Travel reviews by Ms T. from London
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
10
Excursions taken
0
Road trip of a lifetime
Namibia between 15 Oct 2018 and 2 Nov 2018
"Fantastic trip that gave us something new to experience every day. The highlights were the amazing free-roaming wildlife, the stunning savanna and desert landscapes and welcoming people. We were also forced out of our comfort zone: we had 4 tyre punctures (!) and we both had very unpleasant food poisoning thankfully on different days.
We were in a hot air balloon 1000 meters above the desert at the crack of dawn and regularly sand-blasted on gravel and sandy roads. In hindsight we should have elected to stay outside of Etosha and we should have tried to arrange it so that we had smaller meals with less red meat. We worked out that we had 9 red meat meals during the period of 16 days! The food was mostly excellent, but was just too hearty a diet at 35-40 degrees.
Also thanks to Tracy's advice we managed to experience the hot air balloon ride over the desert and to discover such gems as Bullsport and Eningu lodge. Our favourite lodge was Doro Nawas for its stunning location and atmosphere, and lovely staff, closely followed by Hoodia, where we had the best food and a most relaxing stay. Okonjima was also a very special place where we saw leopards on our very first ride!
We will be revisiting our memories of this trip for a long time to come."
We were in a hot air balloon 1000 meters above the desert at the crack of dawn and regularly sand-blasted on gravel and sandy roads. In hindsight we should have elected to stay outside of Etosha and we should have tried to arrange it so that we had smaller meals with less red meat. We worked out that we had 9 red meat meals during the period of 16 days! The food was mostly excellent, but was just too hearty a diet at 35-40 degrees.
Also thanks to Tracy's advice we managed to experience the hot air balloon ride over the desert and to discover such gems as Bullsport and Eningu lodge. Our favourite lodge was Doro Nawas for its stunning location and atmosphere, and lovely staff, closely followed by Hoodia, where we had the best food and a most relaxing stay. Okonjima was also a very special place where we saw leopards on our very first ride!
We will be revisiting our memories of this trip for a long time to come."
Arranged By Tracy Lederer
Hilltop Guesthouse (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Good start to the journey"
1 night
Arrived
16 Oct 2018
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Okonjima Plains Camp
"Amazing"
2 nights
Arrived
17 Oct 2018
"We loved it here. We were very excited to see leopard on our very first drive.
Our standard room was large, private and stylish with amazing views of the bush from the window. We saw a lot of animals just from our window. Food and service were excellent and the 'barn' - the reception/restaurant building is very pleasant.
We enjoyed being able to walk around the estate. It was great to support the Africat foundation."
Our standard room was large, private and stylish with amazing views of the bush from the window. We saw a lot of animals just from our window. Food and service were excellent and the 'barn' - the reception/restaurant building is very pleasant.
We enjoyed being able to walk around the estate. It was great to support the Africat foundation."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Brown Hyena
1 sighting
Cheetah
3 sightings
Eland
2 sightings
Giraffe
4 sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Oryx
4 sightings
Zebra
4 sightings
Mushara Bush Camp
"Stylish with good food"
2 nights
Arrived
19 Oct 2018
"Stylish tents with deckchairs for sitting outside. A bit small but comfortable.
I don’t like to say this, but I did miss the air-conditioning here as it was very hot overnight. Another beautiful reception/restaurant building. Excellent food, but unfortunately had food poisoning here, I don’t think it’s anything to do with their food or cleanliness which were excellent, possibly caused by ice cubes or snacks we bought elsewhere.
Everything else was excellent and the staff was pleasant."
I don’t like to say this, but I did miss the air-conditioning here as it was very hot overnight. Another beautiful reception/restaurant building. Excellent food, but unfortunately had food poisoning here, I don’t think it’s anything to do with their food or cleanliness which were excellent, possibly caused by ice cubes or snacks we bought elsewhere.
Everything else was excellent and the staff was pleasant."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Sightings report
Eland
1 sighting
Elephant
3 sightings
Giraffe
4 sightings
Oryx
1 sighting
Wildebeest
2 sightings
Zebra
4 sightings
Halali Camp
"Basic"
1 night
Arrived
21 Oct 2018
"Basic, musty and dated, but ok. Relatively clean.
Comfortable bed with mosquito net and air-conditioning.
Better than Okaukuejo for us, but we realise that this is probably due to the luck of the draw with room allocation. We had room 57."
Comfortable bed with mosquito net and air-conditioning.
Better than Okaukuejo for us, but we realise that this is probably due to the luck of the draw with room allocation. We had room 57."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Good
Service
Average
Rooms
Average
Food
Poor
Sightings report
Elephant
1 sighting
Giraffe
2 sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Oryx
1 sighting
Zebra
2 sightings
Okaukuejo Camp
"Basic and grubby"
1 night
Arrived
22 Oct 2018
"We didn't get on well with this place, we found it basic and filthy. On top of it one of us was sick here without having any of their food and drinking only bottled water (we think most likely from the dirty cups in the room).
As much as we loved Etosha and seeing the amazing wildlife, Okaukuejo accommodation was not pleasant. If I knew it would have been like this I would have opted to stay outside of Etosha in a private lodge instead.
Again I realise we might have been unlucky with room allocation, we had room 72."
As much as we loved Etosha and seeing the amazing wildlife, Okaukuejo accommodation was not pleasant. If I knew it would have been like this I would have opted to stay outside of Etosha in a private lodge instead.
Again I realise we might have been unlucky with room allocation, we had room 72."
Poor
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Poor
Location
Good
Service
Average
Rooms
Poor
Feedback response
We are sorry that these travellers did not enjoy their stay at Okaukuejo, and we were also very sorry to hear that they were unwell. We always explain to our travellers about what to expect at Okaukuejo in terms of quality of room, food and service, but do also flag up what a great waterhole there is here which often out-weights the negatives. Unfortunately, due to availability issues, we were unable to book an equivalently priced lodge outside the park for these travellers.
Southern Africa Manager
Sightings report
Giraffe
2 sightings
Lion
2 sightings
Oryx
4 sightings
Wildebeest
3 sightings
Zebra
5 sightings
Doro Nawas
"Breath-taking location"
2 nights
Arrived
23 Oct 2018
"Breath-taking location, beautiful chalets, great staff. This is a very special place.
Excellent from beginning to end."
Excellent from beginning to end."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Elephant
2 sightings
Sam's Giardino
"Unusual but comfortable and quiet"
2 nights
Arrived
25 Oct 2018
"Lovely garden, great breakfast, room good, but a little dated.
Good night's sleep.
Sam and his staff were welcoming and helpful."
Good night's sleep.
Sam and his staff were welcoming and helpful."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
BullsPort Lodge and Farm
"Beautiful setting"
1 night
Arrived
27 Oct 2018
"We didn't expect Bullsport to be as pleasant, relaxed and comfortable as it was. Our luxury room was great - simple, but spacious, with comfortable bed, nice bathroom and shower.
The estate itself and the surrounding countryside are beautiful and interesting. I managed to fit in a 2.5 hour horse ride in the morning of departure which I loved. Their horses are lovely and they also have a few very friendly old dogs around.
Although we personally don't like communal dining and were very tired that evening, it was not unpleasant and the food was good. We were glad we could serve ourselves so that we can have the right size portions (in our case small). Staff were pleasant.
I wish we stayed for more than one night as there are great walks in the vicinity."
The estate itself and the surrounding countryside are beautiful and interesting. I managed to fit in a 2.5 hour horse ride in the morning of departure which I loved. Their horses are lovely and they also have a few very friendly old dogs around.
Although we personally don't like communal dining and were very tired that evening, it was not unpleasant and the food was good. We were glad we could serve ourselves so that we can have the right size portions (in our case small). Staff were pleasant.
I wish we stayed for more than one night as there are great walks in the vicinity."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Hoodia Desert Lodge
"Luxurious"
3 nights
Arrived
28 Oct 2018
"Beautiful setting, great private chalets, well appointed, the best food we had on the trip, very attentive service.
We loved the outdoor shower and the lounge/veranda area in the main building."
We loved the outdoor shower and the lounge/veranda area in the main building."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Sightings report
Oryx
2 sightings
Eningu Clayhouse
"Beautiful estate"
1 night
Arrived
31 Oct 2018
"The estate is very beautiful, red earth, striking vegetation, outdoor sculptures, lots of birds.
The rooms are unusual and fun, but could do with an update, particularly the bathroom. The food was good, we found the portions a bit large.
There are great walks around the estate, we wish we stayed longer to explore them."
The rooms are unusual and fun, but could do with an update, particularly the bathroom. The food was good, we found the portions a bit large.
There are great walks around the estate, we wish we stayed longer to explore them."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Sightings report
Oryx
1 sighting
Great views of Windhoek from the veranda.The only small downside was the plumbing: dribbly shower, slow-clearing drain and separate hot and cold taps. They have secure parking with a security guard present at all times, which surprised us, as we are not used to it, but was also reassuring.
The staff were great. We were also given some useful advice for shopping and parking in town."