Mara Ndovu Lodge

Being close to the park is a plus, and the staff were very nice, though the food was only average. That's where the good points stop. The room was disgusting and felt unsafe, even for someone like me who's traveled internationally a lot and is used to rustic places. There were rats, a leaking roof, and pipes leaking too.

The room was booked for one night, but I was willing to pay for another place myself. It was infested with rats and droppings. I understand that being in the park means insects may get into the room, but rodents inside are completely unacceptable. I don't know how this lodging stays in business. Our tour booked us here only because the other options were full.

We had to scramble for dinner throughout all three nights. On the first night, the meal arrived an hour and a half late, and by the time the food was put out, it was gone, so I only got french fries. Our agent had promised Mara Chui Resort, right next to this lodge, but instead cheated us and checked us into this place. I spent the whole stay complaining about dirty rooms and bathrooms that didn't work, with clogged toilets and missing door latches and handles. The place was clearly run down or under construction, yet they were letting guests into rooms while also over-booked. It was a nightmarish experience.

The rooms were dirty, with animal excrement in every corner, and they weren't cleaned during our stay or after the previous guest checked out. Animals got in through holes. We had a squirrel, a rat, and cockroaches in our bedroom. The photos don't match reality, and the bathrooms aren't shown because they're completely unhealthy.