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holiday to Namibia & Tanzania
Julius van den Arend, 6th September 2023This was our honeymoon and it was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience! The memories we made are never to be forgotten, and full of joy.
Accommodation Visited
The Weinberg Boutique Hotel
“Good location for an overnight bridge stay: clean, comfortable, and good breakfast.”
Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
“The lodge's futuristic yet rugged style blends perfectly into the otherworldly landscape. It made us feel like we were transported straight into a 007 movie, invited to immerse ourselves in a luxurious blend of relaxation in our own private pool with a glass of champagne, adventurous quad and helicopter rides, as well as romantic sundowner cocktails in the desert. The team was warm and welcoming, and we felt very much at home. Our guide, Mario, was incredibly knowledgeable and could name anything and everything we encountered, in addition to being very personable and friendly. The lodge is well-located for sunrise hot air ballooning, as well as Sossusvlei's key attractions, such as Deadvlei, Big Daddy Dune, and more.”
Zannier Hotels Sonop
“The lodge's historic and opulent style blends perfectly into the otherworldly landscape. We felt transported straight into a 1920s expedition, invited to immerse ourselves in a luxurious blend of experiences. Firstly, relaxation in our open tent, by the pool, and with our own private cinema set-up in the cigar lounge, accompanied by a glass of Amarula on ice and freshly made popcorn.
Secondly, adventure while discovering our breathtaking surroundings, galloping on horseback and stopping for a hot cup of coffee and tea. The open tent (desert facing) made us feel a part of and very much immersed in nature, even while enjoying a hot bath. The team is warm, and welcoming and made the greatest effort to accommodate every wish we had. We felt very much cared for and at home. From our privately organised candlelight dinner, the exceptional service from Steven and the rest of the dining service team, the amazing and beautifully curated food served by Mario, to our exceptionally caring and forthcoming guide Flloyd. We loved how personable and human our experience was. The lodge is well located for sunrise hot air ballooning, as well as Sossusvlei's key attractions (Deadvlei, Big Daddy Dune, etc)”
Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge
“Good location for an overnight bridge stay: clean, comfortable, and good breakfast.”
Serengeti Under Canvas
“"Surreal" is the only word that can describe our stay at Serengeti Under Canvas, but here's an attempted summary that cannot live up to the real thing. The team is truly exceptional and jointly exceeds any expectation of what hosting means: Ben (the camp manager) shares exciting campfire stories, Singoi, our SUPER butler, lives out his life's calling with all his heart and true authenticity, and Emanuel is so affable, with expansive and impressive knowledge of wildlife. We loved that we naturally felt invited into the Serengeti Under Canvas family, a team running smoothly with joy and a guest-focused approach, all on a first-name basis.
Despite the impressive wildlife density in the northern Serengeti, we felt privileged to see all the Big Five and even two of the Small Five, surely also due to the extraordinary team effort and skill of the camp guides. One-of-a-kind and truly remarkable are the wildebeest river crossings, an incomparable spectacle of nature.”
Zuri Zanzibar
“Disappointing. Unfortunately, this hotel is the definition of overhyped and overpriced. It is a "cool" spot in photos, but the reality is quite the opposite. The experience is mediocre, resembling what you might find at a roadside Best Western. The overall experience here is worth approximately $200 a night, not more.
The check-in process is lengthy and done on an iPad. You receive an oversized McDonald's-yellow rubber wristband that must be worn at all times for beach access and as a room key, which makes you feel like a number on a cheap cruise trip rather than a valued guest at a 5* boutique hotel. We were not once greeted or approached by name. Our jacuzzi suite had a musty smell, and the food quality was average. We also experienced loud music in the suite at night and subpar room and reception service.
The reception claimed to order a taxi at street prices, but when we ordered one ourselves, we paid half the price and were told Zuri usually takes a significant cut. When we returned to Zuri with our freshly caught fish after a day of deep-sea fishing with an external provider, they refused to prepare it for us, saying something along the lines of "you can only eat the popcorn you buy at the cinema."
Lastly, it's concerning that all six members of the management team are non-local, mostly Czech, where the owner is from. This lack of local representation trickles down into an experience marked by a lack of local culture within the confined walls of this overpriced resort.”
Staff Review
“Stuart was very helpful from start to finish, open to ideas, quick to respond and dedicated to cater to our needs.”
