Travel reviews by K and B from Oregon

"This was our second visit to Serena Dar. Once again it was a welcoming spot after two long flights.
The desk staff were friendly & professional, the room quiet & clean (nothing fancy) and the sweet housekeeper gave me 3 bottles of water when I asked for more water for our room. People always ready to help.
The amazing fresh fruit, tropical juices & tasty buffet items were wonderful.
We totally enjoyed an outdoor African Night buffet with live music which coincided with our visit. The patio was packed with local business groups and (later) couples. Very nice to be part of the Dar scene.
The chef delighted in filling our plates!
Airport pick-up and return were smooth."

"Saadani is a lodge in a gorgeous setting on the beach. Several guests on short (one/two night) excursions from Zanzibar expecting a "big 5" safari game experience in a 24 hr window could make for pressure on guides and "results" on game drives, but we rode with 2 separate European couples who either thought the lack of animals was due to unusual rains or (incredibly!) did spot a lion during their brief stay so were delighted.
As Expert Africa rightly advises, this is not the place to expect numerous sightings.
That said, hippos, crocs and pink flamingos are guaranteed on the pleasant boat cruise.
My husband and I had a memorable sunrise bike ride on the beach with our guide...a treat!"

"We have visited Sand Rivers twice and both experiences have been fantastic.

Our guide both times is the best we have had in all our many camp and lodge experiences.

The staff is super friendly and every effort is made to assure guests have a great time.

The rooms are unique in that they are open (mosquito netting around bed) with a view of the river and hippos frequently roaming nearby. It's so pleasant having early am coffee and watch the monkeys on nearby trees."

"The rooms here are a gem! They consist of a huge screened front that overlooks a channel chock full of wildlife visitors: hippo, giraffe, elephant, waterbuck, kudu, water buffalo...you almost wish you could sit and gaze out all day!

The chef is amazing and the soups, main course and dessert are incredibly tasty and elegantly presented. The bush breakfasts are a feast!

Although there seemed to be less wildlife than visits in the area two previous years, the scenery is stunning and there is still a wonderful experience sighting many species."