Reviews of Fish River Lodge

"We arrived to a rather chaotic welcome as a family were just leaving and the receptionist seemed a little 'harassed' and told us to 'wait there' as she couldn't check us in, so not the best start. However, Llewelyn brought us iced tea and I'm pleased to say that things improved from then on.

Staff were friendly and Llewelyn was exceptional - he really had a gift for anticipating customers needs.The rooms were comfortable with the most amazing views. We were concerned that there wasn't any air conditioning but the temperature did cool at night and the design of the rooms and top windows meant there was a good flow of air to cool things down.

A small fridge in the room would have been ideal as the water that was left for us quickly become tepid and not very nice to drink. Other travellers have mentioned the wind - I'm not sure if we were unlucky or if it always blows as strongly but it was incredibly noisy and difficult to sleep.

The lodge has a stunning setting and the food was good. Dinner was a set three course menu but the chef was happy to cook an alternative main course if you didn't want what was on offer.

We didn't do the trip to the bottom of the canyon as it was very hot during our stay but enjoyed the evening sunset drive.

The best thing about the lodge is the setting and if you are going to Fish River Canyon then definitely stay here for the proximity to the canyon and views." See all these reviews: 11n in Namibia

"Lovely position, but a very long drive down a gravel road to get to it. 109k from the tarmac, so if people are not confident about gravel roads they might find this daunting. Well worth getting there though. lovely lodge, generally good service and a great trip down into the canyon.

Our one concern was that the organisation in the kitchen/dining room on our first evening was poor. We and others were left waiting ages for food. I complained and it improved.

Perhaps some feedback to the lodge would be appropriate." See all these reviews: 16n in Namibia

"Amazing lodge, gorgeous rooms and views throughout" See all these reviews: 22n in Namibia; 3n in Botswana

"As expected (the lodge had been recommended by friends) this was a stunning lodge due to its location and architectural style.

The long, bumpy drive up to the lodge through the barren landscape only added to the ambiance. The lodge and rooms were very well appointed and very welcoming. We loved the fireplace and areas where you could sit, relax and enjoy the view. We also found our room excellent all around. The food was also very good during all meals.

We received very sound advice on the excursions and very much enjoyed the canyon drive, which was quite varied and quite an adventure. Our excellent guide really made it a perfect day out and we appreciated his expertise.

Again, it was very cold and unfortunately the water bottles put in the bed during turndown were not properly hot. We did find that the staff were extremely slow and many didn't seem to be very well trained. All meals took ages, which meant we were nearly late for our canyon drive despite going to breakfast extra early and we also ended up departing the lodge 90 minutes later than desired because breakfast service was so slow, it was difficult to find someone to help with luggage and with only one staff member doing check out, we had to wait a very long time. This was frustrating and slightly marred what was otherwise a very memorable stay.

We would have expected the service at a lodge of this caliber to be much better, much more professional and with a lot of staff around also much faster." See all these reviews: 20n in Namibia

"Superb location and friendly staff.

View over the canyon is spectacular. Great drive into the canyon - a long day (9 hours) and very bumpy but a wonderful experience.

Lunch and a swim at a rock pool were very well organised. Breakfast and dinner good although the choice was limited because of the remote location.

Like most places we stayed, there was complimentary tea and cake in the afternoon." See all these reviews: 26n in Namibia

"Stunning location on the rim of the canyon, would be a bit warm in the rooms in summer as there's no aircon, a four wheel drive was a good idea on the gravel road that approached the entrance." See all these reviews: 24n in Namibia

"The ONLY reason to visit this lodge is the magnificent view on the canyon and the location of the bungalows right on the edge. We were here before (2019) and nothing has changed. You don't come here for the food (poor), the staff (uninterested, they do not understand what true hospitality means) or the animals (none).

Our welcome was not friendly or warm at all; it was merely a standard ('cold') explanation. The bungalow is nice. We loved the wind which comes every day at the end of the afternoon/beginning of the evening. It literally blows your mind empty and your coffee out of your cup. No airco needed.

Wifi only in the main building and not very reliable.

Drives/excursions are quite expensive.

We truly hope that there will be a decent alternative for this accommodation." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia; 5n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe

"Fish River Lodge is a magical place to stay and was by far my favourite place during my two weeks touring Namibia, and well worth the long drive off the main road. The chalets are beautiful, designed in a simple, even austere way which to my mind is far more in tune with the breathtaking canyon/desert setting than some of the opulent lodges designed in standard South African fashion. The reception/dining/bar area of the hotel is also most beautifully decorated and very comfortable. The food was delicious and the walks along the canyon rim wonderful in both morning and evening. They are well signposted. The day trip down into the canyon is amazing. As it was December the only option here was the drive down as it is too hot to hike. It is a most beautiful and unique opportunity." See all these reviews: 19n in Namibia; 1n in South Africa

"Stunning location with great lodges perched on the cliff edge.

Food was very good here. Swimming in the pool while looking over the edge of the canyon was amazing.

Sundowner trip going north of the lodge to a great viewpoint with superb sunset views.

Would also recommend a self guided walk to a great viewpoint south of the lodge (c1-2 hr return).

While the staff were fine this was (surprisingly) the busiest lodge we stayed in and it consequently felt somewhat less personal than other lodges.

Overall - a great place to visit and stay." See all these reviews: 23n in Namibia

"Our first impression at Fish River Lodge was of walking through the main building to the jaw dropping view of the canyon.

A deck runs along that side of the building with sitting places and a swimming pool. Individual lodges were strung out on either side of the main building. Our lodge was modern and very comfortable.

The canyon drive excursion is well worth going on. Leaving the lodge at 7.30 we were driven along to a side canyon, and then slowly down to the floor. Our experienced guide slowly negotiated tricky slopes in the 4WD vehicle, pointing out interesting features along the way.

Our destination was under a rock shelf at the bottom of the canyon. Here we were able to have a refreshing swim, with the catfish, in a large fresh water pool. A delicious lunch was barbecued chicken and sausage, with side salads, not forgetting the beer and wine! A slow drive back up, again with masterful use of the 4WD function, got us back to the lodge about 4.30." See all these reviews: 16n in Namibia; 4n in South Africa