Reviews of Dolomite Camp
(85%) From 83 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Dolomite Camp review
This camp is in a unique setting today visit Western Etosha.
However, the rooms, while having an outstanding view, could be better and the service is not outstanding. To visit the area, however, this camp is an acceptable choice.
Dolomite Camp review
Wonderful location and great rooms. Best of the NWR lodges. Fantastic opportunity to travel to the west of Etosha with limited waterholes providing some of the best concentration of animals, including Rhino, although we did not see cats in this area. Great pool for cooling off even in the winter months after long drives. Like all NWR lodges food and service is not at a premium but the lodge is still highly recommended, in particular if on the route to/from Damaraland.
Read more about the whole safari
Dolomite is worth visiting for the great game
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.
Disappointed with Dolomite
Dolomite was a disappointment. The camp is in a great location and has potential to be very good. Unfortunately it is not well run. In fact we saw no sign of anyone in charge while we were there.
We had a bad start. It took 1.5 hours to check in and get to our room. When you arrive you unload your luggage in a parking lot at the bottom of a hill and wait for a golf cart to drive you up the hill. We had just missed a golf cart and had to wait over 40 minutes before it returned. The system is to take guests up to reception and wait until they have checked in and then take them to their chalets. The chalets can be a long way from reception so this takes time. Once we got to reception we had to wait to get checked in. Then we had to wait to get driven to the room. It would make more sense if there were two carts: one for the drive from the parking lot up the hill to reception, and another to transport guests from reception to the chalets and to the dining areas.
Walking between the chalets and the dining area is on very uneven paths up and down some steep areas for a long distance. We ended up walking as no cart ever seemed to be around but this would be very difficult for anyone with mobility issues and some older guests were having problems. There is no way to call for a ride so not much choice but to walk.
Rooms are small but quite nice with lovely views but extremely hot as they get the sun all afternoon.
There are two dining rooms. You reserve your time for dinner and you are assigned a table but not told where you are supposed to eat. Whenever we went to a dining room there were no staff there. The waitresses were trying to do a good job but they have to go to separate buildings to get food and beverages so were often away for quite a while. It would be really nice if they had a host in each dining room to greet guests and serve the drinks. The waitresses had too much to do. The first night we were assigned seats at a table beside a large group who were finishing their meal when we arrived. They left and we ate at the end of this large table by ourselves.
Food was adequate. Lunches were good as they were made to order but dinner was poor. Food was over cooked or sometimes vegetables were almost raw.
Service was a mix. Some staff, especially in the dining room, were wonderful and very friendly and helpful. Others just did not seem to want to be there and it showed. This was the only place we stayed on the trip where all the staff did not greet you. The day we left the golf cart driver had to be tracked to the kitchen where he was drinking coffee even though guests were waiting to be driven down to the parking lot. Although we had prepaid for dinner and breakfast the bill included dinner so we had to get that sorted out before we left.
I think with good management this could become an excellent place to stay. The location is great and the far end of Etosha has very few vehicles. Also we had some great viewing at the Jakkalswater water hole. We are glad we stayed here because of the location but compared to all our other accommodation Dolomite was a disappointment.
On the rocks - literally!
Contrary to the title I have used this is an unusual and exciting location on a large rock outcrop in the westernmost part of Etosha Pan National Park.
The rocks under our wooden framed chalet tent were inhabited by cute hyraxes (dassies) who emerge early in the morning to sun themselves. There is a wonderful view from the balcony of the park and one evening we watched a rhino strolling past and saw loads of more common species browsing only a couple of hundred metres away. There is a steep climb from the car park but a small buggy carries baggage (and passengers) up the steep track.
This part of Etosha is surprisingly empty of people - we drove 120km on our first morning around the park and only met two other vehicles but saw very many animals.
The facilities are excellent but we would rate the food as "good" and the waitresses need better training.
Dolomite Camp review
A classier camp than Okaukuejo for quality and service, almost achieving privately-owned standards.
Its hill-top location, gives great views over the plains on either sides, but requires dexterous buggy driving to get luggage to the spread-out tents. A slightly bizarre arrangement from a practical point of view, not ideal for anyone whose ability to walk is compromised. To be fair I was only there one night.
Dolomite Camp review
One of our favorite places - well worth booking the luxury chalet. The whole place is on a limestone ridge and we had views over the savanna right out to the horizon from our balcony.
The room was large and comfortable with a big patio with sunbeds and a private plunge pool. The camp is unfenced so you are escorted back to the chalet after dinner for safety reasons. Wildlife was all around from dassies on the rocks to lions doing a walk-past below our balcony at dusk. Couldn't have the patio doors open on the second night due to baboon colony camped on the rocks just outside. You could sit on our balcony and watch the comings and goings all day if you wanted.
The facilities are excellent but the staff, though friendly, are overstretched and the organisation could be better. Importantly the place gives access to the waterholes in the West of Etosha which is less frequently visited.
Dolomite
No game drives available as car in for service. Wouldn't happen in the private sector.
Lengthy power cuts. Inter-room phones out of order.
Food dire (although 'light lunch' was fine)
Dolomite Camp review
Started badly waited over twenty minutes to be picked up from parking area, even though they had been contacted.
No welcome simply fill in these forms.
Moved our chalet, no consultation, new chalet poor, light cord had broken, toilet door catch did not work, ventilation panels unable to work as zips had stuck.
Reception staff more interested in carrying on their conversation on their mobile phone than dealing with customers.
Shame great location.
We have always believed that acting responsibly is the only way to approach tourism and we're one of
the few companies to hold AITO's original coveted 5-star status for responsible tourism. It's a lead
that others are now following.
