Travel reviews by Ms L from Eltham
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
3
Excursions taken
0
Zambia safari
Zambia between 8 Sep 2007 and 15 Sep 2007
"The overall trip was fantastic.
I have travelled to Africa previously but this was the first time for my friend.
The South Luangwa River Lodge was a great option for someone visiting for the first time."
I have travelled to Africa previously but this was the first time for my friend.
The South Luangwa River Lodge was a great option for someone visiting for the first time."
Luangwa River Camp
"Excellent safari at Luangwa River Lodge"
3 nights
Arrived
9 Sep 2007
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Kaingo Camp
"Great safari at Kaing Camp"
3 nights
Arrived
11 Sep 2007
"We were met by a Steph who explained how everything operated and showed us our room
Rooms were well appointed with ample hot water. Food and service was very good. Friendly and very helpful staff.
The operation at Kaingo is in general very well organised but we did feel a bit too organised sometimes.
We were disappointed to find that we couldn't choose our midday activity each day. The activity appeared to be chosen by what other long stay guests wanted or had already done. We therefore only managed to see the hippo hide once.
Brunch and breakfast can be a bit formal as you have to wait all cars to return.
Guides were very good but we would have preferred to keep one guide for our stay who could have got to know what we had seen.
We did feel as though the long stay guests were in control of where we went and what we saw. In hindsight we should have been more vocal as I think the more experienced guests realised how to deal with the system at Kaingo.
I spent a night in the elephant hide alone and it was a fantastic experienced, very well organised and well thought through.
Efficient and flexible transfer to the airport but as we were leaving early we missed breakfast. There was mention of providing us with sandwiches but nothing materialised.
Overall, it is a fantastic camp in a great setting but when there are long stay experienced guests it can feel that you are joining their safari."
Rooms were well appointed with ample hot water. Food and service was very good. Friendly and very helpful staff.
The operation at Kaingo is in general very well organised but we did feel a bit too organised sometimes.
We were disappointed to find that we couldn't choose our midday activity each day. The activity appeared to be chosen by what other long stay guests wanted or had already done. We therefore only managed to see the hippo hide once.
Brunch and breakfast can be a bit formal as you have to wait all cars to return.
Guides were very good but we would have preferred to keep one guide for our stay who could have got to know what we had seen.
We did feel as though the long stay guests were in control of where we went and what we saw. In hindsight we should have been more vocal as I think the more experienced guests realised how to deal with the system at Kaingo.
I spent a night in the elephant hide alone and it was a fantastic experienced, very well organised and well thought through.
Efficient and flexible transfer to the airport but as we were leaving early we missed breakfast. There was mention of providing us with sandwiches but nothing materialised.
Overall, it is a fantastic camp in a great setting but when there are long stay experienced guests it can feel that you are joining their safari."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Feedback response
We sent this feedback to Juliet Shenton at Kaingo, and this was her response:
"We were very pleased to hear that overall these clients enjoyed their stay at Kaingo. However, let me address some of the points brought up here:
We were very surprised to hear that the clients didn’t receive the sandwich breakfast on their transfer. Sandwiches were sent with them, as I oversaw the making of them myself. Why they weren't given to the guests I cannot imagine. If guests spend so much time game-viewing on their transfer that they don’t stop for a picnic, then the guides normally hand them the food at the airport to take with them. I can only apologise for this, and follow it up here.
In terms of the midday activity – it’s a shame that these travellers didn’t let us know they wanted to go to the hippo hide again. We weren’t aware of this. We usually send out two activities at midday and we try and accommodate everyone's needs as much as possible. The activities are typically decided by guests chatting with their guides over breakfast, or just before they head out, rather than dictated by us. We like also to be responsive to game movements – for example, today there is lion looking to hunt in one direction and leopard action in another, so the vehicles have gone out to view those instead for their midday activities.
I do think that this traveller’s feedback raises a valid issue though: we struggle to include all the activities and hides for guests who are only coming to us for three days - particularly at this time of year. There is so much to see and do, that it’s impossible to get everyone to see and do everything if they're only with us a few days. When travellers stay longer with us, it gives them a much better chance of fitting in all the various activities, and getting to see and do everything that they want to whilst they’re with us.“
"We were very pleased to hear that overall these clients enjoyed their stay at Kaingo. However, let me address some of the points brought up here:
We were very surprised to hear that the clients didn’t receive the sandwich breakfast on their transfer. Sandwiches were sent with them, as I oversaw the making of them myself. Why they weren't given to the guests I cannot imagine. If guests spend so much time game-viewing on their transfer that they don’t stop for a picnic, then the guides normally hand them the food at the airport to take with them. I can only apologise for this, and follow it up here.
In terms of the midday activity – it’s a shame that these travellers didn’t let us know they wanted to go to the hippo hide again. We weren’t aware of this. We usually send out two activities at midday and we try and accommodate everyone's needs as much as possible. The activities are typically decided by guests chatting with their guides over breakfast, or just before they head out, rather than dictated by us. We like also to be responsive to game movements – for example, today there is lion looking to hunt in one direction and leopard action in another, so the vehicles have gone out to view those instead for their midday activities.
I do think that this traveller’s feedback raises a valid issue though: we struggle to include all the activities and hides for guests who are only coming to us for three days - particularly at this time of year. There is so much to see and do, that it’s impossible to get everyone to see and do everything if they're only with us a few days. When travellers stay longer with us, it gives them a much better chance of fitting in all the various activities, and getting to see and do everything that they want to whilst they’re with us.“
Avani Victoria Falls
"Good tourist hotel with excellent location"
1 night
Arrived
14 Sep 2007
"We found the dancers at reception a bit OTT
Exellent rooms with very good facilities
Hotel has good facilities
Friendly staff
Lots of staff at the hotel but quantity didn't always equate to quality
Good business centre - useful for checking-in on-line
Excellent buffet breakfast but lunch was a bit grim"
Exellent rooms with very good facilities
Hotel has good facilities
Friendly staff
Lots of staff at the hotel but quantity didn't always equate to quality
Good business centre - useful for checking-in on-line
Excellent buffet breakfast but lunch was a bit grim"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Average
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
Facilities
Good
Although outside the park, the lodge is just across the river (you drive or boat across) and we were usually one of the first in that area of the park. Guiding was excellent and meals were flexible enough that we could stay out if we had found something of interest.
Efficient meet and greet at Mfuwe airport.
Sean explained how everything operated at the lodge as well as explaining everything in our room
The rooms are beautiful, well appointed and comfortable.
Toiletries, insect repellent, insect killer, hairdryer are provided
Good supply of hot water
The toilet feels a little 'public' as it was quite close to the bed in our room
Although there are lot of vehicles in this part of the park, our guide was excellent and we spent most of the time away from other cars
Well organised sundowners with substantial snacks
Excellent guiding – one guide for the whole of our stay who got to know us and our interests
Suggest that the lodge explains rules of game viewing to new safari goers (ie no mobile phones to be used during game drives!)
Bushwalks available although we didn't participate as our stay was too short
Security was very good, watchmen were always available to take us to and from our room when elephants were in camp. We did not have to wait.
Food and service was excellent and the lodge catered well for a vegetarian.
Efficient and flexible transfer to the next lodge."