Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs C from Bristol

"We used our 1 day stay at Latitude 15 to rest and recharge after the overnight flight to Lusaka via Doha, so we would be ready to launch ourselves into our safari the following day, reinvigorated and raring to go! In this respect it was ideal. Quiet and cool, some pleasant outside areas in the shade, and a very comfortable room, which we were able to access earlier than the standard check-in time (a big thank you to the house keeping staff for that!).

The food was very good, but the available options could have been communicated more clearly. On arrival, breakfast was still being served and we were invited to have something, so we had a cup of tea and a muffin (or equivalent), not really needing much since we had been fed on the plane. Afterwards, we were told that this would be charged at the full non-resident breakfast rate, as our 1 night B&B would only provide breakfast for the following morning. OK, that's fair enough and in the grand scheme of things it wasn't a fortune, but it made for a rather expensive cup of tea and the charging structure could have been explained more clearly at the outset.

There are two restaurants at Latitude 15, but as one of them doesn't open until mid-afternoon the options for lunch are limited to the other one, plus, we serendipitously discovered, a small bar menu. As we were planning to dine in the evening, the restaurant lunch menu offerings were rather too substantial and there did not appear to be anything lighter. An enquiry of one of the staff about light bites or sandwiches was met with negative response, but fortunately we were overheard by a barman who produced a small menu of more suitable fare: a club sandwich and a salad were duly ordered and fit the bill perfectly. Who knows why he knew about it and the other staff member did not – a training opportunity, perhaps.

The evening meal was completely free of miscommunication or misunderstanding and was delicious!

Overall, our stay at Latitude 15 was absolutely fine and we would have no hesitation staying there again, should the opportunity arise."

"Kafunta River Lodge was a wonderful place to start our Zambian safari. Its location in front of a marshy wetland meant that there was always something to look at, with water fowl, puku and hippos featuring prominently.

Our accommodation, a raised chalet with a deck that overlooked the same marsh, was very clean and comfortable. Being an unfenced camp meant that there were some interesting nocturnal visitors, including hippos (very noisy eaters!) and even a leopard.

The food was excellent all round, with evening meals comprising 4 courses: soup, a starter, a main and a dessert. Lunch and breakfast were both buffets, and there was cake at tea time, just before the evening safari drive, which included nibbles with a sundowner. No chance of going hungry!

Most of our activities were drives in a safari vehicle, but we did have one morning walk. This was really interesting and a great opportunity to hear about some of the smaller creatures, as well as the plants and their traditional uses. In both cases our guide J. was very knowledgable and engaging. The pontoon crossings into the park were good fun and quite a novelty.

In the time between brunch and tea there was the opportunity to use the pool, which was a pleasant way to keep cool. This also had a view of the wetland and the river beyond, and one afternoon we were able to see a large group of elephants making their way to the river, as we swam.

Having heeded the advice to travel light we did not have loads of clothes, but the laundry service worked very efficiently with items being washed and returned within a day."

"We loved the rustic feel of Island Bush Camp! The thatch and reed of the accommodation and communal areas have a wonderful almost Robinson Crusoe feel, enhanced by the camp's remoteness and being beside the waters of the Luangwa River. The bucket shower was really effective and more than adequate in terms of volume and temperature of water, although a certain minimum height is required to reach and operate it. However, despite being well and truly in the middle of nowhere, the comfort and catering provided by the Camp were still excellent.

One detail which had not been clearly communicated to us was that there is no in-house laundry service – unsurprising given the Camp's rustic and remote location, but potentially a problem if travelling light. Fortunately, having come from Kafunta River Lodge, we were up to date with our washing so this wasn't an issue.

The default activity schedule seemed to be morning walks, when it was cooler, and afternoon drives, which suited us very well. The first walk was from the Camp itself, while for the second we drove a short distance and then began the walk. In both cases the walks were opportunities to see birds, plants and smaller things – although we did also meet a rather inquisitive giraffe – and to hear interesting stories and folklore relating to what we saw. Our guide, Martin, who was also the camp host, was very knowledgable and happy to fulfil our requests for walks, which was one of the reasons we chose this camp.

In terms of wildlife generally we saw much the same as on our drives elsewhere, with the additional glimpse of some bushpigs. Hippos were ever present and could be heard walking around the chalet during the night, munching on fallen sausage tree flowers; there was a rather fine bull elephant who had a daily commute across the river; and, of course, there were always puku and impala."

"The accommodation at Sausage Tree Camp was fabulous, with a deck overlooking the Zambezi from which we could see hippos, elephants and lots of interesting birds. One afternoon while we were sat there a mother elephant and her calf walked right past our suite and into the river – an amazing sighting.

Although safari drives were the main activity, it was really good to have the canoeing and boating options as well, providing different perspectives of the wildlife viewed from the water. One small criticism of the canoeing is that if the main guide is in the front canoe and you happen to be towards the back of the flotilla with someone who is more of a paddler than a guide (still very important for dodging hippos!), then some sightings were missed as it was not always easy to hear what the guide at the front was saying, but on the whole it was still a great experience. We also did a walk with our guide N., which was different from those we had done in South Luangwa due to the different terrain and habitat, but just as enjoyable.

Other great experiences were the surprise dining locations, with a bush dinner one night on the way back from the evening game drive, and lunch on an island in the river. Being away from the main camp kitchen did not seem to be any reason for a drop in the quality of the catering, and like all the food, these meals were excellent, with the extra thrill of being out in the wild.

We had two particularly memorable wildlife sightings on our drives: one was a group of 4 male lions devouring a waterbuck, just outside the camp; the other was a pack of wild dogs, with 8 puppies. Otherwise we saw what would normally be expected. After dark one evening we had good clear views of both a genet and a civet, which was particularly pleasing as sightings on previous occasions had been obscured by bushes.

We stayed at Sausage Tree Camp as the result of a surprise upgrade and really appreciated the all-round excellence in the management of this camp.

Overall, we loved the Lower Zambezi!"

"One of the reasons we chose to stay at Sosian is that it is possible to go out on foot, which we did twice during our stay. The first occasion was on the afternoon of our arrival, as a way to acclimatise ourselves after travelling from the UK. With Craig (one of the Sosian management team) and a spotter we enjoyed a pleasant walk, looking at birds, some antelope, and a leopard! Not bad for the first outing. The leopard was some distance away in a tree but it was nevertheless a thrill to see it. The second occasion, for contrast, was a morning outing, culminating with a bush breakfast by the river and with some hippos for company. Both were very enjoyable experiences and a good change from the more usual drives in a safari vehicle.

The other change from the usual offered at Sosian is the opportunity to go out on horseback (if a competent rider; we are not) or on a camel (no experience necessary). We went for a camel ride one afternoon as a precursor to the evening game drive, which was great fun. The back of a camel is quite high, providing a good view over the bushes and scrub, and we had a couple of good sightings of elephants in the river and some kudu.

Being a ranch, rather than a national park, it is also possible at Sosian to extend the game drive beyond sunset and to try to spot some of the nocturnal wildlife. This seemed to consist mostly of scrub hares during our excursions but it was still good to have the opportunity.

As a game viewing location, one comment we would make about Sosian is that the wildlife seemed to be less habituated to safari vehicles and more shy than in other places we have visited. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it did mean that a lot of our sightings were from a slightly greater distance.

Our guide, Simon, was very knowledgable and enthusiastic, which made our game drives interesting and informative. He was preparing to sit his Silver Guide exam, which has hopefully gone well. From our point of view he deserved to pass with flying colours!

Something we particularly liked about Sosian was their flexible approach to the activities they provided, without being driven by a particular schedule or agenda. This meant that there was never any feeling of being rushed or following a particular timetable; having said that, we were not there during peak season, when it must be much harder to try to keep everybody happy!

And finally, a comment about the food and accommodation, both of which were of very high quality. Delicious meals and a very comfortable bed to sleep in after a hard day watching wildlife – what could be better?"

"As a tented and ecologically friendly camp, Offbeat Mara has some interesting quirks, like the bucket showers, pitchers of warm water provided for washing and solar powered lighting. However, we found the overall level of comfort to still be excellent – glamping in grand style! The food was also of exceptional quality, accommodating our dietary requirements. On our first night we were taken out to enjoy a bush dinner, complete with camp fire.

We did not have any breakfasts in the camp as the opportunity was offered to take a picnic as part of the morning activity. This meant that we were out from 6:30am until lunch time, with no pressure to rush back. On one morning we broke our drive to meet a ranger and then continue on foot to the breakfast stop; on two other mornings we drove further afield and were thus able to have sightings of a leopard, and some lions which had killed a warthog. Not being constrained to a strict schedule was a definite bonus.

This included extending the evening game drive beyond sunset, which gave us the opportunity to observe the nocturnal behaviour of some of the more familiar daytime species and also to see a spring hare, nightjars and white tailed mongooses.

Our Masai guide, Joseph, was experienced and knowledgable, not only about the wildlife and birds but also about the workings of the Mara North Conservancy. As community-owned land, cattle are allowed to graze but under a managed system of zones, and this seems to be working well. There was an abundance of herbivores enjoying the shorter fresh grass, courtesy of the cows, and we had good sightings of carnivores, too.

My wife celebrated a birthday during our safari holiday and we very much appreciated the surprise that Jennifer arranged – thank you!"

"Tortilis Camp has an excellent location on a hillside facing Kilimanjaro and overlooking a small waterhole, just outside the Amboseli park boundary – although this is something of a technicality as there is no noticeable boundary, other than at the entrance to the camp itself. It is a fenced camp, so there are no restrictions on walking around, during daylight or evening hours.

The accommodation, as is fairly typical for tented camps in our experience, comprises a spacious tent pitched on a solid base with a thatched outer roof, incorporating a bathroom at the back, behind the (very comfortable) double bed, and opening onto an outdoor sitting area at the front. There is a good degree of separation and vegetation between tents to provide privacy. From our tent we had views of Kilimanjaro – when it wasn't shrouded in cloud – but we were not able to see the waterhole or anything much of the wildlife that came to visit it. However, up at the main lounge / bar / restaurant area there was a better view and we were able to watch various animals come to drink, including some elephants while we were having lunch, one day!

The food was excellent, with a good range of options. Buffet for breakfast and lunch; à la carte in the evening. One morning's game drive included a bush breakfast, which was very pleasant out on the plane in the shade of a tree, looking at Kilimanjaro before the clouds rolled in. This was also outside of the park boundary, which again was something of a technicality and it certainly did not deter the family of 3 cheetahs that we saw immediately afterwards. (Maybe they fancied one of the cooked-to-order omelettes?)

The activities provided by the camp were morning and evening game drives, which were in an open-sided safari vehicle with a canvas roof for shade. At this time of year most of the park is a dustbowl except for the areas around the lake and marshes, which are what makes Amboseli such a magnet for wildlife – and tourists, although we were not overly aware of too many of those at the various sightings where we stopped to view the wildlife. There were lots of elephants, hippos, buffalo, wildebeest, various antelopes and giraffes, and loads of birds, both waterfowl and other species. We are not mad-keen bird watchers but easily spotted at least 40 different species without trying particularly hard.

Although the water provided by the lake and marshes makes for great wildlife densities at this time of year, there was not a huge variety and predators, in particular, seemed to be difficult to find. We were fortunate to see the cheetahs after our bush breakfast, and the same 3 the following morning as well, as it happened, as they had not moved that far away. We also had two hyena sightings, including a cub which had popped up from its den. However, the variety of birds was extensive and perhaps the one area where our guide could improve his knowledge. We are not expert ornithologists by any means but our experience on previous safaris elsewhere has been that the guides have a pretty good eye and knowledge of what they are looking at – that is why they are safari guides! They may not know everything (who does?) but usually have a good initial idea, with the relevant well-thumbed guidebooks on-hand for confirmation. It was slightly disconcerting, therefore, to have occasions when we would see a bird and appear to have more of an idea about it than our guide. For example: asking what type of bee-eater we were looking at, to be told it was a fly-catcher because the single page quick ID guide said so, was not really very good. (For the record, when we persuaded our guide to look the bird up properly in his guidebook, it was confirmed as a cinnamon chested bee-eater.) In conversation we understood from our guide that he had been working in Amboseli for 20 years; we would expect a slightly better grasp of the local birdlife after all that time.

This last point aside, our guide's general abilities in terms of driving us around safely, knowing the geography of the park and surrounding areas, and looking for and finding animals, were absolutely fine. He also drove us safely all the way to our rendezvous at the Tsavo West gate as part of our transfer at the end of our stay."

"When we arrived at Severin Safari Camp we were greeted with the slightly ominous comment that they were very full with tour groups of visitors (oh dear, has there been a booking error?), so we had been upgraded to their tented suite! (That's OK, then, no complaints there!) The tented suite was right at the end of the row of standard tented rooms, which meant that we had a good 5 minutes walk to and from the lounge / restaurant area, but as one of the reasons we elected to stay at Severin was that they provide the opportunity to do bush walks, this was not a problem. We like walking.

The tented suite was similar to accommodation in other tented safari camps – canvas walls, solid floor, thatched roof, bathroom at the back – but with the addition of a second closely adjacent tent, which we did not use, providing a further 2 beds. Also, the outside seating area had an extra upper level with sun loungers, which provided good views of two small waterholes. One of these seemed to be quite busy, with a steady stream of zebras, wildebeest, antelopes and giraffes visiting it, and also, apparently, the occasional leopard. This was reported by the night watchman, and is significant because Severin Safari Camp is not fenced; wildlife is free to roam through it and so after dark guests need to be escorted.

As part of our package we had an hour's evening bush walk around the camp, escorted by a Masai guide called Dickson (or maybe Dixon; not sure how it was spelt). He was also on the night watch rota and so was well acquainted with the recent comings and goings of wildlife in the area, pointing out to us the tell-tale signs that various animals had left, and how to interpret them. He was very engaging and knowledgable, and we were delighted that he was also going to be our guide for the full morning's walk we had planned for the following day.

Before that, we had a full-body massage. This was a non-negotiable item included in our package (it seems that everywhere is a spa, these days) and although it was a pleasant experience to have one's muscles rubbed and kneaded, it is not really the sort of thing that we would pay to do otherwise.

We also had to eat. The restaurant operated a buffet at breakfast and a set menu with 2 or 3 choices for lunch and dinner. This was slightly strange to us in that dessert choices were requested at the same time as the starters and mains, but that wasn't a problem, really. The reason was to facilitate serving large numbers of guests efficiently, and it seemed to work reasonably well. The consequence was that the menu tended to comprise food that was amenable to being prepared and served quickly, so it was perhaps not the culinary highlight of the holiday, but on the other hand we were in the middle of the bush, not in some cosmopolitan city centre!

The 4 hour morning bush walk was definitely one of the trip highlights for us. In addition to Dickson the Masai we were joined by an armed KWS ranger, Robert, but no other guests. The outline plan was to walk down to the river, cross it, then do a loop around to a hill overlooking the camp before wending our way back again. This started well enough, and we did manage to find a suitable river crossing away from any hippos or crocs, but unfortunately there were elephants with young on the other side which were best avoided. So, we walked beside the river instead, spotting some terrapins, young crocodiles and a pair of adult crocs courting noisily and with great amounts of splashing. On land we had glimpses of various antelopes and other wildlife, with Dickson's informative commentary on the tracks and droppings that we passed along the way. When we reached the top of the hill he provided some drinks and snacks while we looked out over the plane at the small groups of animals either resting in the shade of the scattered trees or making their way along the well worn trails to or from water. In terms of wildlife viewing we may not have had the thrill of being just feet away from a lion or some other big beast, that the security of a vehicle provides, but that is not why we do it; being out on the ground on foot, able to hear and smell the bush without a diesel engine getting in the way, and to look at all the little details – that is always very satisfying, and the walk was over all too soon.

We also had a game drive while at Severin, with a driver who was also called Dickson. We wanted to visit Mzima Springs, which we did, and then it was fairly typical drive, meandering around and stopping to look at whatever we happened to spot. Towards the end of the drive, as the light was starting to fade and we were heading back to base, Dickson heard a great commotion from some baboons, leading him to suspect that a leopard was in the area. He followed his hunch and sure enough he found it, by this time just a silhouette on a branch of a tree, on the opposite side of a gully from where the baboons had been trying to settle for the night.

So to summarise: our stay at Severin Safari Camp was pretty busy, with a range of activities which we enjoyed very much. Both Dicksons (Masai guide and driver) were very good, although for us the highlights were the walks."

"We arrived at this camp after a very dusty safari in Lake Manyara Park and couldn't wait to shower and refresh - water was available almost instantly for the reviving bucket shower. The welcome was heartfelt and there was impressive attention to our needs, including dietary requirements. We were very tired and slept extremely well in very comfortable beds.

We selected this camp so that we had good opportunity to explore the park widely including the less often visited southern parts and hot springs. The camp really is located in the heart of the bush!"

"Gibbs Farm was a lush tropical oasis in the midst of a dry dusty countryside! The accommodation, restaurant and catering were unequalled. All staff were pleasant and attentive and we had excellent service by Chris when dining al fresco for dinner and breakfast. There were very generous amounts of food provided for picnics when out on safari.

We had booked to stay at Gibbs Farm so that we could day-trip into the Ngorongoro Crater and this worked very well. There were plenty of activities advertised at the Farm including walks around the coffee plantations, but sadly we didn't have time for any of these."

"Ubuntu camp staff welcomed us warmly and we really enjoyed staying here.

The tent and bed were very comfortable. We had some minor water supply issues in the bathroom, but as soon as these were reported - Anna - the camp manager waved a magic wand and water was flowing normally again.

Catering was excellent, with generous picnics provided for lunches."

"We returned to Beho Beho after visiting 2 years previously as we wanted the opportunity for some walking safaris again and we just loved this camp which is wonderfully run by Walter and Karin (now ably assisted by Phil and Tricia).

At the time that we were in camp, there were only a couple of other guests and consequently we had very special treatment. One of the guests was surveying the bird and butterfly species in the area, which meant that we had extra exposure to these and reptiles as well - who needs to see the Big Five? We really enjoyed a trip to Lake Tagalala with a very extended boat trip viewing fish eagles catching breakfast and crocodiles basking in the sun.

We did two lovely morning walks stopping for a breakfast picnic along the way - this enables a much closer inspection of flora, the opportunity to track spoor, hearing and being aware of other animals not normally seen from a vehicle."

"We selected this camp because we have a passion for elephants, and as it is unfenced and near to a regular elephant river crossing, we saw plenty! A couple of young local bulls frequently wandered through the camp, by day or night, which was wonderful.

The accommodation was very comfortable: in our case, 2 double beds in a large safari-style tent with a bathroom (hot and cold water) at the back. At the front there was a deck with a plunge pool for cooling off when it became too hot, and which also afforded good views of one of our nocturnal elephant visitors, as he munched his way through the adjacent vegetation. It was also good for bird watching, but beware leaving anything out as the monkeys will be quick to come investigating!

The food was excellent, with amazing meals coming out of the camp kitchen under the guidance of Francis, the head chef. The staff were all helpful, courteous and attentive, and our guides (Anthony and James) were well-informed and knowledgable. We had some good game drives, including 5 leopard sightings, which were a direct result of our guides' local experience."

"For 3 of our 4 nights we were the only guests in the camp and so had very personal service! Everybody was attentive and the camp is well run, providing such things as after-dark escorts and spraying of the tent with insecticide to ensure a bug-free night. Wake up calls were on time, with attendant tea or coffee before the morning game drives. These were longer than we have experienced at previous camps (mainly in South Africa) as they included a picnic breakfast, so there was no need to return to the camp much before lunch time (around 1pm). We really appreciated this as it gave more time to travel to different areas of the park, which has many different landscapes and habitats, giving good game viewing opportunities.

The afternoons were quite short, with not a lot of time between the leisurely lunch and tea at around 4pm prior to the evening game drive. The daylight is partly responsible for this, as it was dark soon after 7pm, but it did give a sense of being quite busy most of the time. After dinner at 8pm we were quite happy to retire for the night!

All meals were served as a buffet. Presentation, quality and flavour were all excellent and special dietary requirements were happily accommodated.

Our guide and our driver, Samson and Moses, were both competent and engaging. After it rained the roads were quite difficult but Moses handled them with aplomb. Samson was very knowledgable about the whole ecosystem, including animals, birds and plants.

Although the bandas do not have Wi-Fi or electricity for charging cameras etc., mobile phone coverage is good (the guides themselves use it to keep in touch) and batteries can be recharged in the camp office. The lack of Wi-Fi was not an issue for us as we go on holiday to escape such things!

The camp manageress was welcoming and accommodating, and performed her duties as a hostess very well.

We really enjoyed our stay here."

"The location of this camp is fabulous, looking out over a varied landscape (some plains, some wooded areas, some river valleys) with game visible without having to go anywhere. At various times of the day it was not unusual to have elephant, hippo, baboon and hyenas pass through the camp, and elephants eating between the bandas at night was not uncommon. The location was not good for mobile phone coverage, which did not bother us in the slightest.

The rooms were very comfortable with arm chairs and couches to relax in, and also had electricity available for fans, hair dryers, chargers etc. Wi-Fi was provided, too, although we did not use it. The bathroom had a shower open to the sky (from where we were able to observe nocturnal elephant activity on a couple of occasions) and double wash basins. The front of the room is completely open to allow unhindered views, although there is an electric fence to deter unwelcome visitors.

Meals were excellent, both in terms of the taste, quality and presentation of the food that was served and also in the imaginative use of different venues around the camp to eat. Alcoholic beverages were included (some perfectly palatable South African wine) and the staff were always attentive to empty glasses. Dietary requirements were readily accommodated.

The game viewing activities were generally split into morning and afternoon sessions, with the morning one starting at around 6.15am and the afternoon one at 4.30pm. The morning activity included a picnic breakfast, even if it was a walk and the guide had to carry it all! Lunch was served at approximately midday, so there was time to snooze between activities. The guides were very flexible and would take us on drives or walks as requested. The ability to do walks was fantastic, as they were proper walks in the bush with the possibility of seeing anything and everything, and not just a sanitised little pootle around the camp. We even had the privilege of exploring a new area with our guides, where they had not walked before. At the end of our week we were treated to a full day's excursion of some 11 hours and covering 130km, to see some of the more remote areas of the park that were beyond the reach of a normal game drive. We thought this was fantastic! The other activity that was offered was a trip to lake Tagalala, where there was a short excursion by boat. This afforded some good views of crocodiles and water birds and we would have liked it to have lasted longer, but a sighting of wild dogs rather upset the schedule!

We had 2 guides as well as Walter, the manager, when we were out on our various activities. All were exceptionally knowledgable and enthusiastic about what they were doing. In addition, Walter and Karin, the catering manager, did a fine job of playing the host and hostess at meals and other times.

Other facilities of the camp included a very refreshing, if compact, pool and a full size snooker table.

The weather was generally very good during our stay, but following one heavy shower the insect population exploded. This proved quite a nuisance as they got everywhere, making that evening's meal an occasion for extra vigilance. Fortunately the net curtains around the bed were sound and our sleep was not disturbed by the extra bugs.

Overall a fantastic experience and we'd do it all again tomorrow."

"This is a hotel with a difference, as it is very much intended for travellers in transit. In fact, some of our fellow guests were only there for a few hours. We arrived at lunch time and left early the next morning, but managed to enjoy some excellent dining and a very relaxing afternoon by the pool. The room was comfortable and we slept well.

The location is immediately across the road from the beach, giving some fine views of the ocean, but is also unfortunately the other side of Dar es Salam from the airport. The traffic is dire (although our driver assured us that we had seen nothing like its worst) so transfers can take some time."

"This was the first camp that we visited of three, and was excellent in every way. Marks, our guide, did a brilliant job of finding wildlife to see and photograph on our game drives ( a hungry leopard hunting and stumbling across a wildcat, which lost the fight and became dinner).

We encountered a thunderstorm during our stay, which was to be expected as our holiday was at the beginning of the rainy season, but this was an adventure in itself and didn't really alter our activities."

"We really enjoyed the rustic style of the lodge, although maintenance is very necessary and we understand this is due to commence next year. The wooden bridge that gives access to the lodge was grim to drive across, but is due to be replaced.

The lodge is situated overlooking a permanent lagoon, which is brilliant, with constant calling of fish eagles.

The mokoro trip introduced us to small reed frogs, water snails, spiders and fish. Hippos thankfully in the distance! Matt, the guide and K.T. the tracker were excellent in locating game: lion feeding on a recently killed buffalo, and vultures just hanging around expectantly."

"An excellent lodge and we spent 3 good days doing a range of activities on land and water.

The guide we had in the boats and mokoro, Bonolo, was very good: knowledgeable and personable with it."

"We were happy to stay in a quiet location outside of Maun while waiting for a day for connecting flights.

Being able to walk around the game farm gave us the opportunity to spot antelope we hadn't come across so far in our holiday, such as springbok and blesbok, but beware the anteater holes designed to trip the unwary!"