Travel reviews by Four poms from Somerset
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
11
Excursions taken
1
An outstanding trip, exceeded expectations
Namibia and 1 other country between 5 Feb 2019 and 24 Feb 2019
"Very well put together by Expert Africa. Professional, helpful and considerate staff.
Well chosen variety of accommodation and locations. We felt we had explored and got to know a great deal of what Namibia has to offer.
Pleasantly surprised that the temperatures were manageable and thought that the low season was a good time to visit because of the lack of other visitors.
Not much rain and although badly needed it counted in our favour."
Well chosen variety of accommodation and locations. We felt we had explored and got to know a great deal of what Namibia has to offer.
Pleasantly surprised that the temperatures were manageable and thought that the low season was a good time to visit because of the lack of other visitors.
Not much rain and although badly needed it counted in our favour."
Arranged By Tracy Lederer
Olive Grove
"Olive Grove review"
1 night
Arrived
5 Feb 2019
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
BullsPort Lodge and Farm
"Bullsport Guest Farm review"
1 night
Arrived
6 Feb 2019
"At first sight a bit alarmed by the orange and lime green paintwork, but warm and welcoming service and comfortable rooms soon put paid to that. Really great to sit down to dinner with husband and wife owners and getting an insight into the challenges and joys of living in the area.
No real rain for seven years means farming has ground to a halt, although we did see a healthy herd of cattle which surprisingly were able to find nourishment in the mountains.
Excellent walk in the mountains with a very good guide. Bereft of wildlife however. Saw two rock eagles, skittish hyraxes, guinea fowl, squirrels"
No real rain for seven years means farming has ground to a halt, although we did see a healthy herd of cattle which surprisingly were able to find nourishment in the mountains.
Excellent walk in the mountains with a very good guide. Bereft of wildlife however. Saw two rock eagles, skittish hyraxes, guinea fowl, squirrels"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Hoodia Desert Lodge
"Hoodia Desert Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
7 Feb 2019
"Very comfortable lodge and outstanding staff.
Also brilliant guide into sossusvlei. Mr Trembath got up Big Daddy in 26 minutes which the staff said was a bit of a record amongst their guests."
Also brilliant guide into sossusvlei. Mr Trembath got up Big Daddy in 26 minutes which the staff said was a bit of a record amongst their guests."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Hoodia Sossusvlei excursion
"Hoodia Sossusvlei excursion review"
8 Feb 2019 • All-day excursion
Combined with the Lodge stay comments but also saw zebra, oryx++, baboon, 1 wildebeeste, black-backed jackal, springbok, Ostrich, white dancing spider, tok tokkies, scorpion.
Excellent
Cornerstone Guesthouse
"Cornerstone Guesthouse review"
2 nights
Arrived
9 Feb 2019
"Good, clean, convenient, well run, excellent breakfast.
Day trip to Sandwich Bay was really good. Lovely drive along the beach and a bit of dune bashing. Beautiful Bay surrounded by dunes. Huge numbers of flamingoes and Guide was knowledgeable and made it interesting, but we were put off with his unrequested views on the 'fact' that the whites had in no way taken any land from the local tribes in SA and Namibia.
Astonished by the huge Chinese harbour development work at Walvis and their road structures into the mining areas in the hinterland."
Day trip to Sandwich Bay was really good. Lovely drive along the beach and a bit of dune bashing. Beautiful Bay surrounded by dunes. Huge numbers of flamingoes and Guide was knowledgeable and made it interesting, but we were put off with his unrequested views on the 'fact' that the whites had in no way taken any land from the local tribes in SA and Namibia.
Astonished by the huge Chinese harbour development work at Walvis and their road structures into the mining areas in the hinterland."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Camp Kipwe
"Camp Kipwe review"
2 nights
Arrived
11 Feb 2019
"Wonderful location and imaginative architecture amongst the rocks.
Staff willing and friendly but require further training. Food quality a bit erratic.
We declined the trip to see the desert elephants on the basis they had moved 70k away and it would have meant may hours in the viewing vehicle.
Morning drive to model tribal village interesting with good curios. Afternoon trip to bushman paintings interesting but let down by amateurish guide."
Staff willing and friendly but require further training. Food quality a bit erratic.
We declined the trip to see the desert elephants on the basis they had moved 70k away and it would have meant may hours in the viewing vehicle.
Morning drive to model tribal village interesting with good curios. Afternoon trip to bushman paintings interesting but let down by amateurish guide."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Average
Activities
Average
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
Facilities
Excellent
Grootberg Lodge
"Grootberg Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
13 Feb 2019
"Adventurous location with amazing views of valleys and mountains. Good guides on driven and walking trips, but variety of game limited on the escarpment. More game down below apparently.
Saw lovely springbok, lots of Oryx,, Kudu, mountain zebra, black eagle.
Impression that, as a community project if they were expecting it to be run by locals alone by next year, they were falling short of expected standards. Examples of poor maintenance."
Saw lovely springbok, lots of Oryx,, Kudu, mountain zebra, black eagle.
Impression that, as a community project if they were expecting it to be run by locals alone by next year, they were falling short of expected standards. Examples of poor maintenance."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Excellent
Service
Average
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Poor
Facilities
Good
Ongava Lodge
"Ongava Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
15 Feb 2019
"Generally the best overall experience of the trip. Lodge overlooking a waterhole and the hide next to the waterhole were highlights.
Superior service, very comfortable high quality rooms. Excellent guides. Lots of game. A wealth of Rhinos. Animals/birds not on the list: Hartebeest, Waterbuck, Impala, springbok, Hornbillls - grey, yellow, Kori Bustard, Koorhan, sand grouse, Goshawk, Steppe buzzard"
Superior service, very comfortable high quality rooms. Excellent guides. Lots of game. A wealth of Rhinos. Animals/birds not on the list: Hartebeest, Waterbuck, Impala, springbok, Hornbillls - grey, yellow, Kori Bustard, Koorhan, sand grouse, Goshawk, Steppe buzzard"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Mushara Bush Camp
"Mushara Bush Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
17 Feb 2019
"Good to excellent, but not in the same way as Ongava. Lovely being in a camp surrounded by bush, with all the basics being very well done.
Probably the best food we had. Brilliant swimming pool. Guide worked hard to find us game in Etosha and we were well rewarded.
Big herds of elephant, Oryx, wildebeest, impala, springbok, zebra but also Black and white rhino, hyena, lion, leopard."
Probably the best food we had. Brilliant swimming pool. Guide worked hard to find us game in Etosha and we were well rewarded.
Big herds of elephant, Oryx, wildebeest, impala, springbok, zebra but also Black and white rhino, hyena, lion, leopard."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Sightings report
Erongo Wilderness Lodge
"Erongo Wilderness Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
19 Feb 2019
"A wonderful location, with the chalets cleverly positioned amongst the rocks.
It was very hot (but we expected that) - no aircon. very good new manageress, but waiter service a bit erratic. Guides were very good and knowledgeable.
Morning walk strenuous and tiring. Guided drive to Bushman paintings outstanding. No good for animals - saw some mountain zebra in the distance."
It was very hot (but we expected that) - no aircon. very good new manageress, but waiter service a bit erratic. Guides were very good and knowledgeable.
Morning walk strenuous and tiring. Guided drive to Bushman paintings outstanding. No good for animals - saw some mountain zebra in the distance."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
River Crossing
"River Crossing review"
1 night
Arrived
21 Feb 2019
"Reasonable place to stop over before flying out. Great views from a high point above Windhoek. Nice rooms. Public places a bit 'public'.
Spoilt after the seclusion of previous locations. Preferred Olive Grove."
Spoilt after the seclusion of previous locations. Preferred Olive Grove."
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Good
Service
Average
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Victoria Falls Hotel
"Ilala Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
22 Feb 2019
"A real spoiling. Classic old world facilities and service of a high standard.
Of course the Falls are a world beating destination. The town much smarter than on previous visits, with a look of quiet prosperity, in contrast to the rest of the country. A truly impressive airport.
Slick efficient service. The old one was run down and hopeless."
Of course the Falls are a world beating destination. The town much smarter than on previous visits, with a look of quiet prosperity, in contrast to the rest of the country. A truly impressive airport.
Slick efficient service. The old one was run down and hopeless."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Well located for an intriguing dinner at the famous Jerry's Beer Garden"