Reviews of trips to Swakopmund & Walvis Bay
908 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Swakop' & Walvis Bay.
"Amazing itinerary, brilliant organisation"
Maruska's in depth knowledge of Namibia and her recommendations really made the trip work. Travelling distances were good, and although we travelled over 7,500 km in 5 weeks, it was very do-able. Maruska listened to our preferences and we were delighted with her choice of accom. We enjoyed having the freedom of travelling in the 4WDs to suit ourselves. I fully expected the odd hiccup when we finished with the vehicles and then were reliant on a complicated series of transfers, boats, small planes with no set schedule, more transfers etc, but it all went according to plan and worked like clockwork.
Full marks to Maruska and your agents in Namibia and Botswana for attention to detail and for putting it all together.
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Just keep doing what you do so well. Your website is just fantastic, great to read other peoples reviews, which is why I've spent all day putting up all this feedback (Sorry it took so long!).
The Brandt guides to Namibia and Botswana are actually in our local library, and it was from there I picked up the website in the first place. Our copies are well worn from the trip, and there was a bit of a bun fight over who kept them. Maybe one per couple would be good, or at least one per vehicle? The Namibia maps were great and Maruska had highlighted each of our stops which was also great attention to detail. We were very happy with the service we received from Maruska - she's a gem - look after her!" Read full review: 33 nights in Africa; 19 on a Namibia trip
"Overall"
Overall, we were also very happy with the itinerary, which was largely advised by Tracy: it gave us a good view of the diversity but kept distances reasonable so that it would suit a 2-year old.
We were unlucky that our flight out was cancelled so we arrived late and exhausted at Intu Afrika, meaning we missed out on the game drive where we would have seen lions.
Highlights of the trip:
- the overall experience at Wolwedans
- climbing Dune 45 and Dead Vlei, and climbing Dune 45 again the following day, with no one else around
- Sandfields and generally our time in Swakopmund, relaxing and eating at the Jetty" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 9 on a Namibia trip
"Magic...!"
Namibia proved to be an absolute delight with its ever changing landscape and genuinely friendly people. We were not too much affected by the incredibly wet weather Namibia has experienced, although we soon came to realise that whereas our particular landscape might have been basking in glorious sunshine a sudden river crossing would present turbulent waters from heavy rains which might have fallen many miles away. This added to the sense of excitement experienced along the way & made us realise how wise we had been to hire a 4WD with a trusty diff. lock!!
Thank you Expert Africa until the next time to Fish River Canyon, Kolmanscop & Luderitz et al !!
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Just carry on the great work!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip
"Great adventure"
Bullsport say all arrivals should phone for up to date road conditions and arrive by 4pm to avoid storms
This was essential at Sesriem as the R. Tsondab was running.
Good lodges
Good advice regarding the need for a 4x4 not a small car
Some advice on the best way to deal with roadside hawkers at roadside in towns and at crossroads. Uis is common haunt.
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Guidance literature repetitive
No breakdown of costs in quotation
Choice of lodges in each area (as you did for us in Swapokmund) comparing prices and facilities" Read full review: 30 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip
"Namibia Feb 2011"
It was off season as lots of rain and water, so the wildlife were scattered, but we found it to be a good time of year as few people and vehicles and lots of flowers and great green spaces to see. Windhoek was a disappointment, but Sossuavlei and Swakopmund both well worth spending time. We took a private flight over the dunes - the only way to get a real feel of how spectacular they are. Apparently there is little left on the Skeleton Coast as many bones and ship wrecks removed - so miles and miles of nothing.
The roads are good, but met several people who did not have a guide, so not good in the rainy season as they did not know where to look for game and often saw little or nothing.
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Our itinerary was changed a few times because of accommodation changes. Expert Africa's team in Namibia gave us an out of date itinerary when we arrived. They supplied us with just the very best guide - Orlando Haraseb who really made our trip. He and his colleagues were most helpful when we decided we did not wish to stay 2 nights in Okaukuejo as we thought it very poor and immediately had us transferred to Halali Lodge for an extra night.
We all thought that there was much waste of time on our itinerary in Windhoek as per my email. Swakopmund has lots more to offer, is cleaner, lovely shops, great restaurants, great views and lots of opportunities for extra activities and we had a wonderful and very informative sea kayak trip with Craig in Walvis Bay, who taught us much about the birdlife, seals and local salt mines etc. He also provided lunch which we had paid for in our itinerary also. It is necessary to point out that Jan/Feb whales will not be seen as it is not the season for them to be there or for dolphins (we saw one). Can recommend The Tug for dinner - great food.
I have covered more points in my detailed email of today which I would like responses too, particularly as we were overcharged/incorrectly charged at River Crossing." Read full review: 28 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip
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Sorry about the comments on some of the stopovers, but you did ask for opinions!!
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Just to say if you gave the kms or miles from each camp and Guest houses and very approx. time is should take.
Try to insist to the client a second spare wheel is part of the hire deal, to get a punture and know you still have 200Kms to cover on gravel roads is a little daunting." Read full review: 45 nights in Africa; 19 on a Namibia trip
"Christmas in Africa"
On the negative side, it would have been useful to have a rough idea of the time journeys migt take rather than the distance - which means very little in Africa. We did find the trip and Namibia quite expensive, perhaps a reflection both on the weak pound but also how Africa is increasing in popularity." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip
"outstanding in everyway"
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Not a one.
However having, it seems, run out of space to comment [Ed: earlier in this 'form' for our traveller's feedback], I would like to add that my trip to Namibia was a last minute thing and all I knew I wanted was 'Dunes', Kayaking and a lodge somewhere convenient. This lack of purpose could have been a recipe for disaster.
Thanks to Sabina, who literally planned every minute of my schedule and got me to Cape Town when I needed to be there, I have literally had the trip lf a lifetime." Read full review: 4 nights in Africa; 2 on a Namibia trip
"Absolutely Memorable"
We always felt comfortable, people are friendly and it must be the safest country in Africa. Driving is an absolute pleasure.
Accommodation and overall general standards are high. When you think how remote many of the locations were, the logistics of the lodge operations in providing those standards is very impressive.
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I can think of nothing I'm afraid. We have been very impressed and will certainly consider you and other companies in your group for future holidays." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 19 on a Namibia trip
"A superb trip from start to finish"
A real bonus was the pleasure of Sabina's company during our stay in Mundulea. Great fun and a good ambassador for Namibia and Expert Africa.
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There were a couple of occasions where we would have felt safer in 4wd - for example, we experienced pretty unseasonal rain at Little Kulala and on the journey back to Windhoek.
Most other travellers seemed to be in large, clumsy looking Toyotas, which seemed like overkill. There must be something in between - in fact, we saw a 4wd version of our Nissan X-trail. Could you track down a smallish 4wd?" Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip
Where to stay in Swakop' & Walvis Bay
Our suggestions for places to stay in Swakopmund & Walvis Bay