Travel reviews by Tokyo traveler from Japan
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
3
Excursions taken
0
Far Beyond Our Expectations
Botswana between 6 Jul 2016 and 12 Jul 2016
"Feedback by Hitoshi E.
Good Points:
1 Firsthand Information
Expert Africa offers firsthand information to their customers. Information is the latest and non-biased.
2 Quick Responses
Sarah answered my queries swiftly despite a time difference between London and Tokyo. She also gave me appropriate options. Without her professional support, I could not make this Botswana safari tour come true. Thank you so much!
3 Flexibility and Efficiency
When I asked Chris to change my itinerary, he rearranged my trip plan perfectly in a short time. I was amazed at his flexibility and efficiency. Thanks a lot, Chris!
To be improved: Warning for Coldness Needed. I wish I were informed more thoroughly of how cold it is in July in Botswana (especially during morning safaris). I brought a light down jacket. But it was not enough. I needed a heavier one. .
As I told Chris on the phone, I am a stage-four lung cancer patient. My doctor said I would probably be able to live another six months or so. If I live longer than that, I will try our second African safari tour next year. Then I wish to travel with Expert Africa again. See you then!
Feedback by Kazuko Enda
We are glad to have chosen Expert Africa.
Reliability was the No. 1 criterion.
Good points: quick responses to our inquiries, perfect arrangements, good reference documents, and emergency response.
This trip was to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but now we wish to do it again!"
Good Points:
1 Firsthand Information
Expert Africa offers firsthand information to their customers. Information is the latest and non-biased.
2 Quick Responses
Sarah answered my queries swiftly despite a time difference between London and Tokyo. She also gave me appropriate options. Without her professional support, I could not make this Botswana safari tour come true. Thank you so much!
3 Flexibility and Efficiency
When I asked Chris to change my itinerary, he rearranged my trip plan perfectly in a short time. I was amazed at his flexibility and efficiency. Thanks a lot, Chris!
To be improved: Warning for Coldness Needed. I wish I were informed more thoroughly of how cold it is in July in Botswana (especially during morning safaris). I brought a light down jacket. But it was not enough. I needed a heavier one. .
As I told Chris on the phone, I am a stage-four lung cancer patient. My doctor said I would probably be able to live another six months or so. If I live longer than that, I will try our second African safari tour next year. Then I wish to travel with Expert Africa again. See you then!
Feedback by Kazuko Enda
We are glad to have chosen Expert Africa.
Reliability was the No. 1 criterion.
Good points: quick responses to our inquiries, perfect arrangements, good reference documents, and emergency response.
This trip was to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but now we wish to do it again!"
Little Vumbura
"Cozy Camp with Professional Guide"
3 nights
Arrived
6 Jul 2016
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Lebala Camp
"Dynamic Game Drive To Be Found Nowhere Else"
1 night
Arrived
9 Jul 2016
"Feedback by Hitoshi E.
Good Points
1 Real Excitement: Pursuing wild dogs in their hunt was really exciting--a National Geographic experience. Both the driver and the tracker are professionals. I have never seen such an army like hunting by animals.
2 Professional Operation: Using my iPhone relying on faint 3G signals from a nearby Namibian base station, I called Chris [Ed: At Expert Africa] in London to ask him to change the camp for our next night stay. It was just a short conversation and my English was not perfect. But he got the picture of our situation correctly and arranged my request perfectly even if it was at night. I thank you all - not only Chris but also the local staff members who cooperated. I was amazed at such perfect operations done in Africa.
To be improved: Nothing special
Feedback by Kazuko Enda
In Lebala, we only had two safaris (reason described later), but they were very good ones. I was glad to see the wild dogs in their den with 15 puppies! The chase after the dogs hunting for a zebra (who escaped) was a roller-coaster experience.
Here’s a note on some special situation we had in Lebala:
When we flew to Lebala, we saw a big smoke rising from the ground (later found it was from the burning of fields in Namibia). The air was hazy and thick with the smell of fire. This concerned us gravely because my husband has a lung disease. He then called the Expert Africa’s emergency number and asked them to put us in another camp. It was a Saturday night. The next morning, we were out in the field for a morning safari. Then the camp manger radioed our guide to tell us that all the arrangements had been made for us to move to Little Kwara. We hopped on the airplane to Kwara at 11 am. We were simply amazed at the entire operation. How efficient! We were also deeply grateful for everyone who tried to meet our request—Chris, camp manager, and the driver who sped up the jeep so that we could catch the airplane."
Good Points
1 Real Excitement: Pursuing wild dogs in their hunt was really exciting--a National Geographic experience. Both the driver and the tracker are professionals. I have never seen such an army like hunting by animals.
2 Professional Operation: Using my iPhone relying on faint 3G signals from a nearby Namibian base station, I called Chris [Ed: At Expert Africa] in London to ask him to change the camp for our next night stay. It was just a short conversation and my English was not perfect. But he got the picture of our situation correctly and arranged my request perfectly even if it was at night. I thank you all - not only Chris but also the local staff members who cooperated. I was amazed at such perfect operations done in Africa.
To be improved: Nothing special
Feedback by Kazuko Enda
In Lebala, we only had two safaris (reason described later), but they were very good ones. I was glad to see the wild dogs in their den with 15 puppies! The chase after the dogs hunting for a zebra (who escaped) was a roller-coaster experience.
Here’s a note on some special situation we had in Lebala:
When we flew to Lebala, we saw a big smoke rising from the ground (later found it was from the burning of fields in Namibia). The air was hazy and thick with the smell of fire. This concerned us gravely because my husband has a lung disease. He then called the Expert Africa’s emergency number and asked them to put us in another camp. It was a Saturday night. The next morning, we were out in the field for a morning safari. Then the camp manger radioed our guide to tell us that all the arrangements had been made for us to move to Little Kwara. We hopped on the airplane to Kwara at 11 am. We were simply amazed at the entire operation. How efficient! We were also deeply grateful for everyone who tried to meet our request—Chris, camp manager, and the driver who sped up the jeep so that we could catch the airplane."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Little Kwara (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
""
2 nights
Arrived
10 Jul 2016
"Feedback to Little Kwara by Hitoshi Enda
Dream-Like Scenery Surrounded by Great Nature
Good Points
1 Dream-Like Scenery: Here in this camp, lying on the sofa, you can see the dream-like scenery around the camp. It is so peaceful and lovely.
2 Close to Nature: When we were eating lunch, elephants were also eating fruits right next to us (but behind the fence). Elephants, Impalas, warthogs and hippos can be seen from the wood deck. In the game drive, we saw two cheetahs.
3 Nice Dining: At the second night, all the guests sat around the fire and had dinner. It was fantastic to eat dinner hearing the unique calls of hippos. The chef and food were very good.
To be improved: Nothing special
Feedback to Little Kwara by Kazuko E.
After our emergency exit from Lebala, we were welcomed by friendly staff in Little Kwara, which was another cozy camp in a beautiful location. I was surprised to see many animals roaming right in the camp—elephants, impalas, and warthogs. In Little Kwara, we were able to enjoy both land and water activities."
Dream-Like Scenery Surrounded by Great Nature
Good Points
1 Dream-Like Scenery: Here in this camp, lying on the sofa, you can see the dream-like scenery around the camp. It is so peaceful and lovely.
2 Close to Nature: When we were eating lunch, elephants were also eating fruits right next to us (but behind the fence). Elephants, Impalas, warthogs and hippos can be seen from the wood deck. In the game drive, we saw two cheetahs.
3 Nice Dining: At the second night, all the guests sat around the fire and had dinner. It was fantastic to eat dinner hearing the unique calls of hippos. The chef and food were very good.
To be improved: Nothing special
Feedback to Little Kwara by Kazuko E.
After our emergency exit from Lebala, we were welcomed by friendly staff in Little Kwara, which was another cozy camp in a beautiful location. I was surprised to see many animals roaming right in the camp—elephants, impalas, and warthogs. In Little Kwara, we were able to enjoy both land and water activities."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Good Points
1 Nice View: I enjoyed the wide open view over the calm water from my cozy tent room. It has changed my image of Africa.
2 Hospitality: Camp staff sang local songs before dinner every night. Apparently, they enjoyed singing themselves. Such natural hospitality made my heart warm.
3 Expertise: Our guide Sam is a real professional. We stayed three nights. He designed our safaris carefully so that we enjoyed every safari during our stay. We saw lions, leopards, and cheetahs, in addition to many other animals.
To be improved: English spoken by manager too fast
The camp manager explained camp rules at first. But because she spoke too fast, I understood only part of them.
Feedback by Kazuko E.
This was our first trip to Africa, and Little Vumbula was the very first camp we visited in Botswana. Everything about the camp was far beyond our expectations—beautiful island location, friendly staff, and good food. Above all, I enjoyed seeing all kinds of animals, great and small, who were so beautiful and graceful in the wilderness. I was also struck by the artistic beauty of the landscape and skies in Africa. Our guide, Sam, was a true professional with an extensive knowledge of the wildlife. Every safari was full of surprises. All in all, our stay in Little Vumbula was FANTASTIC!"