HotelMwalunganje Camp

We've been to this camp twice - the first time we booked through our safari operator not long after they opened so it was all very new and the second time it was a "freebie" when we stayed at Travellers Club.

The camp is owned by Travellers Hotel and situated near to Shimba Hills Reserve on the south coast. Its a good 2 hours drive across the Likoni ferry down the main south coast road. You turn off at Tiwi and head to the interior, up hill all the way. Once past the town of Kwale, the tarmac stops and you are on murram roads. Its a good hour's bumpy ride to the camp entrance. After checking in at the gate you game drive through the vast grounds towards the camp. The first time we did it in our own bus and the second time in their cramped safari vehicles - squashed in the back you don't see very much.

The camp has a small bar/restaurant/viewing area overlooking a watering hole. Very good close ups of the elephants that come to drink. Apart from elephants and a few antelopes we didn't see much else on either visit.

The first time the camp was very new - spacious tents with ensuite facilities, twin beds, and electricity. The second time, everything was worn out - towels and bedding needed replacing and no little extras like shampoo soap or even drinking water.

The food on our first trip was fine - nothing to write home about, just OK. The second time, apart from the owners, we were the only ones there. The food was appalling - not much of it to start with and only lukewarm. We had to complain. The other problem on the second trip was they put us in a tent to the right of the watering hole and our teenage kids right on the other side. They only told us the next morning that they had locked themselves in and were a little scared.

On the second trip the next morning's breakfast was a boiled egg each - rations to say the least. We were glad to leave and get back to the hotel for some decent food.

My opinion - first time was a nice experience although you shouldn't expect to see anything other than elephants. The second trip a disaster and not one that I would want to repeat in a hurry. I just hope they put some money into the place and tart it up.