Michelle organised a Zimbabwe safari for her guests, ensuring they experienced the magnificence of Victoria Falls and the world-renown wildlife-rich Hwange National Park Hwange is a vast area with contrasting landscapes, which is why Michelle selected two lodges in very different landscapes.
Michelle’s guests stayed at Ilala Lodge in Victoria Falls, a lodge that offers a private lodge experience and a wealth of activity options at the falls. In Hwange National Park, Michelle selected Deteema Springs, which is located on a rocky rise overlooking permanent water springs. The second choice of camp is Verney’s Camp, which is located on a large open floodplain.
Here is the feedback :
Hi Michelle
We have an amazing time in Zimbabwe thank you. Just settling back into real life that has been difficult!
We loved all 3 places we stayed and found them all quite different to each other. Ilala offered a lovely touch of luxury and everyone there was welcoming and helpful. Our room was perfect and we could see warthogs and the spray from Victoria Falls from the balcony.
Deteema was a very cute little safari camp. We really felt like part of their little family and they went out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed. Our first night we had the whole camp to ourselves and they put on a special romantic honeymoon meal for us. The first morning we were greeted with lion cubs in the camp – an amazing experience. It was probably our favourite camp for the atmosphere and friendliness. Everything was so easy and we didn’t have to think about a thing. We very much enjoyed the company of the other guests that were travelling in couples, but a large group of 10 arrived and they changed the atmosphere quite a lot – the group were quite overpowering in such a little camp so they may want to consider restricting the group sizes. For us it didn’t ruin the experience as we have such a wonderful private first evening, but their were certainly less animals around camp when the big group arrived.
Verney’s was much bigger and although everyone was friendly, it was run more like a hotel than Deteema so the feel was luxurious but different. They have the advantage in terms of game viewing due to their location as we saw a lot more at this camp than at Deteema – so our favourite for animals! Our tent was also amazing – I think the whole of Deteema Springs camp could fit inside our own tent at Verney’s!
We think the combination of all three was good, and probably the right order to have seen them. They all offered something different. Ilala – luxury and location, Deteema – friendliness and real ‘middle of nowhere safari camp experience’, Verneys – game viewing and location.
The transfer company were very friendly and efficient, we did have a small issue because they had us booked for two transfers from the airport, rather than one from Ilala to Deteema on our 3rd day. However, we sent them a whatsapp and this was easily sorted and they arranged for a new pickup from Ilala instead.
The boat trip on our first day was also an amazing start to our trip – we know why you chose that trip and not one of the larger boats we saw. It was perfect!
Thanks so much for helping us organise it all and within a few weeks of departure! It was exactly what we were hoping for!
We are still going through photos, but will send you some once we have narrowed them down from around 1500!!
Kayleigh and Jen
