Reviews of trips to Swakopmund & Walvis Bay

"WONDERFUL. A really great holiday over three weeks, NWR will not spoil it, a blip on the trip.

We would recommend a larger car than a Toyota Aygo, even though everyone said it could and indeed it did see us through the journey, a 4X4 with higher ground clearance and sand road capability would have been very desirable. With a small car, we were scraping gravel a lot of the time.

Cape Town, Primi Royal Boutique at Camps Bay, highly recommended as an option.

We stayed at some lovely locations and met some wonderful people as chosen by Expert Africa, thank you and well done.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

None, you're doing a great job, keep at it." Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 12 on a Namibia trip

"Having visited Namibia twice previously, it is our favourite African holiday destination. On this our third trip we wanted to share the experience with our son & daughter-in-law. The trip was a huge success and we are four very satisfied customers.

Sabina at Expert Africa was really helpful & knowledgeable, nothing was too much trouble while we were putting the trip together. The information pack was really useful, all aspects of the tour ran exactly as planned, and lodges & activities specifically recommended by Sabina were first rate.

We will recommend Expert Africa without hesitation." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip

"Thoroughly enjoyable trip, albeit too hot!! Apparently this was unusual for this time of year. We originally planned to go earlier but were persuaded to go later as it was quieter, but it would have been more comfortable.

We saw much more wildlife than we expected." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 18 on a Namibia trip

"we had a great time ,the trip was organised just as we wanted it,and ,having been before you were able anticipate and suggest what we would enjoy,and worked to my budget. Thank you all for giving us such a good time" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip

"One plans a trip to a new country with a little trepidation thinking that some part of it may not live up to one's expectations. On this trip with the excellent assistance of Gwyn at Expert Africa everything lived up to and exceeded those expectations. A fabulous trip to a fabulous country.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Just carry on as you have been." Read full review: 23 nights in Africa; 18 on a Namibia trip

"Nothing was asked about ground arrangements here, which were perfect with one troublesome exception, given that it was our introduction to the trip. When we landed at Windhoek, no one was there to meet us. I figured out we should find Wilderness Safari's lounge, where someone scrambled to get us to our hotel, sending us in a small, hot, crowded taxi whose driver drove a long distance beyond the center to drop off the other passenger first; when I complained he said it was more convenient for him to return to the airport from Olive Grove.

This meant it took an hour (which mattered to us after a long flight from Munich). Wilderness also didn't notify us of our departure time the next morning; we had to take the initiative to find out. When a van and driver picked us up the next morning we realized that we didn't have the service and transportation upon arrival we had paid for. But, thereafter, all went smoothly.

A tip for those going on to S. Africa. The Parker Guest House in Cape Town is a gem: in a handsome home built by a distinguished architect, it's brilliantly managed with excellent rooms and top rate breakfasts. Likewise, I cannot recommend more highly the Cascade Manor in Paarl (wine land): set in a landscape as beautiful as the best of Tuscany, it is luxuriously comfortable with very good food and modestly priced for its category.

In all, our trip was everything we had hope for. The only regret were our two-night stays; if one has the time and money, I'd strongly recommend at least three nights everywhere. Expert Africa's handling of our trip was really first rate (thanks to Maruska) and we strongly recommend using the company to anyone visiting Namibia.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

For someone who's usually critical of lapses in service, I am happy to say I can't suggest how you could have done better!" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 10 on a Namibia trip

"I can't find enough superlatives to describe the overall experience of the trip (despite the few difficulties listed in the wider feedback). In fact, even the tyre problems, listed at the begining of the document, were a part of the overall experience and have now become a signifiicant part of the 'adventure' and of the telling.

This was very well organised and the accomodation excellent. I can't thank Sabina enough.

A great trip though hard work at times. Deffinitely not a holiday for those with poolside inclinations but what an adventure.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Some additional recomendations for any one doing a similar trip at this time i.e probably wanting to see the flowers. Don't miss out a trip round the cape for wild protea. Don't miss out Kirstenbosch. On the journey north take the coast road from Cape Town and take in the West Coast National Park with the Postberg reserve. The flowers are stunning and there are also game and bird viewings to be had. The coast road is good with good tarmac. Make sure your car has a ZA sticker on the back as the Namibian police at the Orange river border will threaten to fine you if you don't get one put on at the service station just after the border.

As soon as you get into Namibia go to the service station anyway and get your type pressures checked and deflated to about 1.80 - 2.00Atm for the gravel roads or you risk having punctures." Read full review: 23 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip

"1. A few thoughts about the Nissan X-Trail

Almost all of the time this was an adequate and comfortable vehicle for touring Namibia. The ground clearance was quite good, the tyres were good, no punctures in 3710kms. The visibility for gameviewing and birdwatching was good. However we did take it to Terrace Bay and nearly lost traction in some of the stretches of soft sand in the final 50kms of the road up the Skeleton Coast on the way there; coming back we attacked the sand with a bit more speed and got through without a problem but we did bottom the vehicle fortunately without damage but the brakes did squeal until all the sand and gravel had worked their way out. Our advice would be not to attempt this final bit of road in anything less rugged than an X-Trail and even then care should be taken and the use of a 4x4 vehicle seriously considered.

Fuel economy was quite good and there was never a problem. We had had concerns about the lack of a fuel station at the Dolomite Camp in Western Etosha but this was not an issue. The tank capacity of an X-Trail is 65litres and we were using fuel at the rate of 1litre per 11kms, giving us a range of well over 600kms. After refuelling at Kamanjab the distnce to the Dolomite Camp was 110kms; during our two days of game viewing we travelled 259kms; the journey from Dolomite to Okaukuejo was 177kms. Thus we did 546kms before refuelling at Okaukuejo where we put 43.41litres into the tank meaning that we had at least 20litres left. We thought that this information may be of use to you if anyone else queries the range of an X-Trail and is worried about the lack of a fuel station in Western Etosha. Our opinion is that there should be no problems provided you have a good idea of the capacity and consumption of your vehicle and keep an eye on the distance you travel.

2. A few thoughts about our route.

We had a really good tour. As we had been before we had a good idea of what to expect with regard to road surfaces and the lack of other traffic, so that was fine. The distances we set ourselves to travel each day were not too far; our longest drives were from Swakopmund to Terrace Bay and from Onguma to Windhoek. Both of these were no problem after early morning starts, reaching our destinations well before 1600h. We deviated slightly from the route suggested by Sabina when we left the Damaraland Camp and went to Kamanjab on the C43 over the Grootberg Pass instead of on the C39 at the suggestion of the guides at Damaraland, they said it would be quicker, we're not sure about this but it certainly was an interesting drive. Some of the other drives we had were really spectacular.

3. The places we visited and the things we did.

Erongo was excellent, good walks, very interesting bird watching for us Europeans.
Swakopmundwe were not sure about; it has become a styllish resort which caters for a different type of holiday. We did the Welwitschia Drive and had a splendid day in the desert although it was a bit disturbing to see so much mining prospecting taking place and the transformation of Goanicontes into a camping resort is amazing. Swakopmund does now have some good shops to stock up for trips further north.
We have mentioned Terrace Bay, Damaraland and the camps in Etosha already. All gave us really memorable experiences. Overall our animal watching was very successful, We would have liked to have seen cheetahs in Etosha as we had done on our previous visits but the number of rhinos we saw and the splendid views of a leopard made up for it. We found some parts of Etosha a bit busy, particularly around Namutoni where there seemed to be quite a few large coaches making a lot of noise- not a good way to travel around Etosha and a bit disruptive for everyone else.
As well as the wildlife and rhe wonderful scenery our trip was made special by the warmth and friendliness of all the people we met. Even filling up the car becomes a social event!

And finally, of coursr, we have to thank Sabina and her colleagues for organising such a great trip. we are already our next one in our minds, maybe in 2014." Read full review: 24 nights in Africa; 22 on a Namibia trip

"Overall, we had an extremely enjoyable holiday. The variety of wildlife experiences exceeded our expectations. Accommodation was all very good or excellent. All the arrangements within the control of Expert Africa, whether for accommodation or transfers, worked out fine, without any problems.

The holiday wasn't one of Expert Africa's standard holidays. We spent some time working out the itinerary with them. That was time well spent and their expert advice was invaluable. Thanks very much to Gwynneth and also Nick for his advice on Botswana early on.


A couple of specific comments which don't fit in elsewhere:

1. We had two flights with Mack Air and had a good experience with them both times: friendly pilots and good flights. In addition, we had arranged for suitcases to be flown on separately from Maun to Kasane. This was handled efficiently and there was no difficulty retreiving the suitcases at Kasane airport.

2. We had a transfer with Wilderness Safaris from Kasane airport to Victorial Falls. This was handled efficiently so that we were able to complete the border formalities on entering Zimbabwe without a hitch.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

No - well organised holiday, plenty of helpful information." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 7 on a Namibia trip

"Great trip with lots of good memories." Read full review: 21 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip