Travel reviews by Mrs M from Helensborough
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
9
Excursions taken
0
A wonderful experience
Namibia between 21 Nov 2008 and 10 Dec 2008
"This was a fantastic holiday.
The accommodation was well chosen, the information supplied was second to none, (maps, routes and instructions on how to get to the accommodation).
Suggestions for improvement:
Because of the time of year, it was suggested that a 4X4 would be a good idea. The extra cost put the overall price over our budget so we opted to go earlier. We had no need for a 4X4 but the state of the roads, with severe 'washboarding' meant that a small saloon, with its firm suspension, was very tiring in some places. We could not maintain more than 30 Kph in some places, whilst being passed, at speed, by larger cars with bigger wheels and softer suspension. I cannot suggest a cure for this other than to let future clients read this comment.
On a lighter note, it was worth having a second spare wheel for the peace of mind and the fact that having a second meant that we never needed either of them! We met many people who had had punctures.
An anecdotal word of warning :- One couple had a puncture, jacked the car up and found the second wheel was the wrong size, got out the original spare which turned out to be flat. Hire company not known."
The accommodation was well chosen, the information supplied was second to none, (maps, routes and instructions on how to get to the accommodation).
Suggestions for improvement:
Because of the time of year, it was suggested that a 4X4 would be a good idea. The extra cost put the overall price over our budget so we opted to go earlier. We had no need for a 4X4 but the state of the roads, with severe 'washboarding' meant that a small saloon, with its firm suspension, was very tiring in some places. We could not maintain more than 30 Kph in some places, whilst being passed, at speed, by larger cars with bigger wheels and softer suspension. I cannot suggest a cure for this other than to let future clients read this comment.
On a lighter note, it was worth having a second spare wheel for the peace of mind and the fact that having a second meant that we never needed either of them! We met many people who had had punctures.
An anecdotal word of warning :- One couple had a puncture, jacked the car up and found the second wheel was the wrong size, got out the original spare which turned out to be flat. Hire company not known."
Arranged By Sabina Hekandjo
Hilltop House, Namibia (this camp has since closed)
"Hilltop House"
1 night
Arrived
22 Nov 2008
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Excellent
Service
Poor
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Poor
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Zebra River Lodge
"Great hospitality"
2 nights
Arrived
23 Nov 2008
"We were in the room which was well above the Lodge - a wonderful spot with fantastic views and total privacy. Definately worth the walk up to it.
Rob and Marianne were tremendous hosts, making the guests feel as if they were part of the family without invading our "space". The meals were excellant.
The trip up to the spring was very well worth doing, in spite of the heat!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."
Rob and Marianne were tremendous hosts, making the guests feel as if they were part of the family without invading our "space". The meals were excellant.
The trip up to the spring was very well worth doing, in spite of the heat!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Kulala Desert Lodge
"An "Interesting" place in the desert"
2 nights
Arrived
25 Nov 2008
"Kulala is certainly ' different', it is exactly what you would expect if you had studied Web photographs of the place. The rooms are very well appointed with great views of the dunes. The restaurant is a great place to view the wonderful scenery whilst dining ( as long as there isn't a raging dust-storm going on).
Our visit was made even more 'different' by the arrival of a dust-storm on our first evening, which covered everything in brownn dust, and then solid cloud cover in the morning, when we should have been viewing the sunrise! On the positive side, not many people can claim to have climbed the sand dunes in the rain. In no way do we blame the owners for these two events.
Our only criticism is that there is totally insufficient shade in the pool area, unless you are on your own, you swim or fry.
You could not ask for better service from the cheerful, smiling staff."
Our visit was made even more 'different' by the arrival of a dust-storm on our first evening, which covered everything in brownn dust, and then solid cloud cover in the morning, when we should have been viewing the sunrise! On the positive side, not many people can claim to have climbed the sand dunes in the rain. In no way do we blame the owners for these two events.
Our only criticism is that there is totally insufficient shade in the pool area, unless you are on your own, you swim or fry.
You could not ask for better service from the cheerful, smiling staff."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Sam's Giardino
"A great chef"
2 nights
Arrived
27 Nov 2008
"Sam's 5 course dinner was a gourmet's delight. It is a pity that one is not allowed to eat it in peace. I am afraid that neither of us enjoy having to eat while a "stranger", who is not eating, sits at your table, talking non-stop.
The location is an easy walk into town, if you are reasonably fit."
The location is an easy walk into town, if you are reasonably fit."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Average
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Doro Nawas
"Another amazing place"
2 nights
Arrived
29 Nov 2008
"This is another amazing place. The rooms have to be seen to be believed with enough space to accommodate a family of six! That is not including the huge balcony.
Guests are invited to roll the bed out on to the balcony and, 'sleep under the stars'. We thought we would give it a try - at 12.30 it started raining resulting in a frantic dash to get the bed back in! Do not try this in the wet season.
The trip to look for the desert elephants was a great success - we saw two seperate groups although seeing any is never guaranteed.
Our first dinner was not up to the standards we had become used to but the second was described in our diary as "good".
Once again, the staff were wonderful."
Guests are invited to roll the bed out on to the balcony and, 'sleep under the stars'. We thought we would give it a try - at 12.30 it started raining resulting in a frantic dash to get the bed back in! Do not try this in the wet season.
The trip to look for the desert elephants was a great success - we saw two seperate groups although seeing any is never guaranteed.
Our first dinner was not up to the standards we had become used to but the second was described in our diary as "good".
Once again, the staff were wonderful."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
Facilities
Excellent
Okaukuejo Camp
"Contenders for the "Jobsworth" award"
2 nights
Arrived
1 Dec 2008
"This camp has, obviously been refurbished. The accommodation clean and comfortable but who forgot to put any hooks or shelves in the bathroom?
The facilities were good, the food was good but, oh dear! where did they find their staff? If they had any training at all it was to remember that "the guests are there for your benefit, not the other way round".
There were lots of people 'hanging around' but a broken glass by the waterhole was still there 24 hours later and seats which had been moved into a circle were not tidied until guests were compelled to drag them on their own."
The facilities were good, the food was good but, oh dear! where did they find their staff? If they had any training at all it was to remember that "the guests are there for your benefit, not the other way round".
There were lots of people 'hanging around' but a broken glass by the waterhole was still there 24 hours later and seats which had been moved into a circle were not tidied until guests were compelled to drag them on their own."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Poor
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Halali Camp
"Much better than Okankuejo"
2 nights
Arrived
3 Dec 2008
"After Okankueo, we would not believe that it was run by the same company. The accomodation was much better and obviously recently refurbished. The room was equipped with very comfortable chairs so one could sit and rest without having to resort to the bed.
The staff had been to a different training school and were freindly and helpful.
The waterhole, although further from the accommodation, provided a much more pleasant and restful environment."
The staff had been to a different training school and were freindly and helpful.
The waterhole, although further from the accommodation, provided a much more pleasant and restful environment."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Okonjima Bush Camp
"Luxury in the bush"
2 nights
Arrived
5 Dec 2008
"One cannot find enough superlatives to describe this experience
Some millionaires may find something wrong but, to we mere mortals, this was a fantastic place. Full marks go to everbody involved in this resort. Whatever you said to any member of staff, the answer was always the same "No problem"."
Some millionaires may find something wrong but, to we mere mortals, this was a fantastic place. Full marks go to everbody involved in this resort. Whatever you said to any member of staff, the answer was always the same "No problem"."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Ondudu Safari Lodge
"Solitude amongst the boulders."
2 nights
Arrived
7 Dec 2008
"We had a room at the end of one of the board walks so we had total privacy. Many of the rooms would have guests walking past their balconies. This was, undoubtebly, the least comfortable accommodation of our 17 day trip. We had stayed in a number of 'tents' beneath thatched roofs but never one so tatty and poorly furnished. The bathroom was a bit of solid structure,outside the tent so to gain access meant unzipping the tent and going out.
The weather rather reduced the potential to make the most of the visit as there are, obviously, plenty of opportunities for walking in the surrounding hills but take the brochure's advice - take a GPS. Advice :- Don't go here in the rainy season, it's not comfortable for walking.
The staff were very helpful and cheerful."
The weather rather reduced the potential to make the most of the visit as there are, obviously, plenty of opportunities for walking in the surrounding hills but take the brochure's advice - take a GPS. Advice :- Don't go here in the rainy season, it's not comfortable for walking.
The staff were very helpful and cheerful."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Poor
Food
Good
Facilities
Average
The close proximity to Joe's Beer Garden is a plus. This hostelry is a 'must'."