TRIP REPORTS - Flo Montgomery

We met a car from Mdonya at the Airstrip on our last day at Kwihala. Chombo and Naiti took us on a nice game drive to Mdonya. They were extremely pleasant and friendly, and knowledgeable.

The tsetse seem much better – maybe it is partly the season – also Micol is using tins filled with burning elephant dung on the back of the vehicle, and this really helps and is a good eco friendly solution.
I did not get bitten once!

We drove to camp and were greeted at the car park by Micol, Alex and Sarah, with cold juice as usual. (Micol Farinha was manager last year, Italian. Alex Stewart was there last year too, she is Australian and is now the manager – Micol will be roving maager of both Manze and Mdonya.  Sara Ilum, Danish, is a new assistant who speaks Danish, Swedish, English, Arabic, German and Swahili).
We felt very welcomed, and the whole atmosphere of the camp, with three nice ladies, is very good. The site is as always very shady and beautiful, and the chief asset of Mdonya is the lovely situation, on an old sand river used by game as a corridor.

We had lunch, in the dining tent, very nice and cool – and really the food is the best in Adventure Camps, except Mbweni (which is very good, because of the huge range of fish, fruit and veg there as well as the good chefs) – at Mdonya the food was light, very varied, beautifully presented. Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables stylishly used. Perfect cakes and bread and puddings. Wow!

The tents are well equipped, when my zip broke, it was immediately fixed perfectly – I think the whole section was replaced, as the panels are zipped in. The feminine touch is obvious – many nice little details.

An afternoon game drive was offered, so we went for a sunset sundowner which was extremely pleasant and nicely arranged.
Dinner under the stars was superb, after a campfire meeting of guests with drinks; some guests were dining apart in nice situations, Micol is very good at arranging this and making people feel special.

Morning tea was not offered, but Micol told me it can be done on request, you only have to ask.
Breakfast was very pleasant, in the dining tent, and the lounge is nearby offering a shady location with books etc and comfortable chairs.

We arrived at Impala camp just before lunch, Barbara Ripamonti (she was manager last year), Andreas  Gugliotta (he was there last year, Italian, very good with guests) and Lorenzo Rossi (nephew of Carlo, owner of Kwihala, Italian) were there to greet us and there was fresh juice as usual.

Guests feel very welcomed here, as at all 4 camps.

Barbara did a little introduction and we were shown to the tents, to unpack and refresh before lunch.

All three managers have excellent English and show great attention to detail and to spending time making sure the guests are happy and have what they need.

The tents are very attractive, shady and cool, with floor fans and el lights and sockets. There is boiled and filtered water in a flask, and fly spray is provided. Candles were provided.

As at Kwihala, the bathroom area is separated only by a curtain from the main bedroom, which is very comfortable.
There is a good push button safe for valuables.

Lunch was pleasant in the shady lodge, which is really superb, much better than the old one, being high and cool. The view is good because of the height, and you get a feeling of Adventure, as the staff constantly make plans to do surprises – different dining venues for small groups, sundowners on the river bank with sparkling wine etc etc.

The guiding is very good, also the boat safaris and the big river is of course a great alternative to Lake Manze, and makes two focus safaris in Selous – at both Impala and Manze combined – a good idea.

At Impala there is probably more flexibility in the activities than at any of the other camps, as they have 8 tents, 6 cars and 4 boats.

Usually guests are given their own car per tent, though as with all the camps, we cannot promise this.
Early morning tea/coffee is available.

Having three managers and only 8 tents, it was easier to spread the communication with the guests, so they always felt included and looked after.

The Bar and sundowner campfire are in excellent locations, and very much used – so the guests have a chance to mix and make friends before dinner.

The swimming pool looks great, and is well looked after and a big asset.

The Masaai askaris were good, always there when needed. Instead of having to wait to be guided at a specific time in the evenings, guests are free to call for the Masaai to come when they need them.

When we left for the airstrip to go to Ruaha, the managers were there to say goodbye, the whole feeling is very friendly.

Most agents remark that this camp is very good value for the level and standard.

First was Lake Manze where we were met at the airstrip when we landed around 10.45 (BA was late) and transferred to the camp on a game drive, arriving in camp around 12.30.

Sarah, Gilles and Leonard were there to greet us and there was cold juice waiting at the car park for us.

Sarah Gigli (Italian) was the assistant manager last year, and is the manager now, as Richard Jones has moved to Rhino Lodge.

Gilles Nicolet was at Mdonya last year – he is French; he will make a good addition to the Manze team.  He has experience in the hospitality industry and has a pleasant manner with the guests. Obviously he speaks French, which is an asset. Both Sarah and Gilles speak very good English.

Leonard and George, the Tanzanian assistant managers are still in place, they work in the office and are present in the dining lodge in the evenings, to chat to the guests.

They took very good care of everyone during the time I was there. They are a good team, together with the rest of the staff, about 50 personnel.

Sarah did a little introduction and explained the safety points about the camp while we sat in the shady lodge. Then we were shown to the tents, to take a welcome shower (skylight) with solar hot water, before lunch.

Lunch that day was Swahili food, I think it was quite nice, but a little heavy. Its fun though for people to try this, I am sure. The food was generally nice, though I do think a bit heavy considering how hot it is in Selous. Sara is looking at doing more salads and lighter food.

The camp looked in good shape, Sarah is very efficient, and the tents and furnishing looked clean and tidy and well kept.
Each tent has a comfortable bed, a canvas clothes shelves unit with hanging rail, a lockup chest with key and a safari desk and chair. On the veranda are two chairs and a little table.
There were candles and matches, a torch, fly spray, a flask of boiled and filtered water (though plastic bottles of water are also available on request, free of charge).

Soap is also provided – no shower gel or shampoo.

There are 12 tents, of which 2 can be turned into family tents (with extra room zipped on front in place of veranda) and there are 7 cars each with a driver and a guide, and 4 boats. Walking safaris are part of the activities – usually taken in the morning before breakfast; then a game drive before lunch can also be fitted in, and another one in the evening, or a boat safari. Usually not more than 4 pax are placed in  vehicle – except for airstrip transfers, when we use a 6 seater.

The game viewing was quite good, considering the rains were still continuing, and the guiding was pleasant. As at all the Adventure Camps properties, guides are constantly being trained up as good guiding is a top priority.

Rashidi Toboke guided us on the boat safari, which was impressive – the water was high and Lake Manze was really beautiful. He seemed knowledgeable, and was helpful and also discreet. I think the Lake is a good contrast to the Rufiji, for guests who are staying at both Impala and Manze.

Coolboxes with drinks were available on game drives and boat safaris.

Sometimes guests have to be put with other tent occupants, but there is quite a high proportion of trips with one tent per car, though we can never promise this.

Dinner was very nice, at a big table between the lodge and the lake, as usual. Surrounded by fires and oil lamps, and Masaai on guard. It was very convivial and you could tell that all the guests were pleased to be together. Sarah told me she can do “veranda dinners” when requested, for honeymooners, special occasions like anniversaries, or if the guests want to be private.

The Masaai askaris were good, always there when needed. They come for the clients at  a prearranged time to escort them to dinner, but can also be called at any time.

Sarah told me that she can do veranda dinners for guests who want that. And of course they do bush breakfast when guests go out on early game drives, and bush lunch when they are out all day.

All the guests seemed very happy.
There is now complimentary bottled water and service generally is very pleasant and efficient.
When guests arrive or leave the camp, there is always someone from the management team to greet them in a friendly way.

Tea and coffee are available in the morning on request – though its not offered unless asked for.