Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs W from Chipstead
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
3
Countries visited
4
Lodges stayed in
19
Excursions taken
0
My October 2014 trip
Tanzania and 1 other country between 5 Oct 2014 and 18 Oct 2014
Sorry Angela is no longer with EA to receive our thanks for her wise and helpful advice."
Lake Manze Adventure Camp
"Lake Manze Adventure Camp review"
Sand Rivers Camp
"Sand Rivers Camp review"
Bearing this in mind, the food, we thought was far from exciting. Main courses were basically stews of fish or meat, the desserts often microscopic portions of, eg, flan. Moreover, for the main course, everything was dumped on the plate, where, at Lake Manze, at least the vegetables were served separately.
Again, excursions (although excellent in themselves) did not in one respect compare well with the much cheaper Lake Manze (see above). Here the guide was also the driver and we had to share the 4WD/boat with another couple, which reduces flexibility."
The norm in southern Tanzania is for a single driver who is also a guide to take the game drives. There is sometimes an exception when guides are training up; in which case there will be a driver and a separate guide on the game drive. Equally game activities are shared with other guests at most camps, unless there happens to be a spare vehicle or a private vehicle is specifically requested.
It is possible to arrange for a private vehicle, however it is at an extra cost. Had we known that these guests wanted a private vehicle for their stay at Sand Rivers we would have arranged for one, and the team at Sand Rivers would have been happy to accommodate them. We're sorry that we didn't discuss this option with these travellers in more details before their trip.
Emerson Spice
"Emerson Spice review"
We chose it, in part, because of its terrace restaurant, where we thought we would be able to relax after tramping the town. In the event, we had an even better solution: our large and colourful room had long balconies on TWO sides.
In the tiny rooftop restaurant, there is a single daily sitting for dinner and the fixed menu (which changes daily) is a 5 course taster at US$30. Good value."
Unguja Lodge
"Unguja Lodge review"
All in all, thoroughly recommended."
Cape Visit
South Africa between 5 Sep 2010 and 26 Sep 2010
Our second disappointment was Constantia Uitsig and I have tried to explain why in my comments above. I'd be interested to know what your other clients think about this place."
Arranged By Tracy Lederer
Vineyard Hotel
"Vineyard Hotel and Spa review"
The Vineyard's breakfast buffet is one of the best we've ever encountered and it's presently offering an excellent Winter dinner menu of 5 courses for R165. Extremely helpful staff."
Ndedema Lodge
"Ndedema Lodge review"
There is a garden of sorts, but not one you'd want to spend much time in.
However, the owners went out of their way to suggest to suggest things we might do in the locality and created a warm and cheerful atmosphere."
Annie's Cottage
"Annie's Cottage review"
In fact, we checked out after 2 (out of 3 booked) nights, but that was primarily because there is little to do in Springbok in the absence this year of the usual Namaqualand floral display. And the restaurant options are dire."
Farmhouse Hotel
"Farmhouse Hotel review"
The hotel wanted to send us to a "luxury" B & B, which we later looked at and which was unacceptable.
In the end, after some fraught discussions, a suitable room was found for us and all was well."
Ocean Eleven
"Ocean Eleven review"
Constantia Uitsig, South Africa (this camp has since closed)
"Constantia Uitsig review"
The only common facilities, apart from the restaurants, was a lounge in a stand-alone building, which they had the gall to close to resident guests on 3 out of the 6 nights we were there in order to accommodate dining parties from outside. We dined in only once, in the Constantia Uitsig restaurant, in a totally featureless room serving indifferent food.
Breakfast was served in part of the Colombe restaurant (alleged to be the finest eatery in the Cape). This again was without any character and was often cold because the sliding doors at either end were frequently left open. We were told by the staff that they themselves had lodged many complaints with the management about this, but that they had been ignored.
Poor breakfast selection. Compare all this with the Vineyard, which is actually cheaper, and one wonders why Expert Africa continues to send clients to Constantia Uitsig."
The Constantia Uitsig are in the process of refurbishing all of their rooms and are doing this on a rolling schedule. They are sorry that some of the furnishings were in need of repair in the room these travellers opted for. After being offered one of the newly refurbished rooms, these travellers chose to stay in one of the rooms that is due to be upgraded soon as they decided that they would prefer the slightly older room as the natural light was better and the room therefore felt brighter.
As a gesture of good will the Constantia Uitsig have offer these travellers some compensation for the inconvenience caused.
Expert Africa really like the Constantia Uitsig, however while the refurbishment is taking place will we be using other accommodation in this area. Once this refurbishment is completed in early 2011 we will resume normal business there.
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
My Oct 2008 trip
Namibia between 8 Oct 2008 and 31 Oct 2008
Arranged By Tracy Lederer
Erongo Wilderness Lodge
"Erongo Wilderness Lodge review"
Halali Camp
"Halali Restcamp review"
The buffets were very good too.
Of course, the rates have gone up quite steeply in the meantime and we objected to paying the admission charge for each day that
we stayed in the park."
Okaukuejo Camp
"Okaukuejo Restcamp review"
Etendeka Mountain Camp
"Etendeka Mountain Camp review"
However, we do feel that the "no frills" philosophy is taken to excess, particularly given the exorbitant cost. Surely, they could rustle up some eggs for breakfast!"
Doro Nawas
"Doro Nawas review"
Eberwein Hotel, Namibia (this camp has since closed)
"Eberwein Hotel review"
The Eberwein, on the other hand, although somewhat lacking in character, was good in every other way. One of the best managed hotels we have ever stayed in. And it has an underground car park."
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Sossus Dune Lodge
"Sossus Dune Lodge review"
The chalets stand below a high basalt cliff and, since they face west, get unbearably hot. There are no ceiling fans. Moreover, unlike the chalets at Doro Nawas with their wide sliding doors, the bedrooms at SDL have no less than nine narrow tilting windows (see photo in brochure) and the only access to the rear shadeless deck is via the central back door. Whoever designed this accommodation should be shot!
The food too was unimpressive. The only choice at dinner was between two different meats and this was brought to the table already plated with the vegetables. And for this they have the gall to charge N$1775.5 per person per day HB.
Quite frankly, we think Expert Africa should abandon this place."
This traveller is perfectly correct: Sossusvlei Lodge is much closer to the gate than Sossus Dune Lodge. However, we must also note that Sossus Dune Lodge is inside the national park, and Sossusvlei Lodge is outside the gate. Due to the closing times of the park gate, guests from Sossus Dune Lodge can access the great dunes of Sossusvlei much earlier, and stay much later, than those at Sossusvlei Lodge.
These travellers visited this lodge in late-October, which is Namibia’s hottest period.
Sossus Dune Lodge was designed without air-conditioning to minimise its environmental footprint. Part of the original ‘brief’ to the designer was, we’re told, to design a lodge that would remain comfortable even when it is very windy in this area (sometimes there are high winds and small sand-storms here). He did this by designing solid chalets, and limiting how the windows open. However, it’s now clear that, during the hottest parts of the year, this helps to make the chalets far too enclosed and hot!
We’ve spoken to the NWR team, and they’re actively looking at altering the design to make it more comfortable during these hotter periods, to help cool the chalets down.
Zebra River Lodge
"Zebra River Lodge review"
If she and Rob move on it will be interesting to see what happens there."
Eningu Clayhouse
"Eningu Clayhouse review"
We've stayed there twice before (during the tenure of Stephanie and Volker) and could see little significant change. We like it. The food was good, but our two dinners both had heavy first and second courses (eg beef carpaccio, followed by eland goulash!), which seemed odd given the wide choice of really excellent salads at lunch time."
I'm pretty tough on gradings and believe Excellent should be awarded only in really exceptional circumstances. So, for me, Good is a pretty high rating."