Travel reviews by Mr R & Mrs E from Bucks

"Very helpful in recommending and booking the Stellenbosch Bistro for dinner, which was excellent.."

"An excellent overnight stop. Cannot comment on what it would be like for a longer stay.

Enjoyed seeing the feeding of the farm's orphan cheetahs, and the "sundowner"."

"We stayed at the lodge on the first and last nights, with three nights camping in the upper parts of the canyon.

First the lodge - getting there up the 20km track was interesting in parts; we wondered whether the two wheel drive would be OK, but it was actually fine. The location of the lodge is superb, on the edge of the canyon, and the rooms are very nice. There was one minor issue with the rooms - it was very windy when we were there, and the noise of that wind over and round the lodges rooms was such that residents were offered ear plugs! It is clearly a consequence of the architecture, but it didn't in any way spoil our enjoyment.

The staff were friendly and helpful without exception, and they had a surprise for us on our first evening - a birthday/anniversary cake presented by all the staff, accompanied by singing and dancing. Brilliant, and the staff all clearly enjoyed presenting it.

The four day hike up the upper reaches of the Fish River Canyon was excellent. The walking was easy, i.e. not particularly strenuous and OK for anyone with moderate fitness. Our Guide, Desi was great fun, knowledgeable and good company. Likewise the camp crew. With Desi we learnt a lot about animal tracks, droppings, animals, plants and the geology of the area. It was just the two of us and Desi on the walk, the camps being prepared and moved by the camp crew and their pick-up truck. Camp? We were in a tent, which had camp beds, sheets, duvets and a side table. Nearby was a bush shower, and the camp crew had plenty of hot water ready f or us when we arrived at in the late afternoon. And we had a chemical toilet too. Dinner was at a table with cloth, napkins and lamplight, and comprised a full three course meal almost to the standard of the main lodge restaurant! And all with the Milky Way in all its brilliance overhead. Breakfast was also of a similar standard. On a practical note, it was heading towards mid-winter and the nights were cold, so we certainly used our thermal underwear as pyjamas. But the days were glorious, almost too hot at times. Walking, we didn't expect to get near any animals, but we did see a good range of antelope and zebra, and Desi spotted a horned Adder, which was a treat to see.

The whole walk was great, but it was in the upper reaches of the canyon, and not to be confused with the five day walk down into the deeper part of the canyon to Ai Ais. Our original intention was to do the latter, and it was only when we actually got to the lodge that we realised we were to be going up river and not down - perhaps we had not paid attention to Sabina, because we had been wondering how the camp and catering would work when we knew access is more or less non existent on the walk to Ai Ais. Although we were a little disappointed that we did not go down-river into the deeper canyon, we really enjoyed the walk we did. The important thing is to make clear to customers that this walk is not the one down the canyon, but that it has other attributes: bags are carried; meals are provided, the scenery is different and (probably) more varied; there may be a wider range of wildlife. (This is not a complaint, by the way - we would recommend the walk to anyone - it just needs to be clear what walk it is)."

"The location and lodge were excellent. It was 7.5km from the reception and restaurant, which was fine. Superb sunset, with the mountains changing colour in a spectacular fashion as the sun went down.

Buffet style dinner at the restaurant worked very well (even with a German coach party)- we decided against taking the barbecue pack option.

We took the breakfast pack to our lodge, which was a good decision.

We would have liked a little more time there to walk in the mountains and would stay two nights if we were to go back some day.

We saw an Eagle Owl, which was a rare treat."

"We received a very warm welcome from Hannelore, and an excellent meal with her and the only other two guests.

We had a nice walk out to the old copper mine at sunset, and learned a great deal from Hannelore about the history of the mining in the area, the railway to Luderitz, and the current issues associated with foreign prospecting for rare earths.

The only reason we have marked the rooms and facilities as good, rather than excellent, is that by comparison to other places they were slightly dated - they were, however, perfectly adequate, light, airy and clean."

"The lodge was very nice. We have seen some comments about the distance of some rooms from reception. We were in the penultimate lodge, and it really is not an issue (unless you are infirm or very lazy).

It was very windy when we were there, and one minor grumble was that the restaurant door was constantly being opened for staff to bring and clear food, resulting in cold draughts and quite a cold room - it was June and temperatures outside were low single figures in the evenings.

That was the only grumble we had over the two nights we were there.

Being in the park was a great advantage, as we could be at Sossusvlei at sunrise, and also be out at the dunes at sunset - not possible if you stay outside the park.

We did the sunrise trip to Sossusvlei, which was brilliant - the strong winds and blowing sand added positively to the experience! Paulus, our guide, was very knowledgeable, and had a great sense of humour.

Sesreim Canyon was well worth an hour or two.

Finally, being out at the dunes at sunset was delightful."

"We spent two nights here, primarily to walk in the Naukluft mountains.

We were made very welcome, and the rooms were excellent. Meals were served at one large table where family, staff and guest all ate together. That worked very well once the introductions had been made and conversations initiated!

We did a short walk along the foot of the mountains on the first evening, which was pleasant - Kudu, mountain zebra.

The next day we did the bullsport's 17km walk up into the mountains and down a canyon with springs and pools. This was a very nice walk, although we did not see many animals, there was a great range of scenery and plant-life."

"This was a very pleasant place to stay. Peter, Margot and staff were very welcoming. The room was good and the breakfast excellent.

The location within a short walk of the sea front and town centre is ideal."

"Another beautiful camp location with very friendly staff. We would have liked more time here too.

Only a minor niggle - the terrace breakfast bar was plagued with small birds - on tables and on the food itself. Staff did make some effort to shoo them away but it was not very hygienic."

"This was a two night stay to permit a bush walk and game drive. Boni and Denis were very friendly and knowledgeable and the landscape fascinating. We saw a lot of game - mountain zebra, giraffes and were very lucky to see a group of desert adapted elephants with young.

We also had an astronomy lesson and looked at the stars through Denis's telescope"

"Another camp with a long walk to reception - not a problem however.

Food was very good but the staff have a bit to learn regarding service which was slow. A couple of basic items ran out but there was no effort to bring in supplies ahead of schedule.

There was a leopard in the camp one night but we did not see it. There was also some lion activity rather close to our hut - again, heard but not seen.

There are a couple of excellent waterholes close by with large herds of zebra, oryx, elephant and other plains animals."

"We had been told this camp might be a little 'touristy' and perhaps below the standard we had so far experienced. It was indeed busy but the buffet style food was excellent, the staff helpful and friendly. Although the room was within a complex with no view, it was clean and of a good standard. No complaints.

The floodlit waterhole was a novelty and a treat. One evening we saw eight black rhino at the water's edge alongside a large herd of elephant (35+).

An excellent base for visiting central waterholes and the salt pan."

"This was just an overnight stop but very pleasant. We were as usual a long way from reception and dinner. Still not a problem.

Dinner was excellent and staff lovely. We had hot water bottles in the beds! A rare treat as it was very cold at night."

"It was a real treat to spend time in the bush with Bruno. When we arrived we were whisked off to observe the rescue, tagging and release of a very rare pangolin, an animal we would never otherwise have seen. This was followed by 3 nights in bush camp with Bruno and Tommy (who looked after the camp and cooking), walking and learning about anything and everything to do with Namibia. Although we did not see many animals while walking, there were many tracks and traces.

Bruno's knowledge of plants, animals, geology and politics is exemplary and he takes obvious pleasure in sharing this.

The only slight criticism is that the walks sometimes seemed to be rather lacking in objective. The vegetation at this time of year can be rather uninspiring. Perhaps a little more discussion and briefing before each walk might have helped."

"An excellent stopover on the way back to Windhoek.

Our room was decorated in honour of our 35th wedding anniversary and we had a private dinner in the wine cellar! A delightful surprise."