Reviews of trips to Livingstone & Victoria Falls
580 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Livingstone.
Mr & Mrs M
Devon
"A wonderful trip"
I visited Zambia between 7 Jul 2014 and 20 Jul 2014
"It was Claire who dealt most helpfully and knowledgably with our booking (see ratings below) But our heartfelt thanks go to Ellie who was most sympathetic and helpful when we were stuck at Heathrow and then stranded in Johannesburg.
Our overall trip was wonderful and we saw vast numbers of game and other wildlife. It was all a big adventure and an amazing experience. We did learn that to get the best outcome you may need to SAY what you want. However the phrase "a small portion please" never seemed to have the desired effect!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No, everything was very well done." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Zambia safari
Our overall trip was wonderful and we saw vast numbers of game and other wildlife. It was all a big adventure and an amazing experience. We did learn that to get the best outcome you may need to SAY what you want. However the phrase "a small portion please" never seemed to have the desired effect!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No, everything was very well done." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms V
Oslo
"Our Zambia trip"
I visited Zambia between 6 Jul 2014 and 15 Jul 2014
"As you will understand from my comments, we were very satisfied with our trip. However there are a couple of minor issues that I would like to mention. First, in our voucher for the River Club, you write that a visit to Livingstone museum is included in the price. However, the lady responsible for our activities at the River Club simply said that It was not, that Expert Africa had made a mistake, and consequently charged the sum to our account. It was not a big sum, but it irritated me at the time.
Then there was an inaccuracy concerning our transfer from Shiwa to Tafika. We were supposed to go via Mfuwe, but we realized that there had to be a misunderstanding and we could go direct by air to Tafika. This was however, easily cleared up.
Finally, as you will know, I have to mention the delayed arrival of our travel documents. As you know they arrived only a week before departure. How that can be avoided, I don't know." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari
Then there was an inaccuracy concerning our transfer from Shiwa to Tafika. We were supposed to go via Mfuwe, but we realized that there had to be a misunderstanding and we could go direct by air to Tafika. This was however, easily cleared up.
Finally, as you will know, I have to mention the delayed arrival of our travel documents. As you know they arrived only a week before departure. How that can be avoided, I don't know." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms G
Zurich
"My Jun 2014 trip"
I visited Zambia between 29 Jun 2014 and 14 Jul 2014
"We had an excellent time. No stress. Recreational value was high.
The sequence of the travel has been very well planned. The information was good.
All lodges were very nice. Each had a different attraction.
The staff and the guides were very friendly and patient.
We saw a lot of animals in different interactions.
The food was great (lots of home made cakes and desserts).
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We saw very little insects (also due to the season). Nevertheless I would recommend a white screen to attract them. So you could watch them in the evening." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 13 on a Zambia safari
The sequence of the travel has been very well planned. The information was good.
All lodges were very nice. Each had a different attraction.
The staff and the guides were very friendly and patient.
We saw a lot of animals in different interactions.
The food was great (lots of home made cakes and desserts).
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We saw very little insects (also due to the season). Nevertheless I would recommend a white screen to attract them. So you could watch them in the evening." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 13 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs J
Wales
"Botswana Anniversary Trip"
I visited Botswana and 1 other country between 28 Jun 2014 and 16 Jul 2014
"A magical trip combining the wonder of Victoria Falls with the splendour of the Okavango Delta.
Beautiful countries, friendly and welcoming people, amazing wildlife and superb service. What more could anyone want!
Thank you Megan for all your time spent advising, sharing, deliberating and finally, once all of our many questions had been addressed, organising such a smoothly run trip. Thank you also to Expert Africa for the copy of Bradt Botswana - essential reading before the journey, and to Nick and the team for rearranging our flights when our itinerary had to be changed due to illness.
We will certainly be recommending Expert Africa to all of our friends.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I cannot think of anything to improve your service but here's a few pieces of information that could be useful :-
At the Waterberry Lodge it's Weaver that has the bath not Swallow.
Tipping is always a difficult and personal issue but we followed and appreciated your advice . However Wilderness Safaris suggest up to three times the amount per person per day for general staff - Chitabe/Chitabe Lediba's guidelines were $10 - $15 per guest per day and Xigera recommended $10 per guest per day. This left us in a quandary! Whilst their service is indeed excellent we found their suggested amount excessive given the already high cost of the stay.
I'd asked about availability of robes in camps prior to our trip and can now happily report back that the above three Wilderness camps all supplied cosy fleece dressing gowns for those chilly winter mornings!
The price of a private vehicle with Kwando does not include a private boat whereas with Wilderness it does." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 14 on a Botswana safari
Beautiful countries, friendly and welcoming people, amazing wildlife and superb service. What more could anyone want!
Thank you Megan for all your time spent advising, sharing, deliberating and finally, once all of our many questions had been addressed, organising such a smoothly run trip. Thank you also to Expert Africa for the copy of Bradt Botswana - essential reading before the journey, and to Nick and the team for rearranging our flights when our itinerary had to be changed due to illness.
We will certainly be recommending Expert Africa to all of our friends.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I cannot think of anything to improve your service but here's a few pieces of information that could be useful :-
At the Waterberry Lodge it's Weaver that has the bath not Swallow.
Tipping is always a difficult and personal issue but we followed and appreciated your advice . However Wilderness Safaris suggest up to three times the amount per person per day for general staff - Chitabe/Chitabe Lediba's guidelines were $10 - $15 per guest per day and Xigera recommended $10 per guest per day. This left us in a quandary! Whilst their service is indeed excellent we found their suggested amount excessive given the already high cost of the stay.
I'd asked about availability of robes in camps prior to our trip and can now happily report back that the above three Wilderness camps all supplied cosy fleece dressing gowns for those chilly winter mornings!
The price of a private vehicle with Kwando does not include a private boat whereas with Wilderness it does." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 14 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms W & Ms T
Arizona
"My Jun 2014 trip"
I visited Botswana and 1 other country between 24 Jun 2014 and 7 Jul 2014
"The trip was fantastic and I will remember for the rest of my life. Good fun, good company and GREAT accommodations and service.
I would recommend anyone who ever gets a chance to go on the trip because it was fantastic." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
I would recommend anyone who ever gets a chance to go on the trip because it was fantastic." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs W
Kensington
"Botswana Birthday Trip"
I visited Botswana and 3 other countries between 24 Jun 2014 and 14 Jul 2014
"Overall this was a fabulous safari experience for the 5 of us, three being first time safari goers and two of us being experienced safari travellers. The game viewing is stupendous. The abundance of water from the delta makes for a very different Southern Africa Experience.
Great to see so many Betswanas working in the camps.
Food - we would have like to have had more game on the menu but perhaps this is made more difficult now by the hunting ban in Botswana.
We think that the camps/safari industry in Botswana need to invest in providing WiFi in the camps
Overall we would readily recommend this trip and Expert Africa for organising it - there was not a hitch during the whole trip. Thank you Megan
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Keep up the good work" Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Great to see so many Betswanas working in the camps.
Food - we would have like to have had more game on the menu but perhaps this is made more difficult now by the hunting ban in Botswana.
We think that the camps/safari industry in Botswana need to invest in providing WiFi in the camps
Overall we would readily recommend this trip and Expert Africa for organising it - there was not a hitch during the whole trip. Thank you Megan
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Keep up the good work" Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr H & Miss M
UK
"A memorable and well-organised trip"
I visited Zambia and 1 other country between 22 Jun 2014 and 12 Jul 2014
"We had a great holiday and were happy with all our accommodation choices.....we made small suggestions for improvements but had no cause for complaints.
On reflection we might have changed the length of stays towards the end of the trip e.g. an extra day near Victoria Falls and one day less in Hwange N.P. in Zimbabwe. We very much appreciated the advice provided during the planning of our holiday and the information and service given during this process. The brochure and the travel documents supplied were comprehensive and helpful.
We would certainly consider planning/booking another trip with Expert Africa based on our first experience of the company." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 14 on a Zambia safari
On reflection we might have changed the length of stays towards the end of the trip e.g. an extra day near Victoria Falls and one day less in Hwange N.P. in Zimbabwe. We very much appreciated the advice provided during the planning of our holiday and the information and service given during this process. The brochure and the travel documents supplied were comprehensive and helpful.
We would certainly consider planning/booking another trip with Expert Africa based on our first experience of the company." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 14 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Dr & Mrs C
W Sussex
"Kwando Safari"
I visited Botswana and 1 other country between 19 Jun 2014 and 2 Jul 2014
"We had a most enjoyable safari, with high standards of accommodation and facilities, including some electricity, without losing the feeling that were were really in the wild.
2370 photos are a testament to what we have seen. Some guides seem to feel that humour is paramount - but we got a bit weary of the same jokes!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No, we have had fantastic service, as on our previous trips with Expert Africa. I have said it before, and will say again that other companies can learn a lot from you." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
2370 photos are a testament to what we have seen. Some guides seem to feel that humour is paramount - but we got a bit weary of the same jokes!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No, we have had fantastic service, as on our previous trips with Expert Africa. I have said it before, and will say again that other companies can learn a lot from you." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs VV-G
Belgium
"My Jun 2014 trip"
I visited Zambia between 16 Jun 2014 and 28 Jun 2014
"Coming to Zambia for the 4th time : everything very much according to our rather high exspectations."
Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs M
Sudbury
"My Jun 2014 trip"
I visited Zambia between 7 Jun 2014 and 20 Jun 2014
"This was the most incredible experience of my lifetime. It was a very smooth experience from camp to camp with NO GLITCHES. Everything was perfectly planned and professionally executed. We felt safe while we also were exhilarated I would highly recommend this experience to those seeking adventure and a real taste of the bush and Africa.
The one comment for change is to offer some diverse activities to break it up a little. Offer something...cooking, yoga, anything!
Thank you for this fantastic experience! It was amazing." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 13 on a Zambia safari
The one comment for change is to offer some diverse activities to break it up a little. Offer something...cooking, yoga, anything!
Thank you for this fantastic experience! It was amazing." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 13 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
580
reviews of Livingstone by travellers since August 2007
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Where to stay in Livingstone
Our suggestions for places to stay in Livingstone & Victoria Falls
Avani Victoria Falls
Just a few minutes' walk from the Victoria Falls, with access for guests included, the Avani features good facilities in peaceful grounds at a modest price.
Royal Livingstone Hotel
Conveniently located just a short walk from the Zambia. side of the Victoria Falls, the colonial-style Royal Livingstone has beautiful grounds and small but quite luxurious rooms.
Tongabezi
Secluded on the banks of the Zambezi, less than 20km from the Victoria Falls, Tongabezi is one of the most exclusive lodges in Zambia.
Waterberry Lodge
Offering great value for money and within easy reach of the Victoria Falls, Waterberry is a small, family-friendly lodge on the banks of the Zambezi River.
Islands of Siankaba
In a lovely location on the Zambezi upriver of the Victoria Falls, Islands of Siankaba provides a tranquil setting to relax at the start or end of a safari to Botswana or Zambia.
Toka Leya Camp
The new Toka Leya Camp stands beside the Zambezi inside Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park – so wildlife often passes through. It's a comfortable tented camp which has great service and includes a range of activities.
Stanley Safari Lodge
Stanley Safari Lodge has views of Victoria Falls spray from all the rooms, and is a convenient base for exploring the Zambezi River area.
The River Club
The River Club, near Zambia's town of Livingstone and the Victoria Falls, overlooks the Zambezi River.
Sindabezi
Sindabezi, near Zambia's town of Livingstone and the Victoria Falls, is an island in the middle of the Zambezi River
Thorntree River Lodge
Rebuilt in 2017, Thorntree River Lodge is one of the best riverside lodges in Livingstone, with a strong sense of the environment and straightforward access to the Falls.
David Livingstone Lodge
The four-star David Livingstone Safari Lodge is in a lovely spot on the edge of the Zambezi River in Zambia, close to the Victoria Falls.
Tangala House
Tangala House, the family home near Zambia's town of Livingstone and the Victoria Falls
Sussi & Chuma
Sussi & Chuma combines a luxurious, laid-back camp with a good location on the Zambezi River, with quick access to the Victoria Falls.
