Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs W from Grantham
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
4
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
14
Excursions taken
0
My Oct 2024 trip
Tanzania between 27 Oct 2024 and 11 Nov 2024
Great service with exceptional attention to detail that made such a memorable experience for us.
Would always use Expert Africa"
Arranged By Jessica Plumb
Katambuga House
"Katambuga House review"
Alex Walker's Serian Serengeti
"Alex Walker's Serian Serengeti review"
Sam our driver asked us for our expectation when he picked us up from the plane. I said we had no expectations but simply wanted to be back here in Lamai Serengeti. We had the most amazing game viewing ever and photographic opportunities that we never experience again. The part of the Serengeti is very special in terms of both landscape and game. We had to ourselves most of the time
The camp was terrific as were all the staff who were there to support us. We can't praise them enough."
Namiri Plains Camp
"Namiri Plains Camp review"
The camp is a delight and 'rooms' of very high quality. The food and support from the team was second to none - absolutely nothing was too much trouble. A very memorable stay."
Manta Resort
"Manta Resort review"
A fantastic end to our Tanzanian holiday. The beach and immediate area of sea has been a 'conservation area' for many years and so diving/snorkeling exceptional
Food and service very good indeed"
Fantastic trip
Tanzania between 7 Feb 2018 and 27 Feb 2018
We would have no hesitation in doing the same trip again, but I don't think we would take in Mafia Island. I think it's just us - we've outgrown just going to the beach. If we were planning this again I think we would stay an extra night and chill out at Beho Beho (in fact, Beho Beho offers far more luxury than Pole Pole and was much more comfortable) and then maybe a day at Oyster Bay in Dar before coming home."
Arranged By Lyndsey Marris
Sand Rivers Camp
"A warm, friendly camp - run by a good team"
It was evident that a lot of thought had been given about pairing people up for the safaris. Michelle and Julian were extremely good hosts and were sensitive to the changing dynamics of the group as characters came and went.
We saw wild dogs and, most unusually, a civet cat who stayed still long enough to be photographed.
Would definitely recommend."
Ikuka Safari Camp
"Fabulous location, lovely camp"
The rooms are very comfortable, the food was good and plentiful - in fact, their bush breakfasts were the best I think we have ever had. It wasn't the usual cold fried egg sandwich - it was much more imaginative and changed every day.
In some respects this was a more formal camp in that the staff, including the manager on duty (for us Tanya) was always there to wave you off and greet you back from safari and the staff serving food and drinks were extremely attentive. When we were staying there were some guests who wanted to go for shorter drives and, even though they hadn't booked a private vehicle, every effort was made to accommodate them.
Meal times provided a good opportunity to hear about everyone's day and enjoy each other's company, although it was possible for you to dine privately in your own little group if you wished.
We had some eventful game drives and some quiet ones but were privileged to see roan antelope.
All in all, a luxurious camp, good attention to detail in the rooms, great food and staff eager to ensure you have a good time."
Kichaka Zumbua
"Superlative - an experience of a lifetime"
The focus here is not on physical luxury and enormous amounts of food - although the tents are more than adequate (beats most of the brick and mortar four wall bed and breakfasts I've stayed in), the bucket showers were nice and warm and we never did 'run dry' during a shower even when washing long hair and we definitely didn't go hungry. In fact, it was rather nice to have simpler food after a week of quite elaborate food.
The jewel in the crown, however, is the time spent bush walking. It was amazing, even in such heat and Moli is a master at making sure you are never in the sun for too long before he stops under some amazing tree and hypnotises you all with fabulous tales - ask about the termites - it should be a TED talk!
Obviously, to cope with the walking you need to be mobile and, especially if you are not very tall like me, able to do a little bit of clambering but the pace is not fast. In addition to animals, Moli finds shade and ensures you drink plenty of water. Top tip - if you get hayfever make sure you have antihistamines if you are visiting when the grasses are tall and pollen around.
The guiding here is on a completely different level and I could not begin to compare it with anything else I've encountered in my previous six trips to Tanzania. If you like being out in the bush, visit this camp."
Beho Beho
"Luxury camp - great guiding"
The staff do all they can to ensure you have a good time and, unlike other camps where you are assigned one guide, you go out with all the guides at different times. I really like this system, as you get a different slant as everyone stamps his own personality on his game drives. We saw plenty of game - including wild dogs hunting and had a good day out on Lake Tagalala.
A warm and friendly camp with excellent guiding - thoroughly enjoyable."
Pole Pole
"Pole Pole review"
The food was plentiful and what was really good was the system of choosing what you wanted to eat for lunch and dinner at breakfast time as it meant you were not automatically served four courses if you only wanted two. The english of the staff is a bit patchy and I had made the mistake of saying that I would eat fish. At home I stick to a predominantly vegetarian diet but will eat fish if it makes someone's life easier. The staff at pole pole interpreted this as being that I would eat fish for every course, other then dessert, at lunch and dinner each day. When I said I didn't want to eat fish every day and could I see a vegetarian menu they said there wasn't one. I did speak to the customer relations manager to say I didn't think they had understood that I wanted to eat vegetarian food and could he just make sure that the restaurant staff knew, but again this was lost in translation and there was no supper for me the first evening. I stuck to my guns and they gave me some curried vegetables but thereafter I was offered vegetarian food.
Against this, however, they were incredibly helpful and went out and bought flipflops for my husband as he had forgotten to bring his - so I am sure the mix up was a language issue.
There is good diving as it is set in the Marine Park and is a good base if you don't want to be surrounded by too many people."
Wonderful - Can I do it all again?
Tanzania and 1 other country between 28 Oct 2015 and 12 Nov 2015
However, towards the end of the stay we saw an enormous amount - it was as though the larger animals had all been off on their own safaris and came back on the same day! So we were driving areas we had visited before and rather than deserted they were heavily populated.
The guiding was superlative and we liked the system the Lodge had of rotating the guides so you went out with each guide and benefitted from the particular enthusiasms and expertise of each.
Kilindi was a lovely chill out place with friendly staff and delicious food - even lots of choice every day for a vegetarian. We had a fabulous time and I would jump at the chance to do it all again and stay at these venues.
Yes, one of our bags arrived two days after us - but people were helpful and this really did not have any negative impact on our trip - in fact, it demonstrated just how much trouble people will go to (Trisha & Heribert at Beho Beho) to ensure you are sorted and inconvenienced to the smallest possible degree."
Arranged By Elizabeth Chapman
Beho Beho
"Fabulous camp; fabulous people"
The Lodge itself is elevated giving spectacular views over the bush. The bandas are enormous, comfortable and very well appointed and good to chill out in during the hot part of the afternoon if you don't fancy a dip in the pool.
The food was excellent and my vegetarian option was always scrumptious and imaginative.
The standard of guiding was exceptional. We would not hesitate to go back here.
One of our bags was left in Nairobi and Trisha kept on the case and then arranged for one of the guides to drive 2 hours (4 hour round trip) to collect the bag from another airstrip in Selous; otherwise we would have waited 5 days, not 2 for the bag to catch up with us. So full marks."
Kilindi
"Wonderful, peaceful chill out hideaway"
The site is quite spacious so all the rooms are quite secluded so it would, theoretically, be possible to be a hermit here if you so wished. The pool / public areas of the hotel overlook a beach much of which is used as a working fishing bay by the local village and during our walks we watched the progress on a boat being built and one being repaired using all the old fashioned tools and not a nail in sight - all put together with perfect wooden pegs. There is quiet, secluded beach area with beds which is away from the fishing activity if you wanted the beach rather than the pool.
The food was stunning. This is the only place that, as a vegetarian, I have had a vegetarian menu each night with as many choices as the standard menu and the balance of flavours was gorgeous.
The staff are friendly and helpful, nothing is too much trouble. The hotel will arrange excursions for you if you wish, but there is no pressure brought to bear. This is not a place if you want lots of water sport activity, although there are some kayaks, but is the best place we have found so far if you want peace and space. The food, again, was amazing!"
My Feb 2013 trip
Tanzania between 9 Feb 2013 and 18 Feb 2013
I can't thank the team (Ellie) at Expert Africa enough for helping us in putting the trip together and suggesting going to Lamai - what a special place."
Onsea House
"Overnight and lunch on return"
Nomad Serengeti Safari Camp
"Nomad Serengeti Safari Camp review"
Overall it surpassed our expectations and it was a great start to our holiday."
Lamai Serengeti
"Lamai Serengeti"
The food and overall standard of service was simply excellent.
I can't think of any holiday where our 8 days away seemed like 3 weeks! Lamai is a destination that everyone who has a passion for East Africa should go to. It's positioning high above the plains provides a really special location with unrivaled views.
Going 'out of season' had the benefit of few visitors but with great wildlife experiences - only the masses of wildebeest were missing but we saw those in the south in the first 4 days"
Asilia were amazing with transfers from Kilimanjaro and to Arusha"