Reviews of safaris to Etosha National Park
1247 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Etosha.
"My Oct 2013 trip"
We were also happy that we did the trip in the order we did the trip, We had just done a game oriented trip to Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, so it was good to start with the Namib and end with Etosha.
We wound up driving 3000 km. It would have been nice to have picked up the car in Swakomund and then head to Damaraland. But I would not have wanted to miss either Wolvedans or Kulala and we probably could not have afforded all the flight to go from Windhoek to the Namib and Swakomund.
We hope to come back and be able to get further up to the Skeleton Coast and the Kunene River region.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
None. Expert Africa was great to deal with. Very responsive, good advice. We did not have a single problem with any of the arrangements made by Expert Africa." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip
"October 2013 trip to Namibia- fabulous"
We did not lose our baggage at Johannesburg airport. We booked it all the way through. Very pleased to see it arrive with us in Windhoek and Newcastle.
We met many people who had not gone to Fish River or Luderitz. We were really glad to have gone there. Not many people at Fish River and we enjoyed Luderitz very much. You warned us in the book about driving to Luderitz- the sand and wind- but we found it much worse appropaching Walvis Bay- I suppose it depends on the weather on the day.
We did not feel we had time to arrange a trip to the ghost town of Kolmanskop so we dropped in there on the way east to have a look from the gates. We had been told we needed to book in advance in Luderitz but the man on the gate sold us a ticket so we went in. So it's worth trying that, or maybe they have changed the rules. We did not join a group but wandered around ourselves.
We were pleased to have a 4WD. We attempted more because of that eg tracks down to the coves on the Luderitz peninsula and certainly we would not have got up back up one of them withpout it! I did worry about having a puncture in the middle of nowhere but we did not have any. But drivers seem very helpful- we stopped when we saw someone else at the side of the road and hopefully we would also have had offers of help.
We went up the Cape Cross to see the seals after leaving Swakopmund. That was certainly worhwhile.
We would thoroughly recommend the trip to see the Desert Elephants in Damaraland. We visited the other places there by ourselves. We also visited Sossusvlei ourselves from Kalala. The drive up the entrance was not too bad and the road was empty. We spent all day out and visited the Sesriem Canyon on the way out.
All the hotels/ guest houses were excellent. We thought the standard of service was superb.
Thank you again for your help and advice. I will certainly recommend Expert Africa to my friends. We would love to go back to Namibia; it is such a big country and we felt we just scratched the surface. We want to go to Botswana too so I suspect we will be back to talk to you!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Can't think of anything.
Being open at 10 pm UK time ( in NZ) was very useful to us!" Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip
"My Oct 2013 trip"
1) Namibia. What a beautiful country. Landscape out of this world, close up with wild animals, great food and fantastic activities.
2) The people of Namibia. So friendly, so peaceful, you will not find it hard to make friends there.
3) Expert Africa. WOW, what a service they provide. Overall fabulous. We are so happy with all the planjing and reccomendations that next time we will travel to that area I will put all the planning in their hands. Will not even quiestion the suggestions. Also, we encountered a car break down, and Expert Africa did EVERYTHING they could to help us (even though it happened on a friday evening..). And it all worked out just fine with them helping us!" Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 7 on a Namibia trip
"Exceeded our expectations"
Our highlights were the visit to the desert adapted elephants from Mowani, a day of kayaking with the seal colony and getting driven over the dunes of Sandwich Harbour with a champagne and oyster lunch (which we organised directly with Sandwich Harbour 4 x 4), and the time spent at Okakuejo waterhole.
Our lowpoints - getting enveloped by a dust devil at Okakuejo." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip
"My Sep 2013 trip"
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Advice on where to buy pulas was not good. Windhoek airport does not stock pulas in any of the three exchanges. Bank in Namibia (4 tried) also don't sell pulas. Finally bought them in Botswana at Barclays. Other point is that Windhoek airport exhanges do not take travellers cheques." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 11 on a Namibia trip
"My Sept 2013 trip"
I dealt primarily with Saskia Adye, but she wasn't on your list of team members so I chose her sister instead.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
The service was excellent! The only thing I would suggest (and Saskia made have mentioned this but I didn't hear her) was to be prepared for cold weather, especially during early morning game drives. I wasn't prepared for such cold weather in the mornings and suffered a bit until the sun came up. A warm coat, gloves, scarf and a hat would have been nice and easy to pack." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 19 on a Namibia trip
"A holiday i will never forget"
There is so much space, game, sun, fun, it would be easy to write a book about it!
It will be hard to better this holiday.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Just keep on doing the same excellent job. You made our trip special." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip
"Fabulous Namibia"
It was brilliant seeing the wildlife at the waterholes in Etosha from our car and also at the waterholes in the various lodges we stayed in. The service everywhere in Namibia was excellent and very friendly.
No wonder Namibia has featured strongly for a number of years in the world's top ten countries to visit by readers of the Wanderlust travel magazine.
The garden route in South Africa, following Namibia, was a little tame and too touristy in comparison although it was great seeing whales in the bay at Hermanus. The food and wine in S.A. is extremely good and cheap in comparison to the UK.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
My husband thinks I should be paid for completing this feedback! It was a bit time consuming due to the number of lodges we stayed in over a three week period - it becomes a job to remember them all clearly.
Having said that the trip was brilliantly organised by Gwynneth and we will be contacting her again for our next trip in a couple of years time." Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip
"My Sep 2013 trip"
The combination of Zambia with Namibia worked very well, as we were able to spend time in one of the prime game viewing areas of Africa as well as have the freedom to see things for ourselves once we had the use of our vehicle. We will be back as soon as we can!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
The only suggestion we would have for improving our itinerary would be to spend 2 days driving across Etosha national park rather than one, and staying in the intermediate camp. This would allow more time for game viewing while making the transit on what were quite rough roads.
On the other hand, the gravel road to Waterberg plateau was much better than expected and only took about 20 minutes to transit.
Overall, we were very glad that we had upgraded from a standard car to a SUV." Read full review: 23 nights in Africa; 8 on a Namibia trip
"Namibia/ Botswana Trip"
Maruska really helped walk us through the initial planning stages, pointing out practicalities in her most diplomatic way. Her suggestions always held true, yet she listened to our ideas as well. She showed great patience and carefully dealt with our concerns. Her knowledge and expertise enabled us to experience a great adventure.
It was truly a unique experience. We were so very fortunate to have had Maruska as our contact.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
At this time, I can't think of any way our experience could be improved upon." Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 9 on a Namibia trip
Where to stay in Etosha
Our suggestions for safari camps in Etosha National Park
Okaukuejo Camp
Set within Etosha National Park, Okaukuejo Resort is a large camp with a productive, floodlit waterhole.
Halali Camp
The smallest of Etosha's erstwhile restcamps, overlooking its own floodlit waterhole, Halali has a superb location near the centre of Etosha Pan.
Mushara Bush Camp
The family-friendly Mushara Bush Camp offers great value and is an excellent base from which to explore Etosha National Park.
Ongava Lodge
With fantastic views over a private reserve bordering Etosha, the smart Ongava Lodge offers driving and walking safaris on the reserve, and guided drives in Etosha.
Ongava Tented Camp
Set around a waterhole on a private reserve, the small Ongava Tented Camp combines understated comfort with activities that include walks and night drives.
Onguma Tented Camp
Onguma Tented Camp is a lovely, little tented camp which centres around an attractive waterhole a short drive from the Von Lindequist Gate to eastern Etosha.
Dolomite Camp
Opened in 2011, Dolomite Camp allows visitors access to the far west side of Etosha National Park, which was previously off limits to most visitors.
Mushara Lodge
Close to the eastern entrance to Etosha, the comfortable Mushara Lodge is well-placed for exploring the park in your own vehicle or on a guided drive.
Namutoni Camp
Centred on an old fort, the government run Namutoni Camp is located just inside Etosha National Park, close to Fisher's Pan.
Onguma Bush Camp
For great wildlife viewing without breaking the bank, the affordable and understated luxury of Onguma Bush Camp could be perfect.
Hobatere Lodge
To the west of Etosha National Park, on the edge of Damaraland, Hobatere Lodge offers good game-viewing on its own reserve.
Mushara Outpost
Intimate and luxurious, Mushara Outpost is well-placed on a private reserve to explore nearby Etosha National Park on your own or on a guided drive.
Onguma Camp Kala
For a bird’s eye view across African bush, the stilted rooms at Onguma Camp Kala are truly special.
Onguma The Fort
The Fort is the jewel in the crown of the Onguma lodges, and arguably the whole of eastern Etosha.
Safarihoek Lodge
At the heart of the private Etosha Heights Reserve, Safarihoek Lodge offers comfortable accommodation and excellent game-viewing.
Onguma Forest Camp
From its woodland setting on the Onguma Reserve, Forest Camp is within easy striking distance of Namibia’s flagship national park.
Taleni Etosha Village
Only 4km from Etosha's southern entrance, Taleni Etosha Village is an affordable base from which to explore the park.
Etosha Safari Lodge
A short drive from Etosha National Park's southern entrance, Etosha Safari Lodge is a convenient base from which to explore the park.
Little Ongava
The beautifully located and luxurious Little Ongava is a stunning place to stay in order to explore Etosha National Park and the private Ongava Reserve.
Etosha Safari Camp
Funky, low-key and very original, Etosha Safari Camp is well placed for visiting Etosha National Park on a self-drive or guided safari.
Andersson's at Ongava
With game drives on both its private reserve and in Etosha, Andersson's at Ongava also offers access to the Ongava Research Centre.
Mountain Lodge
In the heart of the private Etosha Heights Reserve, the family-friendly Mountain Lodge offers game drives and bush walks within an exclusive environment.
Mokuti Etosha Lodge
With 106 rooms, child-friendly Mokuti Etosha Lodge is more like a hotel than a lodge. Facilities to include a gym, spa, tennis courts and even a snake park.
Etosha Oberland Lodge
A short drive from Etosha National Park's southern entrance, Etosha Oberland Lodge is a very comfortable base from which to explore the park, with excellent food.
Vreugde Guest Farm
Vreugde Guest Farm is a delightful owner-run and working sheep farm where you can expect a warm welcome and charming hospitality.
Villa Mushara
Offering luxury on a peaceful private reserve close to Etosha, Villa Mushara is a great choice for honeymooners & those wishing to indulge themselves.
Etosha Garden Hotel
Safari in Etosha National Park Namibia, whilst based at the nearby Etosha Garden Lodge.
Etosha King Nehale
A short drive from the national park's northern entrance, Etosha King Nehale Lodge is an interesting and comfortable base from which to explore the park.
Safari House
The private Safari House on the Etosha Heights reserve is a great option families or friends travelling together.
Onkoshi Camp
Onkoshi Camp is owned and run by Namibia Wildlife Resorts. Built on elevated wooden platforms it overlooks Etosha Pan.
