Travel reviews by Mrs J from Warwick
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
14
Excursions taken
0
Fantastic experience and trouble free
Namibia and 1 other country between 24 Jul 2009 and 17 Aug 2009
"Officials generally were not very helpful or pleasant eg at border, NWR park receptions (Hobas, Sossusvlei, Anderson gate - exception Ai-Ais).
Betesda - one night here before Sossusvlei would have been enough, then straight on to Rostock Ritz for 2 nights from Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei - 4 wheel drive ticket is now NA$110pp
Solitaire - a must to stop off for petrol and atmsophere at Moose's for apple crumble and coffee - general buzz of overlanders
Etosha
Is it right that the park fees are not included in the Park Lodge accommodation costs?
Saw 11 lions watched game herds approaching Springbokfontein waterhole.
Etosha Pan look out is a must
Lunch stop at Namutoni, really liked the atmosphere and cleanliness of this site, nicely laid out.
Cape Interliner bus service to Livingstone was 1.5 hours late leaving Tsumeb and 3 hours late at Livingstone.
Exceptional help and planning from Sabina in organising our trip, thank you!
Suggestions for improvements:
Definitely we would recommend Expert Africa."
Betesda - one night here before Sossusvlei would have been enough, then straight on to Rostock Ritz for 2 nights from Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei - 4 wheel drive ticket is now NA$110pp
Solitaire - a must to stop off for petrol and atmsophere at Moose's for apple crumble and coffee - general buzz of overlanders
Etosha
Is it right that the park fees are not included in the Park Lodge accommodation costs?
Saw 11 lions watched game herds approaching Springbokfontein waterhole.
Etosha Pan look out is a must
Lunch stop at Namutoni, really liked the atmosphere and cleanliness of this site, nicely laid out.
Cape Interliner bus service to Livingstone was 1.5 hours late leaving Tsumeb and 3 hours late at Livingstone.
Exceptional help and planning from Sabina in organising our trip, thank you!
Suggestions for improvements:
Definitely we would recommend Expert Africa."
Arranged By Sabina Hekandjo
OA in CPT (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Great start to Africa"
4 nights
Arrived
25 Jul 2009
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Mountain View Guest House
"Mountain View Guest House"
1 night
Arrived
29 Jul 2009
"Very friendy hostess, rooms very comfortable.
Ate well at Taurens Steak Ranch, recommended by MVGH."
Ate well at Taurens Steak Ranch, recommended by MVGH."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Canyon Lodge
"Canyon Lodge base before FRC - standard room"
1 night
Arrived
30 Jul 2009
"Good base for Fish River Canyon hike, half hour from Hobas, lodge provides transfers.
We omitteed to note that South African time was one hour ahead - staff did not bat an eyelid when we turned up for breakfast at 5.30am and served us willingly!
Hot water bottles provided in beds much appreciated."
We omitteed to note that South African time was one hour ahead - staff did not bat an eyelid when we turned up for breakfast at 5.30am and served us willingly!
Hot water bottles provided in beds much appreciated."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Average
Food
Excellent
OA Fish River Hike (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Fish RIver Hike"
4 nights
Arrived
31 Jul 2009
"Advertised as 4 to 5 days, we would have preferred to have done it in 6 to enjoy the scenery more.
Do not rely on getting maps or much information at Hobas.
Make sure you have all insurance and documents to hand etc when registering with NWR.
Wonderful new facilities at Ai-Ais, including massages! Hot pools are still free.
Mobile phone reception at Ai-Ais."
Do not rely on getting maps or much information at Hobas.
Make sure you have all insurance and documents to hand etc when registering with NWR.
Wonderful new facilities at Ai-Ais, including massages! Hot pools are still free.
Mobile phone reception at Ai-Ais."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Canyon Lodge
"Return to Canyon Lodge after walk."
1 night
Arrived
4 Aug 2009
"Prompt friendly pick up from Ai-Ais by Rudy, who spotted game etc.
This time stayed in chalets, great locations.
Dining room very atmospheric, with several fires."
This time stayed in chalets, great locations.
Dining room very atmospheric, with several fires."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Kalahari Anib Lodge
"Kalahari Anib Lodge"
1 night
Arrived
5 Aug 2009
"Very welcoming, nicely laid out.
Sunrise safari to edge of Kalahari dunes well worthwhile and at N$225 good value for money. Very cold!
Good night time water hole.
Fixed menu announced in three languages, German, English and Nama!"
Sunrise safari to edge of Kalahari dunes well worthwhile and at N$225 good value for money. Very cold!
Good night time water hole.
Fixed menu announced in three languages, German, English and Nama!"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Elegant Desert Lodge
"Betesda Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
6 Aug 2009
"Very functional.
Solar water heating limited, no hot water from late afternoon!
Would have preferred one night here, and gone on to Rostok directly for two nights after early morning visit to Sossusvlei, rather than back to Betesda."
Solar water heating limited, no hot water from late afternoon!
Would have preferred one night here, and gone on to Rostok directly for two nights after early morning visit to Sossusvlei, rather than back to Betesda."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Average
Service
Average
Rooms
Average
Food
Average
Rostock Ritz
"Rostock Ritz"
1 night
Arrived
8 Aug 2009
"Greeted by "house zebra" who led us to the front door.
Fantastic location on hillside, loved the rooms with views over the savannah.
Great pool area.
Would have liked more time to do some hikes."
Fantastic location on hillside, loved the rooms with views over the savannah.
Great pool area.
Would have liked more time to do some hikes."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Sam's Giardino
"Sam's Giardino Swakopmund"
1 night
Arrived
9 Aug 2009
"Very good linen.
Interesting proprietor, set menu was good.
Breakfast exceptionally good range.
Comfortable lounge areas, free internet access."
Interesting proprietor, set menu was good.
Breakfast exceptionally good range.
Comfortable lounge areas, free internet access."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Ondudu Safari Lodge
"Erongo Wilderness Lodge"
1 night
Arrived
10 Aug 2009
"Fantastic location, individual tented chalets nicely isolated, we liked the smallness of hte lodge.
welcome Pimms!
Wonderful relaxation areas
Very good linen and beautifully presented rooms.
Sun-rise and -downer bird watching guided walks.
Very friendly staff, with some nice individual touches."
welcome Pimms!
Wonderful relaxation areas
Very good linen and beautifully presented rooms.
Sun-rise and -downer bird watching guided walks.
Very friendly staff, with some nice individual touches."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Okaukuejo Camp
"Okaukuejo Camp, Etosha."
2 nights
Arrived
11 Aug 2009
"Bush chalets by water hole fantastically situated.
Best water hole - lots of elephant, giraffe, zebra, rhino, springbok, jackals, and birds
Beautiful linen
Waterhole at Ozonjuitji m'Bari was remoter and teeming with antelopes and zebra, sandgrouse.
5 lions at Gemsbokvlakte."
Best water hole - lots of elephant, giraffe, zebra, rhino, springbok, jackals, and birds
Beautiful linen
Waterhole at Ozonjuitji m'Bari was remoter and teeming with antelopes and zebra, sandgrouse.
5 lions at Gemsbokvlakte."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Average
Facilities
Average
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Halali Camp
"Halali Camp"
1 night
Arrived
13 Aug 2009
"Very dusty
Confusing layout of chalets.
Good individual barbeque areas to chalets
No game at water hole, plenty of sandgrouse.
Chalet 45 shower flooded the bathroom!
Park linen is excellent."
Confusing layout of chalets.
Good individual barbeque areas to chalets
No game at water hole, plenty of sandgrouse.
Chalet 45 shower flooded the bathroom!
Park linen is excellent."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Average
Food
Average
Rooms
Good
Facilities
Average
Minen Hotel (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Minen Hotel, Tsumeb"
1 night
Arrived
14 Aug 2009
"Functional business hotel.
Bed linen poor
Non-smoking room smelt of tobacco, garden door would not open.
fridge did not work,
staff were helpfull"
Bed linen poor
Non-smoking room smelt of tobacco, garden door would not open.
fridge did not work,
staff were helpfull"
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Good
Service
Good
Rooms
Average
Food
Average
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Hilltop House, Namibia (this camp has since closed)
"Hilltop House"
1 night
Arrived
15 Aug 2009
"Leopold very welcoming and helpful.
Secure.
Big spacious rooms with views, tatty towels.
Poolside breakfast nice location, but all courses served simultaneously!"
Secure.
Big spacious rooms with views, tatty towels.
Poolside breakfast nice location, but all courses served simultaneously!"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Average
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Robben Island visit well worth while. Note Penquin boardwalk, the guides do not necessarily point it out.
Climbed up and down Platteklipp route to top of Table Mountain, steep but worth the effort.
Cable car was closed for annual maintenance, allow plenty of time if one wants to walk along the full length.
Entry fee required to Cape of Good Hope park area R60 pp
Recommend Karibu to eat on V&A waterfront."