Travel reviews by Mr D. from Stillwater
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
4
Lodges stayed in
12
Excursions taken
1
My June 2023 trip
Namibia and 3 other countries between 31 May 2023 and 19 Jun 2023
"Start to finish, this was an amazing trip. The guidance, planning and details worked into the trip by Maruska helped to make it so.
I am an independent traveler with considerable experience in Africa (45 countries on the continent) and usually make my own arrangements--or make things up as I go--but on the recommendation of a friend--and on a short fuse for putting it all together--I reached out to Maruska for help and am glad that I did.
Lodging, safaris, meals, and movements along the way were all excellent because of her expert guidance. This is one of the best experiences I have had on the continent.
This was the first experience for my wife in southern Africa and her first safari trips. It was a perfect introduction for her and memorable for both of us.
No problems. No worries. No issues or complaints."
I am an independent traveler with considerable experience in Africa (45 countries on the continent) and usually make my own arrangements--or make things up as I go--but on the recommendation of a friend--and on a short fuse for putting it all together--I reached out to Maruska for help and am glad that I did.
Lodging, safaris, meals, and movements along the way were all excellent because of her expert guidance. This is one of the best experiences I have had on the continent.
This was the first experience for my wife in southern Africa and her first safari trips. It was a perfect introduction for her and memorable for both of us.
No problems. No worries. No issues or complaints."
Arranged By Maruska AdyeRowe
City Lodge OR Tambo
"City Lodge OR Tambo review"
1 night
Arrived
1 Jun 2023
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Batonka Guest Lodge
"Batonka Guest Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
2 Jun 2023
"It would be more convenient to be closer to the town and falls, as that is the focus of most visits to the area, but I liked the lodge, the services, the grounds, quiet and comfy rooms, good breakfasts and excellent dinners."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Average
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sable Alley
"Sable Alley review"
2 nights
Arrived
4 Jun 2023
"This was the best overall lodging experience of this trip (though Mma Dinare and Xaro were also in the same league).
The tent cabins were very nice, the meals and services were outstanding, wildlife in and around the camp quite plentiful, safari experiences unparalleled, and the guide (Sy) was fantastic."
The tent cabins were very nice, the meals and services were outstanding, wildlife in and around the camp quite plentiful, safari experiences unparalleled, and the guide (Sy) was fantastic."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Buffalo
1 sighting
Elephant
10+ sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Hippo
10+ sightings
Leopard
4 sightings
Lion
10+ sightings
Spotted Hyena
5 sightings
Wild dog
6 sightings
Wildebeest
10+ sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Mma Dinare
"Mma Dinare review"
2 nights
Arrived
6 Jun 2023
"This was a close second in the overall lodging, safari, and wildlife experiences enjoyed in the delta (and all during the trip, actually).
The facilities were great (though a half-notch down from Sable Alley), services excellent, guides were super, and wildlife experiences varied and plentiful. We stayed more on established vehicle paths, with less crashing through the brush to get the best sightings, as at Sable Alley, with fewer long experiences in one amazing spot while up close and personal with lions and leopards, but a greater variety of wildlife was encountered while at Mma Dinare and one long encounter with wild dogs was amazing.
An sunset ride in a mokoro on the Gomoti River was a special treat."
The facilities were great (though a half-notch down from Sable Alley), services excellent, guides were super, and wildlife experiences varied and plentiful. We stayed more on established vehicle paths, with less crashing through the brush to get the best sightings, as at Sable Alley, with fewer long experiences in one amazing spot while up close and personal with lions and leopards, but a greater variety of wildlife was encountered while at Mma Dinare and one long encounter with wild dogs was amazing.
An sunset ride in a mokoro on the Gomoti River was a special treat."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Buffalo
10+ sightings
Elephant
10+ sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Hippo
10+ sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
9 sightings
Wild dog
10+ sightings
Wildebeest
10+ sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Thamalakane River Lodge
"Thamalakane River Lodge review"
1 night
Arrived
8 Jun 2023
"This spot was a bit outside of Maun and in the opposite direction than we were heading out the next morning but I don't know what lodging options might have put us on the road SW of Maun (our path the next day) and I really liked the lodge and setting very much so...no complaints."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Average
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Xaro Lodge (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Xaro Lodge review"
1 night
Arrived
9 Jun 2023
"The setting, grounds, attention to visitors, and staff were all on par with the best lodging we had on this trip.
The brief river trip to access the lodge was also a nice bonus at the end of a long day.
It mad me wish I had another day to explore the area and to stay another night in this lovely spot."
The brief river trip to access the lodge was also a nice bonus at the end of a long day.
It mad me wish I had another day to explore the area and to stay another night in this lovely spot."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Hakusembe River Lodge
"Hakusembe River Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
10 Jun 2023
"This lodge catered to larger groups and was a different experience than the quiet and sedate Xaro Lodge but was, like Xaro, beautifully situated on the river with plenty of opportunities to explore the river and environs (which we did, including two river excursions).
Proximity to the Mbunza Living Museum--just a short walk from the lodge--was also a bonus.
The room assigned was large and comfortable, the setting marvelous, and the buffet meals were great."
Proximity to the Mbunza Living Museum--just a short walk from the lodge--was also a bonus.
The room assigned was large and comfortable, the setting marvelous, and the buffet meals were great."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Mushara Bush Camp
"Mushara Bush Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
12 Jun 2023
"The bush camp was a quiet and comfortable place to stay, meals were excellent and the public areas very accommodating.
The quality of the rooms and meals, and certainly the service, was superior to the next two places inside Etosha NP (Halali and Okaukuejo), but the presence of the amazing lighted waterholes at Halali and Okaukuejo--something lacking at Mushara--made up for any rough edges in facilities or service at those two interior camps."
The quality of the rooms and meals, and certainly the service, was superior to the next two places inside Etosha NP (Halali and Okaukuejo), but the presence of the amazing lighted waterholes at Halali and Okaukuejo--something lacking at Mushara--made up for any rough edges in facilities or service at those two interior camps."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Sightings report
Eland
1 sighting
Elephant
10+ sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Oryx
1 sighting
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Wildebeest
10+ sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Halali Camp
"Halali Camp review"
1 night
Arrived
14 Jun 2023
"Halali caters to larger numbers of people and is a less personal experience--no comparison to places like Sable Alley or Xaro--but the room was comfy, the food was fine, and the location is ideal for ending a day in the middle of the park without having to hustle to make a gate closing at the east or west end.
Also, sitting by the lighted waterhole at sunset and nightfall was a real treat and the best kind of entertainment that Etosha could offer."
Also, sitting by the lighted waterhole at sunset and nightfall was a real treat and the best kind of entertainment that Etosha could offer."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Average
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Average
Food
Good
Facilities
Average
Sightings report
Black Rhino
3 sightings
Eland
1 sighting
Elephant
10+ sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Oryx
10+ sightings
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Wildebeest
10+ sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Okaukuejo Camp
"Okaukuejo Camp review"
1 night
Arrived
15 Jun 2023
"Comments from the Halali camp will be echoed here. Same type of camp environment, level of service, food, etc--all OK...no complaints...but not on par with private lodges outside the park (or those experienced in Botswana).
The location inside the park and with an adjacent, lighted waterhole are big attractions for this camp as a place to settle for the night."
The location inside the park and with an adjacent, lighted waterhole are big attractions for this camp as a place to settle for the night."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Average
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Average
Food
Average
Facilities
Average
Sightings report
Black Rhino
4 sightings
Eland
6 sightings
Elephant
10+ sightings
Giraffe
10+ sightings
Oryx
10+ sightings
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Wildebeest
10+ sightings
Zebra
10+ sightings
Hansa Hotel
"Hansa Hotel review"
2 nights
Arrived
16 Jun 2023
"Such an amazing, historic hotel. we loved the Hansa and its room and hallways and lovely restaurant with amazing food.
Breakfasts were excellent and the German cuisine for diner was ummmmmm-good."
Breakfasts were excellent and the German cuisine for diner was ummmmmm-good."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Coast and Sandwich Harbour
"Coast and Sandwich Harbour review"
17 Jun 2023 • All-day excursion
A super, terrific, awesome day. I expected a great trip and it exceeded expectations.
The rich birdlife at the coast and the roller coaster route back through the Namib dunes were fantastic.
Views were amazing! Such an incredible immersive experience. It helped that we had an unusually clear, blue-sky day, all day, and our guide--Rudi--was fantastic. He knows and clearly loves the Namib Desert world and everything in it.
Fun trip!
The rich birdlife at the coast and the roller coaster route back through the Namib dunes were fantastic.
Views were amazing! Such an incredible immersive experience. It helped that we had an unusually clear, blue-sky day, all day, and our guide--Rudi--was fantastic. He knows and clearly loves the Namib Desert world and everything in it.
Fun trip!
Excellent
Villa Violet
"Villa Violet review"
1 night
Arrived
18 Jun 2023
"A quiet and safe respite from a bunkered and barb-wired city.
Windhoek lacks the walkability of Swakopmund and is less pleasant to explore but there are lovely spots here and there and Villa Violet was one of those places.
Quiet and comfortable room, gentle and helpful staff, and proximal to the route to the airport for the next morning."
Windhoek lacks the walkability of Swakopmund and is less pleasant to explore but there are lovely spots here and there and Villa Violet was one of those places.
Quiet and comfortable room, gentle and helpful staff, and proximal to the route to the airport for the next morning."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Right in the airport. How convenient! Comfortable and quiet room. Good breakfast.
No need to catch a bus or taxi to the airport to get to the next flight."