Reviews of BullsPort Lodge & Farm

"The Bullsport experience is really unique among all the other lodges/hotels we stayed in, in that the hosts truly welcome you as if you were a guest staying with them, and not just a tourist who made a booking at their lodge. And they do this with an unassuming and casual candor that makes it feel natural and pleasant, rather than a business angle.

For me the highlight of our very brief one night stay here was the family style dinner, and not because it was a delicious home made meal, but rather because we got to spend a few hours having a conversation in fascinating company. I loved that Ernst and Johanna don't shy away from potentially polarizing topics, and are happy to share their opinions and stories with their guests. It was an enlightening and wholly refreshing experience, and we remain grateful for their hospitality.

We didn't have time to do the Quivertree gorge hike, but we did do an evening game drive through the farm, and a morning horseback ride, on both of which we were treated to spectacular scenery, and a wealth of information about farming in Namibia. Our room was fantastic - large and beautifully appointed. I do wish there was a heater that didn't involve an open flame, as it got really cold at night.

A really great option, especially for anyone interested in getting more under the skin, and learning from the locals." See all these reviews: 8n in Namibia

"This is a superb location for visiting and walking in the Naukluft. A working farm with walking trails which we hope to return to in the future so we can experience some more of their walks.

Accommodation is generous, well equipped. Food good home cooking (although the chef had some difficulty in comprehending precise dietary requirements but Johanna was prompt in remedying this).

Our hosts Ernst, Johanna, their managers and staff were welcoming and informative about the farm and the area." See all these reviews: 28n in Namibia; 5n in South Africa

"This was a working farm and somewhat less 'posh' than many of our other bookings. The owners were very available and easy to talk to.

The highlight was a hike down the Quiver Tree gorge. It was the only place we could really hike in all of our travels. Other places had guided walks instead." See all these reviews: 19n in Namibia; 4n in Botswana; 3n in Zimbabwe

"The Bullsport GH was wonderful. The room and food were great. The owners and staff were very helpful and friendly.

We had a wonderful hike on one of their trails the first day. The next day we had a staff member drive us up to the top of the mountains where we hiked down through the canyon ourselves. The drive up was like a guided tour.

We loved the way the owner and staff ate dinner at the tables with the guests." See all these reviews: 18n in Namibia

"It was nice to eat with the farmer at one table. Nice guide." See all these reviews: 19n in Namibia; 6n in South Africa

"Lovely place. I particularly enjoyed dining 'en famille' and with other guests.

Trip in jeep on high plateau followed by Quiver Tree Gorge walk excellent. Driver/guide amazing sight, could spot game long before anybody else. We usually only saw them when they moved.

Nice rooms and gardens." See all these reviews: 5n in Namibia

"We stayed at Bullsport Guest Farm for the first two nights after leaving Windhoek. It was a very easy drive from Windhoek to the Farm where we were greeted and promptly checked in by Johanna, one of the owners.

When we checked into our room we were very pleasantly surprised by its spaciousness and airiness and the casual but very attractive decor. We'd read reviews that described it is a "stopover" or in other ways implied it was not that attractive but we found it very warm and welcoming. The room, bathroom and patio were very clean and well-maintained.

Meals were overall very good. Breakfast and afternoon tea were available between certain hours and dinner was at a specific time with all the other guests and owners. There was a fairly large number of German guests on our first night there and as we'd expected based on other traveler's reviews, they sat at the large table with the owners and we were seated at a second table with another pair of American travelers as well as a young German intern and someone else from the farm, both of whom spoke excellent English. It was a wonderful and interesting dinner although some travelers have indicated they felt left out being seated at the second, smaller table. We had no problems with it at all and really enjoyed getting to know our fellow diners. On the second night the German group had left so all guests sat at the large table together with the owners and intern. The food on the second night was especially delicious. In both cases the main course was a locally (licensed) hunted meat: zebra and then springbok.

Our first morning after breakfast we set off with a guide to Quiver Tree Gorge where we went on a 3+ hour hike. On the drive to the gorge we got very close to a group of mountain (Hartmann) zebras and then continued up to a beautiful vantage point with stunning views of the surroundings. Once we started the hike, we descended into the gorge where we saw dozens of quiver trees, as well as leopard prints (and some carcass remains), and other plants and birds. We stopped for lunch, a healthy and filling meal provided by Bullsport for an additional fee. Around the mid-point area of the hike there was the choice of continuing on the "easy" route or the "difficult" one. Based on what we'd heard from our dinner guests the previous evening about the difficult one, we opted for the easy one and were glad we did as it was challenging enough and in the heat gave us a good workout. We were met at the end of the walk by the guide who had juices and other beverages.

Bullsport is a working farm that breeds dressage horses. We enjoyed seeing the horses and colts but unfortunately as the little ones had not yet been inoculated, the majority of the horses that would have been available for riding were being kept elsewhere so a ride was not an option. This was probably the only disappointment of our stay as it was something we'd hoped to do.

Otherwise, our time at Bullsport was a very memorable one and we would have liked to stay one more day to explore the area a little more. The friendliness of the owners and staff and the sense that you are staying in a real, working farm is a unique experience that we really appreciated and that was unlike any of the other places we stayed on our trip." See all these reviews: 15n in Namibia

"this was well worth the visit. we learned about the farm, did a beautiful gorge walk, and also got an insight what education is like in Namibia.

the farm also had a good swimming pool. very friendly hosts" See all these reviews: 20n in Namibia; 1n in South Africa

"Our standard room was huge, great shower, spotless and with quality linen, pillows & duvet. Tea and cake available 3-4pm, nice reasonably priced wine and good homestyle cooking (having said that I don't cook Oryx mince bobotie or zebra goulash at home - both were very tasty!). Vegetarian husband was offered a cheese omelette each night. Johanna very welcoming.

We did the Archaelogical Trail walk - took about 4.5 hours, fabulous scenery, encountered baboons & warthogs. We also did the scenic farm drive - lots of springboks, kudu, oryx & birds as well as the farm's own cows and horses. Sunset but no sundowners offered.

A good place to break the journey south." See all these reviews: 15n in Namibia

"Run by Ernst Sauber. Not sure that he is enamoured of the Brits, but he was very pleasant and talked knowledgeably about the trials of farming.

His staff, particularly the equine support staff, were pretty hopeless, and too young to handle what was being asked of them. Not sure I liked the communal dining. Lots of German speakers who preferred not to speak English, however I speak German , but my wife does not.

Great trip through the Gorge." See all these reviews: 11n in Namibia