Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs D. from Cheshire
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
9
Excursions taken
2
My Jul 2022 trip
Namibia between 8 Jul 2022 and 26 Jul 2022
"We spend 2 1/2 weeks in Namibia, travelling about 2000 miles by road. We stayed in 9 different locations and experienced multiple different aspects of the country. Throughout the trip, we felt safe, welcomed and that the people we met were happy that tourism was returning post-pandemic.
Our trip had been postponed several times, re-organised and altered. However, everything went 100% according to plan. Tracy at Expert Africa proved to be a knowledgeable and informative guide and travel planner. All the lodges were expecting us as predicted and all lived up to their descriptions. Highlights were Hoodia Desert Lodge and the excursion from there, Doro Nawas and Okonjima (where we were upgraded to the Villa). The driving was straightforward and we did not encounter any problems, all roads were well-signposted and fuel stops were plentiful (all took VISA cards in our experience).
This was truly the trip of a lifetime, expertly coordinated by Expert Africa. Thank you so much for your patience throughout the pandemic, reorganising everything so well and your excellent recommendations. Next time it will be Botswana..... we will be back!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service
A minor issue but initially payment glitched through the website, but that was 2 years ago and we didn't have problems with the final payment.
The service and information we have received has been fantastic. We have recommended you to multiple friends already, as we have been boring them with our photographs! If and when we come back to Africa, we will definitely be contacting you again.
Thank you so much."
Our trip had been postponed several times, re-organised and altered. However, everything went 100% according to plan. Tracy at Expert Africa proved to be a knowledgeable and informative guide and travel planner. All the lodges were expecting us as predicted and all lived up to their descriptions. Highlights were Hoodia Desert Lodge and the excursion from there, Doro Nawas and Okonjima (where we were upgraded to the Villa). The driving was straightforward and we did not encounter any problems, all roads were well-signposted and fuel stops were plentiful (all took VISA cards in our experience).
This was truly the trip of a lifetime, expertly coordinated by Expert Africa. Thank you so much for your patience throughout the pandemic, reorganising everything so well and your excellent recommendations. Next time it will be Botswana..... we will be back!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service
A minor issue but initially payment glitched through the website, but that was 2 years ago and we didn't have problems with the final payment.
The service and information we have received has been fantastic. We have recommended you to multiple friends already, as we have been boring them with our photographs! If and when we come back to Africa, we will definitely be contacting you again.
Thank you so much."
Arranged By Tracy Lederer
GocheGanas
"GocheGanas review"
1 night
Arrived
9 Jul 2022
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Sightings report
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
BullsPort Lodge and Farm
"BullsPort Lodge & Farm review"
1 night
Arrived
10 Jul 2022
"A warm, friendly, family run establishment.
Johanna was very helpful and informative. We enjoyed several of the well-marked walking trails. It was an excellent stop on the way to the Namib.
The food was plentiful and great."
Johanna was very helpful and informative. We enjoyed several of the well-marked walking trails. It was an excellent stop on the way to the Namib.
The food was plentiful and great."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Hoodia Desert Lodge
"Hoodia Desert Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
11 Jul 2022
"Our welcome from Daniel was second to none, a great introduction to the lodge and its facilities.
The staff were fantastic, everyone was friendly and helpful. Stunning location and amazing sunsets and sunrises. The food was outstanding, beautifully cooked and presented. It was like being in a Michelin restaurant in the middle of the desert! Our daughter's vegetarian requests were accommodated with ease, with equally delicious food being created for her.
This is a very special lodge, the main lounge area, deck and bar are beautiful and a relaxing space to unwind in."
The staff were fantastic, everyone was friendly and helpful. Stunning location and amazing sunsets and sunrises. The food was outstanding, beautifully cooked and presented. It was like being in a Michelin restaurant in the middle of the desert! Our daughter's vegetarian requests were accommodated with ease, with equally delicious food being created for her.
This is a very special lodge, the main lounge area, deck and bar are beautiful and a relaxing space to unwind in."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Oryx
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Hoodia Sossusvlei excursion
"Hoodia Sossusvlei excursion review"
12 Jul 2022 • All-day excursion
An incredible day. We had a reliable, informative and relaxed guide (Daniel) who was happy to help us with our request to climb the sand dune Big Daddy!
Highlights were spotting animal tracks, seeing the lair of a white lady dancing spider and having its behaviour explained to us and a sumptuous lunch banquet, with tablecloths, china, cutlery and glass and delicious food.... all in the middle of the desert.
An experience not to be missed.
Highlights were spotting animal tracks, seeing the lair of a white lady dancing spider and having its behaviour explained to us and a sumptuous lunch banquet, with tablecloths, china, cutlery and glass and delicious food.... all in the middle of the desert.
An experience not to be missed.
Excellent
Cornerstone Guesthouse
"Cornerstone Guesthouse review"
2 nights
Arrived
13 Jul 2022
"A good place to stop over between the different phases of our trip.
Accommodating hosts, who let us have breakfast early so we could get to our seal kayaking trip in time.
Convenient location to walk into Swakopmund with ease."
Accommodating hosts, who let us have breakfast early so we could get to our seal kayaking trip in time.
Convenient location to walk into Swakopmund with ease."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Kayaking with seals
"Kayaking with seals review"
14 Jul 2022 • Morning excursion
An excellent excursion. The team is run by 2 brothers who really want you to have a good time, they are chatty and funny and give you lots of information as you drive to the area to go kayaking.
All bases are covered, the kayaking kit is all ready and organised and warm, dry clothes are provided. The brothers come out on the water with you, encouraging you to interact with the seals and showing you how. They also take photos and send them to you later.
We really enjoyed this day despite the average weather with poor visibility.
There are large flamingo colonies which we saw on the way there and back.
All bases are covered, the kayaking kit is all ready and organised and warm, dry clothes are provided. The brothers come out on the water with you, encouraging you to interact with the seals and showing you how. They also take photos and send them to you later.
We really enjoyed this day despite the average weather with poor visibility.
There are large flamingo colonies which we saw on the way there and back.
Doro Nawas
"Doro Nawas review"
2 nights
Arrived
15 Jul 2022
"Stunning location, stunning staff, stunning food. From the moment we arrived, being welcomed in song, to the moment we left, being sung to as we left to make our way onwards, we felt that nothing was too much trouble. The staff really tried to make you feel at home and were exceptional.
The manager, Fritz, led a cohesive and well-drillled team. The guides were knowledgeable and very skilled.
The views from the deck and the swimming pool are outstanding and the rooms are spacious, clean and feel secluded. Each has an enormous outside deck and shower area. It was absolutely beautiful."
The manager, Fritz, led a cohesive and well-drillled team. The guides were knowledgeable and very skilled.
The views from the deck and the swimming pool are outstanding and the rooms are spacious, clean and feel secluded. Each has an enormous outside deck and shower area. It was absolutely beautiful."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Elephant
Many sightings
Okaukuejo Camp
"Okaukuejo Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
17 Jul 2022
"Okaukuejo camp is unique in that it is inside the park, so you can do guided night drives from here (which you can't from the private camps outside Etosha).
The waterhole is also a massive plus point - 25 elephants at one time! However, the accommodation and food available are a disappointment - we were aware that that was likely. Namibian Wildlife Resorts could really improve this, which would improve the overall experience, but has a monopoly, I suppose there is no incentive for them to do so.
We stayed 2 nights here which was enough and also stayed outside the park for a few nights which was excellent. Overall, the waterhole and night drive compensated for the less good facilities in this location."
The waterhole is also a massive plus point - 25 elephants at one time! However, the accommodation and food available are a disappointment - we were aware that that was likely. Namibian Wildlife Resorts could really improve this, which would improve the overall experience, but has a monopoly, I suppose there is no incentive for them to do so.
We stayed 2 nights here which was enough and also stayed outside the park for a few nights which was excellent. Overall, the waterhole and night drive compensated for the less good facilities in this location."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Poor
Activities
Good
Rooms
Poor
Food
Poor
Facilities
Good
Sightings report
Black Rhino
Many sightings
Brown Hyena
1 sighting
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Lion
1 sighting
Oryx
Many sightings
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
White Rhino
1 sighting
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Mushara Bush Camp
"Mushara Bush Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
19 Jul 2022
"Beautiful camp. The tents were great and very luxurious. The peaceful location and pool were relaxing.
The staff were excellent and helpful. The main lodge area was very attractive and comfortable and the food was gorgeous.
We did our own game drives from here back into Etosha which was very close and were able to see large volumes of big animals with little effort."
The staff were excellent and helpful. The main lodge area was very attractive and comfortable and the food was gorgeous.
We did our own game drives from here back into Etosha which was very close and were able to see large volumes of big animals with little effort."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Black Rhino
Many sightings
Brown Hyena
1 sighting
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Oryx
Many sightings
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Ai Aiba Lodge
"Ai Aiba Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
21 Jul 2022
"Unworldly location in a landscape that is unlike any I have seen.
Huge boulders forming hills which light up in the sunrise and sunset. Good short walking trails with bushman paintings to be seen.
Activities include guided walks and drives, both were very enjoyable."
Huge boulders forming hills which light up in the sunrise and sunset. Good short walking trails with bushman paintings to be seen.
Activities include guided walks and drives, both were very enjoyable."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Activities
Good
Sightings report
Giraffe
Many sightings
Oryx
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Okonjima Villa
"Okonjima Bush Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
23 Jul 2022
"We were likely enough to be upgraded to the Okonjima Villa which was an outstanding experience. A stunning lodge with deck, infinity pool, waterhole and fire pit, not to mention beautiful, spacious, well furnished rooms with private outside showers and seating areas.
We had amazing staff to make our stay comfortable - Tobias, the Villa Manager; Emily, the chef and Gabriel, the guide. The staff here made our last 2 nights in Namibia a memorable occasion. The food was delicious and beautifully well-presented. We did leopard tracking drives and saw leopards and numerous giraffe. Sundowners on a hill overlooking the reserve with a heartstopping sunset. It was absolutely wonderful.
We did the Africat tour and this was less good than the game drives, the organisation has found that relocating leopards and rehabilitating cheetah and lion does not work and the rehabilitated animals die in the wild. Their emphasis is moving away from animal rescue to education and preservation of natural habitat. The information in the buildings on the tour is outdated and really needs upgrading/updating to show what the organisation is doing now and plans to do in the future."
We had amazing staff to make our stay comfortable - Tobias, the Villa Manager; Emily, the chef and Gabriel, the guide. The staff here made our last 2 nights in Namibia a memorable occasion. The food was delicious and beautifully well-presented. We did leopard tracking drives and saw leopards and numerous giraffe. Sundowners on a hill overlooking the reserve with a heartstopping sunset. It was absolutely wonderful.
We did the Africat tour and this was less good than the game drives, the organisation has found that relocating leopards and rehabilitating cheetah and lion does not work and the rehabilitated animals die in the wild. Their emphasis is moving away from animal rescue to education and preservation of natural habitat. The information in the buildings on the tour is outdated and really needs upgrading/updating to show what the organisation is doing now and plans to do in the future."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Brown Hyena
1 sighting
Giraffe
Many sightings
Leopard
Many sightings
Oryx
Many sightings
Pangolin
1 sighting
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
The welcome from all the staff was very warm starting with the enormously friendly guard at the entrance gate. Excellent accommodation with a great view.
Our first game drive was a good experience, with sundowners in the bush and lots of giraffe."