Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs Aardvark from uk
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
7
Excursions taken
2
Second visit but not the last
Namibia between 10 Oct 2007 and 28 Oct 2007
"Overall, the trip was excellent. Camps are all different in style but up to a point that is fun and interesting. Inevitably, some aspects don't meet one's personal ideal but only at Waterberg did I hear another guest volunteer any criticism (of the dim religious lighting!). Guides and availability of game also varied but every site produced enough new species and sights to keep our interest up. Total 30 mammals and 152 bird species.
As our first trip had been with a small group from the UK travelling with CCAfrica, we had not realised that Brits are only 7% of the tourists, the great majority being German, tho we also met Italians and French. Everyone was excellent company and this was itself a significant part of the pleasure and success of the trip.
Driving entalied some long hot days but was not tiring compared with the M25, say. We helped one Damara family whose old car had died by taking them to the Uis township to find a man with a functioning battery and gave a lift to another lady going to visit her man in Reheboth hospital and, when I had to change a wheel, sure enough the next person along stopped to help. Again, nice parts of the experience.
One policeman at a roadblock tried to extort a small fine but waved us on when I produced pen and paper!
We would happily go back soon but the world is a big place, life is short and money is never enough. However, perhaps in a year or two....."
As our first trip had been with a small group from the UK travelling with CCAfrica, we had not realised that Brits are only 7% of the tourists, the great majority being German, tho we also met Italians and French. Everyone was excellent company and this was itself a significant part of the pleasure and success of the trip.
Driving entalied some long hot days but was not tiring compared with the M25, say. We helped one Damara family whose old car had died by taking them to the Uis township to find a man with a functioning battery and gave a lift to another lady going to visit her man in Reheboth hospital and, when I had to change a wheel, sure enough the next person along stopped to help. Again, nice parts of the experience.
One policeman at a roadblock tried to extort a small fine but waved us on when I produced pen and paper!
We would happily go back soon but the world is a big place, life is short and money is never enough. However, perhaps in a year or two....."
Arranged By Sabina Hekandjo
Waterberg Wilderness Lodge
"Waterberg good in parts."
2 nights
Arrived
11 Oct 2007
Poor
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Poor
Location
Good
Service
Average
Activities
Poor
Rooms
Poor
Food
Average
Facilities
Poor
Eagle Tented Camp, Namibia (this camp has since closed)
"Epacha Eagle - watering hole for Etosh visits"
3 nights
Arrived
13 Oct 2007
"Tents very hot and noisy in wind and rain but probably good for 50 weeks of the year! Outside plunge bath pointless. No owners in residence but staff welcoming, efficient, friendly, good English. Dining area and bar attractive, food excellent.
Game drives covered litle of the very extensive area and guides did not know where sable, rhino and other desirable species were. My impression was that they ran a short and easy circuit but made no real effort. Bird knowledge small.
Minimal walking opportunity - effectively confined to about 1k around camp which was not what we had expected.
Good base for visits to Etosha but not otherwise."
Game drives covered litle of the very extensive area and guides did not know where sable, rhino and other desirable species were. My impression was that they ran a short and easy circuit but made no real effort. Bird knowledge small.
Minimal walking opportunity - effectively confined to about 1k around camp which was not what we had expected.
Good base for visits to Etosha but not otherwise."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Average
Service
Excellent
Activities
Poor
Rooms
Average
Food
Good
Facilities
Average
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Etendeka Mountain Camp
"Etendeka for that wilderness experience"
2 nights
Arrived
16 Oct 2007
"Location excellent but ambiance of camp site marred by extensive clutter of timber, machinery, work-in-progess air. Tents basic but quite okay. Dining area okay. Food uninspired but okay
Owner absent but staff excellent - welcoming, informative. Guides first rate field skills incl birds, languages, cultural info etc. Good walking in dramatic landcapes with plenty of varied game incl leaopard, aardwolf as well as good nrs of the usual beasts.
This is a camp for people who want to enjoy a wilderness experience and don't mind a somewhat makeshift air about the camp and facilities."
Owner absent but staff excellent - welcoming, informative. Guides first rate field skills incl birds, languages, cultural info etc. Good walking in dramatic landcapes with plenty of varied game incl leaopard, aardwolf as well as good nrs of the usual beasts.
This is a camp for people who want to enjoy a wilderness experience and don't mind a somewhat makeshift air about the camp and facilities."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Average
Food
Average
Facilities
Poor
Damaraland Camp
"Damaraland. Upmarket tenting"
1 night
Arrived
18 Oct 2007
"Only stayed overnight to break a long haul and did not do any excursions but overall impression very favourable. Site good, staff welcoming and efficient. Tents okay (and due to be replaced this year). Food good.
Only minus point is elaborate indemnity form which requires to you absolve them from practically any act including, in effect, gross negligance on their part. I'm happy to accept risks from game but not from food poisoning!"
Only minus point is elaborate indemnity form which requires to you absolve them from practically any act including, in effect, gross negligance on their part. I'm happy to accept risks from game but not from food poisoning!"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Rooms
Average
Food
Good
The Stiltz
"The Stiltz review"
3 nights
Arrived
19 Oct 2007
"We were given a super stiltz cabin - a two decker that sleeps six, beautifully furnishedand with great view of the lagoon and sea which was what I had wanted, and consequently our opinion is somewhat biased. Some of the other cabins have no view at all and I would not be so keen on them tho they are obviously okay as a base for Swakopmund.
The breakfast room and breakfasts were fine and the staff were helpful tho they forgot to make a promised dinner booking one evening. In which connection we rate the Tug, even with the seaview and sunset, as over-crowded, over-noisy and over-rated, through not over-priced. But we are over-60."
The breakfast room and breakfasts were fine and the staff were helpful tho they forgot to make a promised dinner booking one evening. In which connection we rate the Tug, even with the seaview and sunset, as over-crowded, over-noisy and over-rated, through not over-priced. But we are over-60."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Dolphin and seal cruise
"Dolphin cruise"
20 Oct 2007 • All-day excursion
The cruise was pleasurable and successful.
However, the info you supplied instructed us to be at Walvis Bay at 0730 whereas the cruise started at 0900.
However, the info you supplied instructed us to be at Walvis Bay at 0730 whereas the cruise started at 0900.
Coast and Sandwich Harbour
"Turnstone Tour"
21 Oct 2007 • All-day excursion
First rate guide (Ernst Ritter) with good all-round ecological knowledge and birding skills. Super lunch. Tide and shore erosion prevented us getting all the way to Sandwich Bay but we had a most fulfilling day nonetheless. Will have to go back another day.
Excellent
Zebra River Lodge
"Zebra River Lodge review"
3 nights
Arrived
22 Oct 2007
"Good location scenically and ok for birds but very poor for other game at least when we were present. Some excellent walks of varying length. We did not use guides - don't know if they have them.
Very welcoming and pleasant atmosphere. Friendly owners and staff and good food. Helpfully confirmed our flights. Good library.
Accommodation good (we were up the hill with splendid views) tho' some of the rooms in the main building seemed to lack views and "character"."
Very welcoming and pleasant atmosphere. Friendly owners and staff and good food. Helpfully confirmed our flights. Good library.
Accommodation good (we were up the hill with splendid views) tho' some of the rooms in the main building seemed to lack views and "character"."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Activities
Average
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Eningu Clayhouse
"Eningu Clayhouse review"
2 nights
Arrived
25 Oct 2007
"Attractive set-up. Welcoming, witty owner and friendly staff.
Accommodation good tho' bedroom too full of bric-a-brac for our tastes! Pool excellent
Food and wine good. Good library for German-speakers.
No game guides but excellent walking network. game distinctly wary and hard to get to grips with but appeared to be fair variety. Birding good. Camp waterhole would benefit from cutting back vegetation which obscures much of it from view."
Accommodation good tho' bedroom too full of bric-a-brac for our tastes! Pool excellent
Food and wine good. Good library for German-speakers.
No game guides but excellent walking network. game distinctly wary and hard to get to grips with but appeared to be fair variety. Birding good. Camp waterhole would benefit from cutting back vegetation which obscures much of it from view."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Activities
Average
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Guides in field poor - no bird knowledge even for eagles and on Waterberg a (fresh) black rhino territorial scrape was described as where buffalo had been fighting. Also limited English and German.
Depending on your attitude to H&S, the Waterberg on foot is risky without an informed guide both due to big game and the potential to fall of the edge when taking photos. Probably the lodge ought to get guests to sign chits accepting risk, but good guiding is paramount. Regrettably, we would not revisit or recommend."