Travel reviews by Ian & Vivienne from UK
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
2
Countries visited
3
Lodges stayed in
13
Excursions taken
0
Victoria Falls, Sandibe,
Botswana and 1 other country between 16 May 2018 and 27 May 2018
Botswana and its people are inspiring and the scenery and wildlife experience, spectacular.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
None.
This is our second trip with Expert Africa and probably not our last.we have already recommended EA to others in the UK and abroad."
Arranged By Tracy Lederer
Victoria Falls Hotel
"Victoria Falls Hotel review"
Sandibe Safari Lodge
"Sandibe Safari Lodge review"
the new design is impressive and the accommodation units are spaced well apart for privacy. the rooms were smaller than at Mombo or Vumbura but were well furnished and the decor was very in keeping with local designs and styles.
there is a good walk to the rooms placed furthest from the reception area and you can only walk this alone in the daylight. Baboons and elephants do frequent the camp area and walkways."
Mombo Camp
"Mombo Camp review"
It comes at a high price for the experience which is unforgettable but the food and game drives, though very good indeed, were not significantly better than the other 2 lodges we stayed at if we are honest.
The staff are extremely good and the management are very much in evidence day and night which is refreshing.
when we visited the Delta waters were rising so we saw wildlife in front of the lodge and from our room, splashing through the water. A later visit would have seen higher water levels and game pushed together due to reduced dry land availability making viewing a little easier.
Having said that,we had hippo walking passed our room at night and were woken one night by an elephant drinking from the plunge pool and eating leaves, literally with his tail on our raised verandah. very special and close up indeed."
Vumbura Plains
"Vumbura Plains review"
We enjoyed the 2 mokoro evening trips, one boat trip (fishing) and a morning walking safari which none of the other camps we visited were able to offer.
The view from the lodge over the lagoon (with many resident hippo) was truly wonderful at all hours of the day and night. Sleeping can be a problem due to the noise of nocturnal wildlife ,hippos are very vocal,so bring earplugs if that will annoy you. The frogs sound like high pitched wind chimes from dusk until dawn. We loved every sound.
The quality of the food is high and the virtually all female management team ran a very happy but efficient service with very big smiles!
The accommodation is very much in-keeping with the African style but could,perhaps,have a little bit of a refurb. thats being overly picky but we had just been to Sandibe and Mombo where refurbishments had recently been carried out.
The rooms were very large with a huge open shower area facing the lagoon which could be privatised with billowing ,clean white drapes. what a bathing experience!"
A trip of a lifetime and not a single regret
Namibia between 8 Apr 2017 and 26 Apr 2017
The standard of accommodation ,food and service is overall very high.
At no time did we feel nervous or threatened and the driving is a challenge but was fun and an unforgettable experience.
Sharing the driving and hiring a proper 4WD vehicle is strongly advised
Don't just dream about driving through Namibia, book it and do it for the most wonderful experiences and memories
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
None."
Arranged By Tracy Lederer
Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch
"Convenient when travellling South"
The evening meal was served al fresco and the quality was good.
We stayed in a Dune chalet which had a wonderful view as they are elevated but are the furthest from the reception area.
You can ask to be driven to and fro but the walk was nice and not difficult unless you have a disability.
As with most accommodations in Namibia, you need to ask reception for a hairdryer to borrow during your stay."
Canyon Lodge
"Well designed and maintained"
We were given one of the furthest away from the main reception and dining area and the views over the desert were spectacular.,especially at sunset. These cabins are also quiet. The grounds are very well tended and there are paved paths everywhere which are lit at night.
The swimming pool is set well away from the cabins and overlook the rock and boulder strewn desert.the honesty bar set above ,the pool is well stocked and drinks are not expensive when you consider how remote the property is.
The food was adequate and you need not go hungry but it was never fine dining and probably does not attempt to be. The trip to the canyon and the hot springs from here is the best part of an hour (different directions). It is well worth the drive and we were amongst few tourists at both destination.
The journey to the property is along poor roads (with wonderful scenery)and a 4WD vehicle is strongly advised, indeed we would recommend that anyone self driving in this beautiful country hires such a vehicle rather than an ordinary car."
Eagle's Nest
"Remote accommodations available"
We ate breakfast in the main lodge but did not eat there in the evening as we chose to eat during the day on our travels.
You can drive to Luderitz from here if you wish though it is a rather strange town with no real features of its own apart from the derelict diamond mining town on its outskirts which was fascinating to see and photograph.
The drive north from here is spectacular but again needs a 4WD vehicle and very careful negotiation and full concentration. Although the roads are challenging , we shared the driving and both found it exciting and would not have missed the ever changing and spectacular scenery for all the world."
Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
"You must go here."
The butler/dedicated waiter or waitress and the appointed driver for your stay is a very nice touch which we appreciated. The food is really excellent ,again,considering how remote this region is, but we thoroughly enjoyed high quality food and wine here.
Do go on the sundowner quad bike ride as it is fun, the scenery at sunset is unforgettable and the experience was very different and unforgettable as numbers are kept small."
Cornerstone Guesthouse
"Good option in Swakopmund"
The property is well located for walking to the coast,to restaurants and to the very good shopping in the centre of the town. Shop for gifts and souvenirs in this town as there is very little option elsewhere unless you stay in the capital which we did not.
The car park is small but parking on the road is safe and secure."
Doro Nawas
"What an airport hotel this is!"
The bush dinner for guests is every Monday Wednesday and Friday and there does not appear to be an option to opt out. The food was a basic BBQ but it is beautifully done and eating out under the stars and being welcomed by the staff singing in a candlelit area of clear bush was really quite special and unforgettable.
The drive to the airfield to fly in any direction is a mere 5 minutes.
We saw desert adapted elephants in numbers here and Damaraland is such a beautiful area of Namibia ,not to be missed. The drive to here from Swakopmund was long and rough but the scenery certainly made up for it."
Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp
"A real privilege."
Supplies arrive weekly and can be delayed for all sorts of reasons and this happened during our stay due to rain causing flash floods further up stream. The staff work well to make up for any things that are in short supply which is a tribute to their dedication and professional teamwork.
The rooms are beautifully designed tented chalets with everything you could wish for.
There is not a huge amount of game to see and it was sad to learn of the death of the lions that were here up until 2016. The game drives are well worth the effort, especially to the flood plain area of the river and the sunsets are spectacular and a photographers dream.
When we visited there was water in the river so we flew both ways to the Skeleton Coast which is a day for the memory banks and should not be missed. If you stay 3 or more nights,that excursion is free ."
Erongo Wilderness Lodge
"Wonderful experience amongst the granite boul"
The baboons pass a short distance away from this chalet at dawn and are quite a feature of this whole property. There are self guided walks which were a relief from all the driving. Most places during our trip advised against walking alone for all sorts of reasons (animals, scorpions and snakes and just getting lost).
We had some of the most consistently good food at this venue and a very good wine list. The local town is popular with craftspeople and artisans but sadly we didn't have time to explore.
This is a very good option to shorten the drive back to Windhoek but if you are driving straight to the airport for a midday flight then you will have to leave very early as the roadworks on the outskirts of the capital are a problem."
GocheGanas
"A luxurious stay so close to the airport."
The food was good but the service was the worst we had experienced in the entire trip with waiting staff having a very different, aloof attitude to guests that we had not encountered before. This was the only negative point.
The massage therapy was inexpensive (compared with UK prices) and of a very high and professional standard.
This must be a wonderful place to spend a long weekend if you live locally or in S Africa itself."
Not as close to falls as some of the Zambian hotels. you overlook the plume from the falls and the bridge, NOT the falls themselves
Friendly helpful staff
On walk (from a gate in hotel grounds) to the Falls there were many persistent locals trying to sell tourists carved animals and copper bracelets which was a little unsettling."