Reviews of trips to Swakopmund & Walvis Bay
937 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Swakop' & Walvis Bay.
"November trip to Namibia and Botswana"
Namibia and Botswana are beautiful countries.
We hope to go again and would certainly use Expert Africa." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip
"My Nov 2016 trip"
Despite the lengths of the drives, we found time disappeared due to the changing landscapes. We felt particularly proud to have made the journey around, but the joy of discovering each are and learning so much from the tour guides, enriched the experience.
It will be a holiday to remember for a long time to come." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 10 on a Namibia trip
"November self-drive trip 2016"
We found the people there so friendly and the level of accommodation was very good, comfortable beds always help! Although it was very hot - 35 deg on average, the dryness means it is not debilitating.
You can also see animals at the waterholes all day long, as well as in the conservancies , not just the morning and evening, making for a day long game viewing everywhere you went. Very pleased with all the help we received - it was nice to have a contact at the airport in Windhoek as well.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not that we can think of at the moment." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip
"Namibia & Botswana - Ian & Lynda Ancell"
Everything worked as clockwork and showed the level of planning and professionalism that went into this trip by Maruska." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip
"Namibia Trip."
"Memorable experiences in Namibia & Botswana"
Our itinerary in Namibia took us to a variety of places and experiences that were all very different from each other, and each worth the visit. In Botswana it was mainly about the wildlife, though we also enjoyed the beautiful setting of the Okavenga Delta and meeting lots of Botswanans, who without exception were friendly and welcoming.
Finally, except for not getting the type of vehicle we were expecting (though Bidvest & Tracy from Expert Africa did contact us to offer to change, which we decided against) every aspect of the organisation of the trip went without a hitch. We were also impressed that the company paid the difference in flight prices between Windhoek & Maun after Air Namibia cancelled all these flights from the beginning of November and we had to be rebooked onto SA Airways." Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 11 on a Namibia trip
"First trip to Namibia"
The lodges we stayed at were fantastic. We made a change to our itinerary as we didn't feel that Swakopmund offered us a truly African experience so we swapped 2 nights in Swakopmund for a night in Erongo Wilderness Lodge, which was very special, with beautifully designed up market tented accommodation in the Erongo Mountains. The activities were simple (trekking in the mountains) but very good fun.
Then we went to Okanjima to track leopards and cheetahs. This was an incredible experience. We didn't love the accommodation and the restaurant so much there, but it was well worth the visit because of our close encounters with these beautiful wild cats." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 9 on a Namibia trip
"My Oct 2016 trip"
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
It would be very helpful to have average driving times between lodges or mileage at and early stage - we probably woudn't have gone so far every other day if we had known how long it would take. It might be worth advising people who eat fish but not meat that it's better to stick to vegetarian - when we were given fish it wasn't great." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip
"Our Big Adventure"
1) Bullsport was a good stopover, but not in the style of the other lodges. We knew it was a working farm and perhaps we should have chosen differently.
2) We are not convinced that visiting at the end of the dry season was a good choice. We were aware of the lack of rain, but did not realise that it would be so unusually hot. This was not the fault of Expert Africa.
3) Although happy with the 2 x 4 car, a more powerful diesel model would have been more suitable.
On a positive note, we were delighted with Expert Africa's response to our delayed arrival after we had difficulty contacting Wilderness Safaris. We also feel that the whole process from the initial enquiry to the actual holiday was well managed, with excellent advice and information. We would (and already have) recommend Expert Africa.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
The guidebook does need updating. The wifi in most camps is better than described for example. Conny's restaurant (page 181) was very welcome, but there was only """"chicken"""" or a toasted sandwich. It was very clean and had some very interesting geological specimens.
Solitaire has a memorial to Moose who died in 2014, (page 265). The Kameldorn Garten restaurant in Otjiwarongo (page 405) closed some time ago.
We greatly appreciated camps with good wifi, bean to cup coffee machines and chilled water. Sounds trivial, especially when we have also greatly enjoyed the friendliness of staff and the beauty of the country that is Namibia.
Thank you." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip
"Trip of a lifetime -hopefully to be repeated!"
The itinerary was fantastic and enabled us to fit in everything that we had said we wanted to - the map and route planning incredibly useful and accurate. Plus everywhere we stayed was nigh on perfect - the organisation was faultless and made the whole experience very simple for us!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip
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Inspire meWhere to stay in Swakop' & Walvis Bay
Our suggestions for places to stay in Swakopmund & Walvis Bay
Cornerstone Guesthouse
Cornerstone Guesthouse is a small friendly B&B in a peaceful residential area. It's just a short walk from Swkopmund's waterfront & amenities.
Sam's Giardino
Welcoming, professionally run, and mildly eccentric, Sam’s Giardino lifts the level of hospitality in Swakopmund to unusual heights.
Strand Hotel
One of the larger hotels in Swakopmund, the Strand is well-placed on the seafront with good access to restaurants and the centre of town.
The Stiltz
Not your typical guesthouse, The Stiltz occupies a glorious location over the Swakop River on the edge of Swakopmund.
Villa Margherita
Villa Margherita is a beautifully renovated B&B in the heart of Swakopmund, with comfortable, well-appointed rooms, and friendly and attentive staff.
Beach Lodge
Right on the sea front, Beach Lodge offers good standard accommodation and its own restaurant, 15 minutes’ drive from Swakopmund.
Lagoon Lodge
Lagoon Lodge is a quirky little guesthouse located right on the edge of Walvis Bay Lagoon, a good spot for watching the flamingoes that frequent the area.
The Delight
Colourful and contemporary in style, The Delight is a relatively large hotel within a short walk of Swakopmund's waterfront, restaurants and main attractions.
Swakopmund Guesthouse
Swakopmund Guesthouse is a family-run B&B, boasting comfortable and high-quality rooms with a maritime touch.
Brigadoon
In a quiet residential location, Brigadoon is conveniently located for the Swakopmund waterfront and amenities.
Hansa Hotel
With a very central location in Swakopmund, the traditional Hansa Hotel is reliably good, though it is quite formal.
Secret Garden
Secret Garden Guesthouse is well located in the centre of Swakopmund not far from the sea. With a seaside feel, it has its own small restaurant and bar.
Sea Breeze
Just north of Swakopmund, the delightful Sea Breeze Guesthouse is bright and well-looked after with welcoming and helpful owners.
Cornerstone Apartments
Cornerstone Guesthouse’s three self-catering apartments, each in its own unique location, work well for families or groups of travellers seeking space & privacy within a comfortable, contemporary setting.
Desert Breeze
Not your typical Swakopmund guesthouse, Desert Breeze occupies a glorious location overlooking the Swakop River and the desert beyond.
Pelican Point Lodge
Pelican Point Lodge sits on a remote peninsula offering panoramic views of the ocean and is only accessible by 4WD or boat.
Namib Guesthouse
The Namib Guesthouse is a small, modern B&B, set in Swakopmund's peaceful Kramersdorf area. It's just a short walk from the coast and many amenities.
Oyster Box Guesthouse
Oyster Box Guesthouse is a small, modern and comfortable B&B, overlooking Walvis Bay Lagoon.
Pearls Beach Pods
With a beachfront location, superb sea views and easy access to the amenities of Swakopmund, The Pearls Beach Pods combine privacy with a high standard of luxury.
Swakopmund Sands
The relatively substantial Swakopmund Sands Hotel lies in a quiet area of the town, close to the beach yet within walking distance of tourist amenities.
