Travel reviews by riguss from Belgium

"although the premises are conveniently located, the rooms are very small and the airco was not maintaned. We slept in bad smell of humidity, typical of uncleaned airco filters."

"Tricia and Phil are excellent managers and the camp is run smoothly and effciently. Guides are very competent, friendly and smiling. Small investment in renovating the tents (zips malfunction or shower clearly rusting for ex) would make it perfect."

"We spent 1 week at Chole. The place is amazing and potentially as close to paradise as possible. The reef is beautiful and in some places really unspoilt. The very idea of the tree houses as put in place together with the special relationship between the lodge and the village left us admired and happy to be there.

We also appreciated being disconnected from the world without electricity, running water, flashing toilets etc.

However, this is an expensive place, not only to stay in but also to reach (the costs of the marine park are high) and to fully exploit as most of the activities get easily to serious prices for one family (one trip to see the whale sharks is 100$ pp). Guests are therefore entitled to expect a service which matches these costs.

Unfortunately this is not the case. Some examples:

1) we were exposed to potential life risk at sea 2 and half hours from the lodge (faulting boat engine, very low level of remaining fuel, uncaring captain) The same captain was again unable to operate another engine and to bring us on a sand bank off the lodge on the last day of our stay.
2) the toilet was given to us the first night full of tropical cockroaches 3/4 cm in size. I killed more than ten myself and had to ask in order the toilet to be sanitized, but only the day after.
3) while the food was good, the quantities were ridicolous: typically one would get a lot of rice and very little fish (30g). In 2 occasions we were refused additional serving "because the remaining portions were for the other guests".
4) common facilities are non existent: apart some sitting space in the breakfast area, no organised sunbathing anywere, not a deck chair, not a bench near the sea. The terrace in our treehouse had no shade.

We understand that the management has changed several times in the last 3 years and Jean and Anne are now reassuming direct responsibility. It is about time and having met and talked to them we have appreciated their strength and vision. Our advice would be, however, that you check thoroughly the conditions of the lodge under the new management before sending new clients."

"excellent starting point into Lwanga. Probably at its best when the pontoon on the river is accessible (not our case).
Rosie is real professsional with charme.

Park guide Lawrence outstanding in knowledge touch and personal contact, the best in our trip"

"Too short to really get the feeling of the place and had no opportunity to walk to Nsolo and Lwui. Next time, we hope. But very professional and enjoyable."

"Simply the best we could expect under every aspect. Very professional and human at the same time.

Elisabetta got her birthday gluten-free cake with a singing choir in the middle of the savana: simply amazing!

Walking safari very interesting and not to be missed if one wants to really understand the bush."

"Despite some relatively good points (breakfast, navette to the airport) the negative sides are numerous and unacceptable for a trip of this standard. The reception was reticent and did not deliver what was kindly asked them to do, the hotel is just under the descending path of the incoming flights of the airport, so forget about sleeping. Rooms very small and poorly decorated.

Our suggestion is: scrup the place from your list"

"How to comment such a place: a big hotel almost empty, full of potential and possible high rank activities which is spoilt by an appaling management. Some examples: we had to fight to get the right bill since the reception was fiddling around with the exchange rates trying to make us pay 8% more of what we had really consumed; the dive center made me pay for an average dive the same price that you would pay in the best diving center in the Seychelles; tuna fish cooked as if it were stone fish, waiting time for the transfer to the airport of 1 hour after three telephone calls and a lot of bargaining...."

"Above our expectation: a real paradise, well managed with style and human touch.

We would highlight splendid cuisine, very professional staff, activities well managed (excellent dive center with smile) and the conservation project seems convincing to us. Two points to consider: better connect the charter flights with the LAM timeschedules to Pemba (so to avoid waste of days) and use of more local food products albeit of non perfect western standard

Thank you in particular to Didi, Paulo, Isabel, Leyla, Adamo."

"An unexpected final present. The hotel is a real "bijou" but the best is Maretha, who manages it with passion and style."