Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs R from Leatherhea

"This is the second time we have used River Crossing for our first night after the flight from UK and it has been good both times - easy to reach, clean and comfortable with good food and service."

"A lovely, comfortable and well equipped room with fabulous views across the plain with evening game moving away from the waterhole. As expected, access to the rooms is a little difficult but generally manageable. The road from Galton Gate was in very poor condition but other roads in this western part of Etosha were ok. It is disappointing that a good waterhole is not visible from the camp at all. We were very disappointed that no game drives were available during our stay - no explanation was given. The staff were generally helpful but management seemed to be absent.

We very much enjoyed this part of Etosha and found large herds of plains game which was not skittish.

On a day's drive around the area we found the Olifantsrus camping site - an excellent picnic stop and busy waterhole - this is just outside the camp and has a very good closed viewing area reached by an elevated walkway from the camp."

"Our Bush Chalet was very clean and comfortable and we enjoyed excellent game viewing at the waterhole, particularly after dark.

We went on two game drives (these are popular and need to be booked as soon as possible), the guide was good for both, giving information and stopping for photographs.

The shop has very limited stock other than plenty of alcohol. The kiosk has a range of snack meals and drinks."

"The revamp of the camp has delivered good results, our bush chalet was excellent - spacious, clean, comfortable and very well equipped - even including a hair drier, sunken bath and outside shower with plenty of hot water.

The dining and bar area is very attractive and comfortable with friendly, helpful staff (our waitress Heleni was particularly friendly) and the food choice and quality was very good. The reception staff were also very helpful making contact with Bidvest when we had a puncture.

Walkways around the chalet area were well lit although getting broken where cars are driving over them. The fort tower was open and gave good views and sunset but the remainder of the viewing platform remains closed because of its condition.

The water hole is non-existent although with a covered viewing area."

"The drive up from Grootfontein was easy and interesting and our reception very warm. The central decking area gives great views and firepit on the beach provides a popular relaxing area. The restaurant staff, enthusiastically let by Freda the cook served excellent meals with choice and fresh ingredients.

The boat trips guided by Mateus were very enjoyable and informative. The manager and Yvonne in the shop were very helpful and told us about the Living Museum which we enjoyed visiting.

Our room was convenient, clean and comfortable and the tray of hot drinks on our verandah in the morning a nice surprise."

"The lodge is in a lovely location with views across the river of elephants and hippo in good numbers. The boat trips guided by Michael were excellent and the convivial conversation at dinner owed much to Klaus' efforts.

Access to the Mahango National Park is very easy with unusual game (including 20 sable antelopes)."

"Arriving at the beautiful lodge through acres of water lilies to a warm reception from Tiaan and Geraldine set the tone for our stay.

Our room was large and comfortable with netting walls (no hot water tap at the basin but a large pot of hot water delivered on request).

Our guide Fish was exceptional, in tune with his environment and sensitive to our interests. Our boat and mokoro trips were enjoyable and informative. A picnic boat trip to the "Red Cliff" to see the nesting swallows was highlight as was brief period fishing for tiger.

Meals at the single dining table were enjoyable occasions with a good variety of well cooked meals produced by Tiny the cook."

"The warm, friendly and helpful staff all made us very welcome at this delightful camp. Hot water bottles in our bed and for the early morning drives was a touch of luxury.

Our room was spacious, clean and very comfortable and the general areas gave plenty of different areas to enjoy. We were treated to a very enjoyable quiet dinner in the Enclave on the first evening as we were only three guests and swapped stories with our guide under the full moon afterwards. The second evening was a fun barbeque in the bush to celebrate Botswana President's Day.

Our guide Tony was first class, very knowledgeable about his area and the game and a good tracker - giving us close encounters with a lion and a leopard. Our walking safari with him was another highlight as he shared his wide knowledge and bushcraft.

Minor disappointments were the mokoro outing where our poler did not show the same level of enthusiasm or knowledge. We were a little unsettled by "surprise" changes in arrangements at meal times but the manager Ursula was accepting of our gentle complaint."

"The view of grazing oryx from our veranda was stunning and we enjoyed the view of the sunset from the deck before dinner.

The welcome was warm and River Crossing made an ideal and comfortable place to get over the flight from London and prepare for our adventure in Namibia. The food was ok and we enjoyed our short overnight stay."

"We had a lovely welcome and all the staff and guides were excellent, friendly and helpful. The room was fantastic with a view of the mountains, all the activities and walks were well organised and very interesting.

Highlights were the sun downer walk and the visit to the cave paintings. All the food was of a very high standard and eating dinner out under the stars by the fire pit was memorable.

Overall a wonderful experience."

"Our tent was simple but very comfortable, the central facilities were very attractive and the food was very good - both in the dining area and the boma.

Unfortunately we could not take advantage of the luxury facilities as we left each morning at 6.45am to go to Etosha and only returned after dark."

"The recent refurbishment of the camp has delivered very pleasant facilities and our Bush Chalet was comfortable, spacious, clean, air conditioned and well fitted (fridge and kettle provided). The mosquito nets, Doom spray and Peaceful Sleep repellent provided kept us bite free. The food was reasonable with a good selection.

The waterhole was fascinating, we spent many very happy hours, both during the day and the night, watching the interaction of the animals as they came to drink. We would happily stay here again. Being inside the park is a real benefit. Unfortunately the night drive was fully booked when we got around to enquiring but that meant we could spend longer at the waterhole."

"The welcome after a long dusty drive was warm and friendly. The room was very well equipped, comfortable and private - the outdoor shower was a delight.

The staff were all happy, friendly and helpful - their singing to us after dinner each evening was great fun. Food was excellent and varied. The drive to the desert elephants was wonderful and the guide helpful and very informative. The stars from the roof were brilliant.

Overall a wonderful experience."

"Watching flamingos fly by while sitting in bed with a cup of tea in the morning was a delight, breakfast in the restaurant was excellent with good choice and view over the sea. The room was very comfortable, and the enormous bathroom with shower and bath helped us relax.

The hotel was a bit difficult to find as the town has expanded faster than the maps can show, made more difficult by the lack of road names in the new built area and our approach from the north.

A closed restaurant and no laundry on Sunday was frustrating. They made up for the restaurant being fully booked when we arrived Saturday mid afternoon by serving a very enjoyable dinner in our room.

Overall a less than perfect choice for a weekend as it is quite far out of town but during the week would be great."

"Luxurious accommodation in a beautiful setting with views of the distant dunes and mountains.

We enjoyed the facilities between a wonderful trip to the dunes and Dead Vlei and a spectacular mountain top sunset and sun downer. The early morning walk was made very special by the sensitive and informative guide. Food was excellent and all the staff were friendly and attentive.

Staying for three nights gave us time to enjoy all the facilities and activities as well as having time to relax."

"The real sense of isolation made for a very special experience.

Our first night was windy and cold so we drove to the hotel for a very enjoyable dinner. The second night was good weather so we enjoyed a BBQ - the packs provided were good food but far too much of it. The room was well fitted and comfortable with fridge, cooker and lots of space. We did not need the open fire as the room was warm.

The hotel is still undergoing extension works which did not interfere with our enjoyment of the facilities except that the toilets are the other side of the car park.

The host and staff at the hotel were very friendly and helpful."

"The view from our room was so spectacular it took our breath away. The room was quite simple and bare but we did not care! The lodge and facilities were very good and the staff were friendly, helpful and attentive. The food was good and all the meals were enjoyable.

We enjoyed an easy walk for 2 hours by ourselves along the cliff top through glorious quiver trees, aloes and many birds. We used this stop as a relaxing break so did not try out the more arduous activities. Wonderful clear starry night with no moon - but not cold.

The gravel D463 from the B4 was excellent but the19 km access was rocky and very slow (about 1 hour) and in places hard going in a 2 wheel drive although always passable."

"We were only staying overnight on the drive from Fish River to Windhoek but were still able to do the game drive in the evening and the Bushman walk in the morning before having a shower and leaving at 11.30am. We so enjoyed the whole experience and the activities we really wish we could have had more time to enjoy the place further.

The food was very good and the staff very helpful and friendly. Our dune chalet was very comfortable with a beautiful view."

"A very friendly welcome and enjoyable dinner in the courtyard from a good menu.

A very pleasant room with big bath and shower, wide range of toiletries and bathrobes. Friendly and helpful staff helped chase up our car collection and transfer to the airport."

"From the moment we were met by our guide in Kasane we were looked after wonderfully - he was available whenever we wanted to go on whatever activity we chose. He was knowledgeable and sensitive to our interests, a good boatman and friendly companion. We saw an amazing variety of birds and animals, including enormous herds of buffalo and elephant.

Meals were very enjoyable taken round a communal table, the food excellent. Our room was very comfortable with the sound of the rapids to lull us to sleep. Our wake up call with a fresh tray of tea was delightful."

"We were delighted to find how relaxing it was to cruise gently along the river able to view the game and birds from anything from river level veranda to upper deck level where we could see over the river bank. The staff were friendly helpful and attentive and our guide was available take us on a game boat drive whenever we wanted.

We were lucky to see from our speed boat a pride of 10 lions (including a big black maned male) feeding on a buffalo kill and a leopard wandering the river bank until she was chased away by a big baboon. We also saw the elephants crossing the Chobe River.

Altogether a very enjoyable experience!"

"The atmosphere, accommodation and our treatment more than lived up to our expectations of a very special place. Luxurious tents lit by oil lamps created a wonderful atmosphere; evening drinks around the fire and excellent food completed a wonderful experience.

Our guide was very knowledgeable and sensitive to what we wanted to see and do - seeing the brown hyena and meerkats but also experiencing the vastness of the pan, its unique environment and the wonderful Chapman's Baobab.

All the staff were welcoming, friendly and helpful. We were there to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary and were given a wonderful romantic dinner in our own pavilion."

"From the time our guide and tracker picked us up from the airstrip and delivered us to our huge, comfortable tent with its delightful outdoor shower, we enjoyed the whole experience.

Although they were focused on finding big cats, and we saw many lions and a leopard, they were also willing to indulge our interest in the birds, smaller game and wider environment. We saw the wild dogs, honey badgers and pelicans roosting in the baobab. If we had any criticism it is that the guide tended to go too close to the animals and did not explain as they were tracking game.

All the staff went out of their way to make us welcome and look after us - we enjoyed their singing and dancing on Independence Day. The food was excellent and early breakfast round the fire was a bonus."

"To be met by the staff singing to us as we arrived from our long drive and boat trip from the airstrip was delightful. Our large, comfortable tent had lovely soft towels in the big bathroom and a magnificent outdoor shower.

We chose mainly water based activities, both by boat and mokoro, seeing a wide variety of birds and many hippo, but also enjoyed two game drives to see the variety of game and the resident lion pride.

Our guide and all the staff were friendly, helpful and attentive, the food was excellent enjoyed around a large communal table with the other guests and guides."