Zambia: reviews from our travellers

"expensive but unforgettable.

Most of the lodges are so nice one wants to live there, at least for a long time. Gwynneth was extremely helpful and efficient when we needed her (we had to made some last minute arrangements because we were not able to cross the border to Botswana - our fault) but she fixed it and the outcome was excellent" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 6 on a Namibia trip

"Excellent trip.

Claire Scott was careful to not overstate any details, and we are already beginning to plan next year's safari." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zambia safari

"Excellent

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Not really :-)" Read full review: 4 nights in Africa; 3 on a Zambia safari

"A superb experience." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari

"Trip was extremely well put together. Claire was very efficient and could not have been more helpful.

We had an issue with the transfer from Kaingo to Rukomechi. With hindsight had we realized it would take over 11 hours we would have probably made a different decision about the combination of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Secondly, there was a mix-up between Executive Air (Safari Logistics) and the booking for the transfer from Mana Pools Airstrip to Hwange. The plane arrived at 11:00 AM, which was his scheduled arrival according to his sheet but was an hour before we were expected to be picked up. Luckily the pilot waited for us and the two other passengers. We arrived at Hwange Airport at 2:15pm and there was no vehicle there from Camp Hwange. Again the pilot waited as he did not want to leave us at a closed airport building with no means of contacting the Camp. Finally a vehicle arrived at 3:15 pm.(the driver said he had been told to arrive for 3:30pm). The pilot Janade Krarim left with the other two passengers bound for Victoria Falls. Without the kindness of the pilot we could have been stranded." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 11 on a Zimbabwe safari

"Overall it was very good: the variety of locations and wild life mix, top guides, generally very good catering and personal attention. Good advice from Expert Africa. The basic itineray was discussed and fixed with Lucy Copson. Nick Hobbs and Megan Ingoldby helped very active and constructively fixing issues and final arrangements. I cannot select one team member (see below), so I indicated Chris McIntyre. You should change the question to the team members (multiple) who assisted." Read full review: 26 nights in Africa; 11 on a Zambia safari

"We were very pleased with our holiday. Everything worked out smoothly and it exceeded our expectations.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Perhaps a couple of comments on the trip notes. We arrived on time in Lusaka early on Saturday morning, but immigration was dreadful at nearly 1.5 hours and we were worried we would miss the connecting flight; the notes don't give any advice on what to do if that happens. Further, the banks were shut at that time so it wasn't possible to change dollars. However, after the initial panic we were told we could pay the internal departure fees by credit card (Visa or Mastercard). And that proved to be true at Livingstone as well as Lusaka. Making that clear in the notes would have lessened the stress somewhat." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari

"Excellent. This was a very special trip for us and it all came up to scratch. We wanted small remote camps and theey bothe fitted thee bill, especially Old Mondoro. Mondoro was special because thee guides were so good withe thee exception of thee guide we had once on thee 4the day who really showed how good thee otheer 2 were! Also thee activities were varied and thee walking very good and exciting yet safe.

Claire was very good coping withe my questions and worries and we got upgraded at Kaya Mawa , just as we did when we went to Sands River Selous 3 years ago. So Expert Africa have a certain magic about theem as far as I am concerned. We will use you again when we return to Africa. Kaya Mawa said thee EA staff who came last year were very theorough and wanted to know lots of details.

Thank you for delivering again" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari

"The safari company in Rwanda.
Excellent, exceptional even. The Driver/Guide was very good: always on time, always helpful, always interesting and well informed. And a good driver. What the Toyota safari wagon lacked in comfort it made up for in space and really came into its own in tackling some of the poor tracks as we drove to our trekking departure points. On all three trekking days he looked after us well at the ranger station and made sure we got onto trekking groups well suited to our (limited) ability.

The Transfer Company.
Very good. Punctual, helpful and willing. They went out of their way to take us to an exchange and a chemist and on each occasion escorted us through the airport with an efficiency we could not have matched. Their help was much appreciated.

The Trekking.
Each of the treks start over farm land using the paths used by workers to reach the wall (a wall that marks the boundary between the National Park and the Farm land which was built to keep the buffalo and elephant out of the farm land) for up to an hour, followed by up to four hour more strenuous walking to the habituated group you have been allocated to visit.

Our trek to the Golden Monkeys was about 90 minutes and fairly easy at a modest pace. It was a pleasure to watch and photograph the monkeys for an hour or so as they moved gently and quietly through the trees and bushes. On the return trek we were luck enough to bump into a gorilla group, unique we were told.

Our first gorilla trek was about two hour in total to their location, the pace was leisurely over gradually ascending terrain with just the occasional more difficult clime. On our second trip the family were only just over the wall, so a fairly easy walk.

The experience of being with the gorillas was unforgettable and difficult to verbalise; memorable, moving, emotional, exciting, almost unimaginable; having a silverback just a couple of yards from you is a truly amazing experience." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 5 on a Zambia safari

"I really enjoyed my safari trip and was very pleased with all the camps.

I was very happy with the help planning that was provided by Expert Africa. I was very pleased with the honest reviews of camps that were given and if I am ever planning another safari, I will definitely make use of Expert Africa's services. Thanks very much to Elie and Nick.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I was thoroughly impressed by the services provided by Expert Africa and have no suggestions. I began planning my trip very late and was impressed by how helpful everyone was even though I was so late booking." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari