Travel reviews by B & N from San Diego

"There were so many wonderful things about our trip! That is the most important point - this was better than we expected, and we had very, very high expectations! The tours were fantastic and we saw so many animals close and acting naturally. The lodging and rooms were great, the food plentiful and delicious, the views spectacular, and all the people we met were super friendly and helpful. Overall, this was one of the best experiences of our lives.

What follows are suggestions and tips for other, which by their very nature, tend to focus on the negative. Don't mistake these comments for being more than just small points to help make your trip as great as ours.

Advice to Others:

1. Get an inexpensive SIM card from MTC at the Windhoek airport. Don’t leave the kiosk without making sure it works! Check that you can make calls and get texts.

2. It is a long drive on gravel roads from Windhoek to the Deadvlei area and the drive demands your full attention / concentration - especially if you are used to driving on the other side of the road and not used to driving a 4WD truck. We do not recommend you do this drive after a very long flight. Stay overnight in Windhoek the first night is highly recommended.

3. Get enough cash for tips for tour guides and lodge staff boxes – this can be a significant amount. Get small bills for tips for porters, petrol station attendants, etc. Get some coins for use at bathrooms. Note that South African Rand can be used in Namibia, but not vice versa.

4. Do not trust Google Maps: Part 1: Do not trust Google Maps for the amount of time it takes to travel. It will take much, much longer. This is for several reasons that Google Maps does not take into account: You are most likely driving on gravel roads where you should not exceed 50 km/hr and often slower than this, or you may be on a paved road but behind a slow truck and it may not be safe to pass, or you may be in traffic when in a city, etc. On every long drive we experienced something like the following: Google Maps would say it will take 4 hours to get to our destination, and after driving for nearly 2 hours it would say that we have 3.5 hours to our destination! Add several hours to your estimated travel time. If you get there early, then wonderful – enjoy the extra time. Note that driving after dark is no fun at all, and can be dangerous.

Do not trust Google Maps: Part 2: Do not blindly trust Google Maps for directions. While it works great 85% of the time, of the 15% of the time when it fails, it really fails – e.g. it may suggest driving for hours on rough 4WD dirt roads instead of paved roads, or it will suggest making turns onto roads that are behind gates that cannot be accessed.

Do not trust Google Maps: Part 3: Google Maps will likely advise a path that circumvents any towns if possible, in order to save time. This may not be a good thing. If you want to get fuel (petrol/gasoline/diesel), you may miss your chance.

And finally, we were advised to use Maps.me, but found this to be even less helpful than Google Maps!

5. We traveled to Namibia in their winter, and while we were prepared for the cold, with hats, gloves, jackets and layers of clothing, it still felt very cold at times. This was especially true on the night safari, because we were traveling in an open vehicle with lots of wind. Ponchos and blankets are provided – use them! All this winter clothing takes up precious space in your luggage, so pack with care.

6. It is recommended to always start a conversion by asking how folks are doing and other friendly chat. It is considered rude to jump in and immediately ask for assistance, etc.. If you do this, you’ll get both better service and have a much more rewarding experience.

7. Try learning just a few words in the local language. This can be harder than it sounds, since there are so many languages in Namibia! But just learning to say “hello, how are you” and “thank you” will mean a great deal to the staff, as it shows you care. Your pronunciation does not have to be good (especially with any of the languages with a "click" in them), but just trying will be appreciated.

8. We highly recommend calling each lodge the day you plan to arrive (or even the day before) to let them know of your expected arrival time. You can learn when the tours are offered, and be sure to get there on time. Also, this just puts your mind at ease, knowing that they are expecting you. And some places might even have drinks ready for you!


Some Things to Be Aware Of:

We spent a long, long time at the Windhoek airport (several hours) getting our tour info sorted out and getting the rental car. The tour agents in Namibia are known as "Wilderness" (NTS) [or Wilderness Safaris Namibia]. They have an excellent office/lounge in the airport where you must go and get a brief orientation (watch a very useful short video). They are super kind and helpful. The Europcar folks were very helpful too, but it took a long time to get our vehicle as it was not ready when we arrived.

Note: Our instructions from Expert Africa stated that a representative from Wilderness Safaris will be in the arrival hall holding a sign with our name on it. This was not the case, and we waited a long time before we began to wander about the airport, very concerned that something had gone wrong with our itinerary. Luckily the airport is small and we found the Wilderness Safari office/lounge soon after. They were very friendly and eager to help, which was a much needed relief. The assistance we received from them was so valuable, since we found it a bit tricky to rent the vehicle as we had difficulty finding the reservation number / voucher, but this was all explained to the Europcar agent by the Wilderness representative and things went fine. They took us to the front of the long and slow queue at Europcar, helped us find the exact place where the vehicles are located in the parking lot, and overall were a great source of information and advice. We are very grateful to them, and when we left Namibia we were sure to stop by their office to thank them (and donate a few things we accumulated but didn’t want to bring home). As the first non-immigration/customs people we spoke with in Namibia, their kindness and aid really set the tone for the start of the trip.

The safari tours are great – no doubt about it – but don’t expect to be able to go for a walk during the tour. Most of the time you won’t even leave the vehicle. So you won’t get many steps in, if you are keeping track of your physical activity. And with all the great and plentiful food, it is very easy to put on some pounds – though for us this was certainly way more on the positive end of the spectrum than the negative! Also, unless you know for sure you are hiking and need them, don’t bother with walking poles – you won’t ever get a chance to use them. Since the tours are several hours long and the ride very bumpy, having to pee and having nothing but the "bush toilet" available can be unpleasant for some. Likewise for the many-hours drive between some destinations.

In some areas, not all, expect to be harassed for money by beggars / folks selling junk while getting petrol. It is uncomfortable and unpleasant, but don't be too put off. It is best to say "no thanks", but sometimes it is just easier to give a few Namibian bucks to get someone off your back. We found that the "Puma" petrol stations were the worst for this. At many petrol stations there are security folks and they do make you feel safer.

An "African massage" is a euphemism for the intense – if not violent – vibration you’ll experience driving/riding on some of the dirt roads. The word "vibration" does not do it justice – perhaps "pounding" is more accurate. Overall it was kind of fun to have to hold to your seat-belt strap for dear life, but seriously, if you have any medical problems with your back, do let the guide know in advance – this might not be suitable. Of all the places we went, the African massage at Sossusvlei was the most intense – by far. The shaking can really wear you out. And we did see more than on stranded vehicle, stuck in the sand.

If you happen to be driving from the Sossuslvei/Deadvlei area to Swakopmund, note that the drive is long and sometimes challenging (think narrow, windy, gravel road along a cliff…). The geology is amazing, and the cliffs and mountains turn into an utterly flat plain to the horizon in all directions. Not far from Sesriem is the small town of Solitaire. Stop here to get petrol – there’s not much else between Solitaire and Swakopmund. Also, grab a bite at the cafe – the locals seem to love the apple strudel - it is fine, but don’t expect amazing. The sandwiches were pretty lousy, but coffee was very nice. The distances between destinations in Namibia can be quite large and take a long time. Enjoy the experience and scenery– don’t rush the drive or it’ll become less fun and more dangerous."