Travel reviews by Mr D & Ms G from London
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
4
Countries visited
4
Lodges stayed in
17
Excursions taken
0
Namibia 2023 trip
Namibia between 15 May 2023 and 30 May 2023
"Great trip overall even if a bit disappointed with a couple of camps.
Although there was quite a lot of driving and on gravel roads (2500 km approx) that gave a great insight into the geography of the country. We will return and get up to the Caprivi Strip next time. Wonderful people too with a great sense of humour"
Although there was quite a lot of driving and on gravel roads (2500 km approx) that gave a great insight into the geography of the country. We will return and get up to the Caprivi Strip next time. Wonderful people too with a great sense of humour"
Arranged By Claire Scott
Weinberg Hotel
"Weinberg Hotel review"
1 night
Arrived
16 May 2023
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Average
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Little Kulala
"Little Kulala review"
2 nights
Arrived
17 May 2023
"Wonderful from start to finish. Great welcome, superb guiding from Nelson who has great sense of humour too.
Accommodation was great and food good.
The staff were all prepared to go that extra inch. Hugs when we left and we’re sorry not to stay longer. Would return"
Accommodation was great and food good.
The staff were all prepared to go that extra inch. Hugs when we left and we’re sorry not to stay longer. Would return"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
The Delight
"The Delight review"
1 night
Arrived
19 May 2023
"Pleasant room. There was a problem with loud music coming from a nearby venue. The hotel manager came out especially to stop it going beyond midnight and apologised to us the next morning.
An employee also helped us with a flat tyre on our car the next morning.
Surprisingly the best and most efficient breakfast of the trip including oysters!"
An employee also helped us with a flat tyre on our car the next morning.
Surprisingly the best and most efficient breakfast of the trip including oysters!"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Food
Excellent
Rooms
Average
Mowani Mountain Camp
"Mowani Mountain Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
20 May 2023
"This camp was in a delightful setting but we felt wasn’t being run well.
Only men in front of house who didn’t understand the minutiae of hosting. Our welcome chat mostly consisted of what wasn’t included and the extras we would incur.
Also room not provided with fresh water each day. We were sadly disappointed with this camp"
Only men in front of house who didn’t understand the minutiae of hosting. Our welcome chat mostly consisted of what wasn’t included and the extras we would incur.
Also room not provided with fresh water each day. We were sadly disappointed with this camp"
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Good
Service
Poor
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Little Ongava
"Little Ongava review"
2 nights
Arrived
22 May 2023
"Superb accommodation, lovely food, wonderful guiding with Mike and staff going the extra mile.
Best camp of our trip, walking with rhinos a special experience.
Not enough time there to enjoy our wonderful room and plunge pool"
Best camp of our trip, walking with rhinos a special experience.
Not enough time there to enjoy our wonderful room and plunge pool"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Sightings report
Black Rhino
2 sightings
Elephant
3 sightings
Giraffe
1 sighting
Lion
6 sightings
White Rhino
10+ sightings
Wildebeest
4 sightings
Zebra
2 sightings
Mushara Outpost
"Mushara Outpost review"
2 nights
Arrived
24 May 2023
"Friendly camp, run almost exclusively by women!
Pleasant accommodation, food also pleasant but could hear all tables around us complaining about having to pay for bottled water. Would be better to charge extra and make table water included
The hide at the water hole was lovely to sit and quietly watch a good assortment of antelope. Very underused it seemed"
Pleasant accommodation, food also pleasant but could hear all tables around us complaining about having to pay for bottled water. Would be better to charge extra and make table water included
The hide at the water hole was lovely to sit and quietly watch a good assortment of antelope. Very underused it seemed"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Sightings report
Oryx
1 sighting
Okonjima Bush Camp
"Okonjima Bush Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
26 May 2023
"Again the welcome talk was about what wasn’t included. There were also staff problems and we gave feedback at the time.
I personally didn’t like the accommodation though it was spacious.
The food wasn’t brilliant and there was the same lunch menu each day.
Our guide seemed unused to visitors who were pleased to see and understand every bird and insect. In other words it was all about leopard sightings and he mixed up a female with a male. Luckily we had a vet on our jeep !
We felt the guiding experience was rather manufactured overall."
I personally didn’t like the accommodation though it was spacious.
The food wasn’t brilliant and there was the same lunch menu each day.
Our guide seemed unused to visitors who were pleased to see and understand every bird and insect. In other words it was all about leopard sightings and he mixed up a female with a male. Luckily we had a vet on our jeep !
We felt the guiding experience was rather manufactured overall."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Good
Service
Average
Activities
Average
Rooms
Average
Food
Poor
Sightings report
Brown Hyena
1 sighting
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Leopard
2 sightings
Oryx
10+ sightings
White Rhino
1 sighting
Wildebeest
6 sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Weinberg Hotel
"Weinberg Hotel review"
1 night
Arrived
28 May 2023
"Same comments as first night"
Excellent
Zambia July 2018
Zambia between 20 Jul 2018 and 31 Jul 2018
"Once the problem of our missed connection was dealt with most efficiently and good naturedly on a Saturday morning by Richard, Freddie and Chris, everything went smoothly.
No changes of plan and no further hiccoughs meant that we had a wonderful holiday in south Luangwa. This was our 2nd trip and we enjoyed it even more than the first.
Our 3 camps were in a similar area, being on either side of the river, but as each game drive is different and covers different areas around each camp, the similar location didn’t matter at all. In fact we were thrilled to finally see a wild dog pack whilst at our 3rd camp, although the dogs were very close to our 1st camp but we hadn’t managed to find them there. As always on safari, expect the unexpected!"
No changes of plan and no further hiccoughs meant that we had a wonderful holiday in south Luangwa. This was our 2nd trip and we enjoyed it even more than the first.
Our 3 camps were in a similar area, being on either side of the river, but as each game drive is different and covers different areas around each camp, the similar location didn’t matter at all. In fact we were thrilled to finally see a wild dog pack whilst at our 3rd camp, although the dogs were very close to our 1st camp but we hadn’t managed to find them there. As always on safari, expect the unexpected!"
Arranged By Claire Scott
Kaingo Camp
"Kaingo Camp review"
3 nights
Arrived
21 Jul 2018
"Wonderful tented chalet after 24 hours travelling and to have our own deck over the river was special.
The camp was run very efficiently and we much enjoyed the pre dinner drinks in the main area with the other guests.
We had a surprise brunch one day on the river bank with a full ‘African ‘ breakfast. A very nice treat."
The camp was run very efficiently and we much enjoyed the pre dinner drinks in the main area with the other guests.
We had a surprise brunch one day on the river bank with a full ‘African ‘ breakfast. A very nice treat."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Hippo
10+ sightings
Leopard
8 sightings
Spotted Hyena
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Tena Tena
"Tena Tena revisited"
3 nights
Arrived
24 Jul 2018
"The camp has relocated since our last visit but was still delightful. Bertram had been our guide last time and is now camp manager so it was good to see old photos of 8 years previously.
Our guide Julias also remembered us from before and he was a great guy, excellent guide and lots of laughs on safari.
Service was good though we thought the food wasn’t quite as good as it might have been."
Our guide Julias also remembered us from before and he was a great guy, excellent guide and lots of laughs on safari.
Service was good though we thought the food wasn’t quite as good as it might have been."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Buffalo
Many sightings
Elephant
10+ sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Hippo
10+ sightings
Leopard
Many sightings
Lion
Many sightings
Spotted Hyena
Many sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Mchenja Bushcamp
"Mchenja Bushcamp review"
3 nights
Arrived
27 Jul 2018
"The accommodation including a free standing bath was excellent. The food was superb, the best on our trip.
Our guide John was knowledgeable, great sense of humour and a delight to be with.
The only point we have to raise is the lack of animal and bird check lists. This is particularly relevant as you have asked us to detail sightings. But the staff were very helpful and accommodating in every other aspect."
Our guide John was knowledgeable, great sense of humour and a delight to be with.
The only point we have to raise is the lack of animal and bird check lists. This is particularly relevant as you have asked us to detail sightings. But the staff were very helpful and accommodating in every other aspect."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Sightings report
Buffalo
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Hippo
10+ sightings
Leopard
10+ sightings
Lion
Many sightings
Spotted Hyena
10+ sightings
Wild dog
1 sighting
Wildebeest
1 sighting
Zebra
Many sightings
My Apr 2015 trip
Tanzania between 17 Apr 2015 and 28 Apr 2015
"Great apart from Kenyan airlines"
Arranged By Claire Scott
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
"Ngorongoro Crater Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
18 Apr 2015
"Although we were the only guests in the lodge, everyone put themselves out to make our stay memorable, including putting rose petals around our dining table and putting on a show just for us.
Although most guests stay just two nights here, we would have preferred to stay for three nights and perhaps go on a walking safari and have some time to relax.
A splendid location which sadly we were not able to appreciate fully, even though we did manage three trips into the crater itself."
Although most guests stay just two nights here, we would have preferred to stay for three nights and perhaps go on a walking safari and have some time to relax.
A splendid location which sadly we were not able to appreciate fully, even though we did manage three trips into the crater itself."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Namiri Plains Camp
"Namiri Plains Camp review"
4 nights
Arrived
20 Apr 2015
"Lots of cheetah and lions in the Serengeti but one guide not up to standard expected and staff generally poor on speaking English although both they and the manager were helpful."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Good
Service
Average
Rooms
Average
Food
Poor
Klein's Camp
"Kleins Camp review"
4 nights
Arrived
24 Apr 2015
"A superb experience all round at this camp, the best of our trip. The food was also the best we had."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Zambia and Malawi trip August 2010
Zambia and 1 other country between 5 Aug 2010 and 15 Aug 2010
"we were very pleased with how smoothly the entire trip went, especially as this was Africa and we were prepared for the unexpected.
We were surprised at the quality of the service with SA airlines and the only small criticism was that we were not met very efficiently at Lilongwe airport on our arrival from Mfui. I went chasing around the airport asking for Robin Popes representatives to be told by actual driver that someone should have told us where he was. But after this hiccough, he was very amenable and indeed drove us perfectly to Pumulani. So, perhaps, this was just a misunderstanding at the airport.
Overall, we had a wonderful time, thank you"
We were surprised at the quality of the service with SA airlines and the only small criticism was that we were not met very efficiently at Lilongwe airport on our arrival from Mfui. I went chasing around the airport asking for Robin Popes representatives to be told by actual driver that someone should have told us where he was. But after this hiccough, he was very amenable and indeed drove us perfectly to Pumulani. So, perhaps, this was just a misunderstanding at the airport.
Overall, we had a wonderful time, thank you"
Arranged By Claire Scott
Nsefu
"Nsefu review"
2 nights
Arrived
6 Aug 2010
"Although the rooms were compact, we quickly learnt to enjoy them. The only problem was finding things in the dark after the generator was switched off and early in the mornings.
Also, breakfast by the waterside was indeed magical, but it was totally spoilt by the wasps around the jam pots etc and so had to be eaten at speed whilst fending off the wasps. Maybe another system could be found to eliminate this problem."
Also, breakfast by the waterside was indeed magical, but it was totally spoilt by the wasps around the jam pots etc and so had to be eaten at speed whilst fending off the wasps. Maybe another system could be found to eliminate this problem."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Facilities
Good
Tena Tena
"Tena Tena review"
3 nights
Arrived
8 Aug 2010
"Superb guiding, enthusiasm and attention to detail by Bertram in Simon's absence made the whole experience here, informative, enjoyable but above all fun.
Everyone in this camp seemed to work as a team and made us, the guests, feel part of that team"
Everyone in this camp seemed to work as a team and made us, the guests, feel part of that team"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Pumulani
"Pumulani review"
4 nights
Arrived
11 Aug 2010
"Sadly the unseasonal bad weather did not allow us to enjoy this camp to the full, but the welcome from all the staff and above all from Luke and Bettina helped to make up for what we were missing.
The village visit was a memorable experience, being a real village, not one set up for tourists and the dhow trip was lovely, even with extreme winds!
The accommodation in the spacious and well equipped bungalows was outstanding"
The village visit was a memorable experience, being a real village, not one set up for tourists and the dhow trip was lovely, even with extreme winds!
The accommodation in the spacious and well equipped bungalows was outstanding"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
The only problem on our first night’s stay and our last night was with breakfast. There was not enough seating and the staff were inefficient. It was rather chilly, yet many people had to sit outside for a considerable time before being served.
Special mention for the Butcher’s Hook restaurant within the hotel complex. Excellent meat and oysters at exceptional prices!"