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Ngulia Safari Camp – reviews, photos

Tsavo National Park West, Kenya
Hotel amenities
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66 reviews from our community

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Traveller rating
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Victoria
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
“Why...Why...Why...”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 21 February 2011
2
people found this review helpful

Why...Why...Why...did I listen to the advise of our tour operator and change our two day stay at the Kilaguni Serena Lodge to this lodge...Why...Why...Why...

As soon as we arrived I knew it was a mistake but unfortunately because of our late arrival we were unable to do anything about it...the lodge is very out dated and appears to be falling apart at the seams...it doesn't appear to have been upgraded since the day it was built...our rooms were very small and still dirty from the previous guests (dirty garbage cans, messy floors etc etc)...the bar was less than exciting and the entire place seemed to lack positive energy...dinner (and then breakfast) was the worst of any place we've eaten while on safari and that includes this three week vacation and a previous four week safari...the noise level from others in the hotel is very bothersome...it's almost as if you're in a cardboard house...no air conditioning and we were there at a time when the bugs came out and were everywhere...now granted they can't do much about the bugs outside but if you are like myself and the travellers I was with then you prefer to sleep with out the bugs crawling EVERYWHERE in the room...was a crappy nights sleep to say the least...the staff did try to accommodate where they could but the place has been left in a state of despair too long...

Anyway, I don't like to use the word "hated" but that's what I'm going with when describing the Ngulia Safari Camp...we ended up going to the Kilaguni Serena the next day and completely enjoyed our stay there...hope this helps...Cheers from Canada...

  • Stayed November 2010, travelled as a couple
    • 1 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 1 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
The Hague, The Netherlands
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
“Location makes up for the rest...”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 1 October 2010
1
person found this review helpful

During our travel through Kenya & Tanzania Ngulia camp (there is also a Ngulia lodge) was the worst experience among the camps and lodges we had. Ok, there were some very high standards to measure up with (for example Ziwani), but even then there where some major points of criticism.
But let me start with the positive points:
- excellent location, "hanging" on the hillside makes the view great, and there is a lighted waterhole which you can overlook from the restaurant;
- staff is very friendly;
- food is nice;
- the look and feel of the camp is more safari like then some of the lodges (for example Voi) in Tsavo, which look often more like a hotel

The Ngulia camp consists of several lodges made from local material, and canvas. They look nice from the outside, but the cabin we were staying at wasn't as nice inside: the mosquito nets had holes, the roof was leaking (which was very unpleasant as we had one day of rain during our stay there...), the bathroom smelled like there had been kept cows and the overall cleanliness (taking into account that you are in the wilderness) was poor. And because we were on the "second row" with our cabin our view wasn't very spectacular (mostly the cabins on first row). So if you're booking this lodge, make sure you have a front row cabin.

Overall, this wouldn't be my first choice to stay if we visit Tsavo again.

  • Stayed November 2009, travelled as a couple
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 2 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 2 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Lyon, France
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
“Fantastic”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 26 August 2010
1
person found this review helpful

Admittedly the shower did not quite measure up to a 5 star hotel, but the food is good and the view and the location largely compensate. Nothing can compare to the joy of sitting on your terrace as the sun sets or rises , watching the herds of elephants and buffalos gathering at the waterhole.

  • Stayed August 2010, travelled with family
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
St Albans
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“There are 2 Ngalia Safari Lodges”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 28 July 2010
1
person found this review helpful

There are 2 lodges under this Hotel listing. We stayed in the Ngalia Bandas, which is some 20Km from the Lodge.

Rooms are wonderful, mesh and canvas to the front wall so you can lie in bed and take in the impressive views. Large Balcony's where you can see over 2 watering holes. We saw herds and herds of elephants both days of our 2 night stay (in fact I struggled to sleep on the first night as the bellowing from the elephants kept me awake! What a hardship!)

Buffet food for most meals, but as we were there in low season we were sometimes given a set, but mixed meal. All very well prepared and tasty.

Friendly staff, comfortable rooms, good food, but what you really cant beat is probably one of the best views in Kenya!

  • Stayed May 2010, travelled with family
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Thousand Oaks, CA
Top Contributor
182 reviews 182 reviews
Reviews in 77 cities Reviews in 77 cities
49 helpful votes 49 helpful votes
“Terrace with great view of watering hole and good wildlife.”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 25 July 2010

Rooms are bandas on a hillside over a watering hole near Ngulia wildlife refuge region of Tsavo West park. Terrace with view is best feature of watering hole was best feature. Nice large rooms with two beds w/mosquito netting, refrigerator w/mini-bar. Electricity is only on certain hours, but enough to charge camera battery each day. Buffet meals were pretty good. Great soup. Vegetarian options every meal with no problems. Coffee and tea served all day. All other drinks available for a fee (200-500 ksh), including bottled water. Staff is very nice. Mice, lizards, etc... find their way into the banda, so do not keep any food in your room, even if it is packaged. We could not manage to get any hot water in our room, so it was cold water showers for us.

  • Stayed July 2010, travelled as a couple
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 2 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ngulia Safari Camp Also Known As

  • Ngulia Safari Camp Hotel
Address: Tsavo National Park West, Kenya

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