Travel reviews by TC & K from London

"We stayed one night in Zanzibar, before heading off on safari. Arriving in the afternoon, and leaving very early the next morning, this was always going to be little more than somewhere to rest our heads, and a base to wander rounds the streets of Stone Town. Zanzibar Coffee House was recommended to us as a simple option along those lines, and it served it's purpose perfectly. However, it's also somewhere we would happily have spent more time.

Above everything else the staff at the hotel were incredibly welcoming and helpful. We were on honeymoon and to our surprise a couple of lovely chocolate muffins appeared in our room. They also fixed us up breakfast to take with us the next morning, before the kitchen had opened up.

All in all, this is a hidden gem in the heart of Stone Town."

"Undoubtedly the highlight of our honeymoon, we can't recommend this place highly enough.

This was our first safari, and our gut feel is that you'd struggle to have a bad experience no matter where you stay in Ruaha, such is its raw beauty. However, the combination of location, facilities and staff make Ikuka a truly unforgettable experience.

The camp itself sits on top of a hill, offering breathtaking 360 degree views. Whether you're having a drink at the bar, eating lunch, or just sitting on your bed, it's impossible not to gape open-mouthed at what surrounds you.

The rooms are very clever - you're staying in an open plan tent, with the feeling of having nature at your finger tips. Yet the thick stone floor, the enormous beds, and the quality of the facilities makes you feel like you're in a high end hotel.

The food was outstanding and plentiful. We are still unsure how the chef made his steak so tasty, and the fish curry was a winner too.

The staff are unwaveringly friendly and the service first rate. We arrived to what seemed like the entire workforce waving, smiling and offering us a drink. And it was a similar story every time we returned from a drive thereafter.

In addition, everyone eating together at lunch and dinner works very well. Mark and Paul were very good fun, and if you run out of things to say rest assured they have enough safari stories to last a lifetime.

Naturally, as this was our first experience of a safari, we can't compare the quality of Ikuka's guides with other camps. What we can say, however, is that we felt we were in the best possible hands. Bearing in mind you spend around eight hours a day in your vehicle, the guides themselves almost single-handedly set the tone for your trip. What stood out is their genuine passion for what they do, their good humour, and their level of knowledge and insight. At no point does it feel like this is their 'job' - instead they feel as much as part of this experience as you do. They clearly have enormous respect for the national park, and we never ceased to marvel at their ability to be in the right place at the right time.

The Ruaha National Park itself is one of the last truly wild wildernesses left in the world and is a truly stunning place. Made all the more special by the strong sense of being on your own with the animals. It's not unusual to spend five hours on a drive without seeing more than two or three other vehicles. Yet the game viewing remains plentiful - we tracked a leopard, got up close and personal with two lion prides and their kills, and enjoyed sundowners in the company of large herds of elephant.

Overall this is a high end camp but with a really down to earth feel. The only down side was having to leave it."

"We spent a week at Kilindi as the second part of our honeymoon, following the wedding, long haul travel, and four days safari in Tanzania. We were looking for something luxurious and relaxing, where we could just switch off an unwind. And Kilindi was exactly that.

Each pavilion is discreetly hidden away, giving a welcome sense of privacy. The rooms are bright and spacious, with stunning sea views. There was something special about opening the large balcony doors every day, looking out over the blue water and the fishing boats.

The pool is beautiful, and there's plenty of space between the sunbeds, meaning you never feel like you're on top of other guests. The beach has a private feel to it and relaxing on beach beds, watching the sun go down in the evenings, was a particular highlight.

We should stress, we didn't have any plans to do anything during our week at Kilindi, so it's hard to give an evaluation of what's available outside the resort. Certainly Kilindi is a tranquil place in every sense, and if you're looking for buzzy nights this isn't the place. Instead we were more than happy to spend lazy days by the pool and beach, being pampered by the attentive service. Followed by romantic meals at tables laid out in various different places - this could be out by the pool, in the gardens, on the first upstairs balcony, on the beach, or even in the privacy of your own pavilion.

A highlight of Kilindi has to be the service. Everyone gets a 'butler' and they go out of their way to ensure you want for nothing. Our butler was Baruti and you'd be hard pressed to meet a nicer person. Constantly smiling, unwaveringly helpful, and with a wonderful sense of humour. There's a subtlety to what they do as well - at no point did we ever feel like Baruti was hovering over us, or pestering us. Yet we always felt like he was utterly dedicated to ensuring we had the best possible time, and was always there when we needed him.

All in all this is high end resort where you can sit back, relax, and let everything come to you."