Travel reviews by Ms S from Bristol
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
4
Excursions taken
0
My Jun 2013 trip
Tanzania and 1 other country between 15 Jun 2013 and 27 Jun 2013
"Overall we had a fantastic trip and felt well looked after.
However there were a few points in the planning that could have been better explained or handled by Expert Africa;
1. On our safari we were unable to see the Wildebeest migration because it was too far away from Sopa lodge where we stayed for 3 nights. When we planned the trip we believed we were close enough to see the migration. If we had known Sopa lodge was so far away we could have spent 1 or 2 nights there and some the other nights in the Western Serengeti near the migration.
2. We booked our flights through Flight Centre but as Expert Africa had also quoted for the flights we had a double booking on our account which caused our actual flights to be cancelled and so had to be rebooked. We had hoped that this had been sorted out before we left but infact we had trouble checking in to both the outward and return flights, and were held up at check ins for 30 mins or so while the airline verified our tickets.
3. See Unguja Lodge feedback re windy season in Zanzibar."
However there were a few points in the planning that could have been better explained or handled by Expert Africa;
1. On our safari we were unable to see the Wildebeest migration because it was too far away from Sopa lodge where we stayed for 3 nights. When we planned the trip we believed we were close enough to see the migration. If we had known Sopa lodge was so far away we could have spent 1 or 2 nights there and some the other nights in the Western Serengeti near the migration.
2. We booked our flights through Flight Centre but as Expert Africa had also quoted for the flights we had a double booking on our account which caused our actual flights to be cancelled and so had to be rebooked. We had hoped that this had been sorted out before we left but infact we had trouble checking in to both the outward and return flights, and were held up at check ins for 30 mins or so while the airline verified our tickets.
3. See Unguja Lodge feedback re windy season in Zanzibar."
Arranged By Elizabeth Chapman
Rhino Lodge
"Rhino Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
16 Jun 2013
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Serengeti Sopa Lodge
"Serengeti Sopa Lodge review"
3 nights
Arrived
18 Jun 2013
"Very comfortable hotel right in the middle of the Serengeti.
Wonderful views from terrace and room balcony, saw monkeys, impala, many birds and wildebeest in the distance. A la carte menu was very good in restaurant backed up by friendly service. Swimming pool was very cold so not really possible to swim."
Wonderful views from terrace and room balcony, saw monkeys, impala, many birds and wildebeest in the distance. A la carte menu was very good in restaurant backed up by friendly service. Swimming pool was very cold so not really possible to swim."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Kirurumu Manyara Lodge
"Kirurumu Manyara Lodge review"
1 night
Arrived
21 Jun 2013
"Location was good for Lake Manyara and airstrip.
Tented rooms were very basic but we had a comfortable nights sleep. Food was again basic but service was excellent and staff very friendly."
Tented rooms were very basic but we had a comfortable nights sleep. Food was again basic but service was excellent and staff very friendly."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Average
Food
Average
Unguja Lodge
"Unguja Lodge review"
5 nights
Arrived
22 Jun 2013
"Rooms were lovely and very well kept, plus nice touches like books and games, and tea and coffee replenished. Outside bathroom was lovely but outside toilet was a little windy so may have preferred this inside! As the lodge was quiet we got a free upgrade to a sea view villa was much appreciated.
Restaurant was beautiful and the food was excellent. Most of the waiters were very friendly but occasionally they were a little brisk or aloof especially when we first arrived.
Regarding activities, we were unaware that June is the windy season in Zanzibar. It was very windy at the lodge and as such we were unable to snorkel on the house reef in front of the lodge due to sea conditions. The house reef was the main reason we chose Unguja so this was very dissapointing, We therefore went on an expensive island trip to go snorkelling offshore which was good but was a cost we were not expecting to pay.
We also went twice to see the Kizimkazi dolphins but were fairly unsuccessful, only managing to briefly see two dolphins in the water as one of maybe 10 boats.
The best activity we did at the lodge was Rasheed's village tour of Kizimkazi. This was great value and a very interesting insight in to Zanzibar life that we would not have been able to get alone."
Restaurant was beautiful and the food was excellent. Most of the waiters were very friendly but occasionally they were a little brisk or aloof especially when we first arrived.
Regarding activities, we were unaware that June is the windy season in Zanzibar. It was very windy at the lodge and as such we were unable to snorkel on the house reef in front of the lodge due to sea conditions. The house reef was the main reason we chose Unguja so this was very dissapointing, We therefore went on an expensive island trip to go snorkelling offshore which was good but was a cost we were not expecting to pay.
We also went twice to see the Kizimkazi dolphins but were fairly unsuccessful, only managing to briefly see two dolphins in the water as one of maybe 10 boats.
The best activity we did at the lodge was Rasheed's village tour of Kizimkazi. This was great value and a very interesting insight in to Zanzibar life that we would not have been able to get alone."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Activities
Poor
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Feedback response
Travellers should note that June and July are the windy seasons in Zanzibar. Whilst snorkelling is usually possible during these months, some days are windier than others, which brings choppier seas and reduced visibility. It appears that these travellers were unlucky during their stay and experienced windier than usual conditions.
Innovation Manager
Convenient access to the crater."