Travel reviews by S & D from Herefordshire

"Luwi was one of the two best camps on our trip, the other being Tena Tena. The greeting was exceptionally warm, from Charles and all the staff, the accommodation was perfect, clean, comfortable and yet still part of the bush, and the food excellent. Our guide, Lawrence, had a fund of knowledge yet still made everything fun. To have a pride of lions polishing off an impala while we polished off our own dinner and then to see them running around only a few yards from the camp was particularly impressive. Perfect in every way."

"Lawrence and Goodson were most attentive and Aran cooked a great meal over the bush fire. Loved the whole experience. Sorry that the three of them had to stay awake all night to keep us safe. Walking to the sleepout from Luwi and then on the next day to Nsolu made it all seem like a proper journey. We particularly wanted to walk, rather than do game drives (which are great but not so real) and the sleepout was a perfect interlude."

"Again, a wonderful welcome from Charity and all the staff. We particularly liked the way the staff at the Norman Carr camps introduced themselves by name when we arrived which made us feel like one of the family rather than have a "them and us" relationship. A brilliant night game drive with Prince, which was the only activity we did at that camp as we were there for only one night. We would usually have liked an afternoon walk but on this particular day were quite happy to forego it as we'd had the sleepout the previoius night and a couple of longish days."

"Although good, Nsefu was our least favourite camp. The greeting, though friendly, was more formal and less relaxed than those at the Normal Carr camps and the relationship with the staff slightly more reserved. Our guide, too, adopted a more formal style and although his depth of knowledge was impressive it was difficult to get him to lighten his style - we were, after all, on holiday and not back at school ! We were also firmly told that afternoon walks were not available at Nsefu, despite expressing a desire to do them and having hugely enjoyable ones at all the other camps. When we mentioned this to another senior staff member later, he expressed surprise and described this rule as nonsense in terms which are unsuitable for a family survey ! Lunches and dinners were excellent but breakfasts were boring - the only camp which did not provide cut fresh fruit. Again it just seemed as though there was not quite as much desire to pull all the stops out to make everything perfect. The location was superb but the chalets were rather too close together and, being constructed from hard materials, much less natural and "African" than at all the other camps. However, it was Nsefu which provided our two-day mobile bush camp safari, which was perfect in every way."

"This was one of the highlights of our trip. The camp was amazingly comfortable, with an excellent bucket shower which we were encouraged to use whenever we wanted, and a very civilised loo. Our guide was Braston, who couldn't do enough for us, was hugely knowledgable and great fun. Boniface the chef was most attentive and produced superb food. The scout, Chris, was also great fun, despite doing a very serious job. In fact, everyone at the camp was incredibly friendly and efficient. Our walks were brilliant and it was very satisfying to have linear walks from A to B rather than circular walks, good though they are. The whole thing was perfect - what else to say ?"

"Tena Tena was the most elegant of the camps we stayed in but still managed to seem as though it was genuinely part of the bush. The welcome from Christa and everyone else was very friendly and warm and our guide, Nyambe, was excellent. It was a lovely finale, particularly when a family of elephants almost visited our tent on our final night to wish us farewell."

"This was a high point. We've been to Damaraland before (16 years ago) and it was just as we remembered it. Stunning landscape, wonderful animals and lovely people.

The staff at the camp were delightful, most helpful and efficient. The whole camp had a jolly, local air about it. Nothing too fancy or contrived.

Ali, our guide, was a delight. Very knowledgeable and utterly charming, without ever being too pushy or bossy. The other guides whom we met seemed just as friendly and informative, as were the trackers.

The only minor disappointment was the fact that, when we went before, we were able to do much more tracking on foot. We had been given to understand that this was still possible but in fact it isn't. You approach the rhino in the vehicle and only the last two or three hundred yards are on foot. This may be to reduce the impact on the rhinos, in which case fair enough, but perhaps it should have been made more clear to us so that we were prepared for it. Or was it just because we were with Mike Hearn last time that we had special treatment ?

But over all a wonderful experience."

"Camp was excellent. Again, management and staff were charming and very helpful and efficient.

Corne, in particular, helped us in many extra little ways and took us out on the only walk we managed in the whole two weeks - a rare and much desired treat. Hermine was a delight.

Our guide, Leon, really pulled out all the stops, giving us a twelve-hour day out when we drove into Etosha on our own and even coming home via the scenic route and giving us the usual evening game drive after a full day out. He also took us to visit the local primary school inside Etosha which was fascinating and will benefit the school as we're sending them a donation - everyone should have this included !

Only slight disappointment here (for one of us more than the other) was that Etosha was so commercialised and touristy. It was the only location of our four that we felt was not as unspoilt and remote as we'd hoped. Probably inevitable but it might have helped if we'd been expecting it. But the game was amazing and the second day there, when we went out on our own for the whole day and were able to get further away from the ghastly lodges, was much better.

One tiny point about the camp itself, very difficult to get out of the sun in the heat of the afternoon. Our veranda was in full sun, as was most of the seating in the main areas. A bit more shade needed."

"Lovely place to stay for a night on the way through Windhoek.

Nadia seemed to be on duty 24 hours a day and was most helpful and charming, serving us a delicious breakfast at the ridiculously early hour we needed.

We ate at their sister restaurant next door which was excellent, if a little grand. The food was first class but the portions were enormous - warning to fellow travellers, skip some of the courses or die !"

"Again, a lovely camp in a beautiful location overlooking the lagoon.

All the staff were delightful and capable. Our guide, Spencer, was very knowledgeable and the tracker, Arron, was a delight. We did mention that we'd like a walk but this didn't happen, probably because we were sharing our activities with others. We had some wonderful animal moments, the outstanding one being a close encounter with the wild dogs - very special.

Nothing else to add about this one, really."

"This and Desert Rhino were the joint winners out of our four locations.

Lizzie, Kessie and Evida (we may have spelt this one incorrectly) and Tabona (affectionately known as T-bone) were a joy and couldn't do enough for us. Our guide, George, was excellent (again just the teeniest bit bossy but this probably goes with the job) and Mike, the tracker, was first class (even spotting a perfectly camouflaged chameleon in the dark) and most charming.

This camp provided the best range of varied activities - a river trip to see the nesting storks, a mokoro trip which even included a short walk (hurray) and, of course, spectacular game drives. The highlight of these was probably the cheetahs but it was all wonderful. As in all our trips to Africa, we were leopard-failed but this gives us an excuse to go back."