Zimbabwe: reviews from our travellers

"Our trip to Botswana and the Victoria Falls has been fantastic. We have looked to travel to Botswana for a long time - and we were not disappointed. The standard of the camps was very good; the wildlife was fabulous; and the Falls are stunning in full flood.

We (like everyone) have our favourite camps, and the places that we would love to go back to one day - and the help and advice that we received from Megan and Nick at Expert Africa has been excellent.

To anyone who is thinking about whether or not to go to Botswana, we would highly recommend it. This was our 11th Wildlife Watching holiday (our 7th trip into Africa), and we have had wildlife encounters here that we have not experienced anywhere else, and at very close quarters.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

It might be worth adding in a suggested tip allowance for the Trackers in Botswana. We had a tracker on every Game Drive in addition to our Driver/Guide - and they are not included in the general staff tips.

It would perhaps be helpful to include a suggestion within the notes that travellers make sure they pack their bags prior to going out for the morning game drive on the day they are departing the camp, as flight times change - often without much warning!

In Zimbabwe, the additional taxes are currently all included in the International Ticket Price, so we did not need to pay anything extra when we departed." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari

"The whole trip was fabulous. Despite hating cold weather I had no trouble layering up to get out every morning and afternoon to explore the bush some more. The people we met were also interesting because of this common interest to explore. I have always wanted to do this but never fully realized how magical it would be.

Maruska was a great help in setting everything up perfectly and advising that our orlginal idea to track for three weeks would be just too exhausting. We met another couple from Colorado at Little Kwara who had also been delighted with Maruska's service." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 12 on a Botswana safari

"A great holiday, very well organized by Expert Africa. The suggestion to stay at the Islands of Siankaba was spot on, we really enjoyed our time there, as well as on the day trip to Chobe. To our surprise, the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge was a really nice place, which we did not expect from some of the comments we read on Trip Advisor earlier on.

Our only mild disappointment were the falls themselves (out of the hands of all that had to do with this trip) - there was so much water and hence so much spray in the air that it was not easy to really see the falls, but the good glimpses we got were fantastic.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

We were very impressed with the friendliness and efficiency of both Megan Ingoldby who handled the initial contact and Maruska Adye who led us through the steps and finalized the program - you could not really do better - and in such a cordial manner! Your brochure and guides as well as your website are amazing, never have I seen better!

We will certainly keep you in mind when we organize our next trip to Africa." Read full review: 5 nights in Africa; 3 on a Zambia safari

"We came back relaxed and rested from a wonderful trip. We would love to return if the oportunity arises." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zimbabwe safari

"Zimbabwe, despite its problems remains a very beautiful country to visit.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Not really. Claire was extremely helpful and patient" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 5 on a Zimbabwe safari

"was pleased with trip. spending a afternoon at Victoria Falls was enough time. unless you are interested in helicopter rides, bunge cord jumping or other such activities, half a day is plenty to view the falls. be ready to get wet, it is part of the experience. Mack Air was fun.

Flying in small planes is an excellent way to see the delta. All connections were timely except Air Botswana. If you think the big carries are bad, once you wait for 3 hours for an Air Botswana plane in the Maun International airport, they look good.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

keep encouraging people to ready all your literature. reading as you go along or after the fact makes you wish you read it before visiting.

you might considered including ponchos in the package you give to people visiting Victoria Falls. We paid two dollars for thin, throw away ones. I expect they cost pennies. I am all for local people hustling to make money but it might be a nice advertising gimick for you folks." Read full review: 4 nights in Africa; 3 on a Botswana safari

"Our trip was wonderful. We'd never been to Africa and so had no idea what to expect.

Megan was a pleasure to deal with, took time to understand our goals and provided clear and well thought out options for us to chose from. Just how well she'd designed our trip became clearer as it unfolded. Our trip included a diversity of settings (desert, delta, open plains) that meant we saw a lot of different animals but also has different activities available to us. Im also quite happy she recommended the Victoria Falls Hotel.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Not really." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 12 on a Botswana safari

"Overall good trip.

Expert Africa provided excellent seemless and timely pickup and drop-off services from the moment we landed in Africa. With this service, my daughter and I felt very safe; and it also made the trip that much more fun. Eleanor Dunkels did a great job from the time of preparation, advising us what to bring with us and where to go, catering to our requirements.

Please see my photos by clicking here" Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 9 on a Tanzania safari

"Also helped by Gwnneth, as well as Angela, who was equally helpful. Everything worked out well. We had a fantastic holiday & won't hesitate to recommend Expert Africa.

It seemed expensive when we booked it, but worth it when you consider the benefits of an individual trip & how well looked after you are.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Currency - can't remember if you advised it or I read it somewhere but took all my Rand/Namibian $'s in 100 notes, fellow travellers sometimes had difficulty using 200 notes. Likewise in Vic Falls, cash machines empty, hotel credit card machine not working. fortunately being prepaid didn't affect us, but no one could give change for ea $10 note if you bought a coke, so essential you take lots of small notes.

Thank you all for a memorable trip.

Mike & Catherine" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 8 on a Namibia trip

"I think overall we liked Tanzania and Zanzibar better than Botswana and the Seychelles. However, it is like comparing apples to oranges. We have been fortunate in that we have been to Africa before and it is hard not to compare trips. Definitely flying from camp to camp is the way to go.

I think we must have just lucked our with our 1 and only guide in Tanzania, because we just loved him and we were with him for 10 days. If only we could have had ALL of the staff @ Lebala with us for the entire trip. Unfortunately that makes such a big difference, the people you share your time with.

As far as the safari/animal encounters it was great. In Botswana you see far less numbers of animals, but you are able to get much closer and with much fewer fellow tourists around. The part of the trip that we both liked the least was the Seychelles. To many transfers and to many quick overnight stays. The flights times did not make anything easy. We would get in to late the 1st night and then have to leave at the crack of dawn the following morning, missing meals, etc. Or we would get in too early to check in and would have to hang out in the common area for hours until our room was ready. Conveniently breakfast was always over and it wasn't time for lunch. I don't eat much @ 6 am while heading out the door for yet another shuttle/ferry or plane trip.

I know that Air Seychelles REALLY messed up our itinerary, and I think it would have been much better before all the changes. It certainly is beautiful there." Read full review: 25 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari