Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs C from Gloucs
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
12
Excursions taken
0
A Stunning Intro to Namibia
Namibia between 19 Sep 2009 and 8 Oct 2009
"We have discussed this on our way home and are quite happy to say this is the best Holiday we have ever had. Fantastic country, great people, great food in general and the experience of getting us close to some big animals was wonderful.
We did not really know what to expect but this surpassed any thoughts that we did have, so much so that we have decided we will return at some point!
It also has to be said that the expertise of Expert Africa has truly impressed us even down to this feedback process!!!
Suggestions for improvement:
Difficult really. Perhaps you could do a short survey prior to planning trips to ascertain interest of the group which might help you steer the plan towards certain camps and locations....having seen the facilities in Etosha itself, as a keen photographer I would have rather stayed in the park in preference to the Aobi and Fort Lodges...."
We did not really know what to expect but this surpassed any thoughts that we did have, so much so that we have decided we will return at some point!
It also has to be said that the expertise of Expert Africa has truly impressed us even down to this feedback process!!!
Suggestions for improvement:
Difficult really. Perhaps you could do a short survey prior to planning trips to ascertain interest of the group which might help you steer the plan towards certain camps and locations....having seen the facilities in Etosha itself, as a keen photographer I would have rather stayed in the park in preference to the Aobi and Fort Lodges...."
Arranged By Tracy Lederer
Eningu Clayhouse
"The best start to a Namibian Journey"
2 nights
Arrived
19 Sep 2009
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch
"Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review"
2 nights
Arrived
21 Sep 2009
"The staff were not as friendly at this game ranch and we felt pressurised to do the game drive and sundowner drinks - it felt over commercialised.
On reflection we would also rather experience Cheetahs in the type of surroundings that we had at Okonjima where it feels that they have more space and shelter."
On reflection we would also rather experience Cheetahs in the type of surroundings that we had at Okonjima where it feels that they have more space and shelter."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Good
Service
Average
Activities
Average
Rooms
Average
Food
Average
Facilities
Average
BullsPort Lodge and Farm
"Bullsport Guest Farm review"
2 nights
Arrived
23 Sep 2009
"A good place to stay with lovely home cooking in the evenings. The walking and horse riding options were good especially the Olive Tree Walk.
We did have some concerns as the pool was not as clean as other places and we did witness one of the dogs doing its 'business' near the pool, not very savoury!"
We did have some concerns as the pool was not as clean as other places and we did witness one of the dogs doing its 'business' near the pool, not very savoury!"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Average
Feedback response
Johanna and Ernst, the owners of Bullsport, take great pride in their property and have responded very proactively to this feedback. They were delighted to hear that these travellers enjoyed the food and activities here but were sorry that a couple of points slightly marred their stay. They have apologized for the pool looking dirty and that the dogs were roaming near the pool. Unfortunately, due recent to high winds, a lot of dust had got into the pool – this has now been cleaned and the pool returns to being blue. Johanna and Ernst have also informed us that they have now finished their own private garden which is fenced in, so the dogs run around in there as opposed to on the lawn by the pool.
Southern Africa Manager
Kulala Desert Lodge
"Kulala Desert Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
25 Sep 2009
"Great location and some lovely staff especially on the evening that they sang to us all. The drive could have been better timed to get us to the dunes earlier to get the best light for photographs..."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Villa Margherita
"Villa Margherita review"
2 nights
Arrived
27 Sep 2009
"A nice place to stay if you need to be in Swakopmund. That said in future I would not chose to stay 2 nights here I would rather move on back into the 'real' Namibia that we came to see."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Doro Nawas
"Doro Nawas review"
2 nights
Arrived
29 Sep 2009
"A stunning location especially for the sundowner experience and to see the desert Elephants.
We had an unfortunate experience with a radio failure which meant that we did not get to see one of the big herds in the early morning drive. That siad the camp did allow us to go again in the afternoon where we had a wonderful experience of the herd in late evening light.
The sleeping out experience is NOT to be missed, truly wonderful."
We had an unfortunate experience with a radio failure which meant that we did not get to see one of the big herds in the early morning drive. That siad the camp did allow us to go again in the afternoon where we had a wonderful experience of the herd in late evening light.
The sleeping out experience is NOT to be missed, truly wonderful."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
Facilities
Good
Ongava Lodge
"Ongava Lodge review"
1 night
Arrived
1 Oct 2009
"For some reason we felt quite pressurised here. As soon as we arrived it felt like we had hardly paused for breath and we were being booked on trips.
In the end we went to the hide (which I had to ask for rather than it being offered) and we were really glad that we did as this was the only place we saw lions. We also saw them again at night outside of the room which was a great experience. We also saw 5 rhino at the water hole during and after supper."
In the end we went to the hide (which I had to ask for rather than it being offered) and we were really glad that we did as this was the only place we saw lions. We also saw them again at night outside of the room which was a great experience. We also saw 5 rhino at the water hole during and after supper."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Good
Service
Average
Activities
Average
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
Facilities
Good
Onguma Forest Camp
"Etosha Aoba Lodge review"
1 night
Arrived
2 Oct 2009
"After some of the other lodges this one felt rather dated and because it is hidden away in the trees it perhaps lacked the atmosphere of the others."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Average
Service
Average
Facilities
Average
Rooms
Poor
Food
Good
Onguma The Fort
"Onguma Plains Camp review"
1 night
Arrived
3 Oct 2009
"In many ways this should have been the highlight of the trip given the location and standards of this lodge. However we were quite surprised to find that the water was heated by gas and we also felt slightly uncomfortable at times with the ostentatious usage of water given the scarcity of this resource in the country.
We would have also prefered to have a little less fuss about getting to a from the rooms by use of golf carts. There was not the same apparent threat as at Ongava. This would have been a great place to sleep out again if they could ahve safety poles and wires on the balconies as at other Doro Nowas.
The staff were celarly highly trained and the food was good, but for us the best bit was the evening songs that we were treated to... fantastic!"
We would have also prefered to have a little less fuss about getting to a from the rooms by use of golf carts. There was not the same apparent threat as at Ongava. This would have been a great place to sleep out again if they could ahve safety poles and wires on the balconies as at other Doro Nowas.
The staff were celarly highly trained and the food was good, but for us the best bit was the evening songs that we were treated to... fantastic!"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Average
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Okonjima Plains Camp
"Okonjima Main Camp review"
1 night
Arrived
4 Oct 2009
"We would have liked to stay here longer!!!
In our opinion, Michael was the best guide we had on the whole trip, very knowledgeable, mature and calm about what he does. The food was good and the pool was superb.
The Leopard drive in the morning was great fun and if we had stayed another night I would have gone on the Cheetah drive again. It was so nice to see them with space and lots of shelter."
In our opinion, Michael was the best guide we had on the whole trip, very knowledgeable, mature and calm about what he does. The food was good and the pool was superb.
The Leopard drive in the morning was great fun and if we had stayed another night I would have gone on the Cheetah drive again. It was so nice to see them with space and lots of shelter."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Ondudu Safari Lodge
"Erongo Wilderness Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
5 Oct 2009
"Great location, and really nice to be able to walk around a bit.
There always seemed to be something going on here, either Baboons or other noises and some lovely birds, plus some lovely porcupines in the evenings."
There always seemed to be something going on here, either Baboons or other noises and some lovely birds, plus some lovely porcupines in the evenings."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Olive Grove
"Olive Grove review"
1 night
Arrived
7 Oct 2009
"In some ways this is hard to rate given the other places we had stayed in. It gave us good access to Windhoek which was fine but it just felt restricted.
The standard room was a disappointment after the others we had stayed in."
The standard room was a disappointment after the others we had stayed in."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Average
Service
Average
Facilities
Average
Rooms
Average
Food
Average
The walking trails are very well laid out and there are lots of information points to help to gain more knowledge about the local trees and shrubs and ways of life...excellent!
The food was quite the best that we experienced on the whole journey. We can think of no better place to start and finish one's visit to Namibia, and any future trips will have this as the start and finish point!"