Travel reviews by G & G from Glasgow
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
3
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
15
Excursions taken
0
Double 40th birthday trip to Zambia
Zambia between 6 May 2011 and 16 May 2011
Zambia though offers a wide range of National Parks and spread of activities so the plan was to visit Lower Zambezi NP for the first time, South Luangwa which we'd really enjoyed before and finally get to Vic Falls. It turned out better than we hoped - camps great with wonderful views over the rivers, excellent knowledgeable guides and some really good sightings.
A few game drives were pretty quiet but more than made up for by some of the boat/canoeing outings. The camps set up some lovely touches for our birthdays too. The whole holiday including logistics between Parks went seamlessly and Claire Scott organised another great trip for us.
Looking forward to planning the next one!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
no"
Arranged By Claire Scott
Old Mondoro Bushcamp
"Old Mondoro Bushcamp review"
Chiawa Camp
"Chiawa Camp review"
Nkwali
"Nkwali review"
Islands of Siankaba
"Islands of Siankaba review"
Wonderful trip to Southern Tanzania
Tanzania between 23 Oct 2010 and 7 Nov 2010
We were fortunate to have had some of our best ever wildlife sightings. Mwagusi and Beho Beho certainly are best in class in our experience and Pole Pole made for a lovely relaxing option on the coast.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Keep doing what you do and we'll keep being customers"
Arranged By Claire Scott
Mwagusi Safari Camp
"A very special stay at Mwagusi"
The camp has a great bush feel with large tents set within thatched open bandas overlooking a dry (in late October) section of river-bed where wildlife can and does pass through as we found with some ellies who made for a couple of facinating close encounters. The owner Chris Fox was on hand for much of our stay and gave us our first game drive - a fascinating character with a real passion for wildlife and his safari business who made for great company.
It seemed to us a well-run and happy camp with a really adventurous feel where Kimberley was a great hostess and Samson an excellent guide. A private dinner on the river-bed under the stars on our last night to celebrate our anniversary was a special highlight made just a little bit magical by the camp staff bringing out a specially made cake whilst singing a Maasai traditional song at the end.
This section of Ruaha had fantastic diversity at an interesting time of year when the water sources are really drying up. Great sightings of cats and other big game together with a few rarities such as wild cat, lesser kudu, klipspringer and egyptian mongoose. Activities are generally restricted to game drives but, in late October at regular 40C temperatures by mid-day, that suited us fine - particularly given the extent of different habitats to see and very few other vehicles about.
Food is fresh, varied and plentiful with various options/combinations available. We'd prefer to see drinks included in the overall rate as is more often the case with the top-end camps rather than wondering how much we'd spent by the end but that's small beer in the scheme of things. All said, definitely one of the best camps we've stayed in."
Beho Beho
"Dog days at Beho Beho"
The camp sits on a hillside with wonderful views and allows the breeze to flow through - very welcome at the hottest times of year. It also sits in an area of the Game Reserve away from most other camps so has a feel of a private concession with very few other vehicles about. Sacha and Tam run a slick and high-quality operation where the food is akin to that you expect in city restaurant rather than in the bush. Other nice touches are the small swimming pool and the illuminated water hole where guests can watch animals coming to drink while having one themselves.
The camp does take families with children 12+ and there were three teenagers also resident on our first day who we felt were at odds with the overall communal but adult feel of the camp - one day didn't matter but if it had been all four then that could have become an issue for us.
An unusual aspect of Beho Beho is that you are not assigned to a single guide for your stay but rather spend time with different guides depending on what activity you want to do - game drives and boating were excellent but the real highlight for us was the walking.
Watching wild dog playing, being chased by elephant, losing a pack member and reuniting again whilst on foot when you can appreciate all the sounds and smells of the action is the stuff of an old hand's dream and we were so lucky to be there to experience it all with Sacha's expert guiding. Altogether brilliant!"
Pole Pole
"Kicking back in a truly exotic location"
The staff were excellent and a real pleasure to have around with their regular big smiles and greetings and Gabrielle an excellent manager during our stay. The bunglalows were very nice and clean if showing the odd sign of wear and tear. Food is very fish/seafood orientated unsurprisingly with a set menu which changes each lunch/dinner and all cooked very fresh. Breakfast was the same options each day though and could do with a bit more variety.
The small beach does front a very tidal bay so at times the water is way out and you can only really take a dip at high tide - not a problem for us and there is a cold shower to cool you down anyway. The inclusive excursions were good - particularly the sundown sail on a dhow whilst the fruit-bats flood across the sky. Diving is the big attraction and the reefs are stunningly beautiful.
We tried the whale shark trip but no joy - an expensive $60 pp whether you see them or not. We were thinking about trying again on our last morning but decided not to which is just as well as there was another no-show. One other point to note is that with the daily marine park entry fees, additional excursions, diving and equipment hire plus drinks is that, whilst these are all clearly dispayed, the additional costs do mount up."
Serena Hotel Dar
"What you'd expect from a top business hotel"
Air-conditioning not as good or cold as we wanted. For a one night stop before getting the flight home absolutely fine. Great to be able to check-in on-line in the lobby.
We were on a B&B rate but had to leave before before breakfast started at 0630."
South Luangwa and Kafue Trip
Zambia between 1 Sep 2008 and 20 Sep 2008
Kafue with Wilderness' Rivers and Plains Exploration was more of a economic extension to enable us to see a different area and generally we very much enjoyed it."
Nsefu
"Nsefu review"
Bats in the eaves of the rondavel made for a noisy night at times but reminding you are in the bush after all!"
Robin Pope Safaris Mobile Safari Camp
"Robin Pope Safaris walking safari mobile camp review"
Tena Tena
"Tena Tena review"
Only (very!) minor negatives being the main vista from the camp has a large island blocking views of the river at this time of year and that dinner on Day 4 was same as Day 1."
Taj Pamodzi Hotel
"Taj Pamodzi Hotel review"
Arrived late and left early so not much more than a bed for the night.
As the early transfer back to airport is at 5.30am, there's no time to get breakfast so a room only rate would be better."
Lufupa Bushcamp, Zambia (this camp has since closed)
"Lufupa Bush Camp review"
Park roads in this location in poor condition meaning one loop was impassable and the other pretty bumpy so game drives a bit limited. Boat and walking activities good alternatives though.
Laundry service managed to burn a big hole in my trousers which was unfortunate. Great views of both types of bush baby on night drives were an unusual highlight."
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Musanza Bushcamp, Zambia (this camp has since closed)
"Musanza Bushcamp review"
Lovely staff team looking after us. Busanga Plains were a huge change compared to the bush/woodlands we'd been in up to that point with huge open views. Game drives were a bit disappointing but that's the luck of the draw with a full moon whilst we were there.
Two big territorial male lions passing by camp on the last morning were a wonderful send-off."
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Pioneer Camp
"Pioneer Camp review"
The compound has a number of chalets and camp sites around a central bar/restaurant and inevitably was going to be something of a disappointment after staying in small camps in the National Parks. Our chalet was fairly basic with tired bedding but clean enough.
Excellent steak dinner. Breakfast a little disorganised in the early morning. before departure. Pick-up and drop-offs at the airport were completely hassle-free. I don't know what the cost was per night so it may be good value but I can see the only reason to stay would be for easy access to the Airport or as a short stop-over."
Guides and camp staff excellent. New management couple from SA for 2011 season who are very welcoming and enthusiastic. Nice surprise of a birthday cake and songs from some of the staff. Game drives and walk very enjoyable but wildlife not prolific in May as the bush hasn't dried up sufficiently to force animals towards the permanent water sources.
Excellent leopard sighthing though and best ever of civet and white-tailed mongoose - largely since red-filters are used at all times on the night-drive spotlights which the animals are comfortable with and don't avoid as with the unfiltered spotlights. Not much good for photos perhaps but we really liked the policy as it gives a much more rewarding sighting when you are able to observe the animals for longer.
Our sort of camp: simple, relaxed and with a primary focus on wildlife. Would return in a heartbeat."