Reviews of Etendeka Mountain Camp
(96%) From 110 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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The "Boni" show
This was a very different experience to anywhere else we stayed and impossible to compare. Remote location that requires you to leave your car at Palmwag - 18 kilometers away and use the lodge's 4x4 transport to reach Etendeka. Exciting in itself as we saw lots of wildlife on the way. Cautionary note - try not to get to Palmwag too early (currently 3.30pm pick-uo) as there is NOTHING apart from a shop/shack for a drink and a packet of crisps! Extra time really spent waiting in your car in the heat.
We found the camp a wonderful place to relax and there was plenty of time in between the morning walks and afternoon drives to do so.
PLUS points: -
Tented accomodation - rustic but exciting in the wind!
Bucket showers - good fun and do the job!
Excellent home-cooked food - the best we had, some of which was cooked on the fire.
Boni the guide - really made the three days we had there very special. His knowledge, humour and personality made all the difference. He even introduced the evening meal in his own "click" langauge and took us on very interesting and informative walks into the bush. You felt it was a privilege to have met him. We learned so much (didn't know you could tell so much from dung!).
Game drives with Boni were again very interesting and succesful - we saw loads of wildlife and he pointed out to us fresh lion prints.
NEGATIVES - None - we loved it!, but it may not be for those who like their luxury or don't like walking.
Three days in the wilderness
This was another highlight of our trip. It got off to a good start with a close encounter with desert elephants and mountain zebra on the drive into camp. The tented rooms were unfussy and comfortable and having to fill and hoist your own bucket for a shower was all part of the fun. Dennis was an engaging host and Bonnie an excellent guide. The food was so good that we had to restrain ourselves from having second helpings of everything, especially the lunchtime salads. Early evening drinks round the campfire and stargazing with Dennis' telescope were added bonuses.
We settled into the routine of a morning walk, early afternoon siesta and late afternoon drive. On the drives we saw more elephants, a distant rhino and baby, and some good birds. One evening Dennis came with tracking aerial and searchlight to try and locate a lioness but without luck. On the second day it turned out we were the only guests so Bonnie took us on a slightly longer walk with a bit of easy scrambling to see some of the trees on the plateau. If we ever come again it would be great to do a full day walk in the hills - just walking through this landscape is a joy.
We'd agree that you need at least 3 night here, 2 nights doesn't do it justice.
Etendeka Mountain Camp review
Another highlight of our trip! Dennis and Claire were wonderful hosts and the food was fantastic.
An experience not to be missed if you visit Namibia.
Etendeka Mountain Camp review
This was a true wilderness experience. It was an experience not to forget. Claire, Denis and Bonny plus the whole team do a incredible job making you feel at home and make the whole stay run like clockwork without ever feeling rushed. The activities were fantastic and we saw more game here than anywhere else.
Bonny the guide took us on a 3 hour walk in the early morning and despite the lack of animal life he explained the geology, plant life, and anything else he saw that he felt we should know about.
The food was delicious. It's amazing what you can do with a bush camp fire and a chicken in tinfoil and as for the coconut cake with cream .... I'll be on a diet for another month.
For an overall wilderness experience Etendeka Mountain Camp is the real thing. The bush shower was fun, the tents very comfortable, and of course Claire, Denis and Bonny have made it what it is - a fantastic experience.
Etendeka Mountain Camp review
The most welcoming place we stayed at
Read more about the whole safariEtendeka Mountain Camp review
Absolutely fantastic expirience - one of the highlights on our one month trip in Namibia!
Dennis, his vife, and the guides were the perfect hosts. Talking around the fire, watching the stars, and enjoying the meals in this remote location in Namibia was a lifetime expirience. The walks and drives in Etendeka highly interesting, also for our children at 8 + 9 years.
The tents vere good - you felt like sleaping on another planet. Exciting and a bit scarry to hear the animals just outside during night!
Wonderful wilderness experience
We were met by Claire and taken to the camp which was in the finest location overlooking mountains and bush, and full of animals.
The tents were of a high standard and the bush shower, flush toilet and hot and cold running water were above expectations. The 3 evening meals were of high standard considering the location of the camp. Breakfasts were okay but nothing hot and the lunches were good. Drinks of any sort were available whenever you wanted them and all included.
Claire is also a therapist and it is well worth indulging in what she has to offer - I had a reflexology treatment!!!!!
We had 2 morning walks with Dennis who imparted great knowledge on the geology, flora and fauna, plus shared our interest in the bird life. We also had 2 late afternoon game drives which we thoroughly enjoyed even though we failed to find the male lion which we heard evenings and mornings.
Our car was even washed at the location we had left it (this is also included).
Dennis and Claire are a super couple running the camp professionally and with really super staff - a real pleasure.
Etendeka Mountain Camp review
This was my favourite place and was superb. We drove from Anderssons Camp to Palmwag lodge and stopped off at Kamanjab to see some rock paintings. However, up until we got to Kamanjab all of the roads had been tarmac and we were informed, whilst picking up the key to see the rock paintings that the road to Palmwag was gravel and would take 2.5 hours. Not being aware of the gravel road and the extended length of time it would take meant that we had to rush down it and through the Grootberg Pass without being able to spend any time there enjoying the scenery. We made it to the pick-up point by 3.30pm but it had been a rush. I do think Expert Africa should have made us aware of this change in road in our information pack.
The camp itself is in the middle of nowhere and is personally run by Dennis, Claire and Bonny who were extremely friendly and brilliant hosts. The 16 tents are well spaced from each other and the bush showers were superb. Eating with all the guests was a great social event and very enjoyable and the food was excellent. Bonny's explanation of it in Damara was brilliant and very entertaining. We asked if we could go for a walk on the morning of our departure (all the other guests had to leave first thing) and a guide, Patrick, took us out for a fabulous climb up one of the hills and we saw a black eagle.
We only learned later that they were having the day off as they didn't have any guests in that night but they went out of their way to enable us to have a walk in the morning, a lovely lunch and transfer back to our car an hour away. The personal way in which it is run as well as the maximum of 16 guests at the camp at any one time ensures a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Entendeka was wonderful.
Etendeka Mountain Camp review
Everything about Etendeka was wonderful. Etendeka offers what we would consider simple, yet luxurious accommodations and great service. The food was absolutely outstanding and they were so kind as to pack a lunch for us on our last day to have on our drive as we made it to our next destination.
While we had many good guides on our trip Bownie was definitely one of the best. His knowledge of the area was truly exceptional providing us information on the history of the area, flora/fauna, mammals, and birds. What we appreciated was that it wasn't just about identifying something so it could be checked off a list but information was received that helped us learn about the habitat and how things worked within it.
The owners, Dennis and Claire, augmented our experience with Bownie providing even more information. We very much enjoyed the family style dinners and appreciated the conversation that went along with them. While not put forth as a planned/scheduled activity, the time spent (an hour plus) being driven into the camp and out were bonus game drives.
A couple of highlights included a day hike with Bownie and an evening of constellation viewing with Dennis. We were provided with water and if we'd wanted a hiking pole for the excursion, part way through we stopped and had a small snack as well. The hike lasted approximately 4 hours and we enjoyed every moment of it. To be able to travel at a slower speed on foot, versus safari vehicle, and to stop to view animals, birds, learn about trees/plants, etc....felt like a gift.
On our second night Dennis treated us to some viewing of the constellations. Neither one of us was well versed in the constellations and it was very cool to see the rings of Saturn and the constellations of Leo, Scorpio, Southern Cross, Pointer, False Cross, and the Big Dipper (a different view than what we see in our northern sky at our home in Alaska). Throughout the rest of our trip each evening we'd orient ourselves by finding the Southern Cross and Pointer.
Etendeka Mountain Camp review
Etendeka is a superb location. The "tented camp" experience was fun, but would have been enjoyed more if the matresses had not been so awful. They really have exceeded their useful life expectancy.
The activities were a little disappointing. We had expected a serious safari outfit, with real attempts to get close to game on foor. In the event the walk was marred by the other guests - slow, noisey and more interested in photographing each other than in the environment (not entirely the management's fault of course) and if we had not seen, after a long and very bumpy drive, the black rhino, the game drive would have been a disappointment too.
In short, we left with the feeling that full advantage was not being derived from the splendid location and the knowledge of the proprietor and his wife.
