Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs C from Berwick

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Top of the range guiding

On this trip, I visited Zimbabwe between 20-Apr-2019 and 9-May-2019 and I travelled with 1 other person.

Zimbabwe is famous for the quality of its guiding and we weren't disappointed. Differences in age, experience and interests among guides at the three camps we visited made for an excellent, well-rounded trip.

We did more bush walking here than on any of our previous several trips in other African countries and enjoyed it very much (especially when a surprised aardwolf resting in long grass jumped out right in front of us!).

Compared to many previous safaris, the night drives were exceptional (providing some great photographic opportunities).

We were glad we selected camps in two very distinct parts of Hwange NP before going north to Mana Pools, which was different again.

Conditions varied too: the Camp Hwange area was still very green; Somalisa Expeditions (still in Hwange) and Vundu at Mana Pools both unseasonally dry.

We were taken aback by the large numbers of elephants, particularly in eastern Hwange, but fear for the future with Zimbabwe exporting elephants (and other wildlife) from there to China because of its dire financial situation plus continued poaching, voiced on the ground at Mana Pools.

All three camps' accommodation was very good though vegetarian food was a bit variable, the best being at Somalisa Expeditions camp.

I stayed at and have reviewed:

Place	Overall rating
Ilala Lodge, Zimbabwe 21-Apr-2019 review: Overnight stay	Good
Camp Hwange, Zimbabwe 22-Apr-2019 review: Memorable encounters	Excellent
Somalisa Expeditions, Zimbabwe 28-Apr-2019 review: So many elephants!	Excellent
Vundu Camp, Zimbabwe 3-May-2019 review: Dogs... but much,much more	Excellent

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Terrific introduction to Kenya

On this trip, I visited Kenya between 17-Jan-2018 and 4-Feb-2018 and I travelled with 1 other person.

We have been to several African countries but this was our first time in Kenya and we chose areas to visit slightly off the usual track: Laikipia, Samburu and Meru.
Each was quite different but within relatively easy reach. We travelled to all three by road, only getting on a bush plane from Meru to Nairobi. Each camp too was quite individual in terms of style and atmosphere.
The tented camp Kicheche in Laikipia was our favourite overall but Saruni Samburu and Elsa's Kopje were both excellent experiences and in spectacular positions. Of the three Elsa's probably had the highest age profile.
We scored a number of firsts such as tiny lion cubs, a successful cheetah hunt and bat-eared foxes mating (in broad daylight!). It was a delight to see the animals unique to the area such as reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and Grevy's zebra. It was also a privilege to attend part of the celebrations of a Samburu wedding.
All in all a terrific trip and an introduction to Kenya that will probably be hard to beat.

I stayed at and have reviewed:

Place	Overall rating
Kicheche Laikipia, Kenya 18-Jan-2018 review: High drama at Elephant Corner!	Excellent
Saruni Samburu, Kenya 23-Jan-2018 review: Special sightings and a Samburu wedding	Good
Elsas Kopje, Kenya 28-Jan-2018 review: Barely another jeep in sight . . .	Excellent

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Asilia trip exceeded our expectations

On this trip, I visited Tanzania between 1-Feb-2017 and 17-Feb-2017 and I travelled with 1 other person.

The trip consisted of two nights at Arusha plus a total of 15 at Asilia camps: Highlands, Namiri and Sayari. All were very different but with one thing in common: the guiding and staff were excellent.

We would recommend Asilia camps because you can expect high standards across the board and also in the knowledge that they are involved in and contribute towards local communities. They employ as many local people as possible: at Highlands for instance there are Masai community guides. Asilia also have impressive training programmes: while at Sayari we saw this in action as a new batch of trainee guides was being selected.

Overall the balance of the trip was very good: the camps were in very different landscapes and the wildlife viewing exceeded our expectations.

I stayed at and have reviewed:

Place	Overall rating
Machweo, Tanzania 1-Feb-2017 review: Good food at Machweo	Good
The Highlands, Tanzania 2-Feb-2017 review: Spectacular scenery at the Highlands	Good
Namiri Plains Camp, Tanzania 6-Feb-2017 review: Cats cats cats - and an aardwolf - at Namiri	Excellent
Sayari Camp, Tanzania 12-Feb-2017 review: Superb Sayari	Excellent

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Everything we had hoped for and more

On this trip, I visited Namibia between 22-Apr-2016 and 9-May-2016 and I travelled with 1 other person.

We were very glad we decided to fly between most of the camps. The trip would have taken several weeks by road but each and every flight was "scenic" and you only get a real appreciation of the topography from the air. Landscapes in particular are unlike anywhere else we have visited. We enjoyed the whole trip hugely: so different from other safari holidays taken. We saw everything we had hoped for - from desert adapted lions and elephants to walking with black rhino and cheetah. We thought the level of knowledge of the guides in general was not as extensive as other African countries we have visited. Bruno at Mundulea stood head and shoulders above the rest in this regard. Advice for other vegetarians is that this is a very meat-based society but the overall quality of the offerings - with one or two notable exceptions - was uniformly poor and way below our experience in Botswana and Tanzania. It didn't detract from our enjoyment but would have enhanced it! Thanks to Sabina for picking up the organising reins mid-way, in particular flagging up an earlier bush flight on our arrival day.

I stayed at and have reviewed:

Place	Overall rating
Little Kulala, Namibia 22-Apr-2016 review: Excellent first stop	Excellent
Desert Rhino Camp, Namibia 25-Apr-2016 review: Millionaire moments	Excellent
Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, Namibia 28-Apr-2016 review: Surprises on the Skeleton Coast	Excellent
Little Ongava, Namibia 1-May-2016 review: Wish we'd stayed longer!	Excellent
Mundulea Reserve, Namibia 3-May-2016 review: Walking with Bruno	Excellent
Okonjima Bush Camp, Namibia 6-May-2016 review: Cheetah magic	Excellent

Excursion	Overall rating
Ballooning in the Namib Desert, Namibia 23-Apr-2016 review: Must-do experience	Excellent

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We wouldn't have changed a thing

On this trip, I visited Tanzania between 13-Jan-2015 and 28-Jan-2015 and I travelled with 1 other person.

After a safari to Botswana in September 2013 we decided to visit Tanzania in green season, deliberately targeting Selous and Ruaha as a less busy area. Both locations far exceeded expectations and offered a very varied landscape with wildlife to match.

Our three camps were different in character and in how they operate. We were so glad we spent five nights at each as this allowed time to fully explore each area as well as getting to know the guides and staff. We didn't travel with expectations of seeing particular animals and with the bush in full growth thought sightings might be more elusive. However, we saw everything we thought we might see and much more. The number and variety of birds, including migrants, was stunning.

Everything went like clockwork, including camps being aware that we are vegetarian (not a problem!). Without exception staff were friendly, welcoming, informative and helpful. The time flew by and more than 3,000 photographs later, we were sad to leave. We wouldn't have changed a thing.

I stayed at and have reviewed:

Place	Overall rating
Selous Impala Camp, Tanzania 13-Jan-2015 review: Great start to our Tanzanian safari	Excellent
Beho Beho, Tanzania 18-Jan-2015 review: Spectacular!	Excellent
Kwihala Camp, Tanzania 23-Jan-2015 review: Kwihala Camp review	Excellent

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Magic moments

On this trip, I visited Botswana & Zimbabwe between 4-Sep-2013 and 16-Sep-2013 and I travelled with 1 other person.

First we thought Nick advised us well to start at Victoria Falls then move on to the camps. The pre-holiday information sent by Expert Africa was extremely informative and useful and Nick was always prompt in answering our queries.

The three Kwando camps were uniformly excellent but different in their own ways. The common denominator was the positive and welcoming attitude of all the staff. No exceptions. We can't praise them too highly. All were extremely helpful, worked hard and really seemed to want to contribute to the enjoyment of your holiday.

We were apprehensive when setting out as to how we would cope as vegetarians but we enjoyed every meal. We have seen negative reviews about the food but literally everything is cooked or prepared from scratch and we found it extraordinary how such delicious things are prepared in the middle of nowhere.

A small point but we think Kwando are missing an opportunity in the camp shops where there is little choice of local crafts as mementoes. Indeed no-one seemed to know what if anything had been made in Botswana.

This was our first visit to Africa and would probably be difficult to beat. Everything went smoothly from the moment we landed at Victoria Falls to our return flight to Maun. We saw everything that we wanted to see and more and returned home with more than 1600 photographs and memories that will be with us for a long time. Kwando's policy of a maximum six people per jeep makes for memorable and intimate sightings. On a couple of occasions we were the only ones in the jeep. Being so close to the wildlife with no-one else about was magical.

I stayed at and have reviewed:

Place	Overall rating
Ilala Lodge, Zimbabwe 5-Sep-2013 review: Great location for Victoria Falls	Good
Lebala Camp, Botswana 7-Sep-2013 review: Great introduction to Kwando camps	Excellent
Lagoon Camp, Botswana 9-Sep-2013 review: Superb location and sumptuous accommodation	Excellent
Little Kwara, Botswana 11-Sep-2013 review: Little Kwara ... big experience	Excellent