Travel reviews by Mr C & Mrs S from UK
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
10
Excursions taken
0
A journey that's worth the effort
Namibia between 8 Jul 2013 and 27 Jul 2013
"The only real problem was the COLD. The early mornings and evenings (nights) were perishing. We did not have enough warm clothes, nor were any of the lodges (except Cornerstone) equipped for their quite short winter.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Don't think there's any way round the Okaukuejo catering problem.
The cold (July) needs more emphasis. Double fuel tank well worth specifying. The C14 road to Swakopmund from Sesriem is known as the worst road in Namibia (and that's saying something) - there's no other way to cover that ground but you should maybe warn customers. The country lived up to expectations."
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Don't think there's any way round the Okaukuejo catering problem.
The cold (July) needs more emphasis. Double fuel tank well worth specifying. The C14 road to Swakopmund from Sesriem is known as the worst road in Namibia (and that's saying something) - there's no other way to cover that ground but you should maybe warn customers. The country lived up to expectations."
Arranged By Sabina Hekandjo
Elegant Guesthouse
"Quiet but some way from centre (restaurants )"
1 night
Arrived
9 Jul 2013
"You'll need a taxi to and from centre for food, ATMs etc. Windhoek itself hardly merits a visit for any other reason !"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Average
Service
Average
Rooms
Good
Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch
"Outstanding"
1 night
Arrived
10 Jul 2013
"Excellent choice as shown in our rankings below, with the bonus a good game-drive and feed-time for their cheetahs."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Fish River Lodge
"A long drive but to and outstanding lodge"
2 nights
Arrived
11 Jul 2013
"Not sure the long drive to the canyon would be justified for everyone, and in a way the lodge itself is a better feature than the canyon, especially if you've been to places like the Grand Canyon or Verdon Gorge etc."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Desert Horse Inn
"Good for self-guided walks"
2 nights
Arrived
13 Jul 2013
"Worth including for good walks. Also accessible (although a 100k drive) for Kolmanskop disused diamond mine (interesting) and Luderitz town (not very interesting).
Beware weather changing hour-to-hour."
Beware weather changing hour-to-hour."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Good
Service
Average
Activities
Good
Rooms
Average
Food
Average
Desert Homestead
"En route to the dunes"
2 nights
Arrived
15 Jul 2013
"We think this booking was a mistake involving a one hour there and back to Sesriem/Sossusvlei. There are plenty of lodges much nearer or within the park. Also not a particularly good lodge."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Poor
Service
Average
Rooms
Average
Food
Average
Cornerstone Guesthouse
"Great choice for Swakopmund"
2 nights
Arrived
17 Jul 2013
"Good location within easy (walking) distance of all town facilities. Bedrooms had heaters, essential in July - other lodges should learn from this !
Charming host/hostess, and v. helpful when we had a medical problem. Although it's a tough journey to get there from Sesriem (C14), we think Swakopmund is the best town in Namibia."
Charming host/hostess, and v. helpful when we had a medical problem. Although it's a tough journey to get there from Sesriem (C14), we think Swakopmund is the best town in Namibia."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Mowani Mountain Camp
"Unbeatable location"
2 nights
Arrived
19 Jul 2013
"Wonderful and clever location amongst the huge boulders, with great views. Game drive was outstanding and well worth an early start (5.30 am). The wild desert elephants, especially babies are a feature.
Suggest they ditch attempts at city centre style nouvelle cuisine !"
Suggest they ditch attempts at city centre style nouvelle cuisine !"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
Okaukuejo Camp
"Go for the animals not the food"
2 nights
Arrived
21 Jul 2013
"Suffers from all the expected problems of a government-run establishment, with somewhat unmotivated staff. The catering is not good, and must be even worse in peak season - a free-for-all scrummage and not good quality.
However to have a chalet v. close to the excellent water-hole is well worth the trip. Also the overall "animal" experiences in the park are excellent."
However to have a chalet v. close to the excellent water-hole is well worth the trip. Also the overall "animal" experiences in the park are excellent."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Poor
Rooms
Good
Food
Poor
Mushara Bush Camp
"Luxury after Okaukuejo"
1 night
Arrived
23 Jul 2013
"Only a stopover for us. Luxurious but personally we don't like the communal dining table."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Average
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Okonjima Plains Camp
"Is it a safari park ?"
2 nights
Arrived
24 Jul 2013
"We had the experience of cheetahs 2 metres away, a leopard palyng with it's cub and also eating its kill up a tree - unbeatable photo opportunities; although the area is fenced and the animals used to human contact, the area is large and you'd be pushed to get a closer view of leopards in the (semi) wild.
The lodge itself is excellent."
The lodge itself is excellent."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent