Botswana: reviews from our travellers

"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

"Excellent" Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari

"We are experienced safari travellers and therefore do not go overboard with comments.

We know what we expect from certain areas we visit and plan our locations with the objective of seeing particular types of animal and bird.

We also know that "nothing is guaranteed".

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Regarding the "I can't comment" fields, I have not used your website much at all - perhaps I should have done - I tend to rely on direct telephone contact with the EA staff. On quotations, again I discuss at length with the staff to get the location and accommodation which I think meets our needs and is right on price." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 14 on a Botswana safari

"great" Read full review: 6 nights in Africa; 5 on a Botswana safari

"As a whole the trip was excellent. We had the most wonderful and at times exciting trip. The trip was in many ways better than we had expected.

Our main intent for taking the trip at that time was for birds with any animal sightings (which we had been advised could be difficult due to high grass and many water holes away from the lodges) being regarded as bonus. In the event we saw most of the possible animals and in close proximity. We missed cats and rhino. Getting around in our not 4X4 was mostly possible though not without some mud and water problems. These could mostly be overcome with a litle thought and careful manoevering of the car.

The lodgings were all great and all very different. People in the lodges and outside were all very friendly and helpful. Grateful too when we gave them lifts.
As is indicated below we were very pleased with the way Sabina dealt with all aspect of setting up the trip for us and especially the way the problem of the delayed outward flight was overcome.

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I'm mostly using this box to feed back other findings from the trip for information which may be useful to others. In our information we were told that we needed documentation and to take the car into Botswana that this would be taken from us at the border and that we'd have to purchase another to take the car back into Namibia. None of this happened. Other than the driver filling in details of the car in a book at each of the four posts (out and into Namibia, into and out of Botswana) they weren't particularly interested in the car as such. However, we did have to purchase documents to enter Botswana. These were - 1 year's road tax and 1 month entry permission (for the car) costing together 160 Rand (we had no Pula). I think our information only mentioned the entry permission. The tax thing may be new.

We were able to use debit and credit cards in petrol (Shell) stations in Bowsana though one insisted (at the junction onto the Trans-Kalahari Highway) in taking an amount from the card before pumping gas.

Information on the difficulties relation to the electrical sockets and lack of adapters may be useful." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"We had a wonderful time. Our Expert Africa consultant, Maruska Adye, was excellent!!! Her initial response to our queries was the reason we choose this company to help plan our safari. Her advice was invaluable. I would highly recommend her, and Expert Africa, to anyone planning a safari.

Although there are several places that we would not return to, we had a great time experiencing them on this trip. Once you have visited some places, there is no reason to return. If we were fortunate enough to plan another safari I would certainly ask Maruska and Expert Africa for their help and guidance.

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[Ed: Referring to our electronic feedback form]

Like to be able to save the file to our PC or at least print it out as one document, including the full comments...not just the part visible on the form." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 13 on a Botswana safari

"It was a great trip that I enjoyed completly. Nothing to complain about

All was good" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari

"Our trip was absolutely brilliant.

Everywhere we went there was someone waiting to collect us and carry our bags to our next destination. It was extremely well-organised with a good blend of different activities / game / environments.

Thank you Lucy for putting it all together for us, we can't thank you enough! We will be back I am sure!

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N/A" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari

"Just one dissatisfaction - not all of our car transport turned up on time, and indeed the first one did not turn up at all.

One major recommendation - go in November! It is supposedly low season, but we saw a huge amount and had a fantastic time, with the greatly added benefit of having the vehicles and often camp to ourselves in the vast majority of places.

We have never been on an organised tour holiday, so I was apprehensive that we would be herded around like pack animals and miss out on the unique experience you get when you travel individually. This was not the case. I was very happy with Expert Africa and would certainly use you again if we booked another luxury trip." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari

"Although there were a few weeks of delay in Expert Africa staff engaging with us to start our planning, due to some staff changes and an international travel conference, we soon were underway and were guided well and promptly through decision-making.

We had been to other parts of Africa before and could articulate what we wanted, which helped. I had read other guests' reviews about the need to be careful around animals and the harsh-sounding needs for insurance and liability forms to be signed at each camp; this wasn't actually troublesome at all.

Our trip was a delight. We look forward to going back, possibly to the Chobe area next time simply to experience a different part of Botswana while it's still as pristine as it is. The national tourism policy of low-volume, high cost is working for them now; long may they maintain it.

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About the survey: start by giving a list of the subjects we will be asked to address so we know what to save for future pages. Other than that I can think of nothing. You all are excellent at what you do, and you deserve to succeed. We have already shared your name with our traveling friends." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari