Zambezi Expedition, Victoria Falls
Zambezi Expedition Travel and Tours
- Office In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2016)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $1,735 to $10,407 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
Email Jackson Muzivi | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic enthralling educative humourous engaging and properly timed
Great servive pleasant people only stain was omission to check state of vehicle prior to departure to Hwange Safari Lodge which fortuitously caused minor arrival delays less than 5kms from destination
NL
Email Gianmaria | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Nice but improvable value for money
Good-meaning agency, especially Silence who took a lot of care of us pre-departure, and we went during the green season
Overall a few critical points we observed:
1. the list of payed add-ons has low value for money, and we believe it catered specifically to a particular type of (red, white & blue) tourists
2. We don’t understand why so many meals were excluded: they could add it on top of the Safari package price for an additional +10% difference, a risk we feel not worth the major extra bother of autonomy imposed onto the customers itself.
3. WhatsApp comms with the agency didn’t work while on tour, relied on agency guide on tour (when available). Had to arrange to a cab ourselves go for dinner in VFalls, owing to miscommunication.
4. Little proactivity from agency guide on tour, available mainly when prompted, clarity with briefing can improve significantly.
5. Overall, it’s quite poor in terms of game drives, we added 2 extra bringing the total to 4 drives, to extract maximum wildlife exposure time. The game drives plan per se needs revisiting, as they planned a jeopardisingly-late departure at 8am instead of common practice ~5.30-6am for a morning game drive. We also felt that 2 days in VFalls were too many as we only cared for the falls there.
6. On the bright side, the Hwange Safari Lodge accommodation was magnificent and highly recommended for a stay, and the last-mile guides (on game drives, at the falls, on the Zambezi cruise) were very well prepared, kind and available.
GR
Email Sideris | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Friendly and polite
Good organisation, value for money with however last minute change of hotels upon arrival (one of which with downgrading). In addition be aware of a 3% card service fee in case you don’t have cash with you…
FR
Email Zineb | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
needs to significantly improve the organization of their safari trips and the overall quality of the
We recently participated in a safari tour with Zambezi Expedition Tour and Travel for 9 days from June 6th to 15th, and we want to express our disappointment with several aspects of the experience. As experienced safari travelers, we expected better.
Firstly, we booked and committed to this trip for a specific amount, but once there, Oscar asked for an additional 1000 euros. I had to send the signed quote for him to remember the agreed amount.
The accommodation plan for Chobe National Park, as published on Safari Booking, indicated lodges. However, upon arrival, it turned out to be a camping lodge, which did not match the pictures of the rooms shown in the plan.
We complained to Oscar about this, but he claimed it wasn't mentioned in the commitment plan. Eventually, he upgraded us to the room specified in the plan and the quotes. The game drive in Chobe National Park was organized by another safari company. They asked us to be at the hotel reception at 8:30 AM for an 8:45 AM pick-up, but the driver was 40 minutes late, resulting in a shortened game drive in the morning.
The accommodation at Victoria Falls was also supposed to be a lodge, but again, we were surprised to find it was a tent. It was too warm during the day and too cold at night, making it very uncomfortable.
All the tour plans and activities were organized by other travel companies, giving the impression that Zambezi Expedition is merely an intermediary that finds clients for other travel companies without caring about the quality of service offered to their clients.
On a positive note, the best activity of the trip was the Okavango Delta. It was well organized, and the guide and cook were very nice people.
We chose our trip with Zambezi Expedition Tour and Travel after reading all the good reviews on Safari Booking, but we were disappointed. We have been on many other safaris and enjoyed them, but this one did not meet our expectations.
Reply from Zambezi Expedition Travel and Tours
Posted on Jul 1, 2024Thank you very much for the review expressing your disappointment with the safari which you chose,it is our duty to ensure all our Guest receive a quality service as per our previous Guest experienced exceptional service with all our safari experiences, Zambezi expedition Travel and tours is very committed in making sure all our Guest enjoy and we take each complain seriously. For the safari which you selected was a Budget Camping tour and it is heighted on the tour you selected. Camping within lodges apparently site the pictures of the hotel however the itinerary itself explains clearly that it is camping tour within these facilities. I understand that camping during our winter time is sometimes uncomfortable, as an organisation we understood where you did not want to stay in a tent and you opted to stay in a lodge and we had to pay an upgrade for you whereas we were not supposed to do so as we are selling this tour as a Budget camping. Again when you arrived in Victoria falls we explained your itinerary and you understood that you were staying in a tent and you seemed to be happy. in our previous communication you were aware that you will be camping and that was the reason why you asked us to book an upgrade at Rainbow Hotel for your last night. i would like to express my apologies for your late pick up in Botswana for your Safari that was due to the first pickup Guests delayed to come out from the room, i will talk to our partners to make sure they always keep time when they pick our Guests, I am very happy that you enjoyed your trip in Okavango Delta.
Email Danilo | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very disappointed and dissatisfied after reading so many positive reviews - not my experience at all
I was so disappointed and dissatisfied with my recent safari with Zambezi Expedition. I had previously been on three other safaris with different companies and hence had a good idea of what to expect since those previous three were all brilliant and extremely enjoyable. Unfortunately, however this was not my experience with Zambezi Expedition, and I felt very let down. The safari I went on was advertised as 3 Days / 2 Nights Victoria Falls and Hwange Camping Tour with all meals provided. The 1st day was essentially spent with them collecting me from Victoria Falls at 10am and being driven to a Lodge for Lunch arriving at approx 1.30pm. Despite the fact that the advertisement claimed, "all meals provided", after Lunch I was told that I was expected to pay for my own Meal which was contrary to the advertisement. The remainder of the 1st day was then spent travelling to a sanctuary nearby where I saw 2 wild dogs, then onto the Lodge where I slept for 2 nights. So there was no Game driving or safari type activity on the 1st day.
On the 2nd day, at approx 7am after Breakfast, I was taken in the vehicle to the entrance of the park to pick up another couple, then we went for a short drive around in the park but then had to return again to the entrance to collect another couple and then finally embarked on the Game drive. I felt that the morning had been wasted with going to and fro collecting people. The 2nd day concluded with Dinner at the lodge.
On the 3rd day, after breakfast, I expected like with the other 3 safaris I had previously been on, that I would be taken again for a final Game drive however that did not happen. I literally waited at the Lodge until approx 9.30am and was simply picked up and driven back to the starting point at Victoria Falls. I would hardly consider this a "3 day safari" when essentially the only time actually spent on a Game drive per se was Day 2. There was too much idle time siting around the Lodge which could have been better utilized for animal viewing, like I had done on the previous 3 safaris. There was inadequate activity provided for the cost so I felt that this was very poor value for money.
None of this Review should come as a surprise to the Owner since he did approach me afterwards at Victoria Falls because my dismay had been communicated back to him and I re-iterated exactly what I have written here.
On a positive note, the food which was provided was excellent, as well as the staff and the accommodation. The Driver was an excellent safe driver but the whole trip was let down by the complete lack of activity. I would not recommend this particular safari tour unless they make considerable changes to their Itinerary.