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vacation to Rwanda, Zimbabwe, South Africa & Mozambique
Denise Deriger, 20th June 2024A fantastic journey from start to finish: starting with the preparation with Ashley, who listened to us, who knew how to understand what we liked, what we wanted and what was important to us. We worked and reworked the course until we were completely satisfied. The itinerary, the activities, as well as the hotels/accommodations offered were in our image and this is what contributed to making this trip an unforgettable experience. Ashley was also always there to answer the many questions we had before the trip. He was also always there during our stay, checking regularly that everything was ok and to our satisfaction. We felt accompanied and well-supported before and during our trip. I can only recommend Mahlatini to any traveler wishing to have a dream trip!
Accommodation Visited
Kigali Serena Hotel
“After a long way from Canada, this was our first experience at a hotel in Rwanda. This is definitively a business/conference hotel, well located, at about 30 minutes from the airport. We enjoyed our two-night stay. This is a good place and a nice way to get rid of jet lag and visit the city prior to going up to Volcanos National Park for the gorilla adventure. The room was spacious and the linens were fresh and comfortable. The garden area with the swimming pool was beautiful. Buffet breakfasts were excellent with lots of varieties. For dinner, please note that the main hotel restaurant only offers a buffet, which is average. There are better dining options at a short walking distance from the hotel. The special mention goes to the members of staff who, through their impeccable, friendly and professional service, make all the difference for this establishment.”
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
“This mid-range boutique hotel is an excellent value-for-money option for the region. It is run by a young Rwandan entrepreneur who has done an excellent job. Our room was large, comfortable, quiet and extremely clean. There are well-appointed common areas. All the meals were varied and of excellent quality. The organization for the morning trekking departures is well-established and faultless. What can we say about the foot massages and the cleaning of our hiking shoes on our return!? We felt good in this hotel which has a soul. We enjoyed our discussions with the other guests around the fire before going to dinner. All this is thanks to the smiling, friendly employees who are totally dedicated to constantly making us happy. This is a pure gem. We highly recommend this hotel.”
Palm River
“This is the hotel that impressed us the least during our stay in Africa. It is very beautiful and well located on the banks of the Zambezi River. The rooms are large and clean. The food is good. The staff members are courteous. However, we would describe our guest experience as "cold and impersonal" and that is why we gave this rating. Even if the setting is superb, even if the employees are polite, if we compare it to the other hotels/lodges where we stayed, our impression was that we were a number among all other numbers and nothing more.”
Simbambili Game Lodge
“This place was one of our favorites on our trip to Africa. The common areas and rooms are splendid and have a magnificent design, but this place is much more than a beautiful lodge, this place marks our hearts. The way we are welcomed, the way the game drives are carried out (a special mention for our ranger Mike and our tracker who devoted themselves completely every day to tracking the Big 5 animals and much more!), the different places where we ate, and the quality of the meals. At Simbabili everything is in the detail, care and attention. Everything is done to pleasantly surprise us every day. Nothing is repetitive and we don't know what the team has prepared for us for the day. We feel the sustained effort to constantly captivate us and to leave us with lasting memories for the rest of our lives. We won't say more so as not to sell the "punches", however, we can say that it is absolutely necessary to do this experience once in a lifetime.”
andBeyond Benguerra Island
“Another favorite from our trip to Africa. Here we're talking about rustic chic, a little paradise without shoes (lol), where everything is peaceful, with magnificent decor in front of our eyes. Arrival is by helicopter where we have the pleasure of seeing from the air, the splendor of the island with its white sandbanks and turquoise waters. Then we are welcomed by songs from the staff which go straight to our hearts. Check-in is done very gently and friendly. You feel at home from the first minute. The magic happens instantly between the different people who will make our stay unforgettable, starting with our assigned butler. I don't like this term because our "butler" was much more than that to us, Enia was an angel who watched over us and made sure we were happy and fulfilled for the duration of our stay. She quickly learned about our habits, the wines we liked and their temperature, our meal times and she had us eat in spectacular places. She was always there when we returned from our activities, with a cocktail/mocktail that she had taken care to prepare for us. There were also Sean, Isac, and Zane who every day made sure that we were happy and satisfied. Jossafa and Lorenzo made sure to keep us busy with wonderful activities. And what about Jamie and Alex, who guided us in these activities? In fact, this place, due to its exceptional location, is magical of course, but what really makes the difference is this fiery team who is there for us!”
Staff Review
“As indicated previously, Ashley, listened to us, and was able to understand what we liked, what we wanted, what was important to us and our budget. He did not hesitate to put a lot of time in, he worked and reworked the itinerary until we were completely satisfied. His goal was definitively to make that trip an unforgettable experience for us. He was always there to answer promptly the various questions we had before the trip. He was also always there during our stay, checking regularly that everything was ok and to our satisfaction. Thanks to him, we felt accompanied and well-supported before and during our trip. We were very lucky to be able to work with him.”
