Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs M from Mexico
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
4
Excursions taken
0
Fantastic bush and wildlife experience
Tanzania and 1 other country between 30 Jul 2018 and 17 Aug 2018
"The entire trip was impeccably organised by Expert Africa. Travellers should be aware that they do not book international flights or arrange travel insurance. End July/August is a splendid time to go on safari in Tanzania; we came across no mosquitos and few Tsetse flies. The three lodges we stayed at were each very different in feel and location and this made a fascinating two week safari with four nights at each lodge, followed by a week in Zanzibar. With two game drives a day one is often out in the bush for up to 12 hours a day and one has to be prepared to be in the jeeps for this length of time, as the opportunities for getting out are very limited because of safety. The bush is, of course, wild and the going often rough, so first time safari goers need to be prepared to be thrown around in jeeps (but with seat belts!).
The game viewing at this time of year is magnificent and we saw several crossings of the wildebeast in the Mara river, quite a few prides of lions in the Ruaha, including the full pride of 13 at one point and two close up sightings of an entire pack of wild dogs at Beho Beho. Three separate leopard sightings in the Serengeti were very special.
Zanzibar is the ideal place to wind down after a safari but one needs to choose one's hotel carefully according to what atmosphere and recreations one wants. Near Stone Town, or not, swimable beach, or not, isolated or not. Some of the taxi and shuttle drivers can be quite on the wild side, but it is the nature of the island!
Our expectations were more than fulfilled on this magical trip."
The game viewing at this time of year is magnificent and we saw several crossings of the wildebeast in the Mara river, quite a few prides of lions in the Ruaha, including the full pride of 13 at one point and two close up sightings of an entire pack of wild dogs at Beho Beho. Three separate leopard sightings in the Serengeti were very special.
Zanzibar is the ideal place to wind down after a safari but one needs to choose one's hotel carefully according to what atmosphere and recreations one wants. Near Stone Town, or not, swimable beach, or not, isolated or not. Some of the taxi and shuttle drivers can be quite on the wild side, but it is the nature of the island!
Our expectations were more than fulfilled on this magical trip."
Sayari Camp
"Wonderfully organised fantastic guide food OK"
4 nights
Arrived
30 Jul 2018
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Elephant
3 sightings
Hippo
4 sightings
Leopard
4 sightings
Lion
5 sightings
Roan antelope
8 sightings
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Wildebeest
10+ sightings
Zebra
8 sightings
Ikuka Safari Camp
"Abundance of game few other people food great"
4 nights
Arrived
3 Aug 2018
"Ikuka is relatively isolated and therefore there are few other lodges/jeeps around. On some days we saw only one or two other vehicles. This is a definite plus. There is an abundance of elephants, giraffes and buffalo.
Our guide was of the old school and not too interactive, but he knows his animals. There are standard 'circuits' for driving around the park and sometimes it feels more like driving on regular roads than tracks, at laest compared to the Serengeti.
The food is outstanding and they went to huge and successful lengths to accommodate my gluten/dairy free diet."
Our guide was of the old school and not too interactive, but he knows his animals. There are standard 'circuits' for driving around the park and sometimes it feels more like driving on regular roads than tracks, at laest compared to the Serengeti.
The food is outstanding and they went to huge and successful lengths to accommodate my gluten/dairy free diet."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Sightings report
Buffalo
6 sightings
Elephant
10+ sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Hippo
3 sightings
Lion
2 sightings
Roan antelope
10+ sightings
Zebra
5 sightings
Beho Beho
"Luxury camp great game viewing fantastic food"
4 nights
Arrived
7 Aug 2018
"Definitely a cut above the other camps in terms of quality of accommodation, service and food. The game viewing was also fantastic.
They have a policy of allocating a different guide to you each day. A highlight is a boat trip on a lake with about 400 hippos. We dined communally in a different location around the camp each evening. Food superb and wines outstanding. Staff wonderful.
The suites are completely open at the front overlooking a water hole and you have to be prepared for the roaring of the hippos and the lions and other animals, sometimes all night!"
They have a policy of allocating a different guide to you each day. A highlight is a boat trip on a lake with about 400 hippos. We dined communally in a different location around the camp each evening. Food superb and wines outstanding. Staff wonderful.
The suites are completely open at the front overlooking a water hole and you have to be prepared for the roaring of the hippos and the lions and other animals, sometimes all night!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Buffalo
10+ sightings
Elephant
8 sightings
Giraffe
5 sightings
Hippo
2 sightings
Lion
4 sightings
Sable antelope
4 sightings
Wild dog
2 sightings
Wildebeest
6 sightings
Zebra
3 sightings
Baraza Resort & Spa
"Beautiful Palace; great food; beach not good"
6 nights
Arrived
11 Aug 2018
"This is an Arabian Palace of serenity and luxury with an ever attentive and delightful staff in all departments.
The food and wine are excellent and the service outstanding. The beach is not usable for swimming because of the very shallow water and the rocks. However, it is fascinating to walk out towards the reef when the tide goes out and see the myriad forms of sea life.
It is quite a way from Stone Town but this is nota problem as one only want to visit there for a day. There is not much in the way of entertainment in the evening and it is dead by 10 pm, which suits us as all we wanted to do was to relax after our safari.
The spa is magnificent; another Palace in its own right."
The food and wine are excellent and the service outstanding. The beach is not usable for swimming because of the very shallow water and the rocks. However, it is fascinating to walk out towards the reef when the tide goes out and see the myriad forms of sea life.
It is quite a way from Stone Town but this is nota problem as one only want to visit there for a day. There is not much in the way of entertainment in the evening and it is dead by 10 pm, which suits us as all we wanted to do was to relax after our safari.
The spa is magnificent; another Palace in its own right."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Activities
Average
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Our guide, Elia, was phenomenal and hugely enhanced the whole experience.
The food is so so, but they catered wonderfully for my gluten/dairy free diet, when my special foods were often better than the regular offerings!"