Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs H from Orpington

"Highlights:-

Loved the ambience of this hotel. Many very interesting communal rooms. The Stanley Terrace was an amazing place to sit - comfortable chairs - stunning view - impeccable service. Food excellent.

It was our 45th wedding anniversary and we were given a wonderful welcome - flowers and wine in our room with a lovely poem tied up in a scroll with a red rose.

Our room was extremely comfortable with a king size bed, spacious bathroom and quiet air conditioning.

Activities - no comment as we did not arrange activities via the hotel.

We did go on a wonderful Zambezi Sundowner River Explorer (Signature Deck) that Megan at Expert Africa arranged for us."

"Guides (Mike and Dean) were both excellent but we noted that they were freelance and neither would have been there for the following weeks' guests.

The managers were on holiday whilst we were there so can not comment but thought all the staff that we did meet were quite exceptional even to the point that when clothes went to the laundry with forgotten $$ in the pocket - the money was returned immediately.

Highlights:-

Sundowner at a distant waterhole - watching hundreds of elephants & buffalo. Evening candle light dinner in the bush.

Walking safari with guide Dean. Watching the lion cubs play with guide Mike & thanks for the wonderful photos he took.

Return drive to gate with Washington - he had amazing detection skills!

Lowlights:-

Not facing a permanent waterhole that was described as pumped year round - it has almost dried up so this restricted the animals we would expect to see from our room.

Indemnity Form: strangely worded - maybe we should have been warned of this before hand! Curious to know how legally enforceable this document is?
e.g. 'This exception from liability shall apply even where injury, harm or loss referred above is caused by the negligence of any of the parties'.

The drive from Victoria Falls to Camp Hwange took longer than expected - almost five hours rather than three."

"Highlights:-

Viewing hundreds of buffalo moving across the area. Lovely scenery.

Full day safari including the river cruise in a small boat - seeing elephants swim across the river.

Excellent rooms.

Lowlights:-

Empty swimming pool - always told 'it will be filled next day'. it never was!

No radio contact from our vehicle to other vehicles - so we never did see the lions even over four days - even though others were lucky!

Bush walking safari only around small area directly outside the lodge - can not be compared to the walking safaris at Hwange & Shinde'

Mosquitoes and flies very high in this area.

Other guests had been advised by there tour operators that 2 nights at this lodge would be enough and I would agree with this as there is little variety - safari drives seemed to be very repetitive!"

"We found this camp to be exceptional and our decision to return after five years was fully justified.

Accommodation is in a lovely tented room with spacious bathroom including excellent hot showers.

Stafff were all of the highest quality - a pleasure to deal with and all on permanent contracts.

Our guide was Mr B. Bee is an excellent safari guide, a lovely human being - a very impressive man.

Highlights:-

Seeing a cheetah walk slowly towards us out of the bush. A lion sleeping in the afternoon.

Private dining by candelight - a lovely surprise!

Lunch in the bush - another surprise at beautifully set tables.

Lots of activities - mekoro, motor boats, walking safaris, Off road varied game drives.

Never more than four sharing often a private game drive.

Only one slight disappointment now no longer able to visit the island that has the amazing colourful birds that we remember."