Reviews of Palmwag Lodge

"Lovely clean rooms with balcony and 5 elephants to look at on our arrival.

Although the lodge was very nice, we felt we were just a number there as it is so large.

Didn't have a great reception on arrival, but the mechanic did fix our puncture for which we were very grateful!" See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia; 3n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe

"Palmwag Lodge was a less personal experience than other lodges.

Having said that, it’s location right by the riverbed was excellent and we saw around 8 desert elephants including babies drinking and eating about 75 from our room verandah. We also had a lovely relaxing day enjoying one of the swimming pools before going on our truly wonderful prebooked camping night in the enormous Palmag concession area with Rodney and Ziggy.

This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. We saw some amazing scenery, learnt a lot about a lot and really enjoyed the very comfortable camp in tents - with beds in what felt like our own wilderness. Sundowners, supper and breakfast all organised and served by the excellent Rodney and Ziggy. Highly recommended." See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia

"Had stayed previously and were well aware of the lodge's limitations. We stayed for practical reasons and to do the rhino tracking. Despite being in a good location to access Damaraland and having good facilities, it is a difficult place to love.

It is a fairly large lodge and has a bit of a motel feel - partly as it is visited by tour groups and is at a bit of a crossroads, but also in its layout as it is relatively close to the road. This creates no disturbance but it does create very much a 'front' and 'back'. There is no opportunity for self-guided walking so it all seems a bit constrained.

On the plus side, accommodation is good, there are a couple of relatively large pools, and a bar area by one is very pleasant. There are a number of activities available in quite spectacular scenery.

The real let-down is the staff, all of whom we found really unwelcoming and quite surly at reception and in the buffet, as on our previous visit. The exception were the staff at the pool bar and its kitchen who were very friendly and efficient and typically Namibian.

The food was not great. Buffet dinner offered the usual fish, meat, game options which varied from good to average to really quite poor. Breakfast was quite limited. The poolside bar at lunch though was actually pretty good.

We had 'booked' but not paid for rhino tracking in advance. No provision had been made for us before arrival. However, we were able to go as one of the other morning activities had no scheduled guests and there was therefore a vehicle available. Whilst it was great to see 'desert' rhino and the activity was close to our expectations having done some reasonable prior research, it is not really 'tracking'. We were in a group of approximately 20 in three vehicles. This number was really far too many but looking at the activities board for the week not untypical - with a couple of other days with similar numbers and a couple of days with just a single couple or family. The activity is on a different concession and involved an hour drive of over 50km each way and another approximately 30 minutes drive in the concession to reach rhino territory.

The tracker left the vehicle after locating recent dung and walked / ran a few km up nearby hills to spot rhino before directing the drivers to a suitable location where we disembarked and walked maybe 1.5km to intercept a male as it came down a gully. We got an excellent view and probably half an hour's viewing as it contoured across the hillside, getting to within about 200m. We would probably have got a little closer and been in view for longer if in a smaller group. When we saw the tracker again at morning coffees and snacks in the bush, he was very informative but struggled a little to communicate effectively with limited English due to the size of the group. Overall, we were pleased to do the activity and it was as we had expected other than for the group size, but it is worth making sure you understand what you will be paying for before committing to this in an itinerary." See all these reviews: 16n in Namibia

"Nice room and dining/bar area. Elephants broke the water supply both night we were there.

The staff were uncertain what to do about our shredded tyre until the manager intervened.

We searched all day with a guide and only found one old Rhino scat. It is difficult to believe that most of the Rhinos have not been poached during Namibia's recent drought." See all these reviews: 10n in Namibia

"Our room was comfortable with a good view across the dry river bed. We were able to watch birds from the deck at the front of our room.

The food was good - staff very accommodating and even when the restaurant was effectively closed, they still allowed us to sit in there to use the internet and were good enough to bring us drinks and still look after us.

Facilities are limited (one pool was closed so there was very little space to sit by the pool which quickly filled up) and the bar was a little disorganised with the outdoor seating being hard benches only (hence needing to use the ‘closed’ restaurant).

However, our main reason for staying here was the opportunity for rhino tracking. We had a great nature drive on our first evening with Ronnie and went out early the next morning with Rodney for rhino tracking. Both activities were excellent and good value." See all these reviews: 22n in Namibia

"Newly refurbished, friendly staff, and very well maintained.

Overall a very good value option for a one night stay in the Palmwag area.

Own fuel station is an extra plus." See all these reviews: 9n in Namibia

"The lodge was fine but the fact that our booking was lost and we were left in the reception area for an hour spoilt the experience there.

The staff were pleasant enough and sympathetic but didn't really seem to know what was going on. They said the mistake came from the take over by the lodge but this was last May
Not sure whether the booking had been reconfirmed before we went but this needs addressing at Palmwag before other guests go there in future.

The room we were given was one of the old ones and not the standard of the new tented rooms we had been booked for, as particularly the bathroom needed a bot of rejuvenation. However, if our Namib Tracks and trails guide and driver hadn't kindly given up one of their rooms we would have had no room at all." See all these reviews: 11n in Namibia

"Actually, we like this oasis in the desert, that we have visited three times by now (2009, 2012 and 2019). Nice little pools (two), OK restaurant, tyre repairs, and fine tents by the riverbed. Also, an elefant visiting. On the bad side, very large groups (overland) trucks are also present. They easily dominate the restaurant as in our case the had a table with approx. 20 chairs in the middle of the room. The service in the restaurant was not of very high standard compared to the price tag for this place. The location is fantastic and you don´t really have other options. Slow internet, but works." See all these reviews: 21n in Namibia; 2n in Botswana; 2n in Zambia

"Afternoon tea forgettable if you managed to get a cake/biscuit from them.

Most staff very happy and polite. Reception seem to tell most people you have not paid for your special activity when you arrive tired from a long drive, but finally retract when challenged.

Location fine, did see the resident elephant, who had been missing for 2 days!

Rhino trek enjoyable, lucky enough to see three including a baby. Apart from a couple of antelope in the concession only saw two giraffes on drive back.

Room comfortable but rather warm in the afternoon, as no air conditioning.

Food surprisingly good given some reviews. Special offers on wine we enjoyed on our second night.

Road there is in a terrible state, took extra 15 minutes driving back, and still got a puncture(albeit only discernible at the next lodge)" See all these reviews: 9n in Namibia; 3n in Botswana

"Another lovely welcome to the camp by the staff, and a comfy, spacious room looking out into green gardens surrounded by palm trees. Very relaxing after dusty drive...the pool was delightfully chilly but nice to sit beside with a book for couple of hours." See all these reviews: 10n in Namibia