Namibia: reviews from our travellers

"Our best holiday for a very long time, exceeding our expectations in almost every area.

The advice provided was extremely helpful and the descriptions provided on the website and in the Brandt guide were almost universally accurate.

The marked-up route maps were particularly appreciated.

Suggestions for improvement:

Put the bit about plastic bags to protect the luggage from dust in block capitals! We did but some others were less well informed.

Where can you get adaptors which fit the 3 round pin plugs - not everywhere has a European standard alternative?" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"Hate questionnaires and my t is overcooked!
always glad to help" Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 12 on a South Africa trip

"As a whole,this trip was a holiday of a lifetime. With the help of Expert Africa, we enjoyed our exploration of this beautiful country. Our total journey was 3400 km, but we did not unduly feel we were tied to the vehicle. We were happy that our planned route was in a clockwise direction, as it left the high points towards the end of the holiday (including hotter temperatures!). Unfortunately, we missed a key activity (ballooning over the dunes) due to high winds and we also hit an extremely cold winter snap. We enjoyed seeing the towns/villages and spending some time in them.

One point I would like to stress is that these lodges are mostly built to provide cool accommodation in summer, and therefore can be bitterly cold and draughty in winter. Visitors could perhaps be given more warning to pack winter clothing. Restaurant staff are wearing anoraks - ours were at home!

We did not appreciate open plan toilets or sharing a dinner table with people we had little in common with.

We found the guide book by Chris extremely helpful and appreciated all other documents." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip

"For the oldest member at least the trip of a lifetime! Long anticipated we probably did it just in time - in another 2 years it will probably be too demanding for the oldies, whereas the "youngsters" may well be off on the Fish River trail.

While the wild life was incredibly exciting, it was what we had expected - only even bigger and better.

I don't think we could have anticipated the fantastic beauty and variety of the landscapes and the speed with which they change - the drive from Solitaire to Walvis Bay is just one example. Nor is it possible easily to convey the space, the distances, the emptiness,and the enormous skies - particularly on a moonless night.

We followed your suggested itinerary with one variation - we kept to the coast road from Cape Cross to Torra Bay and then cut across to Dora !Nawas. We were glad to experience that much of Skeleton Coast and thought the rest of the run more than rewarding , would in fact RECOMMEND it.- we'll have to fit in the Brandberg next time.

Now our one beef. We followed all of your advice re clothing - Kate, thank goodness even packed her long johns! - but simply were not prepared for the intense cold we ran into at Bullsport. Nor, according to the locals, was this particularly unusual. This being the case we think more thought should be given to heating the rooms and beds, and more blankets carried on drives at Bullsport. The temperatures at Kulala were not so different, but both these matters had been more effectively addressed.

Finally on this point we think that your advice should be beefed up to read - "and just to be on the safe side tuck in a pair of gloves, a scarf and a woolly hat" !

PS - Sabina, I have submitted our "report" on the trip but have, inevitably, thought of 2 comments I have forgotten to include! Firstly, how impressed we were by all aspects of the Wiiderness Safari operation with which we came into contact - not just the high standard of training, friendliness and professionalism of all the staff, or the imaginative design and comfort of the Lodges, but also their policies of community development and, perhaps in particular, their approach to HIV - AIDS.

Secondly we were very aware of the the positive approach generally to the AIDS problem - young people in "leadership" and "meet the challenge" T-shirts etc. However, nowhere could we find any means of making any direct contribution in support - and we mean specifically support which would be directed to Namibia, rather than to one of the umbrella Africa charities. We discussed this situation with Beula at Erongo and she was going to take it up thro' her management but I wonder whether you can give us any guidance and, more generally, if it is something to which Expert Africa might like to give some thought as I am sure there must be many of your clients who would also like to give more focussed help.

Again many thanks for your personal contribution to a wonderful holiday, Kind regards, Michael" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip

"We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday which in the vast majority of instances exceeded our expectations.

Suggestions for improvement:

It would be useful to know the starting time for afternoon excursions at lodges/camps prior to arrival." Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 11 on a Namibia trip

"Should have stayed longer!" Read full review: 26 nights in Africa; 19 on a Namibia trip

"This trip exceeded our expectations in almost every respect and we are happy to recommend a similar holiday to others. Where we have commented on minor shortcomings, they did not detract from our enjoyment in the slightest.

From the first enquiry to Expert Africa, Maruska was most helpful and efficient, modifying and adjusting the itinerary to meet our requirements." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 9 on a Namibia trip

"The trip was absolutely excellent - your advice on routing was good and the choice of camps excellent. You were very efficient throughout and it was a pleasure dealing with you. On this basis we would be happy to recommend you to anyone wishing to do a similar trip.

One suggestion: we noticed that several people doing similar trips had been provided with a spiral bound booklet with more information about the itinerary, details about each camp, with photographs and maps. We would have appreciated something similar, which would not be expensive to produce and would have been a very nice touch. Given the cost of the trip, the excellence of your service and the quality of the camps and transfers this would be an appropriate part of the package you offer." Read full review: 25 nights in Africa; 12 on a Botswana safari

"As this was our honeymoon, we were hoping for something amazing and were not disappointed! Thanks to all at Expert Africa for arranging a truly memorable honeymoon." Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 10 on a Namibia trip

"'Very satisfactory' seems a weak description for an outstanding holiday experience. Not only is Namibia quite unique scenically, it boasts great variety: from the Namib sand desert to the mountains of Damaraland and Erongo; from the skeleton coast to Etosha pan. You have to work for these rewards if you drive, but every km is worth the effort (those who fly in must miss a great deal), and driving the great desert spaces is part of the experience.

The wildlife is also so impressive, partly because you see a lot by passing through the country, but Etosha was 'on show' for us, with magnificent congregations of elephants, zebra and antelope, plus abundant rhino, jackall, and hyena and vists from giraffe - more often seen away from the waterholes. Four female lions and an encounter with a black rhino at close quarters capped our experiences.

The Namibian people we met were friendly and always competent. Most of the guides we met were very knowledgeable and gave good value.

We ate well and no one suffered from upset stomachs or other travel bugs. I travel a lot and have been in something over 20 African countries over the years. Ivisited Ngorongoro in Tanzania many years ago and was so impressed by the wildlife. But in Namibia the wildlife was comparable and the entire country a marvellous scenic experience." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip