Travel reviews by J n S from Yorkshire
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
7
Excursions taken
0
My Feb 2023 trip
Namibia between 24 Feb 2023 and 13 Mar 2023
"A memorable trip to a new country. Any negatives about one or two places we stayed are more than outweighed by the excellent other ones. It was much hotter than expected (8-10 C above seasonal norms) and this, a bit of tummy trouble and the gravel roads made it tiring at times (and these are all hazards that are part and parcel of a trip and nothing that yourselves could / should expect to deal with).
The characteristics of travelling on gravel or tarmac are so different that we could have done with being better informed about specific routes when planning. Also the passage of time renders some of the guidebook information out of date and this is a problem on the map also. For example the map incorrectly shows a petrol station at Seeheim - this meant retracing our steps for 60 km (so an extra 120km which then meant missing an activity at our destination) to ensure we had enough petrol.
We lost count of the number of coffee shops / bakeries in the guidebook that had closed / disappeared. Having sussed the driving out we went "off-piste" and cancelled one overnight stay and cut-short our stay at Sesriem so we could fit in a stay at Walvis Bay. We let the cancelled place know but our email to Expect Africa to tell of the same went unacknowledged apart from an "o-o-o but someone is covering for me" reply.
Namibia is a spectacular country with friendly people and provided us with some great memories."
The characteristics of travelling on gravel or tarmac are so different that we could have done with being better informed about specific routes when planning. Also the passage of time renders some of the guidebook information out of date and this is a problem on the map also. For example the map incorrectly shows a petrol station at Seeheim - this meant retracing our steps for 60 km (so an extra 120km which then meant missing an activity at our destination) to ensure we had enough petrol.
We lost count of the number of coffee shops / bakeries in the guidebook that had closed / disappeared. Having sussed the driving out we went "off-piste" and cancelled one overnight stay and cut-short our stay at Sesriem so we could fit in a stay at Walvis Bay. We let the cancelled place know but our email to Expect Africa to tell of the same went unacknowledged apart from an "o-o-o but someone is covering for me" reply.
Namibia is a spectacular country with friendly people and provided us with some great memories."
Arranged By Tom Morris
Kalahari Anib Lodge
"Kalahari Anib Lodge review"
1 night
Arrived
25 Feb 2023
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Good
Service
Good
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Fish River Lodge
"Fish River Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
26 Feb 2023
"Stunning place.
Very happy to have visited here and done the trip to the canyon bottom with a knowledgeable and great guide. A great memory to take home (especially the swim in the canyon - with fish!).
Food was fine - breakfast was ok (truly terrible cappucino). Shop selling "bushmen" walking sticks felt a bit odd - my understanding is that is considered a disrespectful term to use?
Fantastic views from the chalets, they live up to their slogan - "the edge of infinity"."
Very happy to have visited here and done the trip to the canyon bottom with a knowledgeable and great guide. A great memory to take home (especially the swim in the canyon - with fish!).
Food was fine - breakfast was ok (truly terrible cappucino). Shop selling "bushmen" walking sticks felt a bit odd - my understanding is that is considered a disrespectful term to use?
Fantastic views from the chalets, they live up to their slogan - "the edge of infinity"."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Facilities
Good
Desert Horse Inn
"Desert Horse Inn review"
1 night
Arrived
28 Feb 2023
"The best food of the entire trip.
Rooms are a bit tired - which is not that important but the beds were uncomfortable.
Good swimming pool and lovely staff.
Used this as a one day stop to break up a longish journey - didn't find that much to do in the area, another time might go all the way to Luderitz or further north."
Rooms are a bit tired - which is not that important but the beds were uncomfortable.
Good swimming pool and lovely staff.
Used this as a one day stop to break up a longish journey - didn't find that much to do in the area, another time might go all the way to Luderitz or further north."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Average
Service
Good
Rooms
Average
Food
Excellent
Sightings report
Oryx
1 sighting
Desert Quiver Camp
"Desert Quiver Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
1 Mar 2023
"Really like the camp set up, sensible and low key.
Location is very convenient for Sesriem / Sossuvlei. Having done Fish River it felt that a two night stay here was a bit of overkill.
We had plenty of time to do everything we wanted with a one night stay so we left a day early and went on the the coast.
The desert location is lovely and the opportunity to braai was a nice change."
Location is very convenient for Sesriem / Sossuvlei. Having done Fish River it felt that a two night stay here was a bit of overkill.
We had plenty of time to do everything we wanted with a one night stay so we left a day early and went on the the coast.
The desert location is lovely and the opportunity to braai was a nice change."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Rooms
Average
Sightings report
Oryx
Many sightings
Mushara Bush Camp
"Mushara Bush Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
4 Mar 2023
"Good rooms and nice service, the staff were charming and friendly.
Loved seeing the warthogs running around the camp.
Good access to eastern end of Etosha."
Loved seeing the warthogs running around the camp.
Good access to eastern end of Etosha."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Sightings report
Eland
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Oryx
Many sightings
Roan antelope
Many sightings
Sable antelope
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Camp Kipwe
"Camp Kipwe review"
2 nights
Arrived
8 Mar 2023
"Best location of entire trip. Great place with characterful, comfortable rooms.
Food was excellent and staff great. Trip to see the desert elephants with a knowledgeable and patient guide.
This place will live long in the memory (particularly the sundowners). Fantastic location with wonderful views.
Swimming in the pool whilst being watched by a gecko and a mongoose was especially memorable."
Food was excellent and staff great. Trip to see the desert elephants with a knowledgeable and patient guide.
This place will live long in the memory (particularly the sundowners). Fantastic location with wonderful views.
Swimming in the pool whilst being watched by a gecko and a mongoose was especially memorable."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Sightings report
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Oryx
Many sightings
Cornerstone Guesthouse
"Cornerstone Guesthouse review"
2 nights
Arrived
10 Mar 2023
"Friendly, well thought out and efficient. Well set up rooms and friendly staff.
Guesthouse location is pretty central although it did feel a bit lonely at night when walking back (quite pleased to be given a mobile phone to be used in case of problems).
Enjoyed Swakopmund as a change from the aridity of the interior and a chance to cool off (Namibia was unseasonably hot for our visit - 8 to 10 degree C above long term averages - so this was really good in those terms).
Breakfast was OK but bread a let down - and this in a town with some good bakeries (understandable in places where things may be difficult to source but here we hoped for better).
Some great local eateries: The Tug, Kuckis and Bojos were all great."
Guesthouse location is pretty central although it did feel a bit lonely at night when walking back (quite pleased to be given a mobile phone to be used in case of problems).
Enjoyed Swakopmund as a change from the aridity of the interior and a chance to cool off (Namibia was unseasonably hot for our visit - 8 to 10 degree C above long term averages - so this was really good in those terms).
Breakfast was OK but bread a let down - and this in a town with some good bakeries (understandable in places where things may be difficult to source but here we hoped for better).
Some great local eateries: The Tug, Kuckis and Bojos were all great."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Perfectly comfortable but food at breakfast and dinner was ok to undistinguished. Lunch ordered from the menu was much better.
Enjoyed the walking route in the Kalahari. Friendly staff."