Travel reviews by Ms C & Mr S from Dublin
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
4
Excursions taken
0
My Oct 2013 trip
Kenya between 14 Oct 2013 and 25 Oct 2013
"Could have chosen a better airline. Pinewood to Satao far too long by road.
Food was mainly from good to excellent as was accommodation.
Would not choose again or recommend this particular itinerary."
Food was mainly from good to excellent as was accommodation.
Would not choose again or recommend this particular itinerary."
Feedback response
Direct flights from London to Nairobi are available on two airlines: Kenya Airways (which these travellers chose), which flies overnight and arrives in the morning, and British Airways, which gets into Nairobi in the evening. The road transfer from Diani Beach to Tsavo East national park is indeed long (with an early start, arriving for lunch), and we will be sure to advise future travellers more clearly about this. Unfortunately there are no scheduled flights to Tsavo East National Park.
Arranged By Richard Trillo
The Emakoko
"The Emakoko review"
3 nights
Arrived
15 Oct 2013
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Pinewood Beach Resort
"Pinewood Beach Resort review"
2 nights
Arrived
18 Oct 2013
"We had some problems in this resort and following discussions with management they were very keen to ensure that they would be resolved.
Rooms are spacious. Breakfast area very nice indeed. Dinner and breakfast very good. Lunch is poor. Very clean. Well maintained. And as everywhere in Kenya lovely staff with great sense of humour."
Rooms are spacious. Breakfast area very nice indeed. Dinner and breakfast very good. Lunch is poor. Very clean. Well maintained. And as everywhere in Kenya lovely staff with great sense of humour."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Good
Service
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Feedback response
We understand the Pinewood gave these travellers a free upgrade to a suite on checking in and we have raised a number of concerns with the hotel about the condition of the room when they first moved in, to ensure they are not repeated. The hotel has said the suite did require airing, which had not been done that day to avoid monkeys getting in. The Pinewood has not responded to the comment about lunch, but has assured us they made great efforts to make the guests comfortable and happy.
East Africa Manager
Satao Camp
"Satao Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
20 Oct 2013
"It's a long, long road trip from Pinewood Resort to Satao. 7 hrs by road each way. Too long!
If it was our first safari or we were keen photographers it would have been a disappointing trip. Plenty to see but not enough tracks or roads in the park to get close to the animals. The result is that a resting pack of lions and cheetah and cubs could barely be seen as they were so far away. Certainly over 300 yards away! As well felt that the hide at the camp was too far from the waterhole.
Accommodation was very nice as was the food. Again the staff were terrific."
If it was our first safari or we were keen photographers it would have been a disappointing trip. Plenty to see but not enough tracks or roads in the park to get close to the animals. The result is that a resting pack of lions and cheetah and cubs could barely be seen as they were so far away. Certainly over 300 yards away! As well felt that the hide at the camp was too far from the waterhole.
Accommodation was very nice as was the food. Again the staff were terrific."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Activities
Poor
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Feedback response
The road transfer from Pinewood to Satao Camp is normally around five hours, with the last hour through the park in a 4x4 safari vehicle. Unfortunately there are no scheduled light aircraft flights to Tsavo East National Park, so aside from chartering a plane, road transfers are the only option. On a safari of only two nights, luck plays a prominent role in determining the success of wildlife sightings. Nevertheless, as the Expert Africa photos show, big cats are often seen very close to the tracks and roads. Satao Camp itself is well known for the quantities of wildlife that frequently come into camp. The hide is positioned in a location where guests can normally safely reach it (and return from it) without being stranded while animals are active below. We are sorry that these travellers felt the wildlife experience was disappointing overall.
East Africa Manager
Pinewood Beach Resort
"Pinewood Beach Resort review"
2 nights
Arrived
22 Oct 2013
"As before."
Excellent
We visited some historic places around Nairobi and have to complement Sylvester on his driving in the madness of Nairobi traffic. He was great. Chris and Rachel who were doing relief managers were absolutely terrific. Highly recommend this lodge."