Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs D from Rochester
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
5
Excursions taken
0
Wonderful Safari
Tanzania and 1 other country between 27 Sep 2013 and 11 Oct 2013
"The Safari was fantastic and our guide, Kevin Mlay, was excellent and really knowledgeable. He knew where to go to give us the best chance of seeing the animals and nothing was too much trouble for him.
When we arrived in Tanzania, the drive from Kilimanjaro to our first village walk was about four hours, which was far too long after a night flight. It might have been better to fly to Arusha rather than Kilimanjaro.
It was just a short drive to Zanzibar airport where were it was the worst part of the holiday. The porters were only interested in grabbing your money. A major, major problem at the end of the holiday was to find that there was a departure tax of £80 to pay! We were not advised of this and had not budgeted for it at all. It was fortunate we had the money put by for our taxi fare from Heathrow to home which we used. That interfered with paying the taxi drive once we got home. Surely Expert Africa must know about this tax but there was no mention of it in any of the information we were given. It really spoilt the end of the holiday."
When we arrived in Tanzania, the drive from Kilimanjaro to our first village walk was about four hours, which was far too long after a night flight. It might have been better to fly to Arusha rather than Kilimanjaro.
It was just a short drive to Zanzibar airport where were it was the worst part of the holiday. The porters were only interested in grabbing your money. A major, major problem at the end of the holiday was to find that there was a departure tax of £80 to pay! We were not advised of this and had not budgeted for it at all. It was fortunate we had the money put by for our taxi fare from Heathrow to home which we used. That interfered with paying the taxi drive once we got home. Surely Expert Africa must know about this tax but there was no mention of it in any of the information we were given. It really spoilt the end of the holiday."
Arranged By Elizabeth Chapman
Bougainvillea Safari Lodge
"Excellent Ngorongoro crater safari"
2 nights
Arrived
28 Sep 2013
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
"Fantastic location for a Serenget Safari"
3 nights
Arrived
30 Sep 2013
"We had an upstairs room in the lodge with a fantastic view of the Serengeti. We had animals directly outside the lodge roaming around.
You had to be escorted to and from the restaurant after dark, which added a touch of excitement to the experience.
Evening entertainment was provided by local dancers and musicians, who were excellent.
The location meant that the Safari started as soon as you got in the safari vehicle."
You had to be escorted to and from the restaurant after dark, which added a touch of excitement to the experience.
Evening entertainment was provided by local dancers and musicians, who were excellent.
The location meant that the Safari started as soon as you got in the safari vehicle."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Kirurumu Manyara Lodge
"Glamping in style"
1 night
Arrived
3 Oct 2013
"Our first experience of glamping. We were initially wary of booking this hotel but were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the accommodation. Restaurant was lovely and the food was excellent.
The view from the bar across Lake Manyara was wonderful."
The view from the bar across Lake Manyara was wonderful."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Ras Nungwi Beach Hotel (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Idyllic beach front hotel"
5 nights
Arrived
4 Oct 2013
"Stayed five nights as a rest from the rigours of the safari. Location was superb and the attention from Shaun and the staff was fantastic.
Lovely swimming pool. The sea was rather too rough for us to swim in.
The only option for snorkelling was to go on an organised boat trip, which lasted six hours and cost £65 which we thought was over the top."
Lovely swimming pool. The sea was rather too rough for us to swim in.
The only option for snorkelling was to go on an organised boat trip, which lasted six hours and cost £65 which we thought was over the top."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Poor
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Dhow Palace Hotel
"Interesting hotel centrally located"
2 nights
Arrived
9 Oct 2013
"A good quality hotel in the centre of Stone Town in a pedestrianised area.
It ought to be made clearer in the brochure that it is a no alcohol hotel, although there were plenty of hotels and bars nearby."
It ought to be made clearer in the brochure that it is a no alcohol hotel, although there were plenty of hotels and bars nearby."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Fairly close to the crater to enable us to have a full day safari."