Reviews of Lake Manze Adventure Camp
(93%) From 199 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Great way to end our trip
Enjoyed activities - had initial poor guide which Sean dealt with immediately and hooked us up with excellent guide Samwell/ Daniel... drive me to my chalet every time,
Read more about the whole safariLake Manze Adventure Camp review
Staff, safaris and accommodation were great
Read more about the whole safariA memorable stay at Lake Manze Camp
I enjoyed every part of my stay at Lake Manze Adventure Camp, and found it to be the perfect base from which to explore the beauty of Selous Game Reserve.
The camp had a truly authentic, and rather rustic feel, and the local wildlife, including giraffes, elephants and impala would frequently wander through camp. My tent had everything I needed, and I slept very well despite being woken occasionally at night by grazing hippos, and the sound of nearby hyenas and lions.
Shaun and Millie were incredibly welcoming, and always sat with the guests at meal times, and entertained us with their stories. Dinner under the stars was wonderful, and we would see the resident genets and bush baby each evening. The food was always very tasty, and my vegetarian diet was very well catered for.
One thing that I especially liked about Lake Manze was that guests can choose their own itinerary for each day. You could choose a morning game drive with bush breakfast, come back for lunch and a little siesta, then go out again in the afternoon for another game drive. Or you could decide on a boat trip instead of one of these. Alternatively you could have breakfast at camp, and then experience an all day game drive with bush lunch.
I was lucky enough to be the only one on my safari vehicle, and was shown the wonders of the game reserve by my expert guide Kalisti who was very knowledgeable, and shared my passion for birds. He was ably assisted by my driver/guide Kamkumba, who pointed out plenty of wildlife, and negotiated the sometimes tricky tracks with great skill.
As a conclusion, I would thoroughly recommend Lake Manze Camp. The hosts and all of the staff made my stay a special one, which I will remember for a very long time. I had so many excellent wildlife sightings, and Selous Game Reserve is a stunning region of Tanzania. I hope to return one day!
Lake Manze Adventure Camp review
Sean and Millie were so welcoming. Truly wonderful driver and guide too. I had elephants visiting me regularly around my balcony. The food cannot be faulted. I thought the facilities in the tent were excellent.
Overall I had the most amazing experience and would definitely return. many people were coming for one or two nights whereas I stayed for four nights. I enjoyed feeling part of the place and could just enjoy being in the camp where all sorts of animals came through. Went on the boat safari but didn't enjoy it as much as the road ones. There were a lot of fumes from the boat and found getting stuck on the shallow part we went through quite scary although the driver had it under control.
I was travelling alone and found this no issue at all. Liked having my own personal driver and guide rather than being put with other people. The meals were good times to talk to other people. Loved how the masai people kept a watch over one.
Good location, less wildlife than Ruaha
Well run rustic camp with wildlife at very close quarters, sometimes just a few feet away. The camp offers numerous options for game viewing by vehicle, boat or walking. The bird life on the lake is exceptional.
Sean and Millie were friendly and helpful and we hope they manage to renew their contracts next year to continue running this camp.
We would have scored this camp higher had the accommodation been better but the water flow in the showers was very poor and also stone-cold most of the time. It is disappointing that even though we stayed for 4 nights and spent hundreds of dollars per night, they still charged us $2 for shampoo... it leaves a bad taste and seems unnecessarily mean.
Interesting camp. & location. Well managed
Well managed camp. Personable staff.
Good food, first class guides, none provided with binoculars to help them spot birds easily. - see previous review of Mdonya Camp
Expert Africa comments
Whilst we were glad that overall these clients enjoyed their stay, we were sorry to hear that their guide did not have binoculars. We contacted the camp about this and they informed us that it is standard practice for guides to carry binoculars, and they are sorry that this did not appear to be the case on this occasion. The camp works hard to source high quality binoculars, with their binoculars typically coming from South Africa. They informed us that they have a system in place whereby the guides contribute a little towards the cost of binoculars, and that these then become their own personal pair. This then encourages the guides to keep them in a good condition.
Lake Manze Adventure Camp review
Lake Manze is a true bush experience, which we love and its why we made this return visit. Millie and Sean (Managers) were very friendly and an interesting couple. Really enjoyed their company.
Our guide, Joseph, was one of the best we have had. Very knowledgeable on his birds (our particular interest) and an excellent spotter. He worked well with our driver, Zahora, who was a very caring driver and good spotter as well. They both showed so much interest in the wildlife and really made our stay so enjoyable.
Excellent time at Lake Manze
Had an amazing time at this camp. It was exactly what we wanted for our first safari, was run like clockwork and has great staff. Very special thanks to our hosts Shawn and Millie who ensured that we felt very comfortable throughout our stay and that everything worked as it should. Arranging dinner seating so that everyone sits near someone who they will get on with is an example of the efforts they go to to make sure everyone enjoys their stay - some people may not like this idea but they have been doing this for a while and got it right every time while we were there.
Special thanks also to our guide and driver Zac and Ali, the best in camp in our view. Zac is wonderfully knowledgeable about the area and its wildlife and Ali manages to get the vehicle to places you wouldn't think vehicles should go - often the driving was an exciting as the wildlife. The camp provides walking, boating and vehicle safaris. We did them all and particularly enjoyed the boat safari, though they were all excellent. Breakfast and lunch in the bush were particular highlights and all the food, while not cordon bleu , is tasty and plentiful.
Facilities are as advertised, so don't expect wifi, electricity in your tent, a/c, pool etc. Note that despite what the website says electric charging is available 24/7 by the bar. This is a close to nature camp albeit with proper toilet, shower and bed. Wild animals , particularly elephants, roam throughout the camp and this is one of its main attractions.
We had a wonderful time and cannot recommend this place highly enough, my wife is already planning to take our daughter there.
Lake Manze - January 2018
Good location, with great game viewing close at hand. The camp is good; tents are simple and comfortable, communal areas very good; all very well hosted by Shaun and Millie. Food was good, and they catered well for my specialised requirements. Very good value. With hindsight I wish I had stayed for 4 nights rather than 3.
January was quite wet, and some of the vehicles struggled in muddy conditions. I suspect that they could do with a little more investment. Boat safaris are good, with excellent bird life.
The local airstrip can't be used in very wet conditions and the road in can be blocked, necessitating a transfer by small boat, which can feel uncomfortable.
Lake Manze Adventure Camp review
Game drives and guide Kalisti and guide/driver Daniel (who looked after us extremely well) were excellent - lots of game in the camp area - better on this occasion than other areas in the Selous.
We loved the bush breakfasts and early morning game drives. Our hosts Sean and Millie went beyond the call of duty to welcome us and to make our stay memorable.
The tent would have been more comfortable if the bathroom/toilet had been included in the zipped zone - difficult to avoid insects getting in when the bathroom is in use, particularly at night.
