Reviews of safaris to Central Highlands

"Apart from disastrous car hire experience it was a fantastic trip and did exactly what I had set out to do - to show our friends Namibia.

I was particularly impressed with the Wilderness places where we stayed - I am currently writing an ILO training resource on global supply chain and employment and my sense was that Wilderness do well with increasing skills and capacity in Namibia. A big tick from us on that!

By rights the bad experience with the car hire should mean that the overall trip is rated as satisfactory but I feel that this reflects unfairly on the otherwise excellent trip and the effort Martha put in to planning the modalities of a trip I described to her. We think you have provided an excellent service but want you to take serious note of how unhappy and dissatisfied we are with the service from Budget - Namibia in Windhoek. We hope you will help us should my credit card be charged by Budget. We note that Which? rated Budget as the second lowest performing car hire company." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 10 on a Namibia trip

"Our trip was fantastic and we didn't have to worry about a thing thanks to Tracy's excellent preparations on our behalf. This included advising us to check the spare tire in the back - and a good thing since we needed it.

Namibia is very beautiful with varied landscapes and friendly people - when you actually saw people! The itinerary was very well chosen and gave us a wonderful introduction to the country. Our accommodations were all very comfortable and made our trip very luxurious.

While Erongo Wilderness camp is really amazing and beautiful, all the tented rooms are not equal. Those at the bottom are nice in and of themselves, but have no views. We were a bit disappointed to be in one of these rooms considering we had booked well in advance, particularly since the camp manager mentioned to us that the day we arrived they had several walk-ins. This did not detract from our overall camp experience, which was really good." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip

"Hoi Martha / Megan

whaw , what a nice ( perhaps little) trip into Namibia . We didn't realize that it should be so wonderful, but what you see in brochures you get really in 3 D !! All these moments are now burned on our ' iris '. Thanks to your whole team to help us to stick these trip together after the excellent information you give about , where to sleep, car rental what to see . And these in the budget that we could spend . We are happy to say that you said , do only a part off Namibia in these 10 days instead off driving every day . There is lots to do/ see there . Next time you can explore an other part ( what we shall do !!! )

We are used to travel by motorbike / car / bike and mostly without a tour operator . But working with you give us the feeling like we are part off the family , and not an number like by most companies . It is by coincidence that we find your address ( we looked to find motorbike rental in Namibia, but we couldn't rent one ) and saw ' dikdik self drive . We asked family ( who lives in South Africa ) and said to us " yes work with them , they now what there are talking about " . And really we were pleased to know you all !

About the trip : words to short : very nice nature ( Naukluftarea , Soususvlei , walfishbay , Erongoregion ) and what nice lodges ( especially Hoodia and Erongo ). friendly people , nice food , people have time to talk , no rush feeling , we feel us safe ( better than South Africa ( region Johannesbrg, Durban ) , North Africa ( marocco , tunesia , mauritania ))

So we can tell you now ( 2016 perhaps already ) that an other part of Namibian is to be explored by us ( region off Ethosa or / and Capravi ) Can you give us some lodges address there (like Hoodia / Erongo style , so not many people ( approx 10 lodges ) )where we have contact with nature . Is the period off august good there to spot wildlife , we could stay there shore for 14 days - 16 days . Can we do there also self drive . And have a guide / ranger into park . Do we need there a 4X4 do do the trip or is an normal car ( like we did last week , and was ok for us , even bumpy , was not a problem ).

So in short terms : Nambia = Unforgettable = Place to have been seen = with Expertafrica

Greetings Nancy & Otto from Brugge Belgium

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Ehhh , no, I can really say that all your efforts are efficient to solve problems questions etc . So keep on in these direction !" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 10 on a Namibia trip

"Thanks Tracy for organising such a fabulous trip, it all went like clockwork, and was so well thought out, thanks to EA we seemed to get the best rooms, in several places, in fact another guest asked how we managed it!

All the stays suited us perfectly, we really felt that it was all tailored perfectly for us.

The trip guide was really helpful, and the guide book well used." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip

"A truly wonderful trip to a fantastic destination. The scenery is spectacular and driving in Namibia (even on gravel roads) easy and comfortable. We are already planning the next trip there!

Suggestions to help us improve our service:

The service of the entire Nambia team has been exceptional. I would not hesitate to recommend your services (and indeed did so to others we met on our travels who were complaining about some of your more expensive competitors).

The rough driving times that you provided us were really helpful, and I think this or the approx. mileage to be covered on each drive would be a helpful addition to assist clients in planning their trip, departure time etc." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"All the arrangements worked, as we expected them to.

I asked Tracy to upgrade our car from a group C to a group K shortly before we traveled, based on my own research, and friends' comments. I'm very glad I did, because we drove over 3000km, and a standard saloon would have been too small, our luggage would not all have fitted in the boot, and it would have required extremely careful driving on some of the gravel roads. I think it should have been suggested to us in the first place, given the amount of time we spent in the car. (In fact we were supplied with a Nissan X-trail 2/4WD, which I think is a group O car).

We were a little concerned that staying for one night in 3 lodges in a row (around the Etosha area) would be difficult, with no time to rest, but in fact it suited us. We were able to cross Etosha in a leisurely fashion, knowing we wouldn't have to retrace our steps at the end of the day." Read full review: 23 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip

"Overall it was an excellent trip. Namibia is one of the safest and friendliest countries in Africa and better value than most Safari destinations.

Some long distances to drive but easy traffic free roads and interesting scenery. A variety of scenery with coast, canyons, massive sand dunes and game parks. Lots of animals to be seen in Etosha which while not a beautiful African Safari Park it is excellent for game viewing round the waterholes where everything gathers. Some interesting Lodges in excellent locations to stay at who make you very welcome.

Expert Africa were very helpful in our planning for the trip with no pressure to book anything - just good patient advice. All the logistics they arranged worked perfectly. So thank you Sabina Hekandjo and Expert Africa who I would thoroughly recommend.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

The service was excellent and I can think of little that Expert Africa could have done to improve anything so please keep up the good work and I hope your company continues to be successful." Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 21 on a Namibia trip

"If we went back I would go or 3 weeks not 4 and skip the part south of Swakopmond.

Wolwedans not worth the premium. Sossusvlei over-hyped.

Country excellent and the locals very helpful. Stunning scenery.

Africat / Okonjima, Etendeka and Skeleton Coast were highlights

Martha was a star. Shame she's not there any longer." Read full review: 30 nights in Africa; 27 on a Namibia trip

"Loved it. Would love to go back. Every day was different and, even though some of the journeys were uncomfortable and long, there was always something to look at.

The information you provided before we left was excellent. It was easy to find the lodges and you told us what we needed to know about how things worked in Namibia. We also found the guidebook to be very helpful.

Just so you know, the bakery in Outjo has been knocked down and is being rebuilt. Also, there is now a petrol station at the airport which is not restricted to hire firms.

Also we found a gem of a place in Uis where we stopped for coffee. It's called The Cactus Coffee Shop and Garden Centre. The setting is idyllic and we wanted to stay all day. The coffee is very good, the gardens are attractive and there are bird feeders which attract the birds as you drink and eat. You sit in the shade and are soothed by gentle classical music. Bliss!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Perhaps offer alternatives to the Wilderness Safaris lodges? Perhaps offer slightly less luxurious but still comfortable accommodation to reduce the costs? With hindsight we would perhaps have preferred to spend more on the car and a little less on the accommodation." Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip

"We were very much impressed with every aspect of the organisation of our trip. We expected it to be the trip of a lifetime, and it surpassed our expectations.

We found it reassuring to have the knowledge and expertise of Expert Africa's staff behind us, to guide us through a part of the world of which we had little previous experience. The choice of lodges was perfect, and every arrangement that had been made for us went without a hitch. We were particularly grateful for the huge contributions made by Maruska, in the initial planning of the trip, and Tracy, who took over when we were forced to postpone our trip by 12 months, following a family bereavement.

We would not hesitate to use Expert Africa again in the future, nor to recommend them to friends and family." Read full review: 23 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip