Travel reviews by Explorer from Dan Brownlee
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
15
Excursions taken
0
My Jun 2023 trip
Namibia and 1 other country between 26 Jun 2023 and 22 Jul 2023
"EA and Maruska provided great guidance and support. Very flexible in allowing us to modify the trip to meet our expanded intentions. Great vehicle, excellent itinerary.
We were surprised at the km of unpaved road. 3000km of 4000km. All serviceable, but occasionally very rough. Fuel readily available. 4305km/12.62km/liter/N$6905/$387 We consider this a good value.
We were very fortunate in that we had no tire or vehicle issues. We thought we were well prepared for communications. To our surprise neither of our iphones with T-mobile worked. We did not want to be out on the road without a phone to call for assistance, so we bought a che ap phone and 100 minutes of time. In the end we didn't need it but would not undertake the drive without a phone. Suggest you offer a phone as part of the package.
2nd- offer a basic sat based GPS system. Map is very good and easy to use, but a GPS allows better definition as to location, time and distance. We brought a basic Garmin GPS with southern Africa maps and it was indispensable.
In summation this was an adventure of a lifetime and EA made it possible."
We were surprised at the km of unpaved road. 3000km of 4000km. All serviceable, but occasionally very rough. Fuel readily available. 4305km/12.62km/liter/N$6905/$387 We consider this a good value.
We were very fortunate in that we had no tire or vehicle issues. We thought we were well prepared for communications. To our surprise neither of our iphones with T-mobile worked. We did not want to be out on the road without a phone to call for assistance, so we bought a che ap phone and 100 minutes of time. In the end we didn't need it but would not undertake the drive without a phone. Suggest you offer a phone as part of the package.
2nd- offer a basic sat based GPS system. Map is very good and easy to use, but a GPS allows better definition as to location, time and distance. We brought a basic Garmin GPS with southern Africa maps and it was indispensable.
In summation this was an adventure of a lifetime and EA made it possible."
Arranged By Maruska AdyeRowe
City Lodge OR Tambo
"City Lodge OR Tambo review"
1 night
Arrived
26 Jun 2023
"Very convenient, nice room, good food and beverage."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Galton House
"Galton House review"
1 night
Arrived
27 Jun 2023
"Great location. Quiet, great service, great food and beverage. Very clean, comfortable rooms."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Kalahari Anib Lodge
"Kalahari Anib Lodge review"
1 night
Arrived
28 Jun 2023
"Good mid-point stop enroute to Fish River canyon. Nice, simple room. Very nice sundowner drive."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Eland
1 sighting
Oryx
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Canyon Lodge
"Canyon Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
29 Jun 2023
"Beautiful setting and location to visit FRC. Great service, food and bevrage. Nice complimentary sundowner hike. Took paid trip to FRC. Very knowledgable guide."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Oryx
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Nest Hotel
"Nest Hotel review"
1 night
Arrived
1 Jul 2023
"Great location for a visit to Luderitz and the Atlantic Ocean. Easy to walk around. Good location to visit the CDM "ghost town"."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Desert Horse Inn
"Desert Horse Inn review"
1 night
Arrived
2 Jul 2023
"Interesting gem in the desert. Good jump-off point for long drive to Bulls Port.
Suggest they install a "real-time" horse cam at the water hole lookout and send a live feed to the bar.
22KM from the inn. Inconvenient to drive there in case some animals might be there. If you knew you woukd make the trip."
Suggest they install a "real-time" horse cam at the water hole lookout and send a live feed to the bar.
22KM from the inn. Inconvenient to drive there in case some animals might be there. If you knew you woukd make the trip."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Sightings report
Oryx
Many sightings
BullsPort Lodge and Farm
"BullsPort Lodge and Farm review"
2 nights
Arrived
3 Jul 2023
"We have mixed feelings about Bulls Port. Good mid-point between DHI and Kulala Desert Lodge. Great farm, 14 lambs born the day we were there. Wonderful owners and staff. Great food and beverage. Took the paid trip to the "Rock Arch". Rough and a bit hazardous. Our driver/guide was great. Saw Mountain Zebras and Steenbok.
If you like you ride horses this an excellent stop."
If you like you ride horses this an excellent stop."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Oryx
1 sighting
Wildebeest
1 sighting
Zebra
Many sightings
Kulala Desert Lodge
"Kulala Desert Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
5 Jul 2023
"Wow! Great location vicinity of Sessreim Canyon, Sousouvlei and Deadvlei. The guided trips were a bit pricey, but the lodge easement to the park was a valuable, timesaving perk!
Great food/bev, staff, room!"
Great food/bev, staff, room!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Oryx
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Cornerstone Guesthouse
"Cornerstone Guesthouse review"
2 nights
Arrived
7 Jul 2023
"Great location. In the middle of history. Great room and breakfast. Great advice for food and sightseeing. Took a informative catamaran trip to see the seals and the Flamingos. Many great food options, coffee shops, bistros, pubs.
I would stay 3 nights if I were to do it again. Too much to see and do in 1 full day. Woulkd do a guided tour of Swakopmund and kayak with the seals."
I would stay 3 nights if I were to do it again. Too much to see and do in 1 full day. Woulkd do a guided tour of Swakopmund and kayak with the seals."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Doro Nawas
"Doro Nawas review"
2 nights
Arrived
9 Jul 2023
"Formidable "fortress in the desert". Everything about the lodge and the chalets was 1st class. Great food/bev and tea.
Took sundowner drive to see elephants and we saw them up close. Memorable experience! Took the guided trip to Twelfontaine to see the rock inscriptions, burnt mountain, the canyon and the Damara living museum. Very interesting and informative. You could do all of these on your own, but using a guide we saw the elephants a second time. We visited the petrified forest site on the way to the next stop."
Took sundowner drive to see elephants and we saw them up close. Memorable experience! Took the guided trip to Twelfontaine to see the rock inscriptions, burnt mountain, the canyon and the Damara living museum. Very interesting and informative. You could do all of these on your own, but using a guide we saw the elephants a second time. We visited the petrified forest site on the way to the next stop."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Elephant
Many sightings
Oryx
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Okaukuejo Camp
"Okaukuejo Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
11 Jul 2023
"Interesting stop. Nice room, close to the waterhole. The food and bev were "institutional". What you would expect from a "park facility" We drove west the 1st day, planning to go east the 2nd day. The drive west was a waste of time. Few animals and just open prairieland. In the afternoon we drove east and that's where the action is. Numerous animals!
The drive across the park on day 2 was excellent. Hundreds of zebras, springbok, oryx, wildabeest, giraffes, elephants, kudu, eland, a mother cheetah and 5 cubs!"
The drive across the park on day 2 was excellent. Hundreds of zebras, springbok, oryx, wildabeest, giraffes, elephants, kudu, eland, a mother cheetah and 5 cubs!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Facilities
Average
Sightings report
Cheetah
Many sightings
Eland
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Oryx
Many sightings
Roan antelope
Many sightings
White Rhino
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Mushara Bush Camp
"Mushara Bush Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
13 Jul 2023
"A simpler, less luxurious lodge, yet a great stay. Nice tented camp. Great food and bev. Great staff and service. Excellent location to go back into the park a 3rd day. Drove north and was rewarded with great sighting at he waterholes."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Cheetah
Many sightings
Eland
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Oryx
Many sightings
White Rhino
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Ai Aiba Lodge
"Ai Aiba Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
15 Jul 2023
"Wow! Do not stay less than 2 nights. Great room food, staff, location. Took the complimentary sundowner climb/hike. Very knowledgeable guide. Took the paid visit to the Sani Bush people living museum and a sundowner to additional rock paintings. We saw plus or minus 100 paintings. On our own we might have seen 10. The last morning we engaged a guide to lead us on the lodge "hiking trail". Could not have navigated or accomplished it without his assistance. Rewarded with more rock paintings.
Ai Aiba Lodge is a magical place!"
Ai Aiba Lodge is a magical place!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Giraffe
Many sightings
Oryx
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Galton House
"Galton House review"
2 nights
Arrived
17 Jul 2023
"Stayed 2 nights in prep for travel back tot eh USA thru Johannesburg.
Same great service as on the way in."
Same great service as on the way in."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
City Lodge OR Tambo
"City Lodge OR Tambo review"
2 nights
Arrived
19 Jul 2023
"Again, very convenient. Took a day city tour thru Viator. Was really pleasantly surprised at the historic and contemporary Johannesburg. Will return to look at it in depth."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent