Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs D from Hemel

"Great views from our well appointed room. The situation of the Lodge meant that we could easily walk both into the town and to the Falls. Though we walked through the impressive Victoria Falls hotel, we would not have swopped!

News that this was our ruby wedding celebration had obviously been passed on (thank you Nick) and we were greeted with champagne and flowers in our room - both much appreciated."

"The organisation/training of staff and the facilities at Hwange were first class and a great credit to Ruth and Ashley. I was particularly pleased that dinner was served as a buffet, thus enabling me to serve myself with just the amount I wanted which I couldn't do at the other camps/lodges. An evening meal outside our tent on the first night was a great help and much appreciated.

The guides for our game drives (mainly Damesh) were extremely knowledgeable and we benefitted from (usually) being the only couple with him. Also we suspect that, through Steven's tactful networking with the relevant person at Masuma Pan, we were able to stay there for the extra crucial half hour after 'closing' which saw so many families of elephants arrive and depart from the Pan.

Damesh always stopped for long enough to observe animal behaviour and I found this coupled with his explanations very rewarding."

"Thrilled with our room which we suspect was the best! (room 10). Service was somewhat haphazard but always very friendly. Had interesting fellow guests from different countries which added to our enjoyment.

Guiding: first class visit to cave paintings in a morning and Cecil Rhodes grave in the pm of one of our days. Paul Hubbard was an exceptional guide and a mine of information. (Thanks Nick!).

A unique and fascinating camp."

"A lovely hotel in a beautiful setting. Again we had a lovely room (interestingly reminiscent of the '70s!) with a wonderful view of the lake. Efficiently run with well trained staff.

Guide around the actual Great Zimbabwe site was excellent - very knowledgeable BUT

to have a guide AND a driver to take us there from NJ was quite unnecessary. At the end of our visit to the site this guide took us to a lone unoccupied village homestead before driving on to the dam where we just walked across. He told us nothing that wasn't in the Bradt guide. Basically he was unenthusiastic and completely unnecessary. To finish, he indicated that some of his tip he'd give to the family who lived in the homestead we'd visited i.e. could we spare something for them. Of course we shouldn't have risen to this but you hesitate - fine if that's where it goes.

Our big problem here regarded the transfer from NJ to Harare airport. Having paid for the driver's accomm and meals so all was set for this drive, we then found ourselves in a situation where we thought we'd miss the flight which caused us considerable stress."

"The river location was wonderful and, having the honeymoon chalet, we had a particularly good site. We also appreciated the celebratory meal Peter organised for us in our 'home' location.

Alistair was an excellent, informative guide. We particularly enjoyed the drive we had with him on our own. Other drives very good though sometimes we felt influenced by the strongly expressed wishes of other clients accompanying us."