Travel reviews by The B family from Glasgow
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
11
Excursions taken
0
My Jul 2014 trip
Namibia between 19 Jul 2014 and 12 Aug 2014
"A hugely enjoyable trip which will live long in the memories. Namibia proved to be a friendly and welcoming country and it was easy to travel around with our kids who met plenty of other children from all over Europe.
Highlights are many and varied including the 1st sunset over the Kalahari at Bagatelle, hiking the Quiver Tree gorge, sand dunes at 1st light in Sossusvlei, Tommys Living Desert Tour, desert adapted elephants and lizards at Camp Kipwe, barbecued game at Taleni (our kids favourite meal), seeing 3 cheetah in Etosha, warthogs on the lawn at Mushara and the universally friendly people we met on our travels."
Highlights are many and varied including the 1st sunset over the Kalahari at Bagatelle, hiking the Quiver Tree gorge, sand dunes at 1st light in Sossusvlei, Tommys Living Desert Tour, desert adapted elephants and lizards at Camp Kipwe, barbecued game at Taleni (our kids favourite meal), seeing 3 cheetah in Etosha, warthogs on the lawn at Mushara and the universally friendly people we met on our travels."
Haus Sonneneck
"Haus Sonneneck review"
1 night
Arrived
20 Jul 2014
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch
"Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review"
2 nights
Arrived
21 Jul 2014
"Magical location. Arrived around sunset and the staff couldn't have been more friendly. Food was excellent and the kids loved the buffet style meals. Bushman walk and horse riding a must as was the cheetah feeding. Saw many more animals on the game drive than we expected.
The staff were exceptionally good with the children (twins aged 8)"
The staff were exceptionally good with the children (twins aged 8)"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
BullsPort Lodge and Farm
"Bullsport Guest Farm review"
2 nights
Arrived
23 Jul 2014
"Slightly difficult to summarise experience. Owners and staff were very friendly and the walking, trail running and horse riding were excellent but our room (room 14) although large was down at heel and reminiscent of a 1980s youth hostel.
In comparison to all our other accommodation in Namibia it fell below the standard. Some travellers may also be put off by the fact that according to our guides in the Namib the farm was the only one that declined to sell its land to allow development of the national park and staff at the farm informed us that they have shot predators (including leopard) that have attacked cattle.
Whilst appreciating that BullsPort is working farm if we had known more about the background we would have chosen to stay elsewhere"
In comparison to all our other accommodation in Namibia it fell below the standard. Some travellers may also be put off by the fact that according to our guides in the Namib the farm was the only one that declined to sell its land to allow development of the national park and staff at the farm informed us that they have shot predators (including leopard) that have attacked cattle.
Whilst appreciating that BullsPort is working farm if we had known more about the background we would have chosen to stay elsewhere"
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Poor
Food
Average
Facilities
Average
Kulala Desert Lodge
"Kulala Desert Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
25 Jul 2014
"Superb location with views to die for. Slight mix up with rooms was rectified immediately and the manager Petronella didn't charge us for our trip to Sossusvlei which more than compensated for the minor inconvenience.
Very Eco friendly hotel which was great and hot water bottles in bed (it was close to zero degrees Celsius at night when we were there) highlighted the attention to detail. Lovely communal area with a roaring fire. Standard of food was excellent with particularly good breakfast. Early morning trip to sand dunes lived up to expectations but if you visit in July ,as we did ,bring down, merino or fleece as it's very cold for the first few hours. It was also refreshing to see black Namibians in management roles.
All the staff were excellent and great with kids (one young man played chess with Tom our 8 year old boy)"
Very Eco friendly hotel which was great and hot water bottles in bed (it was close to zero degrees Celsius at night when we were there) highlighted the attention to detail. Lovely communal area with a roaring fire. Standard of food was excellent with particularly good breakfast. Early morning trip to sand dunes lived up to expectations but if you visit in July ,as we did ,bring down, merino or fleece as it's very cold for the first few hours. It was also refreshing to see black Namibians in management roles.
All the staff were excellent and great with kids (one young man played chess with Tom our 8 year old boy)"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rostock Ritz
"Rostock Ritz review"
1 night
Arrived
27 Jul 2014
"Wonderful setting and a great place to stay on the dusty drive between Sossusvlei and the coast. If you like walking stay for more than one night as the walking is great.
We had a family room which was spacious and comfortable with great views. The pool is beautiful (bring wetsuits in July and August unless you enjoy cold water swimming - water temp 14 degrees C! ) and the meerkats down went down well with us all. Food pleasant but not as good as guidebooks might suggest. If you do one walk do the Ugab springs walk"
We had a family room which was spacious and comfortable with great views. The pool is beautiful (bring wetsuits in July and August unless you enjoy cold water swimming - water temp 14 degrees C! ) and the meerkats down went down well with us all. Food pleasant but not as good as guidebooks might suggest. If you do one walk do the Ugab springs walk"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
Facilities
Excellent
Beach Lodge
"Beach Lodge review"
3 nights
Arrived
28 Jul 2014
"Beautiful setting by the beach offsets the inconvenience of the drive into town centre. Generally more corporate in feel but our room (Montrose) was fantastic with two floors, corner bath and balcony overlooking the breakers of the South Atlantic.
Breakfasts excellent and if staying in Beach Lodge you must eat in their restaurant The Wreck as the seafood is excellent and although it appears rather formal it isn't . If you stay in Swakopmund you must go on Tommys Living Desert Tour and visit the Village Cafe"
Breakfasts excellent and if staying in Beach Lodge you must eat in their restaurant The Wreck as the seafood is excellent and although it appears rather formal it isn't . If you stay in Swakopmund you must go on Tommys Living Desert Tour and visit the Village Cafe"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Camp Kipwe
"Camp Kipwe review"
3 nights
Arrived
31 Jul 2014
"Remarkable setting. Desert adapted elephants crossed the road in front of us 500m from the camp turn off. The rooms were remarkable but not as spectacular as the very outdoor shower and loo!
If you love lizards Kipwe is for you with multicoloured agamas strutting their stuff and geckos hanging out round the bathroom mirror. Sundowner setting great and food lovely. Worth going on guided game drive as being surrounded by the rare desert adapted elephants is a magical experience.
We spent 3 nights here and easily occupied our time with trips to ancient rock carvings and the Damara living museum."
If you love lizards Kipwe is for you with multicoloured agamas strutting their stuff and geckos hanging out round the bathroom mirror. Sundowner setting great and food lovely. Worth going on guided game drive as being surrounded by the rare desert adapted elephants is a magical experience.
We spent 3 nights here and easily occupied our time with trips to ancient rock carvings and the Damara living museum."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Taleni Etosha Village
"Taleni Etosha Village review"
2 nights
Arrived
3 Aug 2014
"Although the rooms were a little less luxurious than some places we stayed on the trip they were great. Pull out beds for kids meant space tight but fine for our 8 year olds.
Despite being a bigger camp this didn't detract from the feeling of space around you. Buffet style meals were excellent and the kids loved going back for more freshly barbecued game. Nice pool area and water reasonably bearable by Namibian winter standard! Short and easy drive into Etosha"
Despite being a bigger camp this didn't detract from the feeling of space around you. Buffet style meals were excellent and the kids loved going back for more freshly barbecued game. Nice pool area and water reasonably bearable by Namibian winter standard! Short and easy drive into Etosha"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Mushara Bush Camp
"Mushara Bush Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
5 Aug 2014
"Mushara was probably our kids favourite place and it certainly excelled in all areas. The setting and camp are beautiful and it seems much more luxurious than some descriptions we had read before travelling.
The outdoor spaces and pool are beautiful and the camp exudes a sense of peace and tranquility. All staff were exceptionally friendly and very good with kids particularly Viktoria who spent time doing sand art with our kids. The food was probably the best we had on the trip. The warthogs hanging out on the lawn were a great bonus for us on our return from a trip to Etosha.
Only minor negative was that the game drive was a little disappointing but this probably reflects that having spent 2 days driving around Etosha ourselves we had come to realise you don't need a guide to see the wildlife"
The outdoor spaces and pool are beautiful and the camp exudes a sense of peace and tranquility. All staff were exceptionally friendly and very good with kids particularly Viktoria who spent time doing sand art with our kids. The food was probably the best we had on the trip. The warthogs hanging out on the lawn were a great bonus for us on our return from a trip to Etosha.
Only minor negative was that the game drive was a little disappointing but this probably reflects that having spent 2 days driving around Etosha ourselves we had come to realise you don't need a guide to see the wildlife"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Ondudu Safari Lodge
"Erongo Wilderness Lodge review"
3 nights
Arrived
7 Aug 2014
"Both the camp and surrounding scenery at Erongo are jaw dropping beautiful. All aspects of the camp are well thought out and the family room that we stayed in was enormous with a outdoor sitting area overlooking the mountains.
Walking in the surrounding area is well worthwhile whether with the guides or by yourself. Although the walks are short by combining them and walking or running them at different times of the day you can easily spend a few days here without leaving the camp. Many people that we met here were staying in Erongo for their last night in Namibia but personally the driving time to the airport is significant and it might be worth staying in or near Windhoek for the last night"
Walking in the surrounding area is well worthwhile whether with the guides or by yourself. Although the walks are short by combining them and walking or running them at different times of the day you can easily spend a few days here without leaving the camp. Many people that we met here were staying in Erongo for their last night in Namibia but personally the driving time to the airport is significant and it might be worth staying in or near Windhoek for the last night"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Eningu Clayhouse
"Eningu Clayhouse review"
1 night
Arrived
10 Aug 2014
"Our last night in Namibia was a little disappointing which probably reflects the fact that we arrived on a day when the owner was away and although the staff were fairly friendly there was very little information given to us on arrival and we rarely saw staff. Unusually for Namibia the staff didn't enquire whether the planned menu was suitable for our kids and unfortunately the rather bland stroganoff didn't go down well which was a shame as our kids had got used to excellent meals all the way through our trip (They mainly stuck with adult menus during our trip). Having said that the setting and rooms are beautiful and as a location for a peaceful final night in Namibia it ticks the boxes. One point worth noting is that if want to have lively night exchanging stories before returning home it might be better to stay in Windhoek"
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Excellent
Service
Average
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
Facilities
Excellent
Feedback response
The owner of Eningu Lodge responded that she was sorry to hear that these guests' experience at Eningu was a little disappointing. She explained that she had never received negative feedback about the welcome and staff during her absence from the lodge and so was not aware there were things to address, but that she will now be doing so. The staff are trained to leave the guests to relax, but to be within hearing of the main building at all times should a guest ring the bell for assistance. She will make sure that future guests are made aware of this. She also apologised that the evening menu wasn’t discussed with these guests. It is usual for them to do this with families to ensure that the meal is suitable for children, but in the case of this visit it wasn’t done. The owner of Eningu was delighted to hear that these guests thought the setting and rooms were beautiful.
Kids loved the resident Dachshund and we appreciated the very helpful staff"