Travel reviews by Dr D from Salisbury

"Great stay in a wonderful, colonial era hotel; like straying into an Agatha Christie thriller 'Death at Victoria Falls'."

"Our stay at Hwange Bush Camp was very special - as close as you can get to wild camping in the bush without being on a mobile safari / fly camping trip.

The location is excellent - away from anywhere, with no light pollution and a clear view of the stars and Milky Way. There are no barriers between you and the bush and the wildlife; it was interesting lying in our tent listening to lions roaring during the night and elephants grazing right outside.

The tents were very comfortable, with luxury beds and flushing toilets. The showers are 'bucket showers' but can be provided as cold, tepid or warm; however, they are very effective and we got two showers out of a cold bucket which was perfectly comfortable given the daytime temperatures. As the camp is about 1000 metres up, the nights were cooler but a hot water bottle waited for you in bed, so we were never cold.

The staff were excellent, friendly and informative, and the food (all cooked over an open wood fire) amazing. Our guide Andrew Dalziel is a well known Zimbabwe guide and led us on daily, walking safaris. we learnt much about anything from lichens to lions.

I highly recommend the Hwange Bush Camp to anyone who wants to experience camping in the bush but with comfortable beds and flushing toilets - however, not for those who do not have an interest in all aspects of safari and who cannot stray from a luxury hotel or the internet."

"Somalisa is a very attractive, tented camp with it's own water hole. The tents are actually luxury, tented rooms on a wooden base which have all the comfort of normal rooms. The camp is very eco-friendly, with solar lighting and water heating and use of grey water to top up the water hole.

The staff were friendly and food good, with an interesting take on 'do it yourself' wood fired pizzas and stir fries (you choose the ingredients and it is cooked for you). The camp supports local charitable initiatives and has a craft shop which profits the charity.

The guiding was excellent, especially if you ask the guides to show you everything, not just big cats.

Somalisa did seem to attract a different clientele from Hwange Bush Camp and Amalinda - older and more conservative and content to be drive around looking just for big cats; they missed out on a lot."

"Amalinda is an extraordinary lodge, built between the massive granite boulders of the Motopos National Park. We were in the two 'honeymoon 'rooms (9 and 10), which were thatched cathedrals between the granite outcrops at the top of the lodge, with spectacular views over the Motopos. Just being there is an amazing experience.

The pool is a stunning pool in a natural, granite bowl, looking out over the Motobos. The poolside bar has a sunset lounge where you can drink you sundowners if not out on a drive or on the high rocks above the lodge.

The staff were friendly and knowledgeable and Melissa, the new lodge manager, was on top of her job after only 10 days in post. The food was excellent and service impeccable.

Our guide Kevin was a very switched on guy, with an in-depth knowledge of nature from the smallest plant and insect, up to the rhinos, along with detailed knowledge of the history and culture of Zimbabwe (ancient cave paintings included). Kevin took us to see the cave paintings, walking with rhinos and to a memorable sundowner at the View of the World burial site of Cecil Rhodes, high in the Motobos. he was great company in every respect.

I would highly recommend a stay at Amalinda for the stunning lodge on its own merits, but particularly for a stay focussing on the geology, culture and history of Zimbabwe and the Motobos. You won't see the range of wildlife seen at the Zim lodges, but you do get the chance to track rhinos on foot with the guide and Park Rangers - a real privilege.

Disabled access might be an issue for many areas of the lodge, with steep and narrow access through gaps in the boulders."

"Lovely spot and a real introduction to Zambia outside the city.

Our night was a much appreciated stop-over before transfer to Nkwali and gave us time to recover from the flights in from the UK and Dubai. Very courteous and friendly staff and one of the best steaks I have ever had, cooked over an open fire."

"Nkwali was a perfect introduction to the Zambian bush.

The camp is beautifully located on the banks of the river, with excellent viewing of wildlife from the main buildings and the rooms. The open fronted rooms gave us an intimate connection with the bush and the wildlife, but security at night was provided by the gates installed across the front each night. The rooms were very comfortable and stylish, as were the main guest areas.

The staff were very welcoming and the guiding exemplary."

"We loved the historic, 1950s bush camp and baggy shorts feel to Nsefu.

Located on a bend in the river Luangwa gives it great views along and over the river, with wildlife to watch at all times. The camp has a real feel of being in the bush away from everywhere and the rondavels strike a balance between tents and rooms perfectly.

Some have said the rooms are too close together, but this did not feel intrusive to us. The staff were friendly, food excellent and guiding again exemplary."

"Mkulumadzi was voted the family favourite, or rather first amongst equals, of all our lodges.

The lodge is fantastically stylish and clearly a work of great innovation and drive. The main buildings are beautiful and full of art, with amazing views across the rocky river Shire and the rapids upstream. The approach across the long, pedestrian suspension bridge over the Mukulumadzi river is a dramatic, Indiana Jones entry to the lodge and nothing disappoints on arrival.

The rooms were huge and beautifully appointed with very effective in-mostiquito net air conditioning and great views over the river. The pool was the best of all the lodges - a perfect place to watch the wildlife with a gin and tonic. The staff were friendly and charming and the guiding top-class - Eric our guide, Mani the apprentice and Edo our ranger were great company and we had some adventurous guiding and exciting encounters with wildlife.

The Majete is a great success story in restocking a once barren game reserve; the bush is much thicker than the South Luangwa, so game is glimpsed often, but this gave a different not diminished experience."

"Pumulani was a perfect place to wind-down from the bush safari camps and the 05:15 wake up calls. The lodge has more of a hotel feel to it and is on multiple levels linked by stairs and walkways.

The beach is beautifully maintained and well equipped with a beach bar serving cocktails as the sun goes down over Lake Malawi. The rooms are huge and well appointed - more apartments than rooms, in fact.

The main lodge facilities at the top are very stylish and arty and again, staff and food were exemplary."