Travel reviews by Family P from Cirencester
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
2
Countries visited
3
Lodges stayed in
14
Excursions taken
2
My Jun 2023 trip
Botswana and 1 other country between 4 Jun 2023 and 21 Jun 2023
"Our second holiday with Expert Africa. Our trip to Botswana was expensive but it was just magic, arranged with great attention to detail.
Botswana is an incredible country to visit. I have never felt so welcome and well cared for anywhere else. All the staff and guides were friendly and wanted guests to feel at home. Game viewing is in small groups with a high level of personal service you just don't get elsewhere, and there is plenty of wildlife to see. Our guides were well trained, provided a lot of information and were always happy to answer questions. Most importantly, we always felt safe, despite getting very close to many animals. The guides even know the best way to manoeuvre and position vehicles, so photographers get the best view possible.
This was our third safari holiday and the best. Botswana definitely deserves it reputation as the best safari location.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Just keep up the high standard you have set!"
Botswana is an incredible country to visit. I have never felt so welcome and well cared for anywhere else. All the staff and guides were friendly and wanted guests to feel at home. Game viewing is in small groups with a high level of personal service you just don't get elsewhere, and there is plenty of wildlife to see. Our guides were well trained, provided a lot of information and were always happy to answer questions. Most importantly, we always felt safe, despite getting very close to many animals. The guides even know the best way to manoeuvre and position vehicles, so photographers get the best view possible.
This was our third safari holiday and the best. Botswana definitely deserves it reputation as the best safari location.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Just keep up the high standard you have set!"
Arranged By Lucy Copson
Ilala Lodge
"Ilala Lodge review"
3 nights
Arrived
5 Jun 2023
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Ra-Ikane River Cruise
"Ra-Ikane River Cruise review"
5 Jun 2023 • All-day excursion
A relaxed cruise with well informed staff.
The scale of the river can only be fully appreciated by boat.
The sunset cruise provided spectacular vistas across the water, accompanied by ample snacks and drinks.
Good sightings of hippos.
The scale of the river can only be fully appreciated by boat.
The sunset cruise provided spectacular vistas across the water, accompanied by ample snacks and drinks.
Good sightings of hippos.
Livingstone Island & Devil's Pool
"Livingstone Island & Devil's Pool review"
6 Jun 2023 • All-day excursion
Livingstone Island had just opened, and the river was very fast flowing, so the speedboat ride to the island was thrilling.
Devils pool wasn't in use, but we enjoyed afternoon tea as we watched the Zambezi race past and thunder over the falls.
Devils pool wasn't in use, but we enjoyed afternoon tea as we watched the Zambezi race past and thunder over the falls.
Excellent
Muchenje Safari Lodge
"Muchenje Safari Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
8 Jun 2023
"What a spectacular location!
Rooms aren't big but are tastefully furnished, well equipped and take full advantage of the view.
Good food and welcoming hosts.
Elephants were regularly eating plants in the garden, even during the day.
The "whole day out" game viewing is a different approach to the other camps we stayed in, but works well.
A large herd of elephants passed within 2 feet of the boat when we we stopped for lunch on the edge of the riverbank."
Rooms aren't big but are tastefully furnished, well equipped and take full advantage of the view.
Good food and welcoming hosts.
Elephants were regularly eating plants in the garden, even during the day.
The "whole day out" game viewing is a different approach to the other camps we stayed in, but works well.
A large herd of elephants passed within 2 feet of the boat when we we stopped for lunch on the edge of the riverbank."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Lagoon Camp
"Lagoon Camp review"
3 nights
Arrived
10 Jun 2023
"Large tented rooms on the riverbank. Sit in the bathtub and watch the hippos!
One night we were escorted back to our room with lion tracks on the sandy path. A male lion had taken a short cut through the camp whilst everyone was eating dinner. Our guide Stan was very calm about it!"
One night we were escorted back to our room with lion tracks on the sandy path. A male lion had taken a short cut through the camp whilst everyone was eating dinner. Our guide Stan was very calm about it!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Savute Safari Lodge
"Savute Safari Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
13 Jun 2023
"More like a hotel than a lodge.
Our room and the dining /lounge were very stylish and comfortable, overlooking a large water hole which was always busy. Plenty to see without even leaving our room.
Isaac was a wonderfully knowledgeable guide. He knew a lot about the local geography and plant life as well as the animals."
Our room and the dining /lounge were very stylish and comfortable, overlooking a large water hole which was always busy. Plenty to see without even leaving our room.
Isaac was a wonderfully knowledgeable guide. He knew a lot about the local geography and plant life as well as the animals."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Brown Hyena
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Lion
Many sightings
Splash Camp
"Splash Camp review"
3 nights
Arrived
15 Jun 2023
"Stylish rooms with a good view over the pan, so you can just sit on the deck in your room and watch the animals.
Tasty breakfasts around the camp fire with freshly baked muffins.
Friendly staff and well informed guides who seem to know the answer to every question you ask!"
Tasty breakfasts around the camp fire with freshly baked muffins.
Friendly staff and well informed guides who seem to know the answer to every question you ask!"
Excellent
Kwetsani Camp
"Kwetsani Camp review"
3 nights
Arrived
18 Jun 2023
"Our final camp and definitely the best.
Everything was just wonderful- the room, the food, our guide GT, and even dinner in the boma one night."
Everything was just wonderful- the room, the food, our guide GT, and even dinner in the boma one night."
Excellent
A fantastic family adventure
Namibia between 23 Jul 2010 and 8 Aug 2010
"Namibia was fantastic.
This was a well planned itinerary and everthing went according to plan. We stayed in many stunning locations, the quality of the food exceeded our expectaions, and everybody we met clearly wanted us to have a good experience of their country.
The only downside is that we can't afford a holiday like this every year!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Just let customers know that places with pools all provide swimming towels- this would have saved us a little luggaage space!"
This was a well planned itinerary and everthing went according to plan. We stayed in many stunning locations, the quality of the food exceeded our expectaions, and everybody we met clearly wanted us to have a good experience of their country.
The only downside is that we can't afford a holiday like this every year!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Just let customers know that places with pools all provide swimming towels- this would have saved us a little luggaage space!"
Villa Violet
"The Elegant Bed & Breakfast review"
1 night
Arrived
24 Jul 2010
"Easy to find and very comforable beds - just what you need after the long journey.
The lady on reception was very helpful and booked us a table for dinner nearby."
The lady on reception was very helpful and booked us a table for dinner nearby."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
BullsPort Lodge and Farm
"Bullsport Guest Farm review"
2 nights
Arrived
25 Jul 2010
"This place isn't luxurious, but it is vey comfotable and homely with excellent food.
We were made very welcome by hosts who clearly wanted us to get the most out of our stay. They even repaired a puncture at little cost whislt we were out walking.
Everybody sitting down together to eat dinner with the family was enjoyed by all. This is just how a guesthouse should be run."
We were made very welcome by hosts who clearly wanted us to get the most out of our stay. They even repaired a puncture at little cost whislt we were out walking.
Everybody sitting down together to eat dinner with the family was enjoyed by all. This is just how a guesthouse should be run."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Kulala Desert Lodge
"Kulala Desert Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
27 Jul 2010
"Wow, what a location! Stunning.
The early morning trip to watch sunrise over the dunes was incredible - the guide was superb - and we had a delicious lunch on our return. Staff were very helpful and attentive. Sunsets equally as impressive."
The early morning trip to watch sunrise over the dunes was incredible - the guide was superb - and we had a delicious lunch on our return. Staff were very helpful and attentive. Sunsets equally as impressive."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Villa Margherita
"Villa Margherita review"
2 nights
Arrived
29 Jul 2010
"This was more like a small boutique hotel than a guesthouse, and the food was better than the local seafood restaurant we tried (The Tug).
The Italian flair for interior design and attention to detail made it quite a contrast to other places we stayed. Lovely breakfasts.
The Sandwich Harbour Tour was real highlight. The guide was absolutely fantastice, very knowledgable, relaxed and friendly."
The Italian flair for interior design and attention to detail made it quite a contrast to other places we stayed. Lovely breakfasts.
The Sandwich Harbour Tour was real highlight. The guide was absolutely fantastice, very knowledgable, relaxed and friendly."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Doro Nawas
"Doro Nawas review"
2 nights
Arrived
31 Jul 2010
"We slept out under the stars here - an amazing experience. It was nice to have guides who explained the southern hemisphere constellations to us.
We still can't believe how close we were able to get to the elephants."
We still can't believe how close we were able to get to the elephants."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Anderssons Camp, Namibia (this camp has since closed)
"Anderssons Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
2 Aug 2010
"Owned by Wilderness, the same company who own Kulala and Doro Nawas, but much simpler. Some nice quirky designs - like the bathrooms.
This was more a camp, with a good waterhole next to the main lounge/dining room area - so you can watch as you eat.
The staff were very helpful, but the food not quite up to the same high standard as the companies other lodges. The morning game drive was excellent, but expensive compared to the cost at our next stop - Mushara Bush Camp."
This was more a camp, with a good waterhole next to the main lounge/dining room area - so you can watch as you eat.
The staff were very helpful, but the food not quite up to the same high standard as the companies other lodges. The morning game drive was excellent, but expensive compared to the cost at our next stop - Mushara Bush Camp."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Average
Food
Average
Facilities
Average
Lodge not featured by Expert Africa
Mushara Bush Camp
"Mushara Bush Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
4 Aug 2010
"Wonderful. Considering this is the cheapest of the Mushara collection accomodation, we all thought it was amazing.
It was comfortable, had a good sized pool which was warmer than others we had used, and lovely food. A set dinner each night, but the staff were happy to provide alternatives if needed.
It has a particularly good gift shop, with lovely bead necklaces."
It was comfortable, had a good sized pool which was warmer than others we had used, and lovely food. A set dinner each night, but the staff were happy to provide alternatives if needed.
It has a particularly good gift shop, with lovely bead necklaces."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Erongo Wilderness Lodge
"Erongo Wilderness Lodge review"
1 night
Arrived
6 Aug 2010
"A stunning location with rooms along walkways in the mountain.
The rooms are simple but nicely styled and you will walk up and down a lot - but the bar/restaurant area has good views and the food was delicious. Do take a guided walk- or two and climb the rocks at sunset.
We were made very welcome and would have liked an extra night here."
The rooms are simple but nicely styled and you will walk up and down a lot - but the bar/restaurant area has good views and the food was delicious. Do take a guided walk- or two and climb the rocks at sunset.
We were made very welcome and would have liked an extra night here."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sadly, the pool was out of action during our stay due to reroofing of the surrounding building- however, free transport was available to use the pool at the other hotel a short drive away."