Your Holiday Stories Q&A

We are proud to say that our customers rate us very highly on Trustpilot for both our service and the holidays themselves. Many of you spontaneously send us photos and feedback once you have been on holiday which we are very grateful to receive. These are usually more detailed than trip reviews and give a real life flavour of the holiday experience itself.

Below are answers to questions and top tips for some of the holidays we have featured on our Your Stories page. We hope you find them useful and can use them to plan your next adventure with us! If you would like to know more or have more questions to ask please email us at [email protected]

You can also find more information and inspiration on our social media: Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Liz’s Holiday to Zimbabwe & Botswana

How many nights did you stay in each lodge?
I stayed at Masuwe Lodge for 3 nights, Wallow Lodge for 2 nights (both Zimbabwe) and Tlouwana Camp in Botswana for 3 nights.

What time of year would you recommend visiting Zimbabwe?
I chose to visit in early July as the daytime temperature was comfortable for me – in the mid 20s centigrade, with cooler mornings and evenings. Also, Victoria Falls is still looking spectacular, as the water level changes with the seasons.

What was it like to go on your trip as a solo traveller?
I’m a fairly seasoned solo female traveller but this was my first holiday with an itinerary arranged for me, and my first safari. I felt well prepared and everything went smoothly. All the staff I met were welcoming, friendly and professional. At no time did I feel unsafe or uncomfortable, even when I was the only guest on the game drive or river cruise. I only ate alone a few times as other guests invited me to join them and I met lovely people from around the world.

My advice to solo travellers considering a similar holiday would be to do your research, make a plan with Freedom Destinations then head off and enjoy your holiday. You’ll come back with wonderful memories, and maybe a bit of pride that you did it!

Liz travelled to Zimbabwe & Botswana in July 2025

Knight Family Holiday to California

How many hours did you drive each day to get to all the places you visited?
We drove for about 4 hours each day.

Did you think the motorhome was big enough for everyone?
We went as a family with myself and wife and daughter and took my wife’s mum and sister along. The El Monte AF33 was big enough for us all. We all loved every minute of our holiday that we are planning another one but will have to wait till my daughter has finished school.

Did you have to pre-book the camp sites well in advance and were they easy to find?
Yes we pre-booked the campsites and was easy to find.

The Knight family travelled to California in May 2025

Andrew’s Holiday to Kenya

What was it like travelling on the train in Kenya?
Kenya’s SGR (Madaraka Express) offers first class service with more spacious, reclining seats in a 2+2 configuration, unlike the 2+3 in standard class. The trains are known for their punctuality, however be prepared for stringent security checks, which may include sniffer dogs. First class was generally quiet with spacious seating. With fold-out tray tables and power sockets for charging devices.

Access to the restaurant carriage for meals and drinks served at a table with waitress service. The route goes through multiple national parks with plenty of opportunities to view the wildlife.

What animals did you see on safari and did you get very close?
Salt Lick Safari Lodge, this is a must for elephant and zebra lovers with the elephants at arms length. The backdrop of the savannah woodlands and grassland with the herbivores grazing around leisurely was picture perfect.

Animals seen on safari include, Buffalo, Baboon, Giraffe, Gazelle, Dik-Dik, Impala, Lion, Elephant, Hippo, Jackal, Hyena, Eland, Hartebeest, Mongoose, Monkey, Warthog, Waterbuck, Wildebeest, Zebra.

What was the food like?
Having Travelled to Kenya on many occasions over the last 15 years, my wife and I found the food has improved. All meals were of buffet style with plenty of choice. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all wonderful with a good selection of food.

Andrew travelled to Kenya in August 2025

Stuart’s Great American West Road Trip

What were your top 3 highlights from the holiday?
Well, I’m not sure how I will get a top 3 places that we visited as it was all good – but special mentions go to Deadwood, Cody and Yellowstone. A special mention needs to go to Mount Rushmore. We really were incredibly lucky. As part of preparations of 250 years of US independence from the UK they have been doing all sorts of things – one being flying their equivalent of our Red Arrows over Mount Rushmore – they kept it secret and we were in the right place at the right time!

Would you have changed anything in the itinerary?
So, the driving – most of the journeys were very easy and not stressful at all. Two journeys though were long so required chopping up a bit to make it easier and educational too without being boring.

Any top tips for when visiting Salt Lake City and Rapid City?
A note about Rapid City – this must rank as the best base I’ve stopped at, we could have spent 2 weeks there and not seen everything. It is in the heart of the Black Hills – so much to do from multiple National Parks to places like Mount Rushmore. Salt Lake City was a really nice big city.

Was touring around the ‘Wild West’ what you thought it would be?
As I’m of a certain age I was brought up learning about the Wild West and it led me to want to see the Little Bighorn battlefield – this meant a night in Billings Montana. The following day we were driving to Cody, so we went over Beartooth Pass and Chief Joseph Scenic Byway – this was over 2 miles in altitude and was spectacular and we got to see alpine animals such as chipmunks and marmots!

Stuart travelled to Colorado, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Utah in July 2025.