Travel reviews by Ms J from London
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
3
Excursions taken
2
My June trip to Nambia
Namibia between 5 Jun 2018 and 10 Jun 2018
"Lovely holiday, lovely lodges and too short a time.
The main criticism is that the directions and travel times from Expert Africa were inaccurate. The travel to Bagatelle from the airport was around 4-5 hours. We had no indication of how long from Bagatelle to Hoodia but that was a good five hours and would be more for someone not experienced on driving on gravel roads (luckily my companion was). And we had no detailed directions on travel from Hoodia to Gocheganas just a highlighted area on the map indicating a road which the lodge told us was not good, As it was we took the C road over the mountains and I would have taken a lot longer than the 5 hours it took to get from Hoodia to Gocheganas.
We had upgraded the car anyway but I think if I had not had an experienced dirt road driver with me I would have wanted more traction and a tougher vehicle."
The main criticism is that the directions and travel times from Expert Africa were inaccurate. The travel to Bagatelle from the airport was around 4-5 hours. We had no indication of how long from Bagatelle to Hoodia but that was a good five hours and would be more for someone not experienced on driving on gravel roads (luckily my companion was). And we had no detailed directions on travel from Hoodia to Gocheganas just a highlighted area on the map indicating a road which the lodge told us was not good, As it was we took the C road over the mountains and I would have taken a lot longer than the 5 hours it took to get from Hoodia to Gocheganas.
We had upgraded the car anyway but I think if I had not had an experienced dirt road driver with me I would have wanted more traction and a tougher vehicle."
Feedback response
Following these comments we have reviewed and amended the driving directions we provide our travellers with for these camps and lodges. The road conditions are constantly changing and we try to review this information on an ongoing basis, as such we really appreciate this kind of honest feedback.
Arranged By Tom Morris
Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch
"Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch is beautiful"
1 night
Arrived
5 Jun 2018
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Hoodia Desert Lodge
"Hoodia Desert Lodge is lovely"
3 nights
Arrived
6 Jun 2018
"Beautiful lodge, very well equipped and good food.
The only downside was lack of engagement from staff on our externally organised balloon safari. If I hadn't asked where I needed to be by when I wouldn't have known and was expecting to be picked up but we had to drive ourselves very early in the morning in the dark - so unsure of when we would get there. In the end it all worked but they could have been more forthcoming."
The only downside was lack of engagement from staff on our externally organised balloon safari. If I hadn't asked where I needed to be by when I wouldn't have known and was expecting to be picked up but we had to drive ourselves very early in the morning in the dark - so unsure of when we would get there. In the end it all worked but they could have been more forthcoming."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Oryx
Many sightings
Ballooning in the Namib Desert
"Wonderful Ballooning in the Namib desert"
7 Jun 2018 • Morning excursion
Fantastic - apart from a rather annoying group of photographers who were also part of this and clearly thought they were the only ones that mattered.
As mentioned on previous comments not enough prior information was given on this and given the state of the road and the fact that we had to get there in the dark it would have been good to have been picked up.
The trip itself was great - beautiful sunrise, landscape etc and good breakfast after
As mentioned on previous comments not enough prior information was given on this and given the state of the road and the fact that we had to get there in the dark it would have been good to have been picked up.
The trip itself was great - beautiful sunrise, landscape etc and good breakfast after
Excellent
Hoodia Sossusvlei excursion
"Excellent Sossusvlei excursion"
8 Jun 2018 • All-day excursion
Really good small group (though we were moved around on this).
Knowledgeable guide (Lukas) and great day.
Knowledgeable guide (Lukas) and great day.
Excellent
GocheGanas
"Gocheganas is truly lovely"
1 night
Arrived
9 Jun 2018
"Really lovely, wished we had stayed longer. Both of us though suffered from altitude here (and it turns out it is high).
We had a very short stay - from about 3pm to about 10am. The accommodation was great, the location was great, the spa was lovely as was the pool. Food fine.
All good and would go back for longer."
We had a very short stay - from about 3pm to about 10am. The accommodation was great, the location was great, the spa was lovely as was the pool. Food fine.
All good and would go back for longer."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Only downside with a dune cabin is that you have to climb a red sand dune to get to and fro so are constantly picking up sand..."