Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs O from California
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
12
Excursions taken
0
Namibia & Botswana May, 2012
Namibia and 1 other country between 8 May 2012 and 3 Jun 2012
"So much of this trip was a bit of magic.
From climbing dunes to watching sunrise over the red dunes to watching a group of lions surround our vehicle and literally ROAR at us to watching Cheetahs stalk and kill, to sleeping under the stars, driving for hours on roads and being in this amazing wilderness and not seeing another car for hours and not to forget all the wonderful people we met. Some proprieters of lodges, guests and employees.
Not all of the trip was perfect, but all in all we had an amazing time."
From climbing dunes to watching sunrise over the red dunes to watching a group of lions surround our vehicle and literally ROAR at us to watching Cheetahs stalk and kill, to sleeping under the stars, driving for hours on roads and being in this amazing wilderness and not seeing another car for hours and not to forget all the wonderful people we met. Some proprieters of lodges, guests and employees.
Not all of the trip was perfect, but all in all we had an amazing time."
Elegant Guesthouse
"Elegant Guesthouse review"
1 night
Arrived
8 May 2012
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Poor
Service
Poor
Facilities
Poor
Rooms
Average
Food
Average
Feedback response
Expert Africa forwarded these comments to Jorn Dedig, the director of the Elegant Guesthouse. He was sad to hear that they did not enjoy their stay with them, though assures us that the staff always try to do their utmost to keep all the guests happy. Expert Africa are sorry that on this occasion the travellers did not enjoy their stay, but hope that Jorn's kind offer of compensation will go some way to making amends.
Okaukuejo Camp
"Okaukuejo Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
9 May 2012
"Food was not great (consistently over cooked) and you don't have other choices. Employees (other than wait staff) seemed not to care whether you were there or not. There was no obvious place to go to get information about roads or where animals had been seen.
We enjoyed being at the water hole and being able to get out and drive through the park.
We knew what to expect so none of it was a surprise."
We enjoyed being at the water hole and being able to get out and drive through the park.
We knew what to expect so none of it was a surprise."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Poor
Facilities
Average
Rooms
Average
Food
Poor
Halali Camp
"Halali Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
11 May 2012
"About the same as Okakuajo Camp."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Poor
Facilities
Average
Rooms
Average
Food
Average
Doro Nawas
"Doro Nawas review"
2 nights
Arrived
13 May 2012
"Had a wonderful safari to see the Desert Elephants and we were able to find them. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area.
They were very aware of my diet restrictions and tried very hard to make sure I had enough food. Meats were overcooked."
They were very aware of my diet restrictions and tried very hard to make sure I had enough food. Meats were overcooked."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Cornerstone Guesthouse
"Cornerstone Guesthouse review"
2 nights
Arrived
15 May 2012
"Very pleasant guesthouse. They truly went out of their way to find the food I could eat for breakfast.
Host & Hostess were very helpful with all information about the area.
We went on a tour to the sand dunes with Turnstone Tours which was an excellent tour."
Host & Hostess were very helpful with all information about the area.
We went on a tour to the sand dunes with Turnstone Tours which was an excellent tour."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Average
Food
Good
Hoodia Desert Lodge
"Great Lodge"
2 nights
Arrived
17 May 2012
"The experience at Hoodia was one of our highlights of the trip. Thomas & Henriesa were the perfect hosts.
We were very fortunate to have Thomas be our guide to the Park. The whole day was magic from sunrise to sunset.
I will not forget the spectacular lunch that was set before us as we looked on the apricot colored sand dunes and the Springbok wandering through the fields."
We were very fortunate to have Thomas be our guide to the Park. The whole day was magic from sunrise to sunset.
I will not forget the spectacular lunch that was set before us as we looked on the apricot colored sand dunes and the Springbok wandering through the fields."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Elegant Guesthouse
"Elegant Guesthouse review"
1 night
Arrived
19 May 2012
"Not a friendly place. Would not recommend.
[Ed: These travellers also stayed here on 8 May; see below for their review]"
[Ed: These travellers also stayed here on 8 May; see below for their review]"
Poor
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Poor
Location
Average
Service
Poor
Rooms
Poor
Thamalakane River Lodge
"Past its prime"
2 nights
Arrived
20 May 2012
"Rooms were not clean. Furniture inside and outside of the rooms were not maintained. If I knew the area, I would have left.
Restaurant staff were not very knowledgeable regarding menu items. They also didn't seem to care when I pointed out that the squirrels were standing in the jars of cereal while eating same. The office tried to give us a room with a smaller bed than what we were supposed to be getting and argued when we refused it.
It is physically beautiful on the river, but there were too many negatives to enjoy our stay there."
Restaurant staff were not very knowledgeable regarding menu items. They also didn't seem to care when I pointed out that the squirrels were standing in the jars of cereal while eating same. The office tried to give us a room with a smaller bed than what we were supposed to be getting and argued when we refused it.
It is physically beautiful on the river, but there were too many negatives to enjoy our stay there."
Poor
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Poor
Location
Excellent
Service
Terrible
Facilities
Average
Rooms
Terrible
Food
Average
Feedback response
We forwarded these guests' comments to Thamalakane. They informed us that since these travelers visited, new managers have arrived at the lodge and made significant changes. Systems have been put in place to ensure consistency and to maintain the excellent standards that guests have come to expect.
These changes include introducing a through room check procedure whereby every room is inspected on arrival and random spot checks are carried out, with all information being documented, some furniture has already been repaired and further new furniture is planned. For the restaurant, the new management has trained the staff on the menu to increase their knowledge. The food is now covered and an eye kept on it to ensure then animals do not come into contact with it. Hopefully these measures will ensure that the issues experienced by these guests do not happen again.
With regards to the bed size - these clients were unhappy with their standard room on arrival and opted for a new room. Expert Africa apologises if these clients' room expectations were too high and will ensure that room types are properly discussed in future.
These changes include introducing a through room check procedure whereby every room is inspected on arrival and random spot checks are carried out, with all information being documented, some furniture has already been repaired and further new furniture is planned. For the restaurant, the new management has trained the staff on the menu to increase their knowledge. The food is now covered and an eye kept on it to ensure then animals do not come into contact with it. Hopefully these measures will ensure that the issues experienced by these guests do not happen again.
With regards to the bed size - these clients were unhappy with their standard room on arrival and opted for a new room. Expert Africa apologises if these clients' room expectations were too high and will ensure that room types are properly discussed in future.
Kalahari Plains Camp
"Great Safari at Kalahari Plains Camp"
3 nights
Arrived
22 May 2012
"The complete experience was perfect. From the time we made contact with Wilderness Safari to the time we arrived back in Maun with Wilderness Safari all went incredibly well. Everyone was competent and knew exactly what they were doing and really took care of us.
I would definitely like to return there and would also work with the Wilderness Safari organization at any time."
I would definitely like to return there and would also work with the Wilderness Safari organization at any time."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Xakanaxa
"Xakanaxa review"
3 nights
Arrived
25 May 2012
"Xakanaxa experience was a mixed bag. First of all, just getting us there was very disorganized. Then getting to the camp, it was further disorganized. They say they were never informed of my diet restrictions, but they did do a good job of making sure they I was able to have food that was not only appropiate, but also quite good. This is an independent camp, but seems to be putting programs together with Kwando Camps.
The manager is new, but is trying very hard to create a nice environment and friendly environment."
The manager is new, but is trying very hard to create a nice environment and friendly environment."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Average
Feedback response
We forwarded these clients' comments to Kwando Safaris who organised the Xakanaxa portion of this trip. Kwando apologised that the dietary requirements passed on to them by Expert Africa were on this occasion not forwarded to Xakanaxa. The Kwando consultant concerned has apologised to the camp and the clients. Expert Africa are pleased that Xakanaxa handled this error professionally, and even though it was no fault of their own, were able to accomodate the clients' requests satisfactorily.
Kwara Camp
"Kwara Camp review"
3 nights
Arrived
28 May 2012
"Kwara Camp was supposed to pick us up by boat at noon, but they didn't arrive until 3:00 PM. Xakanaka kept calling and they kept saying they were on their way. When we arrived they were getting ready to go on a drive, so there was mass confusion as to what we should be doing.
They also said they knew nothing of my diet, when the people at Xakanaka said they called the Maun office and told them of the diet restrictions. Again, they did OK with the lack of notice.
This is a Kwando Camp and it was not very well run. You never knew who the manager was. They had some "Corproate" people and they were more concerned with them, than the guests. I would not recommend the Kwando organization."
They also said they knew nothing of my diet, when the people at Xakanaka said they called the Maun office and told them of the diet restrictions. Again, they did OK with the lack of notice.
This is a Kwando Camp and it was not very well run. You never knew who the manager was. They had some "Corproate" people and they were more concerned with them, than the guests. I would not recommend the Kwando organization."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Average
Service
Average
Activities
Good
Rooms
Poor
Food
Average
Facilities
Average
Lagoon Camp
"Lagoon Camp review"
3 nights
Arrived
31 May 2012
"Lagoon Camp is a fairly new camp so the rooms were very nice. It was downhill after that. Never knew who managed the camp. The guides were not very friendly, other than the one assigned to you and then it felt like this was his job.
Did not know of my diet limitations, but tried to hard to make it work, with no advance notice. Had "Corporate" people and was more concerned with their comfort than the guests. If it wasn't for the wonderful rooms the whole place would have been a dud.
Again, this was a Kando Camp and not very organized."
Did not know of my diet limitations, but tried to hard to make it work, with no advance notice. Had "Corporate" people and was more concerned with their comfort than the guests. If it wasn't for the wonderful rooms the whole place would have been a dud.
Again, this was a Kando Camp and not very organized."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Poor
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Poor
Facilities
Good
Breakfast was OK. When we returned before going on to Botswana it was not a real pleasant experience. The room was very cold. The only heater/AC is mounted high on the wall where it blows straight down on the bed. In the evening there was the night watchmen, who I found to be rude. We left early the following morning.
There was no attempt to prepare some sort of cold breakfast or "box" for us or other guests who were leaving before they started cooking breakfast."