Reviews of safaris to Damaraland
1130 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Damaraland.
Mr & Mrs S
Halifax
"First time in Namibia"
I visited Namibia between 22 Oct 2018 and 31 Oct 2018
"This was a most enjoyable holiday and far exceeded our expectations.
Namibia is absolutely beautiful and unspoilt and you don't appreciate its beauty unless you drive between lodges. The holiday was short - 9 nights - very well planned as driving distances, although quite long, were not excessive and we had two night stays in most of the camps allowing early morning game drives on the full day. One does spend a lot of time in cars as the drive between camps is about 6 hours and on arrival you are then taken out on a 4 hour game drive. The camps do not have an abundance of game which is why game drives are long but are pleasantly interrupted with snacks or sundowners depending on the time of day.
The guides were, without exception, excellent, and the standard of the camps was universally very good. Travellers coming from England will find fuel and drinks prices cheap compared with England (diesel is about £0.60 per litre) but it is essential to pay for petrol with cash as fraudulent use of credit cards is reportedly rife, so buy plenty of S Africa rands before leaving England.
Expert Africa warned us of this and it was confirmed several times by locals. It is wise to have some cash in small denominations as everyone, including those at petrol stations, will expect a tip We found this a most enjoyable and well organised holiday and we were given much useful advice by Expert Africa before our departure but despite all warnings the only problem we experienced was a single puncture.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
This was a very well constructed holiday by people who clearly know what they are doing.
We were very well warned about all the potential problems almost to the point of wondering whether we should continue with our plans or not and while this is very important it is probably worth saying to clients that if they are sensible they are no more likely to experience anything untoward than they are on any other motoring holiday, apart from the poor quality of the roads. Unless we were just very lucky!
Many thanks to Claire and Expert Africa for organising a wonderful holiday in Namibia." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 9 on a Namibia trip
Namibia is absolutely beautiful and unspoilt and you don't appreciate its beauty unless you drive between lodges. The holiday was short - 9 nights - very well planned as driving distances, although quite long, were not excessive and we had two night stays in most of the camps allowing early morning game drives on the full day. One does spend a lot of time in cars as the drive between camps is about 6 hours and on arrival you are then taken out on a 4 hour game drive. The camps do not have an abundance of game which is why game drives are long but are pleasantly interrupted with snacks or sundowners depending on the time of day.
The guides were, without exception, excellent, and the standard of the camps was universally very good. Travellers coming from England will find fuel and drinks prices cheap compared with England (diesel is about £0.60 per litre) but it is essential to pay for petrol with cash as fraudulent use of credit cards is reportedly rife, so buy plenty of S Africa rands before leaving England.
Expert Africa warned us of this and it was confirmed several times by locals. It is wise to have some cash in small denominations as everyone, including those at petrol stations, will expect a tip We found this a most enjoyable and well organised holiday and we were given much useful advice by Expert Africa before our departure but despite all warnings the only problem we experienced was a single puncture.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
This was a very well constructed holiday by people who clearly know what they are doing.
We were very well warned about all the potential problems almost to the point of wondering whether we should continue with our plans or not and while this is very important it is probably worth saying to clients that if they are sensible they are no more likely to experience anything untoward than they are on any other motoring holiday, apart from the poor quality of the roads. Unless we were just very lucky!
Many thanks to Claire and Expert Africa for organising a wonderful holiday in Namibia." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 9 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms T.
London
"Road trip of a lifetime "
I visited Namibia between 15 Oct 2018 and 2 Nov 2018
"Fantastic trip that gave us something new to experience every day. The highlights were the amazing free-roaming wildlife, the stunning savanna and desert landscapes and welcoming people. We were also forced out of our comfort zone: we had 4 tyre punctures (!) and we both had very unpleasant food poisoning thankfully on different days.
We were in a hot air balloon 1000 meters above the desert at the crack of dawn and regularly sand-blasted on gravel and sandy roads. In hindsight we should have elected to stay outside of Etosha and we should have tried to arrange it so that we had smaller meals with less red meat. We worked out that we had 9 red meat meals during the period of 16 days! The food was mostly excellent, but was just too hearty a diet at 35-40 degrees.
Also thanks to Tracy's advice we managed to experience the hot air balloon ride over the desert and to discover such gems as Bullsport and Eningu lodge. Our favourite lodge was Doro Nawas for its stunning location and atmosphere, and lovely staff, closely followed by Hoodia, where we had the best food and a most relaxing stay. Okonjima was also a very special place where we saw leopards on our very first ride!
We will be revisiting our memories of this trip for a long time to come." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip
We were in a hot air balloon 1000 meters above the desert at the crack of dawn and regularly sand-blasted on gravel and sandy roads. In hindsight we should have elected to stay outside of Etosha and we should have tried to arrange it so that we had smaller meals with less red meat. We worked out that we had 9 red meat meals during the period of 16 days! The food was mostly excellent, but was just too hearty a diet at 35-40 degrees.
Also thanks to Tracy's advice we managed to experience the hot air balloon ride over the desert and to discover such gems as Bullsport and Eningu lodge. Our favourite lodge was Doro Nawas for its stunning location and atmosphere, and lovely staff, closely followed by Hoodia, where we had the best food and a most relaxing stay. Okonjima was also a very special place where we saw leopards on our very first ride!
We will be revisiting our memories of this trip for a long time to come." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs M & Mr S
USA
"My Oct 2018 trip"
I visited Namibia between 9 Oct 2018 and 1 Nov 2018
"overall it was fantastic, thank you Maruska for designing the perfect trip. We loved every day!
All was fantastic. No significant problems or issues, loved the country, would love to return. Mostly met Germans & Dutch; only met two American couples, Americans are really missing out!
Roads were not too bad and very little traffic.
I was surprised and saddened (or probably just ignorant) to see the racism and poverty that still exists in our world." Read full review: 23 nights in Africa; 21 on a Namibia trip
All was fantastic. No significant problems or issues, loved the country, would love to return. Mostly met Germans & Dutch; only met two American couples, Americans are really missing out!
Roads were not too bad and very little traffic.
I was surprised and saddened (or probably just ignorant) to see the racism and poverty that still exists in our world." Read full review: 23 nights in Africa; 21 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr M & Mrs R
London
"Namibia - much greener than I expected"
I visited Namibia between 4 Oct 2018 and 11 Oct 2018
"The trip was very good. Sabina's advice to spend the first night at the Olive Grove in Windhoek to avoid the risk of our incoming flight from Johannesburg being late and our missing the flight to Damaraland Camp was very good. The Olive Grove was delightful and relaxing and dinner on the terrace made a marvellous start to the holiday.
Etosha National Park was slightly disappointing for us as we had been on many safaris in South Africa and Botswana, and Etosha was very much like the Kruger National Park in South Africa, where again one had to stay on the roads through the park. However the reserve around the lodge was much better and the driver could drive over a much wider area, and the scenery there was stunning, with plenty of wild life, including a caracal which I gather isn't frequently seen. Seeing a vast herd of zebra patiently waiting for three lions to leave a water hole so that they could then have a drink was also fascinating. The guide also went to great lengths to find us white rhinos.
We liked Damaraland and the harsh, volcanic scenery. My wife really enjoyed Sossusvlei and the dunes. I had expected them to be the highlight of the trip, coming at the end, but I'm afraid the anticipated Wow Factor didn't materialise for me, but I still enjoyed the excursion and the Dead Vlei was most dramatic.
Providing landing cards for Namibia, with instructions how to complete them, was a great bonus. None were available on the plane and all the passengers had to scramble to get them and fill them in at Windhoek airport so we were almost the first people through passport control.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
On the landing card there is a question asking how much we anticipated spending in Namibia. I said I didn't know and that was not acceptable, although the passport officer wasn't bothered what figure I put in as long as I put in some figure. You might point this out with the information you provide about completing the landing card as a couple next to us were given quite a hard time about the way they had completed the form." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 7 on a Namibia trip
Etosha National Park was slightly disappointing for us as we had been on many safaris in South Africa and Botswana, and Etosha was very much like the Kruger National Park in South Africa, where again one had to stay on the roads through the park. However the reserve around the lodge was much better and the driver could drive over a much wider area, and the scenery there was stunning, with plenty of wild life, including a caracal which I gather isn't frequently seen. Seeing a vast herd of zebra patiently waiting for three lions to leave a water hole so that they could then have a drink was also fascinating. The guide also went to great lengths to find us white rhinos.
We liked Damaraland and the harsh, volcanic scenery. My wife really enjoyed Sossusvlei and the dunes. I had expected them to be the highlight of the trip, coming at the end, but I'm afraid the anticipated Wow Factor didn't materialise for me, but I still enjoyed the excursion and the Dead Vlei was most dramatic.
Providing landing cards for Namibia, with instructions how to complete them, was a great bonus. None were available on the plane and all the passengers had to scramble to get them and fill them in at Windhoek airport so we were almost the first people through passport control.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
On the landing card there is a question asking how much we anticipated spending in Namibia. I said I didn't know and that was not acceptable, although the passport officer wasn't bothered what figure I put in as long as I put in some figure. You might point this out with the information you provide about completing the landing card as a couple next to us were given quite a hard time about the way they had completed the form." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 7 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs J.
Sussex
"1 - 18 October trip overall"
I visited Namibia between 1 Oct 2018 and 17 Oct 2018
"Overall we had a wonderful time and were grateful for the advice, recommendations and help with planning from Expert Africa..
Fuel stations were frequent and mostly took cards by staff at the pumps. The lodges were very well appointed with soap, shampoo, hairdryers, dressing gowns and fridges (not at Grootberg). Not all lodges provided laundry facilities, despite an indication that they would (under exclusions) on the itinerary.
We were travelling with friends who had their own car so bought walkie talkies which were very useful together with a free road map app that my husband downloaded to his phone which didn't need internet and it was invaluable. Highly recommend the app. We drove 2,500 kms, mostly on dirt roads, some better than others.
We thought all the tours (with the exception of Grootberg) were very good value with knowledgeable guides who certainly didn't clock watch. Staff were always helpful and friendly, the food was variable and the wine good quality and value." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip
Fuel stations were frequent and mostly took cards by staff at the pumps. The lodges were very well appointed with soap, shampoo, hairdryers, dressing gowns and fridges (not at Grootberg). Not all lodges provided laundry facilities, despite an indication that they would (under exclusions) on the itinerary.
We were travelling with friends who had their own car so bought walkie talkies which were very useful together with a free road map app that my husband downloaded to his phone which didn't need internet and it was invaluable. Highly recommend the app. We drove 2,500 kms, mostly on dirt roads, some better than others.
We thought all the tours (with the exception of Grootberg) were very good value with knowledgeable guides who certainly didn't clock watch. Staff were always helpful and friendly, the food was variable and the wine good quality and value." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
K+R, J+P
Stirling
"Our Namibia trip October 2018"
I visited Namibia between 28 Sep 2018 and 16 Oct 2018
"We had an amazing trip! Everything went really well. The information provided was totally reliable and our annotated map was a terrific help. Having Wilderness Safaris lounge and support from their team at the airport was great.
The accommodation was a good distance apart so no driving day was too difficult and we felt safe and confident driving ourselves around the country despite some very bumpy roads. This also gave us the opportunity to find small cafes (with excellent cakes) and helpful garages (we'll fix your slow puncture while you have coffee and cake!).
Everyone we met was friendly helpful and welcoming giving us a very positive impression of the country. People were especially helpful and supportive as we had older people travelling with us. They were also very responsive to our requests for including birdwathcing in all trips (114 species seen).
There was much greater variety than a traditional safari holiday. The game viewing was better than we had expected as we didn't include Etosha in our itinerary. However we also loved the varied landscapes such as Fish River Canyon, the dunes at Sossusvlei and Sandwich Harbour, and the bush in Damarland and Waterberg. Our tours were always in smaller groups which gave us more flexibility.
We will be recommending Namibia and Expert Africa to all our friends!" Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip
The accommodation was a good distance apart so no driving day was too difficult and we felt safe and confident driving ourselves around the country despite some very bumpy roads. This also gave us the opportunity to find small cafes (with excellent cakes) and helpful garages (we'll fix your slow puncture while you have coffee and cake!).
Everyone we met was friendly helpful and welcoming giving us a very positive impression of the country. People were especially helpful and supportive as we had older people travelling with us. They were also very responsive to our requests for including birdwathcing in all trips (114 species seen).
There was much greater variety than a traditional safari holiday. The game viewing was better than we had expected as we didn't include Etosha in our itinerary. However we also loved the varied landscapes such as Fish River Canyon, the dunes at Sossusvlei and Sandwich Harbour, and the bush in Damarland and Waterberg. Our tours were always in smaller groups which gave us more flexibility.
We will be recommending Namibia and Expert Africa to all our friends!" Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr& Mrs T
Poole
"Namibia Sept/Oct"
I visited Namibia between 27 Sep 2018 and 11 Oct 2018
"This trip was throughly enjoyable. An experience we will never forget.
The highlights for us were the stunning beauty and variety of the landscapes, friendly people, amazing wildlife which we observed on organised game drives( also being able to do self drive game drives in Etosha was a treat) and very comfortable lodges. If you want a real adventure holiday Namibia is a must. Be prepared though for some long drives on dusty gravelled roads.
I would happily recommend Expert Africa and Wilderness Safaris to anyone wanting to visit Namibia.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No. You ticked all the boxes for us." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip
The highlights for us were the stunning beauty and variety of the landscapes, friendly people, amazing wildlife which we observed on organised game drives( also being able to do self drive game drives in Etosha was a treat) and very comfortable lodges. If you want a real adventure holiday Namibia is a must. Be prepared though for some long drives on dusty gravelled roads.
I would happily recommend Expert Africa and Wilderness Safaris to anyone wanting to visit Namibia.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No. You ticked all the boxes for us." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs R
Northum
"Exellent"
I visited Namibia and 2 other countries between 25 Sep 2018 and 26 Oct 2018
"We had a fantastic holiday in Namibia, Victoria Falls and Botswana. It took alot of planning with the help of Megan but it ended up being even better than we thought it would be.
We had lots of variety but I think we would say the private mobile safari was our favourite thing. When we started our holiday we thought a month away was a long holiday but we didn't once feel it was too long, probably just right really. We saw such amazing things. Megan was great when we had some money stolen out of the safe in one of the lodges, fortunately we didn't need to take her up on her offer to get cash to us.
We found Megan to be very knowledgeable and she always listened to our requests. Thank you for making this a dream holiday." Read full review: 31 nights in Africa; 18 on a Namibia trip
We had lots of variety but I think we would say the private mobile safari was our favourite thing. When we started our holiday we thought a month away was a long holiday but we didn't once feel it was too long, probably just right really. We saw such amazing things. Megan was great when we had some money stolen out of the safe in one of the lodges, fortunately we didn't need to take her up on her offer to get cash to us.
We found Megan to be very knowledgeable and she always listened to our requests. Thank you for making this a dream holiday." Read full review: 31 nights in Africa; 18 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Pete & Nancy
Stockton
"Our best vacation ever!"
I visited Namibia between 21 Sep 2018 and 12 Oct 2018
"This was our second visit to Namibia and our first not organized as a group. After this experience we can say we much prefer traveling on our own. Expert Africa helped us organize the exact trip we wanted and it exceeded all our expectations. We were able to visit parts of Namibia was had not seen during our first visit.
The team member who organized our trip has first-hand knowledge of Namibia, which was very helpful. Expert Africa thought of every detail, provided comprehensive information and were responsive to us during our trip as well.
We are already planning our next trip to Africa and will use Expert Africa to plan that trip as well." Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 19 on a Namibia trip
The team member who organized our trip has first-hand knowledge of Namibia, which was very helpful. Expert Africa thought of every detail, provided comprehensive information and were responsive to us during our trip as well.
We are already planning our next trip to Africa and will use Expert Africa to plan that trip as well." Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 19 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr A & Mrs K
Wilts
"A most memorable trip"
I visited Namibia between 21 Sep 2018 and 10 Oct 2018
"As well as seeing some wonderful scenery and a plethora of wildlife in their natural habitat the trip also taught us much about the culture of this African country. The knowledge and passion of all of the guides was amazing.
We never once felt unsafe or threatened though we took the usual precautions to protect ourselves and our belongings.
There is clearly a huge diversity of wealth in the country which did make us feel uncomfortable from time to time.
Given the opportunity we would certainly return and we will encourage others to do the same." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 19 on a Namibia trip
We never once felt unsafe or threatened though we took the usual precautions to protect ourselves and our belongings.
There is clearly a huge diversity of wealth in the country which did make us feel uncomfortable from time to time.
Given the opportunity we would certainly return and we will encourage others to do the same." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 19 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
1130
reviews of Damaraland by travellers since August 2007
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Inspire meWhere to stay in Damaraland
Our suggestions for safari camps in Damaraland
Doro Nawas
Comfortable rooms and a convenient location make the community run Doro Nawas a great base for exploring Damaraland.
Mowani Mountain Camp
Mowani is a beautiful and stylish mountain retreat in southern Damaraland; it makes a great base for visits toTwyfelfontein.
Damaraland Camp
Setting the standard for community partnerships, Damaraland Camp offers a beautiful location, a range of activities – and a genuine welcome.
Camp Kipwe
With unusual, igloo-like rooms, open-air bathrooms and beautiful scenery, Camp Kipwe is well placed for nature and cultural excursions.
Desert Rhino Camp
Desert Rhino Camp offers a rare opportunity to track black rhino on foot in one of the last true wilderness areas – an amazing experience.
Etendeka Camp
Etendeka is an owner-run camp in the remote and less visited north of Damaraland. The camp is renowned for it's spectacular guided walking trails.
Grootberg Lodge
On the edge of an ancient plateau Grootberg Lodge has a stunning location and arguably the best views of any lodge in Namibia.
Twyfelfontein C'try Lod.
A large lodge set among the rocks, Twyfelfontein Country Lodge is a convenient base for visiting the rock engravings, which are only 4km away.
Spitzkoppen Lodge
Spitzkoppen Lodge provides stylish accommodation in an area of scenic grandeur with guided access to sites of ancient Bushman rock art.
Palmwag Lodge
Palmwag Lodge has a great location by a spring in the Uniab River and offers access to an area where you can see a variety of desert-dwelling animals.
Huab Lodge
Huab is a classic little Namibian Lodge which is slightly off the beaten track in a lesser visited part of Damaraland.
Brandberg White Lady
Brandberg White Lady Lodge, nestled at the foot of its namesake, makes a good base from which to visit bushman rock paintings including the 'White Lady'.
Vingerklip Lodge
Vingerklip Lodge occupies a lovely location, but is a little too far east for guests to visit Damaraland's main attractions.
Onduli Ridge
Onduli Ridge is a luxurious, low-impact luxury camp offering top-notch guiding in a remote wilderness area of Damaraland.
Khowarib Lodge
Khowarib Lodge has a great location overlooking the Hoanib River. This is one of the few places to offer authentic Himba village visits.
Etendeka Hiking Trail
The Etendeka Walking Trail promises to offer a back-to-basics walking and camping experience in one of Namibia's most remote and untouched wilderness areas.
Malansrus Camp
Within easy reach of Twyfelfontein, Malansrus offers a simple but comfortable base for visits to the rock engravings or seek out desert-adapted elephants.
Ozondjou Trails
The simple Ozondjou Trails gives a unique perspective on living with Damaraland’s desert-adapted elephants and how tourism is key to protecting them and the livelihood of the people.
Palmwag Sleep-out
Palmwag Sleep-out is a simple camping experience and a great way to enjoy the remote beauty of the vast Palmwag Concession
Camp Doros
Small, intimate and with excellent eco-credentials, Camp Doros is set above an ephemeral river within a remote community concession of Damaraland.
Sorris Sorris Lodge
Overlooking the Brandberg Massif, Sorris Sorris is probably the most luxurious lodge in southern Damaraland.
