Travel reviews by Jonathan from Newcastle
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
8
Excursions taken
1
My Jul 2022 trip
Namibia between 17 Jul 2022 and 30 Jul 2022
1. Their recommendations on hotels and advice on an itinerary. All the hotels were fantastic and without the advice, we'd have ended up driving in the dark which is not recommended
2. The price they charged for the hotels was no more expensive than booking direct and occasionally cheaper
3. When one of the hotels on the trip closed for refurbishment, they recommended and booked a replacement for us immediately, in line with the itenary.
4. For the first two trips we booked the Fish River Canyon ourselves which was a real hassle, sometime there were spaces available on a certain date, sometime not. Once we realised Expert Africa could do it for us, it was so much easier. They booked and changed it in-line with the itinarey.
5. The small things - being met at Windhoek airport by a representative who took us to the office in the airport so we could get organised, help us with car pick-up. The map we were given with our route marked on it along with the location of the hotels and time to drive between them (not obvious) plus the Namibia book, nice wallet to store all our paper work made it all feel very professional
6. Flexibility in changing our trip each year, rebooking the hotels plus advice given when we asked"
Arranged By Sabina Hekandjo

River Crossing
"River Crossing review"

Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch
"Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch review"
Nice pool, great bar, very friendly staff, great location set in its own little game reserve with plenty of animals walking around. Evening meal was superb and a good breakfast. Quite a long drive from the main road. One room had no window but the other had a view out into the reserve."

Eland
2 sightings

Meerkat
10+ sightings

Oryx
5 sightings

Ai-Ais Hot Springs Spa
"Ai-Ais Hot Springs Spa review"
Fine for setting off and getting organised for the Fish River Canyon trek. Very limited wifi and phone reception.
Ran out of beer on the last night. Food basic but ok."

Oryx
4 sightings

Fish River Hike
"Fish River Hike review"
If you're used to walking and have trained then its relatively easy - 65Km in five days across various surface (boulders, rock, loose sand, compact sand) if you take all the short cuts but if you haven't, you will struggle."
Lodge not featured by Expert Africa

Ai-Ais Hot Springs Spa
"Ai-Ais Hot Springs Spa review"

Kanaan Desert Retreat
"Kanaan Desert Retreat review"
Watching the sunset and the sunrise from the hut balcony ...with animals and birds walking on the plains below. Only a few rooms which adds to the relaxed and intermitate feel. The restaurant has similar views, dinner and breakfast was excellent, staff very friendly.
Would love to go back and spend a couple of nights there."

Oryx
4 sightings

Hoodia Desert Lodge
"Hoodia Desert Lodge review"
Kanaan was fantastic for its views and location but this hotel was the highlight of the trip, so glad we had two nights here. Rooms beautiful and set apart, location great, main hotel building beautiful, lovely bar, fabulous restaurant and food, staff wonderful, sundowners on the little hill next to the hotel spectacular, trip to the dunes and meal in the bush wonderful.
We so want to go back again."

Oryx
10+ sightings

Zebra
10+ sightings

Hoodia Sossusvlei excursion
"Hoodia Sossusvlei excursion review"
27 Jul 2022 • All-day excursion

Strand Hotel
"Strand Hotel review"
There was some work going on which meant that the other couple we were staying with had to exit the hotel and walk round the back to get to reception but no more than a small inconveniece.
Breakfast was unbelievable - everything from Oysters to cakes to cereals to cold platter to full cooked breakfast, as good as anywhere we've been."