Travel reviews by Carmine bee-eater from UK
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
4
Excursions taken
0
Amazing.
Zambia between 21 Sep 2007 and 12 Oct 2007
"It was a perfect experience. I wanted to return to Lusaka where I had grown up and then to go on to some safaris and the Falls and then onto Capetown where we have friends.
It was a perfectly planned trip, Lucy from Expert Africa had been so helpful every step of the way.
Suggestions for improvement:
It would be great to get rid of the tetse fly - i understand that other countries have introduced an erridation programme. Otherwise your reecommendations and services were excellent."
It was a perfectly planned trip, Lucy from Expert Africa had been so helpful every step of the way.
Suggestions for improvement:
It would be great to get rid of the tetse fly - i understand that other countries have introduced an erridation programme. Otherwise your reecommendations and services were excellent."
Arranged By Lucy Copson
Taj Pamodzi Hotel, Zambia (this camp has since closed)
"Modern business hotel."
2 nights
Arrived
22 Sep 2007
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Lufupa Tented Camp, Zambia (this camp has since closed)
"Brilliant."
2 nights
Arrived
24 Sep 2007
"Everything about Lufupa was amazing. the relief managers, Robert and Ingrid were so professional and the perfect hosts. The guides were so expert in their knowledge and so enthusiastic every day. The food was incredible, I can't believe how they could produce such a variety of menus - fantastic! We were lucky to see lots of animals including leopard, and had an amazing walking safari. I am recommending Wilderness to all my friends!
Only downside was the tetse flies which bit us with a vengeance!
There was a lot of discussion about the period between brunch and the evening drive which could be about 3/4 hours. It was too hot to go out on either a drive or on the river, but some guests were concerned about this time. I am not sure what could be done - perhaps some of the guides could give a talk on a variety of subjects if anyone wanted to attend? It didn't particularly bother us, I had taken some books, but perhaps the library could be extended."
Only downside was the tetse flies which bit us with a vengeance!
There was a lot of discussion about the period between brunch and the evening drive which could be about 3/4 hours. It was too hot to go out on either a drive or on the river, but some guests were concerned about this time. I am not sure what could be done - perhaps some of the guides could give a talk on a variety of subjects if anyone wanted to attend? It didn't particularly bother us, I had taken some books, but perhaps the library could be extended."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Busanga Bushcamp
"Excellent."
2 nights
Arrived
26 Sep 2007
"It was smaller than Lufupa so there was more of a restricted feeling around the camp. We felt that the bedroom area in the tent was small and the mosquito net made it feel quite confined. However I did love the open shower and the fact that the lions walked through the camp at night.
I wasn't sure why Busanga was so much more expensive than Lufupa and thought that perhaps a similar graded camp to Lufupa could be available on the plains. We had been persuaded to try the plains and were so pleased we had done but it was considerably more expensive and this might deter others.
It did feel much more in the wild than Lufupa, and the view from the camp was breathtaking.
Again the manager - Petrus was an amazing host and the guide, Mike was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We had an amazing last night dinner right on the plains which was so spectacular."
I wasn't sure why Busanga was so much more expensive than Lufupa and thought that perhaps a similar graded camp to Lufupa could be available on the plains. We had been persuaded to try the plains and were so pleased we had done but it was considerably more expensive and this might deter others.
It did feel much more in the wild than Lufupa, and the view from the camp was breathtaking.
Again the manager - Petrus was an amazing host and the guide, Mike was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We had an amazing last night dinner right on the plains which was so spectacular."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Feedback response
There’s an interesting point worth making about costs here: why the small Busanga Bushcamp is more costly than the larger Lufupa.
There are two main reasons for this:
Firstly, because the bushcamp is in a more remote location, so it’s harder to supply. Getting food, materials and guests there costs a lot more – and hence it’s more costly.
Secondly, because it’s smaller it simply can’t make the economies of scale that a larger camp can. Hence, all other things being equal, smaller camps usually cost more than larger camps.
In fact, these two effects influence the economics so strongly that often a small and quite basic camp will be more costly than a large, much more luxurious one – strange but true, even if it seems counter-intuitive.
There are two main reasons for this:
Firstly, because the bushcamp is in a more remote location, so it’s harder to supply. Getting food, materials and guests there costs a lot more – and hence it’s more costly.
Secondly, because it’s smaller it simply can’t make the economies of scale that a larger camp can. Hence, all other things being equal, smaller camps usually cost more than larger camps.
In fact, these two effects influence the economics so strongly that often a small and quite basic camp will be more costly than a large, much more luxurious one – strange but true, even if it seems counter-intuitive.
Senior Africa Specialist | Southern Africa & Seychelles
Royal Livingstone Hotel
"Opulent."
3 nights
Arrived
1 Oct 2007
"Extremely good service, wonderful location if slightly isolated.
Beautifully designed rooms. Food over elaborate. We ate at the Zambezi Sun for the 2nd two nights of our stay and their buffet was excellent. On our last morning at the Royal they did a buffet for breakfast which was perfect as you could choose what you wanted rather than eleborate concoctions.
The hotel arranged a taxi for us into Livingstone and he waited for us whilst we visited the museum which was particularly good."
Beautifully designed rooms. Food over elaborate. We ate at the Zambezi Sun for the 2nd two nights of our stay and their buffet was excellent. On our last morning at the Royal they did a buffet for breakfast which was perfect as you could choose what you wanted rather than eleborate concoctions.
The hotel arranged a taxi for us into Livingstone and he waited for us whilst we visited the museum which was particularly good."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
This hotel was in exactly the right position for me to revisit the part of Lusaka where I lived 40 years ago."