Reviews of Hoodia Desert Lodge

Hoodia Desert Lodge review

Superb

Very comfortable, excellent staff, really good food and an extremely pleasant host (Thomas).

Cannot fault this place at all. Top service.

Fantastic food at the Hoodia Deset Lodge

We stayed here 3 nights so as to give us plenty of time to see the dunes and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The owner/manager (Thomas) could not do enough for us and the staff followed his example.

The game steaks provided were exceptional, second to none.The individual cabins were excellent with an outside tub and shower.

The nights were clear and full of stars and laying back in the tub with some accompanying wine made for a magical experience.

Our guide to and in the park was very knowledgeable and gave just the right amount of guidance and free time. The lunch provided by the resort was a treat in the middle of the dunes.

Wonderful location, facilities & safari

The Lodge has a spectacular setting, excellent accommodation - tented chalets which look on to the mountains - very nice dining and sitting areas in the main building. The staff were very welcoming and helpful.

The day trip to Sossusvlei with two guides - we were the only guests that day - was excellent. Very interesting information about the geology, birds, animals and plants of the desert. A couple of short walks - some manageable dune climbing in the hot sun.

The 'picnic' lunch, more like a high class dinner, was excellent - and gave us time to sit and talk to our guides and learn something of their lives and the political and other issues which are current in Namibia

Hoodia was excellent

When we arrived after 24 hours travelling I have to admit to wondering why we had been sent to Hoodia - a row of cottages in the middle of nowhere. But I was wrong: the staff were excellent, every aspect of the accommodation had been thought through and our stay was very comfortable. The food was good too. And the changing colours of the surrounding hills were memorable.

On our first day our guide improvised a very successful expedition to some local fountains (springs), which we really enjoyed. In our time there we saw the surrounding land go from the faintest green and mainly red to green.

What wasn't so good is that the transfer from Geluk takes an hour. This plus the flying time plus the transfer time at WHD really eats into the driving time, meaning that the case for driving is enhanced; we could have driven to Hoodia that afternoon, although it would have been hard work.

Another, question mark was the Sossus Vlei excursion. Of course that's why we went to Hoodia but the fact of the matter is that there's a lot of driving, photo opportunities diminish with the angle of the sun as the day goes by and there isn't a huge amount to see and do on arrival. Finally, there's a lot of people there. Goodness knows what it's like in high season. That said, our guide (Johnnie) did a great job tracking spoor in the sand, helping us understand the geology, stopping when appropriate, etc., but despite a climb up Big Mama I felt the day was slightly padded out with the fun set piece lunch under the tree at Elim Dune, and it was great to get back to Hoodia for a siesta!

Hoodia Desert Lodge review

Excellent place to start the holiday. Good welcome and good food. Guide John very professional and excellent at birds. Most interesting day trip to Sossusvlei and John full of information about bettles and spiders as well as birds.
Sesriem rather disappointing as not allowed down into the canyon because of remote danger of flash flooding.

Flight from Geluk to Swakopmund memorable with wonderful views of endless sanddunes and the wreck.

Hoodia Desert Lodge review

Great excitment on our last night when the Tsauchab River suddenly started flowing after years of drought! There had been 30mm of rain in the Naukluft hills the previous night- cutting off the D854 road for some. We were up at Neuras winery during the day - they were worried me might not have got back to Hoodia.. but all was well - we got in through the back entrance. (4WD only).

Neuras wine- the Shiraz- was surprisingly good. High price goes to help care for relocated cheetahs there....Tours of vineyard are available.

Apart from the Dunes day out, we were rather disappointed that there was no advice on other things to do from Hoodia - our very interesting day out to Neuras etc was our own idea (thanks to the Bradt Guide) - wonderful scenery etc and very worthwhile doing....

Maybe overall we were a little disappointed in Hoodia.

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During their stay here these travellers also took the Hoodia Sossusvlei excursion and commented:

TOO MANY PEOPLE!! And we were there in the low season! We would avoid it in the high season- or stay at a camp with private access....But, having said that, it was obviously not to be missed and our excellent guide made every effort to take us to the less crowded spots. Beautifully served, proper sit - down lunch under a huge old acacia - with only an oryx for company!

Some of our group made the top of the Big Daddy dune- we got half way- but it was still fun coming down.

Hoodia Desert Lodge review

Lovely atmosphere - very friendly and relaxed.

The owner is extremely present and helpful. The staff are excellent.

The outing to Sossusvlei was wonderful.

Hoodia Desert Lodge review

From the moment we arrived and were greeted by John Mwaendanawa, we were delighted.

The lodge is beautifully designed and the rooms are well-appointed. Excellent service.

John was a very well-informed and engaged guide who made sure that we got the most out of our trip to Sossusvlei and Sesriem. (Only one suggestion: please make sure that the Lodge has reference books for birds, plants and geology.)

Hoodia Desert Lodge review

Top class, and a great stepping off place for Sussevlei.