Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs C from Brockley

"Transfer from the airstrip couldn't have been easier.

Our tents were adjoining with a spectacular view of the river - best sunsets before Zanzibar. Accommodation functional, clean and adequate - bit of a squeeze for the kids who were sharing 3 to a tent but fine. Food was good and lack of a choice was no problem.

We did two all day jeep safari's, two boat safari's, one walking safari and one afternoon jeep safari.
All were well organised and we particularly enjoyed the first boat safari and the first all day safari.

The only slight critisism would be that we had a feeling that if we had stayed much longer the choice of activities would have become slightly repetitive. Our stay was short enough however for this not to be an issue. Also the camps position at the east of the reserve meant slightly longer travelling times to areas of activity than some other camps.

Overall our response to Rufiji River was very positive - but then we had nothing to compare it to!"

"Our transfer from Rufiji via boat was definitely the way to travel - only mared by a nagging worry that we had covered all the bases alreadt at Rufiji and we were concerned that we should have chosen a more different environment for our second camp.

We need not have worried - as soon as we arrived we had a briefing from the camp team - assessing exactly what we had already done and what we wanted to concentrate on during our stay. They made a real effort to take us to new places and experience new things.

Impala hit the spot with us on virtually every level. From the food, accommodation to the guiding - everything has been thought about and was of fantastic quality without being laboured or overdone.

Highlights were many - catching tiger fish, getting a wee bit close to elephants on our walking safari, finding the same elephants that evening scratching themselves on the poles of our tent base, and finally the last day jeep drive where Peter even managed to pull a leopard out of the hat.

It really was a magical experience."

"Possibly one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in the world.
Very efficient transfer from Impala.
Very friendly staff at pongwe - very keen to please.

Accommodation was very well located and thre separate beds in the childrens room was much appreciated by them.
Good hot water but bathrooms got a bit damp - not helped by some unseasonal rain showers in the first three days.

The lodge is understandably insulated from the surrounding environment and this gave the resort a slightly surreal air, which was reinforced by the fact that we were the only family in a sea of honeymoon couples. This was fine for 5 days but could have grated after a while!"

"Atmospheric hotel with huge variation in quality of rooms. Childrens room was quiet, cool and spacious. Parents room was small, hot and noisy.

The swimming pool was greatly appreciated and we loved the town beach in front of the hotel which had all the life and more which we didn't find in Pongwe.

My problem with this hotel (and possibly every hotel on Zanzibar) was a very personal one in that I found the short Zanzibarian bed complete with bed-end a bit of a trial - at 6' 5" tall I come across similar problems all the time - but Tembo holds the record for the shortest and narrowest bed so far."