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Comments Jan - March 2007
March 2007
Hello, feedback is very easy.
We have had an outstanding level of satisfaction from Michelle who responded promptly and accurately to the questions I had for her which meant we selected a lovely camp.
The transfers worked very smoothly and we had a fantastic time at Xakanaka Camp. The accommodation was great and Bob, Flo and particularly our guide, Water, were extremely hospitable. All in all 10/10 and I would definitely use Island Safaris again and recommend it to friends.
I don't know whether the following is useful but constructive points are:
- at the start of the process I didn't know much about the okavango delta and its seasons (the wet season and the flood season are different) and therefore I didn't really understand from the descriptions of the camps what exactly I could expect in respect of water/ mokoro/ game drives and how the experience could be affected by the time of year. Initially I was going to choose the delta camp and it was only when I checked with michelle that we would see game there that I realised from her response that there wouldn't be any as it didn't do game drives. Additionally I spoke to someone who had stayed at delta camp and because it was not flood season the boat opportunities were extremely limited. I had not really appreciated that a walking safari is much more limited as to its possibilities and really you don't see anything at all. Therefore I think it would be helpful if your team would explicitly confirm what viewing/ game experiences will be possible:
a) generally at the camp, setting out what game can be seen through the experiences and
b) specifically at that time of year as it really is fundamental and the first time visitor does not really understand all the differences between wet/ dry/ flood season/
- it may be useful for people travelling in summer at midday to take travel sickness tablets as the small planes can be very bumpy due to the thermals and I did not realise this.
- we really enjoyed having bob and flo there managing the camp and we appreciated their interaction with us. if for some reason the camp managers were not there it would have been good to know as they greatly add to the experience. also one night 18 of the 22 people were from a group specialising in something else and a different nationality. It would be good to know whether a group of a different nationality has booked a very significant part of the accommodation as you have meals together and it greatly affects your experience as to enjoyment if you are left a bit isolated - fortunately Bob and Flo took us under their wing with another couple and we had a great time every night.
Hope this is helpful.
Best regards
John Belsey
March 2007
Everything was great!
Thank you!
Jeroen de Schrijver
March 2007
You beat me to it. I intended to E mail you regarding how satisfactory our trip was,
but with getting settled back home etc., I had not got around to it.I will cover each point separately as requested.
The service we received from your staff was excellent. We had some difficulties at this end due to passport problems, but Patricia looked after things at your end and we had no problems. Being met at the airport by Natasha upon arrival was a great help when arriving from Canada, as well as when we were going north and returning from Safari. I think that the great welcome service impresses one most when arriving in a strange airport. It was greatly appreciated.
All our transfers to the various places along the trip occurred as planned. We wondered how all those arrangements could click the way they did when so many people were involved at different places, when there seemed to be so much confusion at some places such as the ferry crossing into Botswana.
The Concorde Hotel was very satisfactory, but for people our age The Thatchford Lodge was a more memorable experience. We were not interested in the gambling etc. at the Concorde location.
Our stays at Stanley Safari Lodge, Lagoon Camp and Kwara Camp were outstanding and something we will remember. The service was great and the staff at every location bent over backwards to ensure our satisfaction. When one arrives at a camp you think, surely we should stay longer at this place," but after the two or three days you are happy to move on.
There was only one incident on the whole trip that threw us. We believed that when we came back into Zambia from Botswana we would be required to pay $20 US for an entry visa. We had saved $100 US for the four of us. When we arrived at the border we were told that the fee was $55 US each, which we didn't have. They would not take credit cards and there was no ATM! After a cosiderable our driver came to our rescue and they stamped our passports and didn't charge us anything. It might be well to advise clients about this problem in future.
Overall we were very satisfied with the tour you provide and in particular the service provided by your staff. Please feel free to provide our names as references if needed in the future.
Thank you,
Howard and Peggy Armstrong
March 2007
Its hard to believe its a little over two weeks since we returned.
Already the workload returns and our fabulous holiday seems ages ago.
I apologize for not getting back to you earlier but that¹s life. Firstly we
would like to thank you for all your excellent advise about our trip to a
Country we really new so little about. You saved us a fortune by not getting
a 4x4 for example. Your suggested Itinerary was well rounded and we
certainly did not feel we had missed anything essential to squeeze into a
two week trip. Although I still want to see The Skeleton Coast further
North. We also have absolutely no complaints about the Accommodation or
service through out the Lodges. Some Better than Others but that is what we
expected and wanted. Okonjima was outstanding, especially the Staff, with
Mokuti a little to big and tour like for us although I would recommend them
all. We would also like to Thank your Rep who welcomed us at Windhoek and
helped us with our car she was excellent.
I think Botswana may be our next trip to Africa with perhaps a trip to the
far North of Namibia including The Skeleton Coast.......either way Island
Safari will definitely remain on my Web browser favourites.
Thanks for all your work.
Tim & Carolin Barker
March 2007
The service you received from Island-Safari.com staff during the booking process and during your tour. Excellent - and ours was a fairly complex itinery to arrange. Staff were always helpful and everything went exactly as planned.
The transfers you had. Great - no problems at all.
Your stay at Delta Camp What can I say? Wonderful. Up there in my top five ever holiday experiences!
Your stay at Mondior Concorde Hotel I didn't like it at all, but only because I still wanted to be in Delta Camp. As a close-to-an-airport hotel it's fine. Clean, efficient and next to that bizarre casino complex. Yeah, it was OK really.
Thanks so much for arranging a great holiday for us.
Brad McPherson
March 2007
We returned home safely after a wonderful holiday in South Africa.
I am very satisfied with the service provided by Island-Safari. You always responded very quickly to my questions and the bookings were done smoothly. Most importantly, the lodges were expecting us!
Whereas the lodges is concerned:
Hobatere is a very well managed lodge with kind and personal service by Steve and Louise in a beautiful environment. Well worth a visit and a two days stay. The rooms are adequate. The offered safari's are excellent. The kitchen is perfect. The runway (important for me as a pilot) is in superb condition. One remark, I would prefer an all in tariff for board and activities.
Lianshulu is a real Out of Africa experience with super rooms in a separate villa style building. The rooms are perfectly decorated and very big and comfortable. The food is excellent. The lodge is beautifully located at the shore of the Kwando. Nice safari's (one on the boot and one in the game park, this time of the year little game due to the rainy season. The price/quality relation is very good. Airstrip is OK.
Stanley Safari Lodge is an experience in itself. Location is super, as is the service. The rooms (open villa) quite unique, the location for lunch and dinner, place of your choice in the garden or the terrace, very nice. Good kitchen. Very much value for money as well. Transfer from and to the airport was smoothly. Excursions are rather pricey.
Kind regards,
Roeland van Vledder
March 2007
Comments as follows (Apologies for the delay)
The transfers you had. - transfers in Namibia 10/10 itinerary and timing to perfection - excellent - made travelling around very enjoyable - thoroughly recommend travelling around Namibia this way.
Windhoek Country Club - very helpful allowed us to leave some luggage there until we returned. food and service good.
Sossusvlei Lodge - - staff very helpful - they really made you feel at home food very good and activities offered superb. They offered that little bit extra in terms of service, especially during the activities. Good location. Canyon - well worth the extra visit up there and sand dunes a must.
Hansa Hotel - shame weather not great and trip cancelled - wasn't that overstruck on Swakpmund itself as a town. Would have been better if hotel had had a pool - but a lovely hotel and the staff were very good. Best food we ate in Namibia was at this hotel - restaurant excellent.
Twyfelfontein Country Lodge - Rock carvings excellent. Nice location, shame about the food - 5 options both days for lunch and 3 not available. Food in evening - ok.
Eagle Tented Camp - location excellent but considering it was the most expensive for wine/drinks - the service was very poor - lost the key for the wine cabinet so no wine for meal. Ran out of gin - had to wait for supplies from other hotel. Wine not chilled when asked for white. Not enough jeeps for evening safari trip out. Plunge pool empty first day, second day filled up but full of ants with massive ant problem by tent. Think they lacked someone coordinating operations there.
Kwara Camp - excellent.
Xakanaxa Camp - location and food very good.
Your stay at Ntwala Island Lodge - 20/10 - this has to be the place to go too. The people running it were brilliant, all the staff were lovely. they did everything to make us have a wonderful stay there - has to be the most romantic, idyllic situation ever. Anyone going to Namibia/Botswana has to stay there - thanks to Elise for suggesting this.
Transfers 2nd leg (Botswana/namibia/Zimbabwe) - would be nice if you could put timings on them similar to that we had in Namibia - have a rough idea of when you are leaving in morning.
Stanley & Livingstone Hotel - hotel excellent - unfortunatley i didn't realise that there were two livingstone hotels and had meant the one in Zamibia not Zimbabwe - my fault entirely. Bit of a shock though when we realised at the border. Point worth adding is that there is an entry fee to get into zimbabwe that we didn't know about - for british its around £30 each and only payable with cash - which we scrabbled to find, they didn't take credit cards so we could have been stuffed. The transfer the other side wasn't up to the standard we had had, and had to wait for other people. However the hotel was lovely, staff couldn't do enough and the food very good - even though we were about the only people staying there. Bit limited at lunchtime but suspect not a lot available at the moment.
Would thoroughly recommend island-safari to organise an african holiday and was particularly lucky to have Elise sorting us out who was extremely helpful and efficient, responding very quickly to any queries i had and being particularly patient with the itinerary when we were trying to sort out locations/dates.
Many thanks
Mary Carter
March 2007
Your service was great! Both Amazulu and especially Thong Beach Lodge was very nice. We lookforward to
to use your services again
best regards
susanne sahlberg
March 2007
I had a fantastic time. My dealings with Michelle prior to the holiday were absolutely outstanding. She always had an immediate, friendly yet proffessional response to any of my queries. I would not hesitate to recommend your company to anyone I know as the
service has been exceptional.
My organised activitities through Wild Horizon were very well co-ordinated and went as smooth as clockwork. Our driver was always
there to collect us from the hotel for each event and pick us up at the arranged time.
The Victoria Falls Safari Lodge was one of the best places I have ever stayed at. The staff goes out of their way to assist the guests, the setting is beautiful. I immediately recommended this hotel to my family when I was in South Africa upon my return from Zimbabwe.
I would like again to thank you for an unforgettable experience and compliment Michelle for providing outstanding service.
Kind regards
Kim Playdon
March 2007
From my side I would like to thank you for everything and can assure you that all went very smoothly. The Hotel was excellent and the service and friendliness was great. I would like to especially thank Fortune Ndlovu from the Vic Falls Hotel for all his help and willingness to assist where necessary. We will definately recommend you to other clients and will always use you in the future.
Once again, thanks a million.
Best Regards
Diana Kemp
March 2007
dear Alison, We are back and we congratulate you on a faultlessly arranged trip. Six different habitats and each with its own character and landscape.
River Club excelled in the whow factor and the Zambesi on a 50 year or so high.
Muchenje less formal but with more wildlife and the Cobi in flood. Goood guides and friendly.
Moremi perhaps our overal favourite but a difficult call. Combination of superb lodges and with both water and low level scrub and mature tees. We loved the all African management and staff.
Xugana Island a wonderful location but when combining with a 3 hour trip from Moremi perhaps one we could have excluded for another night at Moremi and Muchenji.
Savuti. Game scarcer (although elephants on the verandah!)
Deception Valley the desrt wilderness and one hell of a good SA guide in Jacobus. A private lodge not quite upto the same standard as the others but totally acceptable and good raptors if not the lepard and lions that visited in the night but not see.
All in all then we dont know how they all get it together and a slight delay was appologised for at the border on Zambesi in writing. When we remonsrtrated at the written appology by saying that if you come to Africa you should expect such things Muchengi said that they wished all the guests were like us infering that they do get complaints about trivia.
Thanks again and Rosebank Hotel was good and we did fit in Saweto and Museum Africa.
Regards gordon and Beryl
March 2007
We had a terrific trip. Mandy was very helpful in finding options for us and then booking for us once we had made our decision and everything went seamlessly. We were met at the Johannesburg airport as we expected and she helped us get checked in and gave us an overview of what to expect. Delta Airways met us in Maun and stored our extra luggage which was so helpful.
We had a great time at Pom Pom. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. It was a very nice camp. While we didn’t see the large herds of animals we saw a great variety including leopards and lions which were a highlight. The return trip also went smoothly.
Thank you Island Safari so much for such a memorable trip for us!
Cathy Gilmore
March 2007
I have already sent an e-mail to Mandy who did our booking. I told her that we thought she was great. Very responsive to questions, requests, etc. And she chose well for all our requests.
Also all of our transfers were perfect! In fact we discussed that fact on numerous occasions. Natasha, the woman who met us at Joburg airport, was also great and told us just what we needed to know.
All the accommodations were also great. The staff as each place was helpful and friendly.
I am glad to say that we feel that Island-Safari did a wonderful job and that if we are in your area again we would gladly use your services!
Sincerely,
Marjorie Baum
March 2007
I would not hesitate to recommend your company or the services you arranged.
I sent a thank you to Michelle immediately on my return
regards
David Pither
March 2007
Dear Michelle,
I just wanted to thank you for all the trouble you went to in organising our Okavango excursion.
We had a great time. Hopefully I will get back there one day in the winter as a comparison but we enjoyed the solitude of being the only guests there.
The Marben Manor people were also very helpful and hospitable and I would certainly recommend them. Great attention to quality and detail.
With best wishes
David Pither
P.S. My stay at Stonehills Nature Reserve in Zimbabwe was wonderful.
March 2007
My apologies for only responding now. When I came back from leave, I struggled for about 2 weeks with my System, E-mail and Internet connections. Apart from that, things were hectic at work and I had about 400 e-mails to go through.
I did my booking through Carien which was excellent.
She was professional and very helpful in every aspect.
Always returning my calls and always there to assist.
The staff at the Airport was also very friendly and helpful, walking us to the Bus.
Comfortable ride.
Our stay at Le Canonnier was excellent.
It is a very beautiful Hotel.
The staff there were very friendly and helpful. They treated us with respect and almost made us felt like millionaires.
The shows and band was excellent.
The food was divine.
In general the service was excellent and the staff very competent and efficient. Thanks to you and your staff we had a very pleasant and unforgettable honeymoon. We will definitely recommend you to our friends and families.
Kind regards
Danie Crouse
March 2007
I would like to let you know that we had a wonderful trip and everything has been well organized by Island Safari. I definetively would recommend you. The lodges were great. We were really much surprised about the excellent hospitality in Zambia especially at Stanley Safari Lodge. Ntwala Lodge was wonderful but the staff wasn't trained very well. Activities were best at Sandibe. We had a phantastic guide. Transfers were all in time. There was only a change on our flight from Maun to Jo'burg. The flight was changed via Gabarone, therefore we almost missed our connecting flight to Cape Town.
Many thanks to Elize for the perfect organisation. In case there will be any specials either for Botswana or Tanzania please let me know. We definitively will come again.
Best regards,
Karin Schmidt
March 2007
The service you received from Island-Safari.com staff during the booking process and during your tour: EXCELLENT , Claudia patiently has listened to our requests and prepared an excellent package tour. The tour was the best travelling and visiting experience we ever had.
The transfers you had: EXCELLENT, no delays or cancellation by Delta air, Air Botswana and Nationwide . A special "thank you" to Mr. Andy Rice of Eco Tours of Cape Town and his assistant Ms. Estee Kriel who , besides being very professional, are the most pleasant and friendly people we ever met. The transfer across the Zambesi from Kasane to Tongabezi was a real pleasure without any problem.....and any charge for the Visa.....fantastic !!!! We really wonder how Island Safari.com can be so efficient.......in such a difficult environment.
Your stay at Stillness Manor: EXCELLENT, the manor is located in a beautiful surrounding and the personnel is exquisite. Our room was an apartment !!! We highly recommend it.......but remember to hire a car !!!
Your stay at Pom Pom Camp: EXCELLENT , Stepahnie and Nigel Cantle are very professional managers of the Camp and we appreciated the never ending attention to details (food, drinks, laundry, personnel uniforms, choir of welcome etc.). Everything is near to perfection, in such hostile environment. A special thank you to our guide Mr.. Shakapira , who has been a very good companion during our stay.
Your stay at Lebala Camp: EXCELLENT, Charles, the manager in charge at the time of our stay, is a wonderful man as are the guides and the trackers (Tabor, Wundy, etc.). The camp is well organized and the animals availability in the concession is great. The only minor problem was the high humidity and the mosquitoes. Maybe better to visit Lebala in September/October.
Your stay at Makgadikgadi Camp: FAIR We were the only guests. The camp is very rustic, but livable. The missing touch of a lady is felt in the running of the camp. Unfortunately there was no water in the pans and we saw thousand of zebras on the verge of dieing for lack of drinking water....VERY SAD. Altogether our stay in Magkadikgadi was quite a sad experience , the best thing was riding the quads in the desert.
Your stay at Tongabezi Lodge: EXCELLENT Even if the Zambesi was 7 mt. over its usual level and Tongabezi was 50% flooded, the manager arranged our stay for 1 night at the River Club, just next to Tongabezi, a beautiful Victorian style Lodge....... The 2nd night we slept in Tongabezi . We had a great time visiting Victoria falls and seeing rhinos in the Reserve next to it. Mr. Quande , the ever smiling man, was our guide. He is a great person with a very comprehensive knowledge of nature in general and very available to satisfy our requests. We had a wonderful time in Tongabezi thanks also to the personnel , very pleasant, available and helpful. The rooms/cottages are beautiful, the food is great, pity we stayed only 2 nights !!!!
Dorothy and I shall highly recommend Island Safari.com to our Hong Kong friends who will plan to visit Africa.
Thank you for the great vacation and maybe..........see you again once the "call of the wild" will become too strong !!!
Dorothy and Riccardo Doglioli
March 2007
Dear Island-Safari!
It was our great luck and pleasure to choose you, as our tour organizer!
All segments of our trip to VIC Falls was properly arranged and looked after.
Transfers were fine and our stay in Victoria Falls Hotel was superb (this besides the Falls themselves, was definitely one of the highlights of our trip).
All-in-all everything was perfectly organized, therefore we plan to contact you to organize a Botswana safari for us and our friendsJ
Many thanks to Sakena and all of you have made this beautiful experience happening to us!
With friendly regards
Tamas Szocs & wife
March 2007
It was a pleasure to have this trip organized by island-safari.
Michelle was very patient and helped us a lot in the different proposal she had to change for us. She was fantastic even during the trip when she helped to have back a lost baggage running after us …
The transfer were perfectly organize, efficient and competent drivers.
The Victoria Falls is a very old hotel, the rooms and the bathrooms very old but clean, the people working at the reception not really up to the standard. Not ready to help, difficult to change foreign value, we also had the impression that the hotel was not fully book but they gave us rooms at the back without view. But the hotel itself it is beautiful a lot of atmosphere of the colonial times.
Chobe Marina Lodge was a delusion….we insisted to go there because we are friends with the owners, and honestly we all had a bad impression: the hotel structure, position and decoration is fantastic and with a lot of potential but the room was dirty, the restaurants and the walking ways from the main building to the rooms were not sufficiently illuminated, the swimming pool wasn’t functioning. The room wasn’t done before 3 pm and at 4 pm they were already closing the curtains for the night and opening the beds….pretentious but no class, and it was raining into the sitting room. The restaurant at dinner was very good, even the service.
Kwara camp was fantastic: friendly, clean, good food, everyone ready to help. Not pretending to be luxury, but with charm.
Bakubung lodge was under the expectations: shortage of towels in the bathroom, the linen on the bed weren’t large sufficient to cover the bed, the air condition was dropping water in the room.
The Cabanas at Sun city it is in the standard for a 3 stars hotel, nothing special but clean and the staff extremely efficient.
Michelangelo was perfect.
Thank you again for the good service you gave us
Mara Cagna
March 2007
We had a wonderful time in Southern Africa. Thank you so much for this great planning. Everything went really smooth. Nowhere on the whole trip we had to wait or to be worried at all. All the below listed , are excellent, except Metcourt hotel we didn't get a chance to stay, and Pom Pom is super of the all. Stephanie at Pom Pom is one sweetheart. please say hello for me when you ever get a chance to see her. I have recommended you guys to all my friends who are inspired by our cool pictures and now want to go to Africa.
thanks again
Alice Qin
March 2007
My wife and I are very pleased to say that we were very impressed with the service we received from Island Safari, in particular Carien Simons. She responded to all our emails very promtly and provided us with all the neccessary information we needed to know. Please thank her for us for her friendly, fast and efficient way of dealing with our constant emails!
No problem with transfers at all. All transfers were on time at both lodges.
We enjoyed our stay at Marlin Lodge immensely. Their service is top class and their overall product is excellent. A product well worth marketing for you guys.
Bazaruto Lodge was also good, but I honestly don't think they are worth their "4 star" rating. We did enjoy the relax vibe there, but their service, food and facilities are more 3 star than 4 star. Coming from Marlin Lodge with their excellent service, we were a bit disapointed with Bazaruto Lodge, but nevertheless had a fantastic time.
All and all we had a lovely time and we have no real complaints. Thanks so much Carien!
Kind Regards
Andrew Warren
March 2007
1 I was very happy with service rom Island-Safari pre and during our tour.
2. No problem with the transfers, worked very well.
3. Little Kwara is v good
4. Zib is v good too, the managers there make a world of difference!
5. Tongabezi is v beautiful and so are the Vic Falls and the place is v nice.
6. Cape Cadogan is a hotel we went back too, so we were v happy with that one.
7. Roggeland had great food but was not really our cup of tea. I do not think it is really a honey moon place.
8. The Marine is v nice, have been there before, really like it, great food, great stay.
9. Arniston Lodge is v personal, very quaint and nice, it was v different because of Arniston's "sleepy" characteristic.
10. We never went to Oue Werf for logistical reasons.
So all in all we are very happy with Claudia's service, you planned an excellent honey moon, my wife is (still) very happy! Most of all she liked the shark cage dive she did in Gansbaai when we were staying at the Marine!
We would definitely use you again! (if we have a second honey moon or go back to Africa in the near future!)
All the best,
Christian Nordstrom
March 2007
I had a wonderful trip thanks to Island-Safari. Island-Safari booked all of my travel for me and I was not able to do much research prior to travel. I was pleasantly surprised. I was concerned about arriving at the airport and asking about a ticket that should be waiting for me, but I had no trouble in Gaborone with my flight. The Elephant Valley Lodge was wonderful. All of the staff were excellent and my guided trips were very enjoyable. I would like to return to this lodge again in the future.
My transfer into Zambia was very easy. The personnel driving me were very helpful. The Zambezi Sun was very nice and the staff was pleasant. The only problem I had was the check in and the tours I went on asked for a voucher. I did not have a voucher, but a simple phone call to Island-Safari solved the problem.
I have recommended Island-Safari, The Elephant Valley Lodge, and Zambezi Sun to friends.
Thanks to everyone who assisted me!
Cheryl Hinderer
March 2007
my Wife and I would like to thank all the Staff at Island- Safari for the help given to us in the organising of our Holiday. We would specially mention the following:-
The service we received from Michelle and the rest of your Staff was exceptional and the suggestions put forward by them gave us what we would class " A Holiday of a Lifetime.
The Transfer Arrangements were excellent. We were met initially at Jo'burg Airport and given our Air Tickets and from then on all the Transfers for the holiday fell perfectly into place. At no time were we left hanging around awaiting a Courier for the next part of the holiday.
Ilala Lodge was perfectly situated for the Zimbabwe part of the Holiday and the Staff at the Hotel were excellent . Our Trips organised by your Rep were great.
The Chobe Safari Lodge was again a perfect choice for the Botswana part of our Holiday. The Itinerary for this stay could not have been bettered.
Once again my Wife and I would like to thank all at Island- Safari who helped make this Holiday so perfect which was in celebration of 50 Years of Marriage.
Yours sincerely
Dennis and Cathie Houghton.
March 2007
I talked yesterday with customers Mora/Machetti and they were really hapy about the safari!
The Rufiji Tented Camp was basic but nice and Island Safari.com staff was excellent.
Thank you very much for your assistance, it's always perfect!
Marina
BLUE SPACE
Via Palazzo di Città, 12
10023 CHIERI (TO) - ITALY
February 2007
My wife and I are very pleased to say that we were very impressed with the service we received from Island Safari, in particular Carien Simons.
She responded to all our emails very promtly and provided us with all the neccessary information we needed to know. Please thank her for us for her friendly, fast and efficient way of dealing with our constant emails!
No problem with transfers at all. All transfers were on time at both lodges.
We enjoyed our stay at Marlin Lodge immensely. Their service is top class and their overall product is excellent. A product well worth marketing for you guys. Bazaruto Lodge was also good, but I honestly don't think they are worth their "4 star" rating. We did enjoy the relax vibe there, but their service, food and facilities are more 3 star than 4 star. Coming from Marlin Lodge with their excellent service, we were a bit disapointed with Bazaruto Lodge, but nevertheless had a fantastic time.
All and all we had a lovely time and we have no real complaints.
Thanks so much Carien!
Kind Regards
Andrew Warren
February 2007
Michelle could not have been more helpful in answering questions and putting together a fabulous package.
Transfers worked very well, with people there to meet us at every stage and making us feel ‘special’
- Your stay at Pom Pom Camp
Please thank Nigel and Stephanie for a great time at Pom Pom. This was our baptism to the Okavango and they and their staff made us feel very welcome. Travelling with a 16 year old can be difficult but they really included him in everything.
- Your stay at Little Kwara Camp
Steve and John went out of their way to find interesting things for us to see and their knowledge of their environment is truly staggering. The rooms were great and we enjoyed every trip. Adam particularly enjoyed catching his first fish !
- Your stay at Zambezi Sun Resort Hotel
Colin Stringer
February 2007
It was all wonderful end to end! I really have to compliment Island Safari and Patricia in particular for ensuring that the bumps that came up (planes not going when they were suppose to) were all smoothed out -- even going so far as working with my other travel agents.
The sites were beautiful and I'm glad she persuaded me to go to Zim to see the falls.
Thanks for everything!
Laura Sallstrom
February 2007
We had a marvellous time at Le Prince Maurice. Everybody was so attentive and could not make any negative comment. Your service was of the same level.
Many thanks,
Derek Green
February 2007
We were very happy how everything was organised. It was a very smooth holiday without any major hickups. Transfers were seamless, there was always someone waiting for us. Great help at Jo'burg airport, without your help we would have missed our connection to Livingstone!
Service was very good. One reason we booked with you was that you were the first one to reply to our enquieries. Your website with the lodges and hotels was very helpful and our main tool in choosing where to stay. Payment of the holiday could have been a little easier, but it was not much of an issue.
Songwe Village was nice. Beautiful loaction, very friendly staff, good food, clean. Spectacular views over the gorge, I loved brushing my teeth in the morning with that view! Nice rooms.
Elephant Valley Lodge was also nice, although we were almost eaten by bugs at night during dinner. Very good driving safaris. The pool was small, but sufficient. Nice staff, very helpful, clean rooms.
Delta Camp was again very nice, good accommodation, very friendly staff, tons of good food - we had some very nice dinners. We thought though that we would do lots of Mokoro tours, thinking that there would be plenty of water, as it was the rainy season. It was dry though, so it was 99% walking safaris. So in terms of what we saw it was a little dissapointing.
Cape Elegance Guesthouse was adequate as a B&B, the owners were helpful in suggesting activities for the evening and the following morning.
So in terms of accommodation we liked Songwe the best. In terms of game watching it was Elephant lodge.
I would definitely book with you again, thanks for a great holiday!
Cathy Heinemann
February 2007
The service you received from Island-Safari.com staff during the booking process and during your tour. Was excellent
The transfers you had all went v smoothly
Your stay at Bazaruto Lodge was very good but short
Your stay at Benguerra Island Lodge Was absolutely amazing, the service and amenities were all amazing, lovely food
Your stay at The Village at Spier Very nice boutique hotel
Your stay at D'Oreale Grande Hotel Smart and clean but rather over the top in terms of styling
Your stay at Xakanaxa Camp Lovely camp, excellent guiding and friendly staff, good food
Your stay at Camp Okavango Accomodation was dated despite being spacious, guiding was good, food not special
Your stay at Tongabezi Lodge Absolutely amazing location, service, food, only needed some more sunshine
James Meyer
February 2007
Everything went well from bookings, transfers as well as the stay. No complaints.
Bhutiza Letsie
February 2007
Thanks for your email. As an overall comment, my experience with Island Safari was an absolute pleasure. Please find my responses to each question below.
Kind regards,
Alex Noonan
The service you received from Island-Safari.com staff during the booking process and during your tour.
Fantastic! Patricia was so quick with emailing responses, answered all our questions and she provided very thorough info. She tailored a holiday that suited our needs completely.
The transfers you had.
Very reliable and comfortable.
Your stay at Ntwala Island Lodge
Completely luxurious! We had high expectation of Ntwala Lodge and the staff and accommodation completely exceeded these. The staff were all wonderful and incredibly efficient. Our stay was personalised, very private and the game viewing fantastic! We would definitely recommended Ntwala Lodge.
Your stay at Ilala Lodge
Patricia recommended the Ilala Lodge and we think that it was probably one of the better places to stay in Vic Falls, Zimbabwe. The food was the best we had at The Falls and the location couldn’t have been better. With the currency the way it is, Zimbabwe is just such a funny place! By chance we didn’t swap any currency and boy are we glad we didn’t – our time there would literally have been up to 60 times more expensive!
February 2007
We returned to the UK this morning and I thought that I would waste no time in sending you an email to thank you, on behalf of myself, my wife and our son Adam, for the best holiday of our lives.
Everything worked like clockwork and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
We will try and send our thanks direct to the two camps but please pass on our thanks to them and to everyone lese involved in making this an experience to remember.
Best wishes,
Colin Stringer
February 2007
I would like to let you know that the booking of our arrangements was handled very well and we were more than pleased.
We couldn’t have picked a better place than the Stanley and Livingstone. The hotel was wonderful, the waiters, and everyone that worked there were just exemplary. I was so pleased with everything from the room to the meals, I cannot say enough about it!!
Our driver to and from the airport was also with us for four days was very patient, knowledgeable of the area and had lots of ideas for us so that we made the most of the time in Zimbabwe.
Again, we are very pleased with our trip. Looking forward to doing it again in the future!!!
Thanks
Michele Stover
February 2007
Having travelled 4 weeks in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia, we want to let you know that we have the very best of memories to the part of our trip you organised for us.
We have and certainly will futher recommended you among our circles. Your advice and organisation was of high standard and all we could wish. Thank you, Patricia!!
Our stay in Kwara was excellent. All staff was a team as a team should be. We were in the hands of a thoughtful, careful and cheerful group. Great in every detail.
Pom Pom was good, but when we rate Kwara at 9.7 (scale 1-10) we rate Pom Pom at a 7.5. In Pom Pom facilities, meals and staff were very good, though the camp manager seemed absent minded towards his guests. It was not very clear who really was assigned as our guide. Since the airstrip was under repair when we were outbound, transfer to a neighbouring strip was 1.5 hr drive. No problem with that, but someone appeared to have misjudged driving time. Our driver took us on a hurried and really rough ride which we survived more than enjoyed.
Transfers were all well organised. All flights we had the same pilot and a very good one, for that matter. He as well as we could have wished a little more up-to-date aircraft.
Thank you for taking great care of our wonderful stay in the Okavango.
Warm regards,
Huib Theunissen
January 2007
The whole package, from being met at Jo'burg airport to our return there was organised superbly. Kwara was as good as last year and Leballa provided the same excellent service. I would like to thank the staff at Leballa very much for my birthday cake which my wife aked them to provide. It was very much appreciated
We enjoyed our time on safari tremendously. The game drives were a great experience and were made even more so by the knowledge and expertise of the Guides and Trackers.
regards
Howard and Nan Jenkins
January 2007
the boooking process was easy, fast and efficient. I went with my own car, so the transfer from Maun to the camp and back went very smooth and easy as well. Attention at Delta Camp was also excellent (except for the last day I was the only guest) and the guide was very helpful and knowledgeable. Food and accomodation was very good (with only a tiny downside which were some ants or ??? which picked on me in the treehouse every once in a while, but I guess that's nature...).
Regards,
Ronald Meyer
January 2007
We had a wonderful trip. The service we received from Island-Safari - Patricia in particular, was outstanding. Patricia was able to answer any little query I had whilst making our booking. It was obvious to me she knew the area she was selling to us and her answers were prompt and friendly.
The transfers went without a hitch even though our flight to Victoria Falls arrived late from Johannesburg.
Oddballs was just great. The flights in and out - adventures themselves. I requested gluten free food (and wondered whether this request could be accommodated) but our hosts at Oddballs went to extroadinary lengths to cater for my diet, I am very grateful for their efforts, as I found it quite difficult in most places in South Africa when we travelled as FIT's prior to our trip to Botswana etc. Thank you. The Okavango was fantastic and our walking safaris, mokoro trips and visit to the local village was more than we could have hoped for. The animal life was amazing, right up close! Our guide was so nice and very knowledgeable.
Elephant Valley Lodge was lovely, everyone nice and friendly and again my gluten free diet catered for too. Thank you. Dinner on the lawn and service just great. Chobe safaries and cruise - animals everywhere - elephants, elephants and more elephants - just fantastic. Crocodiles, lions, hippos, mongoose, baboons, birds, giraffe, antelope, hyena, water buffalo and more.
I was a little concerned about sending money to a bank account (unknown to me etc and booking on line) but all transactions were acknowledged promply and we had no hitches with our travel.
Thank you Patricia and Island-safari.com for your helpful advice and making our trip trouble free and fantastic.
Christine and Allan Koller
Rotorua, New Zealand
January 2007
I just wanted to say that we were extremely satisfied with Island-Safaris professionalism and assistance with our trip. The staff were helpful, friendly, knowledgeable and always over-extended themselves. Also, turnaround on queries was excellent.
The stay at Camp Okuti was wonderful and we considered it a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Thank you for making it memorable. We will certainly make use of Island-Safari in our future travels.
I would like to make special mention of Elize Cavill-Taylor who assisted me with all of my bookings. She was so professional and helpful and completely competent. She would always respond to my emails within 24 hours and sometimes less than 24 hours. Because of her, our trip went without a hitch. You have an excellent and valuable person in your employ.
Thanks again!
Sincerely,
The Mothes family
January 2007
Claudia was our representative for Island-Safari and she perfectly organise our trip in Botswana. She assisted us very kindly and very competently to schedule our programme. She choosed two camps and a lodge which made us live different adventures and meet different animals. We thank her for her advices and for her organisation : all was perfect .
The transfers were exactly planned and everybody was exact and professionnal
Our stays at Xakanaxa camp, Kwara camp and Muchenje Lodge were marvellous. The staff was everywhere friendly, welcoming, considerate towards us. The food was delicious and plentiful with unlimited drinks . The tents were very comfortable with their private en-suite facilites.
If we decide to make an other safari, perhaps in Tanzania, to see the migration of gnus and zebras, we'll be sure to call Island- safari.
Best regards
Jeannette and Robert Carde
January 2007
Michelle went way beyond the call of duty and deserves a huge pat on the back. Through all our dealings she has been wonderful - from our first email to do with bookings, until after we had returned home. One of our party broke down at Seronga and had to be towed to Maun ( the trip took 16 hours ) and without Michelle we would have been in dire straits. She managed to change our bookings and organize an extra stop over in Maun. Her concern was great and she insisted on me phoning her to let her know we had arrived safely - even though this was after midnight.
I will certainly use Island Safari for further bookings as well as recommend you to everyone I know.
Everything went smoothly ( except the breakdown ) and Michelle's recommendations were fantastic.
Ngepi was wonderful and well worth seeing - we could have spent much more time there. Unfortunately, we had organized the most part of our holiday privately and only used Island Safari for the leg home to break our journey. If we had known about you before we would have planned a totally different experience. In fact Ngepi is quite a stunning experience with very helpful and pleasant staff - will be going back!
Planet Baobab was also fantastic and very unique. Here the staff were also unbelievable. They insisted on waking up at 3.30 am to make us "padkos" as we wanted to leave at 4.00 am to get home. Very pleasant experience !
The houseboat was also a great experience with very pleasant staff but there are a couple of problems -
I think they have tried to cram too many beds on board as the cabins are very small with only about twelve inches between the beds with no cupboard space. It was very cramped. Also the beds are small so the mosquito nets touch your feet and head so you get bitten through the net. Because of the design there is no through - draft in the cabins so summer is not a good time for heat. I think they could put in fans or even an aircon in the common area. ( We were spoilt in Zimbabwe on "Meremaid" 18 months ago ). It was still a great experience however.
Thanks again to Island Safari - until next time
Regards
Cliff Taylor
January 2007
We had an absolute ball, thank you very much!
Patricia was fantastic and really helped us make our mind up on what we wanted to do.
There was a change to our schedule, we went to Lebala instead. They asked us to make the change as we would have been the only people in the Lagoon camp for those nights, but is was all well done and we did not mind at all as we were not pressured into making the change.
My wife loved the transfer flights in the small planes.
Little Kwara was very nice, the staff and guides were fantastic. Jonah runs a fantastic camp here.
In Lebala they organized us a surprise romantic dinner for 2 on the last night, which was very much appreciated. Alwyn made us feel at home and our guide Charles and the spotter Mr Mo was absolutely amazing.
All in all a most enjoyable experience which we have decided to do relive in the near future.
Yours Truly,
Pieter Jansen van Vuuren.
January 2007
Sorry for my late reply. Just a quick note to thank you and congratulate your team for your advice and recommendations. We had a high expectation and it was just exceeded by far. All was fine, the transfers and the hotel staff, very helpful and friendly.
Definitely my next holiday into Africa will be with you again, and as I am looking for a safari, I look forward to do it soon
Rgds
Josep Ragull
January 2007
Thank you for making my first safari a wonderful, wonderful vacation! Everything worked perfectly. The transfers, plane tickets, camp reservations, etc all fell into place. I didn’t have a worry the entire time and was able to enjoy the beauty and wonders of the Okavango Delta.
In reference to your specific questions:
The booking process staff responded quickly to my emails and processed all the paperwork efficiently. Even while Mandy who was my primary point of contact was away for a few days, other staff answered my emails.
The transfers went without a hitch. The staff at both camps came up to me to let me know my transfer times and made the introductions. For the boat transfer, the guide stopped when he spotted some elephants and let me gaze/take pictures for about 10-15 minutes.
Both camps were wonderful. The guides, food, tents, staff, cleanliness, etc were great. I truly appreciated the information about tipping. I don’t travel enough to understand how that always works. Xakanaka had a box in their entry and envelopes in their rooms which helped alot.
I truly appreciate the care and detail that your organization put into my trip. Please pass on my thanks to everyone. I have already recommended Island Safari to my family/friends and look forward to booking my next trip when I can stay more than 6 days.
Monica Selent
Janaury 2007
We have just returned to rainy England and are already missing the splendors of the Falls.
I only have good words to say about your service. The transfers to and from the Hotel were prompt and courteous.
Thank you for making our trip hassle free.
We are thinking of returning to Zimbabwe again to visit Kariba Hwange National Park and Falls (3 Nights each) please can you provide us with accommodation details and a rough price from Jan 02-11 2008
Thank you.
Mrs Debra Byron
January 2007
I had a wonderful time at 20 Degres Sud Hotel. It turned out to be more than I had anticipated. The entuire management & staff have been friendly, welcoming & accommodating.
Claudia, your colleague, has also been great with my reservation. She has been patient with my request for information & reservation change.
I am recommending your service & the hotel to friends, some of whom may be contacting you soon.
Thank you to you company for all the assistance
Regards,
Barnny
January 2007
Just to say thanks the holiday was great and lived up to the expectation. Which was very high. Every thing went very smoothly
Unfortunately back at work though looking forward to booking next trip back to Africa somewhere
Thanks again
Peter
January 2007
I am very happy with the service you provide and I must say it is a pleasure to work with Elize, as quotations come back quick. As we work with direct clients, we rely on a swift answer. I have passed on Elizes email to some of my colleges.
I have spoken to the clients, and they had just an amazing time. Service at all the hotels was excellent and they could not have been happier.
Please be insured that we will continue working with Island Safaris.
Best Regards
Anke
Cardboard Box travel Shop, Namibia
January 2007
Dear folks:
Our trip to Little Kwara Camp was truly amazing. First I'd like to thank Patricia who worked with us to plan this trip. She responded promptly and completely to all my questions and found us this gem of a camp.
The transfers were terrific. We were met in Maun by an incredibly patient man who collected us and our baggage, helped us get some pula, and put us on our bush plane.
Finally Little Kawara - what a lovely place! Our tent was stunning - hardly a tent, what with the beautiful hardwood floors, comfortable beds, state of the art bathroom including an outdoor shower and indoor tub and a double sink, and alovely deck. The common space is comfortable and inviting. The staff is friendly and enormously helpful. The food was excellent - though we clearly ate too much! Our guide, Steve, and our tracker, GT, were simply incredible. In addition to the usual elephants, lions, zebra, giraffe, hippos, impala, wildebeast, tsessebe, hyenas, jackals, wart hogs and so on, we saw a leapord stalk and kill a baby warthog and then fetch her cub to practice dragging the kill up a fallen log. And on our last drive we literally ran with a pack of wild dogs! And so many birds - we spent a breathtaking sunset on a boat watching the storks and egrets and herons return to their roosts for the night. Steve and GT knew where to go and were a font of information on what we were seeing. I would love to go back to LIttle Kwara.
Thank you again for arranging this for us.
Dale
January 2007
I would ike to say thanks to you both for organising our holiday to Delta Camp at such short notice on Boxing Day.
Not sure if you remember but we were the crazy Australians trying to get to Mozambique and then Okavango Delta over the Christmas period. The booking was under WHITE
Both Mike and I had really fabulous time at Delta camp, and would like to make special mention of Lena and Gali. Lena was an exceptional host and both Mike and I thought he made a special difference to our stay. Lena was an extremely gracious and attentive host and we enjoyed his company enormously.
I am sure you would agree, the guides make or break the stay of your guests at any of your camps. Our guide was Gali and he made our holiday! His humour, knowledge of the surrounds and animals, and his constant attention was truly appreciated.
Both Mike and I had a very restful 5 days / 4 nights and I will be keeping the link to the web site for our next visit to Africa. Could you please ensure that our comments reach the right people in the island safari organisation so that the efforts of Lena, Gali and his team at Delta Camp are recognised. Also, if you do have a mailing list, Mike and I would like to be on it. My email address is in the “cc”.
I would ask a favour – whilst I was at Delta Camp I read a “coffee table” book on Africa – and I forgot to take the title, author or reference number of the book. I would appreciate if you could ask Lena about the book ? It was an overview of all the African states and how historically they evolved. I believe it was located in the library in the lodge.
Once again, thanks for you organisation and assistance with out travel plans – we had a fabulous time
Cheers
Lynn and Mike
January 2007
i have to say that my trip to botswana and oddballs made the whole trip over to africa worth while (i had previously spent 3 weeks in sth africa with another group). it was fantastic. patricia was awesome in her organising of the whole trip for me, working out what would be best and finding flights to fit in with me... even reorganising it all when the dates of arrival got muddled up!! she was always patient with my and my questions and replied very promptly,. even whilst overseas. a big thankyou to her.
as for the transfers all was great. the ppl from delta air met me on arrival in maun and put me onto the light plane. all went smoothly in both directions (although a little mix up/late running planes on the way back to maun from the camp, but it wasnt too bad as i still made my flight, just didnt get to go shopping like i would have liked before i left).
the camp itself waws exceptional. MD, and the crew.... so warm and welcoming and willing to help with anyhting and everything, answer any q's etc. my guide, biddy, was fantastic and did his up-most to please me. the walks were amazing. i really loved it here. the camp itself is a perfect mix of rustic and modern (esp the opentopped showers.. loved them!!) beds in tents v comfy, esp after 3 weeks on near ground. i must say a special thankyou and OH MY to the cooks. these ladies and gentlemen utterly surpasssed themselves in catering for my dietry needs. some of the best meals i have ever tasted, (esp the butter bean soup!! and pizza!@! and peach tart!! YUM)
overall, i have no complaints at all with my experience and will diffinately be back at some stage when the channels are full so i can mokoro and camp out. and ill diffinately be considering using island safari again to organise it all
thankyou!!
Bree Tucker
January 2007
Overall we were very satisfied with the service we received from Island Safari. The booking process went smoothly and rapidly. Transfers to and from Oddballs with Delta Air went according to plan and we received a good and professional service. Our stay at Oddballs was very enjoyable, and while we didn't see much wildlife due to the time of year it was very relaxing and the staff were great. We were glad that Island Safari had informed us in advance that mokoro trips would be limited at that time of year, since some other people who we met at Oddballs were not aware of this and were disappointed upon their arrival.
All the best
Manisha
January 2007
Not wishing to sound too brief, but everything went
smoothly and was to a very high standard. Thanks ever
somuch for a great trip.
all the best,
sam smit
January 2007
The support given by our staff in arranging the trip was excellent in everyway – well done.
All other aspects were also excellent and we have no negative feedback at all with regards any of the lodges or transfers.
We would recommend yourselves to others and use your company again.
Kind Regards
Stuart
January 2007
Many thanks to Verona and her team for organising a splendid trip for us. All the transfers were on time and the service was excellent. The victoria falls hotel was also excellent.
Thank you so much once again - Our trip was well organised and was a success.
Kind regards
Maria
January 2007
The service we received from Island-Safari (Verona) whilst booking all of our trips and hotel was outstanding, nothing was ever too much for her, she made our holiday very enjoyable and the timings of each trip was perfect I would highly recommend your company and would certainly book with you again.
The transfers were spot on always there on time and very friendly.
Ilala Lodge was everything and more than we expected the staff were courteous and always willing to help the bar staff were exceptional, there again all the staff always wore a smile, again would recommend the hotel to anyone and would stay there again.
Thank you for making our holiday wonderful
Kind Regard
Lynn Marsh
January 2007
Our trip was a great success.
Service from Island Safari was very good. Staff during booking and during the trip were very helpful.
The lady who took us to the embassy and to the airport was on time and helpful.
Thatchfoord Lodge was great. The service was excellent and the location was beautiful.
We had a great time at Chobe Safari Lodge and the service there from the guides etc was excellent. We only wished now that we had selected another place for a day or two instead of staying four days in one location.
Our fishing trip was great as we caught 4 large tiger fish and we were able to grill one to eat.
Our game drive was very good as we got to see a lot of animals.
We plan on going back again in 2007 but we will make it a tour by vehicle as the roads are ok.
Regards
Dutch and Monica
January 2007
I thought the service you provided for booking my trip to Vic Falls was excellent. You did exactly what was required and replied to my many questions promptly and courteously. I have already recommended you to my friends in South Africa !
The transfer from the airport was also excellent with the taxi waiting to pick us up. The driver was very friendly and helpful and was especially good at the boarder crossing from Zambia to Zimbabwe. The tour guide at the hotel was only OK but she did miss booking a flight over the falls which I very much wanted to do.
Vic fall hotel was wonderful. Very peaceful with staff being friendly and helpful. I would give it 5 stars but the food only 3 stars. Our only frustration was with the currency. Everything was priced in Zim Dollars but you had to pay in US Dollars. There was also no way to get US Dollars there particularly small dominations. The hotel was not at all helpful in this respect and we ended up having to go on the “black market” to get change. This more than anything would make me recommend visitors go to the Zambian side which is a same. If the hotel had a foreign exchange system it would help everybody.
Hope this helps and I shall certainly be in contact with you again as the next trip is Botswana !
Regards
Paul Collier.
January 2007
I am more than happy to provide you with the following feedback with regards
to our stay at Songwe Point Village.
1.
* The service we received from Island-Safari.com staff during the booking
process.
Kirsten was absolutely magnificent . Bearing in mind that the very first
contact to any hotel, agent, travel agent, lodge, tour is made with an enquiry
email seeking information and answers, and one's decision to make a booking is
entirely dependent on that first reply that one receives, it is clearly obvious
that that first point of contact is the most crucial. This is where Kirsten
needs to be highly commended. Her reply to my initial enquiry was not only very
prompt, but she also immediately offered further detailed suggestions,
alternatives and recommendations, if the hotels that I had initially selected were
fully booked out. So instead of just getting an email stating : " Sorry,we are
unable to accommodate you during these dates as this and this hotel/lodge is
fully booked out, but thank you for your enquiry.", I received a reply from her
saying: " The hotels/lodges that you selected are fully booked during these
dates, however I am able to offer you the following accommodation at the
following places." And with that came full details of the places that were
available. We also required 3 rooms with various sleeping arrangements, and gave
Kirsten a list of things that we were looking for, including price range, comfort
levels etc. Nothing was too much for Kirsten and she handled everything with
aplomb, ease and very professionally, including booking our return airtickets
from Johannesburg to Livingstone. The most important aspect was that Kirsten
answered every email immediately. That made a huge difference, especially with us
being in Australia and having a 9hr time difference to S. Africa. This
resulted in our being able to confirm, book, finalise and pay for our stay in a
matter of days.( I might add here that I am still waiting on replies from enquiries
that I'd made to other tour companies in September 2006 !!!!)
Kirsten is one of the best assets that your company has, and is certainly a
credit to Island-Safari Tours. She is polite, friendly, efficient,
professional, extremely helpful, follows through on everything that she says she will do
and a pure delight to work with.
2.
* The service you received from Island-Safari.com staff during our tour.
We were met at Johannesburg Airport by one of your representatives.
Unfortuneately I cannont remember her name. Again this lass was very professional and
helpful. She met us at the designated meeting point on time, had our flight
tickets to Livingstone, gave us loads of information with regards to the Zambian
markets, bartering, water drinking facilities, what to expect there, which
terminal to go to at the airports etc.
3.
* The transfers we had.
After clearing customs and having our visas waived at Livingstone airport, we
were very graciously met by the Songwe village staff. Handshakes and
introductions all round, we (and other newly arrived guests for Songwe village) were
greeted by Dorothy, Emmanuel, Louis, Joseph and one other gentleman whose name
I have sadly forgotten. On advising us how long the transfer to Songwe Point
Village would be, we were shown where the bathroom facilities were and our huge
amount of luggage was whisked away and packed into the waiting mini-bus.
After the staff ensured that my 90yr old mum was comfortable, bottles of cold
water were handed out ( a very welcome gesture as it was very hot on our arrival)
and we set off to Songwe Village. All through the transfer Dorothy gave us a
running commentary on the buildings, town, area, people and traditions. It made
the transfer very interesting. On arriving at Songwe village, our luggage was
again magically whisked away and we were shown to our respective huts. Our
transfer back to the airport at the end of our stay was just as well organised.
Dorothy and her staff ensured that we got to the airport on time and this also
included stops at various places along the way that we had requested. Once at
the airport the staff looked after our luggage, we paid our airport tax and
said our sad farewells. Dorothy and staff made it all so easy. It was all so
very well organised.
4.
* Our stay at Songwe Village
Well what can I say !!!!! We had the best time at Songwe Village Point. We
all simply cannot praise Dorothy, Emmanuel, Louis, Joseph, Godfrey, Maureen and
all the other staff members enough for looking after us so well and making us
feel so welcome. They looked after us in every respect and absolutely nothing
was too much for them. We were treated as 'one of the family' yet every staff
member there also maintained a professional quiet distance ensuring that we
had our own privacy, and then they would magically appear when we needed
something. They were all soooooo polite, friendly and helpful , but never boisterous
or interferring.
Our accomodation was perfect. Large spacious huts that were cool and
inviting. Very clean, well set out decorated and furnished. We had ample supplies of
soap, toilet paper, hair shampoo, conditioner. The linen and towels were always
clean, fresh and crisp.
Once settled, the drums were sounded for lunch. Dorothy introduced us all to
the remaining staff and explained the daily Village routine, meals,
excursions, baths, drinking water, constant coffee tea and drinks throughout the day and
night ( another very welcome offer)...there was nothing that was not
explained to us. And all in a very easy, calm friendly and inviting manner. The
various huts were shown to us and the explainations of the different names each
named after past chiefs of the Mukuni people given.
The entire Songwe Point Village was always meticulously maintained.
Everything was always neat, tidy, swept and looked after. From our rooms, to the
pathways, to the cars, to the gardens...... all was immaculate. And that also
includes the staff themselves.
Meals were always interesting, delicious and fun. From breakfast, to the
traditional dinner with sing-a-long and charades, to drinks and talks around the
fire, to refreshing lunches after busy mornings.....meals were always a time to
look forward to with everyone at the same table. It was over these meals that
we planned out the day's activities and excursions, got to know the staff and
other guests well, and everyone was able to bond with each other. Meals were
always highlights of the day, with everything freshly made and baked and
totally delicious.
Now here is something that you can add into your information on Songwe
Village, and that we valued very highly. Gluten free and wheat free meals are
readily available !!!!!!!!!! My daughter is wheat intolerant and gets extremely sick
if there is even a trace of wheat in her food. This proved to be a massive
challenge throughout our 6 week trip when eating out in restaurants or staying
in hotels/lodges etc. But in Songwe Village it was absolutely no problem at
all. The staff went out of their way to provide wheat and gluten free meals for
my daughter, yet still incorporating the same menu for her that the rest of us
were having. So she never felt that she was missing out on anything, right
down to the gluten free pizza !!!!!!!!!!!! The staff must be praised for this and
we do thank them profusely for all their kind efforts.
The baths !!!! Yes Songwe Point Village can certainly boast having the Best
baths in the world, Sunset and sunrise baths with a view over the world !!!
What luxury!!! Again we were treated like VIP guests by the staff....baths run
for us, times booked, drinks served in bath, bubbles in water. And again my 90
yr old mother was looked after very specially by the staff ensuring that she
was able to get into and out of the bath safely.
Here again I must point out that at all times Dorothy made sure that my Mum
was comfortable and happy and looked after her as if she was her own mother.
There were always helping hands to help her up and down stairs and in and out
of vehicles. And there was always an arm to lean on during walks or if my Mum
tired.
Excursions and outings were always well excercised and organised. We were
shuttled to and from locations always arriving on time and again Dorothy and
Joseph were always there to pick us up afterwards with plenty of bottles of cold
water. Dorothy also booked us into excursions that were not sheduled into our
stay at Songwe but that we expressed interest in doing eg. helicopter rides,
tea at Livingstone Island, the Gorge Swing etc. She just made it all so easy for
us and although we were only there for a few days, every day was busy from
morning to dusk with the least amount of fuss and we were able to fit in
everything that we wanted to do. Even the tour through the little Songwe Village
itself showing us how the locals live and theor traditions was very interesting.
The young girl Alice, who took us around and explained all , was very
articulate interesting well versed and ever so polite and friendly.
All in all the staff at Songwe Point Village were just magnificent and made
our stay in Zambia the highlight of our trip through South Africa and Zambia.
Dorothy and Emmanuel and their team are a huge credit to and great ambassadors
for Island Safari Tours. One certainly hopes that the staff are generously
rewarded for all their efforts, huge amount of work with long hours and their
never-ending friendly hospitality.
Some important points to pass on to future guests.
1. Songwe Point Village offers gluten and wheat free meals.
2. Guests should bring enough US dollars to not only cover the airport taxes
and village tips, but also to allow them to pay for other excursions, market
shopping etc. Although I had done this as a safety net, there were other
guests that had not made these allowances and were unable to do any market
shopping. Excursions can be paid for by using credit cards but again one is limited
there.
3. Guests MUST ensure that they have NEW US dollars = notes with large heads
on them, not notes with small heads. I had exchanged money in Australia into
US dollars and was given a number of US$100 with small heads. ( At this stage I
had no idea about new and old notes.) On advice from your representative that
met us at Johannesburg Airport, I quickly tried to exchange my US$100 notes
into smaller currency , and even at the airport some exchange outlets refused
to accept the older notes even though they are currently in circulation in the
USA and are legal tender. As for the locals in Zambia, they adamantly would
NOT accept the older notes at all.
4. Guests should be strongly advised to ensure that they have plenty of
smaller currency, US$1.00 and US$5.00 notes , on hand as at most markets or stalls
the common reply was that they had no change. So if something costs US$80.00
and one gave them a US$100.00 note chances were that one did not get change.
Obviously this is a ploy and the locals are used to getting away with this, but
it is extremely annoying and frustrating resulting in tourists making less
purchases.
If I may be of any further help with regards to your feedback survey, please
do not hesitate to ask.
kindest regards
Erika Stanek
January 2007
Apologies for the delayed reply. In response to your questions all I can say is that everything ran like clockwork. Patricia was instrumental in helping organise the trip and suggesting the lodges to stay at which, I might add, were brilliant. The lady who met me at Jo'burg airport (I must apologise I've forgotten her name) was very friendly and efficient at transferring me to the hotel which was very comfortable and the transfer back to the airport the next day went without any hic ups.
The staff at both camps were extremely welcoming and friendly and I cannot sing their praises enough. The guides and the trackers that took me on Safari really knew their stuff and it was apparent that they were extremely passionate about their jobs. All in all the atmosphere at both camps and every aspect of the entire holiday was fantastic and far exceeded my initial expectations. I was more than satisfied during the entire duration of my stay and will certainly be booking with you again in future.
I would just like to say thank you once again for a memorable holiday.
Thanks
Toby
January 2007
Dear Island-Safari-Team,
sorry for our late reply, but we have been busy with christmas-preparations after coming home from our great trip to africa. I am verry happy with the service we got from Patricia before our journey. I always got a prompt respond from her via email to my questions which she replied detailed and patient. A big thank you to her! I have to admit that we have been a little bit concerned our journey to Botswana to book with an african internet-company but the service i got from Patricia appeased me from the beginning. The transfer from Maun to Oddballs Camp was without any problems. We enjoyed our stay in Oddballs very much! It is a wonderful camp for those kind of people who don't set to much value on luxury. Our guide G.B. was great, the food was nice and we hope that other guests in the future will also have the opportunity to enjoy the Delta at a reasonable price!
Patricia and Richard
Germany
January 2007
Please find my comments on the various parts of the tour below. Generally, we had a perfect time in Botswana, everything went smoothly, it was the holiday of a lifetime for us, and the kids will have things to remember for their whole life. Booking and preparation of the trip was perfect, a special thanks to you, Mandy
A happy new year to the whole team, and many thanks once again. This was just close to the perfect holidays J
Jean-Marc.
The service you received from Island-Safari.com staff during the booking process and during your tour.
- Someone from the team (don’t remember his name) was at Johannesburg airport, as scheduled.
- The tour was completely adequate compared to what we wanted, so no surprises. Pools are not really usable in this season because of the temperature. It didn’t bothered us as we were quite exhausted by the safaris, but it’s something you could say to people in advance in case they are looking for pools during July.
- The transfers you had.
- Your stay at The Kingdom Hotel
- Nothing to report here, good hotel, good service, and good food. Managing local money when you have to is quite difficult. One single comment: the walk from the hotel to the falls is not private, and goes through a lot of people who want to sell you various stuff. They are quite insisting, but nothing unmanageable.
- Your stay at Chobe Safari Lodge
- Good lodge, good service, good food, interesting trips on the Chobe river and in the park. I can’t remember anything negative to report. It was a nice transition to tent camps in the delta. A LOT of game in this season, as all the animals come to the river to drink.
- Your stay at Xakanaxa Camp
- VERY good stay. The team here is nice, the guides are very good, the service is perfect.
- Your stay at Pom Pom
Camp
- Good stay, with a good team, even if I liked people in Xakanaxa more. We had again a very good guide.
- Your stay at Makgadikgadi Camp
January 2007
Sorry for answering your mail so late, but I was very busy when I came back from my holiay. For sure it is a pleasure for me to give you a feedback. All in all the tour was great and very interessting.
- Booking
Mandy was very helpful when booking the trip and I think she made a great choice. I would always again come back to you for another trip and can always recommand your services to everybody.
- Transfers
The transfers were perfectly organized. I must admit I was very astonished that every transfer was perfectly organized, even though I was in Africa. I did not expect this. I expected some troubles somewhere, but there was absolutely nothing. Amazing. The flights of Delta Air were all a bit late, but who cares when you are on holiday. It was never more than half an hour.
- Ilala Lodge
Fine. Everything wonderful from A to Z. The location is perfect as it is very close to the Vic Falls Park. Staff is very friendly, the lodge made a safe impression, food was good, room was always clean.
- Chobe Game Lodge
A very nice place to stay. The guide, Millie, is a great guide. To my personal opinion, the place is too large for me to go there again, but there is nothing I could really complain about, except the point that guests should not be allowed to use their mobile phones on game drives or boat trips. This was at one day a little bit annoying, but I told the guest relation manager. And this was not her fault.
Food is absolutely great, game viewing was fine, everything clean and tidy, and staff was always very friendly and also professional.
- Lagoon Camp
I enjoyed this place very much. A very personalized service, a very tranquil location, perfect size. This is definately a place where I would go again. Max 16 people, very knowledgeable guides, good food, lovely tents, etc.
- Savute Elephant Camp
A perfect 5 star lodge, but too much for me. I prefer the more relaxed way. Something I did not like that much was the so to speak `perfect sales and marketing appearance`. It makes the atmosphere a bit artificial.
The tent was wonderful furnished, service was fine, food great. The first guide (Philip) I had, was definately not what I expect from a guide. But at the second day, I changed car and I had an other guide, who was more than perfect. He did his job with a lot of enthusiasm, and well compensated the experience I made with his colleague the day before.
The waterhole is great and gives the chance to watch the elephants as long as one wishes to do this, not bothering other people, as it could be the case when different people are in one car.
I would not go there again, but this does not refer to the service or the standard. Referring to these points everything was perfect. It is just a personal opinion of me, that I want to feel `the bush` closer.
- Delta Camp
Totally new experience, but great. A very personalized service, which gives the oppotunity to learn a lot about the bush, but from a totally different perspective. Very interesting, and I can recommend this place to everybody who dares to walk by foot in the wilderness. I would do it again.
The indemnity waiver was a little bit strange, as it referred to about 10 companies, which I had never heard of before, and also including Delta Air. I refused to sign it, as I do not sign an indemnity waiver for companies I have nothing to do with and under no circumstances for an airline. (To my opinion this is not legal.) But it was no problem. All companies exept the lodge itself could be crossed out, and then it was fine.
- Xakanaxa Camp
To my opinion the best place. I could have stayed longer. Everything you can think of was perfect. This is a place were I definately will go to again. The tents are very tastefully furnished, the manager couple gives a very personalized service, and are very charming. The guides are good and enthusiastic, especially when a leopard passes by.
In general I can say that a stay of only two nights is too short. I think it should be three nights at least. But I requested as many lodges as possible and therefore this is nothing I complain about, but an experience I made. Next time I would go for a minimum of three nights to all the places, and then reduce the amount of lodges.
It was a perfect holiday. I was that much relaxed, that I even did not know the day of the week or the date during most of the time. I took great pictures, and I will remember this holiday for a long time.
Whenever I intend to go to Botswana again, I will for sure contact you again.
very best regards and a merry Christmas to you
Beate Obermaier
January 2007
I am so sorry for the delay in replying to you.
We had a wonderful time in Botswana and are very grateful to the staff at Island Safari for all your help in making this trip happen. It's been a dream of ours for sometime to go to the Okavango. In particular we were being helped by Mandy who was absolutely fantastic. I have already recommended Island Safari to a friend. We would not hesitate to use you again.
The transfers were very smooth. We were met at Maun and looked after very well for each flight, including help with check in back at Maun airport on our way home.
Oddballs were fantastic. Jack and Eva were wonderful and their staff extremely knowledgeable. We really enjoyed the freedom and open space of the walking safaris and the camp was great. Although accommodation was basic, it felt we very homely. We were impressed with the efforts which had gone into making the toilet/shower cubicle. We were lucky enough to be taken to the local village one afternoon with our guide and playing football with the local team was one of the trip's highlights for my boyfriend!
From there we went onto Kwara....WOW!!! The staff were so warm and friendly and help was always given if needed. Our guide, Custard, was a wonderful man and truly 110% dedicated to his job. Although he never managed to find a leopard, you have to give him full marks for trying! No tree was left unsearched and the vehicle was tested to the limit as he sped across the reserve looking for our leopard. You could see the disappintment on his face when we found cheetah kill but missed the actual cheetahs by about 10 minutes. He really wanted us to see them. The tents were truly special, fully furnished and very comfortable (I loved the 'outside' shower). They felt very private too. The food was of extremely high quality and there was always plenty of it. There was far too much alcohol as well!!
Thank you once again and if you ever have a client who is not sure about the itinerary prepared by Island Safari...get them to email me and I'll persuade them!! We had a wonderful time - it was the holiday of a lifetime - and are very grateful to you all.
Many thanks
Em
January 2007
Good morning Elize and Happy New Year !!
One of the best - if not THE BEST - trips I have ever made.
I want to thank you once more for your help, the excellent service, your expertise in organising everything up to the last detail, the warm welcome we found everywhere and the services of the people you deal with (Kwando Safris, Delta Air, e.t.c) in Botswana and Zambia.
I strongly recommend the Okavango Delta which is really a magic place. It is not the usual safari sorts of stuff, where you chase animals, as it happens in other parts of Africa. The enormous difference is that there, we were living amongst animals in their real land natural paradise. We were feeling like being invited by nature in a place where pictures inconceivable for the mind, emotions unique and magic senses changed the perception we had for Africa. We felt the hospitality of nature and we respected it to the last detail. Little Kwara is a brand new lovely place, and the personnel quite friendly and polite. Zambezi Sun was also an excellent option which in conjunction with the neighbouring Royal Livingstone make somebodys staying in Victoria Falls a unique experience.
Nothing more than a real, big and strong thank you.
Plese don't hesitate to use me as a future reference for anyone, Greek or not, willing to live this experience.
Regards
Nikos
P.S I will definetely need your help and use your services in my planning a future trip to Mozambique.
For 2006 Client Comments please click HERE
For 2005 Client Comments please click HERE
For 2004 Client Comments please click HERE
For 2003 Client Comments please click HERE
For 2002 Client Comments please click HERE