A hippo yawning in water at sunset, Botswana. Photo: Pexels (free licence).
Expert Africa or Audley Travel: which is better value for a safari?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 3 November 2026
Expert Africa and Audley Travel, set out the same way from each company's own website and review listings, read on 12 October 2026. No score and no rank: each one's best fit, in its own words.
Expert Africa or Audley Travel: which is better value for a safari?
On their own published facts, Expert Africa is best for tailor-made safaris only, with no ties to the camps it recommends; Audley Travel is best for tailor-made trips with one specialist per trip. Both publish a private guide. On value: the cards set out each company's own terms and reviews; prices are not set side by side, because they are not published on the same basis. No score and no winner: choose by what your trip needs.
Expert Africa
- Best for
- Tailor-made safaris only, with no ties to the camps it recommends
Audley Travel
- Best for
- Tailor-made trips with one specialist per trip
Expert Africa and Audley Travel: side by side
The same facts for each company, from its own website, in the same order. Left out, because it is not readable for every company: based in and how client payments are protected. Where a company publishes nothing on a row, the card says so.
Expert Africa
- Founded
- 1994.
- African countries it plans
- 11: Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Mozambique, Malawi and Seychelles.
- Own offices or staff in Africa
- Offices in Windhoek, Namibia (34b Berg Street, Klein Windhoek) and Cape Town, South Africa (48 Benning Drive, Kommetjie); team members in Tanzania.
- Own camps or vehicles
- No, by its own account.
- Deposit
- Standard non-refundable deposit of GBP600 / US$900 / EUR700 per person or 20% of the total booking cost, whichever is larger (or the equivalent in the currency in the proposal) (as read on 12 October 2026).
- Cancellation charges
- Charge as a share of total holiday cost, by days before departure the cancellation is notified: 70 days or more, deposit only; 69-60 days, 50%; 59-45 days, 60%; 44-30 days, 75%; 29-15 days, 90%; 14-0 days, 100%.
- Guest reviews, per platform
- Google 4.9 out of 5 from 306 reviews.
Audley Travel
- Founded
- 1996.
- African countries it plans
- 14: Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Uganda, Mozambique, Malawi, Madagascar, Egypt and Morocco.
- Own offices or staff in Africa
- Not published on its own website.
- Own camps or vehicles
- Not published on its own website.
- Deposit
- Not published on its own website.
- Cancellation charges
- Percentage of total holiday cost by days before departure: 91+ days 15%; 61-90 days 30%; 31-60 days 60%; 15-30 days 90%; 0-14 days 100%.
- Guest reviews, per platform
- Trustpilot 4.9 out of 5 from 5,049 reviews; Tripadvisor 3.9 out of 5 from 57 reviews.
Who does each suit?
Each line is the company's own, on its own website. Where none was found on a company' + chr(39) + 's own website, the card says so. Left out, because it is not readable for every company: families, teenagers, multigenerational trips, honeymoons, a first safari, photography and walking, horseback and specialist trips.
Expert Africa
- Private guide
- Many itineraries are labelled "Privately guided"; it can arrange private vehicles and privately guided trips and a private photographic guide, on request.
Audley Travel
- Private guide
- Victoria Falls with 'a private guide'.
Where each line comes from
Every line above links back to the page of the company's own website or review listing it was read from, read on 12 October 2026.
- Expert Africa: year founded, African countries it plans, own offices or staff in Africa, own camps or vehicles, deposit, private guide and vehicle.
- Audley Travel: year founded, African countries it plans, Trustpilot, private guide and vehicle.
Expert Africa vs Audley Travel: the questions people ask
Which is older, Expert Africa or Audley Travel?
Expert Africa, founded in 1994. Audley Travel was founded in 1996.
Which plans trips in more African countries?
Expert Africa names 11; Audley Travel names 14, on its own website. More countries is not better in itself: check that each plans the ones you want.
What deposit does each ask for?
Expert Africa: Standard non-refundable deposit of GBP600 / US$900 / EUR700 per person or 20% of the total booking cost, whichever is larger (or the equivalent in the currency in the proposal) (as read on 12 October 2026). Audley Travel: Not published on its own website.
What are their cancellation charges?
Expert Africa: Charge as a share of total holiday cost, by days before departure the cancellation is notified: 70 days or more, deposit only; 69-60 days, 50%; 59-45 days, 60%; 44-30 days, 75%; 29-15 days, 90%; 14-0 days, 100%. Audley Travel: Percentage of total holiday cost by days before departure: 91+ days 15%; 61-90 days 30%; 31-60 days 60%; 15-30 days 90%; 0-14 days 100%.
What do guest reviews say about each?
Expert Africa: Google 4.9 out of 5 from 306 reviews. Audley Travel: Trustpilot 4.9 out of 5 from 5,049 reviews; Tripadvisor 3.9 out of 5 from 57 reviews. Each platform is shown on its own, never added together.
Which offers a private guide?
Expert Africa and Audley Travel, in their own words on the card above.
Can I book either through Uncompromised Travel?
No. Uncompromised Travel is a publication and does not sell safaris. Use each company's own enquiry page.
Is either company paying to be on this page?
No. None of these companies is a partner of Uncompromised Travel. None paid to be on this page.
How current is this comparison?
Each company's website and review listings were read on 12 October 2026. Prices, terms and trips change, so confirm them with the company before you book.
Read next
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