Travel reviews by Pangolins from Bromley

"Alan and his team were very friendly, especially as we turned up first thing in the morning and our room wasn't yet ready. Still, we were given tea, driving directions into the centre of Windhoek, and recommendations for shopping and lunch.

After a siesta, Alan suggeted we visit a local bar within walking distance, and we had a lovely evening there. Alan invited us to pop in to see him again on our way back to the airport when we finished our holiday but we didn't have time sadly.

I guess the only negative point was the very weak shower (more like mist than rain!)."

"It was a very long drive to Kulala from Windhoek for us (and I imagine for any 2-wheel drivers); the D854 is awful! Luckily, we arrived as the sun was low, and saw plenty of wildlife as we arrived near the lodge.

Our room was very nice, and the staff very attentive, if a little (only a little) slow at times.

The activities (Sossusvlei sunrise, and Sundowners trips) were very good, and our guide (Djibril) excellent. Kulala really is superbly placed to take advantage of their "back-door" into the park, beating nearly all those who have to enter the park at Sesriem (40 miles away) at sunrise.

The combined staff entertained us one evening with lovely singing of local songs, which was fun."

"Although not far on paper, the drive from Kulala to Zebra River was another fairly long one, taking in part of the terrible D854 again. We arrived at lunchtime and were immediately offered an exceptionally warm welcome and plates of food. Marianne was on her own (well, not literally as there are three resident lovely dogs), with Rob, who we would later meet, in Windhoek.

After a lazy afternoon, we did a sundown walk on our own along the opposite ridge with a map, but could not find our way down, so had to return the same way we came; as it was after sunset, we were quite anxious but it was reassuring to know that almost all our movements had been watched by the staff who were keeping a weather eye on our progress (beautiful views from the top, btw).

A nice dinner with all the other guests followed, and the team made every effort to include those guests whose English wasn't the best. The next day we did an enjoyable guided early morning walk to Gail's Cave, and then later another well marked and mapped hike up to the magnificent quiver tree (with more superb views). On our last day, the staff dropped us two hours from a natural spring and we, with two other guests, walked up to it and then back to the lodge, which took pretty much all day. On the way back we also came very close to a wandering black spittting cobra which was, well, exciting I guess! Rob had arrived that afternoon and drove up to meet us on the walk back with sundowner beers, for which we were very grateful!

The only negative point about this part of our trip was the number of armour plated ground crickets around - they got everywhere and aren't very nice, but they do only come out after the rainy season ends apparently. This was a very hospitable, friendly and comfortable place to stay and is highly recommended."

"Sadly, our luck in the 2-wheel drive car came to an end an hour after leaving Zebra River, when we got stuck in a sandy stream. Two hours later, we were pulled out by the first car to come long - some Germans ina 4x4. We therefore arrived in Swakopmund after 7.30pm (8 hour drive plus 2 hours stuck), having driven way too fast across the desert in the dark! We found the hotel OK, but I think we were the only people staying there, and the receptionist was keen to get back to her flat.

Breakfast was OK on both mornings. I did the Turnstone Tours trip to Sandwich Harbour while Rachel contacted the ground agent and changed the car to a 4x4... This was a very basic business hotel, but we did apparently have the biggest room, which was pleasant and comfortable. The hotel did have a garage (which added security), was about 15 mins walk from the town centre, and staff who did try to help when Rachel needed to make calls about changing the car."

"Happilly in a 4x4, we had a much improved journey up into Damaraland. The Camp is wonderfully set in the boulder mountains, and we had a wonderful tented room, with fabulous outside shower.

The dining was excellent, with tables set for each room. Sadly our elephant safari ended in failure, after six hours searching (probably because the pregnant elephants in the herd had gone into the mountains to give birth); feedback has been given directly to the hotel over the lack of other info on this drive. The Twyfelfontain drive was good, but we ran short of time, and missed the burnt mountain and organ pipes - because we had to stop to help a broken down car - however Frederick was an excellent guide and made every effort to get us home for sunset.

The sundowners were great, even when we had a brief shower which produced a lovely rainbow. We did the local nature hike with a hotel guide (Lesley), but my wife lost a ring on this walk, which despite much searching, could not be found. On our last evening, the hotel made a fabulous gesture in setting us a table for dinner away from the dining area, and we had a terrific dinner with champagne by the rocks; on our last morning, we were humbled by the camp giving us breakfast on the lookout rock; a wonderful end to a lovely stay.

Three days after we left, and having moved on to Waterberg, our lodge had a call saying that Rachel's ring had been found! Mowani made every effort to get it back to us, and eventually had it flown to a small airfield in Windhoek, where we picked it up on our way back to the airport. We cannot thank them enough for this, which was a lovely thing to do.

Staying at Mowani was the highlight of our trip to Namibia."

"Ongava is what most tourists will call the Real Africa. Set just outside Etosha National Park, it has a lovely waterhole visible from the main deck where we saw Kudo, Oryx, Eagle Owls and Black Rhino on the first evening. The room was also excellent, and boasted two showers (one inside and one out)!

The morning after our arrival we entered the Park itself to see lots more animals - Zebra, Giraffe, Ostrich, Vultures feeding on a carcass, Jackal, Warthog, plus lots of other antelope and the salt pan itself. We then did an evening game drive where we saw White Rhino and then met a pride of thirteen Lions; we passed on the morning drive on our last day, so we could relax (the early mornings do catch up with you eventually...).

The staff were good (they notified us that we had left our headlights on, and actually took our car keys and turned the lights off for us too!) but reticent in approaching us at times, though an attendant to walk us back to our room (to ward off the porcupines) was always available.

A bit more variety in the food offered would have been preferable perhaps but the stay was generally all good."

"It was an easy drive to Waterberg from Ongava, and we arrived at lunchtime, or what we thought might be lunchtime. We asked at reception (which is 2km from the lodge itself) if we could get lunch and they said yes, but when we rolled up at our room at 1.30 we were told the chef was at lunch and no food was available!

The room was very basic, but clean and tidy but frustratingly had cups, tea and coffee but no kettle. This was not a good start after no lunch, and no availability of hot water because, yes, the chef was at lunch.

Afternoon tea (and cake) helped, and we then went out of a sundowner drive which turned into a great experience: We saw more giraffe and antelope, but then came across two White Rhino. We were encouraged out of the van, and walked to within ten yards of these huge animals. When they started to approach us, we slowly moved back to the van and watched them from there - a mere few yards away, and completely lovely! They posed beautifully!

Dinner that night was around one large table and most guests were german; warmth was provided by a nice big log fire. The next morning, after breakfast, we were guided on a four hour walk up to the plateau top, which was great fun, and had amazing views. We ralaxed that afternoon by the (freezing cold) swimming pool, and watched the wonderful, colourful, local birds.

Our second dinner was not great and the food in this lodge was the poorest we had throughout the holiday. The last evening was also spoilt a little by the staff making an early retreat, and leaving us to drink up in the dark (with only an honesty bar and the fire embers to keep us warm). The only time we saw the hosts was when Mr Rust greeted us back from the afternoon drive, and when his wife did the check-out at reception when we left.

A bit of a mixed bag - beautiful location, great activities, okay rooms but poor service generally."

"Waterberg to Okonjima was not very far at all, so we detoured back to Otjiwarongo to see the crocodiles (over-priced!).

We got to Okonjima in time for an afternoon game drive (Leopard tracking) and were not at all disappointed. The guests (usually 4-6) split up on various vans and seek out individual tagged cats. We saw a rare Pangolin, had great views over the game area, and also saw lots of other wildlife. After some trouble seeking out the leopards (they can be hard to find, even when tagged) we found TJ basking in the late afternoon sun; and other cars were not in attendance when we arrived.

The room was lovely and had a wonderful area for birdwatching outside - a bird bath was positioned about ten feet from the room and a box of bird seed was provided to scatter. However, we did cause a stir in reception after seeing a large snake (possibly a black Mamba?) behind the bird-bath - luckily, it did not return (as far as we know)! Dinner was average fare, but presented well. Our room was excellent, but the weather did turn cold and very windy, which rattled the canvas all night.

Our early morning drive was to seek Cheetahs, first by car, then on foot. First though we saw the male Lions they have up close, and took some amazing pictures as they posed superbly in the morning sun. The Cheetah tracking again took plenty of time (Do they drive you around for a while as the other cars take turns?), but we found two Cheetah lying deep in the grass. That afternoon we did the Africat leg of the activities, and saw Wild Dog, plus the five Cheetah who cannot fend for themselves; again this offered superb photographic opportunities, and with just four guests per car, you are not disappointed by lack of clear shot etc.

Our last night dinner was fine, and we washed it down with a bottle of local fizz! It was still cold, but it was lovely to find a hot water bottle for each of us in our bed when we retired that night! We passed on the nature walk on our last morning, as we needed to pack. A perfect place to end the holiday."