Reviews of safaris to Okavango Delta Safari Reserves
1011 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Okavango Delta.
Meryl
USA
"My Apr 2023 trip"
I visited Botswana and 2 other countries between 21 Apr 2023 and 8 May 2023
"The Expert Africa staff were excellent. From beginning to end, we always had staff directing us to where we had to go including getting us across the Botswana Zimbabwe border. Everyone was on time and professional. We felt completely cared for. I would highly recommend using Expert Africa and when I decide to take my next safari, I will be using them again!"
Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Party of 4
Islington
"My Apr 2023 trip"
I visited Botswana between 5 Apr 2023 and 16 Apr 2023
"We had a wonderful time in Botswana and will have many happy memories of our trip."
Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
David and Sammy
SF
"My Apr 2023 trip"
I visited Botswana and 2 other countries between 2 Apr 2023 and 14 Apr 2023
"Pre-trip planning was great. I had many back-and-forth conversations with Megan and we tailored a trip that met our specific needs. We had to go through several rounds of proposals until we got the right one, and Megan was patient, prompt, friendly and very helpful. We definitely could not have arranged the trip without her guidance.
Once on the ground in Africa, we encountered a major problem. Because I was traveling without my wife, I was told by the border agent in Namibia that I needed to present my son's birth certificate, a letter from my wife giving me consent to travel alone with my son, and a copy of my wife's passport. This is all due to child trafficking prevention laws in southern Africa. I was not aware of these requirements and had to call my wife at 2am in the morning US time so that she could send me a copy of my son's birth certificate. The border agent also wanted the letter and her passport scan but I told her there was no way I could get those in short order and she reluctantly let us in to the country.
Over the next few days, I had my wife get a notarized letter and scan that and her passport and send to me. This, however, was not technically in compliance with the laws of these countries, as I was supposed to have an original copy of both the birth certificate and the letter. This meant that any border agent in Zimbabwe or Botswana could have decided to follow the law exactly and decline us entry into their country.
Upon reviewing the itinerary from Expert Africa, I did see a short section about traveling with children under 18 in southern Africa. It was several pages into a long itinerary, it was pretty vague (it mentioned a birth certificate but nothing else), and no one at Expert Africa - either by phone or in email - ever pointed this out to me.
I feel that this was a major failure on the part of the company. I had several restless nights wondering if I was going to miss an entire week of my trip due to this, I had to call my wife in the middle of the night, I spent time talking to the US consulates in each of these countries and generally this caused me a lot of stress.
I want to be very clear with this: any time Expert Africa has a parent and child traveling with them, they should repeatedly and proactively remind the parent to get all necessary documentation in order weeks before the trip takes place. This should not be left to a small-print section at the back of a document. As much as I loved my trip and the service I got planning the trip, I don't think I can recommend Expert Africa to friends unless I have confidence that other travellers would not be put in the same situation that my son and I were put in." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari
Once on the ground in Africa, we encountered a major problem. Because I was traveling without my wife, I was told by the border agent in Namibia that I needed to present my son's birth certificate, a letter from my wife giving me consent to travel alone with my son, and a copy of my wife's passport. This is all due to child trafficking prevention laws in southern Africa. I was not aware of these requirements and had to call my wife at 2am in the morning US time so that she could send me a copy of my son's birth certificate. The border agent also wanted the letter and her passport scan but I told her there was no way I could get those in short order and she reluctantly let us in to the country.
Over the next few days, I had my wife get a notarized letter and scan that and her passport and send to me. This, however, was not technically in compliance with the laws of these countries, as I was supposed to have an original copy of both the birth certificate and the letter. This meant that any border agent in Zimbabwe or Botswana could have decided to follow the law exactly and decline us entry into their country.
Upon reviewing the itinerary from Expert Africa, I did see a short section about traveling with children under 18 in southern Africa. It was several pages into a long itinerary, it was pretty vague (it mentioned a birth certificate but nothing else), and no one at Expert Africa - either by phone or in email - ever pointed this out to me.
I feel that this was a major failure on the part of the company. I had several restless nights wondering if I was going to miss an entire week of my trip due to this, I had to call my wife in the middle of the night, I spent time talking to the US consulates in each of these countries and generally this caused me a lot of stress.
I want to be very clear with this: any time Expert Africa has a parent and child traveling with them, they should repeatedly and proactively remind the parent to get all necessary documentation in order weeks before the trip takes place. This should not be left to a small-print section at the back of a document. As much as I loved my trip and the service I got planning the trip, I don't think I can recommend Expert Africa to friends unless I have confidence that other travellers would not be put in the same situation that my son and I were put in." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Good
Mrs P.
United Kingdom
"My Mar 2023 trip"
I visited Botswana between 16 Mar 2023 and 27 Mar 2023
"We really liked the suggested itineraries on the Expert Africa website. If we were to book again we might spend a little more time analysing the alternative camps."
Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr D.
London
"My Mar 2023 trip"
I visited Botswana between 15 Mar 2023 and 28 Mar 2023
"I've been to Africa on numerous occations and so decided to visit locations that I haven't been to before. Central Kalahari, Naxi Pan and Kwando concesion in the Okavango.
The three camps that I've stayed in, Tau pan, Naxi pan and Kuara are all run by Kwando safaris. The camps, situated in great locations, were stylish, spacious, comfortable and clean.
The teams were friendly, profesional, easy to talk to and made us as wellcome as possible.
The food was varied and tasty, pesonally I love a buffet and was spoiled with alternative dishes to accomodate my lactose intolerance.
The tents/rooms were enormous and very comfortable.
All the guides and trackers that I've spent time with were cheerful motivated and knowledgable.
Being the rainy season I knew that animal sighting could be patchy, although pleasingly Naxi pan was busy with wildlife due to the limited water supply.
I was delighted to find out that most people I've met were repeat visitors to Africa, some many times over.
Overall I was satisfied with my holiday. Unfortunately the Okanango section of my trip didn't live up to expectations due to few animal sitings." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 13 on a Botswana safari
The three camps that I've stayed in, Tau pan, Naxi pan and Kuara are all run by Kwando safaris. The camps, situated in great locations, were stylish, spacious, comfortable and clean.
The teams were friendly, profesional, easy to talk to and made us as wellcome as possible.
The food was varied and tasty, pesonally I love a buffet and was spoiled with alternative dishes to accomodate my lactose intolerance.
The tents/rooms were enormous and very comfortable.
All the guides and trackers that I've spent time with were cheerful motivated and knowledgable.
Being the rainy season I knew that animal sighting could be patchy, although pleasingly Naxi pan was busy with wildlife due to the limited water supply.
I was delighted to find out that most people I've met were repeat visitors to Africa, some many times over.
Overall I was satisfied with my holiday. Unfortunately the Okanango section of my trip didn't live up to expectations due to few animal sitings." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 13 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr D & Ms P
Dursley
"My Feb 2023 trip"
I visited Botswana between 8 Feb 2023 and 16 Feb 2023
"There aren't enough superlative available available to describe the Okavango Delta's wildlife and environment and we enjoyed the whole experience [again!]."
Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Crooks
Bristol
"My Feb 2023 trip"
I visited Botswana between 8 Feb 2023 and 16 Feb 2023
"Tom was responsive to our wishes, needs and suggestions about our trip and was able to arranged a safari that gave us wonderful experiences.
Looking back to his descriptions of what to expect at both camps, was spot on." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari
Looking back to his descriptions of what to expect at both camps, was spot on." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms E. K.
Paris
"My Dec 2022 trip"
I visited Botswana between 17 Dec 2022 and 31 Dec 2022
"This was my first safari and my first visit to Botswana. Tom Morris was a great resource and I would work with him again. Thank you."
Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Good
A & K
Cambridge
"Our Nov 2022 Okavango trip"
I visited Botswana between 14 Nov 2022 and 26 Nov 2022
"Given that we first booked this trip back in 2020, the fact that Expert Africa held our booking with the same three camps for the same period as the original booking was nothing less than exceptional customer service.
We are very grateful to both Expert Africa and the three camps (Duba Explorers, Selinda Explores and Pelo Camp) for putting together a truly memorable experience.
Expert Africa staff have all been very responsive throughout - and anyone thinking of booking a safari in Botswana would be well advised to use their expertise on the country for doing so." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
We are very grateful to both Expert Africa and the three camps (Duba Explorers, Selinda Explores and Pelo Camp) for putting together a truly memorable experience.
Expert Africa staff have all been very responsive throughout - and anyone thinking of booking a safari in Botswana would be well advised to use their expertise on the country for doing so." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs M
Bucks
"My Nov 2022 trip"
I visited Botswana between 11 Nov 2022 and 23 Nov 2022
"The whole trip was excellent and simply got better as it progressed.
We particularly appreciated the care and kindness shown to Alan by the staff in all the camps, who helped him so much getting in and out of vehicles, bringing food and drinks so he didn't have to struggle with the walking stick and balancing other stuff, and generally looking out for him at all times." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari
We particularly appreciated the care and kindness shown to Alan by the staff in all the camps, who helped him so much getting in and out of vehicles, bringing food and drinks so he didn't have to struggle with the walking stick and balancing other stuff, and generally looking out for him at all times." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
1011
reviews of Okavango Delta by travellers since August 2007
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