Travel reviews by The Y family from Surrey
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
2
Countries visited
4
Lodges stayed in
9
Excursions taken
0
Safari Trip
Botswana and 1 other country between 21 Oct 2012 and 30 Oct 2012
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Thank s to Megan for all her superb help."
Arranged By Megan Green

Chitabe Camp
"Chitabe Camp Stay"

Vumbura Plains
"Vumbura Main Camp."
Guides were excellent, knowledgeable and went out of their to make the visit a great success. We were particularly impressed with all the guides knowledge.
We took a half day trip on a boat in the Delta. This was a little disappointing"

Tongabezi
"Tongabezi review"
The staff were particularly helpful, especially as they helped us when we were looking for a particular item in the shops.
The only comment I would make about this leg of the trip was how comparatively expensive the activities were. While I realise you have no control over this it may be worth informing visitors of this fact."
Overall review
Tanzania and 1 other country between 20 Oct 2007 and 2 Nov 2007
I would however miss out on the beach experience if I did the trip again."

Mdonya Old River Camp
"Excellent - Mdonya Old River camp."
The camp itself was very well organized from the sleeping accomodation to the meals. We particulaly enjoyed the meals where all guest eat together & shared expeiences. In 4 days we met British, Americans, Venezualians, Peruvians, Italians and the camp was nowhere near full. The camp manager (Nick) and his assistant were also very good."

Impala Camp
"Selous Impala Camp - Excellent"
Again we enjoyed the commumial eating in the fly camp but did not so enjoy the dining experience in the main camp. This was for two reasons: it is much hard to share experiences with fellow guests when everyone sits at seperate tables and while the food was "fancier" at Selous I missed the good basic food at Ruaha. (Maybe I am not cut out for luxury living!)
Again the management team of the camp could not have been more helpful."

Impala fly-camp
"Selous Fly camp"
[
Ed: this traveller's comments on Impala and the fly-camps were:
A good choice as it contrasted well with Ruaha being in a wetter area, near a river. Again the guides were excellent and very well informed. We enjoyed the "fly camping" although you may warn future guests that the tents are very very hot!
Again we enjoyed the commumial eating in the fly camp but did not so enjoy the dining experience in the main camp. This was for two reasons: it is much hard to share experiences with fellow guests when everyone sits at seperate tables and while the food was "fancier" at Selous I missed the good basic food at Ruaha. (Maybe I am not cut out for luxury living!)
Again the management team of the camp could not have been more helpful.
]"

Impala Camp
"Selous Impala Camp"

Shooting Star Lodge
"Shooting Star - Lodge - Average"
We arrived at about 6.00pm to find the hotel's electricity supply cut (not their fault), their back up generators not working and the air conditioning in the room not working. The air conditioning never did work the 3 days we were there, although we were given a 25% discount on our bill for the inconvenience.
The rooms were small and the bathrooms abit disappointing (showers did not work properly) but the hotel staff were very friendly.
We were abit disappointed with the location of the resort. It seemed to be a long way from anywhere and it would have been nice if there had been some activities to do. On the whole I would not recommend this resort."
Availability was difficult: many places were full – including the Sea-View Cottages at Shooting Star, which we normally recommend. After discussions with these travellers about the alternatives, the relatively simple Garden View Cottages were decided upon. These rooms are not luxurious and they are rather small: we don’t generally recommend them.
That said, we are glad that the team at Shooting Star were friendly; offering a discount due to problems with the air-conditioning is typical of their good nature.
Travellers note that Shooting Star, like most of Zanzibar’s beach lodges, is quite ‘a long way from anywhere’ else. For many this isolation is a real attraction.
Activities can be arranged from here: you can be collected up by a local water-sports centre of snorkelling, diving and fishing – and spice tours can be arranged… but there are no activities organised at the lodge itself; it’s simply a place to relax. For more activities, travellers should consider resorts like Breezes, or a location near a busy town, like Mbweni Ruins, Ras Nungwi or the new Z Hotel.

Beyt al Salaam
We particularly liked the informal atmosphere where staff and guests mixed, particularly at meal times."