Reviews of Doro Nawas
(91%) From 201 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Great for star gazing!
Excellent room although outside shower head was missing which we told them about.
Guide book says they offer free walking tours which they don't! They were quite surprised about when I pointed it out. Instead we had to pay $110 pp.
The lodge offers morning and afternoon game drives to see the local elephant herds. The morning drive is longer and much more expensive, so we did the afternoon drive and saw plenty of elephants.
Although we enjoyed our stay there and were well looked after, We are not sure it was the best choice for us. We think a visit to the lion or cheetah conservancies would have been more interesting. The D2612 road was the other road we rate the worst. Not only appalling surface but lots of dips as well. At the end of a long day's drive it feels particularly uncomfortable especially in a 2 x 4 car.
We also changed the route from the one marked on the map. We were advised not to take the route marked C43 - on the hotel map we were sent it shows it to be suitable for 4 x 4 only. It would have taken so long to reach Hobatere that it would not have been worth going there for one night. We took the most direct route C39 via Khorixas, arrrived at 1.30pm and enjoyed some excellent game viewing that afternoon.
Nice bit of evening singing after dinner.
Doro Nawas review
Spent a very happy day looking for desert elephant (successfully!) and seeing the rock art at Twyfelfontein
Same comment about the expense of add-on activities!
Good stop off break
Advertised telescope for star gazing did not exist!
Typical Wilderness Safari camp which are in need of improvement. However, better than Kuala Lodge
Interesting trip to Living Museum of Damara people
Expert Africa comments
We were sorry that these travellers had a few minor issues whilst at Doro Nawas; put this in context by reading about their trip as a whole.
Below Par Doro Nawas
Doro Nawas was the least favourite part of our trip.
It was too large and did not have the personal touch. At times, it felt like a Butlin's holiday camp with the Activities Manager coming round to ask about what we wanted to do the next day.
We had to complain about lack of hot water, which although they tried to sort out, and did offer to move us, we declined as was told it was fixed, only to find no hot water again the next day... We were shocked at the cost of the activities from the camp. Luckily, we did not do full board and had already done all the local activities.
We had pre-paid for the desert elephant safari which was lucky as the cost from the camp was again totally excessive. To make matters worse, they put 9 people in the game truck, which is far too many for comfort or being able to take photos, especially in light of what they were charging.
The food was also not good at this camp.
Normally, we don't enjoy the singing from the staff, but at Doro Nawas they obviously really enjoyed themselves and the singing was very good.
Doro Nawas review
This is an excellent lodge - again the staff were very friendly and helpful. The manager met us and welcomed us to the lodge and told us all about the lodge and the sourrounding area. This was a fantastic location and the accomodation was very spacious and excellent.
We had a wonerdul morning trip out to see the desert elephants - the guide was so knowledgeable and helpful - you could see that he really loved the elephants also and the countryside.
We had a wonderful treat one evening when the staff entertained all the guests with singing and dancing - some very talented people!
We visited the rock paintings ourselves and enjoyed this immensely.
Desert Elephants
It was wonderful to see the desert elephants and our guided walk was also enjoyable. The staff were very friendly and gave us a wonderful concert on our final night.
However the management was the least helpful, friendly or efficient of any we encountered. When we arrived they thought the booking was for two people rather than three and had difficulty in remembering which cabins we were booked into. They seemed to have no idea how long anyone was staying - at dinner on our first evening the gentleman arranging activities announced that as we were leaving the next day we would not be interested. We had to disillusion him and explain we were staying for two nights.
Doro Nawas review
We really wish that we had booked for more than one night here. A pleasent welcome with a cold drink and flannel. The staff were outstanding. Extremely friendly and helpful. They gave an impromptu siing song after the evening meal.
The rooms are huge, and the building style is very interesting. The hill top location of the main part of the development offers outstanding views across the plains to the distant mountains.
One big plus for them - while they were not the only place to ask about dietary needs, they were the only place who actually seemed to take any notice about the reply by cooking my wife a special onion free dish for the evening meal. Top marks indeed for this.
A troop of elephants visited early on the morning of our stay, and pulled up the water supply pipes for the lodge, so there was no chance for a good wash or shower. However a staff member callled by the room, unprompted, to provide bottled water
Doro Nawas review
Felt it is an opportunity missed.
The main building feels quite soulless. The organisation doesn't seem up to the standard of other similarly priced lodges.
Star gazing from the roof is advertised, but actually you can see little, due to the lights. Star viewing is much better from one's own hut.
Would be nice to have coffee in the room and for an early morning flask of hot water to be provided. It's a bit of a climb to get a pre-breakfast cuppa otherwise. Activities are ludicrously overpriced.
On the plus side the rooms are very nice, the food fine and the staff friendly.
As previously visited, everything to high std
Nice lodges, good bathroom facilities, lovely personal touches (notes on turned down bed to sleep well!)
Lady manager most friendly & attentive, her husband, less so. Excellent staff, wonderful songsfrom waiting staff. Mchael the guide led a great safari drive to see Desert Elephants. Afternoon tea & cake nice touch.
Catered well for veggies. Vsited by scorpion at one evenin meal, caused great amusement !
Need to be advised to take money on drive, as we pass interesting local artifacts being sold !
Not as good as it thinks it is
At first sight, Doro Nawas does not look very appealing - the main building looks like a burned castle from a distance. Inside the building is very differnt - attractive and airy with a wrap around veranda with spectacular views.
The rooms here are stunning. They are large with big bathrooms, and indoor and outdoor shower and huge private verandas - we couldn't see another buiding from ours! It was a bit to cold at night to wheel the beds out onto the veranda unfortunately.
What let the place down was the atmosphere and food. The lodge seemed more geared up for big tour groups rather than couples or families and although the staff were polite, the service was a bit sloppy. They tried hard with the food, but the standard of cooking was disappointing.
If they improve on these, Doro Nawas would be fantastic.
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.
