Zanzibar: reviews from our travellers

"This was our first 'adventurous' trip with the children and it felt well organised, safe and most importantly, left us with incredible memories. Everything Richard organised; airport pick-ups, transfers etc all worked like clockwork. We were well looked after.

I cannot recommend Kicheche Mara and Pongwe Beach enough - we were so sad to leave! This has been our best family holiday to date - I'm not sure how we can top it!

Thank you.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Perhaps warn travellers about Nairobi airport!

We were inundated with mosquitos there (had packed repellent) and both my husband and daughter got food poisoning from the food court!" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zanzibar holiday

"Overall a fantastic trip.

Too short in retrospect.

Albert Lucas the guide was fantastic." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 12 on a Tanzania safari

"The entire trip was impeccably organised by Expert Africa. Travellers should be aware that they do not book international flights or arrange travel insurance. End July/August is a splendid time to go on safari in Tanzania; we came across no mosquitos and few Tsetse flies. The three lodges we stayed at were each very different in feel and location and this made a fascinating two week safari with four nights at each lodge, followed by a week in Zanzibar. With two game drives a day one is often out in the bush for up to 12 hours a day and one has to be prepared to be in the jeeps for this length of time, as the opportunities for getting out are very limited because of safety. The bush is, of course, wild and the going often rough, so first time safari goers need to be prepared to be thrown around in jeeps (but with seat belts!).

The game viewing at this time of year is magnificent and we saw several crossings of the wildebeast in the Mara river, quite a few prides of lions in the Ruaha, including the full pride of 13 at one point and two close up sightings of an entire pack of wild dogs at Beho Beho. Three separate leopard sightings in the Serengeti were very special.

Zanzibar is the ideal place to wind down after a safari but one needs to choose one's hotel carefully according to what atmosphere and recreations one wants. Near Stone Town, or not, swimable beach, or not, isolated or not. Some of the taxi and shuttle drivers can be quite on the wild side, but it is the nature of the island!

Our expectations were more than fulfilled on this magical trip." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 12 on a Tanzania safari

"We love wildlife safaris, and this Selous/Ruaha venture was no exception in most aspects.

The overall efforts from Lyndsey at Expert Africa meant that the whole itinerary unfolded as planned - no hitches. She provided all of the necessary information from London to us in Oz. for me to feel confident of the outcome.

Our experiences in both Selous and Ruaha were what we had hoped for in respect to the vast wilderness feel to both regions, the variety of vegetation and topography, as well as the absence of hordes of other safari vehicles. We were a little disappointed that due to several factors ( maybe vegetation cover/animal numbers of some species) we didn't locate wild dog, cheetah or leopard in either location. We've never based our trips on seeing particular wildlife because often it's more luck than anything, and no one factor can change this.

The camps chosen were equal to anything we had previously encountered, and would recommend both Impala and Mwagusi.

Overall a great trip." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari

"Great with the disappointment of no diving in Zanzibar" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zanzibar holiday

"Lodge, staff, pool & food were all excellent.

It was not really easy to walk too far - about half a mile to local village
When the tide is in the beach is completely covered - the plus is that the sea comes right up to the Lodge; the minus is that it limits the possibility of swimming" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 12 on a Zanzibar holiday

"Great Trip with a good mix of safari, beach and town.

Seemed the timings were just perfect thanks to your advice! Safari was so well organised could relax and enjoy ourselves.

So glad we included seeing stone town to break it up slightly and the beach recommendations were just what we needed!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Everything was great, wouldn't have been able to do it without you!" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari

"We had a fabulous honeymoon and really appreciated Claire's expertise.

We have already recommended Expert Africa to 3 people since returning home. Thank you!" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari

"I was able to research our trip with the help of your excellent website and conversations with Lyndsey and book a holiday which exceeded my expectations. I was keen to avoid crowds at safari camps and therefore avoided the Serengeti and crater and choose Ruaha and Selous. Both were fabulous and we enjoyed visiting at this time of year when the areas were so green and lush. Ruaha with its baobab trees was particularly beautiful. We also enjoyed the contrast of Selous with the river and lakes and the option of boat safaris to see crocodiles and hippos.

I was pleased to have had 2 nights in Stone Town. What a fascinating town. We booked a historic tour for 8.30am before it became too hot and found our guide well informed. The last 3 nights at Mtembwe Lodge were wonderful. The place was paradise and we really didnt want to leave. All in all a super holiday.

The only plan I would have changed would have been to have stayed 3 nights at Ras Kutani instead of 2 nights, as the journey seemed too long from Dar es Salaam for just what ended up to be one whole day there as we only arrived at 6pm and had to leave at 7.30am. The hotel was good but we couldn't really appreciate it in the time allowed." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari

"Considering all the details involved in booking this trip, I was extremely satisfied from my initial phone call, to the day I returned home.

I think Justin returned my calls and replied to my emails within 10 minutes, and there were a lot of them! And thanks for procuring the binocs! The trip he planned turned out as perfect as it could be. The Rhotia Valley stay was really a genius choice. As a physician, I bonded with the owners and was invited to join them for meals so we could continue our conversations. I expect to have an ongoing relationship with them, and hope to return.

I see no place to comment specifically on my guide, so I’ll do that here. Nathoo was incredible. He knew every plant, animal, constellation. I had my Swahili lessons while driving around. There can’t possibly be anyone better!

I would say this trip exceeded my expectations, and was worth every penny.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

No, I don’t!" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari