Reviews of safaris to Okavango Delta Safari Reserves
1006 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Okavango Delta.
Ms B and Mr C
Montana
"My Jul 2021 trip to Botswana"
I visited Botswana between 21 Jul 2021 and 7 Aug 2021
"Maruska planned such a superb safari for us to Zambia in June that we came home and immediately booked with her to return to Africa in July, this time to Botswana. Planning travel during a pandemic is not for the faint of heart. Maruska maneuvered through the requirements and flight changes expertly. She graciously answered my many questions and concerns. And both safaris went as smoothly as can be.
We have recommended Expert Africa to anyone who will listen already!
The benefits of traveling during these risky times is the lack of crowding everywhere. Covid precautions were taken seriously in Africa. We felt safer there, at least in the safari camps, than here in US. The testing requirements went smoothly for our return flight, in fact the nurse was helicoptered in to the camp to obtain our swabs.
Botswana was enjoyable and we were happy that the Delta still had some water from the local spring rains as the Angola floods were scant this year. The scenery was nice but was not quite the palm studded beauty which I had remembered from the past. The wide spread practice of burning during the winter creates a brown haze over much of southern Africa.
We felt it was worth the risk to travel during these turbulent times with the help of Expert Africa and especially Maruska. We also knew we were supported by Chris and his team as well. very grateful for the guidance.
Thank you or Ke a leboga Mma/Rra as the warm,hospitable,welcoming people of Botswana say..." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 11 on a Botswana safari
We have recommended Expert Africa to anyone who will listen already!
The benefits of traveling during these risky times is the lack of crowding everywhere. Covid precautions were taken seriously in Africa. We felt safer there, at least in the safari camps, than here in US. The testing requirements went smoothly for our return flight, in fact the nurse was helicoptered in to the camp to obtain our swabs.
Botswana was enjoyable and we were happy that the Delta still had some water from the local spring rains as the Angola floods were scant this year. The scenery was nice but was not quite the palm studded beauty which I had remembered from the past. The wide spread practice of burning during the winter creates a brown haze over much of southern Africa.
We felt it was worth the risk to travel during these turbulent times with the help of Expert Africa and especially Maruska. We also knew we were supported by Chris and his team as well. very grateful for the guidance.
Thank you or Ke a leboga Mma/Rra as the warm,hospitable,welcoming people of Botswana say..." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 11 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Texas Don & Cindy
USA
"My Jun 2021 trip"
I visited Botswana between 26 Jun 2021 and 13 Jul 2021
"Covid made this trip a real challenge to plan and coordinate. We had international flights that cancelled, countries that closed, then opened, then closed again. There were a few points where we weren't at all sure it would go off.
I believe that if it had not been for the knowledge and attention that Maruska and Expert Africa provided, we would not have made it.
Everything went like clockwork.
The covid testing added a few days to the trip but it was well worth it." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 11 on a Botswana safari
I believe that if it had not been for the knowledge and attention that Maruska and Expert Africa provided, we would not have made it.
Everything went like clockwork.
The covid testing added a few days to the trip but it was well worth it." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 11 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Dr J.
Washington DC
"My Jun 2021 trip"
I visited Botswana between 23 Jun 2021 and 2 Jul 2021
"Our trip was amazing. Finally glad to travel as Covid postponed our 2020 trip.
After having reviewed the camps prior to booking, I was pretty certain that the itinerary provided was going to live up to my expectations.
Megan took over my booking after Richard Ball retired. She was as attentive as he was in getting the information needed prior to travel. Would recommend anyone use her if traveling to Botswana." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
After having reviewed the camps prior to booking, I was pretty certain that the itinerary provided was going to live up to my expectations.
Megan took over my booking after Richard Ball retired. She was as attentive as he was in getting the information needed prior to travel. Would recommend anyone use her if traveling to Botswana." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Dan & Annie
Windhoek
"My Jun 2021 trip"
I visited Botswana between 2 Jun 2021 and 12 Jun 2021
"This trip was just fantastic and we would recommend it unreservedly to anyone.
The mobile safari was beyond amazing.
Maruska was also extremely helpful, responsive, and patient during the planning process even when our plans changed multiple times due to work schedules.
She also helped us to arrange COVID tests in Maun and gave great recommendations for places to stay in Maun. Thank you!!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not really - it was all fantastic!" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
The mobile safari was beyond amazing.
Maruska was also extremely helpful, responsive, and patient during the planning process even when our plans changed multiple times due to work schedules.
She also helped us to arrange COVID tests in Maun and gave great recommendations for places to stay in Maun. Thank you!!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not really - it was all fantastic!" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr F
Amsterdam
"My May 2021 trip"
I visited Botswana between 14 May 2021 and 29 May 2021
"An impressive journey in a strange period of time. Lots of hurdles to take, endless paperwork and testing but very worth it in the end.
The Botswana people were very happy to welcome us and thanked us multiple times for taking the effort to come to their country in these complicated times.
Once there everything ran smoothly; a well organized trip and a great combination of camps giving a complete picture of Botswana." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 13 on a Botswana safari
The Botswana people were very happy to welcome us and thanked us multiple times for taking the effort to come to their country in these complicated times.
Once there everything ran smoothly; a well organized trip and a great combination of camps giving a complete picture of Botswana." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 13 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs M.
Amsterdam
"My May 2021 trip"
I visited Botswana between 14 May 2021 and 29 May 2021
"Although it took a lot of perseverence at home with all the paperwork, it was well worth the effort. I was impressed by the organisation and very impressed by the warm and friendly nature of the Botswana people. Everywhere they were so happy to see us and welcome-ing and hospitable. Nature is overwhelmingly beautiful and serene and quiet.
My only negative point is the new Jack's Camp. All the camps had the tapestry and furniture like a camp signature, but Jack"s Camp was too big, too overdone and above all too dark! I am sure that I would have preferred the old camp." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 13 on a Botswana safari
My only negative point is the new Jack's Camp. All the camps had the tapestry and furniture like a camp signature, but Jack"s Camp was too big, too overdone and above all too dark! I am sure that I would have preferred the old camp." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 13 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
The Bosun
Falmouth
"Feb 2020 trip"
I visited Botswana between 11 Feb 2020 and 19 Feb 2020
"This was the first time we have booked a holiday with Expert Africa (Following a recommendation of a friend who knows Africa well). We have travelled to many countries in Africa over the years and have been particularly impressed by the knowledge, quality of service and attention to detail given by the Expert Africa team.
The 'needs analysis' by the team adviser who helped us made prefect recommendation for the camps we visited in Botswana - they could not be improved on furthermore the travel arrangements were well thought through and executed flawlessly.
Clearly an attention to detail does not happen by accident, Expert Africa are to be commended - we will book through Expert Africa again when visiting the continent in future!" Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari
The 'needs analysis' by the team adviser who helped us made prefect recommendation for the camps we visited in Botswana - they could not be improved on furthermore the travel arrangements were well thought through and executed flawlessly.
Clearly an attention to detail does not happen by accident, Expert Africa are to be commended - we will book through Expert Africa again when visiting the continent in future!" Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs V
Harlow
"My Jan 2020 trip"
I visited Botswana between 14 Jan 2020 and 25 Jan 2020
"We enjoyed this trip, our thirteenth safari but our first during the green season. We particularly wanted to look for birds in the breeding season and so in breeding plumage and to see the desert 'in bloom'.
We did both, notably seeing weavers, whydahs and widowbirds- little brown jobs for most of the year but now in full plumage. The desert was indeed in flower and we would recommend the experience to all seasoned safari aficionados - not only for the green freshness and the ephemeral flowering plants but the huge range of flowering grasses and the huge numbers of beautiful butterflies, grasshoppers and so on. Sure the game is spread out and not gathered around the waterholes but we saw so many groups of animals fit and well fed and simply enjoying themselves- dogs, lions and elephants playing. A great trip.
The downside was the lack of water in the Delta. The rains failed last year and some areas had consequently been dry for over a year. Vumbura is situated on a permanent river so was less affected and there has been some recent rain this season so water levels there have gone up and we enjoyed good water activities there, however Jacana camp in the Jao concession was completely dried up and has been for over a year. Recent rains have barely touched them and they hope for water again later in the year when the floods from Angola arrive; there have been good rains in Angola apparently.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We have used Expert Africa on several occasions and returned because you do offer an excellent service." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
We did both, notably seeing weavers, whydahs and widowbirds- little brown jobs for most of the year but now in full plumage. The desert was indeed in flower and we would recommend the experience to all seasoned safari aficionados - not only for the green freshness and the ephemeral flowering plants but the huge range of flowering grasses and the huge numbers of beautiful butterflies, grasshoppers and so on. Sure the game is spread out and not gathered around the waterholes but we saw so many groups of animals fit and well fed and simply enjoying themselves- dogs, lions and elephants playing. A great trip.
The downside was the lack of water in the Delta. The rains failed last year and some areas had consequently been dry for over a year. Vumbura is situated on a permanent river so was less affected and there has been some recent rain this season so water levels there have gone up and we enjoyed good water activities there, however Jacana camp in the Jao concession was completely dried up and has been for over a year. Recent rains have barely touched them and they hope for water again later in the year when the floods from Angola arrive; there have been good rains in Angola apparently.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We have used Expert Africa on several occasions and returned because you do offer an excellent service." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr J.
victoria
"Camp Kwara January 2020"
I visited Botswana between 8 Jan 2020 and 13 Jan 2020
"We had a wonderful time at Camp Kwara.
Expert Africa gave us great advice to go there in the first place and all the arrangements and services were exactly as promised.
The animal viewing was superb and the staff worked hard to make sure we had a fantastic experience. The new Camp is beautifully finished.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
none at all. I was very impressed with the service I received." Read full review: 5 nights in Africa; 5 on a Botswana safari
Expert Africa gave us great advice to go there in the first place and all the arrangements and services were exactly as promised.
The animal viewing was superb and the staff worked hard to make sure we had a fantastic experience. The new Camp is beautifully finished.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
none at all. I was very impressed with the service I received." Read full review: 5 nights in Africa; 5 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs SH
Seattle
"My Dec 2019 trip"
I visited Namibia and 1 other country between 3 Dec 2019 and 22 Dec 2019
"Maruska was great! She made great suggestions and listened to our needs.
The only lodging that was not great was the one that I suggested (next time, i will take your advise, Maruska made suggestions when lodges were above our price-line and redirected.us. I believe our trip was as great as it was thanks to help from Maruska and Expert Africa!
Thanks so much!" Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip
The only lodging that was not great was the one that I suggested (next time, i will take your advise, Maruska made suggestions when lodges were above our price-line and redirected.us. I believe our trip was as great as it was thanks to help from Maruska and Expert Africa!
Thanks so much!" Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
1006
reviews of Okavango Delta by travellers since August 2007
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