Travel reviews by Al & Jules from Australia
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
4
Excursions taken
0
Aussie impressions of Selous/Ruaha -June '18
Tanzania and 1 other country between 21 Jun 2018 and 2 Jul 2018
"We love wildlife safaris, and this Selous/Ruaha venture was no exception in most aspects.
The overall efforts from Lyndsey at Expert Africa meant that the whole itinerary unfolded as planned - no hitches. She provided all of the necessary information from London to us in Oz. for me to feel confident of the outcome.
Our experiences in both Selous and Ruaha were what we had hoped for in respect to the vast wilderness feel to both regions, the variety of vegetation and topography, as well as the absence of hordes of other safari vehicles. We were a little disappointed that due to several factors ( maybe vegetation cover/animal numbers of some species) we didn't locate wild dog, cheetah or leopard in either location. We've never based our trips on seeing particular wildlife because often it's more luck than anything, and no one factor can change this.
The camps chosen were equal to anything we had previously encountered, and would recommend both Impala and Mwagusi.
Overall a great trip."
The overall efforts from Lyndsey at Expert Africa meant that the whole itinerary unfolded as planned - no hitches. She provided all of the necessary information from London to us in Oz. for me to feel confident of the outcome.
Our experiences in both Selous and Ruaha were what we had hoped for in respect to the vast wilderness feel to both regions, the variety of vegetation and topography, as well as the absence of hordes of other safari vehicles. We were a little disappointed that due to several factors ( maybe vegetation cover/animal numbers of some species) we didn't locate wild dog, cheetah or leopard in either location. We've never based our trips on seeing particular wildlife because often it's more luck than anything, and no one factor can change this.
The camps chosen were equal to anything we had previously encountered, and would recommend both Impala and Mwagusi.
Overall a great trip."
Arranged By Lyndsey Marris
The Slipway
"The Slipway at last !"
1 night
Arrived
21 Jun 2018
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Average
Service
Good
Facilities
Average
Rooms
Average
Food
Good
Impala Camp
"Superb Selous Impala Camp "
4 nights
Arrived
22 Jun 2018
"We found Impala Camp a superb base for our safari activities in Selous Game Reserve. Its location overlooking the Rufiji River, and close to Mtemere Airstrip, meant easy access to activities in the area.
Overall here the staff were superb also. Our guide/driver Omari was amazing. How he could drive the rough tracks and sight game in all directions still has me wondering. On one day we did a 12 hour game drive, so he also set up our packed breakfast and lunch where we were seated at a table with cutlery, crockery, hand towels, tea/coffee... the whole works.
All of our interactions with the staff showed that they did everything possible to make our time here memorable. We did feel however that although the management duo tried their best, they lacked the personal touch we've found at other camps.
The food here is the best we've ever encountered on safari..... great variety and so well presented."
Overall here the staff were superb also. Our guide/driver Omari was amazing. How he could drive the rough tracks and sight game in all directions still has me wondering. On one day we did a 12 hour game drive, so he also set up our packed breakfast and lunch where we were seated at a table with cutlery, crockery, hand towels, tea/coffee... the whole works.
All of our interactions with the staff showed that they did everything possible to make our time here memorable. We did feel however that although the management duo tried their best, they lacked the personal touch we've found at other camps.
The food here is the best we've ever encountered on safari..... great variety and so well presented."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Sightings report
Buffalo
2 sightings
Elephant
4 sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Hippo
10+ sightings
Lion
2 sightings
Spotted Hyena
3 sightings
Wildebeest
10+ sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Mwagusi Safari Camp
"Unique Mwagusi"
3 nights
Arrived
26 Jun 2018
"Upon your arrival, Mwagusi Camp has a special feel to it. We especially loved our huge banda with its thatched roof and local stone and timber fittings. I guess this unique feel is a reflection of its owner Chris Fox. Luckily we learnt more of the history of the camp from Chris himself during the day he spent with us.
Trudy, the camp manager had the personal touch that made us feel welcome from the minute we arrived - even took care of my wife on the afternoon she stayed back from our drive with a headache. All other staff were helpful to the point where on our last night we needed to be escorted back to our banda via a roundabout route when a bull elephant had blocked our normal path.
Our personal guide, Geoffrey, worked hard every day to find the animals we most wanted to encounter. He did manage to find the kill site where a leopard had disembowelled an impala, but not the leopard. I guess it saw us !"
Trudy, the camp manager had the personal touch that made us feel welcome from the minute we arrived - even took care of my wife on the afternoon she stayed back from our drive with a headache. All other staff were helpful to the point where on our last night we needed to be escorted back to our banda via a roundabout route when a bull elephant had blocked our normal path.
Our personal guide, Geoffrey, worked hard every day to find the animals we most wanted to encounter. He did manage to find the kill site where a leopard had disembowelled an impala, but not the leopard. I guess it saw us !"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Sightings report
Buffalo
3 sightings
Elephant
10+ sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Hippo
4 sightings
Lion
2 sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Pongwe Beach Hotel
"Pongwe in the rain"
3 nights
Arrived
29 Jun 2018
"Our feelings about Pongwe were coloured by the rain that seemed to persist for over half the time of our stay. Luckily the days here were mainly to wind down before the long flight back to Australia, so the weather didn't distract us totally.
As a beach resort, it's a bit limiting as for quite a few hours each day the tide is so low that swimming isn't possible. We also missed the options of nearby attractions, as the villages around had little except for their fishing/seaweed industries. Further to that, the cost of $US100 return to travel to Stone Town, or other tourist locations, was off -putting.
We enjoyed the menu and food options as well as the cheaply priced drinks."
As a beach resort, it's a bit limiting as for quite a few hours each day the tide is so low that swimming isn't possible. We also missed the options of nearby attractions, as the villages around had little except for their fishing/seaweed industries. Further to that, the cost of $US100 return to travel to Stone Town, or other tourist locations, was off -putting.
We enjoyed the menu and food options as well as the cheaply priced drinks."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Average
Service
Good
Activities
Poor
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Average
The beachside restaurants, pool and breakfast facilities are all very well set up, but only overnighting in economy class seating would make the bedding (mattress) seem inviting."