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Traveller reviews

Travel reviews by G & L from Washington DC

Review Distribution

Excellent
Good
Average
Poor
Terrible

Total number of trips

2

Countries visited

3

Lodges stayed in

11

Excursions taken

4

Extraordinary trip…..perfect in every way

Rwanda and 1 other country between 30 Jun 2024 and 19 Jul 2024

Trip rating: Excellent
"We booked this trip about a year ahead of our actual travels. We did so as we were being very selective on the camps and the dates. So we had very high expectations.

Lyndsey Marris was both incredibly knowledgeable and patient as she guided us through the various options and alternatives. We were not disappointed. We stayed at 2 wonderful camps in Rwanda ((Magashi and Sabyinyo Lodge). Both were exceptional. Wonderful accommodations and food. Staff attentive but yet fun. We saw the Big 5 at Magashi and marveled at the golden monkeys and silverback gorillas at Volcanoes National Park.

Then we traveled to Sirikoi Camp (Lewa Conservancy) and Naboisho (Naboisho Conservancy) in Kenya. Both camps were terrific. I could not pick a favorite. And abundant wildlife….lions, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, hyenas, and many,, many more…..H

ighly recommend working with Lyndsey and these particular camps.

We do a couple of international trips each year. This was one of the very best in every aspect.

This was our 2nd trip with Expert Africa. You do everything…..everything….very well. Happy to recommend EA to all of our friends."

Arranged By Lyndsey Marris


Kigali Serena Hotel

Kigali Serena Hotel

"Adequate for a short stay"

2 nights Arrived 30 Jun 2024
"We stayed here for 2 nights - arriving the first night well after midnight.

The hotel is perfectly adequate for a short stay before heading out to one of the National Parks.

Nice pool provides a superb place to recover after a long flight. Restaurant was good, nothing special. A relatively low mark for service given the staff never repaired the safe in our room after several requests. It appeared someone was changing batteries for the safe but simply stopped in the process."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location
Excellent
Service
Average
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Magashi Camp

Magashi Camp

"Magashi Camp review"

3 nights Arrived 2 Jul 2024
"A wonderful camp.

Staff is so very friendly and attentive. Superb accommodations overlooking the lake.

While the park here does not have the quantity of wildlife other parks might have, the number of very close encounters we had with elephants, lions, a leopard and white rhinos more than made up for it.

Our guide, Innocent, was terrific at tracking and spotting wildlife. And seeing the wildlife from both land and a boat made for interesting excursions.

I highly recommend Magashi."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Kigali Tour and Genocide Memorial Visit

Kigali Tour and Genocide Memorial Visit

" A must visit when in Kigali. "

2 Jul 2024 • All-day excursion

A very sobering reminder of the atrocities that took place here many years ago.

While the memorial documents this horrible time, it is also a symbol of a country and people that has healed itself. Many lessons here that we need to be constantly reminded of.

Please take the time while in Kigali to visit the memorial. It is truly time well spent.
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

"Terrific Base for Trekking"

3 nights Arrived 5 Jul 2024
"A beautiful Lodge with a friendly, attentive staff.

Wonderful accommodations. Great food. Sabyinyo Silverback does it all extremely well.

The staff does a superb job in preparing you for the golden monkey trek and the gorilla trek - providing gaiters, gloves, a backpack, a rain jacket and snacks.

We highly recommend this Lodge as a base for trekking in Volcanoes National Park."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Golden Monkey Trekking

Golden Monkey Trekking

"Fun Time….Well Worth Doing"

6 Jul 2024 • Morning excursion

We did the golden monkey trekking the day before the gorilla trekking.

A nice “warm up” for the main event. A short hike. Easy hike. Golden monkeys were fun and entertaining.

Well worth the hike.
Excellent
Gorilla Trekking Safari

Gorilla Trekking Safari

"Fabulous…..a must do!!"

7 Jul 2024 • Morning excursion

Our primary reason for the trip to Africa was to hike to see the gorillas. We were so looking g forward to this…and we were not disappointed….

A 90 minute hike each way. A pleasant hike with ample rest breaks. The gorillas were fascinating. The one hour that we could spend with them went by too fast.

Please hire a porter. Hiring a porter supports local people. We hired one for each of us. They are very helpful even if you think you can manage on your own.

Overall the hike and the experience of seeing the gorillas is well worth it….you will not be disappointed!!!
Excellent
Four Points Nairobi Airport

Four Points Nairobi Airport

"Perfect for an overnight stay…"

1 night Arrived 8 Jul 2024
"Close and convenient to both airports.

We had a quick overnight stay here while transitioning from Rwanda to our Kenyan camps.

Clean, modern and friendly staff. Perfect for that overnight stay"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Sirikoi

Sirikoi

"An Outstanding Camp…"

4 nights Arrived 9 Jul 2024
"Based upon what we had read and various reviews, we had high expectations. We were not disappointed. We were here for a 4 night stay.

Wonderful location near a watering hole, terrific accommodations and food and a professional staff. Sirikoi does it very, very well. Sam was our guide for our 3+days of excursions. Game drives were wonderful - fun and educational. We saw and learned so much from Sam.

A great place to see rhinos, especially white rhinos up close. The black rhinos were always at a distance. Even did a walking safari with a hot breakfast on the trail.

Sirikoi will not disappoint!!!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Naboisho Camp

Naboisho Camp

"Naboisho Camp Does it All!!!"

4 nights Arrived 13 Jul 2024
"A really outstanding camp in every way.

Wonderful setting looking out across the grasslands. First class accommodations, including food, professional (yet fun) staff and abundant wildlife. Dining at a communal table made for a fun time with conversations with guests from other countries. A nice touch.

Naboisho is simply a wonderful place.

Lynnkoko was our guide for the 4 nights / 3 days we were there. Game drives were fun and educational with abundant wildlife, especially lions. We will always remember our stay at this wonderful camp.

If you are thinking about booking a stay at Naboisho, book it!!! You will not be disappointed."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Balloon flight over the Mara

Balloon flight over the Mara

"An Unbelieavable Experience"

15 Jul 2024 • Morning excursion

Perhaps the highlight of our 3 week trip to Africa.

A one hour drive from Naboisho Camp to the balloon launch site over simply awful roads. But it was worth every bump.

A beautiful African sunrise seen from the serenity of the balloon. We were fortunate that the wildebeest migration had started. We flew quietly and gracefully over thousands of wildebeest with other animals interspersed. Breathtaking in its beauty. Words really can not begin to describe the experience.

And a nice, hot breakfast buffet with omelettes made to order awaiting you at the end of your balloon ride.

Perhaps the highlight of our trip…
Excellent

2 terrific weeks in Zambia

Zambia between 22 Aug 2016 and 4 Sep 2016

Trip rating: Excellent
"A terrific trip in all respects. Wonderful camps. Terrific game drives, hikes, canoeing and fishing.

We would highly recommend our itinerary to anyone thinking about a trip to Zambia.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

We worked with Lucy at Expert Africa to plan our 14 day trip through Zambia. Lucy was terrific to work with. She knows Zambia and the various camps. She is super responsive. I really can not say enough good things about working with Lucy and the itinerary we put together with her assistance.

We loved each and every camp. The connections were perfect. Not a single issue or complaint over the 2 week trip. We look forward to working with her in the near future to plan a trip to Botswana.

Once again, I would highly recommend Lucy and Expert Africa. I will be a repeat customer."

Arranged By Lucy Copson


Mchenja Bushcamp

Mchenja Bushcamp

"Wonderful visit"

2 nights Arrived 22 Aug 2016
"Spent two nights here in the latter part of August.

Great setting on the river with all of the hippos. Very comfortable camp in all respects.

Great game drives and hikes....we saw all that we expected. The highlight was a leopard in the tree with his kill.

Wished we could have spent more than 2 nights. Highly recommend this camp."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Tafika

Tafika

"A wonderful experience"

3 nights Arrived 24 Aug 2016
"I really can not say enough great things about Tafika. I had read so much about this camp and my expectations were high. My expectations were met and even exceeded.

The Coppingers really understand how to run a camp. Terrific experiences with the entire staff - Bryan, Issac, Alex, Lloyd, Rona and others that I have surely forgotten. While the cats were scarce the 3 nights that Lynette and I were there, the guides worked hard to make up for the absence of the cats. The highlight was a pack of wild dogs and pups.

We had a superb experience at Tafika and hope to return some day. I can highly, highly recommend Tafika to anyone considering a Zambian safari. A must do experience."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Chiawa Camp

Chiawa Camp

"Absolutely terrific"

3 nights Arrived 27 Aug 2016
"Much like Tafika, I had read a great deal about Chiawa and Old Mondoro. I wondered if each could live up to all that I had read. They did and more.

Chiawa is set at an absolutely beautiful spot on the Zambezi River. The camp and the "tents" are well done...the "tents" border on the luxurious. Lots of wildlife right around the camp including many elephants.

The staff - including Daniel, Joshua, Warwick, Marshall, James and Clement and others that I have forgotten did everything possible to make our stay memorable. The highlight was time spent on the river with Lynette catching a 30 pound Vundu catfish and my catching a 10 pound tiger fish. Lots of lions, elephants, etc...never a dull moment.

Much like Tafika, we hope to return to Chiawa and Old Mondoro sometime.

Again, I can highly, highly recommend Chiawa and Old Mondoro to anyone considering a Zambian safari. You will not be disappointed."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Old Mondoro Bushcamp

Old Mondoro Bushcamp

"Superb stay"

2 nights Arrived 30 Aug 2016
"We spent 2 nights here at Old Mondoro after having spent 3 nights at the sister camp Chiawa. While not nearly as luxurious as Chiawa, Old Mondoro has its own special charm that makes for a very enjoyable experience.

Lynette did a canoe trip both here and at Chiawa and still raves about the experience. Jonathan and Karen - the managers - were great hosts and fun to spend time with. James and Sebastien were the guides and worked hard to find plentiful game on our drives. I spent a couple of hours on the river with Ruben fishing for the elusive tiger fish.

All in all a wonderful experience with a great (and fun) team at Old Mondoro."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
The River Club

The River Club

"Paradise on the Zambezi"

3 nights Arrived 1 Sep 2016
"Lynette and I ended our 2 week safari with a 3 night stay here at The River Club. Words can not begin to describe this wonderful facility on the banks of the Zambezi.

We have had the opportunity to stay at some terrific places over the years and The River Club ranks very near the top in all respects - a beautiful setting, superb guest rooms, and a super friendly staff. Really can not say enough good things about the staff here and how attentive they are from Peter, Ingrid, Charmaine, Naomi, Gilbert, Mack, Davies, KK and Mercy. So friendly.

We used The River Club as a base to see Victoria Falls and explore the river with Mack. The River Club should be an absolute must stay for anyone visiting the Livingstone/ Victoria Falls area. We will absolutely return toThe River Club. Some day. It is truly that good."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent

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