Travel reviews by Mrs H & Mr R from USA
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
4
Excursions taken
0
Vicki & Rocky Dream Come True - Sept, 2014
Botswana and 1 other country between 9 Sep 2014 and 20 Sep 2014
"Maruska was no less than exceptional during all of our planning. And the best part, was that all the details of getting from Zambia to Botswana, and throughout the trip occurred flawlessly! I was a bit nervous traveling with just my husband but she guaranteed we would never be left "alone" and would be met everywhere as we passed from one point to the next and it was perfect! I would highly recommend Expert Africa. We loved the ability to travel independently, but still feel connected and safe throughout the journey.
When we were leaving Sandibe Camp one of the women who worked there said their is an expression in Africa; "Once the dust of Africa settles in your soul, you can never get it out."
Well it is in my soul, and we will return!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Definitely update the website on Sandibe with new photos, etc. Otherwise continue the excellent work and service. We hope to again go back to Botswana in the future....the high cost, but low impact of people is the best way to be on safari. We never saw more than two other vehicles in the bush and they are only allowed to have three at a sighting.
We also embrace and respect so much that Botswana is now a 100% "no kill" country that is working hard to protect the animals. I will always encourage others to spend their safari dollars in this country where the government understands the value of their animals and eco-system."
When we were leaving Sandibe Camp one of the women who worked there said their is an expression in Africa; "Once the dust of Africa settles in your soul, you can never get it out."
Well it is in my soul, and we will return!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Definitely update the website on Sandibe with new photos, etc. Otherwise continue the excellent work and service. We hope to again go back to Botswana in the future....the high cost, but low impact of people is the best way to be on safari. We never saw more than two other vehicles in the bush and they are only allowed to have three at a sighting.
We also embrace and respect so much that Botswana is now a 100% "no kill" country that is working hard to protect the animals. I will always encourage others to spend their safari dollars in this country where the government understands the value of their animals and eco-system."
Arranged By Maruska AdyeRowe
Royal Livingstone Hotel
"Royal Livingstone Hotel review"
2 nights
Arrived
9 Sep 2014
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Lebala Camp
"Lebala Camp review"
3 nights
Arrived
11 Sep 2014
"Our first camp and we loved it. Being first time safari travelers we did not know totally what to expect, although I did a ton of research. This and all the camps so far exceeded our expectations. This camp is charming and the animal sightings were exceptional; leopards, lions and everything else! Our guide, Bate and our tracker, Borman took excellent care of us and always found the animals. We were so lucky to experience a baby leopard and her mother feeding after a recent antelope kill. The guides are patient, the new friends and guests we met were wonderful and the staff took such good care of us.
I always felt safe even when being walked back to our "tent" late one evening when we literally ran into a hippo when we came around the corner! Our guide just walked around him and escorted us into our room so that we could listen to our hippo munch the grass throughout the night. Being surrounded by elephants one night, while they brushed against our tent walls and pulled branches off the trees above us really brought the safari experience to life for me!
The food was wonderful.....and I could go back 100 times!"
I always felt safe even when being walked back to our "tent" late one evening when we literally ran into a hippo when we came around the corner! Our guide just walked around him and escorted us into our room so that we could listen to our hippo munch the grass throughout the night. Being surrounded by elephants one night, while they brushed against our tent walls and pulled branches off the trees above us really brought the safari experience to life for me!
The food was wonderful.....and I could go back 100 times!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Sandibe Safari Lodge
"Sandibe Safari Lodge review"
3 nights
Arrived
14 Sep 2014
"WOW! We were at the "new" Sandibe after the remodel and it is incredible! The architecture, art work, ambience and graciousness of staff are top notch.
This is definitely a luxury, premier camp and was very different from the other two we stayed. It was nice to experience this level of luxury while on safari for a few nights. Guests tend to stick to themselves more than the other camps due to the private dining tables and larger facility, but the service, food, rooms, private pool, butler were just amazing! It was hard to pull myself from the beautiful room, deck overlooking the marsh, in-room massage (thank you Amy.....she is terrific), coffee and juice delivered each morning, and the surprise evening candlelight dinner on our deck to actually go on the game drives. But we did and they were wonderful.
Jonas, our guide, took great care of us.....and we spotted 6 leopards our first morning out. Our tracker was excellent also, and I regret I can not locate his name in my paperwork. Thank you to both of them for a wonderful experience. The night drives were exciting; especially coming upon a family of hyenas with puppies playing right outside their den!
This lodge should be a "must" for anyone who wants to experience luxury in the bush, along with fabulous food and great animal sightings!"
This is definitely a luxury, premier camp and was very different from the other two we stayed. It was nice to experience this level of luxury while on safari for a few nights. Guests tend to stick to themselves more than the other camps due to the private dining tables and larger facility, but the service, food, rooms, private pool, butler were just amazing! It was hard to pull myself from the beautiful room, deck overlooking the marsh, in-room massage (thank you Amy.....she is terrific), coffee and juice delivered each morning, and the surprise evening candlelight dinner on our deck to actually go on the game drives. But we did and they were wonderful.
Jonas, our guide, took great care of us.....and we spotted 6 leopards our first morning out. Our tracker was excellent also, and I regret I can not locate his name in my paperwork. Thank you to both of them for a wonderful experience. The night drives were exciting; especially coming upon a family of hyenas with puppies playing right outside their den!
This lodge should be a "must" for anyone who wants to experience luxury in the bush, along with fabulous food and great animal sightings!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Little Vumbura
"Little Vumbura review"
3 nights
Arrived
17 Sep 2014
"We loved this camp also. What a wonderful setting as you arrive by boat, greeted by singing, cold towels and a drink! We so enjoyed the small, intimacy of this camp and the warmth of the managers and staff.
We were so fortunate to have "K" as our guide, and Emma as our tracker in training! We were told that "K" is rated as the third best guide in Africa and we would agree he is the best.....he "talks" to the animals and they listen! He has been guiding his whole life and his father and grandfather were raised in the bush. He can find everything and he did.....we saw prides of lions, herds of cape buffalo, hyenas, hippos.....everything!
The best experience was that I hoped to see wild dogs on this trip and we could not find them anywhere. On our final morning we had an early departure from the airstrip so decided to sleep in before our long journey home and skipped the morning drive. Well "K" found the wild dogs that morning....he radioed back to camp, had them wake us up, and sent us out in another vehicle to find the dogs so I could see them before we left Botswana! I was so thrilled he took the time and caring to do this for me and I got to see every animal that I longed to experience. Thank you "K"!!"
We were so fortunate to have "K" as our guide, and Emma as our tracker in training! We were told that "K" is rated as the third best guide in Africa and we would agree he is the best.....he "talks" to the animals and they listen! He has been guiding his whole life and his father and grandfather were raised in the bush. He can find everything and he did.....we saw prides of lions, herds of cape buffalo, hyenas, hippos.....everything!
The best experience was that I hoped to see wild dogs on this trip and we could not find them anywhere. On our final morning we had an early departure from the airstrip so decided to sleep in before our long journey home and skipped the morning drive. Well "K" found the wild dogs that morning....he radioed back to camp, had them wake us up, and sent us out in another vehicle to find the dogs so I could see them before we left Botswana! I was so thrilled he took the time and caring to do this for me and I got to see every animal that I longed to experience. Thank you "K"!!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
As you enter the lobby and see the beautiful Zambeze river through the open air windows it takes your breath away. Then the tea and hand massage while we checked in was delightful. Every staff member was totally attentive during our two day stay. I highly recommend and would certainly stay here again. We did not participate in activities as we wanted this time to rest, enjoy the location and prepare for our upcoming safari days.
We did walk to Victoria Falls and hike down to Boiling Point (with the baboons and monkeys!) to watch the rafters depart which was a great outing and so easy to get to from the hotel. The giraffes and zebras on the property are quite fun.....but they are wild! We did participate one day with one of the guides when they were being fed.....such fun and so delighted we ran into him on the grounds and he invited us to join him!"