Reviews of Etendeka Mountain Camp
(95%) From 50 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Etendeka Mountain Camp is awesome
Every thing about this camp is awesome - the location, the isolation, the hosts, the sky, the wicked shower......We stayed two nights and wished we'd stayed for three so we could have also done the longer walk up into the hills.
Dennis breathes Etendeka out of every pore and Ivan is a superb companion in interpreting the area - just don't believe all his tall tales.
Etendeka is a great wilderness experience
As a wilderness experience Etendeka is absolutely brilliant and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The freshly home-cooked food deserves a mention too.
Just a couple of comments:-
(1) The small jeep is not really adequate to be used on a game drive for six people - it was really most uncomfortable
(2) Having contacted Etendeka ourselves prior to the trip to advise a birthday of one of our party while staying there, they were kind enough to lay on a bottle of celebratory sparkling wine at dinner, but the surprise rather back-fired as the guide let the cat out of the bag by mentioning this on the drive in to the camp, but was muddled up about whose birthday it really was which spoiled the occasion somewhat.
Close to nature at Etendeka
We waited for more than an hour and a half after the designated meeting time for a couple who never arrived which was a little frustrating but it meant that we traveled the 14 km to the camp as the sun was setting so in better light conditions.
That was the only minus point in an excellent three days. We were taken out by Denis Liebenberg himself as he had given his normal guide a few days off. And as entertaining and informative a guide as you could ever wish for. His knowledge of the area is encyclopaedic but even he was surprised to see a group of Eland; an animal had had never seen there in all his twenty years of holding the concession.
The day is organised with a trek in the morning and a drive in the afternoon. One day' stay would be too short, two days just right but if you were there for three days then I think you would probably be repeating the terrain you covered on day one. The area is full of animals and birds including the rare long beaked lark and a walk up the mountain with the ground covered in semi precious minerals and crystals was an eye opener.
Dining is at a long able with other guests including during our time there Denis, his wife and son. It was a time to discuss the day's activities and to learn more about the country and its people. Denis claims that his he only has four day's worth of menus so was a little worried as an English couple,father and daughter, had booked in to spend a week there so he was looking for three more recipes! When you think that his nearest shop is 140 km away he has to make sure that nothing is forgotten on his weekly shopping trip.
Accommodation is extremely comfortable in safari tents with an outside bucket shower and one goes to sleep with the sound of zebra chomping outside or the mournful cry of a distant hyena. On first morning we woke to find that a there had been a leopard kill a few yards from the complex so the second night Denis set a camera trap and the following morning we were treated to images of a large female leopard devouring the hind quartets of a springbok.
I don't think that one could get a better understanding of the geology and wildlife of Northern Damaraland anywhere else.
Etendeka Mountain Camp review
The facilities, food & activities were all great, however, felt the overall experience was slightly less brilliant than other experiences.
Would, perhaps, have liked more interaction with all the staff
Etendeka was a real highlight of our trip
Our visit to Etendeka was one of the highlights of the trip. We were there for 2 nights, and could happily have stayed longer.
Etendeka has probably the smallest human footprint of anywhere we have stayed outside back country campgrounds. But Dennis and his team provide everything their guests need, with gentleness and good humour.
Dennis' long-term knowledge of the area was illuminating, and we appreciated being able to quiz him on the local environment and culture. Ivan is also an entertaining and knowledgeable guide. I doubt we will ever forget what we learned about oryx droppings... (and I mean that in a good way).
We loved the design of the new communal areas, minimal but restful, and making great use of the local rocks. And we enjoyed the simplicity of the bedroom tents (with views of the Hartmann's mountain zebras in the distance). The outdoor bucket showers are liberating!
Oh, and Dennis mixes an excellent gin and tonic.
Etendeka Mountain Camp review
A beautiful location and experience. Amazing to get so close to mountain zebra and we were even lucky enough to see a black rhino (the first our guide had seen in 5 months. there...)
Very cold on the second night - made the bucket showers interesting
The road there and in particular the Grootberg pass was very slippery - a bit scary when trying to make the 4pm deadline and it wasn't clear on the map that the last 121km is gravel....
A Real Bush Camp
The pick up worked well from Palmwag at the vet fence [ see instructions in Chris McIntyre's book] Dennis then drove us the 1 1/2 hours to the camp, Set in the most spectacular scenery surrounded by mountains. The camp illustrates Dennis's commitment to a sustainable way of life.
The activities include a 3 1/2 hour morning walk which is energetic but worth every minute and an afternoon drive.There is plenty of game to see.and takes you even further into the mountains.
We loved our tent and the bucket shower which worked well. Every one was very helpful and Dennis and Ivan very knowledgeable.
You need at least 2-3 nights here.
Not a place to go in the winter.
Very interesting - Etendeka Mountain camp
This was a very different experience to the other camps that we had visited. The scenery was stunning and I'm glad that we went there.
The wildlife is not as prolific as in other areas but we still saw a lot. Due to problems with my knee we didn't do the long morning walk but did a comfortable stroll around the area, it was very interesting.
The food is uncomplicated and filling. the staff are very friendly and helpful.
Etendeka Mountain Camp review
What an expereince! The service was outstanding and every need was catered for. Great attention to detail from iced water or juice permanently on tap to your own water bottle for trips! There was even a thermos of water in the tent.
At no time did I feel one of a long line of guests; the hosts were friendly and interested in everyone and keen to follow up individual interests.
It was an education to see how they managed their environment.
Etendeka Mountain Camp review
Dennis and his father - in - law Mick should be given a medal for their hospitality, conviviality, knowledge and general kindheartedness. They looked after Judy and I and cured our stomach bug with their bush remedies and humour.
Our guide Bonny is to be commended - so knowledgable and all learned though self teaching - incredible - think some-one should pay for him to go and learn more [ he could teach the teachers heaps].
Tho basic - it was definitely a place we would all return to - marvellous
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.
