How was your Explore Tour Leader?

"Eric organised things well and always kept us up to date with what to expect the day following our arrivals at various destinations.  His driving skills are impressive; always ready and willing to answer questions (in my case showing great patience as I am constantly asking questions covering a variety of subjects!) and a most pleasant personality."

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"Be prepared for 'Africa' time (!), make allowances (and expect, from time to time) for things that may go wrong and endeavour to make complaints to a tour leader with diplomacy and tact;  a tour leader is not responsible for the failings of a third party."

Do you have anything else to add?

"Only one slight hitch when at the Lodge at Zomba we had well over an hour's wait for our dinner to be served which lead to a somewhat awkward moment when one of our group complained to Eric to do something about it in a rather undiplomatic manner.  Having had exemplary service the previous evening we were finally served receiving a somewhat lame apology from a different maitre d' who was in complete contrast to the one who was on duty the first evening we arrived.

The staff at the hotel could not have been more helpful and willing, always with a smile and I am sure that the situation above was just a unfortunate 'one-off'."

Malawi and Zambia are not mainstream tourist destinations, which is why I wanted to go.  I love the blank looks you get from people who just want to lie by a hotel pool or on the beach, in a resort which could be anywhere.  I have always wanted to have a safari trip, and the reports I had heard of Zambia’s unspoilt reserves were very tempting.    I knew very little about Malawi before I went.  It is a very friendly country, with surprisingly varied landscapes.  The capital is not particularly inspiring, but the Zomba plateau is beautiful and the hotel is fantastic.  The resort on Lake Malawi is even more stunning, it was tempting to refuse to continue and stay forever.      Don’t give in to this temptation, as South Luanga is mindboggling.  As we turned into the Flatdogs drive, there were giraffes.  We soon saw elephant and antelope.  There are four included game drives, and three optional ones.  Your chances of seeing a leopard are estimated at 90-95%.  I was on my fifth game drive – I did all the optional ones – and fearing that I would be in the 5-1-%.  But the few of us who did an extra night drive were lucky enough to see two leopards mating.  My partner, who did not come on the optional drive, told me that I should pay extra as I was so blissed out.  The next day the whole group saw another female leopard in broad daylight.  She walked alongside our vehicle, and was in easy touching distance.  We all thought she might jump in, and for myself I would gladly have been her dinner she was so beautiful.      In addition to the unbelievable leopard sightings, we saw hippos, zebra, hyena, civet, genet, mongoose and the most fantastic birds.  I don’t think there has been a day since my return when I have not remembered with a warm glow the wildlife of South Luanga, especially the leopards.  I am hooked on safaris and only hope I have not been spoiled for other game parks.    The food at Flatdogs is far too good, you are fed large and frequent irresistible meals and the home baked bread and cakes are divine.  Be prepared to have to diet on your return.(ZA -13th July 2010)