Travel reviews by Mr P from Ascoli Piceno

"For the pleasurable task of introducing some of my family to safari for the first time, I turned to Kwando, at three of whose camps I and my partner had experienced fabulous safaris in the past.

We were not disappointed. One of the animals on our 'tick list' that had eluded us on our previous visits - wild dog - we encountered on our first drive - all 26 of them! Thereafter, our insightful and immensely tolerant guides Bali and Boman proved excellent keyholders to the Linyanti's bounty and each drive provided a colourful and/or dramatic example for the 'newbies'.

The accommodation and food were first rate, with my partner and I feeling very much at home in the more 'trad' accented lodges. There was always a visitor or two round the tents at night, including an elephant who must have been a frustrated landscape gardener.

The staff were charming and infinitely patient with a nephew displaying residual ADD-like tendencies and I'm sure they sailed through their Dept of Tourism checks that were happening the day after we left!"

"On arrival, it was disappointing to see that the Savuti Channel had run dry as this had been the principal reason for choosing this camp. However, this was soon mitigated somewhat when, on arriving for dinner, the two waterholes installed in the channel in front of the dining area of the camp were hosting something like 50 elephants.

Throughout this and the subsequent two evenings/nights, probably 300-400 elephants would appear (no doubt having traveled significant distances in the very dry spring conditions) and argue amongst themselves, especially the matriarchs shepherding the young, to try to secure the dwindling resources at the waterholes.

Savute showed another angle of the safari experience to the 'newbies' in our party, that of those camps that are located within the national parks of Botswana. The 'old lags' found the necessary restrictions, (no night drives, no off-roading while tracking) somewhat frustrating, especially when members of the Marsh pride were on the hunt. Again however, this was made up by the camp's in-house leopard stalking guinea fowl on our lodge's roof!

The staff at Savute were without exception charming and efficient and the rooms and food excellent. Setch and his team provided all the requirements for a wonderful three days, albeit in a slightly more cloistered environment."

"An excellent oasis in the chaotic hinterland of Victoria Falls.

Food very good and rooms quiet and comfortable with the added spectacle of baby warthogs doing heats for the 100m sprint."

"From a purely selfish angle, I hesitate slightly to write about the Last Word, Constantia simply so that I can help keep it secret from everyone else! But that is too selfish and the owners and management deserve to have this little jewel promoted as much as possible.

Tess, Sam and the team provided a lovely four days in Cape Town within an environment of quiet professionalism, cleanliness, outstanding breakfasts, beautifully appointed rooms and wonderful, relaxing grounds that I would suggest would be difficult to beat anywhere in Cape Town (and I have been going there for nearly forty years).

I have no hesitation in thoroughly recommending The Last Word - just don't spread it around too much!"

"This much talked about operation in Stellenbosch has taken the concept of 'agri-turismo' to another level. No expense has been spared to provide all that one might want from a retreat into the lovely countryside of the Winelands of Stellenbosch.

Surrounded by vineyards and orchards, the hub of the property is the magnificent garden, from which all manner of produce is harvested for use in the kitchens. This garden-to-table freshness ensures that the fare on offer at the restaurant looks and tastes fantastic.

The accommodation is in Cape Dutch style cottages and is of a very high standard, although the interiors may be a little stark for some tastes. It includes a well-equipped kitchen should you be inspired to create your own culinary masterpieces from the raw materials on offer.

The food is of high quality and the wines complement the dishes perfectly. Our only slight disappointment was that the restaurant was closed for refurbishment but we had our meals in a charming Edwardian style greenhouse that was a fine alternative.

Franschoek, Paarl and Stellenbosch are all nearby and Babylonstoren provided something I always look for, a wonderful oasis of calm and tranquility at the end of our stay in the Cape, before the trek back to the UK."