Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs H from IOW
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
13
Excursions taken
1
A new experience
Namibia between 12 Sep 2007 and 7 Oct 2007
"We found the trip to be very interesting with lots to learn and find.
Namibian peoplewe met are a delight to talk to and be with. They are proud of their country and are very knowledgeable. They are keen to learn and are most welcoming and helpful. There is a lot to see and the accommodations are excellent. We have now seen all the big five game and were thrilled to see game at close quarters.
Distances are long and tiring, as are the gravel roads. Careful consideration of vehicle to use is important and we feel 4x4's are essential for peace of mind. Organisation of the trip was generally very good and we enjoyed the experience."
Namibian peoplewe met are a delight to talk to and be with. They are proud of their country and are very knowledgeable. They are keen to learn and are most welcoming and helpful. There is a lot to see and the accommodations are excellent. We have now seen all the big five game and were thrilled to see game at close quarters.
Distances are long and tiring, as are the gravel roads. Careful consideration of vehicle to use is important and we feel 4x4's are essential for peace of mind. Organisation of the trip was generally very good and we enjoyed the experience."
Arranged By Sabina Hekandjo
Olive Grove
"Relaxing stay"
1 night
Arrived
13 Sep 2007
"Comfortable and welcoming. Excellent evening meal. An oasis in a bust town"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Desert Express Train (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"An unusual trip"
1 night
Arrived
14 Sep 2007
"Just the way to start a holiday and a great way to transfer to Swakopmund. We met good company to talk to. The food was good although the sleeping accomodation was very small as you would expect.
Ingeniious en suite arrangements that worked well. Good introduction to a game drive and to the dunes"
Ingeniious en suite arrangements that worked well. Good introduction to a game drive and to the dunes"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
The Stiltz
"Above it all"
2 nights
Arrived
15 Sep 2007
"Unusual and well thought out idea for building above the ground. A short distance from town but not too far to walk if necessary.
Proprietor has some good options for evening meal bookings. Swakopmund was the the most pleasant and enjoyable of the towns in Namibia."
Proprietor has some good options for evening meal bookings. Swakopmund was the the most pleasant and enjoyable of the towns in Namibia."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Coast and Sandwich Harbour
"A highlight"
16 Sep 2007 • All-day excursion
We went to Sandwich Harbour. Interesting, exciting and a full day. We did beach driving between dunes and tide, waded in pools, collected shells, saw pelicans, flamingo, many other sea birds. Long discussions with guide (we had one to ourselves).
Excellent picnic lunch in the dunes, were taken driving in the dunes, shown flora and fauna. 830 am to 4.30pm gave a whole day of interest and excitement..
Excellent picnic lunch in the dunes, were taken driving in the dunes, shown flora and fauna. 830 am to 4.30pm gave a whole day of interest and excitement..
Excellent
Kulala Desert Lodge
"A dune experience"
2 nights
Arrived
17 Sep 2007
"The trip to the dunes was very good but an enclosed vehicle needs to be used by the lodge. Uncomfortable return journey due to wind and sand.
A great location for the lodge. Welcoming and helpful staff."
A great location for the lodge. Welcoming and helpful staff."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Poor
Facilities
Good
Feedback response
The dunes around Sesriem and Sossusvlei have experienced some exceptionally windy conditions this year; winds gusting as high has 96km/h were measured at one of the camps in September!
As the result of their experiences this year, the Wilderness team (who run Kulala Desert Lodge) tell us that they are in the process of replacing all their 'open' vehicles at their camps in the Sossusvlei area with 'closed game drive' vehicles. This will obviously take time, but when they're all changed it'll help our travellers to avoid being quite so sand-blasted when the winds are high!
There's also been a new management couple installed at Kulala Desert Loge, Darryl & Elaine. We're optimistic that they will improve the lodge's standards even further, and are keeping a keen eye on our traveller's comments - particularly about the food!
As the result of their experiences this year, the Wilderness team (who run Kulala Desert Lodge) tell us that they are in the process of replacing all their 'open' vehicles at their camps in the Sossusvlei area with 'closed game drive' vehicles. This will obviously take time, but when they're all changed it'll help our travellers to avoid being quite so sand-blasted when the winds are high!
There's also been a new management couple installed at Kulala Desert Loge, Darryl & Elaine. We're optimistic that they will improve the lodge's standards even further, and are keeping a keen eye on our traveller's comments - particularly about the food!
Africa Specialist | Namibia
Desert Horse Inn
"Outstanding location in Eagles Nest bungalows"
2 nights
Arrived
19 Sep 2007
"We had Desert Vista, tucked under the edge of the mountain at the far end of the access track. Worth the extra 7 km drive from the main buildings to the Eagles Nest.
Peace and quiet with ouitstanding views. We did one of the self guided walks that was quite exciting. The evening meals were very good and the optional breakfast pack enabled us to prepare our own breakfast and thus avoid the drive down. Visiting the Desert Horses was well worth while.
Visiting the village of Aus and its visitors centre is well woth while."
Peace and quiet with ouitstanding views. We did one of the self guided walks that was quite exciting. The evening meals were very good and the optional breakfast pack enabled us to prepare our own breakfast and thus avoid the drive down. Visiting the Desert Horses was well worth while.
Visiting the village of Aus and its visitors centre is well woth while."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Nest Hotel
"Just a town"
1 night
Arrived
21 Sep 2007
"An average hotel of good quality - nothing exceptional. The town was disappointing."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Good
Service
Good
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Average
Food
Good
Canyon Village
"A rocky residence"
3 nights
Arrived
22 Sep 2007
"Unusual settings although quite a long walk to the furthest bungalows. Worth the walk with outstanding views and peace and quiet.
Main building facilities good. The nature drive/farm visit was very interesting and worthwhile. We drove ourselves to Fish River Canyon - spectacular."
Main building facilities good. The nature drive/farm visit was very interesting and worthwhile. We drove ourselves to Fish River Canyon - spectacular."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch
"Feed the cheetahs!"
2 nights
Arrived
25 Sep 2007
"Dune chalets really put you in amongst the sand dunes with the best views.
Participating in the Cheetah and other animal feedings proved to be close encounters! Exceptionally interesting nature drive of some 4 hours. Welcoming and friendly staff eager to show their ranch."
Participating in the Cheetah and other animal feedings proved to be close encounters! Exceptionally interesting nature drive of some 4 hours. Welcoming and friendly staff eager to show their ranch."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Okonjima Bush Camp
"A cat experience"
2 nights
Arrived
27 Sep 2007
"A must for all who have an interest in leopard and cheetah.
Welcoming and helpful staff who are completely dedicated to their cats. Time is fully occupied with the activities. Close contact with the cats is fascinating especially the cheetah tracvking on foot!
Your own individually located bungalow gives you the feeling of isolation but you are soon back in the midst with the short walk to the main building."
Welcoming and helpful staff who are completely dedicated to their cats. Time is fully occupied with the activities. Close contact with the cats is fascinating especially the cheetah tracvking on foot!
Your own individually located bungalow gives you the feeling of isolation but you are soon back in the midst with the short walk to the main building."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Namutoni Camp
"Lots of animals"
2 nights
Arrived
29 Sep 2007
"We stayed at Halali restcamp as Namutoni was being refurbished. Halali was OK but quite a difference from private lodges.
Our animal named bungalow was fine although the setting was not brilliant. The area hasd not been landscaped so was a bit dusty and barren. Bungalow had a small private garden area with a hot tub. Waterhole was a good walk in the dark - not very well lit or signed.
The food varied from good to not so good although all the cold buffet sections were excellent. Facilities not brilliant, eg swimming pool empty of water!"
Our animal named bungalow was fine although the setting was not brilliant. The area hasd not been landscaped so was a bit dusty and barren. Bungalow had a small private garden area with a hot tub. Waterhole was a good walk in the dark - not very well lit or signed.
The food varied from good to not so good although all the cold buffet sections were excellent. Facilities not brilliant, eg swimming pool empty of water!"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Average
Service
Average
Facilities
Poor
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Okaukuejo Camp
"The best restcamp"
2 nights
Arrived
1 Oct 2007
"Better than Halali, good waterhole and waterhole bungalows. Food again a bit hit and miss.
Site not finished but quite good especially is the area of the waterhole bungalows."
Site not finished but quite good especially is the area of the waterhole bungalows."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Average
Facilities
Average
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Doro Nawas
"Excellent for Desert Elephants"
2 nights
Arrived
3 Oct 2007
"An excellent lodge on the top of a hill with the thatched bungalows nestling below. Warm welcome but best if all-inclusive is taken.
Activity to see the desert elephants very good with an extensive cross section of the countryside. Guide points out flora and fauna. Ambience in the main building good. Food very good, staff interested and cheerful. Sang to us one night."
Activity to see the desert elephants very good with an extensive cross section of the countryside. Guide points out flora and fauna. Ambience in the main building good. Food very good, staff interested and cheerful. Sang to us one night."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Ondudu Safari Lodge
"Completely different lodge"
1 night
Arrived
5 Oct 2007
"Exciting approach by leaving vehicle and being transported in safari 4x4 up a rock face to get in. Tented accommodation alittle less luxurious than other lodges but an experience worth having. Tents are within a covered area with en-suite attached. Can be a bit draughty but still good.
Amazing area within rock outcrops with fantastic views. Main building comfortable witha great outlook on bird and animal feeding area.
The walking, both guided and self guide is recommended and is the main activity although there is a nature drive. Game is not intended to be the highlight. Warm welcome from staff, guides excellent in knowledge and interest. Food very good"
Amazing area within rock outcrops with fantastic views. Main building comfortable witha great outlook on bird and animal feeding area.
The walking, both guided and self guide is recommended and is the main activity although there is a nature drive. Game is not intended to be the highlight. Warm welcome from staff, guides excellent in knowledge and interest. Food very good"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good