Reviews of holidays to Bazaruto Archipelago

"Went with high expectations and they were exceeded. Tracy really worked hard to find the right lodges for us - and they were great. Game viewing was amazing - friend travelled with was on first safari and certainly didn't expect to get so close to wild life and have so many adventures!!

Relaxing 6 nights in Mozambique at Azura were fantastic for rest and luxurious relaxation.
Thank you to everyone involved.

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A VERY BIG THANK YOU!!!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"One of the best trips we've done. Loved every minute of it." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zimbabwe safari

"A terrific holiday! We had some amazing experiences and met some lovely people.

We booked a great holiday to Namibia with Tracy Lederer in 2010 and she was the natural choice when we were planning a trip to Botswana. Thank you Tracy for your patience and invaluable help.

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I think the feedback should have a category 'Very Good'. It is too big a jump to go from 'Good' to 'Excellent'." Read full review: 34 nights in Africa; 24 on a Botswana safari

"A really wonderful trip - thank you for organising!

Only downer was the City Lodge - the rest was incredible" Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 6 on a Namibia trip

"I was thoroughly enjoying the trip until I became sick at Macatoo when I never got over the dysentery even with cipro, which had always worked the the past.

I loved the safari camps prior to Macatoo and had my expectations dashed there.

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Wish I hadn't had such high expectations for Macatoo and Bazaruto (hard in Bazaruto as Portuguese was main language). My experience at the safari camps at the beginning to the trip far exceeded my expectations for a "camp"; I've done lots of camping, but the safari camps far exceeded anything I would call a "camp". Meals, facilities, drinks, guides exceeded all my expectations, but missed my mountains. Very impressed by the training and knowledge of the guides; only in Botswana is English the primary language.

Only down side was the HEAT, and getting pestered by the street vendors in Victoria Falls. Forget about a cotton scarf for the dust, but one thoroughly kept soaked, and dripping around my neck, saved several of the morning and afternoon safari rides. Might suggest those scarves filled with hydrating beads for the hot months; I would have brought one. Forget about wearing complete safari gear in the hot months, shorts and short sleeves are more appropriate; all vehicles have a roof for sun protection. Knowing how to keep cool under a soaked cotten towel in the afternoon, or playing "hippo" in a pool, also helped. Also, being warned that you never leave a vehicle while on safari, would make one aware to only bring sandals for footwear; that was all that was needed. OK, you could get out of Land Rover for morning tea or a sun downer, served right at the vehicle; must get permission about where to go for a "potty" break. Guides hold safety as highest priority.

I can hardly wait to see the thousand plus pictures my daughter took; we had different final destinations and she said the "card" is in the mail. I think you should also contact my daughter for her evaluation." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari

"The trip was as a whole was excellent. The Namibian 2 weeks went much more smoothly than I personally had anticipated for an African self-drive holiday. We booked 18 months in advance, so with Sabina's guidance were able to pick the lodges which seemed to suit us best, and we knew ahead of the trip which were likely to be the best and worst. Sabina put up with a massive number of email questions over the preceding year, and I can only congratulate her on staying cool, calm and collected, and answering my constant questions accurately, in detail, and with good humour!

We relied on Chris McIntyre's Bradt Guide to Namibia as our 'Bible' during our 2 weeks. It is packed with almost all the detailed information that anyone could want to know about everywhere in Namibia, with very few updates needed. We only had to pay National Park fees for Etosha, not for the Namib Naukluft Park nor the Skeleton Coast Park. We also didn't have to pay taxes for entry to & departure from Mozambique! The information given re the left luggage facility at JHB OR airport was incorrect. They charge ZAR70 per case per day, and have apparently never ever accepted credit cards. Fortunately we had ZAR980 in cash that this cost us.

Being in an air-conditioned car in Namibia we didn't need to drink anything like the recommended quantity of water, and found the garages we filled up at usually had enough food/sandwiches to keep us going, so we didn't buy extra food.

We did have a hick-up on flights a week before we left UK, but Chris and Sabina managed to fix this to our advantage!

We were delighted that we had gone clockwise round Namibia, ending up with the highlights of Etosha and the Africat Foundation at the end. We met a number of couples who had gone round anti-clockwise, and were disappointed by the relative lack of game after they left Etosha.

Our week in Bazaruto could have been marred as all the other couples at Bazaruto Lodge on our arrival left after 2 days, and the whole hotel was taken over by 64 S. African marlin fisherman for their 21st annual Marlin Fishing competition! However when we booked they hadn't, but as they have used the same hotel at the same time of year for the last 20 years Expert Africa should have been warned beforehand by the Pestano Group Central Reservations team. The Manager,Tony, was quite embarrassed, but it didn't spoil our stay there. What was disappointing was the cloud cover and rain, which almost ruled out snorkelling - our main reason for going there!" Read full review: 24 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip

"Overall a fantastic trip - huge success and really enjoyed by all of our party.

Would reconsider flying from Kasane to Bazaruto via Joburh - this was slow and boring.

Interested to note direct Flights from Capetown into the delta- that might offer interesting options for pre or post safari time.

Mozambique looked great from the Air but we did not feel we could explore much when we got there.
Also felt a bit of a "prisoner " in remote beach lodge - maybe staying on mainland or nearer a town might have worked for us." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 7 on a Mozambique holiday

"Given all the flights and different accommodation there was plenty of opportunity for this holiday to go wrong. In the event there was only one potential problem which we narrowly averted - our transfer from the Livingstone to Botswana. At 7pm the evening before our departure we'd not had any transfer instructions. We asked at the desk of The Royal Livingstone who said that all the offices were shut so they couldn't find out any details for us but that most transfers were around 9am. So we went to bed that evening having set our alarms for 7:45. Fortunately my husband got up at 7am to discover a letter under the door telling us we'd be collected at 7:45!

The accommodation was better than we'd expected but, in each instance, had the atmosphere that we'd hoped for so well done to Nick Hobbs and the female (can't rememember her name) who recommended Bazaruto Lodge.

Very impressed by Expert Africa and Wilderness Safaris and would recommend them to anyone thinking of going to Africa." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"As ever a wonderfull trip, would like to explore more of Mozambique on the mainland next time! Good hosts and excellent accomodation and game viewing." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 5 on a Botswana safari

"I had a terrific time in Mozambique, especially at Explore Gorongosa.

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Not at this time." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 3 on a Mozambique holiday