Travel reviews by Ms V family trip from UK
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
10
Excursions taken
1
Trip of a lifetime
Namibia between 23 Jul 2013 and 8 Aug 2013
"We were thrilled with our trip. Namibia was an excellent choice for so many reasons. Such a beautiful and unspoilt country - with incredibly well-designed and high-end tourist facilities. First class hotels and delicious food. Good roads and safe to drive. Incredibly varied experiences, amazing animals, wonderful people, fascinating and troubled history.
The whole family (two adults and two teenage boys) loved this truly memorable trip. An amazing adventure which we would highly recommend.
We were also blown away by the superb advice and service we received from Sabina at Expert Africa. She worked so hard to plan our trip and take our preferences into account. Once we were in Namibia, she was also extraordinarily helpful, even phoning our emergency contact in London to track us down when we left a coat behind in a hotel - and then phoning us directly in Namibia - and all this within half an hour of us checking out. We were also very impressed and grateful that Wilderness Safaris organized an upgrade for us at Okaukuejo once they realized they'd made a mistake with our booking. And we were thrilled that Sabina recommended that we stay at Erongo despite the fire - excellent advice on her part that resulted in one of the most memorable 24 hours of our entire trip.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We found Expert Africa to be a remarkable company and cannot thank you enough for an amazing experience.
(We had no idea that such superb travel agents even existed!!)"
The whole family (two adults and two teenage boys) loved this truly memorable trip. An amazing adventure which we would highly recommend.
We were also blown away by the superb advice and service we received from Sabina at Expert Africa. She worked so hard to plan our trip and take our preferences into account. Once we were in Namibia, she was also extraordinarily helpful, even phoning our emergency contact in London to track us down when we left a coat behind in a hotel - and then phoning us directly in Namibia - and all this within half an hour of us checking out. We were also very impressed and grateful that Wilderness Safaris organized an upgrade for us at Okaukuejo once they realized they'd made a mistake with our booking. And we were thrilled that Sabina recommended that we stay at Erongo despite the fire - excellent advice on her part that resulted in one of the most memorable 24 hours of our entire trip.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
We found Expert Africa to be a remarkable company and cannot thank you enough for an amazing experience.
(We had no idea that such superb travel agents even existed!!)"
Arranged By Sabina Hekandjo
Olive Grove
"Peaceful luxury at Olive Grove"
1 night
Arrived
24 Jul 2013
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Zebra River Lodge
"Zebra River Lodge review"
1 night
Arrived
25 Jul 2013
"We loved the scenery and surroundings at Zebra River as well as the springbock and warthogs grazing on the front lawn.
It was very exciting to see animals (kudu and zebra) at the waterhole on our first night in the countryside. However, we weren't very keen on the food (too ambitious and overcomplicated) and the place is quite odd. There were very few visitors (us and one other couple) - and the place felt a bit abandoned. Our room was strange too - a stone house with a sort of baronial hall attached. It felt like a folly built for slightly inexplicable reasons - although the rooms were spacious and well appointed.
We booked a guided walk for the morning after our arrival - but there was some confusion and the guide announced over breakfast that he wouldn't take us. The owner then sorted this out - but the guide was monosyllabic on the walk and told us nothing. We loved the surroundings so were glad to have done a walk - and it later turned out the guide wasn't feeling well and hadn't eaten for three days - but no one mentioned this to us and the whole episode felt rather mismanaged."
It was very exciting to see animals (kudu and zebra) at the waterhole on our first night in the countryside. However, we weren't very keen on the food (too ambitious and overcomplicated) and the place is quite odd. There were very few visitors (us and one other couple) - and the place felt a bit abandoned. Our room was strange too - a stone house with a sort of baronial hall attached. It felt like a folly built for slightly inexplicable reasons - although the rooms were spacious and well appointed.
We booked a guided walk for the morning after our arrival - but there was some confusion and the guide announced over breakfast that he wouldn't take us. The owner then sorted this out - but the guide was monosyllabic on the walk and told us nothing. We loved the surroundings so were glad to have done a walk - and it later turned out the guide wasn't feeling well and hadn't eaten for three days - but no one mentioned this to us and the whole episode felt rather mismanaged."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Excellent
Service
Average
Activities
Poor
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Facilities
Good
Desert Homestead
"Beautifully designed fabulous place"
2 nights
Arrived
26 Jul 2013
"We loved everything about this place. It looks amazing, rooms were lovely, staff were wonderful, food was great, view was beautiful - everything superb!
One of our favourite destinations."
One of our favourite destinations."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Central Guest House, Namibia (this camp has since closed)
"High standards at Central Guest House"
2 nights
Arrived
28 Jul 2013
"The rooms were comfortable, nice bed linen, very clean, excellent showers. Lovely helpful hosts and good breakfast.
We weren't so keen on the decor however - but it was a safe, clean and convenient place to spend two nights if you want to visit Swakopmund.
Whilst in Swakopmund, we organised an activity Kayaking at Pelican Point. They commented:
Magical experience kayaking amongst the seals.
We loved this trip. Jeanne is terrific and very knowlegeable and fantastically well-organized.
We were bowled over by the flamingoes, the seals and the dolphins. An extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime experience, not to be missed. It made our stay in Swakopmund."
We weren't so keen on the decor however - but it was a safe, clean and convenient place to spend two nights if you want to visit Swakopmund.
Whilst in Swakopmund, we organised an activity Kayaking at Pelican Point. They commented:
Magical experience kayaking amongst the seals.
We loved this trip. Jeanne is terrific and very knowlegeable and fantastically well-organized.
We were bowled over by the flamingoes, the seals and the dolphins. An extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime experience, not to be missed. It made our stay in Swakopmund."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Average
Food
Good
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Kayaking with seals
"Magical experience kayaking amongst the seals"
29 Jul 2013 • Morning excursion
We loved this trip. Jeanne is terrific and very knowlegeable and fantasatically well-organized.
We were bowled over by the flamingoes, the seals and the dolphins. An extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime experience, not to be missed. It made our stay in Swakopmund.
We were bowled over by the flamingoes, the seals and the dolphins. An extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime experience, not to be missed. It made our stay in Swakopmund.
Mowani Mountain Camp
"Fabulously stylish place with stunning views."
1 night
Arrived
30 Jul 2013
"Another amazing destination. We were glad we'd paid the extra to stay in such a remarkably designed place - where everything looked exquisite. The attention to detail was on another level - better than we've experienced in designer hotels in Los Angeles or New York!!
Fabulous scenery and a truly memorable trip to find the desert elephants - another highlight of our stay.
Our guide Athanassius was brilliant - charming, funny and very knowledgeable."
Fabulous scenery and a truly memorable trip to find the desert elephants - another highlight of our stay.
Our guide Athanassius was brilliant - charming, funny and very knowledgeable."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Damara Mopane Lodge
"Damara Mopane disappointing"
1 night
Arrived
31 Jul 2013
"Good facilities at a reasonable price and well looked after and efficiently run.
However, compared to some of our other destinations, it felt like a rather unappealing place for a stopover. Nothing to detain us here. The view from the sundowner terrace is of a flat and featureless landscape and we felt a bit crowded out by so many other tourists."
However, compared to some of our other destinations, it felt like a rather unappealing place for a stopover. Nothing to detain us here. The view from the sundowner terrace is of a flat and featureless landscape and we felt a bit crowded out by so many other tourists."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Average
Service
Average
Facilities
Average
Rooms
Good
Food
Poor
Okaukuejo Camp
"Great experience at Okaukuejo"
2 nights
Arrived
1 Aug 2013
"Due to a mistake in our reservation, we were upgraded to a Premier Waterhole Chalet. The style and design were remarkable - just completely perfect. It was amazing to be so close to the waterhole and to have rhinos, elephants etc just outside our window.
Food was very good too and the staff in the restaurant very lovely. Grumpy staff in the tourist centre who were reluctant to answer questions."
Food was very good too and the staff in the restaurant very lovely. Grumpy staff in the tourist centre who were reluctant to answer questions."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Mushara Bush Camp
"Beautiful and restful spot"
2 nights
Arrived
3 Aug 2013
"After two days in Etosha, we arrived here and just relaxed in the beautiful and peaceful surroundings. Again, remarkably exquisite design, truly fabulous food (better than Europe) and extremely friendly and helpful staff.
One quibble - there was a powerful smell of sewage as we walked to our rooms - and we even had wafts of it in the dining room when we were eating. But it shows what a fabulous place this was that we still absolutely adored it here and didn't want to leave."
One quibble - there was a powerful smell of sewage as we walked to our rooms - and we even had wafts of it in the dining room when we were eating. But it shows what a fabulous place this was that we still absolutely adored it here and didn't want to leave."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Ondudu Safari Lodge
"Heavenly time at Erongo"
1 night
Arrived
5 Aug 2013
"Because of the recent fire at Erongo, all the other tourists had (foolishly) cancelled. This meant we had the remarkable good luck to have the whole of Erongo to ourselves. This was an amazing place and a fabulous experience.
The fire had not had any negative impact on the facilities and had been dealt with very well. The place is stunning, incredible scenery, lovely walks, great guide (Johnny) and beautiful tented accommodation."
The fire had not had any negative impact on the facilities and had been dealt with very well. The place is stunning, incredible scenery, lovely walks, great guide (Johnny) and beautiful tented accommodation."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Elegant Farmstead
"Disappointing stay at Elegant Farmstead"
1 night
Arrived
6 Aug 2013
"An inconvenient place to get to - 27km down a dirt road, and disappointing when we arrived. Unattractive decor and we weren't charmed by the staff. We also couldn't eat the food, which was not nice. Breakfast wasn't good either.
The most disappointing place we stayed - although it made it easier for us to leave Namibia, as otherwise we wouldn't have wanted to depart!!"
The most disappointing place we stayed - although it made it easier for us to leave Namibia, as otherwise we wouldn't have wanted to depart!!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Poor
Service
Average
Facilities
Average
Rooms
Average
Food
Poor
Feedback response
Jorn, the owner of the Elegant Farmstead, was very unhappy and upset about these comments when we sent them to him. He clearly took this complaint very seriously, clearly he feels passionately about the efforts that the Farmsteads team makes for their visitors.
He asked us immediately to ask these travellers to tell us more about the issues, so he could investigate them. Our travellers replied with barely a few lines, commenting that perhaps the Farmstead 'just wasn't to [their] liking' and that there was 'Not much more to say'.
We feel sorry that our travellers couldnt say more, as this could have given Jorn some precise feedback. As it is he feels the comments are very unfair, and out of step with most of the comments that he received from travellers staying at the farmstead.
He asked us immediately to ask these travellers to tell us more about the issues, so he could investigate them. Our travellers replied with barely a few lines, commenting that perhaps the Farmstead 'just wasn't to [their] liking' and that there was 'Not much more to say'.
We feel sorry that our travellers couldnt say more, as this could have given Jorn some precise feedback. As it is he feels the comments are very unfair, and out of step with most of the comments that he received from travellers staying at the farmstead.
Africa Specialist | Namibia
Really helpful staff who booked us a table for dinner in a restaurant and arranged transport to drop us off and pick us up. Bius the driver was delightful. The staff also went to the trouble of contacting Expert Africa when we left a coat behind - so we were able to go back and retrieve it.
We were really impressed by this level of service."