Travel reviews by Mr S & Ms M from USA

"Good option for first night in Namibia. Alan was very helpful - gifting a travel adapter to us for the entire trip (it turns out that what had been sold to us in the USA as a Namibia adapter was no good as the pins were too small since all the sockets are actually South African format).

Expert Africa --- be useful to advise clients that the typical multi-country adapters that traveller have are no use for Namibia - most places having SA sockets as indicated above. Also local supermarket stocked adapters at very low price."

"Generally good. Felt that kitchen could have been more creative with food. Also, noticeable difference in quality of service on second night (seemed there had been a shift change)."

"This definitely did not live up to expectations. Great location with excellent walking opportunities. Service was really poor (bordering on terrible). Food wasn't really up to much either. When we arrived we were met by the new owner, but she seemed more focused on some other stuff she was doing than checking us in - she also just pointed us in the direction of our room -- couldn't be bothered walking to it with us to show us the ropes so to speak.

At dinner the owners, their friend and the other guests all sat round one table. Very noticeable that the owners etc. served themselves first before offering any food from the pot to the paying guests. The next day a small coach load of guests arrived and dinner was delayed by over an hour until they returned from a sundowner drive -- note that it wasn't option to get a G&T before dinner at the Lodge itself because the sundowner party had taken all of the gin with them!

Breakfast on the first morning was poor - first we had to ask for food. Second, the teapot was empty. When owner joined our table and i pointed out the teapot needed refreshing she reached to the other table for a full coffee pot, since she wanted coffee, but the teapot remained empty.

Bottom line: the owners are not service-minded and no matter how much they renovate the place, i don't see the level of service improving beyond "poor"."

"Very good. Welcoming and friendly hosts. Marked difference from Zebra River Lodge."

"As far as location goes, this was perhaps the best place we stayed in Namibia.

Would have been nice to have had a few walks offered from the Lodge, but otherwise service good and only thing that could have been improved was food (perfectly safe but not particularly creative)."

"One of the best waterholes in the area. Rooms are not fancy but very comfortable. Meals are all buffet style.

Note that accommodation cost does NOT include park fees (contrary to Bradt Guide)."

"Ordinarily, this would have been a fine place to stay, however, many of the roads East of Halali and West of Springbokfontein are closed for the remainder of 2009.

This meant that a number of waterholes were inaccessible and that we needed to drive at least 20 kilometers each day to get to see any animals (waterholes with water). It was repetitive driving too --- one road in and one road out.

Expert Africa: While roads are closed I would avoid Halali and have guests stay at Okakuejo or Namatumi."

"We were upgraded to a Bush Chalet (we had been booked into the Main Camp). This was superb.

Service was excellent and the best we experienced in Namibia. In addition the food was also excellent. Although the animals are in an 'enclosed' space -- this is so huge (thousands of square kilometers) that even the animals that are radio-collared were difficult to find."

"Fine for a 2 night stay, not enough walking to warrant more than that. Location is very good and management/staff were very helpful.

Afternoon tea is certainly worth partaking in (great cakes). We were sufficiently impressed by the sundowner walk that we did it both nights."