Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs C from N Yorks

"A perfect 'starter' camp for our first safari. Matteo was an excellent host and his team were superb. Nothing was too much trouble and his relaxed and friendly approach made us feel 'at home' and part of the 'family' from day one.

Our guide, Mpogo was amazing. He worked so hard, wanting to show us the sights and sounds of the Selous, both by 4 x 4 and boat. His tracking skills and eyesight were legendary! He had a lifetime of knowledge of the area and answered our endless questions readily and in depth, giving us so much background information and many great photo opportunities. His patience on our fishing expedition was noteworthy! We certainly enjoyed his company and left (sadly) with a much greater understanding of this diverse environment and special memories of leopard sightings and a close encounter with at least thirty elephants. Even Mpogo took photos!

The meals and choice were excellent, with something for everyone and all dietary requests caterd for. Everyone went that extra mile (km?) to make my husbands 60th birthday a special event. A handmade card, cake and our own table in the bush, accompanied by an English and Kiswahilli rendition of Happy Birthday, made it a truly memorable occasion.

We would like to make just one suggestion. It would be nice to be given the option to sit with other 'campers', particularly at lunch and dinner. There were four of us and we did swop our experiences with others in the bar, but especially for those travelling alone or as couples, the opportunity to share a table and exchange stories, might really round of the day."

"This camp is ideally situated on the banks of the lake, giving visitors a varied choice of activities. We took full advantage of this and went by boat, 4x4 and walked. The latter gave a completely new dimension to the landscape. Unfortunately water cabbage has recently encroached upon the inlet and so the lake does now appear to be further away from the tents, however this does not really have a detrimentel effect on the views.

Richard is keen for guests to enjoy their Manze experience and we got down to organising our activities as soon as we arrived. Having already spent four days at Impala, our guide Ian was a little concerned that we may have seen everything. This theory was soon dismissed. The topography round Manze is very diverse and we soon sighted jackal, large herds of wilderbeest and zebra as well as hyena. We were fortunate to watch two prides of lions, one new to the area, confront each other over their terriotory. The interlopers soon retreated!

On a full day drive we opted to go to the Beho Beho mountains, visiting Selous grave and testing the waters of the hot springs. We crossed from dry plains to tropical jungle, enjoying the changing vegitation. The bird life in this area is fantastic and we watched pied and malacite kingfishers, sea and snake eagles, catching their meals.

We all learnt so much about the flora and fauna and Ian never tired of our endless questions, appearing to thrive on our interest and enthusiasm.

Evenings were spent outside, under the stars, eating at a communal table, lit only by candles and hurricane lamps (no electricity here). Conversation never lapsed as everyone exchanged their days experiences. There was a great feeling of cameraderie, meal times being made even more exciting by the visiting elephants and civets, who came to check out the menu!

The tents are a little hot at night, particularly for those from Northern Europe, but Richard is investigating the possibility of solar powered fans! I'm sure they will be well received."

"Mdonya is what it says, 'simple but comfortable, for people looking for a genuine off the beaten track, round the campfire experience'. We were not disappointed! Here was somewhere truly special. Nicole and her team welcomed us warmly, greeting us with a drink every time we returned to camp. Everyone worked so hard to ensure all the guests made the most of their stay in these idyllic surroundings.

Our guide Zacharia and our driver (name escapes me), were exceptional and so knowledgeable. If they did not manage to answer one of our questions, it was researched that night and answered in the morning. Their eyesight was fantastic, spotting the slightest movement of bird or beast, then giving us a comprehensive explaination of their habits etc. They hopped in and out of the vechicle to point out plants, seeds, footprints and dung! (We became quite proficient in identifying the latter!)

All the camp staff were passionate about their environment and their enthusiasm certainly rubbed off. We loved every minute of our time here. The Ruaha is so different from the Selous, making them a great combination together. True, you do have to drive further to view game, but this is compensated for by the changing vistas.

The camp has a great atmosphere, especially round the communal table and camp fire, swopping stories with other interesting and like minded guests. Mdonya is not as basic as we had believed. The sand floors, candlelight and kerosene lamps and vigilant Masai just add to the enjoyment.

We had four wonderful days with Zacharia, having Kswahilli lessons over superb lunches in the bush. Our shared sense of humour and our love of the 'great outdoors' made this a truly memorable and life changing experience. Here you really do have close encounters with the wildlife, both in and out of the camp. We cannot thank everyone enough for making this visit so special."

"This was an ideal one night stop before the flight home. Great to have the choice of a bath or shower.

The evening meal was average but the breakfast (served from 0400), had a good choice to suit all tastes and appetites at that time in the morning."