Travel reviews by Ms S from New Orleans

"Lake Manze is perfect in so many ways. Rebecca, the manager, is cheerful and always helpful. The guide that I had, Bakari, was top notch. The tents are comfortable and you really are right in the thick of it... elephants walked through camp daily and every night was an adventure as the sounds of various animals lulled me asleep.. or kept me awake!

I definitely heard some people complaining at dinner about the lack of "density" of wildlife. However, if density of wildlife also means density of jeeps and people, I would much rather have to work a little harder on a game drive to have my moments with lions, giraffes, wild dogs, jackals, hyenas, warthogs, zebras etc. etc. to just the jeep I'm in. Honestly, on most drives we never saw another jeep or maybe one or two others.

The Selous is stunningly beautiful with amazing vistas and at Lake Manze you can enjoy them by foot, in a boat or by jeep. The food is simple but abundant and delicious. This was my first safari and I couldn't have asked for a better experience."

"I was happy that I had done my research and knew that the beach here was not suitable for swimming. It was, however, and awesome place to watch local villagers go about their life and to learn about the culture of Zanzibar. The location is idyllic, truly stunning.

If you are looking for a place to lay in the sun for a few days and worry about nothing, this is a great place to do it. The bungalows are lovely, although I did have a cat that appeared in mine one night, so not entirely sure how secure they are.

The real highlight here is the food. The menus are varied every night, the seafood is impeccable and every meal is memorable, The restaurant staff are lovely and do their best to make you feel welcome.

I also enjoyed the spa and indulged in a body massage, a cinnamon-clove body scrub and a papaya- honey facial. All expertly performed and well worth the extra expense."

"I had the Stanley Suite and it was lovely for one person. I think the bed might be small if there were two people. The room, like all the rooms, has a great individual flavor and was fun to explore and a nice place to return to at night. The breakfast here left a lot to be desired, unfortunately. I did not eat any other meal here, so I cannot speak to their quality.

The staff was very friendly and helpful and even let me keep the room for a very late checkout, free of charge, when I explained that my flight wasn't until 6pm that night. It is also located in a very central area, perfect for exploring the shops and restaurants of Stone Town."