Reviews of holidays to Mafia Island

"We have been working on this trip for years - and it lived up to every expectation. Great variety of accommodation, excellent game viewing and a bit of swimming at the end. We have already discussed the possibility of going back.

Thank you to all at Expert Africa who have had input to this over the years - Chris, Claire, Penny, Liz and Ellie.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

The trips are excellent, service very good and, despite trying, we cannot better you on price." Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 18 on a Tanzania safari

"We had a truly wonderful holiday. The advice that we received from Ellie Dunkels was exceptional. The places that she recommended to us were so "right" it was almost as if she knew us personally. Liz Wollen helped us closer to the time of departure and was very helpful and accommodating as our plans changed.

Tanzania itself was wonderful. The people we met were charming and gracious, the countryside, animals, birds, sea and fish were breathtaking and Stone Town was a fascinating place to end a memorable holiday. For all of us Chole Mjini was definitely the highlight but Lake Manze is pretty hard to fault!

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Every was so good I can't think of any way in which you could improve your service!" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari

"Well organised and just what we wanted.
Actually it was 2 weeks of 5 star treatment in 5 Star locations.

While we were rather concerned that the BA return flight would be cancelled we had to phone your office and tell them we were at risk. In the end all was well.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Second holiday with Expert Africa and again you came up trumps........though I suspect that my wife had a lot of input as well!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zanzibar holiday

"Overall, we enjoyed our trip especially because it provided us an opportunity to spend time with dear friends.

Although we were not entirely satisfied with Sand Rivers or Pole Pole, our dissatisfaction was mainly due to issues that could be resolved through somewhat more strict management of these properties.

Furthermore, what disappointed us about the Sand Rivers guiding may be why others think their guiding is superb. In other words, our dissatisfaction was due more to a mismatch of philosophy than any particular failing of the guide.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Claire was a pleasure to work with. She responded to my emails quickly and with all the information I needed.

Although we were not entirely satisfied with either Sand Rivers or Pole Pole, the reasons for our dissatisfaction have nothing to do with Expert Africa or Claire. I wouldn't hesitate to work with Expert Africa again." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 15 on a Tanzania safari

"From the relaxation of Pole Pole to the vibrancy of Zanzibar, this was a great holiday that i would love to do again!" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 5 on a Zanzibar holiday

"We had amazing safaris, and saw so much more Big Game than we dared hope. The camps were fabulous.

All the Guides, Trackers, Drivers and Ascari were of the highest standard.... Huge thanks to them all.

Diving on Mafia Island, I saw amazing corals, shark, ray, and swam with Whale Shark. Wow

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Planning a return........" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Tanzania safari

"Overall, a good combination 5 Nights in Ruaha and 4 Nights on Mafia. Would definately consider going back to Ruaha at another time to see it in the dry season.

My generic comment about the trip was Ellie at Expert Africa. She provided excellent advice, information, suggested itinaries, alternative and answered a number of silly questions. In fact when BA cancelled our flight back from Dar es Salaam, she even contacted us to see if BA were sorting it out and we were being looking after. we then had a number of text (SMS) exchanges as she check status, etc.

Apart for the BA issues above, everything worked out exactly as planned, being met and escorted between each transfer point.

I would definately consider using Expert Africa again (especially Ellie) and no hesitation recommending to friends, etc.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I would recommend reviewing you entries for Kwihala as the basis for the camp seems to be changing. In particular I understand it will no longer move and that the Bucket showers will be replaced by a normal shower.

The brochure, made me think where we might go, the web site help narrow down the options and Ellie provide the detailed knowledge and advice to finalist the trip including quotations. All elements were intrical and the speedy, informative response of Ellie was a key factor in choosing to book with Expert Africa. I did contact 3 providers with my initial ideas and Ellie initial response was by far the best." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 10 on a Tanzania safari

"A great holiday - very difficult to find fault with anything, all aspects were of an excellent standard - except

There seemed to be a bit of a mix up when we arrived at Dar es Salaam and nobody came for ages to take us to the domestic flight area - did turn up eventually but it was a bit disconcerting to be virtually the last people off the plan still waiting for a lift, after that everything went well." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 10 on a Tanzania safari

"I was hesitant to use a touring company for our holiday - we'd always done the booking ourselves and I wasn't sure how much value they'd really be able to add. As soon as we started working with EA we knew we'd made the right decision - and one we were in Tanzania we were REALLY happy we'd used them - our transfers were seamless and the places they recommended were all superb. We'd definitely use EA to book our next African holiday." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari

"Beho Beho and Oyster Bay have spoiled us for life. We are saving our pocket money again so that we can return!!
Especial thanks to Claire Scott for drawing up at least 8 different itineraries for us. thank you for being so patient.

It was the perfect honeymoon.

Suggestions for improvement:

Keep doing what you are doing!

Any location after BehoBeho was going to be a slight anticlimax. Thank you for warning us.

Apparently July/August is the windy season in Mafia?? - perhaps it is worth warning people in advance as certainly at the start of our stay alot of the excursions could not run. That was fine for us as we just wanted to relax but other guests there were very disappointed." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Tanzania safari