Travel reviews by Mr G & Ms W from London

"We had very low expectations staying here. The sole, and only reason for booking Okaukuejo, was to stay close to the flood-lit watering hole. And for that reason alone, it was worth it.

We knew that the government run camp would be fairly basic and without a lot of character. So those expectations were met. The room was very tidy, clean and roomy. The other facilities - i.e. the swimming pool - were not as clean.

The food was below our expectations - very poor. Dinner consisted of overcooked grilled game and mayonnaise laden salads. Vegetables were so overcooked that there was no taste.

Service/friendliness was the worst we experienced on our entire trip. It wasn't that it was so bad, but everywhere else was much better.

However, that being all said, the watering hole was indeed amazing, and for that alone, we are happy we stayed here. The amount and variety of wildlife was incredible. We had never expected to see rhinos, never mind baby rhinos. And at one point, during the sunset, it felt like a scene out of "The Lion King" but without the cheesy music.

So, if you are looking for a reliable place to view wildlife within the comfort of your room, and can put up with bad food and mediocre accommodation/service, then we can highly recommend it."

"This was our favourite accomodation. And it all came down to Dennis and Bonnie.

How can Dennis, after almost two decades of owning/managing Etendeka, be so gracious, warm and friendly, is beyond me. And Bonnie’s passion for the area, coupled with his extensive knowledge (geology; ecology; wildlife – you name it, he knows about it), made him the best guide we had. He is a real asset to Etendeka.

Visitors to Namibia should stay here for the isolation; beauty and quiet. Spotting wildlife is secondary and frankly almost a distraction from the sheer exquisiteness of the location. Food is excellent, the staff friendly, the rooms comfortable. I challenge anyone to stay in a more interesting and personal lodge.

The only one recommendation I would make to Dennis is that if other guests are 'late' for the pick-up, then the guests that have made the effort to be on-time, should not have to 'pay the price'. Five of us waited for 90 minutes for the last two guests to show up. We were all desperate to get to Etendeka as we had heard such great things about the camp. I can completely understand why Dennis would not want to make two trips. However, he might wish to charge a fee for those guests that don't make the rendezvous on time in order to cover his costs for two trips. It seems unfair for those that made the effort to be punctual that they are 'penalised' rather than the tardy guests."

"Absolutely stunning location with gorgeous room. A real luxury.

The staff were friendly and accomodating.

A small criticism - and I feel almost guilty even mentioning it as there seemed to be other guests that enjoyed it: The staff like to sing. A lot. When you arrive. When you arrive at the sunrise breakfast. When you arrive at the outdoor BBQ. When you leave. It all is a bit too much after the fourth song!"

"We only had one night here, and wished we could have squeezed in two nights. We did really manage to take advantage of the 'inclusive' walking and completed two short walks.

The room was great, particularly the shower and the outdoor terrace.

The restaurant/bar area (outdoors) was stunning and a great new addition to the lodge.

Staff were good, and food was excellent. It was lovely to be able to have game cooked as requested (medium rare!)."

"We only had a short 15 or so hours here so difficult to provide much of a review. Room was very clean and modern and the owners were helpful, friendly and professional. Nothing to fault."

"I loved the feeling of isolation as you drive off the main road towards Hoodia. You keep driving and driving until you are finally are surrounded by beautiful mtns, and in complete isolation. The chalet/rooms are spread far apart so the feeling of isolation continues. Just incredible scenery.

The rooms are gorgeous - and the outdoor shower/tub is a highlight. We were lucky enough to have 3 nights here to really enjoy it.

The common areas - restaurant; bar; outdoor terrace; pool - are all lovely.

The only minor criticism was the food which was good but not the best we have had. For example, the game was overcooked and tough."