Zambia: reviews from our travellers

"All in all, a wonderful trip. More than achieved all our hopes. We were able to walk a lot, which was the main point, apart from a minor hiccup at Nsefu in the afternoons. Game viewing was brilliant, including everything we expected and several superb sightings of wild dogs and leopards. The guides were first class. The camps were most comfortable but still managed to feel as if they belonged in the bush (with slight reservations about Nsefu, see above). Food exceeded expectations, especially the lunches which were absolutely excellent. Wines and other drinks also surprisingly good. Everyone who looked after us at the camps and on the walks and drives was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. We shall certainly plan to do another trip to Zambia, perhaps at a slightly different time of year or in a different area but would particularly like to return to Luwi and Tena Tena. Nsefu would be for one night only as a jumping off point for a mobile camp." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari

"Initially Megan and then Ellie when Megan took maternity leave.

Same review would apply to both.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

This was one of the best planned and orchestrated trips we have taken. We were met and guided within all airports.

The guides for the safaris were the best we encountered on any of our trips and were uniformly friendly and helpful. We were so impressed, we would like our children to use your services.

The only thing I would consider doing differently if the trip had to be 2 days shorter (for our family or friends on a limited timetable) is one less day in Chongwe river camp and dropping the fly camp ." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 11 on a Zambia safari

"Expert Africa arranged a great experience for us. We did not really know what to expect of a holiday in Zambia. Too little is said about this wonderful country and its game parks. In South Luangwa Park we had spectacular drives and walks. We saw so many animals and some of the most spectacular birds in Africa. Our trip was so well organised with great attention to detail. There was never a moment of uncertainty. At airports we were met as promised and escorted to our next flight. All aspects of our journeys were well planned and glitch-free.

We had done our research and we had decided to build out trip round Robin Pope camps. We contacted several specialists in this type of holiday. Expert Africa offered good advice and came up with a good package. It was good to work with just one adviser - we felt comfortable with him and we had confidence in his advice. That confidence was not misplaced.

The Robin Pope service was truly excellent. Imagine a hotel where everyone knows your name, where everyone greets you as a friend, where you are welcomed back each day as one of the family. Staff are clearly trained to provide a great personal service with professionalism and style. Everyone, without exception-managers, guides, cooks, waiters, night watchmen added charm to the service they provided.

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As you will have read we really cannot fault the organisations involved in the trip. It would be nice to think that the Robin Pope organisation continues to keep this balance of professionalism and personality." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari

"Trip exceeded our expectations in every way possible. I would highly recommend it to anyone." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 11 on a Zambia safari

"Amazing! Loved every minute of it! The people of Zambia are incredibly welcoming and hospitable. They are truly very nice people. And it really enhances a trip tremendously!

We loved the landscapes of South Luangwa, absolutely gorgeous! Of course the wildlife was plentiful!

This trip was the stuff that dreams are made of! Absolutely wonderful!" Read full review: 6 nights in Africa; 5 on a Zambia safari

"Trip was a wonderful experience with some magic moments.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

We were very pleased with the service received from Lucy at Expert Africa." Read full review: 5 nights in Africa; 3 on a Botswana safari

"Expert Africa is truly expert and the organisation was exemplary. Everything ran like clockwork with no glitches and the attention to detail was astounding - at no time were we left unsupported throughout the entire booking process and the trip itself.

We were also very impressed with Robin Pope Safaris - each of their lodges was very different tin feel but shared the same ethos and attention to detail. The guiding was particularly good in all the camps." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 6 on a Zambia safari

"There was no-one to meet us at the airport when we arrived at Lusaka. We scoured the airport and found someone from Tours Africa but he said that they had not been asked to pick us up. After speaking to what seemed to be everyone in the Airport the Tours Africa rep came back and apologised and said it was entirely their fault and then took us to the hotel but we wasted over half an hour.

Tsetses were an issue, as we can both react badly to them. Much worse in South Luangwa than last time and we had one particularly bad Tsetse walk in North Luangwa. We were expecting them in Kafue - Musekese was better than expected, Busanga Plains much worse. All the camps were free of tsetses.

Disappointing that information on the Expert Africa website is inaccurate. Overall service from Expert Africa was very good, as usual. However......although the wallet is better than the old one, I still think it is daft to give people a wallet every time they travel - I won't use it again and it will join the other 2 wallets in my desk drawer. A shirt would give Expert Africa free advertising as well as being useful for the recipient (I've mentioned this before but it fell on deaf ears!).

I also think you should ask if people want a copy of Zambia before you sent it. When I got mine I thought it was a new edition but found it was identical, so it went straight to recycling." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 18 on a Zambia safari

"Our holiday was absolutely fantastic and totally exceeded our expectations in every way. Thank you!" Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zambia safari

"A very good and enjoyable holiday with many highlights

The only down side for us was we were not met at Lusaka and had to manage our way through customs/immigration etc with only 20 mins to spare before our flight to Mfwue" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari