Reviews of Doro Nawas
(91%) From 201 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Doro Nawas review
Had a wonderful safari to see the Desert Elephants and we were able to find them. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area.
They were very aware of my diet restrictions and tried very hard to make sure I had enough food. Meats were overcooked.
Doro Nawas review
As we approached we thought of a lunar station! The black paint and building were unattractive from the outside, but blended in perfectly with the terrain.
From the inside , the main building was great - large, with sweeping 360degree views. the staff was welcoming and showed us to our own building which was roomy, well-equipped with a roll-out star-gazing bed, and huge porch overlooking the desert.
We saw no animals from the lodge, but were taken in the morning on a jeep ride up the riverbed to find a large group of elephants who had just returned to the area. It was an outstanding trip, our first intro to african animals in the wild. They were spectacular, and the guide friendly and informative. meals and service were good - fresh, tasty and accommodating. A small pool was available to cool off - a necessity if hot.
Great experience sleeping outside at Doro
An imposing fortress like lodge on a small hill greets you on arrival. Wow it was hot 39° and it was winter!
The rooms were lovely and very spacious although in the searing heat air conditioning would be good, there was only a ceiling fan. Massive patio doors on to a large deck area meant you could pull the beds outside and sleep under the stars, however the wildlife (moths, bats, lizards, birds) could make sleeping disturbed all the same it was a great experience. The outside shower was also good.
On the first night we had dinner outside on the roof and after dinner entertainment from the staff.
A good location from which to visit Organ Pipes, Burnt Mountain and the rock paintings at Twelfylfontein. Afternoon tea was a nice touch too.
Doro Nawas review
I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere and loved it. Very interesting architecture.
We chose to spend our days staying at the lodge rather than driving to other nearby sites....we were driving past the cave drawings on our way to Swapkopmund when we left. The weather was very warm for us so we were happy to just sit and relax.
The staff was very nice and the sunsets were great.
Full of nice characters.
Another amazing location. Much better than I had expected after reading the reviews on Trip Advisor.
Bob was poorly one night so I ate on my own and the staff were really considerate. Some meals much better than others.
Doro Nawas review
I felt this lodge had more style than substance. Little things detracted from the experience. For example, none of the lights in the lounge were bright enough for reading and star gazing was difficult because of the lights all rouind the roof platform.
The staff were less friendly than at Hoodia and less concerned with individual needs. There was no mosquito net so one didn't feel like pushing the bed outside although the room was hot. Outside, there was not even a small trail to walk from camp which was frustrating.
Doro Nawas review
This was truly the low point of our trip to Namibia. One should only stay here if you want direct experience of a poorly run resort in a remote location.
Everything started well when we were greeted at our car with a welcome drink and a chilled towel upon arrival. Our room was large and spacious, so should have been a pleasant place to spend two nights. We also really enjoyed our dinner on the first night.
However, the resort has no visible management and has too many rough edges to make for a pleasant stay:
* we had no hot water in our room for our entire stay. Nothing was done about this despite reporting the problem after our first night
* the reception desk is never manned and the gift shop is constantly locked
* we chose to have a late breakfast and had to request a long list of essentials when we arrived e.g. cereal bowls, cereal spoons, teaspoons, butter, coffee, etc
* birds walk all over the breakfast buffet
* restaurant and bar staff seem to spend more time in the kitchen than with customers
* lunch prices are exhorbitant at NAD 150 per person to eat in or NAD 135 per person for a lunch pack. This is a rip-off if you normally just have a toasted sandwich for lunch
As seems to be customary for resorts in the north that offer game drives, dinner is served at 8pm.
This has the potential to be a nice resort, but is currently very poorly managed and should be avoided.
Doro Nawas review
The accommodation was good; the activities and our guide Ignatius were excellent. He was so friendly and enthusiastic as well as extremely knowledgeable, which greatly added to the enjoyment of our stay at Doro Nawas.
We were, however, very disappointed at the lack of imagination in the variety and choice of food at Dora Nawas. Since completing the trip, our enjoyment of food at the other camps only emphasised the difference, e.g. on 2 out of 3 lunches we were served a cold chicken drumstick, with a very mediocre green salad. In addition, food was left uncovered on the verandah at lunch which attracted the birds !
Doro Nawas review
First impressions were not good as you arrive after a long hot drive in front of an austere building and you then have to climb some steep uneven steps to get into reception. Then after registration you are led back down the uneven track to your lodge and once they have unloaded the luggage you have to drive the car to the parking lot and walk back, again, over uneven paths. Surely this could be refined?
However the rooms are superb and although we didn't, you could roll your bed outside at night. Again there was no air conditioning but the fan was efficient and quiet.
Food was disappointing as the main course was buffet style and not particularly interesting. Overall not very well run and no obvious sign of any management.
Not if you are serious about wildlife
We had a tremendous drive from Swakopmund via the Cape Cross seal colony (well worth visiting) and then via back roads past Brandberg West to Uis with a stretch of 165km without another car - but you do need a sense of adventure, ample water, two spare tyres and 4 wheel drive. 500 km and 8 hours including stops.
We had never stayed at a Wilderness property before, and after this and more particularly Ongava, I am not sure that I am particularly enamoured. There is somehow an impersonal air. Having said that, the rooms, food and service were all excellent and dinner was particularly noteworthy. We had lunch here twice, and that was also excellent. The outdoor showers are great when you are hot and dusty. Three of us did not like the singing after dinner, finding it a bit intrusive and difficult to escape, but I accept that many would like it very much. There is a very nice pool of decent length and depth which was crystal clear. The staff are clearly enthusiastic.
We went on an afternoon elephant drive with 8 in a landrover, which is too many at the price. We are used to east africa camps where 4 is the norm. 6 is acceptable, but 8 is hopeless. We found elephants quickly, and our guide then did not seem to know what to do to fill the remaing time; a really good guide can always find something to talk about. We went for a walk next morning with the same guide, who said that they did not have many visitors interested in birds and general wildlife. I suspect that the guides are simply rusty about anything other than elephants and the Twyfelfontein area because of the type of client they get. He was very friendly, and arranging to check out late to accommodate the walk, and then staying for lunch was no problem.
We thought that the rock art at Twyfelfontein was extremely impressive in a beautiful setting. The petrified forest is not to be missed with a particularly good on-site guide who really knew his stuff, both about the trees and also the birds and plant life, being particularly interesting about the Welwitschia. Our sons were a bit concerned that the sites would be not that great, but were very impressed.
As we only had a short drive to Etendeka from Doro Nawas, we felt that we could have seen the rock art and petrified forest and driven to Etendeka afterwards, using the spare night to add to our stay at Erongo. The desert elephant drive was not very good, certainly if you have seen plenty of ellies before. If we had not been going to North Damaraland, however, two nights would have been needed.
We have always believed that acting responsibly is the only way to approach tourism and we're one of
the few companies to hold AITO's original coveted 5-star status for responsible tourism. It's a lead
that others are now following.
