Travel reviews by H family from Surrey
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
2
Countries visited
4
Lodges stayed in
12
Excursions taken
3
My Sep 2024 trip
Namibia and 1 other country between 21 Sep 2024 and 7 Oct 2024
"Tom organised all aspects of our trip and he put together a wonderful itinerary balancing seeing the landscapes of Namibia with the wildlife viewing as we wanted.
He suggested a series of memorably good lodges and camps with sensible more basic options for when we simply needed a comfortable guesthouse for a night rather than luxury lodge. He discussed and booked a series of excellent activities for us and we kept in contact throughout the period up to the trip.
To demonstrate the great level of service. We managed to leave an ipad at Damaraland Camp and between the wonderful camp staff and Tom and his colleague Tracey's efforts and ingenuity they managed to organise its return to us back in London - this was definitely above and beyond!.
All in all it was a wonderful holiday, faultlessly organised and we would very highly recommend Expert Africa."
He suggested a series of memorably good lodges and camps with sensible more basic options for when we simply needed a comfortable guesthouse for a night rather than luxury lodge. He discussed and booked a series of excellent activities for us and we kept in contact throughout the period up to the trip.
To demonstrate the great level of service. We managed to leave an ipad at Damaraland Camp and between the wonderful camp staff and Tom and his colleague Tracey's efforts and ingenuity they managed to organise its return to us back in London - this was definitely above and beyond!.
All in all it was a wonderful holiday, faultlessly organised and we would very highly recommend Expert Africa."
Arranged By Tom Morris
Galton House
"Galton House review"
1 night
Arrived
21 Sep 2024
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Good
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Hoodia Desert Lodge
"Hoodia Desert Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
22 Sep 2024
"We stayed at Hoodia for 2 nights primarily to visit Sossusvlei. It is a very high quality luxury lodge which I would highly recommend.
The rooms (or more accurately individual bungalows) are large, extremely comfortable and quiet.
The main building is very comfortable with ample space and a nice pool area.
The staff are extremely friendly and helpful, the food was very good and we were superbly looked after."
The rooms (or more accurately individual bungalows) are large, extremely comfortable and quiet.
The main building is very comfortable with ample space and a nice pool area.
The staff are extremely friendly and helpful, the food was very good and we were superbly looked after."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Oryx
10+ sightings
Hoodia Sossusvlei excursion
"Hoodia Sossusvlei excursion review"
23 Sep 2024 • All-day excursion
We had a full day excursion to Sossusvlei with Inos (apologies for probably getting the spelling wrong) who was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide.
This was a great way to see the dunes and desert and to understand the small living things in the desert and how they survive. It included an excellent lunch.
All in all I would highly recommend this excursion
This was a great way to see the dunes and desert and to understand the small living things in the desert and how they survive. It included an excellent lunch.
All in all I would highly recommend this excursion
Excellent
Cornerstone Guesthouse
"Cornerstone Guesthouse review"
2 nights
Arrived
24 Sep 2024
"We spent two nights at the guest house to allow us to undertake activities at Walvis Bay.
It is a comfortable guest house in a convenient location for the restaurants and shops of Swakop. The owner and staff were very helpful.
It has good parking and we had a very good breakfast. It is more basic than the other places we stayed but was still a very suitable base for our time in Swakop.
I recommend you book restaurants before you go (Expert Africa will make suggestions) as the better restaurants were very busy"
It is a comfortable guest house in a convenient location for the restaurants and shops of Swakop. The owner and staff were very helpful.
It has good parking and we had a very good breakfast. It is more basic than the other places we stayed but was still a very suitable base for our time in Swakop.
I recommend you book restaurants before you go (Expert Africa will make suggestions) as the better restaurants were very busy"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Facilities
Average
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Kayaking with seals
"Kayaking with seals review"
25 Sep 2024 • Morning excursion
This was a morning trip.
They drive you to the seals from a coffee shop in Walvis Bay. The guides were very informative and the whole activity was well organised.
The seals are great - there is a huge colony and the younger seals are fascinated by the kayaks so will swim right up to you, nibble on your paddles and one even tried to climb on board our kayak!
You get plenty of time in the kayak and it was all very safe.
As well as the seals we saw many flamigos and some jackals.
All in all a memorable experience.
They drive you to the seals from a coffee shop in Walvis Bay. The guides were very informative and the whole activity was well organised.
The seals are great - there is a huge colony and the younger seals are fascinated by the kayaks so will swim right up to you, nibble on your paddles and one even tried to climb on board our kayak!
You get plenty of time in the kayak and it was all very safe.
As well as the seals we saw many flamigos and some jackals.
All in all a memorable experience.
Damaraland Camp
"Damaraland Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
26 Sep 2024
"Damaraland Camp is a high end and lovely lodge.
The staff at Damaraland Camp are simply the friendliest and most helpful staff I have ever met at any hotel or lodge. They sing to welcome you and say goodbye, they all remember your name and nothing is too much trouble.
The rooms (or bungalows) are large and very comfortable, there is a nice pool area with greta views and the food was excellent.
Nicky was our guide for our drives and was hugely enthusiastic and knowledgable telling us not just about the animals but the geology and the vegetation which was great.
The only word of caution is that it is a long drive to Damaraland from Swakop (about 6 hours in total including brief stops) on gravel roads so be prepared.
We were still glad we did it!"
The staff at Damaraland Camp are simply the friendliest and most helpful staff I have ever met at any hotel or lodge. They sing to welcome you and say goodbye, they all remember your name and nothing is too much trouble.
The rooms (or bungalows) are large and very comfortable, there is a nice pool area with greta views and the food was excellent.
Nicky was our guide for our drives and was hugely enthusiastic and knowledgable telling us not just about the animals but the geology and the vegetation which was great.
The only word of caution is that it is a long drive to Damaraland from Swakop (about 6 hours in total including brief stops) on gravel roads so be prepared.
We were still glad we did it!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Elephant
4 sightings
Giraffe
5 sightings
Oryx
Many sightings
Safarihoek Lodge
"Safarihoek Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
28 Sep 2024
"Safarihoek was a very good place to stay due to the great wildlife spotting and a very comfortable lodge.
The rooms are large and comfortable. They and the the main lodge area and pool area have wonderful elevated views over the reserve and a popular watering hole. The food was very good although with slightly more limited choice than other lodges.
The staff were generally good albeit not quite matching the superb level at the previous lodges.
However, balancing that, this camp was where we had the best wildlife viewing. It is open to Etosha National Park so you get the beneit of all their wildlife but without the crowds."
The rooms are large and comfortable. They and the the main lodge area and pool area have wonderful elevated views over the reserve and a popular watering hole. The food was very good although with slightly more limited choice than other lodges.
The staff were generally good albeit not quite matching the superb level at the previous lodges.
However, balancing that, this camp was where we had the best wildlife viewing. It is open to Etosha National Park so you get the beneit of all their wildlife but without the crowds."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Black Rhino
5 sightings
Eland
2 sightings
Elephant
5 sightings
Giraffe
7 sightings
Lion
3 sightings
Oryx
Many sightings
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Wildebeest
10+ sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Andersson's at Ongava
"Andersson's at Ongava review"
2 nights
Arrived
30 Sep 2024
"Andersson's is a very special place and a true luxury lodge. The lodge, the rooms, the food, the staff and the service are all simply exceptional.
We delayed our trip to Namibia because Andersson's wasn't available on our first dates. We are very glad we did as the experience is so memorably good..
We saw less wildlife on our drives than we did at Safarihoek but this was balanced by the many visitors to the watering hole which was less than 100 metres from the main lodge area.
There is also a great viewing hide which allows you to get within around 20 metres of the animals when they come for a drink."
We delayed our trip to Namibia because Andersson's wasn't available on our first dates. We are very glad we did as the experience is so memorably good..
We saw less wildlife on our drives than we did at Safarihoek but this was balanced by the many visitors to the watering hole which was less than 100 metres from the main lodge area.
There is also a great viewing hide which allows you to get within around 20 metres of the animals when they come for a drink."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Black Rhino
5 sightings
Elephant
10+ sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
7 sightings
Oryx
10+ sightings
Wildebeest
10+ sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Okonjima Plains Camp
"Okonjima Plains Camp review"
1 night
Arrived
2 Oct 2024
"We stayed at Okonjima primarily to see the leopards (which they track).
The camp was the largest of the lodges / camps we stayed in in Namibia and has the feeling more of a hotel than a lodge therefore with a less personal service.
The main area is very comfortable with a view over a busy watering hole. It has a nice pool area, the food was very good and the staff were very helpful.
We stayed in a Classic Room which was large and comfortable but a bit tired.
The drive was good and allowed us to have a long viewing of two leopards without any other trucks near us."
The camp was the largest of the lodges / camps we stayed in in Namibia and has the feeling more of a hotel than a lodge therefore with a less personal service.
The main area is very comfortable with a view over a busy watering hole. It has a nice pool area, the food was very good and the staff were very helpful.
We stayed in a Classic Room which was large and comfortable but a bit tired.
The drive was good and allowed us to have a long viewing of two leopards without any other trucks near us."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Average
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Sightings report
Giraffe
6 sightings
Leopard
3 sightings
Oryx
10+ sightings
Sable antelope
1 sighting
Wildebeest
7 sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Weinberg Hotel
"Weinberg Hotel review"
1 night
Arrived
3 Oct 2024
"We stayed at the Weinberg Hotel for the night before flying from Winhoek.
It is a smart and very comfortable hotel with secure parking, a nice pool, comfortable quiet rooms and a good choice of restaurants. It is located on the airport side of Windhoek in a smart suburb so you need to take a short taxi if you wish to visit the centre.
It was a good stay although at times the staff were a bit less helpful than you would expect from a luxury hotel (e.g we were trying to be reunited with a lost iPad - Damaraland Camp had made great efforts to try to get it to us in Windhoek but the staff at Weinberg showed little interest in helping us get it back). Despite that it was still a good choice for a one night stay."
It is a smart and very comfortable hotel with secure parking, a nice pool, comfortable quiet rooms and a good choice of restaurants. It is located on the airport side of Windhoek in a smart suburb so you need to take a short taxi if you wish to visit the centre.
It was a good stay although at times the staff were a bit less helpful than you would expect from a luxury hotel (e.g we were trying to be reunited with a lost iPad - Damaraland Camp had made great efforts to try to get it to us in Windhoek but the staff at Weinberg showed little interest in helping us get it back). Despite that it was still a good choice for a one night stay."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Ilala Lodge
"Ilala Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
4 Oct 2024
"Ilala Lodge is an excellent hotel to stay in Vic Falls.
The hotel is very comfortable and well maintained and the location is excellent within a short walk of the falls.
The rooms were quiet and comfortable and the staff extremely helpful.
We ate most of our meals there and they were all excellent."
The hotel is very comfortable and well maintained and the location is excellent within a short walk of the falls.
The rooms were quiet and comfortable and the staff extremely helpful.
We ate most of our meals there and they were all excellent."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Sightings report
Elephant
3 sightings
Hippo
10+ sightings
Ra-Ikane River Cruise
"Ra-Ikane River Cruise review"
5 Oct 2024 • All-day excursion
We took an evening cruise on our last night.
The boat was smaller and much nicer than other cruises (only about 12 people) giving a more personalised service and allowing excellent views of the wildlife and scenery for all the guests.
There was a plentiful supply of drinks and snacks and a good commentary from the captain.
I would highly recommend.
The boat was smaller and much nicer than other cruises (only about 12 people) giving a more personalised service and allowing excellent views of the wildlife and scenery for all the guests.
There was a plentiful supply of drinks and snacks and a good commentary from the captain.
I would highly recommend.
A lovely trip to Tanzania
Tanzania and 1 other country between 29 Jun 2019 and 12 Jul 2019
"It was a lovely trip - the highlight was Ikuka which is a simply wonderful place which we cannot recommend enough - Zanzibar was lovely and Breezes was a very good hotel even if the kite surfing was a little disappointing.
The arrangements by Claire at Expert Africa were excellently done and the itinerary was great ( we would never have know of Ruaha without that knowledge). My sister and brother in law have already booked a Namibia trip with you based on our recommendation."
The arrangements by Claire at Expert Africa were excellently done and the itinerary was great ( we would never have know of Ruaha without that knowledge). My sister and brother in law have already booked a Namibia trip with you based on our recommendation."
Arranged By Claire Scott
Southern Sun Dar
"Very suitable overnight hotel"
1 night
Arrived
30 Jun 2019
"A sensible overnight hotel - rooms a good size and quiet and comfortable - we used the pool which was nice and dinner and breakfast were good.
About 30 minutes to the airport (provided you are not at rush hour heading into Dar)"
About 30 minutes to the airport (provided you are not at rush hour heading into Dar)"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Ikuka Safari Camp
"Amazing place"
4 nights
Arrived
1 Jul 2019
"Ikuka is a wonderful place - the camp is beautiful - the rooms very large, luxurious and secluded - the staff brilliant - food great
The wildlife is very good (lions, leopards, hippos, many elephants etc - no hippo in Ruaha) - not as many animals as the serengeti but much quieter"
The wildlife is very good (lions, leopards, hippos, many elephants etc - no hippo in Ruaha) - not as many animals as the serengeti but much quieter"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Breezes Beach Club
"A good beach resort in a beautiful location"
6 nights
Arrived
5 Jul 2019
"Breezes is a very nice resort hotel. It has a good beach, very nice grounds and pool. The food was good - generally some sort of themed buffet in the evening. The staff were very helpful and friendly.
We did not venture to Stonetown - as it was about an hour away so we were mostly at the hotel.
We did some kite surfing - this is less good than down the coast at Paje as the tides often meant that we had water in the morning but no wind then wind in the afternoon but no water. If someone is really focused on learning to kite surf they would be better to do a course at Paje rather than Breezes - you could stay at Breezes ( we took a taxi down one afternoon - not far (15 minutes) but quite expensive)"
We did not venture to Stonetown - as it was about an hour away so we were mostly at the hotel.
We did some kite surfing - this is less good than down the coast at Paje as the tides often meant that we had water in the morning but no wind then wind in the afternoon but no water. If someone is really focused on learning to kite surf they would be better to do a course at Paje rather than Breezes - you could stay at Breezes ( we took a taxi down one afternoon - not far (15 minutes) but quite expensive)"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
It is a very convenient and friendly guest house in a nice suburban area and was just right for our first night. The rooms are comfortable and quiet, there is good parking and a nice small pool.
We ate dinner there which was excellent (although the vegetarian meal wasn't quite good as it was the main meal with the meat removed and broccoli instead)."