Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs F from Sussex

"Excellent way too start our trip, friendly staff and comfortable rooms.

Hotel transfers were very efficient."

"We loved our hillside suites with the plunge pools. Stunning location overlooking the river.

Staff very friendly, good balance of interaction and time on our own. Bernadette very attentive and our guide Hussain was very friendly and knowledgable.

We feel they got the food just right, quantities and quality. Especially loved the high quality packed breakfasts which Hussain set up for us on our morning drives. The breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, and the fresh fruit juice were particular favourites.

Buffet lunches were spot on and quick to serve ourselves before getting back to our rooms for a siesta.

Pool area was lovely, Wi-Fi in that area was a bonus if you wanted it!"

"The bandas are exceptional in their design, layout and attention to detail.

The service by all the staff was excellent and friendly.

The four guides were very friendly and knowledgable but as we were the only guests during our stay we did find the hosting a little heavy at times with limited time to spend relaxing in the lounge areas by ourselves. A real bonus is having the airstrip so close.

We liked finding out about the history that the area played in the First World War. Good fun having our meals in different secret places every evening and the food was always excellent. The whole experience was very tailored to our needs. We liked the waterhole by the lounge which meant the animals came to us every day.

Harry the barman was very attentive and the full-size snooker table provided fun each evening!

Surprise lakeside breakfast was a trip highlight. A remote full-English and a loo with a view in the middle of no where!"

"It is certainly a unique experience at Kichaka! Molli is both knowledgable and passionate about the bush, ably backed up by Moyo who is an excellent guide. Also Vincent who, despite being new to Kichaka, gave us some of our best spotting on the drives to and from the camp.

Molli’s walking safaris are not to be missed and give a unique perspective to seeing the animals close up. Absolutely amazing tracking skills that Molli and Moyo were generous to share with us. The new suites, built by the team during the pandemic, are stunningly appointed, each with their own plunge pool which are huge! Outside baths are a unique and a wonderful indulgence. Only three rooms meant we got a totally individual experience.

Molli and Noelle were wonderful hosts and kept us company at every meal. The food was all lovely but we did find that the lunches were very long giving us very limited down time between our morning walk and afternoon drive. Would have been preferable to have a lighter and quicker lunch so that we could relax and enjoy the amazing rooms and scenery. The remoteness of this camp makes it a unique experience and the only other people we saw were park rangers.

We would love to go back in the rainy season and learn even more from Molli and the Kichaka family."

"We loved our two room suite to relax after our safari. The bedrooms are spacious and beautifully decorated.

We didn’t leave the resort, other than to walk along the beach as it have everything we needed right there.

Enjoyed having our breakfast brought to us in our private lounge, served by our butler Abel, and using our private plunge pool. Well stocked Smeg fridge was a bonus! The pool area and restaurant is stunning.

We did however feel that the spa prices were ridiculously expensive and we may have used the spa if the prices had been more reasonable.

All the staff were friendly and attentive."

"Perfect location with quirky rooms up three flights. Very steep stairs would not suit everyone!

Rooms not luxurious but full of character and quirks. Nice bar with friendly bar staff. Full breakfast in the morning before stepping out into the heart of Stone Town.

Lovely to be able to stay in our rooms until the evening as we had such a late flight home.

Fascinating place to spend spend 24hrs and to feel very much part of the town with its hustle and bustle on the door step."

"Very pleasant and comfortable hotel, the staff were very friendly and helpful. The food in both restaurants was excellent.

Although it was half an hour from the airport it was worth the drive even for a one night stay. The hotel offers free shuttles to the shopping malls but we didn't get the time to take advantage unfortunately."

"Good size rooms, very comfortable and smart decor. Very friendly staff and good food, the only camp that served hot porridge for breakfast!

The drives here were longer, compared to the Wilderness camps, which we found a bit tiring. We had General as our guide for the first day and when he had to fly back to Maun Charles stepped in and was an amusing and knowledgable guide. We were treated to seeing wild dogs most days and otherwise saw a good range of game and birds. The open topped vehicles did mean we were open to the sun and in the firing line of branches, but also gave great visibility for birds and for stars.

The older vehicles also meant that the drivers were able to really drive off road without problems. The only camp to have a tracker as well as the guide in the vehicle.

Our walking safari got exciting when we suddenly spotted a leopard, but Charles was very calm about it and quickly radioed for the vehicle so that we could try to get closer."

"A beautiful setting with elevated rooms and lovely communal areas. The rooms are smaller than some of the pther camps which did make them feel very hot during the day. The camp was very smoothly run with lots of attention to detail. Our guide Gibson was accommodating to the different wishes of all his guests and was keen to please and learn.

This camp, and it's staff, didn't feel quite as relaxed as the others but it may have been because leopard had been in the camp and the staff were concerned about guests moving from the rooms to the communal areas. The walkways to the rooms would have benefitted from a boardwalk as walking on the dark sand made everything very dirty. The traditional night on Monday was excellent and had a very traditional feel.

The mekoro ride was very relaxing."

"This camp has the feel of a larger organisation, being so close to the bigger Chitabe camp. The rooms are very large and have a modern, clean feel. Lovely comfy chairs to relax on both indoors and on the verandah. Large communal areas and a very relaxed feel to the camp.

The splash pool area is lovely and definitely the nicest pool of all the camps we stayed at. Our guide Mo was extremely knowledgable and skilled as well as entertaining. The game viewing was the best of our trip. The food was very good quality and well presented."

"Arriving by boat in the summer is a short ride from the parking spot but a lovely way to arrive at the camp. The rooms are of a good size and have a traditional feel. The food here was of extremely high quality and very varied. The traditional evening in the boma provided us with a huge variety of food in three courses and the entertainment from the staff was very enthusiastic. The staff were relaxed and seemed to genuinely enjoy working at the camp.

Our guide Kay was knowledgeable but not as chatty or easy to get on with as other guides. We discovered wild dogs on our last day and were privileged to be able to follow them tracking their prey."