Botswana: reviews from our travellers

"We had a wonderful trip and even though there was the odd misfortune we counted them as part of the experince. We enjoyed sharing the trip with our friends and have a wealth of photos and memories which will remain with us.

Our thanks for your good advice when we started plannig the trip. Your knowledge was invaluable and made a huge difference.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

You may wish to advise travellers about problems at Maun with luggage tampering. We had nothing of value in our luggage so merely suffered the inconvenience." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari

"We were overall very happy with the service from start to finish by Expert Africa and all the arranged accommodations and transfers. We would have had a terrible time planning the transfers ourselves and are thankful we used such a competent, knowledgeable booking agent. Maruska, our handling agent, was professional and prompt and very detailed. The only suggestion again would be for a heads-up on the activities & possible multiple visas at Victoria Falls.

We really enjoyed our trip, and while we planned out the basic areas we wanted to visit, ExpertAfrica was able to help us connect the dots and help make our trip that much better. The areas we visited were truly wonderful.

FYI, since we had a large party, all three children (two aged 7 and one aged 2.5) were able to attend the game drives at Sandibe because we had our own party and own vehicle. Our kids had a wonderful time and loved the safaris (as did we) and with all the smooth transfers, we were happy that everything went according to plan. (Also, children under 3 were free for activities that allowed children at Victoria Falls, which made our helicopter ride over the Falls slightly less $ painful!)

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Tipping policies are still a bit of a mystery for us, as there is always a great variable involved as far as how the service was. I'm not sure if guidelines for each area of travel is feasible, but it would be helpful to find out what other visitors tipped." Read full review: 5 nights in Africa; 3 on a Botswana safari

"Had a fantastic time! It was one of the best holidays we've been on.

This was made even better by how helpful everyone at Expert Africa was, from Chris answering our numerous questions at the Travel & Destinations Show in London to booking our trip with Maruska in evenings after we'd finished work. We'd just like to say a big Thank You to everyone at Expert Africa, and we'll remember you for the future should we decide to head back to Africa!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

We really appreciated two key aspects of your setup:

- Your presence at the Earl's Court Travel & Destination show and Chris' kindness in sitting down with us for over an hour to talk with us about Botswana and the surrounding area

- Being able to speak to Maruska after UK work hours, whilst she was located out in New Zealand (thankfully all charged at UK rates)." Read full review: 6 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"I look forward to another trip to Africa and would definitly recommend Expert Africa and Maruska Adye to my friends.

She is knowlegeable about the countries we visited, patinet with questions, and fast in her responses." Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"This was an excellent trip. I was travellilng alone I would really recommend it for other solo travellers.

Everything worked like clockwork, I was well looked after by camp staff and guides and had some great experiences. Because the camps are small and organised so that you all eat together I met some really interesting people and had a great time.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

You might add that it is worth taking a beanie hat for the cold - I had to buy one in the Kalahari. Also not being used to taiylor made trips I needed to ask if I had to get a taxi from Victoria Falls Airport to my hotel - it was not clear from the itinerary that there would be driver there for me. Otherwise it was all fine." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 11 on a Botswana safari

"We loved the Bush so much. Now hope to go back to Zimbabwe.

Thanks to Lucy for organising everything so perfectly and efficiently." Read full review: 3 nights in Africa; 3 on a Botswana safari

"This was a fairly last minute trip that I decided upon between leaving one job and starting the next and was designed to draw a line under the former and refresh me in preparation for the latter. It worked a treat.

The arrangements through Expert Africa were simple despite a change of schedule due to availability, communications were easy - mostly email with the occasional phone call, and everything went to plan whilst I was there, with all transfers working perfectly.

I normally plan and book my own holidays directly but as this was my first time in Africa, I wanted some local knowledge and expertise, and Expert Africa provided this to make it all painless. I don't hesitate to recommend them." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 3 on a Botswana safari

"As first-time safari travellers with 2 young kids, there were a few nerves as we stepped off the plane in Johannesburg, but all the detailed planning worked beautifully and the whole trip was executed incredibly well." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari

"We had an amazing adventure through SA, Namibia and Botswana. Being independent Kiwis, we were keen on arranging our own itinerary and travelling under our own steam, preferably off the beaten tourist track. Namibia appealed, and once I found your amazing website I was hooked. In a former life I was a travel agent here in NZ, but most trips were packaged and rigid, and that was not what we wanted. Having worked out roughly where we wanted to go, I emailed your office, who then referred me to your Namibian expert who (unbelievably!) actually lived in NZ.

Maruska's in depth knowledge of Namibia and her recommendations really made the trip work. Travelling distances were good, and although we travelled over 7,500 km in 5 weeks, it was very do-able. Maruska listened to our preferences and we were delighted with her choice of accom. We enjoyed having the freedom of travelling in the 4WDs to suit ourselves. I fully expected the odd hiccup when we finished with the vehicles and then were reliant on a complicated series of transfers, boats, small planes with no set schedule, more transfers etc, but it all went according to plan and worked like clockwork.

Full marks to Maruska and your agents in Namibia and Botswana for attention to detail and for putting it all together.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Just keep doing what you do so well. Your website is just fantastic, great to read other peoples reviews, which is why I've spent all day putting up all this feedback (Sorry it took so long!).

The Brandt guides to Namibia and Botswana are actually in our local library, and it was from there I picked up the website in the first place. Our copies are well worn from the trip, and there was a bit of a bun fight over who kept them. Maybe one per couple would be good, or at least one per vehicle? The Namibia maps were great and Maruska had highlighted each of our stops which was also great attention to detail. We were very happy with the service we received from Maruska - she's a gem - look after her!" Read full review: 33 nights in Africa; 19 on a Namibia trip

"In retrospect, it probably was a mistake to go at this time of year. Our timing was dictated by the fact that we were already in Africa.

However, the rainy season meant that the animals were widely dispersed, requiring long rides in the vehicles to see handfuls of animals. And areas of the concessions were inaccessible owing to high water. Also the tall grass meant that animals were hard to see. There were magic moments during our week, but not enough of them to justify the considerable expense.

Our dissatisfactions with the safari have nothing to do with Expert Africa itself." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari