Travel reviews by J and C from Clayton
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
2
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
7
Excursions taken
1
Our Oct 2024 trip
Tanzania between 5 Oct 2024 and 19 Oct 2024
"Jessica Plumb is an outstanding professional who was always available to us, even with last minute changes. We have recommended her to others and we would certainly contact her again if we were ever to return to Africa.
The camps we visited both had excellent facilities and staff but Jongomero staff really stole our heart! What wonderful and authentic people!
We recognized real changes in Southern Tanzania that have occurred during the five years since we last visited. Climate change has affected the weather. We had three evenings of rain at Jongomero (one torrential) that surprised everyone since it was still the dry season. At Siwandu, the temperatures reached the high nineties.
Both changes impacted game viewing but our guides were great and went above and beyond to ensure great viewing opportunities. Another change that we noticed in the Selous was “progress” since the new dam was completed. The airstrip has been expanded and they are building yet a newer, bigger one. There is now miles of unpaved highway and lots of truck traffic. Of course, all of this has impacted wildlife. Lastly, we talked at length with many of the camp staff. They told us that cell phones and technology in general is changing life in their villages. Many young people are looking at other options rather than the traditional tribal ways."
The camps we visited both had excellent facilities and staff but Jongomero staff really stole our heart! What wonderful and authentic people!
We recognized real changes in Southern Tanzania that have occurred during the five years since we last visited. Climate change has affected the weather. We had three evenings of rain at Jongomero (one torrential) that surprised everyone since it was still the dry season. At Siwandu, the temperatures reached the high nineties.
Both changes impacted game viewing but our guides were great and went above and beyond to ensure great viewing opportunities. Another change that we noticed in the Selous was “progress” since the new dam was completed. The airstrip has been expanded and they are building yet a newer, bigger one. There is now miles of unpaved highway and lots of truck traffic. Of course, all of this has impacted wildlife. Lastly, we talked at length with many of the camp staff. They told us that cell phones and technology in general is changing life in their villages. Many young people are looking at other options rather than the traditional tribal ways."
Arranged By Jessica Plumb
Serena Hotel Dar
"Serena Hotel Dar review"
2 nights
Arrived
5 Oct 2024
"Nice, comfortable business class hotel with excellent service and food. Good for stay before or after safari."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Jongomero Camp
"Jongomero Camp review"
5 nights
Arrived
7 Oct 2024
"We loved Jongomero Camp! The staff was especially wonderful and the accommodations and service were top notch. We had rain during our stay in early October that enabled the animals to move from traditional water holes. Despite this, our guide, Vincent, worked diligently to provide us with quality game viewing including a herd of 500+ buffalo, elephant families crossing the River ( we were able to get out of the jeep and watch close up) and three male lions establishing a new pride area. Highly recommend for those looking for an authentic, out of the way camp that isn’t yet overrun."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Buffalo
4 sightings
Elephant
4 sightings
Giraffe
4 sightings
Hippo
3 sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
2 sightings
Zebra
2 sightings
Siwandu
"Siwandu review"
5 nights
Arrived
12 Oct 2024
"Siwandu is a very nice camp with professional and caring staff. They were very flexible and accommodating to our needs including dietary needs when we became ill due to malaria medication. They delivered drinks and other appropriate food to our tent all day long! Our guide, Sulani, was very knowledgeable and he taught us a lot about animal behavior. We saw a wide range of species, including two large lion prides and a large number of hyenas."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Buffalo
3 sightings
Eland
1 sighting
Elephant
10+ sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Hippo
10+ sightings
Lion
2 sightings
Spotted Hyena
10+ sightings
Wildebeest
4 sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Fantastic Trip
Tanzania and 1 other country between 16 Sep 2019 and 3 Oct 2019
"We had a wonderful trip thanks to the fantastic support of Jessica Plumb. She continually went above and beyond in every aspect of our trip from negotiating upgrades to arranging for great local guides and transport. She was truly a joy to work with and we will recommend Jessica and Expert Africa to anyone who is interested in visiting this great continent.
All of our camps, guides, hotels and transport were wonderful. Thank you Jessica and Expert Africa!"
All of our camps, guides, hotels and transport were wonderful. Thank you Jessica and Expert Africa!"
Arranged By Jessica Plumb
Southern Sun Dar
"Nice Hotel Before Safari"
1 night
Arrived
17 Sep 2019
"Hotel has character for a business type hotel.
Great for pre or post safari stay. Clean, quiet room. Helpful staff and nice breakfast."
Great for pre or post safari stay. Clean, quiet room. Helpful staff and nice breakfast."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Lake Manze Adventure Camp
"Wonderful Safari Camp"
4 nights
Arrived
18 Sep 2019
"We had a wonderful time at Lake Manze.
The camp managers, Shawn and Millie, are fantastic. They are very welcoming and accommodating and cater to your safari desires. Choices include all day or morning/late afternoon safaris, boat safaris or walking safaris. They make the logistics seem easy at this busy and fun camp.
Our guide, Imani, was wonderful. We saw many animal world dramas play out as opposed to a checklist of animal sightings. In particular, great lion sightings as well as giraffe water crossings. We also loved the dinners by the campfire and met interesting people from around the world."
The camp managers, Shawn and Millie, are fantastic. They are very welcoming and accommodating and cater to your safari desires. Choices include all day or morning/late afternoon safaris, boat safaris or walking safaris. They make the logistics seem easy at this busy and fun camp.
Our guide, Imani, was wonderful. We saw many animal world dramas play out as opposed to a checklist of animal sightings. In particular, great lion sightings as well as giraffe water crossings. We also loved the dinners by the campfire and met interesting people from around the world."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Buffalo
4 sightings
Eland
Many sightings
Elephant
4 sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Hippo
10+ sightings
Lion
10+ sightings
Spotted Hyena
3 sightings
Wildebeest
4 sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Mdonya Old River Camp
"Loved Mdonya Old River Camp"
4 nights
Arrived
22 Sep 2019
"This was probably our favorite camp. Our guides, Henry and Thomas, were fantastic. Personable, fun and amazing at finding incredible wildlife sightings. Our favorite was watching five families of elephants come together in a dry river bed to bath, drink and interact. It was hilarious and a memory that will stay with us the rest of our lives. We were also the only people at leopard sightings, making them even more special. We will miss these two young men.
Iris and Kings do a wonderful job managing the camp. The food is excellent, particularly considering it is all sourced locally. The tents are immaculate. The staff are very well trained and provide excellent service.
Cocktails and then group dinners by the fire were wonderful. We met people from all over the world and had some very interesting conversations.
We would love to go back to Mdonya Old River Camp someday."
Iris and Kings do a wonderful job managing the camp. The food is excellent, particularly considering it is all sourced locally. The tents are immaculate. The staff are very well trained and provide excellent service.
Cocktails and then group dinners by the fire were wonderful. We met people from all over the world and had some very interesting conversations.
We would love to go back to Mdonya Old River Camp someday."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Buffalo
2 sightings
Eland
10+ sightings
Elephant
10+ sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Leopard
4 sightings
Lion
6 sightings
Roan antelope
Many sightings
Spotted Hyena
Many sightings
Striped Hyena
Many sightings
Wild dog
Many sightings
Zebra
8 sightings
Serena Inn
"Perfect Hotel in Stonetown"
4 nights
Arrived
26 Sep 2019
"We loved our stay at the Serena Inn in Stowntown.
Beautiful, historic hotel. Wonderful staff, with a special thanks to Suleiman for all his help during our stay.
We had a deluxe ocean front room with an amazing veranda where we could watch the sunset and the activity on the beach below. The breakfasts were excellent.
We think this is the best place to stay in Stonetown."
Beautiful, historic hotel. Wonderful staff, with a special thanks to Suleiman for all his help during our stay.
We had a deluxe ocean front room with an amazing veranda where we could watch the sunset and the activity on the beach below. The breakfasts were excellent.
We think this is the best place to stay in Stonetown."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Uzi Island Adventure
" Uzi Island"
28 Sep 2019 • All-day excursion
This was an experience more than a tour. For those who are interested in the real daily life of people who live by the tides on Zanzibar, this will be an enlightening experience. Please note that transportation methods depend on the tide. We rode on a dala dala bus (just for us) on a road through the mangroves. Stops along the way included an education on different types of mangroves and a seaweed farming operation. We walked around a village and saw daily life unfold and enjoyed a picnic type lunch prepared by our local guide's wife.
After lunch, we headed back to the main road via a dugout canoe with a dhow sail which at times felt like it was going to take on water. We eventually left the canoe and backtraced our route through the mangrove road. When we went through, the water was up to our knees and we probably walked about a half mile through this water. There were some areas where the water was opaque and we could not see the ground under our feet.
We suggest this tour is for adventurous travelers only. Our guide indicated that he takes approximately two groups of tourists a month on this experience. Suggest to bring your own water (we were given a bottle of water at lunch and some coconut water in the village), a dry bag (one was provided in the boat but not during the walk through the water and we were concerned about our camera equipment) and hats (straw hats are provided but needed to be returned to the village).
After lunch, we headed back to the main road via a dugout canoe with a dhow sail which at times felt like it was going to take on water. We eventually left the canoe and backtraced our route through the mangrove road. When we went through, the water was up to our knees and we probably walked about a half mile through this water. There were some areas where the water was opaque and we could not see the ground under our feet.
We suggest this tour is for adventurous travelers only. Our guide indicated that he takes approximately two groups of tourists a month on this experience. Suggest to bring your own water (we were given a bottle of water at lunch and some coconut water in the village), a dry bag (one was provided in the boat but not during the walk through the water and we were concerned about our camera equipment) and hats (straw hats are provided but needed to be returned to the village).