South Africa: reviews from our travellers

"Overall, we enjoyed it. However, the main reason for our visit - earlier in the year than we would otherwise have chosen - was our long-standing desire to view the vivid 'carpets' of spring flowers for which Namaqualand is so famous. This year there were none - according to local experts, the worst year for a decade. So this was a disappointment and meant that we drove a huge distance - to Springbok and back - for very little purpose. Of course, no-one can be blamed for that.

Our second disappointment was Constantia Uitsig and I have tried to explain why in my comments above. I'd be interested to know what your other clients think about this place." Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 13 on a South Africa trip

"Our 2010 Africa trip was the latest in a succession of memorable trips arranged by Expert Africa. Each trip has brought a new experience relived again through our films, photos and my diary. This year's highlight just had to be the bushcamp experience at Dolomite Point. I have to praise the dedication and hard work which was shown by Abel, Jeraboam, Victor andJoseph. They made a superb team. I know it was only a temporary camp and will not be repeated but it was surreal.

This year was our 9th fly-drive visit to Namibia and 2nd to the Kgalagadi. We still believe there is no better place to see wildlife than Namibia closely followed by Botswana. If there is an increase in retirement pensions in April we'll be booking another trip!!

Thank you Expert Africa. You're the best tour operator we've found - scrupulously thorough and helpful.

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How can you improve on perfection?" Read full review: 24 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip

"We have done numerous safaris but this was different. We were not expecting vast quantities of game but we were pleasantly surprised by the number of animals we saw, which included 7 cheetah and 2 male black-maned lions. The game viewing was probably not helped by the volume of rain which had recently fallen, resulting in long, fresh and sometimes green grass.

We found ourselves appreciating the smaller, less significant animals more than we would normally; for instance the mongooses, squirrels and even mice. Finding meerkats is definitely not 'simples'! But we succeeded. Bird life was surprisingly profuse, with a good variety of raptors.

The park infrastructure was excellent. The tracks were sandy, well maintained and the main ones easily negotiable by 2wd, right up to Union End. Petrol is available at Mata Mata and Nossob, but beware that the shops here were not well stocked compared with Twee Rivieren.

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Difficult to see how the Expert Africa team could have done a better job! Excellent as always............" Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 7 on a South Africa trip

"We are likely to return, which is something we don't often do.

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Claire was excellent - she had an informed answer to every question we asked." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 9 on a South Africa trip

"We had a fantastic holiday - lots of relaxing doing not a lot, some sightseeing and some days walking.. We achieved our aim of a hot Christmas and seeing some cricket abroad - A promising recipe to be repeated with or without the cricket.

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No - all was fine - if we had a glitches they were sorted out as we went along which is why we will use the company again - our holiday was trully tailor-made for us - thank you." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 8 on a South Africa trip

"Expert Africa were highly efficent with great advice prior to us booking out trip and were excellent when we left our documents in Windhoek and faxed a copy for us to continue our trip.Thank you we would recommend you to all our friends considering a trip to Africa.

The lodges we chose we fantastic with excellent and knowledgable staff and guides, as it was low season we often went out on our own and had personnal service which was a bonus.

We had a trip of a lifetime and look forward to another trip to Africa in 2011" Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 8 on a Namibia trip

"For the limited time available to us and for the time of year being very hot this short itinerary worked out very well.

There were some good things; the Xlaus camp, the drive from Upington to Augrabies. le Must guest house. Some poor things; Augrabies Rest camp and the size of the car in Cape Town and some average things; South Africa airlines." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 5 on a South Africa trip

"excellent. the best organised and thought through trip we can remember anywhere in the world and we trvel alot to the far east and australasia. see me original e mail to tracy.

Further comments sent by email

In addition to their feedback above, these travellers made further comments about their trip, by email:

"We had a wonderful trip and enjoyed ourselves enormously.I wanted to tell you how impressed we have been with quality of service we have had from Expert Africa and you in particular.We travel extensively and we can honestly say that you are the best organised and professional tour operator that we have dealt with. The information and response to our questions before we left proved to be entirely accurate on the trip. It also became evident as time progressed that there was a well thought out reason for each of the stages and accomodation that had been booked.

Namibia was stunning and we also enjoyed our time in S Africa although I would avoid Plettenberg for the first 2 weeks of December as it is student rage time and there are lots of drunken and extremely loud school and college leavers there. It is difficult to select the best hotels as they were all good to excellent. However I would mention the Vineyard in Cape Town which is beautiful place and faultlessly managed with great staff.We also liked Oulap and Klippie River which I understand is up for sale.

In Namibia the best were Bullsport which was great introduction, Little Kulala and Dora Nawas both of which were stunning settings and a great experience. Okanijima,Onguma and Okaukuejo wre all excellent and we loved Etosha.

We will certainly highly recommend Expert Africa and when next we are going to Africa which I trust we will be soon we will definately be in contact. Thanks once again. I know it requires alot of effert on your behalf to provide this level of professional service"

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no. I think you have got it right.keep it up" Read full review: 25 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip

"We had a very enjoyable stay in Hermanus & were able to travel around the Western Cape area with ease.



In the guidance notes it might be helpful to emphasize to motorists that when parked on the road the car needs to be facing the correct way for the direction of travel - we got a 300 Rand ticket for this 'offence' that is not an issue in the UK." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 7 on a South Africa trip

"We enjoyed the trip apart from the weather - it only warmed up the last 3 days. It was to be expected in Spring but locals could not believe the weather themselves.

This trip was a part of Africa we wanted to see although we had been to Capetown 20 years before but would not repeat as we prefer to see more wildlife and this is not the right area. It was our choice but enjoyable nevertheless.

We would have preferred more details in advance on the accomodation in SANParks as we took more equipment than necessary.

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Impressed with receiving our final documents earlier than normal due to postal strikes" Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 11 on a South Africa trip