Travel reviews by Mrs N. from Rickmansworth
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
7
Excursions taken
1
Post Covid 2022 trip
Namibia between 7 Sep 2022 and 20 Sep 2022
"Our trip was originally planned as a last big family holiday for 2020 - following Covid and various travel restrictions our trip took place in 2022.
It was definitely well worth the wait, we all had a wonderful time and wouldn't hesitate to recommend a similar trip to anyone considering such a holiday.
Namibia is a beautiful country and has so much to offer - the people are friendly and cannot do enough to help, the food was fantastic (we had 2 vegans in our group and they were very impressed), the accommodation and additional excursions were all very well planned.
The only slightly negative comment is that the prices quoted in the guidebooks for entrance fees etc are now outdated. Speaking to some of the local guides it seems that relatively large increases were introduced in April of this year and they have also expressed their concern?!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips
Thank you Tom for all of your help and advice over the last couple of years - we finally made it!!
We all had a memorable holiday and all of us intend to visit Africa again at some point in the future - we wouldn't hesitate to use yourself and Expert Africa again and have already recommended you to friends."
It was definitely well worth the wait, we all had a wonderful time and wouldn't hesitate to recommend a similar trip to anyone considering such a holiday.
Namibia is a beautiful country and has so much to offer - the people are friendly and cannot do enough to help, the food was fantastic (we had 2 vegans in our group and they were very impressed), the accommodation and additional excursions were all very well planned.
The only slightly negative comment is that the prices quoted in the guidebooks for entrance fees etc are now outdated. Speaking to some of the local guides it seems that relatively large increases were introduced in April of this year and they have also expressed their concern?!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips
Thank you Tom for all of your help and advice over the last couple of years - we finally made it!!
We all had a memorable holiday and all of us intend to visit Africa again at some point in the future - we wouldn't hesitate to use yourself and Expert Africa again and have already recommended you to friends."
Arranged By Tom Morris
Olive Grove
"Olive Grove Post Covid Sept 2022"
1 night
Arrived
8 Sep 2022
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Hoodia Desert Lodge
"Hoodia Desert Lodge Post Covid Sept 2022"
2 nights
Arrived
9 Sep 2022
"Our stay at Hoodia was wonderful - we took a Sundowner trip on the first evening which was magical - a great sunset followed by an almost full moon.
The rooms at Hoodia and the facilities in the main lodge were wonderful and the food was well cooked and presented. A special thank you for the efforts made catering for 2 vegans - they were very impressed with all meals."
The rooms at Hoodia and the facilities in the main lodge were wonderful and the food was well cooked and presented. A special thank you for the efforts made catering for 2 vegans - they were very impressed with all meals."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Meerkat
1 sighting
Oryx
10+ sightings
Hoodia Sossusvlei excursion
"Hoodia Sossusvlei excursion review Post Covid Sept 2022"
10 Sep 2022 • All-day excursion
The full day excursion was brilliant and our guide Daniel couldn't do enough for us. The three younger members of our group went up Big Daddy whilst the two oldies climbed a smaller dune under his guidance! He also pointed out and explained a number of features of the local area which we would otherwise have missed. The picnic lunch was very enjoyable!
Excellent
Cornerstone Guesthouse
"Cornerstone Guesthouse Post Covid Sept 2022"
2 nights
Arrived
11 Sep 2022
"The Cornerstone Guesthouse was comfortable and the owners were friendly and helpful.
We arrived in Swakopmund on Sunday evening and most places were closed - I think we may have had a different view of Swakopmund if we'd arrived on a different day.
We did a whale watching trip which was a great experience and we were lucky to see whales breaching. We also did a four wheel drive to Sandwich bay which we enjoyed although thinking about it afterwards we did question whether we should have considered the environmental impact a bit more?!"
We arrived in Swakopmund on Sunday evening and most places were closed - I think we may have had a different view of Swakopmund if we'd arrived on a different day.
We did a whale watching trip which was a great experience and we were lucky to see whales breaching. We also did a four wheel drive to Sandwich bay which we enjoyed although thinking about it afterwards we did question whether we should have considered the environmental impact a bit more?!"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Malansrus Tented Camp
"Malansrus Tented Camp Post Covid Sept 2022"
2 nights
Arrived
13 Sep 2022
"This was one of the highlights of our trip!
All of the staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful, the tents were great and the food wonderful. Again huge thanks from the 2 vegans in our group who were very impressed with the meals they had!
We did a sundowner drive and elephant tracking the following day and we were lucky enough to have the same guide - Dios. He was knowledgeable and went out of his way to make sure that both trips were successful. He had a great sense of humour and we all thoroughly enjoyed our time at Malansarus and would love to return at some point.
I wouldn't hesitate in recommending Malansarus to other travellers."
All of the staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful, the tents were great and the food wonderful. Again huge thanks from the 2 vegans in our group who were very impressed with the meals they had!
We did a sundowner drive and elephant tracking the following day and we were lucky enough to have the same guide - Dios. He was knowledgeable and went out of his way to make sure that both trips were successful. He had a great sense of humour and we all thoroughly enjoyed our time at Malansarus and would love to return at some point.
I wouldn't hesitate in recommending Malansarus to other travellers."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Elephant
5 sightings
Giraffe
1 sighting
Oryx
2 sightings
Okaukuejo Camp
"Okaukuejo Camp Post Covid Sept 2022"
1 night
Arrived
15 Sep 2022
"Our expectations of Okaukuejo weren't high, knowing that it was a government owned rest camp. However, the rooms were adequate (if a little noisy), the food was better than expected and the night drive was enjoyable - the highlight being the lions at a watering hole.
The highlights of this stop for us were driving through the park in our own vehicle (we saw lots of wildlife) and the water hole at the camp itself where we were fortunate to see a herd of elephants and later black rhino and giraffe."
The highlights of this stop for us were driving through the park in our own vehicle (we saw lots of wildlife) and the water hole at the camp itself where we were fortunate to see a herd of elephants and later black rhino and giraffe."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Average
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Sightings report
Black Rhino
9 sightings
Brown Hyena
2 sightings
Eland
7 sightings
Elephant
10+ sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Lion
3 sightings
Oryx
10+ sightings
Roan antelope
1 sighting
Sable antelope
1 sighting
Spotted Hyena
6 sightings
White Rhino
1 sighting
Wildebeest
10+ sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Mushara Bush Camp
"Mushara Bush Camp Post Covid Sept 2022"
2 nights
Arrived
16 Sep 2022
"We enjoyed our stay at Mushara - the rooms were very comfortable, the pool was lovely and the food was good.
The game drives were well done and our guide was very experienced and was able to utilise this to enable us to see lots of wildlife and also take some fantastic photographs."
The game drives were well done and our guide was very experienced and was able to utilise this to enable us to see lots of wildlife and also take some fantastic photographs."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Cheetah
3 sightings
Eland
3 sightings
Elephant
10+ sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Lion
2 sightings
Oryx
10+ sightings
Roan antelope
2 sightings
Sable antelope
2 sightings
Spotted Hyena
3 sightings
Wildebeest
7 sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Ai Aiba Lodge
"Ai Aiba Lodge Post Covid Sept 2022"
1 night
Arrived
18 Sep 2022
"Ai Aiba is beautifully set amongst the mountains and an ideal stopover on the way back to Windhoek.
The staff were welcoming, the rooms luxurious and the food good. It was an ideal place to wind down for an evening before making the return journey home.
It was also nice to have the self guided walks available - a change from sitting in a vehicle all day!!"
The staff were welcoming, the rooms luxurious and the food good. It was an ideal place to wind down for an evening before making the return journey home.
It was also nice to have the self guided walks available - a change from sitting in a vehicle all day!!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Sightings report
Oryx
1 sighting
As we had time to explore Windhoek we asked the staff the best way to do this and they were helpful and informative. They arranged for a short tour for us and the driver was kind enough to stop at a supermarket to allow us to buy stuff for our onward journey. He dropped us in the city and took our shopping back for us to collect later.
Highly recommended as a stopover following a long flight!"