Reviews of trips to Windhoek
1054 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Windhoek.
Mr d
Kilburn
"45 year dream come true in Africa"
I visited Namibia and 2 other countries between 6 Aug 2014 and 21 Aug 2014
"All arrangements worked perfectly, all lodges were great and welcoming, all meals in the lodges were excellent and the whole experience was wonderful."
Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 8 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs & Mr O
California
"We want to go again!"
I visited Namibia and 2 other countries between 6 Aug 2014 and 9 Sep 2014
"We had a fabulous time! Unfortunately, this once-in-a-lifetime trip makes us want to go again, and again, and again!
I do hope the concessionaire's are careful not to over build. They are able to charge top dollar because of their high concentration of animals to a low density of visitors. But when vehicles are stacking up, waiting for a 10 to 15-minute turn to see the animals, the concentration is already too high for my tastes. There is something to be said for having more eyes in the field, because you then have more opportunity to make a good sighting. But there needs to be a balance, and we saw many new camps being added, and many camps are increasing the number of guests they can accommodate. As someone going to visit, note not only the number of tents in your camp, but of all the camps within the concession.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
With your booking, Expert Africa has a general interest, basic requests, etc box; it would be nice to be able to customize that for each activity and/or camp to accommodate interests and expectations for different locations.
You guys and gals at Expert Africa are great! Everyone I've dealt with, though primarily Maruska and her sister Saskia when she was still with you, has been most helpful, honest, and pretty-darn-accurate, which I appreciate more than I can express!
Filling out this review has been a nightmare for me. Next time I will type things out elsewhere, and then cut and paste them in, which should work. When I tried to go back to previous page, whatever I'd typed was swallowed. If I hit save, it kicked me out, and I had to start again at the very beginning. I hated having to scroll forward through every page from the beginning, so I tried cheating and leaving the form open, but it would time out, again swallowing whatever I'd typed. It would be nice to be able to open on any page, so I could complete as time and mood allowed. Oh, well.
Sorry it's taken me so long to complete. I know I really appreciated other people's reviews and used the reviews heavily in making my choices--I would also like to see a scale of 1 - 10, because I would've liked to differentiate between good and excellent with a very good. The overall quality of all these camps is at least good, but some were far more excellent than others." Read full review: 34 nights in Africa; 17 on a Namibia trip
I do hope the concessionaire's are careful not to over build. They are able to charge top dollar because of their high concentration of animals to a low density of visitors. But when vehicles are stacking up, waiting for a 10 to 15-minute turn to see the animals, the concentration is already too high for my tastes. There is something to be said for having more eyes in the field, because you then have more opportunity to make a good sighting. But there needs to be a balance, and we saw many new camps being added, and many camps are increasing the number of guests they can accommodate. As someone going to visit, note not only the number of tents in your camp, but of all the camps within the concession.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
With your booking, Expert Africa has a general interest, basic requests, etc box; it would be nice to be able to customize that for each activity and/or camp to accommodate interests and expectations for different locations.
You guys and gals at Expert Africa are great! Everyone I've dealt with, though primarily Maruska and her sister Saskia when she was still with you, has been most helpful, honest, and pretty-darn-accurate, which I appreciate more than I can express!
Filling out this review has been a nightmare for me. Next time I will type things out elsewhere, and then cut and paste them in, which should work. When I tried to go back to previous page, whatever I'd typed was swallowed. If I hit save, it kicked me out, and I had to start again at the very beginning. I hated having to scroll forward through every page from the beginning, so I tried cheating and leaving the form open, but it would time out, again swallowing whatever I'd typed. It would be nice to be able to open on any page, so I could complete as time and mood allowed. Oh, well.
Sorry it's taken me so long to complete. I know I really appreciated other people's reviews and used the reviews heavily in making my choices--I would also like to see a scale of 1 - 10, because I would've liked to differentiate between good and excellent with a very good. The overall quality of all these camps is at least good, but some were far more excellent than others." Read full review: 34 nights in Africa; 17 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr A, Ms S& family
UK
"My Aug 2014 trip"
I visited Namibia between 2 Aug 2014 and 11 Aug 2014
"We were very happy with the help and guidance Angela at Expert Africa provided.
Going on a trip to any African country, even a country with a reputation for being very safe such as Namibia means that you need to rely on the expertise of others, especially if it is your first visit to the continent and you are responsible for the safety of two young teenagers.
After an initial conversation we received a detailed suggested schedule, the pricing was very clear to understand and we received a huge amount of practical advice.
All the potential pitfalls were mentioned and the itinerary was exactly what we wanted. We received a guide book on the booking and a very clear and detailed advice booklet.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
As the itinerary is bespoke for each customer the only suggestion that I can think of is a guide to the time for each drive, perhaps with the map.
We left Windhoek later than we should and arrived at the Namib Lodge just as the sun was setting. 5 minutes after arriving the sun had gone behind the mountain range and we never saw the facilities until the next morning.
If we had received some guidance on the length of time we would have set out earlier as it took longer than the 5 hours we had allowed.
We are very happy with the service provided and thank you for making the trip so enjoyable." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 10 on a Namibia trip
Going on a trip to any African country, even a country with a reputation for being very safe such as Namibia means that you need to rely on the expertise of others, especially if it is your first visit to the continent and you are responsible for the safety of two young teenagers.
After an initial conversation we received a detailed suggested schedule, the pricing was very clear to understand and we received a huge amount of practical advice.
All the potential pitfalls were mentioned and the itinerary was exactly what we wanted. We received a guide book on the booking and a very clear and detailed advice booklet.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
As the itinerary is bespoke for each customer the only suggestion that I can think of is a guide to the time for each drive, perhaps with the map.
We left Windhoek later than we should and arrived at the Namib Lodge just as the sun was setting. 5 minutes after arriving the sun had gone behind the mountain range and we never saw the facilities until the next morning.
If we had received some guidance on the length of time we would have set out earlier as it took longer than the 5 hours we had allowed.
We are very happy with the service provided and thank you for making the trip so enjoyable." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 10 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs W
Herts
"My Aug 2014 trip"
I visited Namibia between 1 Aug 2014 and 17 Aug 2014
"From out first contact with Tracy to the end the help, advice and service was superb.
Tracy gave us plenty of tips on the various camps, pros and cons of some of our choices which helped our final decisions on places to stay and kept us informed throughout of flights, costs etc.
The holiday was better than we had imagined and any slight reservations that we may have had about drivng oursleves about were soon put aside with the empty roads and clearly marked map that Tracy supplied.
We enjoyed the mix of camps that we stayed in and meeting the many staff members that made our stays so enjoyable. It is a shame that the NWR have not invested in Okaukuejo because the location is so good. It was like staying at Butlins after a night at Claridges.
Our previous African trip was to Botswana, only staying in the reserves so this time having the mix of wildlife and real life made for an overall better experience and a small taste of Namibian life.
Thank you for organising a great trip.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No.
All the literature was superb and service 100%" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip
Tracy gave us plenty of tips on the various camps, pros and cons of some of our choices which helped our final decisions on places to stay and kept us informed throughout of flights, costs etc.
The holiday was better than we had imagined and any slight reservations that we may have had about drivng oursleves about were soon put aside with the empty roads and clearly marked map that Tracy supplied.
We enjoyed the mix of camps that we stayed in and meeting the many staff members that made our stays so enjoyable. It is a shame that the NWR have not invested in Okaukuejo because the location is so good. It was like staying at Butlins after a night at Claridges.
Our previous African trip was to Botswana, only staying in the reserves so this time having the mix of wildlife and real life made for an overall better experience and a small taste of Namibian life.
Thank you for organising a great trip.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No.
All the literature was superb and service 100%" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs H
W. Sussex
"We hoped it would be good - it was stunning!"
I visited Namibia between 1 Aug 2014 and 16 Aug 2014
"Best holiday we've ever had. Almost perfect from start to finish.
Only negative was Johannesburg airport on the return journey. Their concept of customer service is negative as far as getting people through Passport Control and Security as quickly as possible. We made our flight with about 5 minutes to spare.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Cannot fault Expert Africa - Sabina in particular. You guys have been superb.
We'll be re-booking in 2 years time - finances permitting! We have to return to Okonjima and see how our Leopard is getting on!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip
Only negative was Johannesburg airport on the return journey. Their concept of customer service is negative as far as getting people through Passport Control and Security as quickly as possible. We made our flight with about 5 minutes to spare.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Cannot fault Expert Africa - Sabina in particular. You guys have been superb.
We'll be re-booking in 2 years time - finances permitting! We have to return to Okonjima and see how our Leopard is getting on!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 15 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs C & Mr R
Bristol
"My Jul 2014 trip"
I visited Namibia between 27 Jul 2014 and 10 Aug 2014
"We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. We planned the trip specifically to see as much wildlife as possible and expected Etosha to be the highlight but the rest of the trip more than matched this. We particularly enjoyed staying at the smaller camps of Kulala, Erongo and Okanjima.
You mentioned that previous customers had reported back that they would have preferred a 4-wheel drive car. We found our 2-wheel drive car fine. In fact the major irritation of the holiday was 4-wheel drive cars speeding past us, particularly in Etosha, causing dust clouds." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip
You mentioned that previous customers had reported back that they would have preferred a 4-wheel drive car. We found our 2-wheel drive car fine. In fact the major irritation of the holiday was 4-wheel drive cars speeding past us, particularly in Etosha, causing dust clouds." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr A & Dr H
Berks
"Unforgettable ... worth repeating"
I visited Namibia between 26 Jul 2014 and 14 Aug 2014
"We enjoyed every moment of this holiday and would love to do it again, spending more time in some of the places we visited and seeing other parts that we had to miss out on this time. If we had booked it ourselves we wouldn't have stayed in all the places we did and we would have missed out on some unforgettable experiences. So thanks to Sabina for all her hard work.
Most of the time we followed the route suggested by Sabina but occassionally we went a different way, following routes suggested in Chris McIntyre's book. We only misjudged how long it would take us once - a result of too many stops for photographs.
The people are very friendly. The scenery is stunning and often seems devoid of life, until you stop. The roads are the best that I have driven in Africa (excluding the Republic of South Africa). All in all, Namibia is an unbeatable destination and a photographer's paradise.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No! We were more than happy." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 17 on a Namibia trip
Most of the time we followed the route suggested by Sabina but occassionally we went a different way, following routes suggested in Chris McIntyre's book. We only misjudged how long it would take us once - a result of too many stops for photographs.
The people are very friendly. The scenery is stunning and often seems devoid of life, until you stop. The roads are the best that I have driven in Africa (excluding the Republic of South Africa). All in all, Namibia is an unbeatable destination and a photographer's paradise.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
No! We were more than happy." Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 17 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs S
Maldon
"Surpassed our expectations"
I visited Namibia and 1 other country between 25 Jul 2014 and 13 Aug 2014
"It was a brilliant trip and although our expectations were high they were certainly exceeded. Most the lodges were small and gave us the personal service that is so important. It almost felt as though we were staying with friends. We will certainly recommend you to friends and also hope to use you again ourselves.
The only problem we encountered was with the transfers. When we left the car in Katima the transfer peop0le had no record of us and we were delayed by about an hour. the transfer, once it happened, was seamless, but it did cause us some worries as we sat in a café with mountains of luggage. Similarly no one turned up for our transfer to the airport when we were at Victoria Falls. We eventually loaded our luggage onto the last minibus going in that direction and sat5 down so they agreed to take us. I think it was an easier option than trying to move a rather stressed middle aged English couple!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Sort out the transfers" Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip
The only problem we encountered was with the transfers. When we left the car in Katima the transfer peop0le had no record of us and we were delayed by about an hour. the transfer, once it happened, was seamless, but it did cause us some worries as we sat in a café with mountains of luggage. Similarly no one turned up for our transfer to the airport when we were at Victoria Falls. We eventually loaded our luggage onto the last minibus going in that direction and sat5 down so they agreed to take us. I think it was an easier option than trying to move a rather stressed middle aged English couple!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Sort out the transfers" Read full review: 19 nights in Africa; 16 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
The J Family
Herts
"Loved every minute. Great family adventure."
I visited Namibia between 24 Jul 2014 and 11 Aug 2014
"It worked out fantastically. Loads of variety and activities. Despite the long drives we never got bored - Namibia is so beautiful and varied.
Elvis - our guide for the whole trip was fantastic - he felt like one of the family by the end of the trip. He was incredibly knowledgable and interesting, kept us organised, and was very thoughtful and considerate. He really made the trip." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip
Elvis - our guide for the whole trip was fantastic - he felt like one of the family by the end of the trip. He was incredibly knowledgable and interesting, kept us organised, and was very thoughtful and considerate. He really made the trip." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Dr J & Ms G
UK
"Namibia July/August 2014"
I visited Namibia between 23 Jul 2014 and 8 Aug 2014
"Other than the flights it was absolutely wonderful - a real joy. Sabina was friendly, knowledgeable, patient and helpful and the organisation was impressive.
A couple of general points:
You are right: one doesn’t need a 4WD. Nor a second spare tyre (though we did come across a 4WD with its third puncture of their trip). The only disadvantage of not having a 4WD is that we had to go VERY slowly over some of the gravel roads, whereas I suspect we could have gone faster (though no less uncomfortably) in a 4WD. For example, it might be worth noting that it took nearly an hour from the tarmac road to the Elegant Farmstead.
The (more tourist-orientated?) petrol stations at Okakeujo, Naumatoni, Solitaire and Sesriem did take credit cards (the guide book says that none does).
Accommodation was generally a delight - largely gorgeous, well-appointed and well looked-after places in perfect surroundings.
Warm clothing - I took a very light cardigan, a light jumper and a fleece. This was ample (the guidebook mentions people who wished they’d brought pashminas, blankets etc… not sure why!). Fleeces were worn only at night (game viewing) or in the early morning (at Dune 45), other than at Swakopmund where they were worn all the time!
Route was fine and just right for the duration, especially as some of the distances were long. Etosha, Damaraland, Sossusvlei were all must-see destinations. The only driving we didn’t like was the section between Khorixas and Doro Nawas where the gravel road was very uncomfortable. It was a pity we had to do Okakeujo before Halali but it wasn’t a big problem. The only possible change we might have made would have been to spend one day less in the Sossusvlei area – there isn’t really two days’ worth of activity here unless one is a hiker (which we weren’t) - and travelled back a day earlier." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip
A couple of general points:
You are right: one doesn’t need a 4WD. Nor a second spare tyre (though we did come across a 4WD with its third puncture of their trip). The only disadvantage of not having a 4WD is that we had to go VERY slowly over some of the gravel roads, whereas I suspect we could have gone faster (though no less uncomfortably) in a 4WD. For example, it might be worth noting that it took nearly an hour from the tarmac road to the Elegant Farmstead.
The (more tourist-orientated?) petrol stations at Okakeujo, Naumatoni, Solitaire and Sesriem did take credit cards (the guide book says that none does).
Accommodation was generally a delight - largely gorgeous, well-appointed and well looked-after places in perfect surroundings.
Warm clothing - I took a very light cardigan, a light jumper and a fleece. This was ample (the guidebook mentions people who wished they’d brought pashminas, blankets etc… not sure why!). Fleeces were worn only at night (game viewing) or in the early morning (at Dune 45), other than at Swakopmund where they were worn all the time!
Route was fine and just right for the duration, especially as some of the distances were long. Etosha, Damaraland, Sossusvlei were all must-see destinations. The only driving we didn’t like was the section between Khorixas and Doro Nawas where the gravel road was very uncomfortable. It was a pity we had to do Okakeujo before Halali but it wasn’t a big problem. The only possible change we might have made would have been to spend one day less in the Sossusvlei area – there isn’t really two days’ worth of activity here unless one is a hiker (which we weren’t) - and travelled back a day earlier." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 14 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
1054
reviews of Windhoek by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
Filter by month
Where to stay in Windhoek
Our suggestions for places to stay in Windhoek
Olive Grove
In a quiet Windhoek suburb, Olive Grove is one of our favourite guesthouses: stylish, with a friendly, welcoming atmosphere and excellent food.
Galton House
A cool stylish sanctuary in a quiet suburb of Windhoek, Galton House boasts a pool and a restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Elegant Guesthouse
The Elegant Guesthouse is a friendly, comfortable establishment with a lovely, tranquil garden, and is a good choice for an overnight stay in Windhoek.
River Crossing
Secluded on a private game reserve between Windhoek and the international airport, River Crossing is a tranquil place to start or end a trip.
Villa Violet
Villa Violet is a friendly, owner-run guesthouse in a residential area of Windhoek, just a few minutes' drive from the city centre and numerous restaurants.
Haus Sonneneck
Haus Sonneneck was one of Windhoek's best pensions just a few minutes' drive away from the city centre, however it has now closed.
Hilltop Guesthouse
A long-standing favourite, the small, owner-run Hilltop Guesthouse is comfortable, smart and good value.
Weinberg Hotel
In a quiet upmarket suburb of Klein Windhoek, the stylish Weinberg has a friendly, welcoming atmosphere and luxury facilities.
GocheGanas
For somewhere to really pamper yourself, Gocheganas Lodge & Spa offers wildlife combined with extensive wellness treatments.
Heinitzburg Hotel
One of the oldest hotels in Windhoek, the Heinitzberg occupies a great hill-top location but can feel like a relic of a bygone era.
Olive Exclusive
The Olive Exclusive is perhaps Windhoek's most luxurious boutique hotel but remains a friendly and unpretentious place to stay.
Etango Ranch G. Farm
Etango offers simple, clean, comfortable accommodation and it’s the closest accommodation to Windhoek International Airport.
Immanuel Wilderness
Within easy reach of Windhoek, Immanuel Wilderness Lodge is a good overnight option for those who don't wish to stay in the city.
Rivendell Guesthouse
Rivendell Guesthouse offers great value, relaxed accommodation in a homely atmosphere with helpful and extremely friendly staff.
Sun Karros Daan Viljoen
Situated within the Daan Viljoen Nature reserve Sun Karros is a simple lodge with gentle game viewing and bird watching opportunities.
Avani Windhoek Hotel
The Avani Windhoek Hotel and Casino lack the personal touch of Windhoeks smaller guesthouses but is well located in the heart of the city.
Hotel Thule
Windhoek’s Hotel Pension Thule offers stunning views across the city and a reputable in-house restaurant, within easy reach of the international airport.
Omaanda
Omaanda offers luxury accommodation and wildlife viewing within easy reach of the international airport and Windhoek City.
Ti Melen
Overlooking Avis Dam, Ti Melen is on the outskirts of Windhoek, yet only 10-minutes from the city's amenities.
Desert Express
The Desert Express runs from Windhoek to Swakopmund on set departures. Recently this schedule has been somewhat erratic.
