Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs A from Hants

"Good welcome and great pool for tired youngsters after our car hire experience."

"Generous inclusion of wine with evening meal appreciated!!!"

"Reception very helpful suggesting and booking restaurants and excursions.

Designer pillows on bed uncomfortable.

Youngsters would have appreciated pool."

"Exceptionally welcoming staff.

Inclusion of wine appreciated."

"but it was Christmas.

We found the infrastructure, maintenance and management on our trip into Etosha had deteriorated badly since our last visit, and were most grateful you had insisted on booking us into Ongava for Christmas."

"The corrugated steel buildings reminded us of an industrial estate, but facilities inside were O.K.

Breakfast service was without system and appalling, but food was good. No air con.

The use of radio collars to locate game could be considered questionable."

"Comfortable hotel in a backwater near Kirstenbosch Gardens.

Children well catered for, with swimming pool much appreciated. Exceptional breakfast buffet. Unobtrusive but efficient service."

"Good self-catering accommodation although we chose to eat in the restaurant.

With three bedrooms per unit a second bathroom would have been useful. The children appreciated the freedom to move among (non-predatory) animals, the sand dunes and the beach.

An out of the way place which deserves to be better known, although that would spoil it!"

"Chalets in a dramatic location above waves breaking above rocks. Adequate self-catering facilities although we chose to eat in the restaurant.

Unfortunately the restaurant lacked adequate management which permeated through the staff. Our booking for a group of twelve people was not honoured on two successive evenings. On the first occasion we eventually ate on plastic tables brought in from outside, and on the second on picnic benches. On our final morning there was only one other person ahead for breakfast, but the first person was not served for about 50 minutes and the last for about an hour. In the meantime other customers arrived, were served and left. The manager grudgingly apologised but lacked sincerity. After some argument our final breakfast bill was discounted by 50%, which represented less than eight percent of our total spend.

In fairness, the food was good when it came."

"This was absolute luxury in the bush with everything inclusive. The children had a ranger to themselves and learnt a lot.

Pool much appreciated after a hot day.

Excellent food and service ~ nothing too much trouble for the staff."

"Chalets with adequate self-catering facilities, although one (of five) required further cleaning on our arrival. This was remedied by the reception staff on duty. Good density and variety of game spotted from self-drive vehicles. Where else can one see so many elephants so close to the car!

The restaurant was the same franchise as Storms River, and a reservation made through our Cape Town agents did not materialise. In contrast to Storms River, the management and staff quickly dealt with the situation."

"We accepted a 'forest cabin' as the only available accommodation as we booked late and we knew there might be limitations but it was very good value. Would have been a bit 'cosy' if all four beds were occupied and the weather had not permitted outdoor living. Lacked any view except surrounding bushes. We have previously occupied more spacious accommodation at Addo but it was more expensive!

Night drive proved disappointing but this was chance on the day."

"Luxurious accommodation and good game drives with very enthusiastic ranger. The stay was let down by rather average food."

"Great location with good walking trails at nearby Nature's Valley section of park. We occupied an Oceanette self catering apartment as there was nothing else available when we booked at short notice. This would have been adequate for two people self catering although we chose to eat in the restaurant."

"Your "wild card" came up trumps! This place ought to publicize itself better. Birding on the vlei (lagoon), game viewing, beaches, and we were encouraged to walk anywhere we liked! But it's a long way from anywhere down a gravel road and across a pontoon ferry if you approach directly from the East.

We occupied a self catering bungalow as nothing else was available, although we chose to eat in the restaurant. Service in the restaurant was variable depending upon who was on duty. Our bungalow could have been a little inconvenient if all six beds were occupied as the only loo was in the bathroom."

"We were among Expert Africa's first guests here and have been back several times. Unfortunately we have seem Langebaan development sadly engulf the hotel during this time. However it was still up to standard in spite of changing ownership.

No comment about activities as none are provided, although the nearby West Coast National Park is worth a one day visit."

"Excellent accommodation and food.

No comment on activities as none were provided.

Owner(s) were very friendly and helpful."

"The main building (Earls Dyke Manor) at Camps Bay Retreat is lost in a time warp with antiques/junk everywhere which gave it a certain character.

Although it advertises as a five star establishment with a menu changing daily, the same four basic main courses were repeated over three days with only the accompanying sauces tweaked. We were provided with a courtesy car to be able to eat at a local restaurant after complaining on the third evening.

Although good, we find it hard to justify the fifth star."

"Extremely well run by pleasant Dutch couple. Food very healthy and interesting; we loved the breakfasts in the bush."

"Lovely situation,very friendly staff but lacked management. Dietary requests and drink orders often forgotten. Tents a little tired,e.g hole in toilet roof and zips difficult. Water for bucket shower unpredictable in time of arrival!"

"Felt more like an hotel than a safari lodge. Plantation was well run, the staff were friendly and helpful.

We were a little disappointed that we were unable to walk outside the grounds.We toured the grounds and had the chief gardener with us on one occasion to help identify plants and birds. Jacob, our Nomad guide would have had more expertize but we had the impression that the lodge did not wish him to accompany us in the grounds."

"Well run family establishment with two ,labrador dogs. We had a comfortable semi-detached chalet with bath. One of our best dinners with a whole kudu fillet and similar oryx cooked medium rare on braai before slicing.

Activities limited to viewing various antelope and zebra from 4WD or walking on well mapped and waymarked paths (which suited us). An excellent overnight stop on the B6 road. Not enough activities for two nights but perhaps worth arriving early or staying late the next morning."

"The best of the tented camps we visited ~ clean, tidy and just about everything thought of. Overlooked waterhole with plenty of game including eleven rhino. The food was good.

Activities included tracking rhino on foot and visiting a real (not Disneyfied) San village. Managed by a young couple, but she is expecting in April and we wonder what might happen then."

"The chalets were open-fronted and open under the eaves. This was unfortunate because:

(1) there was no safeguard against the predations of the local vervet monkeys, and

(2) the chalets were not proof in any way against insects from stagnant water which was everywhere around (the river was at its highest level for over forty years). We both got badly bitten by insects other than mosquitoes.

This was run essentially as a fishing camp, although there was plenty of birdlife, etc as an alternatve occupaton. Good guide."

"An exceptionally well run luxury camp without going as far as becoming a spa resort. We were given the 'honeymoon suite' (was it booked by Expert Africa?), but which had twin beds!! The manageress was really switched on, but found time to be sociable with guests. She was obviously a fan of Chris and hinted she would like a copy of his Guide to Namibia.

Resident croc in river under decking. Elephant and hippo in camp at night. Good activities ~ the only place other than Etosha where we saw lions."

"This place is in need of care and maintenance, starting with the broken front gate secured by a piece of old chain. We did not consider that the electric wiring in our accommodation would be regarded as safe by european standards. The camp somehow lacked a welcoming atmosphere.

The camp and activities were being run in the absence of the owner (only temporarily we were told) by a young man who was clearly both stretched and stressed, and who did not communicate well.

The amount of food prepared for meals was finely judged. There was no choice of cereal for breakfast, and orange coloured jelly and red jam came in plastic catering sachets. Extras were expensive, which made this by far our most costly stay. This proved annoying when contrasted with the standard of the camp.

We question whether this establishment was really up to Expert Africa standard. We would not be inclined to return."

"Well appointed chalets in well tended (but incongruously watered green) gardens. Kettle and fridge supplied but bring your own supplies. Dinner was simple and well cooked and well presented, but not the individually prepared cordon bleu standard advertised. On the other hand, breakfast was the best we had.

Activities were limited to river cruises which gave an interesting insight into Angola. A second day would have been difficult to occupy. Useful overnight stop between Caprivi and Etosha."

"All roads south of the main road and east of Halali to Springbokfontein (a block of about 30km by 25km) were closed for reconstruction until at least mid-December. Extensive bush fires east of Halali had apparently driven game to the west of the Park towards Okaukuejo.

This was our second visit to Halali. In spite of the extensive refurbishment, there was still something of a holiday camp atmosphere about the rest camp, although the food was good. There is now less storage space in the chalets folllowing refurbishment and cooking facilites have been removed except for the braai outside. However, a kettle and fridge were still provided. The far bed in both bedrooms was against a skew wall and the prospective occupant needed to be agile.

Good floodlit waterhole for night-time game viewing.

Notwithstanding, we found standards acceptable for the location and we have seen fit to return. In the short term at least, Okaukuejo would make a better located base in Etosha."

"We had a large room in a terrace but with somewhat cramped shower/toilet facilities ~ the doors had been removed to give a little more space. The food was rather ordinary but well prepared. This was the only place where we were either not provided with a kettle or tea and coffee were not available during the day.

The grounds were planted with local indigenous plants ~ pity they were not named. Steve was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about local natural history. Night drives were available when we saw smaller and more unusual wildlife, e.g. aardvark, owls, etc."

"This was a very pleasant and hospitable lodge set in magnificent mountain and valley scenery. Unfortunately it was at the end of a long drive in along a dirt road which was at the limit of a small 2WD following heavy rain. The food was excellent with a choice of two main dishes and good but different wines provided with each meal.

The area was short of game apart from over six hundred oryx, although we were provided with the spectacle of a rock python attacking the lodge dog. There were at least four species of rare succulent plants growing in the grounds."

"Individual chalets commanded superb mountain views, but practicality was sacrificed to design inside. There was nothing to do within the rather small lodge enclosure apart from the swimming pool and afternoon game drive. The pseudo-french restaurant had piped music morning and evening. The food was utterly indifferent and anything but french ~ chicken pieces in curry sauce with a grilled scrawny quarter chicken grudgingly provided as an alternative on request. The fruit salad was tinned!

The game drive was available to non-residents, and there was apparently no guarantee that residents would be accommodated without prior booking. We were spared the decision whether to spend N$420 per person by arriving late. English zoos are cheaper!

The lounge and restaurant windows looked into the floodlit cheetah enclosure. The one animal we saw showed symptoms of stress by repeatedly walking to and fro along the fence. Lions in the park were fed to ensure sighting by the punters on the game drive.

The early morning call from the resident peacock was at least real if annoying. However lion noises were just too twee. This was commercial theatre not Africa, and definitely not us. We do not have any intention of returning."