Travel reviews by Mr F & Mrs B from Dorset
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
5
Excursions taken
0
wonderful experiences enhanced by Expert Afr
Zambia between 9 Sep 2013 and 19 Sep 2013
"The arrangements from the outset were carefully researched, and you put together a fairly complex itinerary in which we tried to fill time between BA flights in and out of Lusaka on the available days. It is unfortunate that no longer will BA fly Lusaka direct.
For us Premium Economy was an advantage, though others may well find economy is satisfactory.
Each of the arrivals, transfers and departures was eased by the reps involved, looking out for us, and aware of our plan ahead.
The choice of game parks was excellent for us and staff were outstanding. Good value for money compared with our experience of two hotels. The small numbers at Lodges made a better holiday of it, and contact with staff was informal, informative and careful attention was given to individuals. So often a hotel visit is a commercial exercise, Lodges at once suggest they are there for us.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I do not recall seeing a brochure, wish I had one, but might have passed it to another member of our party of four, but we could not find it. The Bradt guide was an excellent companion in advance, and will be a fine reference book.
I could have done with more detail in breakdown in price. After an estimate we were shown minor differences, as adjustments were made. If I had done everything myself I may have saved some money, but your price gave us the confidence of expertise and back up that was essential for a trip of this complexity not least since our combined age is over 320! We were at no time anxious about planning or arrangements as they happened without problems, and with the assistance we anticipated at every stage."
For us Premium Economy was an advantage, though others may well find economy is satisfactory.
Each of the arrivals, transfers and departures was eased by the reps involved, looking out for us, and aware of our plan ahead.
The choice of game parks was excellent for us and staff were outstanding. Good value for money compared with our experience of two hotels. The small numbers at Lodges made a better holiday of it, and contact with staff was informal, informative and careful attention was given to individuals. So often a hotel visit is a commercial exercise, Lodges at once suggest they are there for us.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I do not recall seeing a brochure, wish I had one, but might have passed it to another member of our party of four, but we could not find it. The Bradt guide was an excellent companion in advance, and will be a fine reference book.
I could have done with more detail in breakdown in price. After an estimate we were shown minor differences, as adjustments were made. If I had done everything myself I may have saved some money, but your price gave us the confidence of expertise and back up that was essential for a trip of this complexity not least since our combined age is over 320! We were at no time anxious about planning or arrangements as they happened without problems, and with the assistance we anticipated at every stage."
Arranged By Claire Scott
Kafunta River Lodge
"fine experience especially guides and drives"
4 nights
Arrived
9 Sep 2013
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Own arrangements - Kabwe (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"visit charity with which I work"
1 night
Arrived
13 Sep 2013
"All travel plans to be met at Lusaka airport were trouble free, as was connection with reps on our return to meet friends en route to Livingstone. Flight delay (mechanical fault on plane from Lusaka to Mfuwe). Leaving Mfuwe to Lusaka late meant we lost planned activity in Kabwe, and had to curtail/rearrange programme, again delayed to make a two hour road trip into three. All that out of our control, and that of your staff and our driver to Kabwe.
Overnight at Zambesi Source Lodge showed how fortunate we have been at Kafunta. Clearly a much poorer part of Zambia, even though Lodge had hopes of high things, cannot recommend except as cheap alternative. Comment about activities and facilities applies to our visit to charity work, not to Expert Africa arrangements.
Accommodation and food was expected to be as we found it. We were charity workers, not on safari!"
Overnight at Zambesi Source Lodge showed how fortunate we have been at Kafunta. Clearly a much poorer part of Zambia, even though Lodge had hopes of high things, cannot recommend except as cheap alternative. Comment about activities and facilities applies to our visit to charity work, not to Expert Africa arrangements.
Accommodation and food was expected to be as we found it. We were charity workers, not on safari!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Rooms
Average
Food
Poor
Facilities
Excellent
Service
Poor
Activities
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Avani Victoria Falls
"Two nights at Zambesi Sun"
2 nights
Arrived
14 Sep 2013
"Chosen for location near Falls. Less expensive that Royal Livingstone. The setting was good, short walk to Falls, excellent pick up point for day in Botswana which was a substitute arranged because Chobe accommodation was not available.
The long day to Botswana was an anxiety in advance, but proved a great success, not least because all changes and pick ups were trouble free and staff were all on hand to make every part of the day a happy and relaxed event. Morning boat trip was superb, afternoon drive involved a great deal of information from the guide, very short drive, but plenty of interest. It was very hard to understand the guide. I do have hearing problems, and that problem was not only mine. Other guides were communicating well.
Zambesi Sun advertised three restaurant facilities. Only the buffet was available on the first night. I felt at 214 kwatchas it was costly, even granted plenty of choice for main courses. I told them so, and we used another place for the second night. Staff helpful. I would hesitate before to using it again. On the make, from tourists? They combined well to get an earlier departure to Waterberry Lodge, whose staff readily arranged transport. Planned half day at falls was enough."
The long day to Botswana was an anxiety in advance, but proved a great success, not least because all changes and pick ups were trouble free and staff were all on hand to make every part of the day a happy and relaxed event. Morning boat trip was superb, afternoon drive involved a great deal of information from the guide, very short drive, but plenty of interest. It was very hard to understand the guide. I do have hearing problems, and that problem was not only mine. Other guides were communicating well.
Zambesi Sun advertised three restaurant facilities. Only the buffet was available on the first night. I felt at 214 kwatchas it was costly, even granted plenty of choice for main courses. I told them so, and we used another place for the second night. Staff helpful. I would hesitate before to using it again. On the make, from tourists? They combined well to get an earlier departure to Waterberry Lodge, whose staff readily arranged transport. Planned half day at falls was enough."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Facilities
Good
Waterberry Zambezi Lodge
"Two nights at Waterberry Lodge"
2 nights
Arrived
16 Sep 2013
"After setting ourselves a pretty rigorous trip we need to unwind. What better place than Waterberry? Staff we outstanding in every way, the setting was so relaxing, aware of being part of a family in no time. Nothing was too much trouble, events arranged as we wished, including a bird walk for one person, and an hour "activity" with Kevin whose expertise was invaluable as we gained more information about charity work and social scene in general.
By this time we did not need any more game drives, but I expect they could have been arranged.
Here as at Kafunta the all in price was a good thing and it was good to have discovered here as at Kafunta, 55 of our charge was for community development locally. The school and village visits were of great value, as was our contact with Karen and visit from Kafunta to Project Luangwa, which I should have mentioned earlier, and was a highlight experience, particularly in view of our commitment to other charity work."
By this time we did not need any more game drives, but I expect they could have been arranged.
Here as at Kafunta the all in price was a good thing and it was good to have discovered here as at Kafunta, 55 of our charge was for community development locally. The school and village visits were of great value, as was our contact with Karen and visit from Kafunta to Project Luangwa, which I should have mentioned earlier, and was a highlight experience, particularly in view of our commitment to other charity work."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Taj Pamodzi Hotel, Zambia (this camp has since closed)
"Taj Pamodzi a brief overnight stay"
1 night
Arrived
18 Sep 2013
"Maybe we were getting tired after a visit to Livingstone Museum and flight to Lusaka. Why was that hotel selected for us? It was not one I knew and the journey from airport at 1930, and then back again at 0630 seemed more than necessary for a reasonable short overnight stay. We had a good meal, but I think we could have saved money being nearer the airport.
We had no time to go into town and did not expect to, we had no time for use of any facilities, spa, pools, and did not expect to, but we could have had a less expensive conclusion to our trip."
We had no time to go into town and did not expect to, we had no time for use of any facilities, spa, pools, and did not expect to, but we could have had a less expensive conclusion to our trip."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Average
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
In retrospect I think three nights would have given us enough drives, and a necessary extra night at Kabwe, but we elected to do as our agreed itinerary.
Excellent to have company of staff at meals. We saw so many animals on the first trip that we wondered if that would mean disappointments later. Not so. Food was very good, accommodation all we could have expected and more. Setting was a delight. Silences were a bonus."