Travel reviews by Mr S. from Albuquerque
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
2
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
8
Excursions taken
6
My Jul 2023 trip
Rwanda between 21 Jul 2023 and 28 Jul 2023
"Very enjoyable. It did seem that the during the booking process we had to be juggled to different team members because one or the other were on extended holiday. All team memebers were helpful but there wasn't always continuity.
We transited through Kenya before and after getting to Rwanda, as Expert Africa was aware. We applied for multi entry visas for Kenya but had no idea of the difficulty and time it takes to get a multi entry approved. SIngle entry visas get approved in 24 hours but because we didn't know to take that approach we ended up having to miss our departure flight out of the US.
I realize the Kenya visas were our responsibility but some specific guidance from Expert Africa would have been really helpful. The multipoint entry visa took 2 weeks to approve, no where in the Kenya e visa website is that explained."
We transited through Kenya before and after getting to Rwanda, as Expert Africa was aware. We applied for multi entry visas for Kenya but had no idea of the difficulty and time it takes to get a multi entry approved. SIngle entry visas get approved in 24 hours but because we didn't know to take that approach we ended up having to miss our departure flight out of the US.
I realize the Kenya visas were our responsibility but some specific guidance from Expert Africa would have been really helpful. The multipoint entry visa took 2 weeks to approve, no where in the Kenya e visa website is that explained."
Arranged By Lyndsey Marris
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
"Mountain Gorilla View Lodge review"
3 nights
Arrived
21 Jul 2023
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
Facilities
Excellent
Kigali Tour and Genocide Memorial Visit
"Kigali Tour and Genocide Memorial Visit review"
21 Jul 2023 • All-day excursion
Glad we went to to the memorial but a heartbreaking place.
We went at the end of our trip and I think we were better to understand than if we went at the beginning
We went at the end of our trip and I think we were better to understand than if we went at the beginning
Golden Monkey Trekking
"Golden Monkey Trekking review"
22 Jul 2023 • Morning excursion
enjoyable
It would have been good to know that porters are strongly recommended. Because there were no lock boxes at the hotel we carried our valuables.
If we knew about the porters we would have consolidated those items into a small bag and let the porters carry the large one. With no forewarning that was awkward.
Also it was not clear how much we should pay the porters.
It would have been good to know that porters are strongly recommended. Because there were no lock boxes at the hotel we carried our valuables.
If we knew about the porters we would have consolidated those items into a small bag and let the porters carry the large one. With no forewarning that was awkward.
Also it was not clear how much we should pay the porters.
Gorilla Trekking Safari
"Gorilla Trekking Safari review"
23 Jul 2023 • Morning excursion
This was an incredible experience!
Better than we expected and very well organized.
Better than we expected and very well organized.
Excellent
Cormoran Lodge
"Cormoran Lodge review"
1 night
Arrived
24 Jul 2023
"The food was very good.
The room faced directly West and was hot. A ceiling fan would have been welcome"
The room faced directly West and was hot. A ceiling fan would have been welcome"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Average
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
"Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel review"
2 nights
Arrived
25 Jul 2023
"We really enjoyed staying here. The office and wait staff were great.
The room did not have a kettle for early morning coffee (we departed at 5 am for the chimps) but upon request they brought us one."
The room did not have a kettle for early morning coffee (we departed at 5 am for the chimps) but upon request they brought us one."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest
"Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest review"
26 Jul 2023 • All-day excursion
We had a wonderful experience with the chimps!
It was a tough walk though and the guide moved very quickly.
The porter was very helpful in helping my wife down the steep slopes
It was a tough walk though and the guide moved very quickly.
The porter was very helpful in helping my wife down the steep slopes
Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest
"Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest review"
26 Jul 2023 • All-day excursion
The canopy walk was good but we were tired after rising early and going on a tough hike for the chimps
Kigali Serena Hotel
"Kigali Serena Hotel review"
1 night
Arrived
27 Jul 2023
"Nice hotel, good Service"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
King’s Palace & Museum Visit
"King’s Palace & Museum Visit review"
27 Jul 2023 • All-day excursion
Interesting history
My Sep 2018 trip
Tanzania between 4 Sep 2018 and 23 Sep 2018
"Wonderful trip!"
Alex Walker's Serian Serengeti
"Alex Walker's Serian Serengeti review"
3 nights
Arrived
8 Sep 2018
"Fantastic location! Comfortable camp and vehicles. Great guide. We did see a "crossing" of wildebeests but the opposite side was so full of vehicles that they blocked the exit for the crossing. While none of these vehicles were from the Serian it seems there should be some regulation among the camps so that the animals are not negatively impacted.
The game walk we did was the highlight of our entire Africa trip."
The game walk we did was the highlight of our entire Africa trip."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Buffalo
Many sightings
Cheetah
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Hippo
Many sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
Many sightings
Spotted Hyena
Many sightings
Striped Hyena
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Kwihala Camp
"Kwihala Camp review"
3 nights
Arrived
11 Sep 2018
"Our guide was very good but was a little too intent on showing us every possible game sighting. I know he was trying to be diligent but this led to too much fast driving over rough roads. We chose this camp because they offered walks and we did go on a walk but we had to be a bit insistent, it seemed that they preferred not to do walks."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Buffalo
Many sightings
Eland
1 sighting
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Leopard
Many sightings
Lion
Many sightings
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Striped Hyena
1 sighting
Zebra
Many sightings
Beho Beho
"Beho Beho review"
4 nights
Arrived
14 Sep 2018
"Best guides we have ever had! I really liked that they rotated the guides among guests as it gives more perspective. The accommodations and food were the best.
A suggestion for Beho Beho is to have name tags for the staff. While they were all introduced, the names of the staff were not easy to remember and pronounce with out seeing written."
A suggestion for Beho Beho is to have name tags for the staff. While they were all introduced, the names of the staff were not easy to remember and pronounce with out seeing written."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Buffalo
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Hippo
Many sightings
Lion
Many sightings
Spotted Hyena
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Pole Pole
"Pole Pole review"
4 nights
Arrived
18 Sep 2018
"We enjoyed our time here. Fortunately we were in bungalow with a permanent foundation ( I think #6), I am not sure we would have been happy with the thatched ones as it appeared they did not have proper windows and natural light. The beach was small and not conducive to swimming as it was basically a reclaimed mangrove area."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Average
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Lock boxes in the room would be welcome. We had to carry our valuables with us on the treks. Leaving wallets, passports, and simple jewelry at the front desk is a hassle."