Travel reviews by Mr P from Horsmonden
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
5
Excursions taken
0
Overall
Tanzania and 1 other country between 11 Aug 2007 and 28 Aug 2007
"Great family holiday
Walking trip misunderstanding with Chada should not have been allowed to happen but was very competently solved when it did"
Walking trip misunderstanding with Chada should not have been allowed to happen but was very competently solved when it did"
Arranged By Claire Scott
Arusha Coffee Lodge
"Passing through"
1 night
Arrived
12 Aug 2007
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Good
Service
Good
Rooms
Average
Food
Average
Chada Camp
"Walking at Chada"
7 nights
Arrived
13 Aug 2007
"We all ended up loving Chada after a dicey start when it became clear that our request for a walking safari had been transmitted/interpreted as fly camping by jeep. After the problem became evident itwas amazing to see how everyone threw themselves into the task of 'making it happen' even though it was evidently not something that had been done before (at least not in the way we envisaged it) and entailed a complete up-ending of the entire camp routine and bringing in a support manager while Richard was with us walking.
Eventually we ende up with three memorable days walking which will stay with us for a long time.
It's clear that Chada is a great area for walking and that with the right support anything from a few days to a couple of weeks could be achieved. Many people I talked to who visited Chada some time ago remember it for the walking. I really recommend that this should be undertaken as part of the normal activities offered from now on and that the infrastructure should be revised to accommodate this.
Either that or the website needs changing to avoid major misunderstanding! Well done to Richard and Anna for coping with us!"
Eventually we ende up with three memorable days walking which will stay with us for a long time.
It's clear that Chada is a great area for walking and that with the right support anything from a few days to a couple of weeks could be achieved. Many people I talked to who visited Chada some time ago remember it for the walking. I really recommend that this should be undertaken as part of the normal activities offered from now on and that the infrastructure should be revised to accommodate this.
Either that or the website needs changing to avoid major misunderstanding! Well done to Richard and Anna for coping with us!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Feedback response
Expert Africa sent these travellers to Chada Camp with the clear understanding that they'd be doing a fly-camp with walking safaris. We've sent many travellers to Chada for this type of trip over the years, and several of our team have done these trips themselves. However, on their arrival, it transpired that Chada's fly-camps had changed: apparently they couldn't deliver as much walking as expected.
These travellers immediately contacted us directly. Then after discussions between Expert Africa and Chada's owners, we solved the problem together, and ensured that these travellers were able to do as much walking that they had wanted to do. We're pleased that it all worked out so well in the end!
This tale really just underlines the necessity for our travellers to contact Expert Africa immediately if any issues occur with their trip, as then we can then often work to resolve the problem swiftly, and with the minimum of upset.
These travellers immediately contacted us directly. Then after discussions between Expert Africa and Chada's owners, we solved the problem together, and ensured that these travellers were able to do as much walking that they had wanted to do. We're pleased that it all worked out so well in the end!
This tale really just underlines the necessity for our travellers to contact Expert Africa immediately if any issues occur with their trip, as then we can then often work to resolve the problem swiftly, and with the minimum of upset.
Senior Africa Specialist | East & Southern Africa
Sand Rivers Camp
"Hippos"
2 nights
Arrived
21 Aug 2007
"Fantastic renovation.
New couple setltling in who tend to try a bit too hard and need to settle in a bit, but a really comfortable stay.
Too many food courses with nuts - at one point everything seemed to have them in!"
New couple setltling in who tend to try a bit too hard and need to settle in a bit, but a really comfortable stay.
Too many food courses with nuts - at one point everything seemed to have them in!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
Facilities
Excellent
Fundu Lagoon
"Fundu"
4 nights
Arrived
23 Aug 2007
"Needs major investment and a complete rethink - looks tired, feels tired.
New management now in place for a few months and have evidently been doing bits and pieces but din't appear to be thinking radically enough, Food depressing - no serious attemt to make use of all the fresh produce and fresh fish around.
Coffee really awful - any restaurant which gives you fake cafetieres at breakfast by pouring coffee from a thermos into a cafetiere really has no business surviving.
A big wake-up call to owners and managers alike if Fundu is to compete, which it ought to be able to given natural advantages of location, diving etc. Contrast with the recently re-done accommodation at Sand Rivers, which we had just come from, really brings home how far behind Fundu has fallen."
New management now in place for a few months and have evidently been doing bits and pieces but din't appear to be thinking radically enough, Food depressing - no serious attemt to make use of all the fresh produce and fresh fish around.
Coffee really awful - any restaurant which gives you fake cafetieres at breakfast by pouring coffee from a thermos into a cafetiere really has no business surviving.
A big wake-up call to owners and managers alike if Fundu is to compete, which it ought to be able to given natural advantages of location, diving etc. Contrast with the recently re-done accommodation at Sand Rivers, which we had just come from, really brings home how far behind Fundu has fallen."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Excellent
Service
Average
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Poor
Activities
Poor
Feedback response
Fundu Lagoon replied to these comments, asserting that that these views were not typical of the positive comments that they generally receive.
They commented that they are in the process of upgrading all of their rooms – 10 out of 12 have been done already. They apologised that these guests did stay in one of the two old tents which had not been upgraded, and hence were “not as crisp as the new ones”.
Fundu assured us that their menus are diverse and change daily. They commented that they always have fresh fish as an option, as well as vegetarian and meat selections – and also that they host a weekly beach BBQ with plenty of seafood options.
Fundu did agree entirely with this traveller’s comments on coffee. They assured us that they have already ordered a couple of new Italian coffee machines, which should arrive at the lodge within the next week. They have already removed the flasks in the restaurant and purchased kettles, to provide fresh heated water for any teas.
They apologised, and assured us that they have many repeat guests who are very happy – and hoped that over the next couple of months they would be able to improve our services to an even higher level.
Expert Africa will continue to monitor developments at Fundu: call us for our latest observations.
They commented that they are in the process of upgrading all of their rooms – 10 out of 12 have been done already. They apologised that these guests did stay in one of the two old tents which had not been upgraded, and hence were “not as crisp as the new ones”.
Fundu assured us that their menus are diverse and change daily. They commented that they always have fresh fish as an option, as well as vegetarian and meat selections – and also that they host a weekly beach BBQ with plenty of seafood options.
Fundu did agree entirely with this traveller’s comments on coffee. They assured us that they have already ordered a couple of new Italian coffee machines, which should arrive at the lodge within the next week. They have already removed the flasks in the restaurant and purchased kettles, to provide fresh heated water for any teas.
They apologised, and assured us that they have many repeat guests who are very happy – and hoped that over the next couple of months they would be able to improve our services to an even higher level.
Expert Africa will continue to monitor developments at Fundu: call us for our latest observations.
Senior Africa Specialist | East & Southern Africa
Serena Inn
"Zanzibar"
1 night
Arrived
27 Aug 2007
"great but wholly disorganised - had lost our dinner booking, didn't seem to know about our room request etc."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Average
Rooms
Good
Food
Poor
Attentive and helpful staff"