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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Amboseli luxury safari camp, independent reviews
 Reviewed 29 Nov 2007 by Louise Race |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
It is hard to pick out one event - Kilimanjaro shedding her clouds on the morning of our wedding anniversary? - spotting a few-days-old elephant cub? - as the most memorable. In addition, the guide, spotter and other staff at our camp were so professional, friendly and delightful that the experience was enhanced hugely by their company.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take a tape recorder. The sounds of Kenya - the singing of the Masai women, the dawn chorus - were magical and I wished I had been able to record them.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I felt this holiday was a win-win way of supporting African people. We got to see one of the most beautiful countries on earth and gained an insight into Kenyan culture, the local people gained employment and an incentive to protect the game life, and earned some hard currency in a country in which the average wage is disturbingly low.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Before we left, we were planning our return. We would definitely go with this operator again and are recommending the outfit to all our friends. (Also, the responsibletravel.com website.)
| Reviewed 29 Jan 2008 by Rion Owens | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
a) Visit to a Maasai village. b) Game drives with highly knowledgeable drivers and spotters, with the sight of elephants, giraffes and water buffalo (very close to, in some cases) being the highlights. c) Surprisingly well appointed tent accommodation.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The phone and e-mail connections can play up in Kenya in general, so cut the admin staff some slack when booking. They apply a lot of ingenuity when let down by the system. The main road to Mombasa is at present very poor and takes a lot of traffic, so I am tempted to say take a flight from Wilson airport to transfer from Nairobi to the camp. However, the driver we had was first class, both as a driver and commentator on what we saw. And we saw a lot of Kenyan life that we would have missed by flying. We stayed in Nairobi for a night before and after the safari. I would recommend this if doing the road transfer. Remember, there is three minutes of hot shower water per tent, available just before dinner; but it's amazing what you can do with judicious use of the tap.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. A substantial number of Maasai men were employed in the camp and as game spotters. We were able to donate cash to the people of the Maasai village for showing us their way of life. Water is like gold dust, and the emphasis is very much on water conservation.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I would rate it at four stars, were it not for the fact that we were unable to catch sight of any big cats. Otherwise, the game drives, the accommodation, the friendliness and efficiency of the staff were all excellent. A word also for the admin staff in Nairobi who gave us sterling service. I feel I now have a small stake in the country, and the current troubles are just a dreadful blow.