Reviews of safaris to Mana Pools National Park
We have always listened to our travellers, and now you can learn from them also. Below are links to feedback from recent trips - these are their views, not ours! See what they think of us, and about our trips to Africa:
Mr C & Mr K
Oxon
"Our trip to Zimbabwe October 2018"
I visited Zimbabwe and 1 other country between 29 Sep 2018 and 16 Oct 2018
"Despite the inauspicious start in Harare Airport, all other aspects of the trip went very smoothly and overall it exceeded our expectations and we will undoubtedly book another trip with Expert Africa in the future.
We are big fans of Zambia because of the excellent walking but we liked the combination of walk and drives we experienced in Zimbabwe.
Mana Pools was busier than Hwange, which was very quiet. In Mana Pools, it is strange to see people walking in the park without guides. In Hwange it was wonderful to be away from tsetses and mosquitos." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 15 on a Zimbabwe safari
We are big fans of Zambia because of the excellent walking but we liked the combination of walk and drives we experienced in Zimbabwe.
Mana Pools was busier than Hwange, which was very quiet. In Mana Pools, it is strange to see people walking in the park without guides. In Hwange it was wonderful to be away from tsetses and mosquitos." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 15 on a Zimbabwe safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs R
Glos
"Sep 2018 trip to Zimbabwe "
I visited Zimbabwe between 8 Sep 2018 and 20 Sep 2018
"Great. The only issue was SAA.
Everything else was superb." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zimbabwe safari
Everything else was superb." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zimbabwe safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr S.
Clontarf
"Zimbabwe is well worth visiting"
I visited Zimbabwe between 31 Aug 2018 and 17 Sep 2018
"Another very well organised trip with Expert Africa.
Freddie responded well to our request to select camps primarily for the quality of their guides. The camps were all of high quality and each had unique experiences, and great, knowledgable and experienced guides.
It is pleasing to see each camp supporting their local communities and doing their best to protect the wildlife and prevention of poaching. Clearly they are managing despite the current political and economic crises facing the country and are well worth supporting.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We like the fact that we can chat to your reps and you make suggestions to help us choose camps and locations based on our past experiences with you and don’t simply refer us to your website or brochures so the trip is truly tailored to our wishes." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 15 on a Zimbabwe safari
Freddie responded well to our request to select camps primarily for the quality of their guides. The camps were all of high quality and each had unique experiences, and great, knowledgable and experienced guides.
It is pleasing to see each camp supporting their local communities and doing their best to protect the wildlife and prevention of poaching. Clearly they are managing despite the current political and economic crises facing the country and are well worth supporting.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We like the fact that we can chat to your reps and you make suggestions to help us choose camps and locations based on our past experiences with you and don’t simply refer us to your website or brochures so the trip is truly tailored to our wishes." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 15 on a Zimbabwe safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs R
Kingston
"Our August-Sept 2018 Zimbabwe Safari"
I visited Zimbabwe between 26 Aug 2018 and 9 Sep 2018
"Our trip was wonderful. We loved each camp for different reasons, so we are not able to pick a "favourite", and that's a good thing. We would return to each of them.
Everything was as expected and described, with 2 minor exceptions: our transfer from Batonka Guest Lodge was to arrive at 8 am, giving us time to have breakfast at 7 am, but he arrived at 7 am, so there was a bit of a rush. I would have preferred to know this in advance.
The other exception was certainly to our advantage: apparently the road transfer from Hwange Bush Camp to Somalisa Expeditions is not a comfortable journey, so the owner of Hwange Bush Camp arranged for us to fly, and we were told he covered the cost on his own. He has apparently communicated this to agents (including Expert Africa).
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not much to suggest, only this: perhaps consider updating the general description of Zimbabwe, as a lot has changed in the last year. You should know that when we mentioned we had booked with you, many other travellers (and some of the camp staff) said "oh, they have an excellent website". Thank you." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 11 on a Zimbabwe safari
Everything was as expected and described, with 2 minor exceptions: our transfer from Batonka Guest Lodge was to arrive at 8 am, giving us time to have breakfast at 7 am, but he arrived at 7 am, so there was a bit of a rush. I would have preferred to know this in advance.
The other exception was certainly to our advantage: apparently the road transfer from Hwange Bush Camp to Somalisa Expeditions is not a comfortable journey, so the owner of Hwange Bush Camp arranged for us to fly, and we were told he covered the cost on his own. He has apparently communicated this to agents (including Expert Africa).
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not much to suggest, only this: perhaps consider updating the general description of Zimbabwe, as a lot has changed in the last year. You should know that when we mentioned we had booked with you, many other travellers (and some of the camp staff) said "oh, they have an excellent website". Thank you." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 11 on a Zimbabwe safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Sue
Cape Town
"Zimbabwe: still beautiful and welcoming"
I visited Zimbabwe between 25 Aug 2018 and 14 Sep 2018
"It was a most rewarding experience. I lived in the country many years ago and was gratified to see that no matter what difficulties they face, the people are as welcoming and open and friendly as I remember. There are definitely challenges ahead, but I hope that there will be a gradual improvement in the economy. To this end, I would encourage tourists to visit the whole of Zimbabwe, and not just the outer northwest corner. The Eastern Highlands are indescribably beautiful, as are the Matobo Hills, Great Zimbabwe and the Zambezi Valley.
I suppose the unexpected thing about our trip was that apart from a delightful train journey which gave us double the travel time we had paid for, things actually do work. There were unavoidable delays from time to time, but there were no glitches in the arrangements made for local transfers or accommodation.
All in all it was a wonderful three weeks, and my thanks to EA for their excellent service.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No improvements possible on the service we received from both Freddie and Claire.
We were picky and difficult and not altogether consistent, and they managed us brilliantly, thanks so much." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 16 on a Zimbabwe safari
I suppose the unexpected thing about our trip was that apart from a delightful train journey which gave us double the travel time we had paid for, things actually do work. There were unavoidable delays from time to time, but there were no glitches in the arrangements made for local transfers or accommodation.
All in all it was a wonderful three weeks, and my thanks to EA for their excellent service.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No improvements possible on the service we received from both Freddie and Claire.
We were picky and difficult and not altogether consistent, and they managed us brilliantly, thanks so much." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 16 on a Zimbabwe safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs L
Wellington
"Great trip"
I visited Zimbabwe between 3 Aug 2018 and 13 Aug 2018
"Brilliant camps and wonderful activities.
Slight problem with transfers:
Transfer from airport involved waiting for others to get through immigration and then stops at various hotels.
Never informed of time of transfer to Hwange.
Transfer from airport at end forgotten.
Never informed of time on last day." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zimbabwe safari
Slight problem with transfers:
Transfer from airport involved waiting for others to get through immigration and then stops at various hotels.
Never informed of time of transfer to Hwange.
Transfer from airport at end forgotten.
Never informed of time on last day." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zimbabwe safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr M
Toronto
"My May/June trip"
I visited Zimbabwe and 1 other country between 31 May 2018 and 26 Jun 2018
"Although the rains meant that we did not see as much game as we usually do, we greatly enjoyed the smaller animal behaviour and the birds.
We loved the trip and thank Expert Africa for their suggestions, their planning and their professionalism.
We will most definitely use them for our next trip.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We were thrilled with the trip. I've tried to not rate all the accommodation and camps as excellent, but everything really WAS excellent.
Thanks Expert Africa!" Read full review: 26 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zimbabwe safari
We loved the trip and thank Expert Africa for their suggestions, their planning and their professionalism.
We will most definitely use them for our next trip.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We were thrilled with the trip. I've tried to not rate all the accommodation and camps as excellent, but everything really WAS excellent.
Thanks Expert Africa!" Read full review: 26 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zimbabwe safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Miss J
Bushey
"Good Service!"
I visited Zimbabwe between 16 May 2018 and 27 May 2018
"This is my second trip with Expert Africa, and i would without question use them again for any other trip's to that magnificent continent, as a solo traveller alway's feel looked after!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not really, your doing pretty well as it is." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zimbabwe safari
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not really, your doing pretty well as it is." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zimbabwe safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr BG
Newport Coast
"My May 2018 trip"
I visited Zimbabwe and 1 other country between 5 May 2018 and 19 May 2018
"I wish we had known just how early in the season we were going and the limited amount of game sightings we should expect, we would have gone later if we had.
Otherwise the trip was well done and worked as planned.
This is the second time we've used Maruska and were very pleased before, so perhaps it was poor communication on my part." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 11 on a Zimbabwe safari
Otherwise the trip was well done and worked as planned.
This is the second time we've used Maruska and were very pleased before, so perhaps it was poor communication on my part." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 11 on a Zimbabwe safari
Overall trip
Good
Dr C & Mr P
BC
"Magical Zambia and Zimbabwe"
I visited Zambia and 1 other country between 4 May 2018 and 22 May 2018
"Expert Africa does it again! Claire is fantastic about listening to what you want and delivering. Our trip went smoothly.
The only complaint is that I never feel it is long enough--I could happily spent a month in the bush. I loved 4 nights at each camp. Shorter stays means that you are constantly packing and moving. The next trip I will look at hiring private air charters rather than using commercial flights between safari camps -- for the extra cost, I think it would be worthwhile.
Freddie Sutton took over during Claire's absence and did a fine job getting all the information to us.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
keep doing what you are doing!" Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari
The only complaint is that I never feel it is long enough--I could happily spent a month in the bush. I loved 4 nights at each camp. Shorter stays means that you are constantly packing and moving. The next trip I will look at hiring private air charters rather than using commercial flights between safari camps -- for the extra cost, I think it would be worthwhile.
Freddie Sutton took over during Claire's absence and did a fine job getting all the information to us.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
keep doing what you are doing!" Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
102
reviews of Mana Pools by travellers since August 2007
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