Travel reviews by Family P from New Zealand
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
3
Lodges stayed in
14
Excursions taken
0
A great African Roadtrip
Namibia and 2 other countries between 1 May 2013 and 24 May 2013
"The help we received from Saskia from the Expert Africa team was invaluable in providing advice based on local knowledge and personal experience. Saskia was very accomodating in answering our multitude of questions and suggesting places to stay based on our desires and capabilities.
Once on the ground everything ran like clockwork, except for the air travel which wasn't organised by Expert Africa. Even then after a few phonecalls Chris and Gwynmeth from the UK office were extra helpful in helping us get on our way and keeping us updated on the supposed whereabouts of our luggage."
Once on the ground everything ran like clockwork, except for the air travel which wasn't organised by Expert Africa. Even then after a few phonecalls Chris and Gwynmeth from the UK office were extra helpful in helping us get on our way and keeping us updated on the supposed whereabouts of our luggage."
Haus Sonneneck
"Haus Sonneneck review"
2 nights
Arrived
1 May 2013
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Rooms
Good
Facilities
Good
Sesriem Campsite (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Great location in the desert"
3 nights
Arrived
3 May 2013
"We stayed at Sesriem for 2 days during a sandstorm, so it is hard to comment on some aspects! The staff were relatively efficient and the campsite itself was basic but all we needed.
The restaurant had power cuts on the one evening we went so everything was very slow and the food seemed to have been warmed up from tin cans.
The swimming pool was a bit sandy of course but apart from this clean and refreshing."
The restaurant had power cuts on the one evening we went so everything was very slow and the food seemed to have been warmed up from tin cans.
The swimming pool was a bit sandy of course but apart from this clean and refreshing."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Food
Poor
Service
Good
Facilities
Average
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Solitaire Guestfarm (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Oasis in the desert"
1 night
Arrived
6 May 2013
"Our stay there was a great respite from the dust and the wind. The staff were very welcoming and helpful in accomodating our vegan diet.
The kids loved petting Max the Oryx and the cold swimming pool was bliss. The short walk to "Sunset hill" was a perfect way to end the day.
We organised a short Cheetah drive too and this was very well run and instructive."
The kids loved petting Max the Oryx and the cold swimming pool was bliss. The short walk to "Sunset hill" was a perfect way to end the day.
We organised a short Cheetah drive too and this was very well run and instructive."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Namib Naukluft Campsite (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"True desert experience in Ganab"
1 night
Arrived
7 May 2013
"We first stopped at the Aruvlei campsite to check it out and were quite disappointed, it was smelly, full of flies, with no view to speak of.
So we moved on to Ganab and this one was great, we stayed there a night by ourselves and were visited by 2 desert giraffes! Also hear some hyenas during the night.
This is a very basic camp, just long drop toilets and a fire pit but you need to have purchased firewood beforehand."
So we moved on to Ganab and this one was great, we stayed there a night by ourselves and were visited by 2 desert giraffes! Also hear some hyenas during the night.
This is a very basic camp, just long drop toilets and a fire pit but you need to have purchased firewood beforehand."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Facilities
Average
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Cornerstone Guesthouse
"Cornerstone Guesthouse review"
3 nights
Arrived
8 May 2013
"We stayed at the Cornestone Guesthouse for 3 nights and were made to feel very welcome. The staff were very helpful in recommending and booking activities for us, and helping liaise with the rental car company.
The location is ideal to explore Swakopmund and we were able to walk everywhere.
The only odd touch was the presence of an oven and cook top in the room made us hope we could cook our own meals but it turns out they were not connected so we couldn't use them."
The location is ideal to explore Swakopmund and we were able to walk everywhere.
The only odd touch was the presence of an oven and cook top in the room made us hope we could cook our own meals but it turns out they were not connected so we couldn't use them."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Facilities
Good
Spitzkoppe Campsite (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Beautiful spot"
1 night
Arrived
11 May 2013
"The campsites are Spitzkoppe are beautiful and our only regret is we couldn't stay more than one night. We arrived a bit late and it was quite busy, a lot of the "favourite" campsites were taken but we still found a nice one and since they are all so far apart we felt alone in the wilderness.
We took a guided tour of the area behind Spitzkoppe and the rock paintings and it was very interesting."
We took a guided tour of the area behind Spitzkoppe and the rock paintings and it was very interesting."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Activities
Good
Service
Good
Facilities
Good
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Khorixas Lodge Campsite (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Just a stopover"
1 night
Arrived
12 May 2013
"We stayed at Khorixas for 1 night as a stopover on our way to Etosha to break the long drive, and I wouldn't recommend it for anything else. The campground itself is simply a dusty square area with a few trees. There was a swimming pool but it's the only one during our whole trip that we chose not to try as it looked quite dirty.
Facilities were ok and did the job for what we needed."
Facilities were ok and did the job for what we needed."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Poor
Facilities
Good
Service
Average
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Okaukuejo Camp
"Must stay in Etosha"
2 nights
Arrived
13 May 2013
"The perfect place to stay in Etosha. We didn't try the restaurant as we were camping but the other facilities were fine and well looked after. The swimming pools were large and clean, the campsites were a bit closer together than other places but this is to be expected in such a busy place.
The floodlit waterhole itself justifies staying here for a few nights."
The floodlit waterhole itself justifies staying here for a few nights."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Service
Good
Namutoni Camp
"Namutoni Camp review"
1 night
Arrived
15 May 2013
"We stayed in one of the Chalet as a rest between our camping nights. On arrival there was only was child bed even though we had booked for 2 but this was promptly resolved. The rooms themselves are a weird mix of luxury items and strange design decisions, but overall it was a pleasant stay.
The fort area has character and makes for an interesting change. Again the pool was great."
The fort area has character and makes for an interesting change. Again the pool was great."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Rooms
Average
Facilities
Good
Kaisosi River Lodge, Namibia (this camp has since closed)
"Nice camping spot by the river"
1 night
Arrived
16 May 2013
"We only spent a short amount of time here, arriving in the afternoon and leaving early in the morning. The campsite are quite small and close together but each had it's own toilet block which is handy.
The reception area and bar overlooking the river have great atmosphere."
The reception area and bar overlooking the river have great atmosphere."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Facilities
Good
Service
Good
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Ngepi Camp (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"A must stop in the Caprivi"
2 nights
Arrived
17 May 2013
"This was one of our favorite stops in Namibia. Our tree house was hanging above the water and we felt like we couldn't be any closer to nature. Waking up with the sunrise, the birds singing and the hippos laughing was a great experience. The camp itself is fun to hang out, especially with families as the kids could be free to roam around and enjoyed all the quirky signs and weird toilets.
The staff were very friendly and accommodating of our vegan diet.
We took a Mokoro trip which was interesting but maybe a bit long."
The staff were very friendly and accommodating of our vegan diet.
We took a Mokoro trip which was interesting but maybe a bit long."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Salambala Campsite (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Salambala Campsite review"
1 night
Arrived
19 May 2013
"We didn't end up staying at this campsite"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Chobe River Lodge
"Very well looked after at the Garden Lodge"
2 nights
Arrived
20 May 2013
"Staying at the Garden Lodge is perfect if you want to be looked after. The staff were great at accomodating all our need, even checking with us before shopping for food and making a special early serving for the children.
The guided activities were well organised and varied."
The guided activities were well organised and varied."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Ilala Lodge
"Perfect spot to visit the falls"
2 nights
Arrived
22 May 2013
"This was the last stay of our trip and it was perfect to relax and unwind.
The short walk to the Falls and the city center made it very convenient for us to explore on foot in our own time."
The short walk to the Falls and the city center made it very convenient for us to explore on foot in our own time."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
The location is a bit out of the way but it was a good way to start our holiday slowly. The kids loved the swimming pool."