle unrelated to our holiday. Our mobile phones would not work due to incorrect information from UK. So had to sort that out at great expense from Namibia.

Also missed air conditioning when we did not have it as Irene found it very hot in the middle of day. If accommodation does not have a/c they should at least have mesh on all windows so that one can open them after dark when it does go much cooler.

We both found that Malarone did not suit us so had to stop taking it. Were disappointed in Caprivi would not make the effort to go again, particularly as we have already been to Botswana and the Delta.

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We have used you [Ed: Expert Africa] several times and have always found your staff helpful and knowledgeable and if they don't know an area they will find someone in the office who does." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip

"Our trip was most enjoyable and because of the thorough programming of the trip by Sabina went without incident - apart from arriving in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund in the worst sand storm seen for five years - but we cannot blame Sabina for that!

We found the Namibians very friendly and wishing to please. We were surprised there were so many gravel roads and driving on these does need concentration and so it would be our recommendation that at least two drivers are necessary and going as a four is ideal. It is a great country and amazing for its different scenery and areas of desert, bush and wildlife.

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We think you do a great job and are a very efficient organisation! Thank you for all your help and guidance." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"This was a fantastic trip - we really enjoyed ourselves. We saw and experienced so much - we loved the Namib desert, the desert elephants and Etosha Park. We really enjoyed driving ourselves around the country. Everyone was so friendly and the Namibians make tourists feel so welcome.

It is a fantastic country with so much to offer - we liked the emphasis on eco friendly and sustainable tourism.

We have returned home really relaxed and envigorated from all the experiences with nature.

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We would like to thank you for organising such an excellent trip for us. The accomodation you chose was very good and mostly excellent. The maps and directions were very helpful and meant we never got lost! Any queries we had were handled promptly and efficiently. We would highly recommend Expert Africa to friends and family - the service you gave us was most professional and while we were travelling independently we always felt that your professional advice was only a phone call away if we needed it - which is a great back-up and support when you are holidaying in a country very remote from your own home.

The information you gave us on the 200 rand notes was extremely helpful as the bank here in Ireland tried to give us 200 rand notes and had not been aware of any problem with them - and we read in a newspaper in Namibia that they were not acceptable and even newly printed 200 rand notes were not being accepted by some buisnesses." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"Everything on this trip was great. We've both travelled quite a lot and we rank this trip as one of the best. We saw everything we wanted to in the time we had and it really couldn't have been improved.

Our concern before we left was that we might have chosen too many places with too much driving inbetween. As it turned out, the journeys between places were some of our best experiences. We drove 2,300 miles in total and it was a pleasure. We would love to have stayed in places longer, but the itinerary really worked well.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Just to try and ensure that the vegetarian information gets through to the chef! Easier said than done, I know.

I'm sure they must find it frustrating to find out they have to make something else when the guest is actually sitting at the table.
We did actually make sure we told each of the lodges when we checked in." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 11 on a Namibia trip

"We were very satisfied with the itinerary agreed with you and really couldn't have asked for more.

The accommodation was excellent and staff everywhere were friendly and helpful.

A few tips for others. Don't believe time estimates for journeys given by locals. Add about 25% to get an accurate driving time. Unless you're sticking to tarred roads, it's well worth getting at least a high clearance 2WD vehicle, such as the Nissan X-Trails. There are a lot of large and sharp stones on many of the gravel roads. These are particularly bad around Palmwag and on the approach (from the south) to Wolwedans." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 18 on a Namibia trip

"Our 2010 Africa trip was the latest in a succession of memorable trips arranged by Expert Africa. Each trip has brought a new experience relived again through our films, photos and my diary. This year's highlight just had to be the bushcamp experience at Dolomite Point. I have to praise the dedication and hard work which was shown by Abel, Jeraboam, Victor andJoseph. They made a superb team. I know it was only a temporary camp and will not be repeated but it was surreal.

This year was our 9th fly-drive visit to Namibia and 2nd to the Kgalagadi. We still believe there is no better place to see wildlife than Namibia closely followed by Botswana. If there is an increase in retirement pensions in April we'll be booking another trip!!

Thank you Expert Africa. You're the best tour operator we've found - scrupulously thorough and helpful.

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How can you improve on perfection?" Read full review: 24 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip

"Because we had done a very simalar trip before our hopes and expectations were high,and we were not disapointed.......
apart from two lodges which did not quite meet our high hopes,it was the perfect trip......

From 4 years ago we have found Namibia & it's people much more friendly & outward going, especiall at the fuel stations where it seems that the oil companies have made large investments in buildings and most definately staff.

We will recommend (& have done so already) both yourself Sabina & Expert Africa . . . Thank you once again.

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We liked the way Sabina Worked with us, guiding us on our previous knowledge, with the route & itinery.
We wlll try air namibia from germany next time we travel with you." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip

"This was the best holiday ever and worth the expense.

We have fallen completely in love with Namibia. It was my present to my son for his 18th birthday (which we spent climbing sand dunes in Sossusvlei) and it is an experience he will always remember. We stayed in some wonderful places (with only one disappointment), ate some excellent food, met some lovely people.

It was a lot of driving (just under 2,800 km) on some quite scary roads and I would definitely get a 4x4 again, but it was never dull and the scenery was always spectacular, the roads were empty and well signposted. By the end of the holiday a five hour drive was nothing.

I will have trouble finding another holiday to match this one, so I'll start saving for my next trip to Namibia now. Sabina was very helpful and knowledgeable throughout and found us some wonderful places to stay.

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I can't think of anything." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"An excellent trip with many exceptional highlights, kayaking with Jeanne and walking at Sandwich Harbour with Ernst being among the best!. We would like to return as there is so much yet to see.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Maintain the present enthusiasm and attention to detail." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip

"Wonderful "once in a lifetime" trip. Sabina was spectacularly helpful and knowledgeable. I will wholeheartedly recommend Namibia and EA to friends and family! Some comments and constructive criticism:

Positives:

1. Self drive is easy, totally doable and a great experience. We did not have any punctures or mechanical problems but were glad to have the high clearance of the four wheel drive. That being said never engaged anything but two wheel drive the entire time but appreciated the security.

2. Very safe - people were friendly and approachable and we never felt concerned about security or safety in any way. What a relief and pleasure.

3. No health hazards - since Namibia is a very dry country most water comes from bores and hence, while flavor can vary it is very clean. We had no GI issues despite carrying an extensive armory of treatments. Also regarding malaria - prophylaxis is adviced by US health authorities but noone we met in Namibia considered the country to have any Malaria, at least below the caprivi strip and particularly in the winter months (June-August).

4. Great roads - seriously, for a country with only 1.5mm people it is remarkable how good the roads, signage etc are. We had no problems and found it easier to drive around Namibia than to drive from New York to Boston (although need to be comfortable driving on gravel surfaces).

5. Variety of activities - unlike some of the other destinations we considered, Namibia offers much more than "just wildlife". While we saw plenty of animals, birds and reptiles, we also saw many different landscapes, experienced the ocean and had some exposure to the local culture - much more enriching than just a traditional safari experience

6. Variety of travel and accomodation approaches - Namibia is approachable in many ways, from small tour buses, to camping, to self drive to fly in/fly out. This is different to other locations that require, for example, fly in.


Some suggestions, requests and comments:

1. Cash - EA should alert clients that gas/service stations don't take credit cards or atm cards in many parts of Namibia. Self drive clients should take at least N$2000 in cash with them at all times. It takes over N$1000 to fill the tank of one of the double tank self drive vehicles. Contrary to suggestions some ATM machines would also not recognize my ATM card from the US (provoking panic!) although in large cities (WH and SW) things were fine.

2. Tips - clearly guides on safaris make most of their money on tips. I had no idea how much to tip a guide for example for taking us on a two hour trip into the desert or driving us to an activity? EA could helpfully give more guidance on this matter.

2. Beef up offerings of "active" activities - Namibia seems well set up for the older couples tourist but seems light on offerings for actively minded travellers (Swapokmund and Mundulea notwithstanding). I would suggest adding to the offerings of such activities in some locations; even where "nature walks" are offered they are not very well described or promoted, perhaps because the lodges/camps don't make any money on those activities.

3. Do more at the coastline - Namibia has several thousand miles of coastline but the array of activities related to the coast seems thin. We enjoyed the kayaking from Walvis Bay very much and perhaps should have taken another day in Swakop to venture down to Sandwich Bay. The whole notion of the Benguela current, and the history of the coast and the islands in the south, seem underdeveloped to me and seems to offer more opportunities and activity. The surf around Swakop is better than anything i see except on the very best days in California and the water, despite all the hype, is warmer than california as well and wetsuits are easily rented in those places. Why not start a surfing school in Swakopmund? Or windsurfing or kiteboarding in the walvis bay lagoon? Maybe these things are already available but it would seem a missed opportunity. What Namibia offers most is "animals plus other things" rather than "just animals.." and the more of the "plus other things" there are the more people will come and the longer they will stay.

4. Connect with local populations - sometimes we felt as though we were just going from one Wilderness Camp to another and not having any interaction with the local population. We learned a lot from our guides and the staff at the camps but as noted below they mostly came from other parts of Namibia and had little to say about the history or culture of the area we were visiting. I would like to see EA and WA (see below) develop some program where visitors can interact with the locals in the vicinity of the camps, learn about their culture, history etc. I know this is possible in some locations but perhaps we missed them.

5. Balance Wilderness Adventures/Safaris experiences with other experiences - we stayed at three Wilderness Adventures properties (Ongava, Doro Nawas, Kulala) and enjoyed them very much. They offer consistently great locations, excellent design, high standard of service. Their guides are "good generalists" but sometimes don't have the attention to details and small things of other guides (one guide at Doro Nawas told us the Levine family arrived at Twyfelfontein in 1974 whereas they left in the 1960's). My standard on guides is whether they pick up poo - if so, they are really paying attention, otherwise they may be just driving and animal spotting.

Sometimes the W-A places have a bit of a corporate feel, and their activities are often limited to just game drives, with few individually directed or physically active activities and guides who just focus on finding specific "big five" animals. They have lots of European groups visiting which seems to be good business but can also constrain the options in terms of access to activities for individual travellers. I would have though EA could find other accomodations in the same areas as the WA properties that are more "idiosyncratic" and authentic and offer the same activities and aspect." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip