Travel reviews by Lola from Canada
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
7
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
9
Excursions taken
6
My Jun 2024 trip
Kenya between 29 Jun 2024 and 5 Jul 2024
A few things I would change if I was to consider the same location again.
Glad I went in that it did confirm my overall great preference for the Conservancy model.
Always a pleasure planning a trip with Richard - he has a very high tolerance for my questions!"
Arranged By Richard Trillo
Tangulia Mara
"Tangulia Mara review"
Safari in Maasai Mara National Reserve
"Safari in Maasai Mara National Reserve review"
1 Jul 2024 • All-day excursion
The forest and river sections were fabulous! I loved driving through those areas. But a great deal of time was spend on open plains and that was affected for me by the constant visual interruption of smoke from the grass burning, both close-by in the reserve, and at a distance in theTriangle and in the Serengeti.
I found my game drives somewhat lacking after the conservancies. Very good elephant numbers, which was great to see. But I had higher expectations–especially for big cats. I did have multiple lion sightings, including a very nice one of the Tangulia pride on the move at sunset. Other lion sightings were less active, but always nice meeting new prides. However, over the 4 days there were no leopard, cheetah or serval sightings, which was disappointing. Very good birding if that is your thing. While I am not a birder, I did enjoy a few new sightings of bird behaviour.
The one real standout over the 4 days of drives was witnessing a tremendous zebra crossing in the Triangle. Definitely the highlight of the 4 days. This was followed by a herd of about 80 elephants on our way back to camp.
My Oct 2023 trip
Kenya between 9 Oct 2023 and 3 Nov 2023
Arranged By Richard Trillo
Nairobi Elephant Orphanage visit
"Nairobi Elephant Orphanage visit review"
12 Oct 2023 • Morning excursion
Feb 2023
Kenya between 17 Feb 2023 and 9 Mar 2023
Wish the wallet and package had arrived sooner.
But overall very happy and loved meeting Richard! A bonus. 😊
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Perhaps just earlier mailing of final paperwork."
Feedback response
Expert Africa apologised to this traveller for the late delivery. UK's Royal Mail service experienced strikes and an IT failure that compounded our own lateness in sending out materials.
Arranged By Richard Trillo
Tamarind Tree Hotel
"Tamarind Tree Hotel review"
Room smell problem, tv didn’t work, phone didn’t work… Also-Sunday is family day at the hotel and it is absolutely packed with locals for brunch and swimming.
They did fix the issues as they came up. The staff are really quite helpful. I just think my room was possessed."
Nairobi Giraffe Centre visit
"Nairobi Giraffe Centre visit review"
25 Feb 2023 • Morning excursion
Nairobi Elephant Orphanage visit
"Nairobi Elephant Orphanage visit review"
25 Feb 2023 • Afternoon excursion
Great information and wonderful interaction.
Kicheche Bush Camp
"Kicheche Bush Camp review"
The front end staff are always there when you need them - Kennedy and Abraham were big favourites."
Balloon flight over the Mara
"Balloon flight over the Mara review"
28 Feb 2023 • Morning excursion
Kicheche Mara
"Kicheche Mara review"
Once again, the radio use in the trucks was a complete distraction. I must have asked to have it turned down at least 10 times. It is by far the worst camp I have been to in this regard. Constant noise. Why not get headsets for the guides who like to be on the radio a lot?
Andrew is doing a great job with the camp. It looks better than it ever has-albeit large. But he is carving out lots of small spaces for folks to hang out. The new tents will be a great addition."
My Jan 2023 trip
Rwanda between 11 Jan 2023 and 19 Jan 2023
Unlike many of the other safari destinations however, this one benefits from a little more planning and insight."
Arranged By Lyndsey Marris
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
"Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge review"
Staff and management went out of their way to make sure my needs were met and I enjoyed my stay. I loved having a fire in my room when I returned in the afternoon. Also great having a soaking tub after a tough hike.
The main lodge has lots of different areas to hang out and enjoy the surroundings. You can always find a quiet nook for yourself. My hiking boots never looked better than when they whisked them away and cleaned them after my trek."
Golden Monkey Trekking
"Golden Monkey Trekking review"
15 Jan 2023 • Morning excursion
On my trek they were not out in the open where apparently, they usually are. They were deeper in the thick of the bamboo forest which made for difficult photos, but very interesting viewing.
Gorgeous primates and quite relaxed–but always moving.
Gorilla Trekking Safari
"Gorilla Trekking Safari review"
16 Jan 2023 • Morning excursion
Both of my sightings were deeper in the bush where it was a little tougher to see, but you really felt like you were in the gorillas environment. Rangers were very knowledgeable and aware of the pace of the different group members, which they managed well.
As someone who is well travelled on safaris and has had amazing encounters with wildlife, this was my first gorilla experience and it was absolutely brilliant! So very different from anything else I have done.
Gorilla Trekking Safari
"Gorilla Trekking Safari review"
18 Jan 2023 • Morning excursion
My Sep 2022 trip
Kenya between 18 Sep 2022 and 26 Sep 2022
Arranged By Richard Trillo
Sarara
"Sarara review"
Reteti Elephant Orphanage visit
"Reteti Elephant Orphanage visit review"
22 Sep 2022 • Morning excursion
My Nov 2021 trip
Kenya between 2 Nov 2021 and 14 Nov 2021
Very good game viewing all around. Well run camps with amazing guides.
That's what it is all about."
Arranged By Richard Trillo
Kicheche Mara
"Kicheche Mara review"
Kicheche Bush Camp
"Kicheche Bush Camp review"
I do miss the old classic breakfasts Kicheche used to serve.
Things are a little more "fancy" now. :-)"
Kicheche Valley
"Kicheche Valley review"
Game is not always as prolific as with Olare and Mara North, but we had great cheetah sightings, good lion and some wonderful elegies at sunset, so no complaints.
The conservancy was in dire need of rain."
They have two types of vehicles. The first day I was in, what I understood to be their newer vehicles. Very high rood covering and completely open-no windshield. These are very comfortable and roomy vehicles with great visibility. As a photographer, I found the lack of option to stand a bit problematic-both for spotting and for variety of shooting positions. It would be especially advantageous with such high grass. But they were very accommodating to switch me to one of their older style vehicles where you can stand. The visibility is a little less open as the trucks are bulkier and there is a windshield, but the amity to stand out weighed that. There was also better camera support shooting from seated. SO, overall both vehicles are very good, but I do think the newer ones are more suited to wildlife viewing and not equipped for photographers who might need lens support and different angles of view.
The camp itself is very good. My game drives were somewhat lacking, which can happen when dealing with wildlife.
The food was, in my opinion, well below what I would expect for a camp of this standing. Very disappointing. Honestly, this was a big shortcoming for a camp of this standing. The food was absolutely not at all comparable to other properties I have stayed at. In fact, I would say it was the most disappointing of any camp I have stayed at both in terms of quality, variety and presentation. (When plated(as opposed to served at the table, which was more usual) the food was just piled on the plate with no sense of presentation at all.) The lack of variety was very disappointing. (ie: over 4 lunches there were cubed beets served 3 times and pizza served twice(I will say the pizza was actually the best of what was served for lunches.) One lunch had 3 different servings of carrots on the plate-grilled, shredded carrot salad and cubed and mixed in rice. It was accompanied by a dry vegetarian patty, but when I inquired what that was made of, no one could tell me. One lunch I was served plain spaghetti noodles. No sauce. (There was a meat sauce for those eating meat but no sauce option for vegetarian. Packed breakfast included the same fruit option every day. A whole apple, orange or tree tomato ( I think?) These were the only fruits included all 4 mornings. I even mentioned that I don’t eat apples, but they were still on offer every day and again in the evening when a half of small apple by itself, warmed with a sprinkle of sugar and cinnamon was served for desert. At dinner one night I asked what the vegetarian option was made of, and the server did not know. So, I opted to try the lamb cubes-(which were served on two of the 4 nights)-but found it very tough and difficult to chew. The soups in the evening were very good, as were the savoury items at breakfast, but other than that, very disappointing."