Reviews of safaris to Kwando-Linyanti area

"We loved our second trip to Botswana.

It is expensive compared to East Africa for example but really suits us - generally quiet without too many people, we enjoy the little planes to fly in and out of camps, the wildlife and birdlife is great. The camp suggestions were good and Lucy and Nick were patient in helping find out availability for various combinations of camp.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Have a better system for passing messages internally.

We called and left messages 3 times which were not returned before we were able to speak to someone about Botswana. We know the team is busy but, if we had been first time callers to Expert Africa, we might not have persevered. It was only the fact that we've had such good experiences in the past with Expert Africa that meant we continued to call!" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 11 on a Botswana safari

"Many thanks to Maruska who organized such a great trip for us" Read full review: 5 nights in Africa; 4 on a Botswana safari

"We were a little apprehensive about the trip not knowing quite what to expect but overall it was very enjoyable. My wife was wondering why we had only booked 8 nights but realised once we had been there a few days that getting up at 5.30 every day, being jolted about on the trucks for several hours and the heat meant that it was quite tiring, so 8 nights was just about right.

The wildlife experience was really fantastic and we loved every minute of the game drives dispite being bounced about. The sundowners were magical.

We met lots of friendly people from many different countries during the trip and made a number of friends.



We were surprised at the working conditions for the staff at the camps. From what we discovered the camp catering staff stayed there for 3 months at a time and then had two weeks off we think. The driver seemed to work 3 months on with one month off. Not sure about the spotter. This may be normal by Botswana standards but some of the women we spoke to had young children so being away from them for 3 months at a time seemed hard.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

The only aspect of the trip that caused any concern, apart from the few comments on the camps, was the matter of tips. Most people we spoke to (from different tour compamies) were uncertain about what was normal or expected.

In these situations a lot depends on how much people depend on tips to make a decent wage and this was not clear. Nearly all the staff were friendly and helpful so if they needed the tips we would be happy to give them. While we would want to reward exceptional service in many counties (South Africa as we found which we went on to after Botswana) tell you in most restaurants that a 10% tip is expected at least.

A bit more definite guidance would have been appreciated. The British find tipping a difficult subject at the best of times!

The only aspect of the trip that caused any concern, apart from the few comments on the camps, was the matter of tips. Most people we spoke to (from different tour compamies) were uncertain about what was normal or expected. In these situations a lot depends on how much people depend on tips to make a decent wage and this was not clear.

Nearly all the staff were friendly and helpful so if they needed the tips we would be happy to give them. While we would want to reward exceptional service in many counties (South Africa as we found which we went on to after Botswana) tell you in most restaurants that a 10% tip is expected at least. A bit more definite guidance would have been appreciated. The British find tipping a difficult subject at the best of times!" Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari

"One of the best, if not THE best holiday we've ever had. (Only thing missing was exercise, but not much chance of that.)
Game viewing bit disappointing at Lebala with hindsight but as virgins we still enjoyed it. Rooms and camp very good.
Little Kwara very enjoyable.

Nxabega stood out though, as a superbly-run camp, with a truly wonderful atmosphere. Grant and Dimari really set the benchmark.
Game best at Sandibe but what a miserable dump by comparison to Nx.

The transfer processes worked very well and once we knew the score, we relaxed totally about moving from camp to camp, and this really helped make the whole thing more enjoyable compared to hacking around India or wondering if the planes would fly in South America.

Zimbabwe day trip was worth it although we got stitched up by Zambia immigration, they hadn't given us a multiple-entry, only a double entry visa but this was not clear.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Take note of any unusual situations (eg airstrip down) and set expectations accordingly.
Check game viewing status / concession conditions closer to the off, maybe it would be better to switch (eg Lebala was only worth 2 nights due to so much empty burnt scrub).

Transfer from Livingstone to Lebala took a while; no food on the Proflight transfer, no food opportunities at Livingstone airport (only coffee) or en route (Kasane airport not selling food) so we were starving by the time we got to Lebala; it would have been good to arrange some opportunity to eat or buy food at some point. Maybe include a visit a cafe / restaurant in Kasane town, as there is plenty of time ?" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 11 on a Botswana safari

"We had no previous experience of Botswana and Expert Africa spent considerable time advising us on a suitable selection and variety of camps. We were delighted with the variation of experience in the dry area around Chitabe, the delta at Kwetsani and the Linyanti swamps at Dumatau.

Before our trip we poorly understood that rains in Botswana were out of sync with the floods coming from Angola several months later.

The dry season was a great time to see the game, concentrated around the remaining floods in the delta and in Linyanti swamps.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Everything was superb and we will recommend Botswana and Expert Africa to all or friends. We plan to return next year." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari

"EA as ever had organised everything to perfection, bar the info on how to get to Sususwe, but I forgive them this as everything else was perfect." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 11 on a Namibia trip

"A really great trip which takes you away from normal life so that you completely relax.

Looking foward to going back in future.


Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

- We think two days at a camp is too short, you just get there and have to leave. I would recommend minimun stay of 3 nigjhts.

- Try and keep the same airline for the flight, we nearly missed our connection due to SA Airways delay and did not get out luggage for 24 hours. We also met a number of people who lost theirs for up to five days due to issues with Air Botswana/South Africa.

- Linyati, mention the bugs as they were really bad!" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari

"We know now that in Namibia we should have included The Skeleton Coast. We didn't know when we booked our holiday!

Selinda Camp was by far the best experience of the holiday, for us it was the perfect safari destination. Maybe because it is privately owned, it had that extra something? It was not nearly as expensive as Little Mombo, but it definitely had a 'magic ingredient'.

Last year we went to Lion Camp in Zambia, which is also on our favourite camp list, this is also privately owned, but again not on the silly cost list - so next time we book we will go for privately owned smaller camps.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

We would definitely use Expert Africa again." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari

"This was a fantastic trip and experience.

I enjoyed every aspect: the small aircraft flights low over the delta, the landscapes, the camps and the fact that animals could come and go, all the activities, the gin and tonic sundowners every day, the food, the interaction with the staff (and some of the guests!), the flora and, of course, the fauna.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I would like to know why you don't go to Kenya." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"The first three camps exceeded our expectations in every aspect. The last camp, Santandadibe, was a real disappointment in terms of game viewing and the significant distance from Maun. The logistical aspect of the last camp certainly discourages future travel with Expert Africa.

Please note that while I give Maruska a "yes certainly" re: knowledge, for the life of me I do not udnerstand why she was so insistent on us visiting this camp last or even at all, plus the fact that it was a 6 1/2 back track from Maun.

Based on the first 3 camps our experience was more than "Very Satisfactory"--it exceeded expectation. Santandadibe was the downer!" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari