Travel reviews by Mr M x 4 from UK
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
9
Excursions taken
0
The trip of a lifetime
Namibia between 26 May 2012 and 9 Jun 2012
"Probably the best family (of 4) holiday we have ever had. Great organisation from Expert Africa. Welcomed wherever we went.
The local Namibians were so helpful, and really keen for us to enjoy their country.
Some of the places where we stayed were in the most stunning locations.
In retrospect, we might have been better staying 3 nights in some places (Doro Nawas and Erongo leap to mind). But then, what would we have missed out? Probably Swakopmund, which is really only worth 2 nights if you wish to undertake specific activities such as sand-boarding etc.
We appreciate your tolerance as we added more members of the family!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
The only bit of advice I would quibble with was the encouragement not to travel from Onguma to Windhoek in one day, but to take a break at Erongo. Onguma-Windhoek is only about 45 km further than Onguma-Erongo; and it is all on tarred road.
Having said that, we are so glad that we did visit Erongo (see that section) - we wouldn't have missed it for anything."
The local Namibians were so helpful, and really keen for us to enjoy their country.
Some of the places where we stayed were in the most stunning locations.
In retrospect, we might have been better staying 3 nights in some places (Doro Nawas and Erongo leap to mind). But then, what would we have missed out? Probably Swakopmund, which is really only worth 2 nights if you wish to undertake specific activities such as sand-boarding etc.
We appreciate your tolerance as we added more members of the family!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
The only bit of advice I would quibble with was the encouragement not to travel from Onguma to Windhoek in one day, but to take a break at Erongo. Onguma-Windhoek is only about 45 km further than Onguma-Erongo; and it is all on tarred road.
Having said that, we are so glad that we did visit Erongo (see that section) - we wouldn't have missed it for anything."
Arranged By Sabina Hekandjo
Elegant Guesthouse
"Elegant Guesthouse review"
1 night
Arrived
26 May 2012
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
BullsPort Lodge and Farm
"Bullsport Guest Farm review"
2 nights
Arrived
27 May 2012
"Great location for Naukluft exploration.
Really good farmhouse cooking. Superb bread.
Nice to have the family eating with us - allowed for lots of advice etc.
There was a problem with the sewage valve in our room (awful smell) which was fixed as soon as we reported it.
Wonderful walks in the hills, for which they provide printed guide-sheet. Were happy for us to hang around for a walk after we had checked out"
Really good farmhouse cooking. Superb bread.
Nice to have the family eating with us - allowed for lots of advice etc.
There was a problem with the sewage valve in our room (awful smell) which was fixed as soon as we reported it.
Wonderful walks in the hills, for which they provide printed guide-sheet. Were happy for us to hang around for a walk after we had checked out"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Hoodia Desert Lodge
"Hoodia Desert Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
29 May 2012
"Initial impression was that it might be a bit up-market for us! However our worries were soon dispelled by the friendliness of the welcome with refreshing drink and cool towels.
Wonderful vista. Very secluded.
Easy location for exploring Sesriem / Sossusvlei.
Produced the best steak (can't remember what animal) of the whole trip - and we ate a fair few!"
Wonderful vista. Very secluded.
Easy location for exploring Sesriem / Sossusvlei.
Produced the best steak (can't remember what animal) of the whole trip - and we ate a fair few!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Sam's Giardino
"Sam's Giardino review"
2 nights
Arrived
31 May 2012
"Sam is a great host.
Being slightly further from the centre of town means that it may be necessary to drive for an evening meal out.
The 5-course dinner is worth it.
Internet access very helpful.
It would be useful to have a safe in the room.
The garden is a delight and we could sit around when ever not busy doing other things.
They were very helpful organising sand-boarding, though unfortunately high winds meant it was cancelled"
Being slightly further from the centre of town means that it may be necessary to drive for an evening meal out.
The 5-course dinner is worth it.
Internet access very helpful.
It would be useful to have a safe in the room.
The garden is a delight and we could sit around when ever not busy doing other things.
They were very helpful organising sand-boarding, though unfortunately high winds meant it was cancelled"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Doro Nawas
"Doro Nawas review"
2 nights
Arrived
2 Jun 2012
"What a setting! The view from our bed was mind-blowing.
Wonderfully low-key; but everything was there that we wanted.
Easy access to rock engravings. We particularly enjoyed the Damara Living Museum
The walking guides were so informative .... and impassioned about their country.
We much enjoyed the staff choir.
One or two waitresses seemed a little distracted at our second breakfast."
Wonderfully low-key; but everything was there that we wanted.
Easy access to rock engravings. We particularly enjoyed the Damara Living Museum
The walking guides were so informative .... and impassioned about their country.
We much enjoyed the staff choir.
One or two waitresses seemed a little distracted at our second breakfast."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Okaukuejo Camp
"Okaukuejo Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
4 Jun 2012
"We had been given the impression that administration could be a little chaotic. In fact this was far from the truth. We were quickly checked in on arrival, and given all the helpful details we required promptly and with care.
Service in the restaurant was prompt, and drinks speedily provided. Meals are all self-service. Food was good, and the range excellent. The only sadness was that there was no fruit available at one early breakfast (5.45 a.m.).
There was no problem using a credit card in the restaurant. (We had heard that this could be a little 'chaotic'.) They were clear that we swiped our own cards to avoid fraud
Spending time at their water hole was a real highlight as well as easy access to the park itself. The waterhole is brilliant during the day as well as at night.
In this location, a safe in our room would have been useful."
Service in the restaurant was prompt, and drinks speedily provided. Meals are all self-service. Food was good, and the range excellent. The only sadness was that there was no fruit available at one early breakfast (5.45 a.m.).
There was no problem using a credit card in the restaurant. (We had heard that this could be a little 'chaotic'.) They were clear that we swiped our own cards to avoid fraud
Spending time at their water hole was a real highlight as well as easy access to the park itself. The waterhole is brilliant during the day as well as at night.
In this location, a safe in our room would have been useful."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Onguma Bush Camp
"Onguma Bush Camp review"
1 night
Arrived
6 Jun 2012
"And this is the budget option at Onguma!!?? It is an amazing place - to be honest, a bit chic for us. But we loved it all the same.
Very attentive service. Wonderfully warm welcome.
The guide-book said the rooms were 'spartan'. If this is spartan, I'll go for that every time!
Superb restaurant location overlooking the waterhole."
Very attentive service. Wonderfully warm welcome.
The guide-book said the rooms were 'spartan'. If this is spartan, I'll go for that every time!
Superb restaurant location overlooking the waterhole."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Ondudu Safari Lodge
"Erongo Wilderness Lodge review"
1 night
Arrived
7 Jun 2012
"In some respects. this was the highlight of the trip. The setting is unbelievable; and the views from our room were quite simply spectacular. (We argue about whether Erongo or Doro Nawas gave the best 'view from the bed'.)
We were very warmly welcomed with fruit juice and the couple who manage it couldn't have been more friendly and accomodating. They were happy for us to hang around for several hours after we had checked out
Although this was not the only tented accommodation, it gave the best feel of communing with nature - especially with the baboons barking not too far away.
We had a brilliant guide (Johnny) for our sundowner and early morning walks - very informative and very sensitive to our capabilities."
We were very warmly welcomed with fruit juice and the couple who manage it couldn't have been more friendly and accomodating. They were happy for us to hang around for several hours after we had checked out
Although this was not the only tented accommodation, it gave the best feel of communing with nature - especially with the baboons barking not too far away.
We had a brilliant guide (Johnny) for our sundowner and early morning walks - very informative and very sensitive to our capabilities."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Villa Violet
"Villa Violet review"
1 night
Arrived
8 Jun 2012
"Warmly welcomed.
The only negative is that the bathroom facilities are not well screened from the rest of the room.
They were helpful in booking a table for us at a local restaurant"
The only negative is that the bathroom facilities are not well screened from the rest of the room.
They were helpful in booking a table for us at a local restaurant"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Very helpful with travel directions and helped contact the airport when our son's luggage went missing"