South Africa: reviews from our travellers

"We really enjoyed our first trip to S Africa and would really recommend it.

Wonderful scenery and lots to do. We stayed in lovely hotels and had great food and wine. We also saw some of the problems the country has, and learned much more about its recent political evolution and past history. We also enjoyed the wildlife with whales, dolphins, seals and penguins. The Fynbos was really amazing to see with incredible flowers wherever you looked whilst the remnants of indiginous forest were remarkable.

Our abiding memory will be of the kindness and good humour of the people we met, often living in such difficult circumstances surrounded by such affluence; unsettling and inspiring at the same time.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

We have travelled twice with you now and been impressed. You get what you pay for. We will be back." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 14 on a South Africa trip

"Overall a fantastic trip - huge success and really enjoyed by all of our party.

Would reconsider flying from Kasane to Bazaruto via Joburh - this was slow and boring.

Interested to note direct Flights from Capetown into the delta- that might offer interesting options for pre or post safari time.

Mozambique looked great from the Air but we did not feel we could explore much when we got there.
Also felt a bit of a "prisoner " in remote beach lodge - maybe staying on mainland or nearer a town might have worked for us." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 7 on a Mozambique holiday

"WONDERFUL. A really great holiday over three weeks, NWR will not spoil it, a blip on the trip.

We would recommend a larger car than a Toyota Aygo, even though everyone said it could and indeed it did see us through the journey, a 4X4 with higher ground clearance and sand road capability would have been very desirable. With a small car, we were scraping gravel a lot of the time.

Cape Town, Primi Royal Boutique at Camps Bay, highly recommended as an option.

We stayed at some lovely locations and met some wonderful people as chosen by Expert Africa, thank you and well done.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

None, you're doing a great job, keep at it." Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"Our third trip with Expert Africa and the best yet. Gwynneth was very helpful and efficient and the arrangements were perfect. Locations and accommodation were just what we wanted and were all of a very high standard.

We hope to be travelling with you again soon.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

None at all." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 6 on a Namibia trip

"My trip to Botswana and South Africa far exceeded my expectations and was certainly a trip of a lifetime. All travel arrangements handled by Expert Africa was perfect.

Please give feedback to the camps: I would highly recommend an on-site nurse. There was one day when I arrived to Duma Tua where I suffered from heat exhaustion. It happened to be the hottest day of the trip and we left Vumbura at high heat and landed in high heat so the plane was extremely hot. Upon arrival to the camp after driving about 45 minutes also in high heat, my body literally shut down. I was unable to go to the night drive and the next morning drive. Although the staff was more than accomodating and worried for me, they were unable to get a hold of the nurse.

Luckily, I was prepared with re-hydration salts which allowed me to recover in less than 24 hours. It will give Visitors a good peace of mind and I did feel that Duma Tau was overstaffed with Managers so I don't think it would have been noticed that there was one less Manager but certainly would make a considerable impact with a Nurse on site. If this is not an option, I do recommend that all camps do keep re-hydration salts as part of their first aid kits.

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the Wildnerness Camps and staff and I would 200% recommend them. I have so many irreplaceable memories and I look forward to the next trip." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 5 on a Botswana safari

"I can't find enough superlatives to describe the overall experience of the trip (despite the few difficulties listed in the wider feedback). In fact, even the tyre problems, listed at the begining of the document, were a part of the overall experience and have now become a signifiicant part of the 'adventure' and of the telling.

This was very well organised and the accomodation excellent. I can't thank Sabina enough.

A great trip though hard work at times. Deffinitely not a holiday for those with poolside inclinations but what an adventure.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Some additional recomendations for any one doing a similar trip at this time i.e probably wanting to see the flowers. Don't miss out a trip round the cape for wild protea. Don't miss out Kirstenbosch. On the journey north take the coast road from Cape Town and take in the West Coast National Park with the Postberg reserve. The flowers are stunning and there are also game and bird viewings to be had. The coast road is good with good tarmac. Make sure your car has a ZA sticker on the back as the Namibian police at the Orange river border will threaten to fine you if you don't get one put on at the service station just after the border.

As soon as you get into Namibia go to the service station anyway and get your type pressures checked and deflated to about 1.80 - 2.00Atm for the gravel roads or you risk having punctures." Read full review: 23 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip

"Gwynneth was very helpful arranging this trip. We had been to Namibia on a number of occasions so we knew what we wanted to do and what we liked. Our only problem was the car" Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 7 on a Namibia trip

"Great trip with lots of good memories." Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip

"Kwando Lagoon spoilt it. Please see separate email and attachment." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari

"we really appreciate the approach of expert africa in allowing us the freedom to outline our wishes and make individual arrangements as needed but can rely 100% on your expertise in arranging venues and other aspects so efficiently. We like the personal touch and feel we know you well!

Gwyneth was able to help us when we had a problem with vehicle hire (see below) this was timely and efficient!

We have often recommended your services and have no hesitation whatsoever in planning to 'use'you for our next trip which is already formulating in our minds!

We also appreciate the extra information and notes, additional items you supply

The comprehensive feedback is appreciated as we know you continually monitor and check on venues and arrangements

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Please don't relax your careful 'quality control' which makes you such a reliable company and such good value for money!

Our only suggestion is that for (the presumably small number) guests who wish as we did to make driving part of our holiday and who want 4x4 vehicles you consider linking to one of the specialist 4x4 suppliers. Budget SA really did not come 'up to the mark ' in this respect.

They advertise 4x4 vehicles but then do not supply as expected...in our case we effectively were provided with a 'bakkie' from the truck hire division The trouble with this is they are not on site at the airport and when we had a problem with the vehicle allocated we had to await the truck hire manager to arrive and as you know he then was not very helpful in allowing an alternative vehicle!

Also the idea that vehicles for use in Namibia should have a double fuel tank was completely denied by both the car hire staff and the truck division manager (despite what I think is a statement on their website)" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 5 on a Namibia trip