Travel reviews by Mr LeenP from Lewes
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
12
Excursions taken
1
Our October trip
Namibia between 2 Oct 2019 and 23 Oct 2019
"Apart from some minor glitches, we had a great trip in a beautiful sparsly populated country with friendly people. We would like to come back to visit other parts of this amazing country. One of the difficulties we faced was travelling long distances on the gravel roads as our rental vehicle was not the best 4x4 in existence.
We also felt that the itinerary around Etosha was not well advised given that we travelled around the park twice and across it once. it would have been much better to advise us to stay outside of the park at the western and central gates and done two or three day trips. We would have seen just as much without the hours and discomfort of additional travel.
We found the itinerary information provided very useful to follow eg estimated hours of the journey, though some details and advice need updating..
Overall it was a fantastic holiday in a great country"
We also felt that the itinerary around Etosha was not well advised given that we travelled around the park twice and across it once. it would have been much better to advise us to stay outside of the park at the western and central gates and done two or three day trips. We would have seen just as much without the hours and discomfort of additional travel.
We found the itinerary information provided very useful to follow eg estimated hours of the journey, though some details and advice need updating..
Overall it was a fantastic holiday in a great country"
Feedback response
We agree with these travellers, in an ideal world we would not normally structure the order of the camps around Etosha in this way. Unfortunately availability was limited and this is what was possible at the time.
Arranged By Sabina Hekandjo
Hilltop Guesthouse
"Hilltop Guesthouse review"
1 night
Arrived
2 Oct 2019
Poor
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Poor
Location
Good
Service
Average
Facilities
Poor
Rooms
Poor
Food
Average
Feedback response
We are sorry to read that these traveller's experience of Hilltop Guest House was disappointing, we have passed this feedback onto the owners. Historically we have not had many problems here but we will keep a close eye on it going forward.
Africa Specialist
Okonjima Plains Camp
"good"
2 nights
Arrived
3 Oct 2019
"Interesting place. Seen tagged leopard in tree.
However, excursion to cheeta's in enclosure was interesting but not the real thing mostly a reason for a contribution to Afri Cat which we would have been happy to give anyway. .
Story of cheetahs very sad ie cant be released into the park as the leopards kill them all as rivals for prey."
However, excursion to cheeta's in enclosure was interesting but not the real thing mostly a reason for a contribution to Afri Cat which we would have been happy to give anyway. .
Story of cheetahs very sad ie cant be released into the park as the leopards kill them all as rivals for prey."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Activities
Average
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Sightings report
Cheetah
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Oryx
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Mountain Lodge
"great safaris"
2 nights
Arrived
5 Oct 2019
"One of the best places to stay, with excellent excursions, animals and views.
Really professionally run but combined with personal service our favourite place to stay in Namibia. Great guide Rio. (Could improve food though)"
Really professionally run but combined with personal service our favourite place to stay in Namibia. Great guide Rio. (Could improve food though)"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Black Rhino
Many sightings
Eland
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Oryx
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Hobatere Lodge
"best place for widlife at your doorstep"
2 nights
Arrived
7 Oct 2019
"water hole bordering the lodge's terrace, with loads of wildlife.
Hunting pride of lions making a kill. Other lionesses with cubs Although somewhat on basic side - not refurbished lately -really liked this lodge, staff great and come from local community."
Hunting pride of lions making a kill. Other lionesses with cubs Although somewhat on basic side - not refurbished lately -really liked this lodge, staff great and come from local community."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Average
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Sightings report
Eland
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Lion
Many sightings
Oryx
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Okaukuejo Camp
"too busy place with great water hole"
1 night
Arrived
9 Oct 2019
"Camp really not attractive because continuing stream of vehicles and visitors. Too busy to be comfortable for anyone.
Catering facilies were really awful, chaotic and lack of choice re food. Deposit at arrival purely symbolic, as no one checks cabin at departure. one of the best water holes directly bordering the camp.for one night of the stay but better to have visited for the day rather than stayed, didnt compensate for rest of negative experiences."
Catering facilies were really awful, chaotic and lack of choice re food. Deposit at arrival purely symbolic, as no one checks cabin at departure. one of the best water holes directly bordering the camp.for one night of the stay but better to have visited for the day rather than stayed, didnt compensate for rest of negative experiences."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Poor
Rooms
Average
Food
Terrible
Sightings report
Black Rhino
Many sightings
Eland
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Oryx
Many sightings
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Zebra
Many sightings
Halali Camp
"good stay, but also busy camp"
2 nights
Arrived
10 Oct 2019
"Halali is slightly less busy than Okauhuejo in Etosha. Water hole also less busy, but maybe because of noisy tourists.
One lion and one black rhino."
One lion and one black rhino."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Average
Rooms
Average
Food
Average
Sightings report
Black Rhino
1 sighting
Eland
Many sightings
Elephant
Many sightings
Giraffe
Many sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
Many sightings
Wildebeest
Many sightings
Zebra
Many sightings
Okaukuejo Camp
"see previous rating"
1 night
Arrived
12 Oct 2019
"see previous rating"
Excellent
Grootberg Lodge
"place with the best view"
2 nights
Arrived
13 Oct 2019
"Lodge situated on top of plateau with stunning views over Great Canyon-like valley. Compensates for low number of animals.
Heavy shower ruined excursion, but benefited everything else. Very steep drive up the mountain. Lodge provides transfer service.up the very steep entrance, which wasnt mentioned in the notes provided by Expert Africa. I spotted it in the guide book so we were prepared for it.
This place was very connected to the community which we very much enjoyed, the staff were absolutely lovely"
Heavy shower ruined excursion, but benefited everything else. Very steep drive up the mountain. Lodge provides transfer service.up the very steep entrance, which wasnt mentioned in the notes provided by Expert Africa. I spotted it in the guide book so we were prepared for it.
This place was very connected to the community which we very much enjoyed, the staff were absolutely lovely"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Doro Nawas
"beautiful place in desert"
2 nights
Arrived
15 Oct 2019
"Beautiful place in the desert. Very hot. No water hole. Many animals elsewhere because of drought.
Staff were really lovely and the place seemed well connected to the community .However the lodge still seemed to offer trips to see Desert Elephants when we knew none had been seen in the area for a month as they had moved north because of the drought.
Despite lack of elephants the lodge was a lovely place to stay."
Staff were really lovely and the place seemed well connected to the community .However the lodge still seemed to offer trips to see Desert Elephants when we knew none had been seen in the area for a month as they had moved north because of the drought.
Despite lack of elephants the lodge was a lovely place to stay."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Beach Hotel (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"nice hotel near town centre"
3 nights
Arrived
17 Oct 2019
"We ended up in Beach Hotel, rather than the Beach Lodge in Swakopmund which we thought had been booked by Expert Africa.
We accept there could have been confusion about the booking earlier, despite the presented itinery and marking of Beach Lodge on the map, including picture of Beach Lodge, Expert Africa declined to book us int Beach lodge as requested for remaining two days. which was a shame..and disappointing."
We accept there could have been confusion about the booking earlier, despite the presented itinery and marking of Beach Lodge on the map, including picture of Beach Lodge, Expert Africa declined to book us int Beach lodge as requested for remaining two days. which was a shame..and disappointing."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Service
Good
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Kayaking with seals
"Great excursion"
19 Oct 2019 • Morning excursion
Kayaking with hundreds of seals was great. However, for some still unclear reason, we ended up with a different kayaking company than mentioned in the itinery.
It was sorted out eventually. the Guide from Pelican Point who we ended up with KJ? spent far too much time talking about himself rather than the seals which detracted from what was a great experience.
It was sorted out eventually. the Guide from Pelican Point who we ended up with KJ? spent far too much time talking about himself rather than the seals which detracted from what was a great experience.
Kulala Desert Lodge
"Great place in largely unspoiled desert"
2 nights
Arrived
20 Oct 2019
"Beautiful place in largely pristine desert. Very dry and hot. Small water hole near lodge, few animals."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Sightings report
Oryx
Many sightings
Villa Violet
"a very nich place"
1 night
Arrived
22 Oct 2019
"A good place in Windhoek to start and end a Namibia holiday, really nice place to stay, contrasted positively on every level with our first guesthouse in Windhoek"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Not a great intro to our organised trip we were surprised that Expert Africa used this placed we would have been happy to pay more to stay in a better place.
Good breakfast and view though."