Travel reviews by Ros &Peter from Melbourne
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
13
Excursions taken
3
My May 2024 trip
Namibia and 1 other country between 20 May 2024 and 21 Jun 2024
"We had a wonderful 24-day road trip to Namibia in May / June 2024, followed by 5 days in Cape Town.
We really felt that we were listened too very carefully in the planning process.
I even got to see a pangolin which was top of my wish list.
We would highly recommend Expert Africa. Thank you Maruska!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
In the wildlife list leave a space to add wildlife which is not on the list."
We really felt that we were listened too very carefully in the planning process.
I even got to see a pangolin which was top of my wish list.
We would highly recommend Expert Africa. Thank you Maruska!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
In the wildlife list leave a space to add wildlife which is not on the list."
Arranged By Maruska AdyeRowe
Olive Grove
"Olive Grove review"
1 night
Arrived
21 May 2024
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch
"Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review"
1 night
Arrived
22 May 2024
"We had a lovely room overlooking the Kalahari Desert for one night only. The gift shop was excellent too - more so than in other lodges.
Although it was nice to see the tame animals around the lodge and to see the orphan cheetahs being fed, it did feel a bit like an open range zoo rather than a truly wild nature reserve. The food was adequate, though somewhat mass produced.
As well as the wildlife on the list (as noted below) we were pleased to see bat eared foxes, golden tailed mongoose, springbok, steenbok and kudu."
Although it was nice to see the tame animals around the lodge and to see the orphan cheetahs being fed, it did feel a bit like an open range zoo rather than a truly wild nature reserve. The food was adequate, though somewhat mass produced.
As well as the wildlife on the list (as noted below) we were pleased to see bat eared foxes, golden tailed mongoose, springbok, steenbok and kudu."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Cheetah
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Oryx
Many sightings
White Rhino
Many sightings
Sossus Dune Lodge
"Sossus Dune Lodge review"
1 night
Arrived
23 May 2024
"Very comfortable stay here.
We were especially pleased that it was inside the Namib-Naukluft National Park, which meant that we were the first to arrive at dawn to the spectacular dunes at Sossusviel.
We took the option of having a guide take us to the dunes, which was a good decision given the deep sand you need to drive through for the last few kms. And the lodge produced a great picnic breakfast too.
We also enjoyed our walk through the Sesriem Canyon, which is very close to the Lodge."
We were especially pleased that it was inside the Namib-Naukluft National Park, which meant that we were the first to arrive at dawn to the spectacular dunes at Sossusviel.
We took the option of having a guide take us to the dunes, which was a good decision given the deep sand you need to drive through for the last few kms. And the lodge produced a great picnic breakfast too.
We also enjoyed our walk through the Sesriem Canyon, which is very close to the Lodge."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Wolwedans Dune Camp
"Wolwedans Dune Camp review"
3 nights
Arrived
24 May 2024
"Loved our stay here. Gorgeous tent (with outside shower), beautifully prepared food (best croissants ever), and a truly excellent guide with very deep knowledge of the astonishing landscape and the wildlife (including their tracks). Thanks Benny! We also appreciated the very attentive service from Rose and Lisette.
Highly recommended!
As well as the wildlife listed below, we saw black backed jackals, a sidewinder snake, a wedge snouted gecko, springbok, steenbok, and klipspringer antelopes."
Highly recommended!
As well as the wildlife listed below, we saw black backed jackals, a sidewinder snake, a wedge snouted gecko, springbok, steenbok, and klipspringer antelopes."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Oryx
10+ sightings
Villa Margherita
"Villa Margherita review"
4 nights
Arrived
27 May 2024
"We stayed 4 nights in a two roomed apartment (The Nest) in this lovely old house. It was very comfortable.
The only meal we ate here was breakfast, which was plentiful and varied.
Dinner is also available, but we preferred exploring Swakopmund which has many options."
The only meal we ate here was breakfast, which was plentiful and varied.
Dinner is also available, but we preferred exploring Swakopmund which has many options."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Coast and Sandwich Harbour
"Coast and Sandwich Harbour review"
28 May 2024 • All-day excursion
Loved the tour. Bruno is a deeply experienced guide / tracker and dune driver who is happy to share his extensive knowledge of any aspect of Namibia.
And he produced an excellent lunch too - homemade lasagne and apple cake.
We would highly recommend this tour.
And he produced an excellent lunch too - homemade lasagne and apple cake.
We would highly recommend this tour.
Excellent
Desert tour
"Sheltering Desert tour review"
29 May 2024 • All-day excursion
OK, but did not learn as much as on our Coast, dunes and Sandwich Harbour tour.
Kayaking with seals
"Kayaking with seals review"
30 May 2024 • Morning excursion
This was a highlight of our 24 days in Namibia.
We were a little nervous about the kayaking aspect, but it was perfectly safe, and we really enjoyed interacting with the baby seals. And the guides were excellent.
Highly recommend this activity.
We were a little nervous about the kayaking aspect, but it was perfectly safe, and we really enjoyed interacting with the baby seals. And the guides were excellent.
Highly recommend this activity.
Ai Aiba Lodge
"Ai Aiba Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
31 May 2024
"Great to see the rock paintings here and enjoyed the walking tour to the San village.
Also, the game drive was very well done.
As well as the wildlife listed below, we were pleased to see lots of warthogs and the tiny dik-dik antelope."
Also, the game drive was very well done.
As well as the wildlife listed below, we were pleased to see lots of warthogs and the tiny dik-dik antelope."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Giraffe
Many sightings
Oryx
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Damaraland Camp
"Damaraland Camp review"
3 nights
Arrived
2 Jun 2024
"This was truly 'glamping" for 3 nights in the remote, very rocky Damaraland region. The tent was comfortable, although it would have benefited from some sort of heating as it was super cold when we were there (the hot water bottles helped). Also, the hot water for showers was intermittent.
The service was super attentive, perhaps because we were the only guests (it was early season in June). And the food was excellent. We really appreciated having options as to what we could eat.
Thanks too to our guide Nicky for finding desert elephants for us, taking us black rhino tracking. (we saw 2) and sharing his expert knowledge of this amazing area."
The service was super attentive, perhaps because we were the only guests (it was early season in June). And the food was excellent. We really appreciated having options as to what we could eat.
Thanks too to our guide Nicky for finding desert elephants for us, taking us black rhino tracking. (we saw 2) and sharing his expert knowledge of this amazing area."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Sightings report
Black Rhino
2 sightings
Elephant
6 sightings
Giraffe
8 sightings
Oryx
Many sightings
Ongava Lodge
"Ongava Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
5 Jun 2024
"Very comfortable lodge right next to Etosha NP. And a great waterhole where we saw lots of black rhino.
The game drives were very good, though it is a pity they do not go deeper into Estosha NP. Although this was not an issue for us, as we went later driving ourselves, it might be for guests whose only experience of Etosha is from this lodge (for example, we did not see any elephants when we were there)."
The game drives were very good, though it is a pity they do not go deeper into Estosha NP. Although this was not an issue for us, as we went later driving ourselves, it might be for guests whose only experience of Etosha is from this lodge (for example, we did not see any elephants when we were there)."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Black Rhino
6 sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Lion
1 sighting
Oryx
Many sightings
Wildebeest
10+ sightings
Zebra
9 sightings
Halali Camp
"Halali Camp review"
1 night
Arrived
7 Jun 2024
"Fairly basic camp / chalet in the centre of Etosha NP where we stayed for one night.
We actually liked it very much. And a wonderful waterhole where we saw many African elephants, black rhino, hartebeest and other wildlife."
We actually liked it very much. And a wonderful waterhole where we saw many African elephants, black rhino, hartebeest and other wildlife."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Sightings report
Black Rhino
4 sightings
Elephant
10+ sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
4 sightings
Oryx
10+ sightings
White Rhino
1 sighting
Wildebeest
10+ sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Mushara Lodge
"Mushara Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
8 Jun 2024
"We had a super comfortable chalet and excellent food during our 2 days here close to the eastern side of Etosha NP.
Very nice indeed."
Very nice indeed."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Sightings report
Elephant
10+ sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Lion
4 sightings
Oryx
10+ sightings
Wildebeest
10+ sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Mundulea Reserve
"Mundulea Reserve review"
3 nights
Arrived
10 Jun 2024
"We spent a wonderful 3 days here exploring the reserve on foot with our guide Bruno.
He has incredibly deep knowledge about Namibia's wildlife and the country generally. And we loved the simple, comfortable camp with its rustic furniture and excellent, thoughtfully prepared food (including for my vegetarian husband).
Truly a highlight of our trip to Namibia. Highly recommend.
Thank you, Bruno, for a special experience."
He has incredibly deep knowledge about Namibia's wildlife and the country generally. And we loved the simple, comfortable camp with its rustic furniture and excellent, thoughtfully prepared food (including for my vegetarian husband).
Truly a highlight of our trip to Namibia. Highly recommend.
Thank you, Bruno, for a special experience."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Eland
8 sightings
Giraffe
8 sightings
Oryx
10+ sightings
Wildebeest
10+ sightings
Okonjima Bush Camp
"Okonjima Bush Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
13 Jun 2024
"Super comfortable camp where we stayed 2 nights, with excellent service and a great guide for our game drives.
An added plus was that you can go on self-guided walks.
Best of all was that we got to see leopards and a PANGOLIN (top of my wish list for Namibia!)."
An added plus was that you can go on self-guided walks.
Best of all was that we got to see leopards and a PANGOLIN (top of my wish list for Namibia!)."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Giraffe
Many sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Oryx
Many sightings
Pangolin
1 sighting
White Rhino
2 sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront
"Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront review"
5 nights
Arrived
15 Jun 2024
"We stayed 5 nights here in a large, very comfortable, sea view room with spectacular views of sunrise each day and an excellent breakfast (including champagne and oysters).
Location is perfect for the V &A waterfront and also the fabulous weekend Oranjezicht City Market. For dinner we also recommend the many choices at Time Out Market.
The concierge service was very good too - they recommended a one-day Cape Peninsula and Boulder Beach (penguins) tour which was excellent.
Only downer was that the hotel did not fill our mini bar - despite 2 requests."
Location is perfect for the V &A waterfront and also the fabulous weekend Oranjezicht City Market. For dinner we also recommend the many choices at Time Out Market.
The concierge service was very good too - they recommended a one-day Cape Peninsula and Boulder Beach (penguins) tour which was excellent.
Only downer was that the hotel did not fill our mini bar - despite 2 requests."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
If we were to stay more than one night, we think we would have looked for somewhere that was closer to restaurants and the centre of Windhoek. However, it was ideal for the one night we stayed here.
We also appreciated that it was only around 45 minutes from the airport."