Travel reviews by Ms C & Ms B from London
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
2
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
7
Excursions taken
0
Best guiding in the world
Zambia between 22 Jul 2011 and 1 Aug 2011
"We had the most marvellous trip. It was particularly nice to see that Nkwali and Tena Tena are managed by highly professional and courteous local staff. (Last year in Tanzania, the management was white imported and the staff local) Robin Pope lived up to their reputation of having superlative guides. The skills and knowledge of Victor and Julius were incredible. Every animal, every bird, every tree, they knew it all - add to that brilliant customer service, first aid and vehicle maintenance (Not used) and being able to mix a very decent gin and tonic. What more could you ask for.
The food would have done a good class London restaurant proud. The accommodation was roomy, comfortable, in fact just luxurious.
Absolutely First Class in every respect
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I cannot think of any improvements - how rare it is to say that,
Just got to decide where next!"
The food would have done a good class London restaurant proud. The accommodation was roomy, comfortable, in fact just luxurious.
Absolutely First Class in every respect
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I cannot think of any improvements - how rare it is to say that,
Just got to decide where next!"
Arranged By Maruska AdyeRowe
Nkwali
"Nkwali review"
4 nights
Arrived
23 Jul 2011
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Tena Tena
"Tena Tena review"
4 nights
Arrived
27 Jul 2011
"Just as high a standard as Nkwali. Bertram, the manager and Julius, our guide, were superb. The food was of restaruant quality and the atmosphere friendly.
Once again the guiding was world class, not just identifying the animals and birds but learning about their behaviour"
Once again the guiding was world class, not just identifying the animals and birds but learning about their behaviour"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Pioneer Camp
"Pioneer Camp review"
1 night
Arrived
31 Jul 2011
"Our arrival transport did not arrive, but we were given a lift by a friendly Zimbabwean chap who seemed to have some connection with Pioneer, so all was well. After the individual pampering of Nkwali and Tena Tena, Pioneer was a bit of a re-entry to normality, but we enjoyed that as an experience. It was fun sharing a larger area with groups of campers doing self drive, The chalets were spacious if a little underlit/gloomy.
The Manager was friendly and diligent and helped us do our online check in. We hadn't been aware that Lusaka is much higher than Luangwa, so found it chilly. Food was good and operated on a useful pre-order system so that the chef could prepare well and our excellent meals turned up on time. Transport back to the airport was on time and good.
Pioneer, clearly is in a different league to Nkwali and Tena Tena, but it serves its purpose very well"
The Manager was friendly and diligent and helped us do our online check in. We hadn't been aware that Lusaka is much higher than Luangwa, so found it chilly. Food was good and operated on a useful pre-order system so that the chef could prepare well and our excellent meals turned up on time. Transport back to the airport was on time and good.
Pioneer, clearly is in a different league to Nkwali and Tena Tena, but it serves its purpose very well"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Average
Food
Good
Genuinely the holiday of a lifetime
Tanzania between 7 Aug 2010 and 20 Aug 2010
"I had such high hopes of this trip, I've spent all my life wanting to go on safari. In every measure it lived up to my hopes - and exceeded them.
I cannot wait to visit Africa again, and will certainly do so with Expert Africa.
You were super helpful in helping with planning and guidance and it all worked so well.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We only had one glitch, and it was very small. When we arrived back at Dar airport from Selous Impala, our driver was not there to meet us. It turned out that he was waiting at Terminal 2 and we were at Terminal 1. We managed to find out the phone number and borrow a phone and all was sorted out.
If the telephone number of the transfer company, Kearsley, had been on the form somewhere, this would have helped. But this is only the smallest quibble in what was a most wonderful holiday.
I'm running out of superlatives!
Thank you Eleanor and your team"
I cannot wait to visit Africa again, and will certainly do so with Expert Africa.
You were super helpful in helping with planning and guidance and it all worked so well.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We only had one glitch, and it was very small. When we arrived back at Dar airport from Selous Impala, our driver was not there to meet us. It turned out that he was waiting at Terminal 2 and we were at Terminal 1. We managed to find out the phone number and borrow a phone and all was sorted out.
If the telephone number of the transfer company, Kearsley, had been on the form somewhere, this would have helped. But this is only the smallest quibble in what was a most wonderful holiday.
I'm running out of superlatives!
Thank you Eleanor and your team"
Lake Manze Adventure Camp
"Lake Manze Tented Camp review"
4 nights
Arrived
8 Aug 2010
"We loved Lake Manze Camp.
The guiding and driving was superb: the food excellent: information and conversation with the camp's management very good.
Altogether a wonderful experience"
The guiding and driving was superb: the food excellent: information and conversation with the camp's management very good.
Altogether a wonderful experience"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Mdonya Old River Camp
"Mdonya Old River Camp review"
4 nights
Arrived
12 Aug 2010
"Mdonya is very similar to Lake Manze and just as good. If anything the camp management was even more friendly, and the food just as excellent.
Again, the game spotting and driving and the knowledge and courtesy of our guides was 5 star"
Again, the game spotting and driving and the knowledge and courtesy of our guides was 5 star"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Impala Camp
"Selous Impala Camp review"
3 nights
Arrived
16 Aug 2010
"Selous Impala is a step up in luxury from Manze and Mdonya. The tents on stilts were fabulous, though you did lose a bit of the direct connection with the bush. The food and service was superb - too much so. But this is a matter of taste rather than a criticism of the camp.
Slightly less choice in activities in that they wanted you to come back for lunch so no all day game drives. Our driver/guide was brilliant and his English was the best of the lot. it seems an awful lot for one man to do (rather than having a guide and spotter) but in terms of results he delivered.
Very nice management."
Slightly less choice in activities in that they wanted you to come back for lunch so no all day game drives. Our driver/guide was brilliant and his English was the best of the lot. it seems an awful lot for one man to do (rather than having a guide and spotter) but in terms of results he delivered.
Very nice management."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Feedback response
We wonder if there’s been a misunderstanding here? The Impala team are adamant that they are happy to offer full-day game drives to any of our travellers who specifically want them. That said, such drives are long and hot, exhausting some guests, and the middle of the day is usually the least productive time for game-viewing. Hence the camp doesn’t really ‘push’ them, and we would not recommend a full-day drive early in your stay if you fly in straight from Europe or the US to the Selous.
Southern Sun Dar
"Southern Sun (formerly the Holiday Inn) review"
1 night
Arrived
19 Aug 2010
"Perfectly comfortable and well placed. The staff were helpful and pleasant"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
The guiding was totally brilliant. Was there anything that Victor did not know, and his knoweldge and understanding of the animals and the bush was shared with us with thoughtful charm. Kiki and Zebron who manage the camp were excellent as was Harriet our hostess."