Reviews of trips to Swakopmund & Walvis Bay
939 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Swakop' & Walvis Bay.
"My Sep 2015 trip"
Highlights were the variety of landscapes, the wildlife in Etosha, the desert-elephant, cheetah and leopard tracking and the friendliness of the local people.
We did a self drive tour based on the Caracal trip with an extra night at Central Highlands. The 2 night stops worked well with one day of driving and one day of activities. Our hire car was a 2WD SUV which was fine on the gravel roads.
We had one puncture half way between Solitaire and Swakopmund, so would recommend carrying a second spare tyre.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No - you've got it just right." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip
"My Sep 2015 trip"
The itinerary worked very well. Note our comments about Swakop and Doro Nawas.
The car was a worry and really not good enough.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
All round a great service resulting in an exceptional holiday experience. Many thanks." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 19 on a Namibia trip
"A month in 2015"
Wolwedans not worth the premium. Sossusvlei over-hyped.
Country excellent and the locals very helpful. Stunning scenery.
Africat / Okonjima, Etendeka and Skeleton Coast were highlights
Martha was a star. Shame she's not there any longer." Read full review: 30 nights in Africa; 27 on a Namibia trip
"Excellent and stress free organisation"
The information you provided before we left was excellent. It was easy to find the lodges and you told us what we needed to know about how things worked in Namibia. We also found the guidebook to be very helpful.
Just so you know, the bakery in Outjo has been knocked down and is being rebuilt. Also, there is now a petrol station at the airport which is not restricted to hire firms.
Also we found a gem of a place in Uis where we stopped for coffee. It's called The Cactus Coffee Shop and Garden Centre. The setting is idyllic and we wanted to stay all day. The coffee is very good, the gardens are attractive and there are bird feeders which attract the birds as you drink and eat. You sit in the shade and are soothed by gentle classical music. Bliss!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Perhaps offer alternatives to the Wilderness Safaris lodges? Perhaps offer slightly less luxurious but still comfortable accommodation to reduce the costs? With hindsight we would perhaps have preferred to spend more on the car and a little less on the accommodation." Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip
"Our trip to Namibia"
We received excellent advice and support from Martha Young. What we loved about the trip was the flexibility it gave us while planning every day. At the same time the most stressful and time consuming things such as accommodation research, distances, etc were done for us. This approach let us enjoy every moment of our trip. The communication with us was excellent from the very first moment. We felt we were well informed; the brochures, maps, leaflets, baggage tags and the wallet for vouchers were a great idea.
If we decide to go to Africa once again, we will book a trip with Expert Africa for sure. Thank you!!!!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
You are excellent!" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip
"The best trip we've enjoyed for many years"
However, you must enjoy driving off tarmac and be OK with being on unmade roads with very little traffic and longish drives. A 4x4 really is worth the extra in terms of comfort and is capable of withstanding the occasional miscalculation on dry riverbed crossings!
The countryside is stunning desert, big and empty - which may or may not be to everyone's taste, but Mad Max Fury Road had inspired us to go. The wildlife was amazing and unforgettable, all the people we met were friendly, knowledgeable and the service we had everywhere we stayed was as good as anywhere we have been in the UK.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We really don't. The whole booking experience was a joy." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip
"My Sep 2015 trip"
I suspect this is because of our discussions with Expert Africa staff who took the time to find out exactly what we wanted, and then planned the trip accordingly.
I cannot speak highly enough about the planning and organisation which had obviously gone into this trip. Thank you again Martha." Read full review: 25 nights in Africa; 24 on a Namibia trip
"My Sep 2015 trip"
We felt comfortable all the time, saw some fantastic wildlife and some had excellent food and wines. Everything was planned for us and went exactly to plan the accommodation throughout could not be faulted. It's given us some inspiration to plan another visit." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Namibia trip
"Trip of a lifetime (so far!)"
We first contacted you with a rough itinerary, which was much improved by Tracy's many suggestions and her acceptance that I was trying to keep costs down for the bulk of the trip. You booked us into 15 different places to stay and all were very acceptable, with most good/excellent." Read full review: 36 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip
"My Sep 2015 trip"
The only thing we would perhaps have changed was to get a 4 wheel drive or AWD drive vehicle to give us greater peace of mind driving on gravel or sandy roads. Our thanks to Maruska for her excellent suggestions for lodges and very rapid responses to all our queries." 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.
