Zimbabwe: reviews from our travellers

"We knew we needed someone knowledgeable to help us with our first trip to Africa. Claire was fantastic! We were so pleased with all of her suggestions and everything she planned for us. Everything went exactly as planned and we had no concerns during our trip about our plans.

We’ve already passed Claire’s name along to a colleague and she is working with him and his wife now on their upcoming trip. We definitely want to return to Africa, probably as soon as next year, and will plan to contact Claire to see about helping us with that trip as well." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zimbabwe safari

"The trip as a whole was simply outstanding.

We cannot thank Tom of Expert Africa enough for helping to plan this most memorable trip. All of his suggestions were worthwhile as we saw different landscape and animals at each location. Even our least favoured location (Dolomite) was worth seeing for the views and the variety of wildlife. Shame about the Camp. All the other recommendations by him were spot on and would happily return to any of them.

The variation of Namibia's landscape was incredible and we still cannot believe that we were actually there. I had dreamed of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei and it was just magical when we were there. Every place visited offered its own adventure. The Namibian people were friendly and helpful wherever we went. Driving on the dirt roads was an experience and when we encountered a tarmac stretch or road, we became as excited as if we had seen a rare animal!!

We have no hesitation in recommending Expert Africa to other travellers - Tom was able to deal with our exacting and specific requests with no difficulty.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

More advice on driving on dirt roads for first time travellers would have been helpful. We would emphasise paying great attention to the mechanics of changing the wheel when the spare is chained under the vehicle and also checking tyre pressure before leaving the city for the first time." Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip

"The trip was an absolute trip of a lifetime!

We couldn’t have asked for more!" Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"My adult daughter and I agree that Somalisa was the best camp with Waterberry a very close second. Her favorite experience was the meerkat climbing on her. I found so much of it awesome it's hard to describe.

In trying to explain the experience to people the closest I can get to accurate is "something amazing happens and then something else amazing happens, etc." I can't compare the rush of seeing lion doing their thing against seeing the rush of Victoria Falls. I can't compare how it feels to be in the vast desolate Makgadikgadi Pans to seeing the vastness of the southern sky's blanket of universe. Being comedically entertained by the meerkat, mud wallowing warthogs, running ostrich, and hippo grunting are experiences like no other. It's completely absurd that neither my daughter nor I were afraid of the 7 white rhino we walked to and stood amongst. It was pretty clear to me when the 1st bush flight landed scaring away zebra and an ostrich from the airstrip that Africa suits me. I guess that's why I didn't blow the air horn when the elephant tried to join my shower.

To close this out - I've lived and worked on 3 continents and know a 4th extensively but there is nothing like Africa.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

The process was long for both me and everyone that had to interact with me. Now that I've done it I hope to not be so high maintenance in the future.

One of the reasons I chose EA was because when my plan went from Zambia only I was handed to another person with more expertise in the new regions. I appreciated that. No one at EA tried to "upsell" me either. That is why I dropped the other company I had begun inquiry with.

I'll be emailing the wildlife sightings. We wrote in a lot." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 3 on a Botswana safari

"We had a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable holiday which was expertly arranged by Expert Africa spending 4 nights in the Okavango Delta Kwai river area and 2 nights at Victoria falls

Everything was well arranged, everything worked out to schedule and we relaxed and enjoyed our time on safari and at the spectacular falls.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Thank you for arranging this spectacular holiday." Read full review: 6 nights in Africa; 4 on a Botswana safari

"We waited a very long time before taking the plunge and visiting Zimbabwe. What a revelation to find that despite everything, the national parks are thriving with the most wonderful birds and animals.

The lodge system as we saw it matches any we have experienced elsewhere and the guiding is absolutely second to none. There are wrinkles but they are minor and should not deter anyone from visiting this most beautiful of Southern African countries.

We have always had full confidence in Expert Africa and once again it all worked. Thank you." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zimbabwe safari

"I really loved my trip. The tented lodge was clean and guides pleasant and knowledgeable.
Weather was beautiful as were the sunsets and the stars at night. Good game drives. Liked Hwange a lot. There’s also the private concession on Bomani so we did night drives as well. They also have a really cool underground “bunker” so to speak with open spaces that lookup onto elephants as they drink from a waterhole right in front of the open spaces from which you’re looking out.
I liked the remoteness of the lodge as well. There’s no fences so you definitely hear animals at night outside your tent!" Read full review: 6 nights in Africa; 3 on a Zimbabwe safari

"Zimbabwe is famous for the quality of its guiding and we weren't disappointed. Differences in age, experience and interests among guides at the three camps we visited made for an excellent, well-rounded trip.

We did more bush walking here than on any of our previous several trips in other African countries and enjoyed it very much (especially when a surprised aardwolf resting in long grass jumped out right in front of us!).

Compared to many previous safaris, the night drives were exceptional (providing some great photographic opportunities).

We were glad we selected camps in two very distinct parts of Hwange NP before going north to Mana Pools, which was different again.

Conditions varied too: the Camp Hwange area was still very green; Somalisa Expeditions (still in Hwange) and Vundu at Mana Pools both unseasonally dry.

We were taken aback by the large numbers of elephants, particularly in eastern Hwange, but fear for the future with Zimbabwe exporting elephants (and other wildlife) from there to China because of its dire financial situation plus continued poaching, voiced on the ground at Mana Pools.

All three camps' accommodation was very good though vegetarian food was a bit variable, the best being at Somalisa Expeditions camp." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 17 on a Zimbabwe safari

"From booking with Agents( and changing bookings!) to being welcomed and very well looked after. There were no problems and would love to go back and will book again with Expert Africa ." Read full review: 5 nights in Africa; 4 on a Botswana safari

"It was a lovely experience. We always felt safe by traveling alone. Every transfer was perfect.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I Think you cannot do better!" Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip