Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs N from London
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
3
Countries visited
3
Lodges stayed in
12
Excursions taken
0
My Sep 2023 trip
Tanzania between 23 Sep 2023 and 1 Oct 2023
Met our expectations of a safari trip - plenty of animal sightings, good camps in scenic locations and everything running smoothly."
Arranged By Tamara Hoskyns-Abrahall
Serena Hotel Dar
"Serena Hotel Dar review"
Kigelia Camp
"Kigelia Camp review"
Wildlife in the area was plentiful. Safari drives were excellent.
We did 2 bushwalks and did not find them very interesting. Would not return to this camp for walking."
Sand Rivers Camp
"Sand Rivers Camp review"
We enjoyed all the activities. There was a good variety of game drives, walking and boating.
However we would have found it helpful to have a written description of the activities on offer when we arrived so we could have planned our stay better. For example, we were unaware that the hide/platform did not have any shade and had to abandon our visit there."
Nichols in Zambia
Zambia between 9 Oct 2013 and 23 Oct 2013
As we were there in mid-October the temperatures were very high which would have deterred a lot of people, but it did mean that animals congregated around the water sources which certainly increased our sightings."
Mwamba Bushcamp
"Nichols at Mwamba"
The guided walks were the highlight. You get closer to the animals when you're in a car but walking through the bush is a completely different experience. We were there in mid-October and it has to be said that with the temperature at around 38 degrees, some might find it excessively hot. By the time we got back from a walk at 10.00 a.m. we were all ready for a cold shower.
It did mean, however, that the animals congregated around the available water and were much easier to spot.
The hide, overlooking a waterhole, attracted much wildlife, with elephants approaching very close to the hide.
The drives were also very productive, with us encountering a leopard within 30 minutes of setting out on our first drive.
Considering the limited cooking facilities, the food was very impressive."
Chikoko Tree Camp
"Nichols at Chikoko"
The guided walks were the highlight. You get closer to the animals when you're in a car but walking through the bush is a completely different experience."
Big Lagoon Camp
"Nichols at Crocodile"
Although the accommodation is essentially a grass hut, it has all the facilities necessary and if there is the occasional frog sharing your bedroom, it's all part of the experience. If you prefer five star hotels, this isn't the holiday for you.
The guided walks were the highlight. You get closer to the animals when you're in a car but walking through the bush is a completely different experience. We were there in mid-October and it has to be said that with the temperature at around 38 degrees, some might find it excessively hot. By the time we got back from a walk at 10.00 a.m. we were all ready for a cold shower. It did mean, however, that the animals congregated around the available water and were much easier to spot.
Our guide, Brent Harris was very knowledgeable and keen to share his enthusiasm.
Considering the limited cooking facilities, the food was very impressive."
Tafika
"Nichols at Tafika"
The walks and drives were largely along the river which ensured that we saw game in abundance, including large herds of buffalo and sizeable herds of elephant."
Taj Pamodzi Hotel, Zambia (this camp has since closed)
"Nichols in Lusaka"
It's centrally located and we were able to walk to everywhere we wanted to see.
Food in the restaurant was rather expensive but there's little competition within the immediate vicinity."
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Avani Victoria Falls
"Nichols at Zambesi Sun"
There were large numbers of children when we were there, but it wasn't noisy and most people seemed to go to bed quite early.
We decided to have one dinner in the Royal Livingstone, the neighbouring hotel, but we had some difficulty in booking a table - their administration didn't seem to be very efficient. We managed it in the end, and it was well worth it, but make sure you book early.
You need to take a taxi to get into Livingstone, but for the typical visitor, staying at the Falls is probably preferable to staying in Livingstone."
Overall feedback
Botswana between 22 Oct 2010 and 8 Nov 2010
There was also a problem when we asked over the phone for a quote, but you were under the impression that we were still considering which camps we were interested in and were waiting for us to make the next move."
Arranged By Lucy Copson
Shinde Camp
"Nichols at Shinde"
The elephants wandering through the camp during night were a bonus. The staff were very attentive and were keen to cater to our choices of activities. The boat trips were particularly interesting and different to anything we've done elsewhere in Africa.
When a leopard was spotted near the airstrip and a report was radioed into camp one lunchtime, the staff went out of their way to drive us straight out there and make sure that we had a good view of it."
Shinde Footsteps
"Nichols at Footsteps"
Although I was very pleased with the camp and the facilities, it has to be said that they wouldn't be to everyone's taste. They are, deliberately, very simple and basic, so if you don't like having to use a hole in the ground as a toilet, or having to use a bucket shower, this isn't the camp for you. But if you want to feel a bit closer to nature, I would strongly recommend it. The staff do try to make it as comfortable as possible; the food is plentiful and tasty and the cool box is always full of drink."
Private Mobile Camp, Botswana (this camp has since closed)
"Santantadibe Mobile Camp review"
The selling point of Santantadibe is, of course, the guide, Grant, whose family have been in Botswana for generations. He clearly knows the area intimately and has a pretty good idea of what animals are around and where they're most likely to be found. We managed to find everything on our wish list, with the exception of wild dogs, for which Grant was very apologetic. He's obviously very keen on lions and we saw some on every game drive.
On one night drive, we were taking some time to locate any lions so he turned out all the lights in the car and imitated the cry of a buffalo calf in distress. Sure enough, after a few minutes he turned the lights back on and we were surrounded by a pride of lions looking for an easy meal.
The other big attraction is the walking. The walking is in no way strenuous; it didn't feel much more than a gentle stroll, but being on foot gives an entirely different feel to game viewing. You don't get as close to the animals as in a car but it's an entirely different experience. Grant was a fantastic guide with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the animals, birds and plants. He always managed to come up with something interesting and we felt entirely safe in his hands.
Most of our friends have marvelled that anyone should choose to stay in basic accommodation and go walking among wild animals. I can't think of anything more satisfying.
One point which should be borne in mind is that it took us 5 hours of driving through the bush (not on a track) from Santandibe to reach Maun. For anyone flying home after Santantadibe, it's likely that the drive to Maun, combined with the waiting time in Maun will push the whole journey time to over 24 hours."
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Would stay again."