Traveller reviews

Travel reviews by Lazza from Richmond

Review Distribution

Excellent

Good

Average

Poor

Terrible

Total number of trips

Countries visited

Lodges stayed in

Excursions taken

"This was a last minute safari holiday which suddenly became an option when South Africa was put on the UK's Red List of banned countries and we wanted to fly back to the UK without going into hotel quarantine.

We were already about to fly to Kenya when we contacted Olivia and gave her a list of our requirements, including quite detailed covid concerns. She did an absolutely brilliant job organising a trip to Hemingways Ol Seki which delivered everything that we had requested despite having next to no time to arrange it. We travel a lot and regularly go to Africa.

This was our first experience of using Expert Africa and they absolutely lived up to their name and we will be in contact before our next trip."

Hemingways Ol Seki Mara

"It's all about the wildlife"

4 nights Arrived 6 Mar 2021

"This is a very comfortable safari lodge within the Naboisho conservancy which borders the Masai Mara. There is an abundance of game here - a man on a motorbike is employed to keep wildebeest and zebra off the airstrip! The lodge comprises single and family tented accommodation and each large tent has a large shower, bathroom area and balcony overlooking the reserve . Furnishings are fairly basic, there are no tea or coffee making facilities or hairdryers although one is available to borrow. Laundry is free (except for ladies’ underwear which the Masai won’t wash!) I wouldn’t class this as a luxury lodge, despite the Hemingways name, it feels more like a 3*. There is a small lounge with leather chesterfields overlooking the reserve and another tented dining room but no bar or social area.

The food was OK but there is no choice, although i understand you can pre-order vegetarian or pescatarian options.The lunches were the best meal, tending towards lighter salads. Dinner was a four-course affair with starter, soup, main course (mostly consisting of some sort of meat in gravy with potatoes and veg) plus pudding. It felt like nothing had changed in fifty years from a culinary point of view! The closest comparison i can imagine is a skiing chalet holiday. There was no choice of alcohol and no ability to pay extra to upgrade so it was basic white or red wine or beer.

Service was pleasant and fairly friendly and David, the manager, was very visible and helpful.

The game drives were very good, the jeeps are quite new and comfortable and Patrick, our guide, was excellent. There is so much game here. We had numerous close sightings of lions, cheetahs, leopards, herds of elephants, giraffes, hyenas, jackals, warthogs etc.

What I felt was missing were the little extras which we have usually enjoyed on safari although, to be fair, this might be down to COVID as there were only 4 or 5 of us in camp so they must be struggling financially. Bush breakfasts and dinners cost extra, as did the bush walk we enjoyed and there was no tea and coffee on the morning game drives and in the evening drive there was little choice and only crisps and Bombay mix on offer. However, this was also our first Kenyan safari so maybe things are different here.

Bottom line, a safari is all about the animals and Ol Seki delivers this in spades."

Good

Experience Report

Overall Rating:

Good

Location

Excellent

Service

Good

Activities

Good

Rooms

Good

Food

Average

Facilities

Average

Feedback response

We're delighted that these travellers experienced the fantastic wildlife of the Mara's Naboisho Conservancy, though were disappointed to hear of their dining experience at camp. Although these travellers were aware that Hemingways Ol Seki is not a highly luxurious camp, with certain activities an additional cost as standard, their comments are not what we would expect of the food and beverages of Hemingways. The camp's owners welcomed the constructive feedback though and have taken it very seriously. Their menus are currently being rewritten by the Executive Chef based at Hemingways Nairobi and we expect them to be greatly improved in due course. Thanks to the challenges of the last 12 months brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, the camp accepts that some elements were not as they should be (such as the very limited selection of alcohol in camp and on game drives) and they are thankful that this has been brought to their attention for the camp manager to address.

Sightings report