Travel reviews by Mr SS from Holborn
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
2
Excursions taken
0
Overall...
Tanzania between 20 Jan 2014 and 31 Jan 2014
"Overall it is hard to see how the trip could have been better. The trip was just right for us in that it was fairly active but in non-intrusive luxury.
Impala being on the River Rufiji gave a great amount of variety to the safaris. It wasn't a pampering experience - we were not looking for that - but fairly luxurious by most standards as long as you don't want AC, chandeliers and carpets. mAfia Island again suited us perfectly. It isn't really a beach holiday and again that is not what we were after. The island has a gently undeveloped feel - again it depends what you are after. The possibilities for marine activities are good for beginners and experience scuba divers with as rich a diving experience as one can get in the best of locations.
The team at EA obviously know their onions. Elizabeth did a great job taking over from where my own research had got to, with helpful recommendations and all at short notice.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:"
Impala being on the River Rufiji gave a great amount of variety to the safaris. It wasn't a pampering experience - we were not looking for that - but fairly luxurious by most standards as long as you don't want AC, chandeliers and carpets. mAfia Island again suited us perfectly. It isn't really a beach holiday and again that is not what we were after. The island has a gently undeveloped feel - again it depends what you are after. The possibilities for marine activities are good for beginners and experience scuba divers with as rich a diving experience as one can get in the best of locations.
The team at EA obviously know their onions. Elizabeth did a great job taking over from where my own research had got to, with helpful recommendations and all at short notice.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:"
Arranged By Elizabeth Chapman
Impala Camp
"Selous Impala Safari"
5 nights
Arrived
21 Jan 2014
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Pole Pole
"6 nights at Pole Pole"
6 nights
Arrived
26 Jan 2014
"Pole Pole is wonderful and a very good combination following a safari.
Marta the new manager is doing a great job but is only 3 months in and perhaps it tells. The staff at the hotel are very kind and helpful but there is a slight lack of efficiency in taking food and drinks orders and there are clearly some language difficulties. It seemed at times that the bat and kitchen could do with some guidance to sharpen things up.
Having said that they were all charming and such elements didn't detract from the stay at all. I got the impression that Marta was having to refer decisions up the chain to management when she was clearly capable of making such decisions herself. One got the impression that she was not granted total autonomy that a manager needs. Doubtless this will change as time goes on.
The relationship that Pole Pole has with Mafia Lodge for activities works well and guides from there were helpful in planning the following day's activities. The food was good, sometimes excellent, but for an exclusive location, I had expected more consistency in quality. All in all I would give it a 9 out of 10. in part the score is high because of the sublime locality and access to snorkelling and scuba diving in a location only in the early days of tourism."
Marta the new manager is doing a great job but is only 3 months in and perhaps it tells. The staff at the hotel are very kind and helpful but there is a slight lack of efficiency in taking food and drinks orders and there are clearly some language difficulties. It seemed at times that the bat and kitchen could do with some guidance to sharpen things up.
Having said that they were all charming and such elements didn't detract from the stay at all. I got the impression that Marta was having to refer decisions up the chain to management when she was clearly capable of making such decisions herself. One got the impression that she was not granted total autonomy that a manager needs. Doubtless this will change as time goes on.
The relationship that Pole Pole has with Mafia Lodge for activities works well and guides from there were helpful in planning the following day's activities. The food was good, sometimes excellent, but for an exclusive location, I had expected more consistency in quality. All in all I would give it a 9 out of 10. in part the score is high because of the sublime locality and access to snorkelling and scuba diving in a location only in the early days of tourism."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Whilst being considerate to the animals the guides got as close as one could and we liked the fact that the vehicles were open rather than some we saw that were enclosed. We only saw other vehicles occasionally on drives which was a real plus. The initial boat journey from Mtmere airstrip was a great idea bringing us close to hippo and crocs straightaway.
We would have liked to do some fly-camping but the weather wasn't in our favour. An excuse for another trip."