Malawi: reviews from our travellers

"A great trip which exceeded our expectations.

We loved Malawi and the friendliness of the people. Also it was very interesting to see more of everyday life and the country on the transfers between lodges. Also the small numbers of tourists enhanced the experience.

Suggestions for improvements:

I think you deliver what you set out to; real expertise on Africa. Wilderness are very efficient and have excellent people, which makes the experience really special.

We will be travelling with you again; the question is where next?!." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 8 on a Malawi trip

"The trip was very successful." Read full review: 2 nights in Africa; 2 on a Malawi trip

"The trip was excellent and very much enjoyed.

Everything worked well and the trip was tailormade for us in a sensitive and thoughtful manner, thanks to Anna who really knows her clients and their preferences. Definitely to be recommended" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 5 on a Zambia safari

"Anna was extremely knowledgeable and very efficient in organising our trip. She dealt very patiently with all our queries and requests and clearly knew Zambia inside out. As a result our whole holiday went like clockwork. We would definitely be very happy to recommend Expert Africa and Anna Devereux-Baker to anyone planning a trip to Africa and we will certainly use them for our next Africam adventure.

Suggestions for improvements:

None" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari

"We would hav benfitted by staying longer in Country.

Wilderness safaris gave us excellent drivers and cosrructive help on arrival and departure.

Suggestions for improvements:

I hope to use your company again to revisit Malawi and possibly South Africa and Namibia.
We hope to be able to save enough cash and keep healthy enough to make further trips." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 10 on a Malawi trip

"Overall, we got everything we wanted from this holiday. A great week's game viewing, then a short trip to a stunning beachside lodge on Lake Malawi for a week of luxury R&R.

The BA experience excluded, we were well looked after every inch of the way by Robin Pope and Expert Africa .
We would highly recommend Nikwali and Pumulani." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 8 on a Malawi trip

"We are first and foremost independent travellers and this is the first time that, due to making a late in the day travel decision, we have had somebody arrange a trip for us. While we enjoyed the venues the lack of independence that we experienced by e.g. not having our own vehicle would put us off going down this route again. This was acutely felt when we arrived at Chintheche and discovered that we would be 'stuck' there for 6 nights. Again, had it not been for Briony and her staff we are likely to have shortened our time there and headed off to SA earlier.

I think EA should spend a bit of time really understanding what type of travellers they have in front of them. E.g. I fully expected that as we were being driven between locations we would have a person standing with board with our names on when we came through arrivals. What we did not expect - and did not appreciate - was having somebody standing with a board on the runway tarmac to meet us and guide us through customs, baggage relclaim, etc as though we were unable to do this for ourselves. Nothing like the looks from your fellow travellers to drive this home.

Before we left I raised concerns that 6 days at Chitheche was too long a time and we would ideally liked to have spent an extra day at Mvuu and/or Mumbo only to be told that this was not possible as they were full. On leaving Mvuu Lodge, which caters for at least 12 people, we asked them if they were full only to be told that they only had 2 couples that night (so we could have stayed an extra night). Similarly on the day that we checked out of Mumbo there was space available. Having arrived at Chintheche, with the accommodation clearly in need of investment, we found this 'availability' irksome.

While at Chintheche we mountain biked (which by the way also need some investment in repairs) to Makuzi Beach. Why is this venue not offered by yourselves as it is so much better in terms of accommodation and communal areas verses the Inn? It is also much better placed for snorkelling, etc and their kyaks, etc, etc all appeared to be working.

The above comments are not aimed to be critical but constructive and I have to emphasis that we definitely both enjoyed our time in Malawi around the lake.

I think that if you are the type of person that likes to have everything arranged for you then I would recommend using Expert Africa. Everything did what it said it would do on the lable - and we cannot fault that.

I am happy to discuss any of the above with EA if you wish to discuss/expand/clarify anything." Read full review: 28 nights in Africa; 14 on a Malawi trip

"A wonderful trip - thank you - our third trip with you and just as good as the others.

The second half (post safari) was an attempt by us to get closer to the real Africa again and we most impressed at Kawaza, Kaya Mawa and Nkwichi by the responsible tourism and how the lodges are working sucessfully with the local people" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zambia safari

"Fantastic- we had a wonderful time!

Anna's advice was bang on and I thought of her several times during the trip, remembering her enthusiasm and wanting to say how much I agreed!

Suggestions for improvemnet:

Tell your clients to take plenty of dollars. Sterling is no good. They need money for taxes in Malawi as well as in Zambia. And lots of money for tips, which were much more standard than we had been led to believe in the Guide." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari

"Another excellent holiday with Expert Africa. This was our 4th trip to southern Africa with Sunvil/Expert Africa since 1998 and it will not be our last. You get what it says on the box without any flannel; organisation is good and any querries are answered straightforwardly. All we have to do is get on the plane at this end.

Zambia is an excellent destination & the Luangwa Valley with it's expert guiding is superb in all seasons.

We and especially Sue think Norman Carr Safaris are a really excellent crew- it's a good operation and we hope it continues as such under it's 'new' investor ownership." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari