South Africa: reviews from our travellers

"We enjoyed the holiday but were expecting more for the money that we paid." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 13 on a South Africa trip

"We had a fanstastic two weeks in South Africa, with about the right amount of time in each place apart from Swelledam. We enjoyed various activities in Cape Town including the botanical gardens, cape point, kayaking at simons town, visiting Stellenbosch, table mountain etc. We had a lovely meal at the Hussar Grill near the hotel aswell. We would have preferred less time in Swellendam but this may not have been helped by the rainy weather we had while there. We really enjoyed Plett which has lots of different activities to do from walking on Robberg Peninsula, visiting various animal parks and Knysna. Despite the great fire less than a year ago everything was up and running, and the views were fantastic. The safari was a great way to end the holiday and the lodge was a lovely bit of luxury to finish the trip." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 13 on a South Africa trip

"This is a trip I want to forget. I had inappropriate expectations from other travellers comments, or from advice from Expert Africa. The unsealed roads that are considered "good" turned out to be on average, alot worst than the unsealed roads in Australia. The "best" sections in Namibia were eqivalent to our unsealed roads in National Parks with corrugations. The rest were atrocious, with no warning sign if something major comes up that requires significant slowing down.

I was told that there was cell phone reception almost everywhere, and I wouldn't need a satellite phone. It turned out half of the unsealed roads had no reception. There were some stretches of roads that I did not see another car for an hour at a time. I was driving alone and couldn't deal with any breakdowns myself. I wouldn't have made this trip if I had known the reality.

I was also told that I would see a good amount of game as it is baby season, and there would be an increase in predator activities to feed the babies. When I asked the guides they just laughed. Virtually all the animals gave birth anytime if the year. Also because there was alot of late rain, I really didn't see much game except for elephants.

I really wasn't prepared for how backward Africans were. The lodges in Namibia were nicely built, but you couldn't get even the most basic requests through the staff. They are genuinely nice people, but almost all the lodges never considered purchasing the few items that I requested due to dietery restrictions, eventhough they were common supermarket items. I asked if I should bring some of these items myself and was told the lodges confirmed they would supply them. Should I have been warned they may not mean what they say?

Zimbabwe apart from Victoria Falls was unbearably backward. I am not sure if its to do with their econmic meltdown 20 years ago. Even at departure, I thought I had to spend the night at the airport as they couldn't refuel the plane.

I did manage to get some good photos. I do think Namibia has the best rockscapes in the world and massive potential to develop their tourist industry further, but I wouldn't consider going back.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I received a very good service from Maruska in planning this trip. But I feel she may need to be updated about a few facts. When I travelled to Egypt several years ago with a tour, we were given in writing tips on cultural expectations I call it. EA could certainly do with something like that, so travellers are better prepared as they interact with Africans.

I have travelled extensively around the world but have never been to Southern Africa. I have found this trip very taxing." Read full review: 24 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip

"Another fantastic trip with Expert Africa. Claire provides knowledge and reassurance during the planning. The logistics were incredibly smooth whilst in South Africa. Can’t wait for our next trip!" Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 9 on a South Africa trip

"Another very successful trip to Africa. It was all a very interesting experience but it was so different from the Africa of further north with which we are very familiar.

We enjoyed everything, but the one thing that stands out is the charm, the efficiency and the helpfulness of all the staff everywhere. Well done South Africa! Come here and teach us a lesson.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

well done Tracy keep up the good work !" Read full review: 31 nights in Africa; 21 on a South Africa trip

"It was special from the moment we crossed the border from South Africa, where we saw a total of seven people at the border crossing each with a form or a clip board, but they were all lovely.

With hindsight we are very pleased that we started in the south and not in Windhoek because we think it gave us a better perspective of the country. Once we had crossed the border and were driving north the traffic was almost non existent and the scenery beautiful. You need to blank out worrying about being nowhere near a doctor and how long it would take to get to hospital if you had to.

The variety in Namibia is staggering. Fish River Canyon - the second largest in the world, and we had it pretty much to ourselves. The bizarre Helmeringhausen Hotel. Sossusvlei and its 3-400 metre sand dunes. Mile after mile of desert. The Germanic Swakopmund and Walvis Bay in the middle of nowhere. The spooky skeleton coast, and a long drive through the desert up to mountainous Damaraland and the lovey camps. Then on to Etosha where we saw everything except leopard, and after that driving south to Windhoek through the much more heavily populated and industrialised side of the country.

We would love to go back before it becomes too popular." Read full review: 33 nights in Africa; 18 on a Namibia trip

"Perfect. Has taken away the pain of growing old!!" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 8 on a South Africa trip

"We had a great time. It was expensive but that is obviously what we paid for!" Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 15 on a South Africa trip

"We had a wonderful trip and were very satisfied with the selections made by our representative." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 17 on a South Africa trip

"This is the second time we have travelled with Expert Africa after our honeymoon in 2013, and on both occasions they have been superb (we never got round to doing the feedback on that first trip - sorry....).

Claire was very efficient and super-helpful with advice in response to our requests in terms of dates and locations, and her advice in terms of re-balancing the number of days we spent in different parts of the country proved to be spot-on.

Remote support for when things went slightly wrong - when our flight to Cape Town was very delayed - was great: on contacting Expert Africa, they were immediately able to re-schedule our transfer from the airport to our hotel.

South Africa - the second time we have visited, although the first was very briefly in a very wet August - was fantastic. At no point did we have any security concerns; the roads, admittedly generally between major population centres, were excellent; and the holiday experience itself was straightforward and relaxing, whilst encompassing some wonderfully special moments that will always live with us.

We now find ourselves as an informal local branch of the SA Tourist Board, so much do we rave about the country to friends and family!

Overall experience; trip as a whole:

You were superb - I can't really think of anything.

Thank you so much, and especially to Claire for making it all possible.

Happy New Year!" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 11 on a South Africa trip