Travel reviews by Matt & Barbara from London
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
3
Excursions taken
0
Terrific Honeymoon and unbelievable Memories
Tanzania and 1 other country between 2 Aug 2016 and 17 Aug 2016
"As honeymoons go, this was the ultimate. We had the seculsion in Selous, the game in Ruaha and the relaxation in Zanzibar. Everything went like clockwork and each part complimented the trip wonderfully well - thank you Ellie & Expert Africa!
First of all Beho Beho and the Selous. Beho Beho is as good as its reputation. Brilliant guiding, brilliant hospitality and in a part of the Selous where you will feel like you have Africa to yourselves. The seclusion is an invaluable feeling and it really hit home just how amazing Africa is. The Selous itself was very different to Ruaha as it was much more vegetated and incredibly beautiful, with rivers, dry gorges, forests and plains. There is plenty of game but it is not the case that you can sit at the top of a hill and scan for your next pride of lion. If you are going to be able to tick game off the list then Selous is not the right choice. You generally have to work for your sightings, which for us, made it all the more special. As Selous is a reserve and not a national park, you can go off-road and track the animals which we found exciting. As a result sightings were so worthwhile and we gained far more insight from BB's excellent guides.
Ruaha was the next stop and was the perfect complement. It seemed much more like a traditional safari area, with game spread across the horizon. The area was much busier than Selous but it was still possible to lose the crowds and go big game hunting. Although we didn't see any leopard, we were incredibly lucky to spot Wild Dog twice and the second time we followed them as they were hunting, which was an unforgettable experience. Mwagusi Camp was brilliant with an amazing location.
We must mention the time of year...perfect! August was start of dry season so there was enough vegetation to keep the dust down, but virtually no mosquitos and the game was starting to congregate around the water holes. Couldn't have been better for both the Selous and Ruaha.
The follow-up in Zanzibar was just what was needed. Relaxation. The Palms was fantastic with great service and food and a very picturesque beach. We would probably not go to Zanzibar in isolation as there isn't too much to do but it definitely complements an East Africa safari!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We really like the website as it is very simple to navigate with clear links and lots of detail when required.
Based on our experience, we would 100% recommend Expert Africa.
P.s. Thank you for facilitating such a fabulous honeymoon :-)"
First of all Beho Beho and the Selous. Beho Beho is as good as its reputation. Brilliant guiding, brilliant hospitality and in a part of the Selous where you will feel like you have Africa to yourselves. The seclusion is an invaluable feeling and it really hit home just how amazing Africa is. The Selous itself was very different to Ruaha as it was much more vegetated and incredibly beautiful, with rivers, dry gorges, forests and plains. There is plenty of game but it is not the case that you can sit at the top of a hill and scan for your next pride of lion. If you are going to be able to tick game off the list then Selous is not the right choice. You generally have to work for your sightings, which for us, made it all the more special. As Selous is a reserve and not a national park, you can go off-road and track the animals which we found exciting. As a result sightings were so worthwhile and we gained far more insight from BB's excellent guides.
Ruaha was the next stop and was the perfect complement. It seemed much more like a traditional safari area, with game spread across the horizon. The area was much busier than Selous but it was still possible to lose the crowds and go big game hunting. Although we didn't see any leopard, we were incredibly lucky to spot Wild Dog twice and the second time we followed them as they were hunting, which was an unforgettable experience. Mwagusi Camp was brilliant with an amazing location.
We must mention the time of year...perfect! August was start of dry season so there was enough vegetation to keep the dust down, but virtually no mosquitos and the game was starting to congregate around the water holes. Couldn't have been better for both the Selous and Ruaha.
The follow-up in Zanzibar was just what was needed. Relaxation. The Palms was fantastic with great service and food and a very picturesque beach. We would probably not go to Zanzibar in isolation as there isn't too much to do but it definitely complements an East Africa safari!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We really like the website as it is very simple to navigate with clear links and lots of detail when required.
Based on our experience, we would 100% recommend Expert Africa.
P.s. Thank you for facilitating such a fabulous honeymoon :-)"
Beho Beho
"Remarkable Honeymoon Safari at Beho Beho"
4 nights
Arrived
3 Aug 2016
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Mwagusi Safari Camp
"The Place to be in Ruaha"
4 nights
Arrived
7 Aug 2016
"There is something about the location of Mwagusi on the riverbank of the Mwagusi river because, in the time we were there, it was an absolute magnet for game! From our banda we saw elephant, zebra, impala, baboon and hyena, but around the camp we saw a pack of Wild Dog on two different days and also two prides of lions walked past while we were having dinner in the bush!! Not bad going...
We stayed at Mwagusi for the second leg of the Southern CIrcuit for our honeymoon and had an absolutely brilliant time. When you enter you can really feel that the camp is geared towards giving you a true experience of Ruaha. The camp is elegently rustic, stretching along the side of the river to give the best views of any marauding animals as they go down to drink. The bandas are semi-stone with an inner tent and a very comfortable hammock with views over the riverbed. The food is very good and buffet style, we definitely didn't go hungry! Dinner is served by the brilliant staff in different locations around the camp, which certainly adds to the experience!
On the drives the guides were incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. Mwagusi uses a set up where each car has both a driver and a guide. This means that you have the guide's 100% attention and two pairs of eyes to spot the things we could not!
Overall we had a wonderful stay at Mwagusi. It is a true wildlife lover's experience and will certainly not disappoint for anyone who wants to make the most of Ruaha!"
We stayed at Mwagusi for the second leg of the Southern CIrcuit for our honeymoon and had an absolutely brilliant time. When you enter you can really feel that the camp is geared towards giving you a true experience of Ruaha. The camp is elegently rustic, stretching along the side of the river to give the best views of any marauding animals as they go down to drink. The bandas are semi-stone with an inner tent and a very comfortable hammock with views over the riverbed. The food is very good and buffet style, we definitely didn't go hungry! Dinner is served by the brilliant staff in different locations around the camp, which certainly adds to the experience!
On the drives the guides were incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. Mwagusi uses a set up where each car has both a driver and a guide. This means that you have the guide's 100% attention and two pairs of eyes to spot the things we could not!
Overall we had a wonderful stay at Mwagusi. It is a true wildlife lover's experience and will certainly not disappoint for anyone who wants to make the most of Ruaha!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
The Palms
"Perfect Swan Song to a Dream Honeymoon"
7 nights
Arrived
11 Aug 2016
"The Palms was the perfect compliment to our amazing honeymoon in Southern Tanzania!
Upon arrival you are treated and pampered and made to feel completely at home. The staff in particular are very nice and give you all the attention you would expect from a top-class, small hotel.
The hotel comprises of six detached mini-villas that are arranged around the gardens and the communal pool. The inside of the villa is HUGE and was better than the photos. Each villa had its own plunge pool outside, which would be welcome when the weather its particularly hot . Each villa also had a beach hut with sunloungers, which is good as the tide can come right up to the top of the beach. It was a perfect setting to relax with a cocktail, the beach and the sun!
The service is first class and the food was great. There is entertainment in the evening, which breaks things up and you can have lunch or dinner on the beach which is very special.
The beach was incredibly picturesque, although not the best for swimming or snorkelling. The tide is particularly strong and there was also a very strong lateral current. A dip to cool off is no problem but only strong swimmers could go further. There was always a breeze from the sea which made sunbathing very pleasant and there were also watersports available nearby and events at the neighbouring resorts if wanted.
Overall we had a fantastic week and were able to completely unwind after the safari, enjoying great service, food and soft white sand between our toes!"
Upon arrival you are treated and pampered and made to feel completely at home. The staff in particular are very nice and give you all the attention you would expect from a top-class, small hotel.
The hotel comprises of six detached mini-villas that are arranged around the gardens and the communal pool. The inside of the villa is HUGE and was better than the photos. Each villa had its own plunge pool outside, which would be welcome when the weather its particularly hot . Each villa also had a beach hut with sunloungers, which is good as the tide can come right up to the top of the beach. It was a perfect setting to relax with a cocktail, the beach and the sun!
The service is first class and the food was great. There is entertainment in the evening, which breaks things up and you can have lunch or dinner on the beach which is very special.
The beach was incredibly picturesque, although not the best for swimming or snorkelling. The tide is particularly strong and there was also a very strong lateral current. A dip to cool off is no problem but only strong swimmers could go further. There was always a breeze from the sea which made sunbathing very pleasant and there were also watersports available nearby and events at the neighbouring resorts if wanted.
Overall we had a fantastic week and were able to completely unwind after the safari, enjoying great service, food and soft white sand between our toes!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
The guides at BB are phenomenal, not only because they are so knowledgeable but also because they have such enthusiasm. At a reserve like the Selous where the game is naturally more difficult to spot we found this was so important. The guides rotated for each of our drives (general drive times but v. flexible: morning 6:30-11:30, afternoon 16:00-19:00), which worked fantasically.
The camp is a good distance away from any others, and as a result we didn't see any other vehicles! If seculsion is what you are looking for, this is it!
As well as the boat safari, we also did a walking safari which was a 2.5 hour trek going out of the camp. The experience was on another level and any nerves were helped as it was two guides that took us out rather than unknown rangers like in a National Park. A fully recommended experience.
Inside the camp the quality was sublime! Trish and Phil, the managers, were great and all the staff were so delightful and happy that you felt part of the family immediately. The food is fabulously fresh with variety and panache, with dinner taken in memorable locations around the camp. The stone bandas are luxury with fantastic views across the valley through the open front. They definitely make you feel at one with the environment while maintaining a sense of security for those that want it!
Overall, Beho Beho really focuses on the details. The fantastic staff and small number of guests meant that our stay really was tailored to us both at the camp and on the drives which is what made the stay and experience so so special."