Reviews of Swakopmund Guesthouse
Wildlife sightings and reviews
25 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Swakopmund Guesthouse and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
Ms A
Cambridgeshire
"Disappointingly Average"
1 night Arrived 18 Sep 2011
"The only disappointing accommodation of my trip. My so-called 'luxury' room was distinctly average. The bathroom can only be likened to a prison cell; bare beige plastered walls, lacked any character or warmth. The fixtures and fittings were looking tired, the toilet seat was chipped and scratched. There was no desk/table in the room, so nowhere to sit and write. The hospitality tray was crawling with small ants. The room opened out on to the street and offered no privacy. I think the photos in the brochure are very misleading.
On arrival we were greeted by the receptionist, who promptly told us that now we've finally arrived, she was able to go home! From 6pm there are no staff present; an emergency contact number is given in the room, but do not expect any sort of service after 6pm. A security guard patrols at night. Staff are only present from 6am to 6pm. I do not think you can successfully run such a business on a part-time basis. The manager was very friendly and helpful the next morning, but that does not help if you have any issues after 6pm.
There was a power cut at 10:30pm, and when I informed the security guard, he told me he had very little credit on his phone, so was unable to phone the Manager, instead he would send her a message. There was a real lack of urgency. The guard had no torch and so had to borrow mine. I wouldn't want to rely on him in an emergency!
Maybe I was just unlucky, but I would certainly not class this as a luxury guesthouse." See all these reviews: 18n in Namibia
On arrival we were greeted by the receptionist, who promptly told us that now we've finally arrived, she was able to go home! From 6pm there are no staff present; an emergency contact number is given in the room, but do not expect any sort of service after 6pm. A security guard patrols at night. Staff are only present from 6am to 6pm. I do not think you can successfully run such a business on a part-time basis. The manager was very friendly and helpful the next morning, but that does not help if you have any issues after 6pm.
There was a power cut at 10:30pm, and when I informed the security guard, he told me he had very little credit on his phone, so was unable to phone the Manager, instead he would send her a message. There was a real lack of urgency. The guard had no torch and so had to borrow mine. I wouldn't want to rely on him in an emergency!
Maybe I was just unlucky, but I would certainly not class this as a luxury guesthouse." See all these reviews: 18n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Good
Service:
Poor
Facilities:
Poor
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Good
Mr M & Mrs J
UK
"Perfect base in Swakop"
3 nights Arrived 17 Dec 2010
"Guest house was in a good position and easy to find after the first attempt. Close to the main street and walking distance from restaurants but also quiet and off the main road.
Bit disappointing that seating for relaxing outside the room was almost on the pavement.
Excellent trips with Turnstone tours. Guides were very knowledgable and we learnt a lot of history and geology as well as seeing the nature.
Fabulous fish meals especially at the raft in Walvis Bay and the Lighthouse in Swakop." See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia
Bit disappointing that seating for relaxing outside the room was almost on the pavement.
Excellent trips with Turnstone tours. Guides were very knowledgable and we learnt a lot of history and geology as well as seeing the nature.
Fabulous fish meals especially at the raft in Walvis Bay and the Lighthouse in Swakop." See all these reviews: 14n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Mr B & Mr K
Kent
"Swakopmund Guesthouse review"
2 nights Arrived 22 Oct 2009
"No comments to make"
See all these reviews: 11n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Average
Feedback Response
Whilst staying in Swakopmund, we organised a day-trip for these travellers to the dunes and coast south of Swakopmund, about which they commented:
"Wonderful ---- We were the only two in the land rover and Ernst was really great host . bird lfe abounded ;he showed us everything he could and a lovely lunch on the coast all on our own . Other day trips all seemed to go home at lunch time and we had sandwich harbour to ourselves --- really memorable."
"Wonderful ---- We were the only two in the land rover and Ernst was really great host . bird lfe abounded ;he showed us everything he could and a lovely lunch on the coast all on our own . Other day trips all seemed to go home at lunch time and we had sandwich harbour to ourselves --- really memorable."
Miss N
Leeds
"Make time for Swakopmund"
3 nights Arrived 17 Sep 2009
"This is a good guesthouse in a convenient location in the city, to be honest we didn't spend a great deal of time in the guesthouse and only had breakfast here. We were able to make reservations for restaurants here, we went to Grapevine which is excellent, The Tug which you need to book in plenty of time and Kucki's bar. If you need money for the next part of your trip make sure you use the ATM's in Swakopmund.
We had 3 nights in Swakopmund which is well worth it if you want to do a number of activities as well as taking in the city. We chose:
Kayaking which Expert Africa pre arranged for us and is really worth it, the seal pups will come and play with you it is such a brilliant experience, and the lady who does the trip is so knowledgable about the local area, the meeting point however has changed from the Mola Mola Coffee Shop I can't remember the new location but is worth double checking when you confirm with her.
Quadbiking and sandboarding which are both really good fun and the guide we had was brilliant, this can be booked in Swakopmund centre we used Outback Orange but there are loads to chose from.
You can also drive to Cape Cross seal colony in an hour as the roads are good salt roads all the way, make sure you look out for shipwrecks on the coast line there is a good one between Swakopmund and Cape Cross." See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia
We had 3 nights in Swakopmund which is well worth it if you want to do a number of activities as well as taking in the city. We chose:
Kayaking which Expert Africa pre arranged for us and is really worth it, the seal pups will come and play with you it is such a brilliant experience, and the lady who does the trip is so knowledgable about the local area, the meeting point however has changed from the Mola Mola Coffee Shop I can't remember the new location but is worth double checking when you confirm with her.
Quadbiking and sandboarding which are both really good fun and the guide we had was brilliant, this can be booked in Swakopmund centre we used Outback Orange but there are loads to chose from.
You can also drive to Cape Cross seal colony in an hour as the roads are good salt roads all the way, make sure you look out for shipwrecks on the coast line there is a good one between Swakopmund and Cape Cross." See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Mr M & Ms H
London
"Clean and central, but uninspring"
2 nights Arrived 9 Aug 2009
"This was the most functional accommodatioin we stayed at in Namibia - very clean, but unfortunately our room was very cold on the first night and there were not spare duvets easily on hand. This was rectified after requesting duvets on the second night, but a single small radiator was inadequate for the apartment we were in. Breakfast was OK.
Avoid Kucki's at all costs; the food was very disappointing, atmosphere very much pub rather than restaurant, and when we complained our feedback was met with extremely rude behaviour typical of somewhere reliant on one-night only visitors, unlikely ever to return. Our pizza at Western Saloon the next evening was a much better experience and there were quite a few locals (who we had been served by in a book shop and who worked for Turnstone Tours) eating there as well, which seemed to be a good indicator.
Our trip to Sandwich Bay with Turnstone Tours was outstanding - defiitely recommended." See all these reviews: 11n in Namibia
Avoid Kucki's at all costs; the food was very disappointing, atmosphere very much pub rather than restaurant, and when we complained our feedback was met with extremely rude behaviour typical of somewhere reliant on one-night only visitors, unlikely ever to return. Our pizza at Western Saloon the next evening was a much better experience and there were quite a few locals (who we had been served by in a book shop and who worked for Turnstone Tours) eating there as well, which seemed to be a good indicator.
Our trip to Sandwich Bay with Turnstone Tours was outstanding - defiitely recommended." See all these reviews: 11n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Good
Service:
Average
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Average
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