Travel reviews by Dr C from London

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"Overall outstanding. The site itself is much prettier than I had expected and having the sound of the movement of the stream just below us was wonderful - could have curled up on the verandah with a book for a week or so, just checking out the occasional passers by and the birds. ( In fact a bunch of travel weary Aussies arrived as we were leaving to do just that, had enough excitement on their horse safaris.) Very well appointed accommodation, again, had expected something more modest.

Service/staff: A very good feel, led by the very charming Sophie, all the staff were introduced, jobs specified and there was an atmosphere of mutual respect. People were confident with us, which gave us opportunities to talk to them in broader terms, their own families etc - great. (Set a good tone for the rest of our trip, even where relations may have been less informal, we adopted a similar mode...) All very good.

Food: best we had, not least because they have that veg garden up the farm and have been increasing the veg content of the menu. Jess and I were invited to join Sophie to fetch the vegetable basket, were admiring the fennel, oh you like fennel, out it came and was served at the next meal! Had a lovely 'picnic' (with Michael the chef in attendance in his chefs uniform!) at the riverside Twiga's crossing. And the giraffe came and after hesitation, crossed.

Activities: very happy with the rides and walks we were taken on. Saw lots of game, learnt even more about the combined ranching/game management model, viewed the recent dam extension,met the new cross bred calves. Occasional showers meant sploshing through red puddles - which we loved - and viewing glorious skies. Sophie very good on birds.

Facilities: All delightful, particularly enjoyed browsing through the core books on display in the mess, including mother in law Lavinia's 2 published books about life on the farm. The office/shop/gallery is lovely and pressure will have to be put on Murray before his sculptures, or at least models/pictures of them, are added to the display. (Sophie wants them represented)"

"Location fully appreciated after (long) trek over to the Mara N.P., where found the hustle of traffic there quite distracting. Bliss to return to Naboisha, a haven filled with other dramas - zebra galloping through camp, a couple of lion kills, ditto cheetah, elephant every time we left camp. The lion pride of 18 or so, also popped up with regularity. Game viewing heaven.

Rooms- family tent great for us, particularly given the amount of lion activity/noise at night. Embarrassingly luxurious, apparently US visitors check the thread count of the linen. Yikes. But did leave them with the suggestion that could use a reading light in the single room too.

Service - high spec at the camp. Being met with a tray of rolled wet towels on each arrival is probbly luxury to some but could also strike another note. Was relieved to be able to be able break through formality and talk to staff. Assigned guide 21year old Christine was great. Astonishing odds to have overcome to get to be a bronze guide, quite something. Roelof and Helen very careful hosts, learnt an enormous amount from them about the models of game management and community relations. Very generous. Roelof drove us to the landing strip himself, stood at the end of the runway on takeoff, waving farewell!

Food- very good and particularly good at packed meal, although over generous quantities

Activities- gave us a lot of control over how time could be spent, high input from guide in vehicle and extraordinary guiding on foot by Roelof.(Fitted in twice) A highlight,plus gave us all a chance to get to know him better.

Facilities - enjoyed the books, especially one about early part of last century, laying railway, WW1 etc"

"Sheldrick elephant orphange was most interesting and we learntloads

Kitangela glass, sometimes sign posted as Anselm glass. Wasn't that easy to reach with high clearance jeep like but not 4 wheel drive Toyota, ordinary saloon couldn't have managed. Recent dump of stone not yet leveled. Loved the glassworks.

Only dinner out was at the excellent Haandi, apparently recently refurbished and certainly very smart

Made an overnight excursion to Green Crater Lake Tented Camp, loved the bird calls in the morning, did a guided walk afternoon and morning. A few flamingo but still to arrive. Very good guide, Paul / Kasaena, bronze level and excellent communication. Signs of some refurbishment, paths having stone laid over the old concrete, replanting near the tents, ours had a new loo and basin plumbed in, neighbours did not. Food perfectly adequate"

"Location - beautifully landscaped, easy access to local shops, the dinkiest post office etc. Appreciated the shelf keeping a degree of separation from the beach proper. Enjoyed an evening watching daft film at 40 Thieves.

Rooms- stunning. We had the prime spot looking down at the sea.

Service- helpful, quietly confident and friendly which was welcome given we were the only guests for the first 3 or 4 days! Some lovely staff, showed us the stars (Mark the nightwatchman), taught us Swahili phrases (Godffrey the gardener). Gabrielle was in charge whilst John and Dominique were away. Stanley and Laurence always helpful. Eric the taxi driver really lovely, popped in with a CD of his favourite Kenyan music for us to take home after we'd been enjoying what he had on in the car.

Food - great and laid on loads of fish options when we showed enthusiasm for it. Lovley salad lunches.Head Chef was on leave but the doughty Beatrice was well up to the task. Prepared Jess a coconut to try.

Activities - Gabrielle organised Cpt Rama to take us snorkelling on the first day with clear sea, her treat. Also arranged us a day out at Shimba Hills via dmtours (driver Tommy Walker sings his own songs, quite a character) with lunch at the Shimba lodge, fish eagle overviewing us all. Day out in Mombassa, rain storms."

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