Botswana: reviews from our travellers

"Overall, our expectations were exceeded on most fronts. There are 2 minor issues, which bothered us:

1. Tipping. It seemed odd to us to pay between 400-700 dollars pp and day and then be expected to pay another 5-15$ pp and day for the guide and something for the staff.

Of course, everybody emphasizes one does not HAVE to tip, but that does not really make all that much sense. Either tipping is common and therefore expected, i.e. part of a guide's salary - in which case those 5-15$ should simply be added to the bill as a matter of course, and from the outset - or it is not, in which case the practice should be rather discouraged.

2. The song & dance routine upon arrival at the Ker & Downey camps. This is obviously not a serious issue, but rather by the by.

We cringed a little each time we were welcomed by the camp's staff with a welcoming sond and dance routine . Not because the singing and dancing was bad (it wasn't bad at all), but it was a bit too much for us. And we were far from the only one guests who felt that way.
Something for the camps to think about maybe." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 10 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

"I have nothing but wonderful memories and a couple of thousands photos to keep about my time in Botswana.

There is still so much I want to see and I am already planning the next trip. Yes, it is more expensive than other countries but it is worth it. I have fallen in love with the country and I cannot wait to return.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Flights directly into Botswana." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 3 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

"From the moment I chose Expert Africa to book my trip with and met Lucy Copson who arranged my itinerary it has been incredible. I would never book a trip to Africa with anyone else but the EXPERTS! I did a lot of research and contacted at least 6 other companies, none of them compared on any level.

Lucy organised my trip using her incredbile knowledge and customer service skills. It took a while to finalise the trip but not once did I feel under any pressure. Some of the other companies were very pushy and just seemed to want your booking. All my queries were responded to promptly and I could never have organised such a fantastic experience without her help. Expert Africa are the best travel company I have ever dealt with. If you are thinking of travelling to any of the destinations that EA provide then don't hesitate to put them at the top of your list.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

The Northern Botswana Mobile Safari can be undertaken in the reverse order I did. My only suggestion is scrap that and keep it from Kasane to Maun only.

The only other very small point is that I asked Lucy about organising a bean bag for the safari. I was told that this was not an option but the Letaka site does offer this. Fortunately one of the couples on the trip had ordered two so they kindly let me use on of them. It would have been a real issue for me not having one." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari

"Lucy did a great job setting up our honeymoon. She made excellent recommendations and we were happy with the cost.

I would highly recommend Expert Africa to anyone who wants a customized African vacation without having to do the legwork. Things went smoothly" Read full review: 6 nights in Africa; 4 on a Botswana safari

"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