Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs C from Hawaii
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
2
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
8
Excursions taken
0
My Jul 2017 trip
Zambia between 25 Jul 2017 and 5 Aug 2017
"The trip was wonderful, the only issue being the ground transportation, or lack thereof, from the Lusaka airport to Latitude 15. I would recommend Musekese to anyone as a place to go in the Kafue National Park, not overdone as some of the South Luangwa camps and lodges have become, but more in tune with the area and the game around it."
Arranged By Maruska AdyeRowe
Latitude 15
"Latitude 15 review"
1 night
Arrived
25 Jul 2017
"Our only issue was that the ground transportation from the Lusaka airport to Latitude 15 did not show, so we took a taxi."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Musekese Camp
"Musekese Camp review"
10 nights
Arrived
26 Jul 2017
"I think Expert Africa needs to revisit the camp as their write up is clearly woefully out of date. The location is truly great, overlooking a lagoon which is fed annually from the Kafue and which still had lots of water, hence game and will do so into the dry months. The tents/habitents, are set along the tree line, each with a view across the lagoon to the tree line that is the river bank. Sunsets are spectacular! Occasionally we could hear boats on the river, sometimes a loud one, driven by some person who clearly does not know the park rules about speed on the river, or who could care less, but, that is something that Musekese cannot control, it is a park issue.
Game viewing on the lagoon plain was wonderful and for birders it must be a paradise, as we identified 128 species of birds without going out of our way to see birds. Elephants are regular visitors to the area as were lions. As the dryer months come there will likely be more game as the more remote pools dry up and the game moves towards the river for water."
Game viewing on the lagoon plain was wonderful and for birders it must be a paradise, as we identified 128 species of birds without going out of our way to see birds. Elephants are regular visitors to the area as were lions. As the dryer months come there will likely be more game as the more remote pools dry up and the game moves towards the river for water."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Our 2014 Zambia trip
South Africa and 1 other country between 5 Sep 2014 and 16 Sep 2014
"I don't think very satisfactory is quite enough. I would describe the trip as excellent all around. The arrangements worked well, the locations suggested by Expert Africa were delightful and the people we met were engaging, helpful and knowledgeable.
For us it was great to be back in Zambia and for our guests from Brazil it was a wonderful experience for them as a first time trip to Africa.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We had to make a change to our flight from Lusaka to Johannesburg because our onward flight from Johannesburg was changed. The change was made but seating was not selected. I, at the suggestion of the Middlesex office, called SAA directly, but that could have been done by the Expert Africa staff just as easily.
There was some confusion with the Mukambi Bush Camp and the Busanga Plains Camp, but only I think because the Mukambi Lodge had not updated their web site to reflect the changes, so when we looked at their site it was not obvious what the Mukambi Bush Camp was, or if it even existed. Not a problem with Expert Africa, but something Mukambi should probably fix."
For us it was great to be back in Zambia and for our guests from Brazil it was a wonderful experience for them as a first time trip to Africa.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We had to make a change to our flight from Lusaka to Johannesburg because our onward flight from Johannesburg was changed. The change was made but seating was not selected. I, at the suggestion of the Middlesex office, called SAA directly, but that could have been done by the Expert Africa staff just as easily.
There was some confusion with the Mukambi Bush Camp and the Busanga Plains Camp, but only I think because the Mukambi Lodge had not updated their web site to reflect the changes, so when we looked at their site it was not obvious what the Mukambi Bush Camp was, or if it even existed. Not a problem with Expert Africa, but something Mukambi should probably fix."
Arranged By Maruska AdyeRowe
City Lodge OR Tambo
"City Lodge OR Tambo"
1 night
Arrived
5 Sep 2014
"The staff at the City Lodge were most accommodating, we arrived from our Doha flight early, well before normal check in time, but the front desk people suggested we get coffee, on them, and by the time we were part way through our first cup of coffee they came to us with a room key. Afternoon tea on the terrace by the water feature was delightful."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Avani Victoria Falls
"Zambezi Sun Review"
3 nights
Arrived
6 Sep 2014
"We loved the overall feel of the hotel, the metal sculpture animals in the grounds, the decor of the rooms and the general layout.
The hotel is undergoing some renovation, but that did not impinge upon us. Some checking that all the electrical outlets in the room actually work would be useful. We were there with a large delegation of Commonwealth Judges and Magistrates, but the hotel staff did a wonderful job of managing everything so that there were no difficulties. The concierge who helped us with activities did a marvelous job."
The hotel is undergoing some renovation, but that did not impinge upon us. Some checking that all the electrical outlets in the room actually work would be useful. We were there with a large delegation of Commonwealth Judges and Magistrates, but the hotel staff did a wonderful job of managing everything so that there were no difficulties. The concierge who helped us with activities did a marvelous job."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Mukambi Bush Camp (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Mukambi Bush Camp Review"
2 nights
Arrived
9 Sep 2014
"Wow, the old camp ground has been converted to four tents adjacent to the rondavels. Our room/tent had a huge bed with mosquito netting all around, a deck overlooking the river and a bath tub on the deck.
The Lodge had just switched the hot water system from wood fired to on demand gas fired and there were some tricks to that, but a quick word with the Lodge management and adjustments were made immediately. After that hot water was on tap and just the right temperature.
The game drives were superb with good guides and no feel of crowding anywhere. The river trip we took one evening was highlighted by a sighting of a leopard drinking."
The Lodge had just switched the hot water system from wood fired to on demand gas fired and there were some tricks to that, but a quick word with the Lodge management and adjustments were made immediately. After that hot water was on tap and just the right temperature.
The game drives were superb with good guides and no feel of crowding anywhere. The river trip we took one evening was highlighted by a sighting of a leopard drinking."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Busanga Plains Camp (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Busanga Plains Camp Review"
3 nights
Arrived
11 Sep 2014
"Exceptional, probably due in large part to Tiffany Cavanagh the camp manager.
The staff were all most welcoming and helpful and our guide, Caesar, was terrific, taking the time to answer all our questions and stopping to show us things, large and small, from water mongoose tracks, to birds and trees, quite apart from great sightings of lions, elephant and antelope."
The staff were all most welcoming and helpful and our guide, Caesar, was terrific, taking the time to answer all our questions and stopping to show us things, large and small, from water mongoose tracks, to birds and trees, quite apart from great sightings of lions, elephant and antelope."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Mukambi Bush Camp (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Mukambi Bush Camp second review"
1 night
Arrived
14 Sep 2014
"We knew what to expect the second time around, and the highlight was a bath on the deck after the seven hour transfer from the Busanga Plains.
Our last night drive was one of the trip highlights with a sighting of two leopards, going through pre-mating rituals, which were probably consummated once we turned the lights out and left them alone."
Our last night drive was one of the trip highlights with a sighting of two leopards, going through pre-mating rituals, which were probably consummated once we turned the lights out and left them alone."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Radisson Blu Hotel (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Radisson Blu Hotel Review"
1 night
Arrived
15 Sep 2014
"Again wow, but for a different reason that the Mukambi Bush Camp. Very elegant hotel in Lusaka, huge rooms and a nice soaking bath.
Our only concern was the transfer the next day to the Lusaka airport. We asked the concierge to check on it for us and sadly we got no feedback, so had no indication of when or if the transfer driver would be picking us up."
Our only concern was the transfer the next day to the Lusaka airport. We asked the concierge to check on it for us and sadly we got no feedback, so had no indication of when or if the transfer driver would be picking us up."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Average
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
Not currently featured by Expert Africa