Reviews of trips to Swakopmund & Walvis Bay
908 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Swakop' & Walvis Bay.
"My Feb 2023 trip"
Exceeded our expectations and we enjoyed all aspects of the trip. Landscapes are stunning, animals are exciting to see and we felt that the lodges and overall trip was making a positive contribution to supporting local people and environment efforts.
Would recommend kayaking with seals at Walvis Bay as a side excursion. Going out of season did mean that a couple of lodges were very quiet but in the positive side we had some personalised excursions, found that the Etosha waterholes were not mobbed by visitors and that the heat was manageable.
We would certainly recommend this trip and ExpertAfrica to others - thank you to Tracy for the fantastic service and also for sending us the Namibia guidebook which we found so useful and used extensively." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip
"My Jan 2023 trip"
We had a great mix of accommodation styles and Sabina took on board our request for lots of hiking, giving us plenty of opportunities to really explore Namibia.
Overall a great trip." Read full review: 20 nights in Africa; 20 on a Namibia trip
"My Jan 2023 trip"
All the arrangements went so well, from our arrival at Windhoek airport to the return two weeks later. We absolutely loved the Namibian people, who couldn't be nicer, at everywhere we went.
The land, the landscapes, the variety of animals, the food, the accommodation - we've never had better.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Can't think of anything. It all went so well." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip
"My Jan 2023 trip"
I would try to combine trip to Okavango into one day if possible. I understand concerns with border crossing (as I had them) but very fast even though we lost power and were held up. I also would have spent another day at Okonjiwa although it would have broken my budget.
As Welwitschia Drive took so long and the map was so bad we ended up climbing Dune 7 at 6:30 pm which was a blessing. The sand was cool and climb was easy. In general I highly recommend the trip.
I will say we were rather unique travelers in that we were not looking for the massive herds and numerous predators. We had seen that before. Our interest was in the smaller things, nocturnal animals, unique environments and sustainable responses to those environments. So this might not be for everyone but worked perfectly for us." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 10 on a Namibia trip
"My Dec 2022 trip"
It was always a bit of a risk going back to a country that we had previously visited and loved, but this trip was even better." Read full review: 23 nights in Africa; 21 on a Namibia trip
"My Oct 2022 trip"
We have 3 problems we would like to highlight.
1: Bullsport, we are not sure why we were booked into low cost accommodation for one night when we could have gone straight to Hoodia for 3 nights.
2: Mushara lodge was less that 15 minutes drive from Onguma, and this should have been pointed out to us by Sabina. It was a waste of time and money staying for one night.
3. The greeting at the airport by Mclinda, she had a nice smile but that was about it! We asked for directions to Galton House which she said she didn't know how to get there. The Hertz rental man who showed us the car was far more helpful!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip
"Hodge Namibia road trip October 2022"
Namibia is vast and beautiful and the people so welcoming. For us, everything went smoothly, our drives between destinations were problem free and the variety of activities worked for us. Despite distances travelled, it was very relaxed and arriving at lodges was always a delight with a welcome drink and a song. The small "touches" that the lodges offer really do make a difference.
Thank you Expert Africa for the itinerary recommendation, your expertise and organisation at relatively short notice." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip
"Oct 2022 Africa trip"
Having Tracy assist us in planning the Namibia portion of the trip for 6 of us (3 couples), and then making all of the detailed arrangements was simply wonderful. Her knowledge and expertise gave us the confidence to do a 2-week self driving trip in Namibia. She thought of every detail, including having people meet us at airports to help with the car rental process or to simply guide us through JoBurg Airport to make a tight connection. All of the lodges or camps she selected for us were top-notch, and the activities perfectly suited to our interests.
Following Namibia, we did a 2-week birding and wildlife trip in South Africa with another company--Rockjumper--that we arranged on our own. Even then, Tracy helped us to coordinate with Rockjumper tour dates and arranged our flight to from Windhoek to Durban for the start of the tour. At the end of that tour, she arranged our flight to Capetown, our stay at the lovely Vineyard Hotel for 5 nights, and the delivery of a van for the 6 of us to use while there.
Everything that Tracy could control went smoothly, and even things that she had no control over she helped us fix! Specifically, we had a disasterous flight from the US, with several missed connections due to weather that caused an extra day of travelling. As soon as we contacted her, she rearranged our rental car and notified our first lodge in Windhoek of our late arrival.
Overall, a wonderful and certainly memorable trip!" Read full review: 38 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip
"My Oct 2022 trip"
We are glad we followed the route we did, getting the bad roads out of the way first and finishing with the better tarmac roads and animal spotting.
We will definitely be seeking your advice and guidance for our next trip to Africa." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip
"My Sep 2022 trip"
Tom was fantastic in setting up
Think to improve some hints on where to stop on the long drives would be nice" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip
Where to stay in Swakop' & Walvis Bay
Our suggestions for places to stay in Swakopmund & Walvis Bay
Cornerstone Guesthouse
Cornerstone Guesthouse is a small friendly B&B in a peaceful residential area. It's just a short walk from Swkopmund's waterfront & amenities.
Sam's Giardino
Welcoming, professionally run, and mildly eccentric, Sam’s Giardino lifts the level of hospitality in Swakopmund to unusual heights.
Strand Hotel
One of the larger hotels in Swakopmund, the Strand is well-placed on the seafront with good access to restaurants and the centre of town.
The Stiltz
Not your typical guesthouse, The Stiltz occupies a glorious location over the Swakop River on the edge of Swakopmund.
Villa Margherita
Villa Margherita is a beautifully renovated B&B in the heart of Swakopmund, with comfortable, well-appointed rooms, and friendly and attentive staff.
Beach Lodge
Right on the sea front, Beach Lodge offers good standard accommodation and its own restaurant, 15 minutes’ drive from Swakopmund.
Lagoon Lodge
Lagoon Lodge is a quirky little guesthouse located right on the edge of Walvis Bay Lagoon, a good spot for watching the flamingoes that frequent the area.
The Delight
Colourful and contemporary in style, The Delight is a relatively large hotel within a short walk of Swakopmund's waterfront, restaurants and main attractions.
Swakopmund G'house
Swakopmund Guesthouse is a family-run B&B, boasting comfortable and high-quality rooms with a maritime touch.
Brigadoon
In a quiet residential location, Brigadoon is conveniently located for the Swakopmund waterfront and amenities.
Sandfields Guesthouse
Friendly Sandfields guesthouse is a cosy and inviting place to stay just north of Swakopmund town centre, and is particularly suitable for families with children.
Hansa Hotel
With a very central location in Swakopmund, the traditional Hansa Hotel is reliably good, though it is quite formal.
Secret Garden
Secret Garden Guesthouse is well located in the centre of Swakopmund not far from the sea. With a seaside feel, it has its own small restaurant and bar.
Sea Breeze
Just north of Swakopmund, the delightful Sea Breeze Guesthouse is bright and well-looked after with welcoming and helpful owners.
Organic Square
Organic Square is a modern guesthouse across two properties in the centre of Swakopmund.
Desert Breeze
Not your typical Swakopmund guesthouse, Desert Breeze occupies a glorious location overlooking the Swakop River and the desert beyond.
Cornerstone Apartments
Cornerstone Guesthouse’s three self-catering apartments, each in its own unique location, work well for families or groups of travellers seeking space & privacy within a comfortable, contemporary setting.
Pelican Point Lodge
Pelican Point Lodge sits on a remote peninsula offering panoramic views of the ocean and is only accessible by 4WD or boat.
Intermezzo
In a quiet residential area just north of the town centre, Intermezzo Guesthouse is a comfortable and bright place to stay while in Swakopmund.
Oyster Box Guesthouse
Oyster Box Guesthouse is a small, modern and comfortable B&B, overlooking Walvis Bay Lagoon.
Zum Kaiser Hotel
Hotel Zum Kaiser (formerly Swakopmund Boutique Hotel) is fairly large by Swakopmund standards, but has a good location in the centre of town, near to the beach.
Namib Guesthouse
The Namib Guesthouse is a small, modern B&B, set in Swakopmund's peaceful Kramersdorf area. It's just a short walk from the coast and many amenities.
Pearls Beach Pods
With a beachfront location, superb sea views and easy access to the amenities of Swakopmund, The Pearls Beach Pods combine privacy with a high standard of luxury.
