Travel reviews by Mrs B & Ms W from Surbiton

"A long way from the airport but also a long way from other camps which gave us a feeling that we had the plains and the little wildebeest calves to ourselves.

For a mobile camp, the accommodation, facilities and food were all excellent. Our guide Makubi was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and fun, and Meleijahas our Maasai warrior was exceptional - spending time with him was a great experience and he spotted wildlife, particulalry cheetah, that were way in the distance."

"A beautiful, peaceful camp. John and Carol were the perfect hosts, welcoming and great company.

The wildlife out of the wildebeest season was superb, we saw plenty of big cats, zebra, elephants and even rhino and had the perfect sundowner watching a leopard in a tree with a kill then moving on to a lioness with cubs playing on a boulder.

We really didn't want to leave this place!"

"What a beautiful island! Forest walks with the chimpanzee researcher and trackers were fascinating - we got to learn all about their habits, nests, diet etc and my daughter actually saw chimps on a later walk she did but which I - sadly - didn't attend! It's not easy to spot them but Rubondo isn't just about the chimps - it has great birdlife and fishing (not our scene, but others would love it) and other wildlife too - we particularly loved Bella, the resident bushbuck.

In terms of the activities and facilities, it's a bit difficult to comment because we went before the camp was officially open and it wasn't completely finished (we did know this beforehand), so the swimming pool and reception area were still incomplete. However, the lounge and bar/dining area had stunning views across Lake Victoria and were extremely relaxing, the food was superb and the rooms well-equipped and beautifully located.

Some of the roads were also inaccessible (meaning we couldn't get to the area where the giraffes frequent) but were being repaired in time for the opening in June. Our grades therefore relate to the activities and facilities which were up and running at the time of our stay."

"A great place to start my first safari..."

"Another great camp. Elephants clearly thought so too because they stayed outside our room for an hour. Fortunately we were in the bar at the time, in the company of four guides, and had to stay there until the elephants left..."

"A truly inspiring camp! We thoroughly enjoyed visiting Mkasanga village and school which Tafika supports through the Tafika Fund and would urge other guests to go to see another perspective of life in the bush. It seems that Tafika really makes a difference to the lives of people here.

In my mid-70s, I had my first flight in a microlight - a wonderful experience with exceptional views over the Luangwa."

"Zebra Plains provided one amazing experience after another, from our short canoe trip across the river on arrival to our final walk tracking a leopard, steering clear of a sleeping hippo and watching a herd of elephants as they walked close by. The staff here are excellent. This was my first safari, and everyone made me feel relaxed and safe and enhanced the whole experience.

Garth is a brilliant guide - fascinating, entertaining, informative and fun. We didn't walk with Malemia but he was charming company at mealtimes.

For such a remote location, the food was very good but I felt they were perhaps a bit too ambitious at times. Sometimes, the simple food was the best - like the delicious breads baked daily in their earth oven. Accommodation and facilities were comfortable and clean and it's good to know that the camp is removed at the end of each season leaving minimal impact on the environment.

For a camp that has only recently opened, everything ran very smoothly and professionally."

"Very relaxing end to our trip. Nathanda at Zambezi Safaris, the in-house tour operators, was excellent!"