Reviews of trips to Windhoek

"The whole trip went like clockwork - thanks for your superb organisation. Combining the flights in the south with driving in the north was just the right combination for us (we would always recommend the flight over the Skeleton Coast to people in particular - since it gives such a good perspective of the vastness of the dunes).

This has been such a memorable trip.

Thank you!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

None that come to mind." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"A wonderful trip - we loved Namibia.

Some anxieties about the car hire - our delayed flight to Windhoek put us under pressure and the clerk on the Budget desk when we collected the car was not particularly helpful. The second spare tyre which we had ordered was not in the car and had to be sent for, delaying us further, and at that stage we were worried about getting to our first hotel before nightfall. The various instructions you had given us about car hire were slightly confusing.

However, when we had to purchase a new tyre after a puncture, Budget were helpful on the phone, the staff when we returned the car were excellent and our credit card has now been refunded with the cost of the tyre.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I would very much have preferred to have had a printed feedback form which we could have filled in during our flight home.

I know that this web version is helpful to you in that it is quicker for you to process, but you would have had more immediate (and possibly therefore more accurate) feedback had you enclosed a printed form with our tickets. On the flight we would have discussed our responses together under circumstances in which there was nothing else of particular importance for us to do." Read full review: 24 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"Had we to do this trip over, there is very little we would change. Our biggest miscalculation was the amount of time spent in Etosha. We thought that Etosha would be similar to the National Parks in the USA, that is bumper to bumper traffic, some folks racing through the park, and sometimes no place to park to see the sights. This, of course, is not true in Etosha and we would have spent much more time there.

We realize that everyone as different tastes and desires. Some prefer "resort" lodges, which are fine in many instances providing there are activities there to justify the cost. However, there are times that a nice B & B like Termite Hills or a hotel like the Makalani in Tusemb are quite satisfactory (if available of course).

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

We would not hesitate to have Expert Africa help us plan and arrange our next Africa adventure." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 17 on a Namibia trip

"We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday and both feel that it is one of the best holidays that we have taken in years.

The trip was very well organised and Sabina and Gwynneth were both helpful in providing information and responding to my questions.

The written information that we received prior to departure seemed a little over the top. However, we read through it diligently and followed Expert Africa's advice on most things. We felt well prepared and our trip was trouble free.

We'd been planning to go to Namibia for many years, after a previous trip was cancelled at the last minute. We thought that this trip would cross Namibia off our "list". The trip was so fantastic that Namibia remains firmly on the "list" and we are keen to return to explore other parts of the country.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I feel that it would be useful if Expert Africa could give some more guidance as to the petrol costs (or number of litres) associated with each trip. We knew that we would have to pay for petrol in cash and may not have access to ATMs for much of the trip. I made my own estimate that our petrol costs should be somewhere betwen NAD 1,100-1,400. We came in at just under NAD 1,000, so I wasn't too far off.

I realise that this may difficult as it will depend upon the type of car hired and to what extend people extend their mileage by deviating from the primary route." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 8 on a Namibia trip

"Overall, we had a wonderful time and plan on returning to Namibia.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

I would have liked to have received some of the travel information that you sent earlier. The materials on checking luggage, rental cars, etc would be useful, I would probably add some comments about paying people to watch your cars, street vendors, etc. But, I also recognize that our trip was put together at the last minute and that may be why we didn't get those materials until right before we left.

Maruska was very helpful and gave great advice. Thanks for a wonderful trip." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Namibia trip

"As a whole we were delighted with our trip. It was well organised and Maruska gave us good advice.

Some of the accommodation was below par but mostly it was of excellent quality. We were so pleased that she advised on a larger car, the X-Trail, and that made the travelling pleasant. We felt that 3 nights at Khowarib was a mistake and you could do the half-day Himba visit on the day you leave so we paid for an extra night at Doro Nowas instead.

This was a special retirement trip and it did not disappoint.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Only to take note of the points we raised regarding some of the lodges." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 18 on a Namibia trip

"We spent 6 nights in Kruger National Park, 6 nights in Sabi Sand and 6 nights in Namibia obtaining images for a book on Africa we are writing. We could travel anywhere in the world for the next 10 years and not have a better trip than this, despite the problems with missing luggage etc. No 3 week trip is going to be perfect but this was very close.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Can't think of anything." Read full review: 6 nights in Africa; 6 on a Namibia trip

"Apart from the route between Doro Nawas and Hobatere, and our last full day, the information and advice was thorough and very useful.

I think the instructions need to more consistent i.e. if comments are made about some bad roads, then ALL bad roads in the itinerary should be mentioned. Time or distance from the main road to the actual camps would be very useful.

We are not used to package holidays and it is easy to be complacent and think everything has been arranged in advance, all the maps perfect etc when using someone else.! I would have phoned ahead to all the places first to let them know when to expect us and check on directions. I am not sure what would have happened if we had a problem on route and not arrived which left me somewhat anxious especially as the phone did not always connect.

I bought a Namibian phone card which was good value - nb all internal text messages are free - you just pay for the calls.

The Bradt guide book was excellent - we almost left it behind and would have been stuck without it. We met other people using it.

The guide book had a few corrections to be made :

1) no walking tours included at Doro Nawas
2) Otavi - Rugger club was clearly not serving any meals
3) the Meteor Hotel in Otavi is called the Travel Inn on the main road so easy to miss it. A good recommendation and we had tasty pizzas.
4) In Etosha you talk about parking uder a tree in midday but we saw no trees where this can be done - suggest you delete this in next editions.
5) No garden centre restaurant in Okandja
6) Rhinos in Okandja was a simple restaurant run by a friendly family from Madeira and a good stop for a quick lunch.
7) In Okandja one lot of stalls has been burt down recently - only one lot of stalls now at the far end of the town.
8) Uis - beware of people selling crystals quite aggressively at the petrol station
9) If you want to go to the Tug Restaurant at Swakopmund you need to book it well in advance. In the end we got a late cancellation. Considered a touristy place by the locals but quite fun!
10) No ATMs in the Etosha Park - would have been useful to know this.
11) Petrol pump at Windhoek airport is not for the public. Only certain car hire companies can use it - Budget is one of them. Might be a good idea to fill up in Windhoek first to play safe.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

We felt that driving times as described were not always realistic for a small car. As mentioned before, it would be useful to know in advance how long it takes to drive up the private roads or how long they are. 5 or 7 kms is a long way when you think you have arrived!

We are not convinced that Doro Nawas was the best stop for 2 nights and that we could have spent the time doing something else more interesting such as visiting the cheetah or lion conservancies.

Rating the accommodation is difficult as a tent cannot be called excellent and there fore I have given a consistent good throughout the form. ~They were all spacious and airy with comfortable beds." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip

"Namibia is a unique destination, which still ticks all the boxes for us, even after 10 years of annual visits!" Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"Overall our trip was marred by the fact that we had an ordinary car. This was totally unsuitable. You have already received comments on the especially bad roads. This made travelling stressful, uncomfortable and tiring. We would often only reach our destination at dusk as we had to travel so slowly.We could not enjoy the journey or stop because of the stress of the hours of daylight left to get to our destination. Once at our destinations we were exhausted and shaken which marred our enjoyment of the lodge, location, wildlife.
Etosha, one of our planned highlights was especially disappoiting due to the fact we only had a car (see earlier comments).

We saw almost no other 2WD vehicles throughout the trip and everyone we spoke to, either locals or in the tourism business could not believe we had been advised that a car would be ok for the journey we were undertaking.

We advise that under no circumstances future guests are infomred that a 2WD vechilce is acceptable.

One final recommnendation....provide some advice on tipping and especailly advise on the car park security attendants. The first time we parked the car and saw someone coming towards us with a cosh we thought we were going to be attacked and not that he was coming to offer to look after the car.!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

see comments throughout questionnaire.

I reiterate again DO NOT recommend 2WD vehicles... the stress, discomfort, seeemingly endless punctures/tyre problems overroad any real enjoyment of the holiday." Read full review: 23 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip