Travel reviews by The Blue waxbills from UK

"Very welcoming and friendly. A perfect stop for one night on arrival.

Whilst Windhoek may not be the most interesting city, at Terra Africa the manager and staff were helpful and set just the right tone and atmosphere, over an excellent dinner, to set us up for the beginning of our holiday proper. They were very willing to offer advice and share their knowledge of the country.

It is near the main road but we did not notice traffic or any other noise and in fact enjoyed a a pre-dinner drink outside on the patio / decking area."

"This was comfortable and more than adequate. It was perhaps more of a motel, or in the UK a Travel Lodge, that is more a base to stay to see interesting sites round about.

In particular we went to the Quiver Tree forest just before sunset and the Giant's Playground both of which were well worth the short trip. Very atmospheric (if not a little spooky).

We were lucky in that when we went to the farm office to pay we were told the cheetahs were being fed. We did not know there were rescued cheetahs on the farm, it is only mentioned in the Bradt guide under the accommodation section that we had not read. We were treated to the spectacle of two fully grown cheetahs enjoying their rock dassies for dinner from a distance of about six feet. The young lad who showed us round was obviously proud of them and very willing to talk about them and the farm"

"Again we found this a perfectly good place to stay. We went to Fish River Canyon, that was quite breathtaking and remarkably were the only people there once an intrepid group of five had descended into the canyon for a four / five day trek! The staff were again very friendly and we enjoyed a game drive come sundowner drive with once more a guide who was proud of the country and his knowledge. It helped that we were the only people to go on that drive.

Not much in the way of wildlife, as we expected, but we did see our first (of many) oryx and a few other animals. But what incredible scenery.

On our way back from Fish River we went to the Canon Lodge for a drink. That enjoys a truly fantastic location, probably more so than the Roadhouse but no doubt is more expensive."

"The hotel was fine and once more the staff were helpful for example offering to book a sea trip to see penguins, seals and dolphins, which we did.

I have said the location was good, that meaning within Luderitz. I cannot say Luderitz itself was a highlight. The wind almost blew us away and there seems little of real interest had it not been for the sea trip, which was by the way well worth it. The crew and captain were relaxed and enthusistic, and again keen to share their experience.

The drive to Luderitz was exciting. The sand was being blasted across the road by the wind and even with headlights on it was quite difficult to see far ahead. It sounded like a hailstorm in the car and selfishly I was glad that it was not my vehicle since I guess the paintwork suffers somewhat. The outward journey was very different, perfectly calm. Apparently huge changes in weather conditions within a short time are the norm.

A trip around the peninsula is well worth doing."

"We were really very pleased with our stay here. The owner and his wife simply could not have been more accommodating and friendly. (So was their new baby who was introduced to us and did nothing but smile).

They are forward thinking people who have a long term plan for their farm which is fascinating to learn about. They are environmentally sensitive and showed great enthusiasm to answer what must have been questions they have heard so many times before. Their pride in what they are doing was infectious and we were sorry to leave.

We thought this was just a stop over to break the journey but it turned out to be much much more."

"Truly tremendous. From the moment we arrived we again could not have been made more welcome. The manager and his wife could not have been more friendly and when we showed our own enthusiasm for the country, the lodge and the surroundings the levels of service became even better. We felt more like friends than visitors.

We were treated with generosity and care, including a complimentary sundowner drive with the guide who had taken us to the dunes, an incredible experience that would have made the whole trip worthwhile on its own and to the balloon flight which likewise would have justified the whole holiday.

Fantastic views, superb trips, great service. I can't think of any more to say."

"Beach Lodge is situated a little out of town but it was no problem to hire a taxi to go to dinner in town and be able to have a drink without worrying about driving back. The manager at Kulala had booked us a table at his favourite restaurant (The Tug). Great for sunsets, the meal and service were good too.

From our room at the Beach Lodge we had dramatic views of the huge waves (even by the standards of the locals). A little noisy in the middle of the night but in such circumstances who cares!

We had a really good meal there on our second night.

Overall a good place to take stock after the adventures we had just had and prepare for those to come."

"Whilst perhaps not quite so friendly as Kulala, absoutely no complaints. We wanted to see in particular the desert adapted elephants and did so.

Initially I thought we were going to be disappointed because the guide could not locate the elephants despite his very best efforts. I have to say he tried extremely hard to do so and ultimateley, after a long search he was able to find them and we were treated to a real spectacle. There were eleven elephants in the group including a nine day old calf and we were able to be within a few feet of them. Brilliant work and driving over difficult terrain by the guide who again showed great enthusiasm and knowledge.

We took ourselves to the rock engravings at Twyfelfontein. Amazing and fascinating but really very very hot. Take lots of water and go slowly. Even the guide felt the heat on the day we were there."

"The camp is used as a base for self drive trips around Etosha and as such is fine. It is quite large and inevitably less personal but frankly Etosha is such a wonderful place that I would stay anywhere to see it.

The attraction for us at the camp was the waterhole which many animals visit each night. It seemed surreal to see seven rhino at one time, not to mention giraffe, many elephants, jackals, wart hogs, antelope and so on. Animal soup or what!

The fact the camp is actually in the park seems an advantage over what may be rather better camps, in terms of accommodation perhaps, that are outside the gates."

"Very similar comments as for Okaukuejo. It is again the waterhole that provided the main attraction and which was truly remarkable in the diversity of the wildlife and the little dramas taking place: a baby elephant falling into too deep water and being pulled out by its mother; a standoff of somewhat unfair proportions between a wart hog and an elephant; rhino competing for the "best " drinking site and so on.

As with no doubt all the camps in and around Etosha it is the easy access to the park and its waterholes that is their main facility. As I said, I would stay anywhere to enable me to experience Etosha but that is not intended to be a crticism of the camps which were perfectly adequate."

"What a way to finish the trip. We knew this would be a highspot and were not disappointed. The work they are doing in conjunction with Africat is truly valuable.

Our guide there who took us to see the cheetah and on the second day the leopard was brilliant. He, along with his colleague did more than "go the extra mile" in search of the leopard. He asked us if we minded "extreme driving" We of course did not object and we had an incredible drive literally through, over, round trees, bushes, large holes in the ground that housed goodness knows what to be rewarded with very close up contact with a beautiful leopard. She literally walked calmly along the side of the vehicle and we were able to follow her for some time. A great experience and privilege."