Reviews of safaris to Victoria Falls

"This was our seventh trip to Africa since 2016, which we decided to split between Zimbabwe and Botswana. Some of our friends have asked us whether we haven’t seen enough of Africa by now. I’m fully aware of the fact that there are countries in Africa that aren’t safe and better avoided, but our answer would be: no, we haven’t. As strange as it may sound, visiting Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Zambia and Kenya has always felt to us like coming home. And this is due not just to the charismatic megafauna that can be experienced here, but to the people living here. In our seven trips we have spent more than half a year in Africa, and we have only experienced a healthy curiosity, kindness and open-mindedness.

That said, as outlined above in the detailed comments on individual camps, this trip wasn’t short on highlights in terms of wildlife sightings, but I would like to add a few general remarks.

Shortly before our trip, President Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe declared a national desaster because of the drought experienced in the previous rainy season. Considering that Zimbabwe has a government with a questionable reputation and a poor economy, we were a bit apprehensive about coming here. But our worries were unfounded. Granted, en route to our first camp, we drove through villages with hundreds of people gathering around big bags of cornmeal donated by the UN. We were told that if this country would be run by a decent and effective government, this desperate step wouldn’t have been necessary.

Given these rather bleak economic circumstances it is all the more astounding that whoever we met along the way was kind-hearted and of good spirits.

Shortly before our trip, Botswana’s president Masisi jokingly threatened to send 10,000 elephants to London’s Hyde Park and 20,000 elephants to Germany, because allegedly, they have too many of them. Without question, there is evidence for human-elephant conflict, but I doubt whether the solution is to allow trophy hunting (Botswana re-introduced trophy hunting in 2019 after a five-year ban).

When I raised this subject in Zimbabwe, everybody had an opinion on this controversial topic, whereas in Botswana, they would rather not talk about it.


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I have nothing but praise for all the freely given advice before the trip and the organization of the trips themselves." Read full review: 28 nights in Africa; 12 on a Zimbabwe safari

"Thank you for making a fantastic once in a lifetime experience.

It was amazing and you chose perfect places for me." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"I have recommended Expert Africa and Tracy Lederer several times to travellers I met on this trip. The first part in Namibia at the Namib-Naukluft Park was even more rewarding than I expected. It was very hot, however, I had 6 clear nights and took advantage of them to do my astrophotography with some excellent results. Being allowed to enter the main park early at 4.30am was a huge bonus. After that I was a little sleep deprived, but it was worth it Both Sossus Dune Lodge and Sossusvlei Desert Lodge were excellent.

The two "cat" related lodges Okonjima Bush Camp and Cheetah View Lodge were interesting and worth visiting. I spent 6 days at Cheetah View Lodge, 3 days at both lodges would have been sufficient.

Olive Grove Guesthouse and Ilala Lodge were repeat visits and I enjoyed both.

The disappointment of the tour was the Pangolin Photo Tour. It should have been excellent but the combination of an inexperienced Photo Host and poor drivers at the Ker and Downey camps was not effective. I would recommend the Chobe River as a wildlife photography site, however, I would be less enthusiastic about Pangolin Tour Company unless you were assured of an experienced photo host. The two Ker and Downey camps were OK, however, I've stayed in better camps in the Moremi and Kalahari areas." Read full review: 33 nights in Africa; 19 on a Namibia trip

"In 1 word: epic." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"Great trip which lived up to our expectations entirely.

We can't wait to go back." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 4 on a Botswana safari

"Overall our trip was excellent.

Looking back, perhaps the most wonderful thing was the feeling that someone was in control and we didn’t have to worry about anything.

It was wonderful. Thanks a lot!!!" Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 7 on a Kenya safari

"I think my earlier comments [Ed: in the individual camp reviews] have captured the mood of our trip.

It was the most memorable time and the organisation from Expert Africa was super.

All connections were seamless with cars to meet planes, planes to meet helicopters and planes to meet planes.

The camps we stayed in were both wonderful and the trip more than matched our expectations" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 6 on a Zimbabwe safari

"For us personally there was a bit of (healthy?) tension regarding this trip.

It was the exact same one we did 10 years ago, which had a very unfortunate start. However, the days that remained were memorable and worth repeating. So we did and were definately not disappointed.

The trip as a whole went very smoothly and brought us exactly what we hoped for. We've come to rely on Expert Africa for just these reasons and will be doing so in the future. In fact, even before ending this trip we started planning the next one. If that's not a vote of confidence, I don't know what is.

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The service is impeccable, I can't think of any suggestions.

Regarding the trips; also pretty difficult. Maybe widen the range of countries you cater to?" Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zimbabwe safari

"The entire trip was amazing - eight nights at Hwange Bush Camp in Zimbabwe including three nights fly camping at Mandavu followed by nine days on a mobile safari through Chobe, Savuti and Kwai.

The service throughout was outstanding.

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Please keep it the way it is." Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zimbabwe safari

"We cannot praise the organisation of this trip highly enough. It was excellent from beginning to end.

It provided everything we wanted. The choice of accommodation for our budget was spot on, and some how we seemed on almost every occasion to be in one of the best rooms. Hard to believe that was by chance!

We experienced only two very minor 'hiccups' and both were resolved by the Namibian representative almost instantly - itself perhaps as good a recommendation as one can give.

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Our experience of the availability of internet across Namibia was considerably better than the Notes to Travellers indicated we should expect.

We found every fuel station and lodge we visited expected us to pay by credit card, and in the end we were left with a large amount of SA currency which we were only able to use after a friendly SA lodge manager agreed to accept it in payment of our final account at the end of the trip." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip