Travel reviews by Mr/Mrs E from Wisconsin US
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
2
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
9
Excursions taken
4
Family trip June 2022
Rwanda and 1 other country between 2 Jun 2022 and 17 Jun 2022
"Our trip was excellent and a wonderful family memory with our young-adult children. The recommended lodges were excellent and we were very happy to be able to support the local communities at each site - facilitated by Expert Africa and Richard Trillo.
Logistically, the connections between cities, lodges, and airlines were flawless. This was our second trip with Expert Africa (and working with Richard Trillo), and it was more complex than our last one: international, bush, and charter flights; three sites; two countries. This trip would have been impossible for us to have pulled off on our own - especially with the two-year delay forced by the pandemic! We were very happy to have these experts on our side!
Regarding the pandemic, Rwanda had the strictest protocols at the time of our trip - requiring four tests in seven days - but our driver arranged all three in-country tests and kept tabs on our results and paperwork for us. Masks were required in all airplanes, but the COVID numbers are so much lower in Africa than in the USA that we all felt very safe in the lodge settings - venues were spacious and largely open-air. We definitely had some anxiety about passing a PCR test in order to go gorilla trekking (we'd had COVID just 45 days before), but we hoped for the best and it worked out for us (and trip insurance would have come through had it not).
I would say that while COVID introduces a "wild card" into the proceedings, the travel-related requirements were well managed for us while overseas, and, in my opinion, going on safari is far safer than going to an American movie theater!"
Logistically, the connections between cities, lodges, and airlines were flawless. This was our second trip with Expert Africa (and working with Richard Trillo), and it was more complex than our last one: international, bush, and charter flights; three sites; two countries. This trip would have been impossible for us to have pulled off on our own - especially with the two-year delay forced by the pandemic! We were very happy to have these experts on our side!
Regarding the pandemic, Rwanda had the strictest protocols at the time of our trip - requiring four tests in seven days - but our driver arranged all three in-country tests and kept tabs on our results and paperwork for us. Masks were required in all airplanes, but the COVID numbers are so much lower in Africa than in the USA that we all felt very safe in the lodge settings - venues were spacious and largely open-air. We definitely had some anxiety about passing a PCR test in order to go gorilla trekking (we'd had COVID just 45 days before), but we hoped for the best and it worked out for us (and trip insurance would have come through had it not).
I would say that while COVID introduces a "wild card" into the proceedings, the travel-related requirements were well managed for us while overseas, and, in my opinion, going on safari is far safer than going to an American movie theater!"
Arranged By Richard Trillo
Heaven Boutique Hotel
"Heaven Boutique Hotel review"
3 nights
Arrived
3 Jun 2022
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Kigali Tour and Genocide Memorial Visit
"Kigali Tour and Genocide Memorial Visit review"
4 Jun 2022 • All-day excursion
The museum was excellent; well presented and moving. A must-see if visitors have enough time in Kigali.
The city tour was underwhelming for two of us with lots of experience with African and Asian urban environments, but it was enjoyed by the young adults in our group.
The city tour was underwhelming for two of us with lots of experience with African and Asian urban environments, but it was enjoyed by the young adults in our group.
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
"Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
6 Jun 2022
"Extremely attentive staff! Birdwatching walk with staff member on the grounds was lovely. Fairly good vegan options available, and the staff was very mindful and aware of dietary restrictions in our group. The standalone cottages were cosy and well-appointed, and the setting is gorgeous. We appreciated the fireplaces (fires started by staff).
A small drawback was a hard-sell from the manager regarding tips and community support (suggesting quadruple the levels recommended by Expert Africa!?), when we felt we'd been doing our part to support the community by selecting this lodge. The staff were very knowledgable about what was needed to make the treks happen (lunches, gaiters, gloves, backpacks)!"
A small drawback was a hard-sell from the manager regarding tips and community support (suggesting quadruple the levels recommended by Expert Africa!?), when we felt we'd been doing our part to support the community by selecting this lodge. The staff were very knowledgable about what was needed to make the treks happen (lunches, gaiters, gloves, backpacks)!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Feedback response
We were delighted that this family enjoyed Sabyinyo so much. However we were concerned that they felt pressured to leave large tips. We heard back from the lodge after they had read these comments and the manager apologised for any misunderstanding. He assured us that the lodge appreciates every guest who stays at Sabyinyo and they are supporting the local community by doing so.
In later emails we learned that the suggestions about larger tips than Expert Africa would normally suggest related to the national parks guides, rangers and trackers, all of whom faced economic hardship through the pandemic. We feel strongly that tips should always be discretionary and not used to subsidise the employer's payroll, but we recognise that the opportunity to earn tips is part of the attraction of these jobs, beyond the often modest salaries.
In later emails we learned that the suggestions about larger tips than Expert Africa would normally suggest related to the national parks guides, rangers and trackers, all of whom faced economic hardship through the pandemic. We feel strongly that tips should always be discretionary and not used to subsidise the employer's payroll, but we recognise that the opportunity to earn tips is part of the attraction of these jobs, beyond the often modest salaries.
East Africa Manager
Sightings report
Mountain Gorilla
10+ sightings
Golden Monkey Trekking
"Golden Monkey Trekking review"
7 Jun 2022 • Morning excursion
This was an excellent "warm-up" for the gorilla trek we did the next day.
I was somewhat skeptical beforehand about this excursion, but this turned into an excellent opportunity to see golden monkeys at close range, and also to have a "dry run" of common elements with the gorilla trek: wake up and move-out, equipment, and acclimating to the altitude.
This was extremely enjoyable and we highly recommend!
I was somewhat skeptical beforehand about this excursion, but this turned into an excellent opportunity to see golden monkeys at close range, and also to have a "dry run" of common elements with the gorilla trek: wake up and move-out, equipment, and acclimating to the altitude.
This was extremely enjoyable and we highly recommend!
Kigali Serena Hotel
"Kigali Serena Hotel review"
1 night
Arrived
8 Jun 2022
"The check-in process, late at night, was inexcusably long despite their already having our passports and our guide calling ahead as we were driving in from the gorilla trekking.
When going to our room, we were not told we were in a "new wing," and had to go up to the top floor, get lost, and come back to the main desk to ask for directions. The room that we were given was not cleaned after the most recent guests had left (!), prior to our arrival, and they never brought fresh towels, so we shared the one unused towel left over from the previous guest.
Food was expensive and no dairy-free options were available. We recommend that anyone with dietary restrictions present a prepared (translated) note for the staff.
Because of an early departure, we had our breakfasts boxed. For some reason they prepared 8 boxes for the five of us, and none of them were what we ordered - several items were missing, and several unordered items were present... fortunately we were able to piece together what we needed."
When going to our room, we were not told we were in a "new wing," and had to go up to the top floor, get lost, and come back to the main desk to ask for directions. The room that we were given was not cleaned after the most recent guests had left (!), prior to our arrival, and they never brought fresh towels, so we shared the one unused towel left over from the previous guest.
Food was expensive and no dairy-free options were available. We recommend that anyone with dietary restrictions present a prepared (translated) note for the staff.
Because of an early departure, we had our breakfasts boxed. For some reason they prepared 8 boxes for the five of us, and none of them were what we ordered - several items were missing, and several unordered items were present... fortunately we were able to piece together what we needed."
Poor
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Poor
Location
Good
Service
Terrible
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Gorilla Trekking Safari
"Gorilla Trekking Safari review"
8 Jun 2022 • Morning excursion
This was an excellent experience!
We visited the Agashya family, which had three silverbacks and several younger males and females. Unlike the monkey trekking, the gorillas were in a dense section of the forest, and so it was good that there were only 8 in our group (the maximum) - it was more difficult to always have a good sightline. (That said, over the course of an hour we all did have ample time to observe and photograph the gorillas.)
We visited the Agashya family, which had three silverbacks and several younger males and females. Unlike the monkey trekking, the gorillas were in a dense section of the forest, and so it was good that there were only 8 in our group (the maximum) - it was more difficult to always have a good sightline. (That said, over the course of an hour we all did have ample time to observe and photograph the gorillas.)
Excellent
Sarara Treehouses
"Sarara Treehouses review"
3 nights
Arrived
9 Jun 2022
"Philip (the manager) was a great host and we enjoyed our meals and discussions with him. The guide was knowledgable and friendly, and every night drive included a spotlight for viewing nocturnal creatures.
The activities were excellent: we enjoyed beading with the local women, and also the trip to the singing wells. We also enjoyed the two hikes we were able to do - a silver lining of the very dry and sparse vegetation. We very much enjoyed the elephant sanctuary visit, too: there were a lot of "orphans" of different species, which we got to see up close.
The game viewing was fine, but the landscape is different (much drier) from the Masai Mara and so the density (flora and fauna) is much lower. The landscape is beautiful! We recommend this site for the combination of game viewing, the activities, and the unique setting.
The food was excellent, and this site did an excellent job with their vegan options and accommodating the wide range of dietary preferences in our group."
The activities were excellent: we enjoyed beading with the local women, and also the trip to the singing wells. We also enjoyed the two hikes we were able to do - a silver lining of the very dry and sparse vegetation. We very much enjoyed the elephant sanctuary visit, too: there were a lot of "orphans" of different species, which we got to see up close.
The game viewing was fine, but the landscape is different (much drier) from the Masai Mara and so the density (flora and fauna) is much lower. The landscape is beautiful! We recommend this site for the combination of game viewing, the activities, and the unique setting.
The food was excellent, and this site did an excellent job with their vegan options and accommodating the wide range of dietary preferences in our group."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Elephant
10+ sightings
Gerenuk
2 sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Spotted Hyena
5 sightings
Reteti Elephant Orphanage visit
"Reteti Elephant Orphanage visit review"
11 Jun 2022 • Morning excursion
We very much enjoyed the elephant sanctuary visit!
There were a lot of "orphans" of different species, which we got to see up close. We enjoyed feeding the baby giraffes and gerenook, and observing the elephant care plans (brief visit with the nutritionist). This was also a nice "link" to the singing wells, as several of the orphans had been rescued from them.
This is an excellent endeavor of the Samburu community and we highly recommend it!
There were a lot of "orphans" of different species, which we got to see up close. We enjoyed feeding the baby giraffes and gerenook, and observing the elephant care plans (brief visit with the nutritionist). This was also a nice "link" to the singing wells, as several of the orphans had been rescued from them.
This is an excellent endeavor of the Samburu community and we highly recommend it!
Tangulia Mara
"Tangulia Mara review"
3 nights
Arrived
12 Jun 2022
"The service felt very personalized, with a Masai celebration and cake commemorating our long-delayed family graduation trip on our final night. The food was excellent with very good vegan options and attentiveness to our group's dietary restrictions. The only non-dairy milk was coconut milk.
Our guide was superb, and the animal sightings were numerous. We were there in June 2022 - rainy season and pre-migration - and some sites could not be accessed due to muddy terrain. Also, the tall grasses and pre-migration status meant that some sightings were harder to come by. That said, even the drive from the airstrip on the first day was fantastic!
The site is beautiful - we could view game from our porch, and if the tents were "less polished" than other sites they were still luxurious: the showers were hot, everything was clean and spacious, and service was outstanding."
Our guide was superb, and the animal sightings were numerous. We were there in June 2022 - rainy season and pre-migration - and some sites could not be accessed due to muddy terrain. Also, the tall grasses and pre-migration status meant that some sightings were harder to come by. That said, even the drive from the airstrip on the first day was fantastic!
The site is beautiful - we could view game from our porch, and if the tents were "less polished" than other sites they were still luxurious: the showers were hot, everything was clean and spacious, and service was outstanding."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Black Rhino
1 sighting
Buffalo
10+ sightings
Cheetah
3 sightings
Eland
10+ sightings
Elephant
10+ sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Hippo
10+ sightings
Lion
10+ sightings
Spotted Hyena
10+ sightings
Wildebeest
4 sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Four Points Nairobi Airport
"Four Points Nairobi Airport review"
1 night
Arrived
15 Jun 2022
"The check-in process was very fast and efficient, and the rooms were clean and beds were very comfortable.
Showers were hot, and wi-fi was fast. Despite being on the airport property, our rooms (5th floor) were very quiet, even for our light sleepers.
The breakfast buffet was extensive, but the non-dairy options were very limited. Soy milk was the only non-dairy milk available."
Showers were hot, and wi-fi was fast. Despite being on the airport property, our rooms (5th floor) were very quiet, even for our light sleepers.
The breakfast buffet was extensive, but the non-dairy options were very limited. Soy milk was the only non-dairy milk available."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Food
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
A fantastic safari trip
Kenya between 19 Jul 2015 and 29 Jul 2015
"The trip as a whole was fantastic! I am especially grateful to Richard Trillo, who worked with me through the long process of selecting regions in Kenya to visit, and the sites and the activities. He was very knowledgable and we had a fruitful email "conversation" as we sorted through the details and my wife and I made our choices.
The different parts of the trip - airport pickup with Southern Cross Safaris, the flights, the safari camps and the transfers - all worked together seamlessly.
It was an unforgettable trip, and I feel fortunate to have worked with Richard in crafting it, and am grateful to Expert Africa for having pulled it all together! I will recommend them to friends and family for future travels.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
This is not a complaint as much as something to consider. The trip was a large expenditure - akin to buying a small car, for our family! If it made sense to gather information or provide recommendations on travel insurance, that may be worth considering adding to the Expert Africa portfolio. We ended up using SquareMouth, which worked well for us (caveat: we made no claims)."
The different parts of the trip - airport pickup with Southern Cross Safaris, the flights, the safari camps and the transfers - all worked together seamlessly.
It was an unforgettable trip, and I feel fortunate to have worked with Richard in crafting it, and am grateful to Expert Africa for having pulled it all together! I will recommend them to friends and family for future travels.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
This is not a complaint as much as something to consider. The trip was a large expenditure - akin to buying a small car, for our family! If it made sense to gather information or provide recommendations on travel insurance, that may be worth considering adding to the Expert Africa portfolio. We ended up using SquareMouth, which worked well for us (caveat: we made no claims)."
Arranged By Richard Trillo
Eka Hotel
"A great overnight before starting the safari"
1 night
Arrived
20 Jul 2015
"This was a very nice hotel for us to spend a short night before heading out to the bush in the morning.
It is conveniently located, the room was beautiful and comfortable and quiet. Staff were friendly and helpful with excellent English."
It is conveniently located, the room was beautiful and comfortable and quiet. Staff were friendly and helpful with excellent English."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Lewa Safari Camp
"Great start to safari at Lewa Safari Camp"
4 nights
Arrived
20 Jul 2015
"This was our first stop; we spent four nights each here, and at Elephant Pepper Camp.
The service and facilities here were excellent, the food was delicious, and they readily accommodated us when one more of our party switched to vegetarian meals. This was more of a lodge than the EP Camp, and had a different feel. (We enjoyed both approaches.). Dinner was served to us at multiple tables in the dining room, a party at each table, and one course at a time. Tea and coffee were always available, too. Lunches and breakfast were more open-air, and buffet-style (a very good buffet with nice presentation and grape at food). Overall, meals felt les formal to us than at EP Camp, though the EP Camp were at a common table.
Guidi was outstanding. Tom/Ngoju had an eagle eye, and was patient and really cared about impacting the animals as little as possible. In terms of wildlife - there was less here than at EPC - i.e. no gigantic herds, "just" medium-sized ones, but the location, low crowds, and unique wildlife (Grevy zebra, reticulated giraffe) made us happy to have come.
It was especially good to have started our trip here, as the animal herds that we saw still knocked our socks off. That said, if I were visiting only a single site in my lifetime in Kenya, I would select the Mara area, for the sheer ease of finding animals (especially lions). But I would gladly return here."
The service and facilities here were excellent, the food was delicious, and they readily accommodated us when one more of our party switched to vegetarian meals. This was more of a lodge than the EP Camp, and had a different feel. (We enjoyed both approaches.). Dinner was served to us at multiple tables in the dining room, a party at each table, and one course at a time. Tea and coffee were always available, too. Lunches and breakfast were more open-air, and buffet-style (a very good buffet with nice presentation and grape at food). Overall, meals felt les formal to us than at EP Camp, though the EP Camp were at a common table.
Guidi was outstanding. Tom/Ngoju had an eagle eye, and was patient and really cared about impacting the animals as little as possible. In terms of wildlife - there was less here than at EPC - i.e. no gigantic herds, "just" medium-sized ones, but the location, low crowds, and unique wildlife (Grevy zebra, reticulated giraffe) made us happy to have come.
It was especially good to have started our trip here, as the animal herds that we saw still knocked our socks off. That said, if I were visiting only a single site in my lifetime in Kenya, I would select the Mara area, for the sheer ease of finding animals (especially lions). But I would gladly return here."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Elephant Pepper Camp
"Luxurious stay at EPC"
4 nights
Arrived
24 Jul 2015
"We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Elephant Pepper Camp (EPC). We were here four nights, and were greatly spoiled. The staff and hosts were attentive and thoughtful; the food was excellent. I also left as a HUGE fan of the conservancies. The stay included one trip into the Masai Mara Preserve, and I'm glad that we went - and also glad that we only went once. We had gotten spoiled with the smaller crowds at the Lewa Conservancy and the Mara North Conservancy (home of EPC), and while we did see elusive cheetahs in Mara Preserve, the crowds left a bad taste in our mouth.
In contrast, the game drives in the Mara North Conservancy, around EPC at least, were very productive and enjoyable. Our guide, Francis, was very patient and had an eagle eye and was attentive to our wishes, which were to observe the wildlife in a "low impact" way.
I would recommend this site, and this Conservancy, very highly to anyone who wanted to visit, including my family, who have gained an interest in safaris based on our trip. The Camp truly is a "camp," with animals wandering through at night - this limited our ability to move throughout the camp, somewhat, without a guard - but that was just a minor annoyance, and an experience I'm glad that we had. Lions and hyena sounds at night!! Exciting!"
In contrast, the game drives in the Mara North Conservancy, around EPC at least, were very productive and enjoyable. Our guide, Francis, was very patient and had an eagle eye and was attentive to our wishes, which were to observe the wildlife in a "low impact" way.
I would recommend this site, and this Conservancy, very highly to anyone who wanted to visit, including my family, who have gained an interest in safaris based on our trip. The Camp truly is a "camp," with animals wandering through at night - this limited our ability to move throughout the camp, somewhat, without a guard - but that was just a minor annoyance, and an experience I'm glad that we had. Lions and hyena sounds at night!! Exciting!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
The breakfasts were excellent, with a non-dairy milk option available.
The hotel is within walking distance of other restaurants. Our family enjoyed the saltwater pool."