Travel reviews by Mr and Mrs G from Bucks
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
2
Countries visited
5
Lodges stayed in
12
Excursions taken
0
My Dec 2023 trip
Namibia and 1 other country between 15 Dec 2023 and 7 Jan 2024
"Fantastic trip; we've done extensive travel in Africa before but this trip added more unique experiences and was cleverly designed by Chris McIntyre given our requirements."
Arranged By Tracy Lederer
Okapuka Lodge (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Okapuka Lodge review"
1 night
Arrived
16 Dec 2023
"This lodge was great. Charming set up with animals pottering about outside the rooms and breakfast area. Delicious food."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Etendeka Mountain Camp
"Etendeka Mountain Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
17 Dec 2023
"We thought Etendeka was lovely. Delightfully off the beaten track and a good place to relax. We enjoyed the guided walk but had anticipated seeing game whilst walking, which apparently is quite rare. Instead the guide therefore focussed on the landscape and the nature around us, which was still very interesting.
The tents where you stay are relatively basic but still very comfortable, with a bucket shower outside. Waking up early and watching the sunrise from our tent was magical.
The main camp building is comfortable and the food was good.
It's important to keep in mind that the camp is a long drive (over an hour) from the pick up point where you leave your car. On our return journey to the pick up place we were lucky enough to see a group of desert elephant in the distance. We also did a game drive the day before and saw rhino in the distance. Seeing both was very special."
The tents where you stay are relatively basic but still very comfortable, with a bucket shower outside. Waking up early and watching the sunrise from our tent was magical.
The main camp building is comfortable and the food was good.
It's important to keep in mind that the camp is a long drive (over an hour) from the pick up point where you leave your car. On our return journey to the pick up place we were lucky enough to see a group of desert elephant in the distance. We also did a game drive the day before and saw rhino in the distance. Seeing both was very special."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Doro Nawas
"Doro Nawas review"
2 nights
Arrived
19 Dec 2023
"Doro Nawas is rather unusual with its elevated position and great views. The rooms were luxurious and we loved the outside shower and ability to wheel the bed out and sleep under the stars. We much enjoyed a nature walk with our female guide (her nickname was "Mamie") who was fantastic. She also took us on a game drive and we spent lots of time with the desert elephants, which was magical. Viewing of them seems to be pretty much guaranteed in the river valleys, which was a nice surprise as we'd thought we were going to be trekking them with there being quite a possibility of no sightings.
The food in the camp was a bit hit and miss - there was little choice. Sometimes it was delicious and at other meals it was odd or disappointing eg some lamb chops with virtually no meat but lots of fat!"
The food in the camp was a bit hit and miss - there was little choice. Sometimes it was delicious and at other meals it was odd or disappointing eg some lamb chops with virtually no meat but lots of fat!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
Facilities
Excellent
De Hoop Opstal
"De Hoop Opstal review"
3 nights
Arrived
30 Dec 2023
"We stayed in the Melkammer Manor House which was always going to be a very different experience to staying in one of the cottages in the vicinity of the main Opstal building.
Because of flooding several months earlier we could not drive ourselves to the house and had to go on a boat from the Opstal. That was fun but meant we lost some independence. The staff could not have been more helpful and the house itself was beautiful and historic. Activities that we did were great - guided beach walk and climb to vulture colony but other trips were cancelled because of the weather (mountain biking and sundowner cruise) and we were disappointed not to get to do more walking."
Because of flooding several months earlier we could not drive ourselves to the house and had to go on a boat from the Opstal. That was fun but meant we lost some independence. The staff could not have been more helpful and the house itself was beautiful and historic. Activities that we did were great - guided beach walk and climb to vulture colony but other trips were cancelled because of the weather (mountain biking and sundowner cruise) and we were disappointed not to get to do more walking."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Average
Activities
Good
Rooms
Average
Food
Poor
Facilities
Average
Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge
"Kwandwe Great Fish River Lodge review"
4 nights
Arrived
2 Jan 2024
"Kwandwe is heaven on earth and we're keen to return! To be one of only about 60 guests (across their lodges/houses) in a reserve of 48,000 hectares is an extraordinary privilege. The accomodation, staff, facilities, game viewing etc are all simply outstanding. We've been visiting lodges and doing safari in different countries for 25 years and in our view Kwandwe is the "gold standard" which other lodges would do well to try and emulate. We particularly liked having both a guide and spotter on all game drives."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Beautiful Intro to Kenya & Tanzania
Kenya and 2 other countries between 15 Aug 2019 and 5 Sep 2019
"Glorious trip to Kenya and Tanzania, our first visit to those countries. Having travelled in Africa extensively before, the punctuality and efficiency of collections etc was impressive. We thoroughly enjoyed the insight into local culture and the safari opportunities were stunning. All guides very kind and friendly, always keen to please.
Our limited constructive feedback as follows: All camps provided toiletries and washing powder, so no need to bring. Camps advertising laundry services still did not wash underwear (male or female), nor handkerchiefs. Drive to Il Ngwesi from Wilson airport was interesting, but ended up as quite an odyssey as driver did not know the way through Lewa Conservancy to the camp. As no signs available, this ended up as an additional 2 hours of desperately trying to find the camp before dark. All good in the end, but maybe check drivers know their destination before setting off."
Our limited constructive feedback as follows: All camps provided toiletries and washing powder, so no need to bring. Camps advertising laundry services still did not wash underwear (male or female), nor handkerchiefs. Drive to Il Ngwesi from Wilson airport was interesting, but ended up as quite an odyssey as driver did not know the way through Lewa Conservancy to the camp. As no signs available, this ended up as an additional 2 hours of desperately trying to find the camp before dark. All good in the end, but maybe check drivers know their destination before setting off."
Four Points Nairobi Airport
"Convenient and comfortable stay"
1 night
Arrived
15 Aug 2019
"Good food but pricey."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Selenkay Adventure Camp
"Wonderful wilderness"
3 nights
Arrived
16 Aug 2019
"Very kind and amazing team of Maasai warriors running this camp, including superb guide Daniel and his spotter Dixon, alongside William "the jumping chef"!
Wonderful introduction to Maasai culture and safari"
Wonderful introduction to Maasai culture and safari"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Average
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Sightings report
Buffalo
Many sightings
Eland
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Gerenuk
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Hippo
Many sightings
Oryx
1 sighting
Spotted Hyena
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Il Ngwesi Eco-Lodge
"Stunning location, luxurious"
3 nights
Arrived
19 Aug 2019
"Amazing to have such luxury in the middle of the bush.
The world's most scenic shower and loo location. Bed on the deck under the stars was wonderful. Bushwalks very interesting, rhino walk memorable. Sundowners and sunuppers in beautiful spots. James had lots of stories to share.
Very convincing model of profits going back to the community."
The world's most scenic shower and loo location. Bed on the deck under the stars was wonderful. Bushwalks very interesting, rhino walk memorable. Sundowners and sunuppers in beautiful spots. James had lots of stories to share.
Very convincing model of profits going back to the community."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Black Rhino
Many sightings
Eland
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Spotted Hyena
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Porini Rhino Camp
"The most comfortable tented camp"
2 nights
Arrived
22 Aug 2019
"Saw all Big 5 in no time, own water hole close to tents was nice, with newly installed hide. Very generous on free drinks.
Peter and Sam made a funny team guiding the safaris, more youthful and much banter with the teenagers. Evening drinks by the fire."
Peter and Sam made a funny team guiding the safaris, more youthful and much banter with the teenagers. Evening drinks by the fire."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Black Rhino
Many sightings
Buffalo
Many sightings
Eland
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
Many sightings
White Rhino
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Ol Kinyei Adventure Camp (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Stunning safari, near Maasai Mara, quiet"
4 nights
Arrived
24 Aug 2019
"Amazing safari, watching baby lions, cheetah family playing, lions feeding with hyena, vultures and jackals taking over, awesome crossing of zebras and wilderbeest at river, with crocs taking animals and lion making a kill just beyond the river.
Wonderful sundowners, one whilst surrounded by 12 lions sleeping. Conservancy nice and quiet. Felt exclusive."
Wonderful sundowners, one whilst surrounded by 12 lions sleeping. Conservancy nice and quiet. Felt exclusive."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Sightings report
Buffalo
Many sightings
Cheetah
Many sightings
Eland
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Hippo
Many sightings
Lion
Many sightings
Spotted Hyena
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Zanzibar Coffee House
"Coolest hotel in town"
2 nights
Arrived
28 Aug 2019
"Wonderful location in old town, just round the corner from spice market.
Super competent women running the show and tasty coffee. A beautiful breakfast location on roof terrace.
They organized a brilliant guided tour around town on foot, which was very interesting and insightful."
Super competent women running the show and tasty coffee. A beautiful breakfast location on roof terrace.
They organized a brilliant guided tour around town on foot, which was very interesting and insightful."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Pole Pole
"Blissful, living up to its name"
5 nights
Arrived
30 Aug 2019
"One long stretch of relaxation, beautiful beach and bungalows, amazing tides, all staff very caring and kind.
Snorkelling was fabulous, as was the trip to Chole island, extremely interesting to see how people live and hear about their daily routines.
Pole Pole was blissfully quiet as a surrounding, food very good with interesting choices and some local foods on offer. Wireless access only in reception area, which made it very relaxing."
Snorkelling was fabulous, as was the trip to Chole island, extremely interesting to see how people live and hear about their daily routines.
Pole Pole was blissfully quiet as a surrounding, food very good with interesting choices and some local foods on offer. Wireless access only in reception area, which made it very relaxing."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
