Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs M from Vermont

"Our flight schedule necessitated an overnight stay in Johannesburg and the City Lodge was recommended by Maruska.
It was convenient, reasonable, and comfortable. The breakfast which came with the room was satisfying and complete."

"I can’t say enough about Ilala Lodge. Our room was spacious, the balcony overlooked the back lawn and woodlands, and we could both see the mist from the falls and hear them as well from there.
A hippo was a regular night time visitor below the balcony, and many birds were seen flitting around the trees before and above us. The staff was personable and professional. The woman who plans the trips was extraordinary, she goes the extra mile to be sure the trips are a good fit for the guests. We were a party of 6 and the meals were so good we had dinner every night at a table outside. Breakfasts were both buffet and by order, and these were well-prepared and offered many choices. My husband had a short gastrointestinal illness requiring an extra nights stay, and even though rooms were all booked for that night, Peter managed to find a way to allow us to stay in our room and not have an awkward move. Staff checked in with us to see how he was doing or whether we needed anything. We felt cared for and looked after in a way I didn’t expect. There was an easy walk to the Lookout Cafe with a good view into the gorge, and just beyond the entrance to the park. The hotel was adjacent to the market and Elephant Walk shopping area as well as to several restaurants and hotels. There were comfortable sitting areas on the terrace, near the outdoor bar, and inside as well. It was a bit cool to use the small pool, but it would be very inviting during the hot weather."

"This was our first bush camp experience, and during the initial drive from the airport to the camp, which was at night due to a flight delay, Lloyd spotted a leopard, 2 male lions, and a group of zebra. It felt like we’re were in a Jumanji game! It only got better after that under the tutelage of our guide Moffit (sorry for the spelling) who was with us for 4 days and helped us to understand so many aspects of this part of Africa - the ecosystems, the animals, the extraordinary variety of birds, and a bit about history and culture of the people who live in this region. He was a repository of information and enthusiastically shared what he knew and tolerated all our questions and requests. The support staff were gracious and always ready to be helpful. It was a treat to share meals with the family members who run Tafika and to hear their stories about what it was like when they built it, and how it has changed over time. We loved our little grass hut and how it connected with the land and the river right outside our door.
The visit to the village which Tafika supports is not to be missed! Several of the staff here are from that village."

"We are so happy that Maruska suggest this camp site alongside a channel of the Zambia River. In the evening and mornings, we were treated to a chorus of Hippos enjoying themselves in the river.
Our room was very comfortable - we had everything we needed.
Every morning, we were gently awoken by calls of “Good Morning!” followed by steaming coffee being delivered to our sitting area.

The staff here is quite attentive and personable. Charles, our guide, exemplified why the profession is as esteemed as it is here. His vast knowledge of the animals and vegetation, landscape and history never failed to wow us. His lovely, kind, and gracious personality, and sense of humor, were a perfect fit for our group of 6 which included 2 veterinarians. We so appreciate all he shared with us.

The non-mammal meal options I requested were varied and quite tasty. The staff were quite attentive to this as well. We enjoyed 2 special meals off site. So glad we did the canoe trip up a tributary of the Zambezi. It was a chance to see the hippos, crocs, and water birds up close."