Reviews of safaris to Kwando-Linyanti area

"Very satisfactory.

The number of animals and birds we saw was amazing. Guides and trackers very knowledgeable and considerate. My only complaint is that I now have 1,500 photos to sort out!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Megan was extremely helpful with organising our travel arrangements and the camps we stayed - it would have been difficult to choose the camps from your brochure without her help. Nxabega camp had an incorrect date for our departure but this was efficiently corrected" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari

"Overall the trip was incredible!! We will definitely be back. T

he only thing we will change next time is to do private vehicles. It is more expensive, but it gives you much more freedom to stay and watch more animal behavior. The other thing I noticed, which could just be variation, is that there appeared to be more game in Oct than August. This may be because it was drier and hotter in Oct. However, we actually saw many more cats the August trip, than the previous trip in October.

Maruska with Expert Africa was excellent in communicating with us about a flight cancellation at the end of our trip. She was able to change our reservation and cover the cost until we arrived home." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana 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

"Since many years it was a dream for me to visit Botswana and the Okavango delta.
I've read many travel guides (also the very recommendable one of Chris McIntyre!) and had contact to many travel agencies.
Although living in Germany I've chosen Expert Africa to help me and organize this trip for us.

From the first contacts I knew that it was the right decision - it couldn't have been better somewhere else:
Lucy and Megan were always helpful, patient and with great knowledge about the different locations and accommodations.

The organisation of the trip was excellent - we've had no problems, everything worked perfectly and in conclusion the trip was the one we've hoped to have. All the places we've visited had their own and special atmosphere and showing something different.

Thanks again to the people of Expert Africa who made an excellent job!
I can recommend Expert Africa not highly enough and whenever I/we will return to Africa I will ask them to manage it for me." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 12 on a Botswana safari

"Our first trip to Africa was everything we had hoped and planned for. We had heard a lot about Botswana and its pristine wilderness and wildlife and it certainly lived up to expectations.

At Dinaka in the Central Kalahari we found the landscape, environment and wildlife was quite different to Little Kwara in the Okavango Delta and Lebala further north. This difference is what we had hoped to experience - we didn't want everywhere to be the same and I think we achieved this.

The camps had excellent facilities, the tents were all large and extremely well equipped and the lodges very comfortable. The food was exceptionally good wherever we went and always plentiful. We particularly enjoyed the campfire breakfasts and coffee and sundowners out on the game drives. Good drinking water was always available and we did not encounter one mosquito even in the Delta area!!

We enjoyed the varied activities on offer at each camp as well as the usual day and night game drives. At Dinaka we had the bushwalk and the two visits to the hides overlooking the waterholes - we even enjoyed brunch at the hides. Little Kwara
have the double decker boats and it was a fantastic experience going out into the Delta. Lebala did not offer us any extra activities apart from a bird hide on site, but their unique location and being surrounded by Hippos and Elephants is a bonus!
We would like to return to Botswana after the rainy season to see the tranformation from desert to the lush green landscapes we have heard about. Maybe one day!

We did not have any problems, all flights were on time and we were picked up and taken through the border at Zimbabwe without any hassle. The only thing which annoyed us slightly was that the driver for Wilderness Safaris did not take us straight to Ilala Lodge but made a detour to pick up two staff members who wanted to sell us 'activities' while staying in Vic Falls despite us twice previously saying to the driver we didn't want to arrange anything. It was only after we arrived at the Lodge and explained we were meeting a relative at Vic Falls that they left.

Our two night stay in Zimbabwe was not long enough to do everything we wanted, there seems to be a lot on offer and our impression is that the community there are trying very hard to re-establish the tourism industry. It was certainly busy in Victoria Falls and we saw many different nationalities. We would maybe like to return there one day for a longer holiday if things improve.

The people and all the staff were great wherever we went, always had a smile for us and were helpful friendly and professional.

Overall our trip was an exceptional experience!! Thanks to Expert Africa.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Everything worked out perfectly for our trip so I can't think of any suggestions for improvement- thanks very much to Megan for all her planning, expertise and advice. We would certainly recommend her and Expert Africa to our friends if they are planning a trip to Africa." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"This was a truly memorable trip.

It was our third trip to Africa, and the best in terms of wildlife viewing. The whole safari experience was wonderful from start to end." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari

"This was our first visit to Botswana and we were impressed with the smoothness of all stages of our trip." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"Organisation by all concerned - in the office in England and throughout our time in Africa - was first rate. Travel arrangements went seamlessly.

All the Kwando staff were excellent - we do not want to pick out any one of our guides, but must say that the personal service they gave, whether while on an activity or around camp, was exemplary. As intimated before, we would have enjoyed more sightings of cats in the first half of the trip, but our time at Kwara made up for this in many ways - overall, we had a "very satisfactory" safari, with a number of specific experiences/memories that will survive the years as highlights." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari

"It was all I expected (hoped) it would be!!

Excellent place to see doggies (my main reason for coming here), high standard of camps/lodges.
Surprisingly pretty landscape outside of the delta. this of course has for an important part to do with all the water returning to the area.

Excellent, really excellent guides without exception.

By the way, Bradt's Botswana guide was a great help in planning the trip.

Everything was taken care of in an excellent manner, so no worries - only pleasure and excitement- at all!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Botswana safari

"Maruska listened to our preferences and designed our perfect trip. Every camp offered something unique. We honestly would not have changed anything -- okay, other than a desire to "magically" transport from the U.S. to Maun and back. ;-)

The camps were a perfect succession from semi-rustic to start and finishing with pure pure luxury." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari