Travel reviews by Miss T from North London

"Updated rooms were a nice treat, communal areas are very comfortable and have a fantastic aspect to the lagoon. Staff are extremely attentive and can't do enough for you. This camp is located in a 'Garden of Eden' as far as quantity and quality of game. Every turn in the road is filled with a series of sightings not just a solo animal.

Our guide, 'The Dr.', was excellent yet again and definitely enhanced our viewings and knowledge of the area. It's hard not to be infected with enthusiasm by a guide who is passionate about their job and their environment. This camp is priced high, but does not disappoint.

The landscape views at Mombo are pleasing enough, but for wildlife our long stays with Legadema and her cubs with a kill were certainly the highlight. Getting close to buffalo on the boardwalk each day was life affirming, only topped off by an elephant that gave our jeep our goodbye kiss upon our departure! Wonderful experience."

"This was my first time in the Selinda so I was keen to experience a new environment. The recently built camp was stunning. Rooms are luxuriously appointed and ridiculously spacious with a private plunge pool facing your own slice of the lagoon, it is a stunning and private setting.

The small number of tents adds to the intimacy and creates a quiet, that coupled with your location on the lagoon, seems to attract a great deal of wildlife right in your 'front yard'. Game drives did not disappoint with a huge variety of wildlife as well as an incredible range of birds.

Staff are warm and friendly with a good sense of humor. The camp is managed by an excellent couple who are clearly dedicated to what they do and imbue their love of the bush and their pride of this camp to you. The new menu being introduced by Lindy was some of the freshest and healthiest food I've ever experienced in a safari camp. We were lucky to have our guide 'Dukes' to ourselves and he was very informative, relaxed and entertaining.

We felt very 'at home' here. A seriously luxurious quality camp that doesn't miss a beat on wildlife either, would return in a heartbeat."

"This was a return to Tongabezi for me and I have to say a slightly disappointing one. Whilst in a great position on the Zambezi and close enough to town, the camp has 'faded' since my last visit. I was in one of the open older style cottages, and I appreciate it must be hard to keep things fresh in an open room, but the room felt tired and unloved (fallen tiles lay around, stained/coloured sheets and fabrics, dusty floors/shelves), perhaps our feelings were exaggerated by the quality of camps we'd arrived here from.

In the communal areas we found the same 'rough edges', uncleared tables left for hours, communal couches and seats shabby and service was a bit hit and miss. Things improved over the stay but we had a desire to be 'out of camp' when we had planned to chill out here in camp for a couple of days before heading home.

Local staff were very friendly and had the most incredible smiles and singing voices, but didn't seem genuinely happy. It was odd. Like something was missing in tying it all together. This lodge is more expensive than others on offer, I would definitely try another lodge in the Livingstone area next time.

Not sure if the Transfers are linked to Tongabezi or Wilderness?? but we wouldn't do the full road transfer next time and instead fly from Kasane to Livingstone. The collection from Kasane, through customs and onto the boat were great, but the pickup from the boat transfer was mixed. We were harassed by the local vendors and they did nothing to support us during this. We got through customs fine, visas etc., but they weren't particularly friendly and small things like having no water in the van for us, when they said we were only people they'd picked up today.

The vehicle was comfortable and their driving was safe, but it felt like we had definitely left the 'care of Wilderness'."