Reviews of safaris to Okonjima Nature Reserve

"This trip was not about the wildlife but about the landscape and meeting the local people. We both enjoyed the trip tremendously, a lot of driving but then at the end of the day would be a lodge with some activites.

The highlight was definitely visiting the Bushmen and the Skeleton Coast, both very special places.

Would like to go back again and see somemore." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 17 on a Namibia trip

"Leaving aside the car issue, we enjoyed our trip very much.

Namibia is different from all of the other African countries we have visited and is a stunningly beautiful country. The highlights were - the rhinos at Ongava and the amazing night sky." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 11 on a Namibia trip

"The trip was really really great. Tracy was really helpful whenever I phoned and asked for help, she was also always really pleasant and friendly and lovely!

However I do feel that you as a company could give more tips - i.e I asked about what shoes to wear and If i hadn't I would not have taken my walking shoes which I wore 90% of the time _ this is invaluable info. I also asked about hairdryers and washing - invaluable. It would also have been nice to have know how safe it is to pick up travellers or to know about areas to visit on the way. ON the way to MOwani there are loads of villargers on the side of the roads selling there wares, you could visit the Brandenberg mountains _ I feel that because you gave us the Brandt book you thought it was ok but we are such busy people we cannot read the whole book before we go.. a few tips would have been nice and would have made the difference.
I do not understand why we were put in Kulala Lodge as it really didn't fit our spec and we were really disappointed with Swakopmund, we did not feel safe and it was pretty awful really!

Whenever I asked for help and advice Tracy and Sabina in Tracy's absence was great but you could have just made all the difference by adding those bits to your notes for travellers - also bits like how much to tips your guides, how much to tip petrol attendants when they wash your windows or car park attendants etc.

WE did have a wonderful wonderful holiday though so great great thanks to Tracey for organising it all so well." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip

"The holiday lived up all our expectations of the desert and was enhanced by the animal sightings. Our experience was hugely added to by the efficiency of service but above all by the friendliness of everyone we met. What a joy to see smiling faces and genuine welcomes.

We were impressed by the high standard of accommodation and the care taken to made them fit into the landscape and the privacy afforded to each cabin.

We can't stop without a word about the singing and drumming. What a sound and enthusiasm from all the staff ( we wondered if we were going to get fed one night as no one seemed to want to stop.)

A magical holiday.

Suggestions for improvement:

We were very happy with the service you provided. Your company seems to have a good reputation in Namibia both with people we met and with accommodations we stayed in.
PS. Best wishes from Florencia to Sabina." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"We had a brilliant trip. We saw lots of amazing sights and animals, and stayed in some wonderful places. The Namibian people were very friendly and helpful.

Some of the long drives between places are a bit boring, in particular the one from Sossusvlei to Swakopmund.

If we ever went to Namibia again, the only things we would do differently are:
- stay in Windhoek on arrival, so that we don't have a long drive on the first day
- hire a 4-wheel drive vehicle, instead of a saloon car. The car was fine on most of the roads, but some roads are very rutted and bumpy, particularly the private roads to some of the lodges
- take a bird book." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip

"An excellent trip, Namibia cannot fail to impress as a holiday destination.

One blot on the copy book was our NWR bookings had all been cancelled. Sossus Dune Lodge: the manager managed to sort things out for us without any hassle on our part. Okaukuejo: we spent over an hour checking in and had to ring the Wilderness Safaris out-of-hours contact no. to sort things out. Eventually we were given a standard double room instead of the Water-hole Chalet which we'd paid for. Namutoni: we had asked Wilderness Safaris to sort this out before we got there, and check-in was fine." Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 18 on a Namibia trip

"A great trip, very well organised. The only minor grumbles were with the Doro Nawas lodge.

A fascinating country with so much of interest, coupled with good service and great places to stay." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 17 on a Namibia trip

"Fantastic, we're already planning our next trip. A very memorable holiday, we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Suggestions for improvement:

Just one - the travel notes say that an adaptor for South Africa and Namibia is hard to find, and it may be better to take a UK power lead and re-wire it to a local plug. This isn't very helpful, because most power leads for battery chargers and shavers have sealed plugs, so you can't disconnect them without damaging them. However, I think the adaptors are becoming more widely available - I found them at Nomad Travel shops, at Selfridges, on Amazon, at Heathrow and at Johannesburg Airport, and if I'd kept looking no doubt I would have found them in lots of other places." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 18 on a Namibia trip

"An excellent trip with some wonderful game viewing, All the group were able to capture excellent images.

Suggestions for improvement:

Not really. I have booked about 7 trips with you and I have generally been very pleased.

Sabina was particulary helpful this year." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip

"Best holiday we have ever been on. From beginning to end we were treated to spectacular sights and experiences. The contrast of all the lodges added to the exotic feel of our honeymoon.

Suggestions for improvement:

I would suggest that the drive from Zebra River to Swokopmund was one of the most boring parts of the holiday. The main road could have been avoided if we had a permit to drive fhrough the national park. In reterospect we should have picked one of these up in Windhoek so we could do this.

An excellent geological fieldguide about Namibia is "The Roadside Geology of Namibia, 2nd Revised Edition" by Gabi Schneider (2008, ISBN 978-3-443-15084-6). It is far superior than "A fascination of geology" recommended by the Brant guide.

Detour to the Hobra meteroite was well worth it.

If going again we would spend less time in Swokopmund, and more time in the bush.

Purchased goods are entitled to a VAT refund at Windhoek airport if you have the invoice handy, although you have to give them your bank details.

Camera tripod was the best thing we took with us, for timer photos of us and night shots of the game," Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 18 on a Namibia trip