Zimbabwe: reviews from our travellers

"Our trip was wonderful. It was certainly one that we will remember forever.

We do hope to return to Zimbabwe someday, in particular to safari at the Hide.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

We were very happy with Expert Africa. There were a couple times when we couldn't reach Claire because she had gone away, but someone else was kind enough to step in and handle our issues right away.

Any issues we had leading up to the trip, during or after, were handled right away. Everyone we worked with was friendly, knowledgable and very eager to help.
I would certainly use Expert Africa again and recommend them to friends.

Also, not included on this questionnaire, Expert Africa set up ground transfers for us. A long drive from Vic Falls to Hwange and Hwange to Bulawayo, and both of those companies were great as well. Clean vehicles, safe, professional and friendly." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 5 on a Zimbabwe safari

"We enjoyed the whole trip but there were some low spots to go with the many highlights.

We know that when we undertake a holiday like this it can be a bit of an adventure and thats part of the attraction.

Expert Africa could help with a slightly more detailed itinerary giving key directions where there are difficult spots to negotiate." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 11 on a Namibia trip

"In a word, the trip was superb - and Maruska Adye had a lot to do with it.

It's important, we think, to compliment Maruska on every aspect of her work with us. From the time we first contacted Expert Africa by email, to the phone conversations we had, to the numerous questions we sent - Maruska's responses were quick (ridiculously quick in some cases - we couldn't believe how attentive she was) and always helpful. We felt all along - and our trip was two years in the making - that we were being treated not simply as faceless clients, but as individuals with preferences and ideas that were worthwhile and needed to be dealt with. Maruska's suggestions always seemed to relate directly to the information we'd forwarded to her. She actually seemed to be thinking about OUR TRIP, not her needs.

One of the things that was most helpful for us was that her description of each of the camps we stayed at in our email correspondence before we left was very accurate. So we had a sense both of what the accommodation and feel of the camp would be, and a good idea of what we were likely to see in each of the concessions.

The organization of flights, transfers, etc. was flawless. Every time somebody was supposed to be somewhere to pick us up they were there. Every time a plane was supposed to arrive for a flight (and there were four of those) it was there ready to go. The drivers and pilots were all friendly and helpful. The most complicated little maneuver, the drive from Kasane to Victoria Falls with the border crossing from Botswana to Zimbabwe, was handled expertly by the drivers on both sides." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari

"Overall we had a great trip. Camps were well run. Staff were sensitive to our needs and preferences. They were also flexible enough to divide our group into different activities to match the preferences within our party. For example, on one occasion four of us went out on the boat fishing while two were taken on a guided walk to study the medicinal uses of the flora.

There was sometimes the sense of being over programmed and not given enough time to ourselves.

We very much enjoyed our walking safaris and could have done more of those.

In conclusion the trip was excellent and no small thanks to Expert Africa and Maruska in particular for helping to organize this trip. Maruska was extremely patient, diligent and made sure that she understood what we were looking for. Nothing was too much for her. She is also very personable and pleasant. Thank you Maruska and Expert Africa" Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari

"A really wonderful trip - thank you for organising!

Only downer was the City Lodge - the rest was incredible" Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 6 on a Namibia trip

"First class service. Cannot fault the trip or Expert Africa's organisation." Read full review: 3 nights in Africa; 3 on a Zimbabwe safari

"Saskia planned the trip, and Maruska took over at the end.

Nicely planned - a good mix of camps, wildlife, and land/river.
it was a bit of a surprise to discover how dry Tubu was in November. I was more expecting hippos outside than a dry waterhole.

I'd do it all again tomorrow." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"Great variety and accommodations, especially given limited time available and sort of last minute booking. Maruska's excellent; courteous, informed, proactive, responsive, creative, etc." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 4 on a Botswana safari

"All transfers and flights worked like clockwork. Very impressed with Expert Africa's arrangements from start to finish. Full information given at all times and really good advice.

We love Kwando camps in particular although the best game viewing was at Sandibe. Saskia Adye was superb in helping us plan our trip and Maruska took over the reins very efficiently in the final stages.

We would certainly recommend expert Africa to anybody." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari

"This was a "special" holiday and it certainly lived up to expectations. Zimbabwe was absolutely wonderful, both camps were different but excellent and we saw more wildlife than I had expected. It was a real privilege to view it so closely and to be accompanied by guides who had expert knowledge and genuine enthusiasm for their subject.

Zimbabwe is a wonderful place and never have we felt safer anywhere. Everyone should go there - whatever you think of the regime, it is the people who need tourists and go out of their way to make them have such a good time.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

We hardly needed any money on our trip as so much was included, but in Bulawayo we could only use Visa cards, which I suspect was the case for other places.

We had intended to get our visa prior to travel, but when I 'phoned the Embassy, they assured me that it was easy to get one on arrival in Zimbabwe. A second call revealed that you needed to apply for a form which would take a week to arrive and then collect the visa from London. It was easy enough to get one at Vic Falls airport, but the queue was very lengthy and it took a long time to get through. It would seem that the Embassy make it difficult to get one in advance." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zimbabwe safari