Reviews of Amani Lodge
(70%) From 4 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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good first night stop
This was our second visit made more pleasant by a personal visit with Olivier to his semi tame Cheetahs.
Useful conversation with Olivier in relation to my forthcoming trip to CCF.
Disaster at Amani
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.
A very pleasant start to our trip.
A nice gentle drive into the mountains to a delightful lodge. Good looking and comfortable accommodation and excellent food, as one might expect from a French owner.
Big cat experience well organized and a good introduction to these charismatic animals despite them being captive. Could make a good first night stop as the drive is not until mid afternoon.
The best organised of all the Lodges
The Big Cat Experience was excellent, it was so well planned far superior to Okonjima.
Read more about the whole safari
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.
