Reviews of safaris to Central Highlands

"We are happier and richer with our Namibia experience.

Although it was not an easy task for Megan and later Tom because we booked fairly late and many of the camps were fully booked but they managed excellently and we got just the type of camps we wished for, the distance between the camps for self-drive was ideal.

Everything worked just like clockwork, only pleasant surprises. Many thanks to both Megan and Tom for outstanding job!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Just a feed back about using Tracks4Africa Namibia map on our Ipad. We downloaded the map at home to be used off-line (no roaming) in Namibia than used it together with the traditional map provided and found the two to be very good and cheap combination. (Our Garmin had broke on a previous trip and we didn't want to buy a new one) The GPS of the Ipad (or Iphone) was accurate for us to be able to see where we are, plan and see if we are heading the right direction. We can safely recommend to use it together with a map.

Route to Damaraland Camp: the pick up point was NOT marked out on the map and had to call the camp for advice (and we later found that we could have driven all the way up to the camp as the road was almost better than the main gravel road).

The route from Anderson's Camp to Mundulea was NOT marked out at all on the map provided by Wilderness Safaris. We asked the staff at Anderson's Camp and they pointed out the tarred road (Otjiwarongo and up to Otavi). In retrospect, may be, starting early enough, we could have driven through Etosha and then turned South to Tsumeb and Otavi instead and still made it to Mundulea by 14:30. IF driving through Etosha to the East then turn South is an possible alternative to get to Mundulea I wish Expert Africa had pointed out for us and we could have planned that day differently.

About guides on nature or game drives; Most of them drive and stay too closely to the animals, less than five meters to lions or ten meters to elephants for example. We experienced this both on our Botswana and in Namibia trips ( Wilderness Safari's camps). Probable reasons; previous guests asked them to get closer or they do it in the hope of more tips, or just show off. But most of visitors have binoculars and good cameras they should not insist. In fact it is far more exciting to watch game from some distance and the animals tend to stay longer, too. Guests and guides alike need to be informed and/or reminded about a recommended (regulated?!) distances to be kept ." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 8 on a Namibia trip

"We did a two-week self drive tour of Namibia. First of all, literally all the arrangements made by Expert Africa worked out perfectly - no surprises. Everything was as it was supposed to be - and the communications between Expert and all the local vendors was seamless. Expert laid out a route for us, arranged all the accommodations and a car. The planning process was a great blend of good listening to what we wanted (or thought we wanted!) combined with helpful guidance and development of choices - all very appropriate given that, while we are experienced travelers, this would be our first trip to Namibia and we were self-driving.

The car was terrific - perfect choice for us: 4/4 but automatic drive. We loved the driving tho it is challenging in parts - some long stretches of "washboard" road. But we and the car held up fine - and the drives are all worth it for the wonderful experience of being immersed in a beautiful and complicated country with endlessly interesting landscapes - and people.

The accommodations were also varied; most were just delightful - a few exceptional and unique experiences. We were especially surprised by the delicious and fresh (and healthy!) meals we had in some very remote areas. Two of the accommodations were not quite as perfect a match for our style but that was completely because of our late scheduling and trying to match our other preferences re: access and route with what was available.

All in all a great experience; we'd highly recommend Expert Africa and would be happy to use them again.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Would be really hard to say as all aspects were so well managed. Perhaps one thing that might be useful is a bit more detail on how to get to a few of the accommodations. The map was great - and well used - but while the GPS, which we used to supplement the maps, was most often excellent - when it was wrong, it was dramatically wrong - sending us on a road that didn't exist, for example. Some more detailed instructions about the last portion of the route to any particular accommodation could help.

Maruska was terrific to work with and planned a great trip; she was also very responsive while we were there, although little contact was needed fortunately. She was particularly tenacious about us getting a refund for a minor expense related to a flat tire that just got a little complicated because of credit card issues. [The folks from Wilderness Safaris in the Windhoek airport were amazingly helpful also.]" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"Brilliant trip - thanks for organising it.

Great country - just the right mix of driving (1500 miles in two weeks) and walking. Sights, sounds and smells all fantastic, deserts, mountains, animals.

Fabulously warm and welcoming a real joy in lots of the people we met (thinking locals rather than tourists - though the tourists all looked pretty happy too).

Long may it continue." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip

"We had a great time. Everything "worked" like it was supposed to, and we were generally very happy with our activities and accommodations. We'd been to Botswana previously and so had some safari experience. The things we really liked about Namibia are:
- the ability to travel unescorted
- the diversity of activities (desert, seashore, animals, etc)
- the ability to get some exercise.

The only negative we have to say is that the Corolla wasn't really up to the southern desert roads. We were down to 40 kph frequently, which made for some long drives. I dont think we needed 4 wheel drive or a big truck, but we did need better clearance. We were constantly scraping the undercarriage on the "middle hump" of the road and fighting the steering wheel. Sesriem to Solitaire (C19) and Solitaire to the Kuiseb Pass (C14) were simply bad, especially the latter.

We met some outbound travellers on our first night in Windhoek who'd been advised that the C14 was often in bad shape and been recommended a detour using the D1998 etc to C26. We took their advice, and, while we can't say what condition the C14 was like after that, the detour was certainly better than what we'd experienced to that point." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip

"A very good trip to Southern Africa.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

See feedback but otherwise nothing further to add apart from thank you for arranging a most enjoyable holiday" Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"We had a super 3 weeks driving ourselves around Namibia basically staying 2 nights in each location. We really liked the country, the people, the scenery and it has a very good infrastructure of roads and places to stay at.

Maruska really helped to organise the whole trip very efficiently. I also found the website to be very useful to prepare the trip

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Not really. I was very happy with everything (except the Ford Ranger vehicle)." Read full review: 29 nights in Africa; 21 on a Namibia trip

"We had a truly amazing 3 week trip through Namibia. We were really happy to have chosen a self drive and felt perfectly safe and in control at all times. The views and vastness are indescribable and the places we stayed at were amazing and different each time. Our highlights were Hoanib in the Skeleton Coast, Fish River Lodge and watching the sun rise over Sossusvlei.

The weather in January was perfectly fine and we only had rain 1-2 at night. However as the rains had come, the animals in Etosha were less visible. Driving was also fairly straightforward.

Overall, very well organized by Tracy and we definitely hope to go back again!" Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 20 on a Namibia trip

"Absolutely fine, no particular problems, the weather this time was mixed with more than usual in the way of stormy and wet days, which meant ETOSHA had fewer animals around." Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 11 on a Namibia trip

"A fantastic trip that surpassed our high expectations. I don't think that there is anything that we would have done differently.

The highlights were Erongo Wilderness Lodge, the drive across Etosha National Park, the drive down the Skeleton Coast, Swakopmund, the trip to Sandwich Harbour and last, but very definitely not least, Sossusvlei Desert Lodge.

Namibia proved a wonderful country to visit, with a very welcoming people, all of whom seemed to have a great sense of humour.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

No, we wouldn't hesitate to recommend Namibia as a destination and Expert Africa as the company to organise a visit." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"My trip had been skillfully designed for me, I felt. And was quite excellent." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip