Zambia: reviews from our travellers

"The overall trip was fantastic.

I have travelled to Africa previously but this was the first time for my friend.

The South Luangwa River Lodge was a great option for someone visiting for the first time." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zambia safari

"The best part was the variety of wildlife - hard to beat.
Travel at times rather hot and tiring but just had to be got through!

People on the whole were lovely and guides very good.
We would go back to Botswana again, maybe to other camps." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"You need to add six paw prints for the clients who have had a safari that has excelled their expectations and believe me, we had high expectations.

From the moment we checked in at Heathrow to the moment we landed back at Heathrow we were looked after superbly.

If I have any niggles it would be the meal times at Mwamba / Kaingo. We preferred the meal times and self service (thereby avoiding 'American-sized' portions) at Tena Tena and found it was too late to eat at 21:30 if we were waiting for game drives to return. I also ended up missing lunch because it was too close to breakfast. We appreciate that if clients have seen a kill at 20:00, it would be difficult to return to the lodge straight away, but we felt that it was unfair that all the guests had to wait until everyone had returned rather than perhaps the guide explaining that if the clients wished to remain with the kill, that their dinner might be slightly colder. Meal times at RPS seemed to be much more efficient and time-friendly." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari

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

"Owner-run camps are far superior to the Wilderness camps, for the most part (Lufupa excepted).

Expert Africa should work harder to promote the smaller camps which have invested so much in providing and further developing outstanding experiences for their guests. I would hate to see them pushed out by the larger international operations. The tsetse fly situation came close to ruining our visit in a couple of places.

You really should do more to warn visitors of their presence. People should not be subjected to long drives at tree line or in forests during peak fly times of day. Mosi Beer lived up to expectations, though! Would be happy to discuss our visit with Anna in more detail.

Finally, we would like to thank the people in Expert Africa for all of the help that has been provided for us. Anna has been a real source of good and reliable information and has come up with lots of suggestions which made our trip special. She has gone that extra bit to ensure that everything came out well and all of the bits were in place. I am sure that there were times when we were real pains, but we never knew it from Anna. With people like her, I'm sure that your organisation will continue its run of success." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 12 on a Zambia safari

"we had a really wonderful time we especially wanted to see the African wild dogs and did so 3 times including just after a kill
everyone at the camps was really good, nothing was too much trouble, sad to leave africa

we love informality but wondered if the staff should wear first name tabs ,staying only 2/3 nightsyou really struggle with names other than your tracker and guide.

you missed out african Odessey transfer which was not good. the guy that met us had no juice on his phone and the minibus was late, when he turned up we were not on his list. then he checked and said our flight was 12.45. he must of then received another call because we went from slow to fast to the airport,we arrived at 5 to 11 for an 11am flight!" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"Wonderful.

Only problem is I daren't hink of going back (at the moment) in case it wasn't as amazing the next time.

I was impressed by Lucy right from the first time I contacted the office at 5.25 one afternoon and I was offering to ring back at a more convenient time, and she just said that it was fine and too important to leave and she would sort out what I wanted straight away." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"Thank for organising everything for us- we all had a fantastic holiday - so many memories for me on my return visit to Luangwa, Senanga and the Victoria Falls and a wonderful fiirst Africa experience for Tom, Alison and David.

After several enquiries Expert Africa were the first to give us good advice about getting to Senanga and sounded as if they knew what they were talking about.

Bradt Travel Guide and Notes to travellers to Zambia were invaluable. Everything went as planned. Visa letter made entry to Zambia problem free." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 4 on a Zambia safari

"We loved it. The guiding was great, wildlife bountiful, lodges very good, service impeccable, people incredibly welcoming. And we greatly admired the responsible attitude to aids awarenes: clear messages were available even in nurseries, and free condoms are available in public lavatories.

We felt very safe everywhere, and there was no mass toursim, no convoys of 4WDs in the parks. We also particularly liked the fact that on walking safaris, one is accompanied by an expert guide and by an armed ranger- in the case of trouble, the former takes the visitors to safety, while the ranger deals with the problem animal. it does make sense!" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari

"Expert Africa as good as last time.

Chris gave good overall initial guidance and Lucy Scholte was just great and worked continuously to make sure we got what we wanted on our itinerary. Even after trip had been paid for Lucy still worked up to departure to get changes in bookings to meet requested loges/camps.

Not many agents bother like that once the cheque is in. Really outstanding work by Lucy and much appreciated.

We would certainly use Expert Africa again." Read full review: 25 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zambia safari