Travel reviews by Ms M from Ontario
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
3
Lodges stayed in
11
Excursions taken
3
Fantastic trip
Namibia and 2 other countries between 27 Jul 2016 and 14 Aug 2016
"Thanks to Maruska for handling so many details and planning out a memorable experience for us. Maruska thought of absolutely everything and was so responsive to our questions. In all cases she got back to us within hours of receiving an email. I would not hesitate to have her plan future trips.
I have already recommended Expert Africa to friends.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not really. Everything was amazing! Only place I would skip is Halali and spend more time at Ungomo, which I think Maruska tried for but wasn't able to get for us.
I would have preferred to be told exactly what to tip and to prepare envelopes in advance. the tipping protocols were somewhat overwhelming.
Here's an example: the literature told us to tip at b and b places at the end of the trip, using the tip box. But when someone carried our bags, it was clear that they expected a tip. this left us awkwardly fumbling for change and trying to figure out local currency on the spot.
Don't know how to fix this."
I have already recommended Expert Africa to friends.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not really. Everything was amazing! Only place I would skip is Halali and spend more time at Ungomo, which I think Maruska tried for but wasn't able to get for us.
I would have preferred to be told exactly what to tip and to prepare envelopes in advance. the tipping protocols were somewhat overwhelming.
Here's an example: the literature told us to tip at b and b places at the end of the trip, using the tip box. But when someone carried our bags, it was clear that they expected a tip. this left us awkwardly fumbling for change and trying to figure out local currency on the spot.
Don't know how to fix this."
Arranged By Maruska AdyeRowe
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
"Gorilla Mountain View Lodge"
2 nights
Arrived
27 Jul 2016
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Facilities
Excellent
Gorilla Trekking Safari
"Gorilla tracking"
28 Jul 2016 • Morning excursion
The guides and trackers were very informative and helpful. They really knew how to protect the gorillas from too much stimulation, while giving us maximum access. An amazing experience!
My only confusion was around tipping. We were informed in advance of what an appropriate tip would be for trackers, guides etc. But when we got up on the mountain, there were more trackers than we anticipated. it was hard to figure out who everyone was and what their role was. This led to some awkwardness around tipping. I would have preferred to have Expert Africa handle the tipping on our behalf.
My only confusion was around tipping. We were informed in advance of what an appropriate tip would be for trackers, guides etc. But when we got up on the mountain, there were more trackers than we anticipated. it was hard to figure out who everyone was and what their role was. This led to some awkwardness around tipping. I would have preferred to have Expert Africa handle the tipping on our behalf.
Excellent
City Lodge OR Tambo
"City Lodge"
1 night
Arrived
29 Jul 2016
"Is this the hotel in Kigali - the Quiet Haven. My comments are for that hotel."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Kalahari Anib Lodge
"kalahari"
1 night
Arrived
30 Jul 2016
"Love this place! Pure luxury. We wished we could have stayed longer. We arrived after dark and only had that one night.
Staff in the restaurant were amazing and the food was delicious!"
Staff in the restaurant were amazing and the food was delicious!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Average
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Desert Homestead
"Desert Homestead"
2 nights
Arrived
31 Jul 2016
"Loved the horseback riding!
Willie was great - very supportive of novice riders."
Willie was great - very supportive of novice riders."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Sam's Giardino
"Sam's"
3 nights
Arrived
2 Aug 2016
"Sam was helpful, especially in giving us a bit of history of the area. His garden is beautiful!
We were not crazy about the dinner, but breakfast was wonderful!
Whilst in Swakopmund this traveller did a sea kayaking excursion, here's what she said about it:
Jeanne was an absolutely spectacular guide! She even sent us videos of our kayaking experience that evening. It is clear that she loves the seals and she knows so much about them. Her stories were engrossing and very informative. This excursion was one of the highlights of our whole trip!
She also tried sandboarding:
So much fun!
And a day trip into the coastal desert and Sandwich Harbour:
Our guide was very experienced and new so much of the history and nature in the region. He was a masterful driver, careening around and over the dunes! We loved this tour!"
We were not crazy about the dinner, but breakfast was wonderful!
Whilst in Swakopmund this traveller did a sea kayaking excursion, here's what she said about it:
Jeanne was an absolutely spectacular guide! She even sent us videos of our kayaking experience that evening. It is clear that she loves the seals and she knows so much about them. Her stories were engrossing and very informative. This excursion was one of the highlights of our whole trip!
She also tried sandboarding:
So much fun!
And a day trip into the coastal desert and Sandwich Harbour:
Our guide was very experienced and new so much of the history and nature in the region. He was a masterful driver, careening around and over the dunes! We loved this tour!"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Kayaking with seals
"kayaking"
3 Aug 2016 • Morning excursion
Jeanne was an absolutely spectacular guide! She even sent us videos of our kayaking experience that evening. It is clear that she loves the seals and she knows so much about them. Her stories were engrossing and very informative. This excursion was one of the highlights of our whole trip!
Coast and Sandwich Harbour
"Berger was wonderful!"
4 Aug 2016 • All-day excursion
Our guide was very experienced and new so much of the history and nature in the region. He was a masterful driver, careening around and over the dunes! We loved this tour!
Excellent
Twyfelfontein Country Lodge
"Twfelfontein"
2 nights
Arrived
5 Aug 2016
"A great location. We enjoyed the star info and the various tours.
The only stressor was having the tours fill up and not everyone in our party getting a chance to participate. Front desk folks were not very helpful in that regard."
The only stressor was having the tours fill up and not everyone in our party getting a chance to participate. Front desk folks were not very helpful in that regard."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Okaukuejo Camp
"Fantastic Waterhole"
2 nights
Arrived
7 Aug 2016
"we saw so many animals at this site.
A really huge highlight of our trip!"
A really huge highlight of our trip!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Halali Camp
"halili"
1 night
Arrived
9 Aug 2016
"This location was disappointing.
We saw no animals at all at the waterhole, even after coming out very early in the morning and staying late at night.
Staff were quite curt and not very helpful around meals."
We saw no animals at all at the waterhole, even after coming out very early in the morning and staying late at night.
Staff were quite curt and not very helpful around meals."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Average
Service
Poor
Activities
Average
Rooms
Average
Food
Average
Facilities
Average
Onguma Bush Camp
"Ongumu"
1 night
Arrived
10 Aug 2016
"This place was pure luxury! Great service in the restaurant and amazing food. the rooms were opulent! I would come back here and stay for a week.
The tour guides were so wonderful. Armstrong extended our tour well past his quitting time in an attempt to find us some animals.
I wish we had arrived here earlier and taken their tours into Etosha instead of driving around on our own,"
The tour guides were so wonderful. Armstrong extended our tour well past his quitting time in an attempt to find us some animals.
I wish we had arrived here earlier and taken their tours into Etosha instead of driving around on our own,"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Etango Ranch Guest Farm
"Etango"
1 night
Arrived
11 Aug 2016
"The ladies who work there were very hardworking and diligent.
The manager shared too many of his opinions about immigrants and politics in my opinion. He actually said that not all of Hitlers ideas were wrong! I found his comments quite startling.
We also feel we were charged too much for the five minute drive to and from the airport."
The manager shared too many of his opinions about immigrants and politics in my opinion. He actually said that not all of Hitlers ideas were wrong! I found his comments quite startling.
We also feel we were charged too much for the five minute drive to and from the airport."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Excellent
Service
Average
Rooms
Average
Food
Average
Abbey Manor (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Abbey Manor"
2 nights
Arrived
12 Aug 2016
"this was a beautiful place to stay - a gracious old home from the colonial era. The management were superb! Kind and helpful in every situation.
They even supported us in solving some difficulties we were having about our flights. We loved this place and the people who work there!"
They even supported us in solving some difficulties we were having about our flights. We loved this place and the people who work there!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Staff put hot water bottles in our beds and started a new fire in our fireplace every night.
Whilst at Gorilla Mountain View Lodge this traveller joined two gorilla treks. Here's what she said about it:
The guides and trackers were very informative and helpful. They really knew how to protect the gorillas from too much stimulation, while giving us maximum access. An amazing experience!
My only confusion was around tipping. We were informed in advance of what an appropriate tip would be for trackers, guides etc. But when we got up on the mountain, there were more trackers than we anticipated. it was hard to figure out who everyone was and what their role was. This led to some awkwardness around tipping. I would have preferred to have Expert Africa handle the tipping on our behalf."