Reviews of Palmwag Lodge
Wildlife sightings and reviews
36 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Palmwag Lodge and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
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"Palmwag Lodge review"
It is a fairly large lodge and has a bit of a motel feel - partly as it is visited by tour groups and is at a bit of a crossroads, but also in its layout as it is relatively close to the road. This creates no disturbance but it does create very much a 'front' and 'back'. There is no opportunity for self-guided walking so it all seems a bit constrained.
On the plus side, accommodation is good, there are a couple of relatively large pools, and a bar area by one is very pleasant. There are a number of activities available in quite spectacular scenery.
The real let-down is the staff, all of whom we found really unwelcoming and quite surly at reception and in the buffet, as on our previous visit. The exception were the staff at the pool bar and its kitchen who were very friendly and efficient and typically Namibian.
The food was not great. Buffet dinner offered the usual fish, meat, game options which varied from good to average to really quite poor. Breakfast was quite limited. The poolside bar at lunch though was actually pretty good.
We had 'booked' but not paid for rhino tracking in advance. No provision had been made for us before arrival. However, we were able to go as one of the other morning activities had no scheduled guests and there was therefore a vehicle available. Whilst it was great to see 'desert' rhino and the activity was close to our expectations having done some reasonable prior research, it is not really 'tracking'. We were in a group of approximately 20 in three vehicles. This number was really far too many but looking at the activities board for the week not untypical - with a couple of other days with similar numbers and a couple of days with just a single couple or family. The activity is on a different concession and involved an hour drive of over 50km each way and another approximately 30 minutes drive in the concession to reach rhino territory.
The tracker left the vehicle after locating recent dung and walked / ran a few km up nearby hills to spot rhino before directing the drivers to a suitable location where we disembarked and walked maybe 1.5km to intercept a male as it came down a gully. We got an excellent view and probably half an hour's viewing as it contoured across the hillside, getting to within about 200m. We would probably have got a little closer and been in view for longer if in a smaller group. When we saw the tracker again at morning coffees and snacks in the bush, he was very informative but struggled a little to communicate effectively with limited English due to the size of the group. Overall, we were pleased to do the activity and it was as we had expected other than for the group size, but it is worth making sure you understand what you will be paying for before committing to this in an itinerary." See all these reviews: 16n in Namibia
Black Rhino
1 sighting
Elephant
1 sighting
Giraffe
7 sightings
Oryx
1 sighting
Zebra
1 sighting
"Palmwag Lodge review"
The staff were uncertain what to do about our shredded tyre until the manager intervened.
We searched all day with a guide and only found one old Rhino scat. It is difficult to believe that most of the Rhinos have not been poached during Namibia's recent drought." See all these reviews: 10n in Namibia
Elephant
2 sightings
Giraffe
2 sightings
Zebra
2 sightings
"Palmwag Lodge review"
The food was good - staff very accommodating and even when the restaurant was effectively closed, they still allowed us to sit in there to use the internet and were good enough to bring us drinks and still look after us.
Facilities are limited (one pool was closed so there was very little space to sit by the pool which quickly filled up) and the bar was a little disorganised with the outdoor seating being hard benches only (hence needing to use the ‘closed’ restaurant).
However, our main reason for staying here was the opportunity for rhino tracking. We had a great nature drive on our first evening with Ronnie and went out early the next morning with Rodney for rhino tracking. Both activities were excellent and good value." See all these reviews: 22n in Namibia
Black Rhino
1 sighting
Giraffe
6 sightings
Oryx
10 sightings
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Palmwag Lodge review"
Overall a very good value option for a one night stay in the Palmwag area.
Own fuel station is an extra plus." See all these reviews: 9n in Namibia
Elephant
1 sighting
Oryx
1 sighting
"Palmwag Lodge review"
The staff were pleasant enough and sympathetic but didn't really seem to know what was going on. They said the mistake came from the take over by the lodge but this was last May
Not sure whether the booking had been reconfirmed before we went but this needs addressing at Palmwag before other guests go there in future.
The room we were given was one of the old ones and not the standard of the new tented rooms we had been booked for, as particularly the bathroom needed a bot of rejuvenation. However, if our Namib Tracks and trails guide and driver hadn't kindly given up one of their rooms we would have had no room at all." See all these reviews: 12n in Namibia
"Southern Africa Manager"
Elephant
1 sighting
"Average to good, but only option."
"Fantastic Rhino trek"
Most staff very happy and polite. Reception seem to tell most people you have not paid for your special activity when you arrive tired from a long drive, but finally retract when challenged.
Location fine, did see the resident elephant, who had been missing for 2 days!
Rhino trek enjoyable, lucky enough to see three including a baby. Apart from a couple of antelope in the concession only saw two giraffes on drive back.
Room comfortable but rather warm in the afternoon, as no air conditioning.
Food surprisingly good given some reviews. Special offers on wine we enjoyed on our second night.
Road there is in a terrible state, took extra 15 minutes driving back, and still got a puncture(albeit only discernible at the next lodge)" See all these reviews: 9n in Namibia; 3n in Botswana
Black Rhino
1 sighting
Elephant
1 sighting
Giraffe
1 sighting
"An oasis of green and calm"
Elephant
3 sightings
Giraffe
3 sightings
Oryx
3 sightings
"Hyenas in camp"
Hardest part of the trip with kids due to time in car, roughness of roads, three single night stays in a row. Would have been better if we could have stayted somewhere longer. Even in hindsight though, given where we wanted to go, what we wanted to experience and time constraints, would do the same again. Definitely not a relaxing few days though!
Arrived at main camp by lunch - very pleasant pool area, bar etc. Basic sandwiches available. Camp a bit 'functional' rather than special. Staff did what they needed to, but little more. Camp very accessible to wildlife though - desert elephant walking through.
Sleep-out experience and associated game-drives not entirely as billed - left camp later (16:00) and returned earlier (09:30) but this was largely due to wind and lack of game as a consequence. Camp 3x 2-person tents with simple mattress and sleeping bags. Plenty of room to put 2 kids + 1 adult in one tent, which we did. Would not really recommend kids on own due to separation of tents open to dangerous game - although this is permitted.
Dinner cooked on fire + plenty of salad and cold drinks brought in cooler boxes. Could hear lion (a few km off) and hyena (nearby) as soon as sun went down. Hyenas in camp during night and again as we were getting up at 6am.
Great drive back to main camp - for scenery rather than game, although we did see giraffe, oryx, duiker etc.
Guide was brilliant at spotting game but english was a bit of a struggle at times. As a consequence, he was unable to really engage kids and it was a bit difficult throughout to understand what was going to happen next.
Overall, this was a good experience which eveyone enjoyed but it was more memorable for doing it, rather than what we saw or the engagement with the guide." See all these reviews: 16n in Namibia
"Southern Africa Manager"
"Stoney!"
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