Africa Tours for Experienced Travelers

This was a brilliant tour in every respect. Hery was one of the best trip leaders I've ever had. And the places we went and the things I saw made this a truly memorable trip of a lifetime. That said, it's not for everyone. Long days on bad roads were grueling, and some of the lodging was basic. But these things should not dissuade anyone from visiting this fascinating and beautiful country.

The whole experience was absolutely amazing. Accommodation was well thought out and the wild camping was well equipped with en-suite facilities. The itinerary was superb and we were surprised at how many of the animals we saw and at close quarter. Our tour leader was excellent his knowledge of the animal’s behaviour added to our experience. Our first safari but not our last would highly recommend.

This adventure has everything! Wildlife was amazing, lots of close encounters; beautiful accommodation, great food and a brilliant tour guide who was helpful friendly and could spot an animal no one else would have seen. I loved the variety of landscapes and environment which was also represented in the accommodation from intimate tent lodges to a stunning African lodge with warthogs, steenboks, monkeys and mongoose running around the lawn to a smaller colonial style guest lodge. This adventure does not disappoint!

We had an excellent trip. The itinerary is well thought out and covers all the classic things you want to see in Namibia, especially the dunes and game parks. .Our tour guide, Sheona, did an excellent job of telling us a lot about the country and nature and attending to everyone’s needs. We were a group that mixed well and had a lot of fun together. Our first stop was at Hammerstein Lodge, was a bit rough as we were plagued with bad weather: torrential rain, hail and snow in mid-June. This was an exception to the usual weather.. The heating in our rooms did not work. We all took it in stride as best we could. We were delighted as the accommodation only seemed to get better at each of the other stops. We did not see any lions, but we,were,lucky to be able to see rhinos and journeys of giraffes as well as some unusual things like an aardwolf and a jackal playing with its prey. I am convinced that every trip will have something unique and different on it.. The extra free day activity in Walvis Bay is highly recommended. We all signed up for it. We saw dolphins and a whale on our boat trip, but also had visits from seals and pelicans. Riding cars in the dunes by the sea was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the trip so much that I am considering doing it again.

The African Wildlife Explorer Cape Town to Victoria Falls trip is an exciting adventure and excellent value! While there are some long driving days, this is what allows for the ability to see so much beautiful scenery and wonderful wildlife. Our guide, Misheck, was very knowledgeable and an excellent driver, and did a good job of keeping the group together and on time during the many activity-filled days. All of the resorts were very nice, and some absolutely wonderful, as was the food. We saw loads of wildlife, beautiful scenery and fascinating scenes of daily life of the local people. Highly recommended!

As Explore state, this is a FULL-ON safari, lots of time in the jeep but you don't really notice it as there is always something to see/experience. The wildlife density far exceeded expectations and the knowledge of our guide Joe was exceptional, as was his ability to anticipate where to position us for the best viewing experience. Wild dogs, leopards, lions, giraffes, elephants, buffalos, hippos, cheetahs, jackals, zebras, a whole mix of antelope and myriad of bird life that kept our 'twitcher' group members very happy indeed! You will not be disappointed, this is a great trip! Tips: - In the dry season, it is cold in the mornings/nights, pack LAYERS, and include a pair of gloves, a beanie, some thermals, warm fleece/jacket and something windproof. Use packing cubes in your bag, helps when moving around so much. - Ladies: Take loo roll/tissues with you for the 'bush wee' stops...and don't forget some eco friendly dog poo bags for putting your loo paper/tissue in after a 'bush wee' so you can dispose of it in camp properly later! It's evident some tourists are not so thoughtful or litter conscious...don't be one of them! - Namibia Visa: ENSURE you get one online beforehand! Yes - The Namibian government website for online applications is a nightmare, BUT keep trying and do so well before your departure. Alternatively use a third party and just ****-up the extra they charge, as VISA ON ARRIVAL is a lottery!! Five out of eight of our group had not got visas beforehand, having given up with the online application process, and the solo border guard would not process Visas on Arrival for them. Just said his colleague was off and he couldn't do it. This left us sat at the border for 2 hours whilst alternatives were explored of how to get the five back to Victoria Falls. Then suddenly another border supervisor appeared and they got their visas processed but not without a lot of upset and stress. Some things that could be improved: - It seemed a lot of driving for our single driver/guide to do alone. With 4 days between 250-350km and the last day over 500km, and that without game drives added in. - The houseboat was a bit of an anticlimax, somewhat tired and could do with some TLC. It only moved about a kilometre upstream and then moored-up, but the launch trips from it were excellent, particularly for bird spotting. - Explore: Link with a third party to sort the Namibia visas out for your clients. Or at least, DO NOT ADVISE that Visa on Arrival is an option, it may be in theory, but in reality it is a lottery at best! We came very close to having to re-route five members back through Botswana, with discussions of flights from Maun to Vic Falls being considered.