Travel reviews by Dr C from Newmarket
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
4
Countries visited
3
Lodges stayed in
13
Excursions taken
2
My Jan 2020 trip
Tanzania between 29 Jan 2020 and 6 Feb 2020
"Considering the difficulties encountered I would still say that overall the trip was fairly satisfactory.
Everyone did their best to iron out mishaps, rearrange itineraries and adapt to the unpredictable chaos due to the heavy, unending rainfall. Personally I understand that each trip will be different and no matter how much you plan...” life happens.” This trip just happened to be a bit more adventurous than what was planned; but no regrets.
My fellow travellers all report that though the trip was difficult they are completely blown away by the magnificence of Tanzania, her beauty, her glorious animals and her warm kind people. And yes, I’ll be back:)"
Everyone did their best to iron out mishaps, rearrange itineraries and adapt to the unpredictable chaos due to the heavy, unending rainfall. Personally I understand that each trip will be different and no matter how much you plan...” life happens.” This trip just happened to be a bit more adventurous than what was planned; but no regrets.
My fellow travellers all report that though the trip was difficult they are completely blown away by the magnificence of Tanzania, her beauty, her glorious animals and her warm kind people. And yes, I’ll be back:)"
Airport Planet Lodge
"First Stop"
1 night
Arrived
29 Jan 2020
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Dunia Camp
"The Ladies Camp"
2 nights
Arrived
30 Jan 2020
"The first word that comes to mind when recalling Dunia is “detail.”
This camp epitomizes the comforts that paying attention to detail can afford a guest. The little touches, such as the lovely fleece lined blankets for wrapping up in during a chilly evening meal, the availability of rain gear in the common area so that there is no need to retrieve your own. The staff is attentive, pleasant and always willing to assist.
Our guide, Zawadi, was knowledgeable, easy going and well informed. Angel and Mary (camp managers) consistently checked in to make sure that you had everything you needed for a pleasant stay.
One thing that I would like to point out is that I was expecting my guests to be met at the airport with lunch. We did not arrive until 2:30pm and then did not make it to camp until 4:00pm, not having eaten since 8:00am. Also on our game drive the next morning no food was prepared for a mid-morning snack. My previous experience with Asilia informed my expectations, so I’m not sure what happened or if things have changed."
This camp epitomizes the comforts that paying attention to detail can afford a guest. The little touches, such as the lovely fleece lined blankets for wrapping up in during a chilly evening meal, the availability of rain gear in the common area so that there is no need to retrieve your own. The staff is attentive, pleasant and always willing to assist.
Our guide, Zawadi, was knowledgeable, easy going and well informed. Angel and Mary (camp managers) consistently checked in to make sure that you had everything you needed for a pleasant stay.
One thing that I would like to point out is that I was expecting my guests to be met at the airport with lunch. We did not arrive until 2:30pm and then did not make it to camp until 4:00pm, not having eaten since 8:00am. Also on our game drive the next morning no food was prepared for a mid-morning snack. My previous experience with Asilia informed my expectations, so I’m not sure what happened or if things have changed."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Elephant
2 sightings
Giraffe
4 sightings
Hippo
2 sightings
Lion
1 sighting
Lemala Ngorongoro
"Eden"
1 night
Arrived
4 Feb 2020
"Stunning; canopies of acacia, flowering bushes, shades of green surround and envelope this camp.
When I think of Lemala I think luxury, and the Ngorongoro site lives up to Lemala’s standards. The rooms have a rustic elegance to them and the gas heaters certainly help dispel the damp and cold as you snuggle for a comfortable sleep. We lost power in the morning but Lemala was ready with elegant candelabras and soft LEDs at breakfast.
As always the staff was attentive, helpful and kind. The food was expertly prepared and the presentation quite remarkable for a tented camp."
When I think of Lemala I think luxury, and the Ngorongoro site lives up to Lemala’s standards. The rooms have a rustic elegance to them and the gas heaters certainly help dispel the damp and cold as you snuggle for a comfortable sleep. We lost power in the morning but Lemala was ready with elegant candelabras and soft LEDs at breakfast.
As always the staff was attentive, helpful and kind. The food was expertly prepared and the presentation quite remarkable for a tented camp."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Sightings report
Black Rhino
1 sighting
Buffalo
9 sightings
Eland
1 sighting
Elephant
2 sightings
Hippo
3 sightings
Lion
3 sightings
Spotted Hyena
8 sightings
Wildebeest
9 sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Olduvai Gorge visit
"Olduvai Gorge visit review"
4 Feb 2020 • All-day excursion
It does my heart good to see the continued improvements at Oldupai; what a treasure this site is for Tanzania.
I thoroughly enjoyed the short lecture, the displays and the lovely new lecture gallery.
I never get tired of visiting this spot. It holds so much history and continues to feed my imagination.
I thoroughly enjoyed the short lecture, the displays and the lovely new lecture gallery.
I never get tired of visiting this spot. It holds so much history and continues to feed my imagination.
Plantation Lodge
"Plantation Lodge review"
1 night
Arrived
5 Feb 2020
"The old world charm of Plantation Lodge cannot be matched.
The rooms are spacious, comfortable and well organized for a short stay.
Staff is attentive and helpful and the food is very good."
The rooms are spacious, comfortable and well organized for a short stay.
Staff is attentive and helpful and the food is very good."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Safari in Ngorongoro Crater
"Safari in Ngorongoro Crater review"
5 Feb 2020 • Morning excursion
A nice day in the crater. We arrived early and avoided the crowds. Unfortunately the roads were in poor condition and we were held up several times waiting for others to be helped out of mud holes. Due to poor road conditions we were unable to drive to some of the more remote areas of the crater.
As we were leaving there was another downpour and the ascending road from the crater was closed. However, we just made it out before a piece of the road was washed away. I love the crater and the beautiful, expansive views and I so appreciate any opportunity to visit.
Each visit is different and each visit is spectacular.
As we were leaving there was another downpour and the ascending road from the crater was closed. However, we just made it out before a piece of the road was washed away. I love the crater and the beautiful, expansive views and I so appreciate any opportunity to visit.
Each visit is different and each visit is spectacular.
Northern Serengeti
Tanzania between 21 Jun 2018 and 25 Jun 2018
"This past trip to Africa really gave me a new perspective on what the northern part of the Serengeti has to offer. There is a particular beauty and wildness in this part of the park which I enjoyed. Lemala Kuria Hills camp was so comfortable and the setting so beautiful, I enjoyed every moment that I was there and truly bathed in the privacy that I had with the location of my tent.
On the game drives you could see that there was so much food and space for the animals and therefore the herds were much larger than what I have become accustomed to in the Serengeti. For instance, I would see herds of 50 to 70 topi, hundreds of Thompson gazell, large harems of impala; it was spectacular."
On the game drives you could see that there was so much food and space for the animals and therefore the herds were much larger than what I have become accustomed to in the Serengeti. For instance, I would see herds of 50 to 70 topi, hundreds of Thompson gazell, large harems of impala; it was spectacular."
Lemala Kuria Hills
"Serene Safari at Lemala Kuria Hills"
4 nights
Arrived
21 Jun 2018
"What a wonderful surprise this beautiful camp was. The views are expansive, varied and are a source for getting completely lost in the moment. I cannot say enough about the comfort of the tent and the glorious amenities such as the soaking tub, outdoor shower, plunge pool and being able to wake at sunrise and make a cup of fresh hot coffee to enjoy on the raised deck. The staff go above and beyond at this camp. Each request is met with an attentive response. I was well taken care of; actually a bit spoiled,
The meals at Kuria Hillls are prepared and presented with the same detail and care that makes this camp exceptional. I appreciated the variety of food, the freshness of the food and meal choices/options. My experiences with the game drives were also exceptional. Frank was my guide and he was knowledgeable with regards to the animals, terrain, environment and it’s impact on adaptation of behavior and physical characteristics. Plus he is a great story teller and we shared laughter and chatter along with silence and reflection. I believe that the attention to detail and conscientiousness of the staff reflect the competent, caring managerial style of Daniel. He is a keen observer of human behavior and responds to people with humor, respect and a tinge of wisdom. Thank you so much to everyone who made my stay at Lemala Kuria Hills unforgettable."
The meals at Kuria Hillls are prepared and presented with the same detail and care that makes this camp exceptional. I appreciated the variety of food, the freshness of the food and meal choices/options. My experiences with the game drives were also exceptional. Frank was my guide and he was knowledgeable with regards to the animals, terrain, environment and it’s impact on adaptation of behavior and physical characteristics. Plus he is a great story teller and we shared laughter and chatter along with silence and reflection. I believe that the attention to detail and conscientiousness of the staff reflect the competent, caring managerial style of Daniel. He is a keen observer of human behavior and responds to people with humor, respect and a tinge of wisdom. Thank you so much to everyone who made my stay at Lemala Kuria Hills unforgettable."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Buffalo
5 sightings
Elephant
5 sightings
Giraffe
8 sightings
Hippo
1 sighting
Leopard
2 sightings
Lion
3 sightings
Wildebeest
10+ sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
My Jan 2017 trip
Tanzania between 27 Jan 2017 and 6 Feb 2017
"This holiday was just a spectacular journey. Varied, stimulating and fun all the way.
I wish to thank James Denny for working with me all year and making the recommendations that he did. I put this trip together for 3 of my friends but could not have done it without James/Expert Africa. I used Expert Africa for a trip to Botswana and found their planning and the companies that they work with to be reliable and was so glad to work with them once again. They are my Go-To experts for Africa.
My friends were totally delighted with the trip and sincerely loved all of the different pieces that made this a successful, perspective shifting, travel experience.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No, I really don't. I feel blessed to have found this company. Thank you all so much."
I wish to thank James Denny for working with me all year and making the recommendations that he did. I put this trip together for 3 of my friends but could not have done it without James/Expert Africa. I used Expert Africa for a trip to Botswana and found their planning and the companies that they work with to be reliable and was so glad to work with them once again. They are my Go-To experts for Africa.
My friends were totally delighted with the trip and sincerely loved all of the different pieces that made this a successful, perspective shifting, travel experience.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No, I really don't. I feel blessed to have found this company. Thank you all so much."
Kia Lodge
"Kia Lodge review"
1 night
Arrived
27 Jan 2017
"While this is a good place to sleep and start your trip from, the grounds and furnishings could use a bit of a refresh.
However being greeted by this enthusiastic staff will keep me coming back to Kia Lodge when I need a day lodge or an overnight stay."
However being greeted by this enthusiastic staff will keep me coming back to Kia Lodge when I need a day lodge or an overnight stay."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Facilities
Average
Rooms
Average
Food
Good
Namiri Plains Camp
"Namiri Plains Camp review"
4 nights
Arrived
28 Jan 2017
"This is without a doubt my new favorite place on the planet. Whoever chose the camp location did a spectacular job, I could not have asked for more. The facilities, for me, had just the right amount of creature comforts and bush feel.
Now on to the the amazing staff. First let me say that I am a new fan of Asilia. They are conscientious, inclusive, environmentally and socially aware; they walk the talk. Diana Shambi, assistant camp manager, was working during our stay. This young woman is a queen and made sure that the 3 of us had everything, including pink hot water bottles!!!
My new saying for Namiri is "If you come to a camp being managed by a queen, you will be treated like a queen." And that's the truth. Erasto Macha was our guide during the 4 day stay and his knowledge, expertise, sense of humor and patience made this trip unforgettable. Thank you Erasto. I haven't even gotten to the animals yet!!
Cats, cats, cats everywhere. This site is exceptional both in its beauty and in the density of wildlife. I will out definitely return to Namari.
James Denny of Expert Africa suggested this camp and he was spot on. It became the heart of the trip for me. Thank you everyone."
Now on to the the amazing staff. First let me say that I am a new fan of Asilia. They are conscientious, inclusive, environmentally and socially aware; they walk the talk. Diana Shambi, assistant camp manager, was working during our stay. This young woman is a queen and made sure that the 3 of us had everything, including pink hot water bottles!!!
My new saying for Namiri is "If you come to a camp being managed by a queen, you will be treated like a queen." And that's the truth. Erasto Macha was our guide during the 4 day stay and his knowledge, expertise, sense of humor and patience made this trip unforgettable. Thank you Erasto. I haven't even gotten to the animals yet!!
Cats, cats, cats everywhere. This site is exceptional both in its beauty and in the density of wildlife. I will out definitely return to Namari.
James Denny of Expert Africa suggested this camp and he was spot on. It became the heart of the trip for me. Thank you everyone."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Gibb's Farm
"Gibb's Farm review"
2 nights
Arrived
1 Feb 2017
"I have had the pleasure of being at Gibb's Farm a few times in the past 5 years and have always found it to be exceptional in service and amenities. This stay was a bit disappointing for me as some of the creature comforts i.e., biscuits with coffee in the morning, high tea in the afternoon, sufficient drinking water in the rooms have been discontinued and the fact sheets in the cottages are outdated with the information that they offer. These are small items but the details shape the memory.
There were also some issues with food; poor quality with to-go boxes for lunch, long waits for for some snacks upon arriving the first day. After speaking with the manager, who was very receptive, the food issues were cleared up.
However, after saying all the above guess who will be staying there again in June...yes, me. I love Gibb's Farm, the setting is spectacular, the gardens delightful, the birds and other creatures running around charming and the staff is warm, welcoming and helpful."
There were also some issues with food; poor quality with to-go boxes for lunch, long waits for for some snacks upon arriving the first day. After speaking with the manager, who was very receptive, the food issues were cleared up.
However, after saying all the above guess who will be staying there again in June...yes, me. I love Gibb's Farm, the setting is spectacular, the gardens delightful, the birds and other creatures running around charming and the staff is warm, welcoming and helpful."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
Facilities
Excellent
Oliver's Camp
"Oliver's Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
3 Feb 2017
"We only had two nights here and I would have loved to stay for one more. This camp is relaxing, the staff were helpful, service oriented and welcoming. Jacky, the camp manager, is outstanding and certainly made all of us feel at home.
The beauty of the Tarangire surrounds you and I absolutely loved the outdoor shower; letting nature give me a super-surround. The meals were well prepared with quite a variety of choices. John Mndolwa from Asilia was our guide and driver for the rest of our trip. He knew the nooks and crannies of Tarangire and we were able to experience woodlands, swamp and open plains while enjoying the richness of the wildlife. John kept us on our toes looking for animals as we tried to out-spot him; which we never did. The man can see a lion laying in the bush from two miles away!
This camp is well worth a visit."
The beauty of the Tarangire surrounds you and I absolutely loved the outdoor shower; letting nature give me a super-surround. The meals were well prepared with quite a variety of choices. John Mndolwa from Asilia was our guide and driver for the rest of our trip. He knew the nooks and crannies of Tarangire and we were able to experience woodlands, swamp and open plains while enjoying the richness of the wildlife. John kept us on our toes looking for animals as we tried to out-spot him; which we never did. The man can see a lion laying in the bush from two miles away!
This camp is well worth a visit."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Exceptional experience.
Botswana and 1 other country between 14 Apr 2015 and 23 Apr 2015
"I cannot say enough to about this trip.
So many truly exceptional experiences, so many kind, warm people, the beauty of the region is astounding as is the amount of wildlife to be viewed. The diversity of the forests, grasses, plants and trees is also spectacular. All the guides and trackers were knowledgeable and so much fun to be with. There were nice connections and nice moments.
Without a doubt I will return to this area and without a doubt I will use Expert Africa.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not really. Nick was always so timely, informative and attentive. It has been a pleasure working with him over this past year. Also, it is nice to have found a company where I can refer people and be assured that they will receive the best treatment.
Thank you all so much."
So many truly exceptional experiences, so many kind, warm people, the beauty of the region is astounding as is the amount of wildlife to be viewed. The diversity of the forests, grasses, plants and trees is also spectacular. All the guides and trackers were knowledgeable and so much fun to be with. There were nice connections and nice moments.
Without a doubt I will return to this area and without a doubt I will use Expert Africa.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not really. Nick was always so timely, informative and attentive. It has been a pleasure working with him over this past year. Also, it is nice to have found a company where I can refer people and be assured that they will receive the best treatment.
Thank you all so much."
Thamalakane River Lodge
"A warm welcome to Botswana from staff."
1 night
Arrived
14 Apr 2015
"Friendly staff who went out of their way to make the first leg of this journey comfortable."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Rooms
Average
Food
Good
Lebala Camp
"Lovely Lebala; what a gem."
3 nights
Arrived
15 Apr 2015
"This camp is well run, the staff are invested in making your experience exceptional. I met so many friendly faces who shared their talents and kind hearts.
Bate & Mr. Mo made this trip exciting and fun. Their combined knowledge of animal behavior, plant life & star gazing skills made this journey full, rich and memorable.
I have no hesitation recommending this lodge to family and friends and would return in a heart beat."
Bate & Mr. Mo made this trip exciting and fun. Their combined knowledge of animal behavior, plant life & star gazing skills made this journey full, rich and memorable.
I have no hesitation recommending this lodge to family and friends and would return in a heart beat."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Little Kwara (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Exceptional wildlife viewing at Little Kwara"
3 nights
Arrived
18 Apr 2015
"While this camp's location is ideal there seems to be a lack of cohesion in the running of this facility. It appears that they are lacking an adequate number of vehicles and staff to offer more than one activity at a time. The facilities are a bit run down and in need of some repair.
Meals were to be at a set schedule, however a couple who were on private safari were able to change the schedule to meet their needs which left the rest of us having dried, over cooked dinners.
The staff was friendly & helpful. The guide & tracker were both extremely knowledgeable about the area & animals. I enjoyed learning about the different prides of lions and their history in the region. The Delta itself was unremarkable due to high grasses & low water levels for mokoro trips. Mother Nature's doing.
There were a couple of times when Adventure Travel turned into Dangerous Travel which I would like to discuss with someone from Expert Africa for their perspective. I loved the area but would not return to Little Kwara."
Meals were to be at a set schedule, however a couple who were on private safari were able to change the schedule to meet their needs which left the rest of us having dried, over cooked dinners.
The staff was friendly & helpful. The guide & tracker were both extremely knowledgeable about the area & animals. I enjoyed learning about the different prides of lions and their history in the region. The Delta itself was unremarkable due to high grasses & low water levels for mokoro trips. Mother Nature's doing.
There were a couple of times when Adventure Travel turned into Dangerous Travel which I would like to discuss with someone from Expert Africa for their perspective. I loved the area but would not return to Little Kwara."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Average
Activities
Average
Rooms
Average
Food
Poor
Facilities
Average
Feedback response
We were disappointed to read that these travellers were on the whole unimpressed by their time at Little Kwara. As with all of our traveller’s feedback we forwarded these comments on to Little Kwara’s parent company for their thoughts.
It does seem that the presence of a private vehicle impacted these guests stay in a negative way. When one vehicle is allocated to one couple or group in camp then this can mean that the remaining guests are all put in one vehicle. There is a strict limit on the number of vehicles allowed in one concession at any one time and often bringing in an extra vehicle is not possible, even when the camp is busy or one vehicle is taken out of action to be used on a private basis. The guests in the non-private vehicle all still have ‘window seats’ and so the quality of the experience is still high – but this vehicle is of course fuller than one booked on a private basis.
We were both interested and concerned to read these travellers comments on “Adventure Travel turning into Dangerous Travel”. After speaking with these travellers directly on their return we learned that these comments related to an incident with an elephant which charged the vehicle while coming back from a game drive. We spoke with Little Kwara about this matter and they in turn spoke with the guide. The incident involved a couple of male elephants who were surprised by the vehicle as it rounded a corner. The guide reacted quickly, gave the elephants a wide berth and then drove around them as one of them moved towards the vehicle.
The Okavango Delta is a wilderness area and male elephants, particularly when in musth, can become stressed and more aggressive. Guides train for long periods of time in order to be able to deal with situations such as this. Both we and the guests are happy that the guide dealt with this situation very well. There are instances when adventure travel has the potential to become dangerous – but we are happy that in this instance the guide’s actions prevented that situation from developing to that point.
It does seem that the presence of a private vehicle impacted these guests stay in a negative way. When one vehicle is allocated to one couple or group in camp then this can mean that the remaining guests are all put in one vehicle. There is a strict limit on the number of vehicles allowed in one concession at any one time and often bringing in an extra vehicle is not possible, even when the camp is busy or one vehicle is taken out of action to be used on a private basis. The guests in the non-private vehicle all still have ‘window seats’ and so the quality of the experience is still high – but this vehicle is of course fuller than one booked on a private basis.
We were both interested and concerned to read these travellers comments on “Adventure Travel turning into Dangerous Travel”. After speaking with these travellers directly on their return we learned that these comments related to an incident with an elephant which charged the vehicle while coming back from a game drive. We spoke with Little Kwara about this matter and they in turn spoke with the guide. The incident involved a couple of male elephants who were surprised by the vehicle as it rounded a corner. The guide reacted quickly, gave the elephants a wide berth and then drove around them as one of them moved towards the vehicle.
The Okavango Delta is a wilderness area and male elephants, particularly when in musth, can become stressed and more aggressive. Guides train for long periods of time in order to be able to deal with situations such as this. Both we and the guests are happy that the guide dealt with this situation very well. There are instances when adventure travel has the potential to become dangerous – but we are happy that in this instance the guide’s actions prevented that situation from developing to that point.
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Ilala Lodge
"Beautiful, relaxing and comfortable."
2 nights
Arrived
21 Apr 2015
"What a way to return to civilization!! Fantastic on all accounts.
Comfortable rooms, kind staff, great amenities, good food & beautiful surroundings. I had a relaxing message, a nice swim, a great dinner and appreciated the locale for walking to Victoria Falls and exploring the rest of the town.
A definite redo."
Comfortable rooms, kind staff, great amenities, good food & beautiful surroundings. I had a relaxing message, a nice swim, a great dinner and appreciated the locale for walking to Victoria Falls and exploring the rest of the town.
A definite redo."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
It is a welcome spot to rest from a long flight. Their hospitality is much appreciated as is their willingness to make a light meal late in the evening.
The rooms are clean, comfortable and the surroundings quiet to ensure a good nights sleep."