Travel reviews by Mrs & Mrs M from New York
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
5
Excursions taken
0
An extraordinary experience!
Tanzania between 12 Aug 2011 and 27 Aug 2011
"We just got back from our trip to Africa. I'm swamped with work right now but wanted to take just a few minutes to tell you that the two-week Safari you orchestrated for us in Tanzania came off flawlessly. That means that all of the multiple travel transfers went off without a hitch, the camps you put us in more than exceeded our expectations, the guides we had in the various camps were without exception excellent.
I know I speak for my wife Audrey, and Ann and Kevin when I send you a very warm and enthusiastic “thank you” for turning our many phone conversations back in December into such an extraordinary experience.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Clearer guidelines on how much cash one needs to bring to cover tips and drinks (such as Lake Manze, where drinks were not included and credit cards not accepted) would have been a great help. We had only one opportunity to use an ATM (which worked for us but not for our friends), which was quite lucky in terms of the timing when we'd run out of cash, and the location, being the one day we were driving through Karatu where there is an ATM. Not having enough cash, and not being sure of where or when we could get some, caused a fair amount of anxiety and stress that would have been eliminated if we'd simply brought enough to begin with.
We also didn't realize that everyone accepted U.S. dollars even for cash tips, so could have bypassed all the trouble trying to get Tanzanian shillings in the right amounts."
I know I speak for my wife Audrey, and Ann and Kevin when I send you a very warm and enthusiastic “thank you” for turning our many phone conversations back in December into such an extraordinary experience.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Clearer guidelines on how much cash one needs to bring to cover tips and drinks (such as Lake Manze, where drinks were not included and credit cards not accepted) would have been a great help. We had only one opportunity to use an ATM (which worked for us but not for our friends), which was quite lucky in terms of the timing when we'd run out of cash, and the location, being the one day we were driving through Karatu where there is an ATM. Not having enough cash, and not being sure of where or when we could get some, caused a fair amount of anxiety and stress that would have been eliminated if we'd simply brought enough to begin with.
We also didn't realize that everyone accepted U.S. dollars even for cash tips, so could have bypassed all the trouble trying to get Tanzanian shillings in the right amounts."
Serena Hotel Dar
"Comfortable, friendly, quiet, good shower"
1 night
Arrived
13 Aug 2011
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Rooms
Good
Lake Manze Adventure Camp
"Lake Manze a Great Camp to Start our Safari"
4 nights
Arrived
14 Aug 2011
"We loved everything about Lake Manze camp, even not having electricity and a semi-outdoor bathroom, which made it feel like a romantic adventure. Sara was an extremely nice and efficient manager, making sure we were aware of our safari options and got to do exactly what we wanted each day.
The food was quite good, the staff wonderful, and we were thrilled that the elephants and other animals had free run of the camp (with maasai warriors standing by to insure our safety). Our guide, Victor, and driver, Daniel, were superb. Victor had so much knowledge about the animals and plants and excellent enough English to convey complex ideas. Daniel was an excellent driver, very conscientious about our comfort and safety, and on some truly challenging roads.
We also enjoyed two walking safaris and felt safe with ranger George, and two water safaris with our very experienced and interesting guide, Elton."
The food was quite good, the staff wonderful, and we were thrilled that the elephants and other animals had free run of the camp (with maasai warriors standing by to insure our safety). Our guide, Victor, and driver, Daniel, were superb. Victor had so much knowledge about the animals and plants and excellent enough English to convey complex ideas. Daniel was an excellent driver, very conscientious about our comfort and safety, and on some truly challenging roads.
We also enjoyed two walking safaris and felt safe with ranger George, and two water safaris with our very experienced and interesting guide, Elton."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Kwihala Camp
"Kwihala a very special, small camp"
3 nights
Arrived
18 Aug 2011
"Kwihala was outstanding! With only 6 tents, it was very small and quiet--had the best sleep of our lives the three nights in this camp. Very comfortable tents, and felt like five-star luxury to have electricity after going without it (happily) at the previous camp.
The food was mostly good, and amazing what they do in such a remote camp kitchen, but occasionally the beef was fairly tough.
Highlight here was our guide, Pietro, and guide-in-training, Saidi. Pietro is passionate, even obsessed, with spotting game, and he did a brilliant job for us. We watched a very large pride of lions interacting for about an hour one morning, sighted three leopards over three days, saw a cheetah, huge herds of buffalo, elephants, giraffes, etc. etc. Ruaha was quite chilly in the mornings and evenings, so be sure to pack accordingly with long sleeves and pants, a warm fleece, hat, etc."
The food was mostly good, and amazing what they do in such a remote camp kitchen, but occasionally the beef was fairly tough.
Highlight here was our guide, Pietro, and guide-in-training, Saidi. Pietro is passionate, even obsessed, with spotting game, and he did a brilliant job for us. We watched a very large pride of lions interacting for about an hour one morning, sighted three leopards over three days, saw a cheetah, huge herds of buffalo, elephants, giraffes, etc. etc. Ruaha was quite chilly in the mornings and evenings, so be sure to pack accordingly with long sleeves and pants, a warm fleece, hat, etc."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Plantation Lodge
"Plantation Lodge Perfect Interlude mid-safari"
2 nights
Arrived
21 Aug 2011
"It was strange to be in a building after seven nights in tents, but the Plantation Lodge was the perfect "interlude" of civilization in the middle of our two-week safari. The grounds and gardens around the lodge are beautiful, the swimming pool is gorgeous, and the main building, restaurant, and bar area, very comfortable and chic, and the food was excellent.
A wonderful place to stay if you're visiting the crater for a day, as we did. Almost wished we had more time to "hang around" and enjoy the place, especially the pool, though it was quite crowded on a sunny afternoon.
Our driver/guide for the crater and Lake Manyara was Mtsongi, a terrific personality with a big voice and great laugh to go along with his skill as a driver and spotter."
A wonderful place to stay if you're visiting the crater for a day, as we did. Almost wished we had more time to "hang around" and enjoy the place, especially the pool, though it was quite crowded on a sunny afternoon.
Our driver/guide for the crater and Lake Manyara was Mtsongi, a terrific personality with a big voice and great laugh to go along with his skill as a driver and spotter."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sayari Camp
"Luxury on the Mara River"
4 nights
Arrived
23 Aug 2011
"The most elegant and sophisticated of all the tent camps we stayed in--could not believe the luxury of the tents and bathrooms with double sinks, large tub, and spacious shower. Sayari had the best food of the trip, not that we went for the food. Tanya was a charming manager, and always right on top of our every need or request.
Albert was an excellent driver and guide, and made sure we saw everything it was possible to see, including four wildebeest crossings, two black rhinos, three cheetah brothers stalking a wounded wildebeest, and numerous lions.
We were witness to some jeeps from other camps running into trouble on the very challenging roads because they had inferior equipment or drivers, and were so grateful to be with Albert in a Sayari jeep."
Albert was an excellent driver and guide, and made sure we saw everything it was possible to see, including four wildebeest crossings, two black rhinos, three cheetah brothers stalking a wounded wildebeest, and numerous lions.
We were witness to some jeeps from other camps running into trouble on the very challenging roads because they had inferior equipment or drivers, and were so grateful to be with Albert in a Sayari jeep."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Our impressions were that the staff was friendly and efficient, the room clean, comfortable, and quiet, and the hot shower was great after being in transit for about 24 hours."