Travel reviews by Mr K from New York
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
2
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
9
Excursions taken
6
Short trip to Rwanda
Rwanda between 29 Jun 2019 and 3 Jul 2019
"I was on a 3 week trip to Uganda and Expert Africa planned a short extension primarily to visit the Nyungwe Forest.
Amanda Bond was the agent and she did a great job of creating a trip that met my expectations. The tour guide and vehicle were excellent. The accommodation and food were great. There could have been a bit better co-ordination of the activities at Nyungwe, but in the end I had a great time.
Only wish I had had longer to spend in Rwanda."
Amanda Bond was the agent and she did a great job of creating a trip that met my expectations. The tour guide and vehicle were excellent. The accommodation and food were great. There could have been a bit better co-ordination of the activities at Nyungwe, but in the end I had a great time.
Only wish I had had longer to spend in Rwanda."
Hotel des Mille Collines
"Hotel des Mille Collines"
1 night
Arrived 29 Jun 2019
"Brief stay - late arrival and early departure. Hotel was excellent. Great breakfast and good internet."
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
"Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel review"
3 nights
Arrived 30 Jun 2019
"The hotel was excellent.
I read the reviews for the hotel and was a little worried. But the staff were amazing, the food and rooms were very good.
I had a fire in the room every evening. I don't see how the more up-market lodge can be worth the substantial additional cost."
I read the reviews for the hotel and was a little worried. But the staff were amazing, the food and rooms were very good.
I had a fire in the room every evening. I don't see how the more up-market lodge can be worth the substantial additional cost."
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Chimpanzee
Many sightings
City & Genocide Memorial Tour
"City & Genocide Memorial Tour review"
30 Jun 2019 • All-day excursion
Very thought provoking.
Rwanda is a place where you need to pay your respects to the dead.
Rwanda is a place where you need to pay your respects to the dead.
Excellent
King’s Palace & Museum Visit
"King’s Palace & Museum Visit review"
30 Jun 2019 • All-day excursion
Excellent. Was busy when I was there and went around with a group of Rwandans, which made for a more interesting cultural experience.
Also recommend the National Museum in Butare (Huye) which was also visited. Very interesting and well laid out.
Also recommend the National Museum in Butare (Huye) which was also visited. Very interesting and well laid out.
Excellent
Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest
"Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest review"
1 Jul 2019 • All-day excursion
Chimpanzee trekking was excellent.
Saw about 20 chimps up a tree eating figs. Eventually they call came down very close to us and then disappeared into the undergrowth.
Well worth the early start.
Saw about 20 chimps up a tree eating figs. Eventually they call came down very close to us and then disappeared into the undergrowth.
Well worth the early start.
Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest
"Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest review"
1 Jul 2019 • All-day excursion
The canopy walk was closed for repairs. We went on a nice walk around the forest.
Would have been better to know in advance and then could maybe have planned something different.
Would have been better to know in advance and then could maybe have planned something different.
Average
Bird Walk in Nyungwe Forest
"Bird Walk in Nyungwe Forest review"
2 Jul 2019 • All-day excursion
Had two birds walks.
For the first, I had an excellent guide (I had a forest walk the previous day and the guide had called to ask for an experienced bird guide). We saw a lot of the Albertine Rift Endemics. I particularly wanted to find the red collared mountain babbler. The guide was a little reluctant, we had to negotiate with the army for access and it was a pretty steep climb, but all worth it to see a very special bird.
The guide on the second walk was very nice, but had limited bird knowledge.
For the first, I had an excellent guide (I had a forest walk the previous day and the guide had called to ask for an experienced bird guide). We saw a lot of the Albertine Rift Endemics. I particularly wanted to find the red collared mountain babbler. The guide was a little reluctant, we had to negotiate with the army for access and it was a pretty steep climb, but all worth it to see a very special bird.
The guide on the second walk was very nice, but had limited bird knowledge.
Excellent
Colobus Trekking in Nyungwe
"Colobus Trekking in Nyungwe review"
2 Jul 2019 • All-day excursion
I had seen colobus previously on the trip and so did not have high expectations for this activity. However, I really enjoyed it.
We were surrounded by the monkeys who were very relaxed and close.
We were surrounded by the monkeys who were very relaxed and close.
Excellent
My Oct 2015 trip
Zimbabwe between 3 Oct 2015 and 19 Oct 2015
"Great trip to Zimbabwe. Everyone raves about safari guides in Zimbabwe and they really are excellent."
Bulawayo Club
"Bulawayo Club review"
1 night
Arrived 3 Oct 2015
"I did not actually stay at the Bulawayo Club. I had a room booked but it became apparent very shortly before I left, that the booking had been "mislaid". They had a big function that evening and presumably needed the room. I was warned that the Club was unreliable. I did visit during the day - it seemed nice. Bit disappointed.
I did stay instead at the Banff Lodge, which was good. It was a little noisy (Rugby World Cup Scotland vs. South Africa) and the rooms are close to the bar.
Kudos to Nick at Expert Africa - he arranged a change of accommodation at short notice and a driver for the day.
Bulawayo is very interesting. Railway museum is excellent."
I did stay instead at the Banff Lodge, which was good. It was a little noisy (Rugby World Cup Scotland vs. South Africa) and the rooms are close to the bar.
Kudos to Nick at Expert Africa - he arranged a change of accommodation at short notice and a driver for the day.
Bulawayo is very interesting. Railway museum is excellent."
Amalinda Lodge
"Amalinda review"
3 nights
Arrived 4 Oct 2015
"Amalinda was excellent. Rooms built into hillside incorporating rocks. Very hospitable. Great meals.
Visited Khami ruins on way from Bulawayo, which were excellent. Only visitors at site. Recommend the longer walk to get full appreciation of the site.
Day trip to Great Zimbabwe was long - very early start. The site is really worthwhile. Very few visitors.
Matopos is a beautiful National Park. Wildlife somewhat limited, though we did (briefly) see rhino."
Visited Khami ruins on way from Bulawayo, which were excellent. Only visitors at site. Recommend the longer walk to get full appreciation of the site.
Day trip to Great Zimbabwe was long - very early start. The site is really worthwhile. Very few visitors.
Matopos is a beautiful National Park. Wildlife somewhat limited, though we did (briefly) see rhino."
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
The Hide
"The Hide review"
2 nights
Arrived 7 Oct 2015
"Very nice camp. The coffee delivered with the morning wake-up call was a great touch. Rooms excellent. A lot of elephant activity at waterhole each night. Definite advantages of a family-run camp.
The camp is adjacent to the Vic. Falls - Bulawayo railway line. Heard trains early each morning.
Disappointing lack of predators at time of visit."
The camp is adjacent to the Vic. Falls - Bulawayo railway line. Heard trains early each morning.
Disappointing lack of predators at time of visit."
Good
Location
Average
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Camp Hwange
"Camp Hwange review"
3 nights
Arrived 9 Oct 2015
"Excellent guides. I was never very enthusiastic about walking safaris, but the walking here was excellent. Food was great.
Only negative was that I was lumped into a large photography group on the last day and felt a little rushed out of the National Park because of their flight schedule."
Only negative was that I was lumped into a large photography group on the last day and felt a little rushed out of the National Park because of their flight schedule."
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Ilala Lodge
"Ilala Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived 12 Oct 2015
"Great location, only a short walk from the Falls.
Everyone at the hotel was very friendly. Food was good, but recommend at least one meal at the Victoria Falls Hotel, which is a short walk away. Spent a morning birding in Zambezi NP with Charles Brightman, which was excellent.
Helicopter flight was great, though do not think the longer flight is worth the extra money."
Everyone at the hotel was very friendly. Food was good, but recommend at least one meal at the Victoria Falls Hotel, which is a short walk away. Spent a morning birding in Zambezi NP with Charles Brightman, which was excellent.
Helicopter flight was great, though do not think the longer flight is worth the extra money."
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Vundu Camp
"Vundu Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived 14 Oct 2015
"Great camp and amazing guide.
3 day canoe safari was excellent, though low water prevented access to many of the smaller channels, which were the most interesting part. C
anoeing may be better earlier in the season, though the concentration of wildlife close to the river was incredible."
3 day canoe safari was excellent, though low water prevented access to many of the smaller channels, which were the most interesting part. C
anoeing may be better earlier in the season, though the concentration of wildlife close to the river was incredible."
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Mana Pools Canoe Trail
"Mana Pools Canoe Trail review"
2 nights
Arrived 16 Oct 2015
"Canoe safari was excellent. Was expecting to "rough-it", but the camps were incredibly luxurious.
Being on the water gave a whole new perspective.
Water level was low, so some smaller channels were blocked, which was disappointing."
Being on the water gave a whole new perspective.
Water level was low, so some smaller channels were blocked, which was disappointing."
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent