Africa: Reviews from our travellers

"We have always wanted to go on a safari holiday and it has taken several years of planning and saving up to finally do it, but this has definitely been the most enjoyable holiday we have ever had and lived up to all our expectations in every way.

We really wanted to be pampered and spoiled, see all the animals in beautiful surroundings and to see as few other people and vehicles as possible and try and get a feel for Africa. South Luangwa delivered the locations and animals and Norman Carr Safaris was staffed by amazing people and run to a higher standard than we could possibly have hoped for. We would recommend it to anyone and plan to go back ourselves in the future.

Suggestions for improvements:

No, everything was perfect." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari

"This was a trip organised very late in the day, which I think made it all the more exciting. I think we were well advised by Lucy and realistically the holiday provided what it said it would. There was good variety in the camp choice and the stay in each was about right. I think having browsed the Botswana guide also helped the whole experience too.

wilderness apparently always confirm return flights which might be useful to know.

J'burg airport are taking temperatures of all visitors on arrival - a couple of paracetomol might be advisable for anyone with a bug or two to avoid quarantine!

Suggestions for improvements:

Please see comments above.

I never did receive the brochure request!

Pictures of the camps might help, its difficult for first timers to have any idea what to expect. Some guests might appreciate forwarnng that animals know no boundaries and will tent visit.

Chris McIntyre may be interested to know we met a guide working at Little Vumbura called Sam (i guess late 40's) who recalled setting up camp without tents many years ago before Wilderness Safaris. He spoke very warmly of him." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari

"From my first contact with Expert Africa via Lucy, I was impressed. Lucy went out of her way giving us advice. She listened to what our requirements were (flushing loos and hot showere!) and advised accordingly.

Our disappointment was, as I have said ,Tafika and maybe this is because they are suffering with the recession. Also the other places were so welcoming and accommodating it was made worse by the comparison." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 11 on a Zambia safari

"An excellent trip overall, there were certain goals which included a photograph of a leopard in day light up a tree, this was the only thing not achieved, we did however find two golden leopards (lions) up a tree.

We thought last years trip to Botswana would be hard to beat but our trip this year to Zambia has exceeded all our expectations and we haven't stopped smiling since. We met some great people and everyone connected with all the camps were very helpful, knowledgeable and always smiling. Can't wait to go back.

Suggestions for improvements:

Only negative comment to make would be the pick up on the morning of our return flight to UK, having paid for B&B could not take part in breakfast as restaurant opens at 5.30am at Taj Hotel and the company used to transfer us to the airport also picked us up at this time, whereas we could had made use of the shuttle bus service of the hotel, therefore allowing us time to enjoy a breakfast before the flight home." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 11 on a Zambia safari

"Planned very well indeed.

Went extremely smoothly, got no unpleasant surprises with any of the properties. Number of nights in each place was spot on.

Suggestions for improvement:

None whatsover, very pleased." Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip

"We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Namibia. Expert Africa were excellent in organising things, and the information pack we received prior to departure was comprehensive and well presented.

We would advise anyone planning / booking such a trip to use Expert Africa, although do start planning your trip early as it takes a surprisingly long time backwards and forwards getting all accommodation choices confirmed." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 7 on a Namibia trip

"Thank you Marushka for finalisng everything - I really thought the whole trip was off, until we were passed to you and you did a spread sheet of availability of all the places we wanted to stay - I was able to put the trip together in an hour - and wow - it was great, and we loved experiencing loads of different places - thank you so much for all your quick work securing accommodation.

Everything in the guide book and the additional notes were really accurate and a great help - we held on to our luggage (just - got lost in Jo'burg but eventually turned up in time for me to put it on the next flight).

My problem now is the next holiday - how can it get any better - it was everything we wanted and more - Marushka I'm relying on you to suggest something!!!!! If it hadn't been for |Marushka taking up my case then we wouldn't have made the trip this September, and maybe wouldn't have done it at all - we had made out commitment to Expert Africa by sending a cheque for £900 deposit before we had anything booked - hope Marushka gets some reward for her efforts.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service

Offer customers spread sheets of accommodation availabilty if it is difficult to put a trip together, otherwise you could lose them. I realise it changes all the time but it worked for us eventually." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip

"A very satisfactory trip including both holiday and some preliminary evaluation of a comparative anatomy project. Apart from the problems with the air travel,which could hardly have been foreseen, the planning of this trip was very straight foreward and the negotiations with CCF went extremely well. We were always kept informed and the final cost of the trip was very close to our original budget.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

This is the most difficult question you have asked and we cannot think of anything so far. Very sad to hear that Maruska has left, who will organise our next trip?

Expert Africa responds

Maruska has sadly left the UK office to set up an Expert Africa satelite office in her home country - New Zealand. She is still reachable by email and will remain very much part of Expert Africa. However, for ease of contact, she recommends that all our UK travellers contact one of her very able colleagues at Expert Africa by phone or email - whilst she will be concentrating more on our travellers who live in Australasia and North America." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 11 on a Namibia trip

"After 12 years since my last visit, there is a danger that perhaps I was seeing Namibia through rose-tinted lenses, but no. It came up to all my expectations and did not disappoint me at all.

One point, I gave a few hitchhikers a lift, but I was unsure if this invalidated my car insurance policy. Perhaps, you mention this in the materials you send but it might be made clearer, even if this may mean that some people will choose not to give lifts in the future, which would be a pity.

Suggestions for improvements:

Yes just one and it is not said in anger. At Okahandja at the largest of the two sets of stalls at either end of the town that sell carvings, trinkets, etc, the level from which one had to bargain was ridiculous. I wanted 4 items of moderate size and value, and the opening price from the young stall holder was $1,200. I eventually left with the goods having paid 450 Namibian dollars, and I'm sure the stall holder wasn't losing money even at that price.

I met two touring couples at a cafe right opposite the site shortly afterwards who asked me about the place. After I told them, they refused to go there! Setting such very high initial prices for items that are frankly not worth the equivalent of £100 not only is far too greedy but not even in the interests of the stall holders since I think their attitudes may deter some tourists. In any event, your customers should be warned about what they can expect if they 'go shopping' there." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 8 on a Namibia trip

"Outward flight was awful and not a good start to our holiday.

Both Shenton Camps were excellent - special to Tom in the bush camp - he was a wonderful host.

6 nights at Chongwe was too long, but this happened due to the Bush Buck Camp not opening.

Return flight very uncomfortable - in fact BA was the only reason our level of satisfactory was not higher.

Suggestions for improvements:

No - you are doing a good job!" Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 16 on a Zambia safari