Reviews of Dolomite Camp
(86%) From 88 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Wonderful lookout for Etosha first night
Amazing setting but what a pity there was really no evidence of anyone in charge. Lodges are strung out across 400 metres of the ridge of one of the few hill ranges in Etosha.
But the lodges really needed a critical eye passed over them. Every window zip was broken in our tent and if the weather had been anything other than queit and hot they would have allowed wind, rain, and dust dust to pour in. Electrical plugs a shambles and probably dangerous. Any of these issues could be easily sorted with a program of regular preventative maintenance.
But what a setting and such nice staff with good food and remarkable views.
Dolomite-great location but poorly managed
Dolomite Camp is in an amazing setting with beautiful rooms overlooking the plains. The reception staff were fairly welcoming on our arrival but then we never saw them again! The shop was never open although we were here for 2 nights. There was one lovely member of staff, Fima Simon, who seemed to be the only serving staff apart from the barman who helped out when he could.
Fima was solely responsible for serving and clearing dinner and drinks in the 2 restaurants each with 20 people, plus managing reception when a guest turned up. It was an impossible task and she could be seen running up the steps with a laden tray in semi- darkness trying to serve all the residents. We later heard from the reception staff at another Etosha camp that before our arrival some of the staff had gone on strike and so all of them had been dismissed, including the manager. They were running the camp, which was full, with the very bare minimum of staff.
No hot breakfast was offered on day 1. On our second night it took over an hour to be served our first course and when the main course arrive all the vegetables were cold.
We visited Oliphantsrus water hole during our stay ay Dolomite and thought that the new hide was excellent. A large bull elephant came in at mid-morning to drink and we had great viewings of hundreds of sand grouse coming to drink and collect water for their young in their chest feathers.
Dolomite Camp worst of the bunch!
We last stayed here 2 weeks after it opened which was about 5 years ago, such a great camp then we opted to return on this trip. What a big mistake!
Bearing in mind we booked this accommodation a year in advance and specifically requested an eastern facing room. When we checked in we were allocated a western facing room, we questioned this with the person checking us in who immediately blamed a central booking system and started to argue with us about the mistake. Eventually we were given a room on the eastern side, but her whole could not care less attitude put a bad taste in our mouths. I could write a book an our experience here but will keep it brief.
The camp is understaffed and unmotivated. It is quite clear there is lack of management and NWPs need to sit up and take notice.
ROOMS: Tired and need a good deep clean.
Food: Disgusting. Every meal was cold and quite honestly inedible, although for some reason the soup was warm and good. The amount of waste food at each dinner was huge and with starving people in the country unacceptable. Surely with what was being returned to the kitchen, when does the chef realise that there is a problem?
Staff: Understaffed, demotivated , miserable, do not communicate, rude, argumentative and just could not care less.
When we stayed there they were overbooked and one couple had to sleep in the guides room, plus on the same night guests had to take their meals in the bar area as there were no spaces in the dining rooms.
The whole camp is just a chaotic mess!
Dolomite Camp review
Lovely room with amazing views.
The drive from Okaukuejo unbelievable with plentiful sightings of game, even a rhino walking past the car in the middle of the day.
Meals were only average at best, and staff needed training in customer relations and service.
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 safariDolomite 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.
