Reviews of Kulala Desert Lodge

"Larger than Wolwedans but still fairly personal, despite an overnight 20 plus busload, somewhat voluble, as may be expected from a big group. Slightly disappointed that our Room was the furthest from the main complex but guess someone has to be there. The pool was not in use due to lack of water.

Our guide for two days, Hans, was extremely personable and his two years working in England gave him a great understanding of our culture and priiorities. He was polite but ambitious and we wish him well in his career! The camp has the advantage of a quick access to the Soussusvlei Dune area, good enough reason on its own to make this your base for exploring the famous red dunes, a number of which face you across the desert from your room . You can enjoy their particular splendour at sunrise and sundown without moving from your balcony!

Best if you can get your guide to take you out to "Big Daddy" and "Big Mummy" early in the morning before the bus crowds arrive through the Sesriem Park Gate. You'll then be able to walk up the Daddy Dune ridge and helter skelter down barefoot into the dead Acacia "Lake" in peace and with maximum fun! Further wandering and picknicking in the "fertile" Soussesvlei area is a must! Vestiges of greenery give promise to the beautiful tranformation of this location when the rains come.

Wouldn't we, like many, love to return and see it again in its multi splendour with the birds, dragonflies, animals and coloured flora and fauna! Jonathan our general camp manager told us his phone rings constantly when rain is forecast, so many wnating to share in the spectacle. The Sesriem Canyon is worth a viisit, if only briefly as an overture to the unforgettable spectacle of s Sundowner among the Red Dunes.

Hans took us on a long day's excursion to the Naukluft Mountain Park, a very memorable contrast to the Namib Desert. An hour or two's walk up into the mountains in and alongside dry riverbeds cheered on our way by families of fig eating baboons and enlightened by real tumbling water and colourful flora we "discovered " a series of beautiful tumbling rock pools. Too much for Hans. "Hallelujah"! He was in and savouring something the dry Camp pool could not offer.. We felt gratified to have experienced the Namib and Naukluft in one stay! To be recommended!" See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia

"This had a wonderful setting at the edge of the dunes and situated in the "big landscapes" which we came to Namibia to see. All the staff were very helpful and polite. I had a puncture there and the staff had it repaired in no time at all.

We would recommend the evening trip to the dunes. Whilst we explored ourselves by day, Koala's location meant that a sunset trips on the dunes was very accessible and a wonderful experience.

Very happy with our visit there." See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia

"This was the only place where we have negative comments, we received a lacklustre welcome, which we may not have commented on had it not been that everywhere else we were greeted with a cooling drink, smiles and details of the lodge and activities. We were not told about the activites etc and had to go and find someone after dinner to find out details for our morning balloon ride, i had to go to the kitchen several times to ask for the hot water thermos to be filled up and the place seemed deserted most of the time. The morale there seemed low, staff disinterested and hard to track down.

It is a shame as the location is so close to the dunes and the morning drive with albert was fabulous (once we had tracked donw a guide to find out what was possible) - as was the breakfast as sossouvlei but i would not recommend staying here" See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia

"I completed a detailed evaluation sheet including the points below and discussed them in outline with the management before we left. They represent a fairly unsatisfactory experience of what is described in your brochure as a distinguished establishment.

(i) The food was badly prepared and presented. Vegetables were overcooked and distasteful, often cold and even unrecognisable - a pat of rice, grey and lukewarm, for example; meat was either tough or unattractive; puddings were ordinary, obviously frozen, and unappetizing; one first course, described as 'bruschetta', two pieces of sponge slopped with plum sauce, was inedible. We have never experienced anything quite as awful as this in a public restaurant, let alone one that was so fulsomely written up.

Both my wife and I were, on different occasions, quite seriously ill with clear symptoms of food poisoning; the manager put it down to a change in drinking water ('even when I go to Swapokmund I get a stomach upset through drinking a different kind of water') and this despite his earlier assertion that his water was entirely safe. It's never easy to link eating habits with food poisoning and we can only suspect; contenders as potential culprits were warmed rice and inadequately stored cream. So, a suspicion that this menu was not only unappetising but potentially dangerous. Our symptoms persisted long after leaning Kulala.

Kulala's problems stem from poor management. Causes for concern, beyond the kitchen:

(i) Security; there is no sign of this; we complained twice, without any response, of a forced and broken bolt on one of our room doors. We asked about locks on the doors, again a question treated with indifference. This may seem an odd enquiry since we subsequently stayed in 'tents' without even walls let alone doors. There, though, there were in force clear security precautions. And, anyway, I wonder how an insurance company might respond to a claim for lost or apparently stolen goods from an unlocked room. This may not be the point; but it's crucial that if guests have concerns of this sort that at least they sould be addressed. Risk has to be managed not ignored. One of the toilets in the public area was without any sort of lock.

(ii) Early calls were either late, very late or entirely ignored. In the latter case, this happened before a ballooning trip which was the responsibility of another organisation some distance away. We might have missed our booking had we not woken independently - once bitten.

(iii) There were three organised trips. Two of these were very expensive and poor value for money. The dull visit to the Sesriem Canyon, a long way with a dull subject and an uninformative guide at that, and the nature drive in the evening which constituted a drive round the lodge's estate, were both glorified excuses for the statutory sundowner. The third, Sossusvlei visit was potentially more interesting though here our guide was equally disenchanted. Me: 'Do you take this trip often.' He: with an onvious sense of boredom: 'Yes; every single day.' Management could have helped with some coordination and education - we never had the same guide so three diferent individuals rehearsed the same tired, and already well known, facts about the acacia tree, the habits of the termite and the sociable weaver.

So, charming staff who had little idea what they were supposed to do and how; poor, floundering, management. In almost every way this was not an acceptable stay. I would be concerned not only for the reputation of Wilderness Safaris - they're big enough and well enough represented elsewhere to cope, anyway - but for Expert Africa; I would strongly recommend that until you have assurance that these issues have been addressed, you should not recommend this lodge to your clients. Have you heard this sort of thing before?" See all these reviews: 25n in Namibia

"We wanted to be able to be in position within the sand dunes before sunrise. Although the lodge has its own gate, by the time we entered the area the sun had risen. It would have been better to stay closer to the main gate, which was apparently a 45 minute drive from the lodge." See all these reviews: 10n in Namibia

"The hot air ballooning trip, though expensive, was an absolute must - out of this world!" See all these reviews: 11n in Namibia; 4n in Mozambique; 2n in Zambia

"The trip to the dunes was very good but an enclosed vehicle needs to be used by the lodge. Uncomfortable return journey due to wind and sand.

A great location for the lodge. Welcoming and helpful staff." See all these reviews: 22n in Namibia

"Beautifull setting well organised only let down by VERY poor food." See all these reviews: 19n in Namibia

"Staff outstanding. Extremely well-managed Lodge. On arrival and return from trips we were greeted with drinks before entering Lodge. Chalet very comfortable with amazing views.

Sessriem Canyon a little disappointing after Fish River Canyon!

Trip to the dunes amazing but unfortunately very windy that day. Deadvlei well worth a visit although we found the walk very tiring, but we are not the fittest people in the world! Early morning balloon flight the next day highly recommended. Previous day's flights cancelled because of the wind. Champagne breakfast by the dunes a memorable experience." See all these reviews: 22n in Namibia

"The morning trip to dunes was overpriced - if you have a 4x4 we would recommend driving yourself." See all these reviews: 19n in Namibia