Travel reviews by Mr C from Harvest

"This is all down to location. I arrived at the airport late at night, and this hotel is only a few kilometers away. This is the world class hotel you expect -- clean, hot water, comfortable, and good food."

"I didn't expect much here. Emakoko is inside (or practically so) the Nairobi National Park -- but the park is surprisingly good. You are on the edge of the big city, but in the bush with all the expected African wildlife. Some of my best Eland, Lion, Rhino, and Serval Cat video footage was taken here. My room was shared with a family of Hyrax, which came into the room to eat the roses that the management left for me, so I got good video there too. And, the management, especially Anthony Childs was delightful to talk with (although I was quite jet lagged at the time)."

"Before I went, I researched this camp and concluded it was the best for West Tsavo, and it did not disappoint. My room faced a watering hole that was alive each morning. You don't have to go on a game drive to see game. The room was clean and well furnished. There was plenty of hot water and electricity. The food was especially good. Some of the best food I have had in my life was on safari, and the food at Severin was in that class. The operator is a German, who I believe probably has a hotel or chef background. (There is no clean like German clean.)"

"I had really high expectations for Lions Bluff, but the electricity and hot water were spotty. Also, one night I heard something on the roof of my tent, that sounded like a monkey walking around. Then, while I was asleep, it sounded like it was in my tent. Then the insect spray can was knocked on the floor and I turned on the light to see what was in my tent, and saw a flash a brown. It was a bush baby. The camp feeds them at the bar, which I think is wonderful. It allows me to get good video. But, I'd rather not have one in my tent while I am trying to sleep."

"There is plenty of game in camp. I think the herbivores must think they are safe there. The food is great. The tents are as expected, with reliable hot water and electricity. I researched this place before I went there and found it appeared to be the best place in East Tsavo -- and it lived up to the promise."

"Classic permanent tent camp. Hot water requires advance coordination, and electrical plugs in the tents are fewer than some camps, but you can always charge something at the bar. The food is great, and because you are outside the park, you can do night game drives or walk around more during the day. This makes snake and scorpion hunting more possible -- and I did both of those here. This is right on the river, so you have hippo in your front yard."

"I cannot tell my wife about this stay, or she'd think I wasn't roughing it. It is on the beach. Ocean waves are visible very near the dining facility. The place is more keyed to fishing than safari. The food is great, and if you need anything (like breakfast at 0500) you just talk to the French manager, Flo. It is of course, clean, well run, with plenty of hot water and electricity."

"More animals wander through here than most bush camps. I had an elephant come to breakfast one morning.

However, the rooms are permanent tents, that they leave open. (For some reason the Baboons don't go inside and destroy the place.) I find this somewhat disturbing, but there was no problem with any wildlife.

The canoe trip on a channel of the Zambezi is especially memorable."

"And, it lived up to its promise. This is number one for this area for a reason -- value.

For one thing, you can order just about any food you like. This is important to me because I am diabetic. Watch out for the Baboons -- they are destructive and will get into your tent, if they can. Hippos and elephants also wander about. The name flat dogs is a south African euphemism for a crocodile.

The original location for the camp (it has moved a bit) was originally a crocodile farm."

"Each year elephants visit the lodge to get to a great old mango tree. When the mango is in fruit (usually late October through December) the elephants may walk through the lobby to get to the fruit. They did that the first and last day of my 4 night stay, and I videoed them both times.

My room was a two story (sort of a tree house) overlooking a stream. The crocodile (the name of the room) has a loft, balcony, two toilets, four sinks, a tube and shower, as well as a porch. I counted as many as 13 elephants in my back yard at one time."

"Suited my needs."

"I am so happy you suggested Tau.

The bushman walk was great -- I did it twice"

"I did several habituated Meerkat Mobs, some night viewing, and brown Hyena cubs."

"The Baobab trees were my reason to go, but the elephants at the waterhole were something else."

"You really can not beat the view of the Boteti river.

The staff was very accommodating."