Travel reviews by Mr D from Bournemouth
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
4
Excursions taken
0
Zanzibar and Mafia
Tanzania and 1 other country between 3 Feb 2008 and 14 Feb 2008
"The islands of Zanzibar and Mafia are beautiful and intriguing, however they do not even compare to the wonders that you will find when you actually get into the sea. The Snorkeling here is some of the best I have ever seen and I got to swim with Dolphins too.
The local people are very pleasant, respectful and elegant.
I very much enjoyed their hospitality I felt very safe, well looked after and had a few magical days that I will always treasure."
The local people are very pleasant, respectful and elegant.
I very much enjoyed their hospitality I felt very safe, well looked after and had a few magical days that I will always treasure."
Arranged By Claire Scott
Serena Hotel Dar
"Royal Palm Hotel review"
1 night
Arrived
4 Feb 2008
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Average
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Unguja Lodge
"Unguja Lodge review"
4 nights
Arrived
5 Feb 2008
"My favourite place during my trip. The owners Elise and Ralph are very friendly and helpful supported by the excellent Mona, the rest of the staff are fantastic, well trained, great English, very outgoing. The lodges are a weird but wonderful design the only completely enclosed room is the bedroom. Keep a lookout for boats passing bye while showering. ;-)
The Dive centre on site is the best I have encountered Nic the Belgium dive master is very enthusiastic and this was the only time I was given safety instructions, which included a boat with a spare outboard. I went Snorkelling and swimming with Dolphins both were fantastic.
The tide does not go out too far and at high tide you can swim safely from the lodge. There is a nice co-existence with the neighbouring village Kizimkaze. The lodge created a great atmosphere where the guests intermingled and everyone knew each other. A great place!"
The Dive centre on site is the best I have encountered Nic the Belgium dive master is very enthusiastic and this was the only time I was given safety instructions, which included a boat with a spare outboard. I went Snorkelling and swimming with Dolphins both were fantastic.
The tide does not go out too far and at high tide you can swim safely from the lodge. There is a nice co-existence with the neighbouring village Kizimkaze. The lodge created a great atmosphere where the guests intermingled and everyone knew each other. A great place!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Echo Beach Hotel, Zanzibar (this camp has since closed)
"Echo Beach Hotel review"
2 nights
Arrived
9 Feb 2008
"The owners are very friendly as are the staff however they need further training. The lodges are perfunctory and clean. I did not like the general area, lots of lodges and a few all inclusive hotels some of the locals were a little seedy.
A great location to sit by the pool and read. The tide goes out and out and out for about half a mile and at high tide there was a strong current when I was there, not ideal for swimming."
A great location to sit by the pool and read. The tide goes out and out and out for about half a mile and at high tide there was a strong current when I was there, not ideal for swimming."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Poor
Service
Poor
Activities
Poor
Rooms
Average
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Average
Feedback response
This solo traveller visited Echo Beach about 6 weeks after it opened, aware that it was new. Sue and Andrew, the owners, felt these comments were a little unfair, but agreed that the staff needed further training. They are working on this at the moment. (In fact, the lodge closes during the rains, in April 2008, with intensive staff training is on the agenda!)
That said, they are pleased that the staff are seen as ‘polite and helpful’ – and realize that it’ll be a little while before they can refine Echo Beach’s standards of service to match the high level of its food.
Sue felt that the description of ‘perfunctory’ was harsh. She was keen to point out that she had sourced virtually all the furniture in Zanzibar (made by local craftsmen); the bedcovers and curtains were designed and made to order; and the bathroom fittings are very high-quality – imported from a top-end UK designer. The bathrooms are in a very minimalist style, and we see how these could be described as ‘perfunctory’ … but it’s really a matter of taste. It depends if you like the clean, clear lines of modern design, or not.
Note that the nearest lodges to Echo Beach are Breezes and the exclusive Palms, both of which are 5 minutes’ walk north. To the south, the nearest if Sunrise Hotel, about 15 minutes’ walk away. None of these operate on an ‘all-inclusive’ basis. If you keep walking further south, then you will eventually find an Italian all-inclusive resort – but this is 4-5km away.
There’s a very good point here about the tides on the gently-sloping east coast of Zanzibar: low tide goes out a very, very long way. Hence many of the better lodges, including Echo Beach, have swimming pools.
That said, they are pleased that the staff are seen as ‘polite and helpful’ – and realize that it’ll be a little while before they can refine Echo Beach’s standards of service to match the high level of its food.
Sue felt that the description of ‘perfunctory’ was harsh. She was keen to point out that she had sourced virtually all the furniture in Zanzibar (made by local craftsmen); the bedcovers and curtains were designed and made to order; and the bathroom fittings are very high-quality – imported from a top-end UK designer. The bathrooms are in a very minimalist style, and we see how these could be described as ‘perfunctory’ … but it’s really a matter of taste. It depends if you like the clean, clear lines of modern design, or not.
Note that the nearest lodges to Echo Beach are Breezes and the exclusive Palms, both of which are 5 minutes’ walk north. To the south, the nearest if Sunrise Hotel, about 15 minutes’ walk away. None of these operate on an ‘all-inclusive’ basis. If you keep walking further south, then you will eventually find an Italian all-inclusive resort – but this is 4-5km away.
There’s a very good point here about the tides on the gently-sloping east coast of Zanzibar: low tide goes out a very, very long way. Hence many of the better lodges, including Echo Beach, have swimming pools.
Senior Africa Specialist
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Pole Pole
"Pole Pole review"
4 nights
Arrived
11 Feb 2008
"The staff are very nice but not around much during the day. Nice surroundings a little disappointed having seen the website and viewed the stunning photos of the beach. A lot of the beach shots are of the marine park located a good 1-2 hours away by boat. The local beaches are nice but nowhere near as nice as the photos.
I stayed for 4 days and apart from the last day the weather did not permit travelling to the other islands. For light sleepers take ear plugs this area is full of birdlife, fruit bats and Bush Babies all very lovely until you are still awake at 3am listening to the chorus. ;-)
The snorkelling was fantastic I swam around Coral Garden the most beautiful coral I have ever seen. Other guys that were diving equally had great things to say. A little disappointed that the bar and all the staff went to bed around 10:30 leaving us with empty glasses, especially as I knew I would still be awake from the bird song until the early hours. Difficult to find a place with earlier closing times than the UK.
A few strange rules, only emergency internet access allowed (strictly no browsing) a guy got told off for playing a ringtone twice, felt like school a little, waiting to be scolded. An ideal place for any clean living Benedictine Monks that love to dive."
I stayed for 4 days and apart from the last day the weather did not permit travelling to the other islands. For light sleepers take ear plugs this area is full of birdlife, fruit bats and Bush Babies all very lovely until you are still awake at 3am listening to the chorus. ;-)
The snorkelling was fantastic I swam around Coral Garden the most beautiful coral I have ever seen. Other guys that were diving equally had great things to say. A little disappointed that the bar and all the staff went to bed around 10:30 leaving us with empty glasses, especially as I knew I would still be awake from the bird song until the early hours. Difficult to find a place with earlier closing times than the UK.
A few strange rules, only emergency internet access allowed (strictly no browsing) a guy got told off for playing a ringtone twice, felt like school a little, waiting to be scolded. An ideal place for any clean living Benedictine Monks that love to dive."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Average
Activities
Good
Rooms
Average
Food
Good
Facilities
Average
Lovely garden area, great to sit and have a beer at night."