Holiday Reviews
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same trip can have different views!
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Family safari holiday in Tanzania; Safari & Spice, independent reviews
 Reviewed 4 Aug 2007 by Fiona Dray |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The whole safari aspect of the holiday - seeing the animals and visiting the Masai village, meeting new people and seeing new cultures.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Lots of travelling but regular stops at nice places. Beach extension was disappointing as it was completely different to the lodges we stayed in on the safari. It was a large hotel and although staff were friendly, we were all put in rooms right at the back (81 stairs up) and it was more of a package holiday place. We were hoping for something more individual as a nice end to the safari.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
We were able to shop at local places which would have helped the local people.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Safari was unbeatable but the beach extension was a little disappointing.
Read the operator's response here:
I am very glad you enjoyed your safari in Kenya so much. The experience of close encounters with wildlife and the atmosphere of staying in the bush on safari is indeed hard to top with anything! I can understand that you perceived quite a difference between this part of your trip and your beach stay extension. The coastal stretch around Mombasa is traditionally a popular holiday destination attracting a large number of travellers every year, and consequently it is a bustling place. The sense of tranquillity and remoteness that you would have experienced on your safari is rare to find here. We designed the beach extension as an opportunity to relax for a few days after the faster pace and longer travel days of the safari, and many travellers enjoy the contrast to the safari experience. However, you are correct in pointing out that this is quite different in style and if you feel that we should make any changes to our promotional material to reflect this, we would be grateful for any suggestions. I hope you will plan another family holiday with us soon.
| Reviewed 27 Aug 2007 by Jacqueline Deyong | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The game drives and time spent with Hassan Mwinjuma, he was superb, knowledgeable, friendly and an excellent organiser. The visits to the school and village at Mkwaja. The small plane flights were also fun, arriving at a grass strip to have a single engine plane fly in to pick you up was an experience, none of this waiting for your flight to be called just "everybody ready? OK fasten your belts we're off"
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Really do pack light, and take more mosquito repellent than you believe you will need. A torch with good batteries really helps for the odd things like showering and getting dressed in the pitch dark as well as for the more expected uses. If you can hold it between your teeth whilst you shave that is an art form well learnt! Exercise books etc for Mkwaja school is a good idea and any of the children’s T shirts that they have grown out of - there is a real use for them here. Make sure you take the early morning game walk complete with MWG (Man With Gun); you get a real sense of the scale of the place. Enjoy the long drive between the parks, you get to see glimpses of the real rural Tanzania
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes certainly in Tanzania, however I have doubts about your representative in Zanzibar "Commercial Ali" as I shall remember him. We were all concerned about how much of the money we paid him for trips, especially the spice tour and the snorkelling, found its way into the local economy. May be better to deal with the snorkelling trip by booking locally. Ali's time keeping was also an art form to have been more consistently late he would have needed to be deceased!
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We had a superb time, all of the adults and teenagers got on well and there was a good balance between activity and rest. The flights via Dubai were less than ideal 2 X 6hr legs with a 3 hour break made it hard, direct flights to Dar may well be worth the premium. Failing this a longer leg via Nairobi may give a better opportunity for some sleep. Also the first night at Morogoro was below the standard of the rest, have you thought about a short charter flight straight into Mikumi, the drive between Mikumi and Saadani give lots of chance for country watching.