Zanzibar: reviews from our travellers

"This is the first time I have ever arranged a trip using an agency. Although I have worked regularly in Tanzania over the last decade, I was not confident I knew enough about the holiday side and would be able to arrange the necessary transfers.

I was recommended the Bradt guide to Tanzania and noted that Chris acknowldeged his involvement with Expert Africa and sort of liked that. So got in touch and was very ably advised by Liz Wollen. I was late in doing the bookings but she guided me very competently through the available choices and I cannot fault her recommendations. I

n the event, on several of the bookings, she was able to get us better deals than we thought was possible at the outset. When she left on an assignment to Africa, Ellie seamlessly took over the arrangements. It was a pleasure working with the team and everything, without exception, went as planned.

Not a whinge but a suggestion. The pickup times on the transfers by road were not specified and it wasn't always easy to find a contact at the transfer company who was fully up to speed. Everyone now has mobiles in Africa - when I visit farmers in remote parts, I make the arrangements by mobile - so why not recommend that your clients buy a local sim card and send the details to you. You can then advise hotels, transfer companies etc so they can text collection times and other last minute info as needed.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

It may be me being thick but I lost a couple of versions of this form as I was completing it. You guys are doing a great job." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 6 on a Zanzibar holiday

"As nervous first time safari virgins we were really pleased with the organisation and service we received. The whole experience, apart from Breezes, was great. The transfers on Zanzibar, guides from Nomad and advice we had were first rate.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Nothing to add... great service" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari

"Great trip with all the logistics working perfeclty.

Claire and Ellie workied hard to pull the trip together and patiently looked at various options before we finalised the arrangements. I had also challanged a number suggestions which were explained to me while the trip was being prepared and which. with hindsight, were the right ones to make.

Thank you - I'm sure we will come back to you for another trip at some point in the near future.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

It would be worth getting clarity on bank credit card charges to advise customers - we got inconsistent charges quoted - form no charge (Ras Katani) to 10% charge for credit cards at Impala camp. Fortunately we had bought enough cash not to have to pay but it could be expensive if you were not prepared and it's puzzleing that the the fees quoted were inconsistnet." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari

"The first week on safari was great, the second weelk in Zanzibar was good but not as good as the first week. We will not be recommending Breezes to any of our friends. Serena Hotel was great." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zanzibar holiday

"We thought this was a fantastic trip and it confirmed our love of Africa. The people were wonderful and we were helped whenever we needed it - puncture on Zanzibar, getting lost in Stone Town etc. We never had any concerns for our safety and felt that the Tanzanians must be the gentlest people we have encountered.

Go to Ruaha - the game is a s good as Chobe in Botswana. Selous is a good alternative and has the advantage of water activities and walking safaris. Game is harder to find though.

Breezes is great if you have children, its facilities are good, it is safe and the perfect spot to unwind.

I would avoid the Zanzibar Coffee House except for cake and coffee. There are better alternatives - we were moved to Grand Palace Hotel which is brand new (and has a few teething problems) and the Swahili House looked good as well. We had an excellent Italian meal at the Spice House.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Not really. This is our second trip with you and third with Sunvil group in 4 years. Thinking about next year already." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 8 on a Tanzania safari

"This was a holiday of a lifetime for us and it certainly lived up to expectations.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

The service was fantastic I have no further comment to make." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zanzibar holiday

"Expert Africa organised everything very well, our taxis and middle men were very efficient and reliable.
Great advice for what we liked doing and we enjoyed our whole stay in Africa.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

No, we picked you because you had extensive good and bad reviews available on your website (so an honest and exhaustive approach), and later on your staff were very good and helpful on many levels." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zanzibar holiday

"A really good trip overall but Breezes was very disappointing

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

As stated above. The holiday was not cheap and we did not think Breezes was worth the money we paid for it - definite budget hotel. Had we known, we would not have gone for a resort style hotel but opted for something smaller without the facilities as the facilities at Breezes were less than satisfactory." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 5 on a Tanzania safari

"This was a completely wonderful holiday - exceeded our very high expectations.

Was so pleased I used Expert Africa: good advice at every stage, and so we got a trip that was just what we wanted. It was obvious that all the staff members I spoke to had first-hand experience of the camps and so could really help with our choices, and were very helpful talking through what we needed to consider.

Thank you.

These travellers subsequently wrote to us:

As you see, we really did have a fantastic holiday, and are extremely pleased that we used Expert Africa to help us get the trip we wanted. We realised while we were away how good your advice had been, and that we had a more "adventurous" holiday than I would have confident booking without that advice.

Not all the other people we met while we were away felt they had such a good experience with their own agents. This was often because they had taken a package deal so had little if any choice of camp and hadn't not known what to expect, through a variety of people with small problems changing onto internal flights at Dar Es Salaam, to some people who had been routed through Johannesburg during the World Cup and found themselves with nowhere to stay!

We were happy to mention Expert Africa as we really felt that the whole trip was very well organised and just what we hoped. The two camps in particular were so welcoming especially to the children - before we left, so many people had told me how brave I was to take my kids on safari that I had started to wonder whether it really was a sensible decision, but they loved it, learnt so much and felt included in everything we did." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zanzibar holiday

"Many thanks to Expert Africa for good advice and arranging a truly superb trip to Tanzania. A great place to bring teenage children.

We will certainly be back to Africa." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 6 on a Tanzania safari