Reviews of Serra Cafema

"A beautiful remote location, again we had a great guide for the 4 days we were there.

However, the management was a bit hit and miss and we were never quite sure who was actually in charge.

There was also an issue with the hot water in the shower, pretty much showered in tepid water every day." See all these reviews: 18n in Namibia

"Again a disappointing guide. All staff we spoke to at the various Wilderness Camps said what a wonderful employer they were So for all three guides to be not very good was surprising. Our experience of there camps previously was in Botswana where we had fantastic guide so it was really disappointing. I realize that a lot of what we were doing was about the scenery but there is still lots of other things that could have been pointed out and explained.
The visit to the village where you are expected to buy stuff is just not our cup of tea.
Again a couple of lovely surprise lunch locations." See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia

"Excellent experience.

Good service level, excellent guide (Darius)." See all these reviews: 6n in Namibia

"Though Serra Cafema is the oldest of the three Wilderness properties we visited, we liked the interior layout and design of its suites the best. Our suite's lounging areas (both interior and exterior) were spacious and comfortable and were smartly separating from the sleeping, dressing and bathing spaces. We understand, however, that Serra Cafema will undergo major renovations and perhaps relocation in a few months, so we will not dwell on its current features.

Activities-wise, we loved every moment of our Himba Village visit (our outstanding guide Timo is from a nearby Himba community and offered us unique personal insights); river cruise; and ATV adventures. Michael and Elroy were outstanding hosts. As well, deWald (who heads Wilderness Safari's Food and Beverage operations in Namibia) was on assignment at Serra Cafema, and we had the pleasure of learning first-hand the immense challenges of provisioning and preparing healthy, varied, and delicious meals in some of the world's most remote locations." See all these reviews: 9n in Namibia; 3n in Rwanda

"The drive from the airstrip through the Hartmann Valley to Serra Cafema is "epically" and spectacularly African! Arrival at the camp is equally as impressive - set alongside the Kunene River in amongst the reeds. This is truly a place to just be - at one with Namibia and with nature. This lodge beckons me back!

Our guide Darius was just brilliant, he was very attentive to our needs and continually amazed us with driving us to vistas better than the previous which we didn't think possible! Taking in the breathtaking landscape whilst having our sundowners on our first night there was the highlight of our Namibian trip! Our boat trip up the along the Kunene river spotting Crocs and having sundowners on the Angolan side of the river was special too.

The staff were very pleasant and accommodating - we were given an upgrade (huge thanks!) and a special, surprise, private lunch right on the river. The tents are very spacious and gorgeous.

The lodge will be undergoing a revamp later this year - can't wait to go back :-)" See all these reviews: 9n in Namibia

"The main reason to go to Serra Cafema was based on my wish to interact with the Himba's in there natrual environment. But it became so much more. To fly in, surrounded by magnificent mountains, where the quide was waiting with something to drink and to eat gave me the first glance how beautiful it would be.

To the remote lodge it takes about 50 minutes. I enoyed every minute of it. With beautiful scenery and the mountains of Angola in the background.

There was a warm and personal welcome when I arrived. My chalet was overwhelming big, beautifully furnished and very clean. Outside a wooden deck with comfortable chairs. And a vieuw over the river! Wow!!! In the evening before diner, somethimes around the pool litted by candellight, I sat at the fireplace, With a drink and some bites. My faverite spot in the main area. The decorations were very stylish.

The food was more then excellent. My complements to the chef!

The excursion to the Himba was excactally what I had hoped for. My guide (a Himba himself) got me on a very respectfully way in contact with them. Before there was a very extensively explenation about there style of life.

The boat excursion and the sundowner on Angolian territory was fun (crocodiles) but not special.

But what a stay!!!!!! What a beautiful remote area with a stunning environment. It is one of the most extra ordinary places I ever have been. It is unforgettable." See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia

"We must rate the experience extraordinary in spite of some management observations or actions that were less than excellent. The general manager & visiting food manager were sometimes less than fully engaged in their interactions with guests. The later seemed much more attentive to pilots staying over than he did to some guests.

Door closing practices in our room (at turndown) were a bit confusing to us but 2 nights we ended up having a gerbil in our room (who would dash under the platform bed). We did not find this particularly disturbing but my husband went for assistance our first night The visiting manager did not appear to be successful but seemed confident we would have no other problems. On night 2 (somewhat cute) Mr. Gerbil was back in our room. We successfully chased him out. By day 3 one of our ceiling fans was not working. Eventually we were told that would require an "outside" service.

Upon our arrival in our next camp we discovered that Mr. Gerbil had made considerable headway into a woven cloth bag with bagged snacks enclosed." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia

"Amazing place in a very isolated location. The staff is fantastic!

Thank you!" See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia

"Exquisite remote location
Fabulous guide .
Food superb
Activities thoroughly enjoyable
Marvellous staff" See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia

"For our preferences, Serra Cafema placed too much value on food and drink. Yes, it was thoughtful to be met at the airstrip with champagne, but we would have preferred exploring and photographing the landscape on the drive to camp. While we very much appreciate quality food, not when it is taking time away from the river, sand dunes, rock, wildlife, canyons and mountains we'd come so far to see. Serra Cafema has an environment unlike anywhere else in the world, so why spend so much of the day hurrying back to camp for yet another meal or snack? We'd much preferred to take bagged meals and stay out all-day, but our guide wanted to show us "the Serra Cafema way . . ."

Even on our 'all-day' outing to visit the Himba and the Marienfluss Valley, we had to wait through a sit-down breakfast, but then were in too big a hurry for 'the long-drive ahead' to stop for photographs of landscapes and birds leaving camp. Until our guide realized he'd forgotten our lunches, then we waited for someone on a quad to make the delivery, despite our protestations we could easily survive without a meal.

Unbelievably, we had a cheetah lope across the riverbed in front of us, and rather than stopping to watch and enjoy this incredible sighting, our guide gave chase--needless to say, the cheetah won, disappearing up and over a ridge.

Our visit with the Himba was an incredible experience; their care for clothing and appearances is extraordinary, as they live very simply under the harshest of conditions. We would have loved to have talked with and asked about their lives, instead we were severely limited as our guide used a little translational dictionary to look up the most basic of words. So rewarding, and yet so disappointing at the same time.

The importance of a sit-down lunch? Only to speed down the road--braced above the seat to save my back--the moonscape quilt of colors--rocks, vegetation, mountains, erosion--blurred as we flew back to camp. What was the hurry? So we could watch as our guide covered his turnaround tracks from the morning? (Especially when there are quad tracks leading and circling everywhere!) Or to spend time waiting in our room?

Serra Cafema is an older camp. Beautiful plate-glass windows and deck overlooking the river, but not maintained with the attention to detail we've become accustomed to in most camps. Our room had a cracked mirror, spiders and cobwebs occupied corners, trash remained below the deck for duration, broken chain left without repair; in the dining area bits of vegetation remained on the floor, toothpicks and other small trash not picked up. Nothing horrible, but I felt a sense of pride was missing. While at Desert Rhino Camp it was difficult to carry our own bags--someone was always offering, literally removing from our hands--here at Serra Cafema, after much lingering and awkwardness, the offer would come half-heartedly. I felt most individuals, especially dining and serving staff, wanted to do well, but there was a rigidity obstructing a relaxed pleasant atmosphere." See all these reviews: 17n in Namibia; 14n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe