Travel reviews by Mr I & Mrs J from UK
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
8
Excursions taken
0
My Oct 2008 trip
Namibia between 4 Oct 2008 and 21 Oct 2008
"Our second triip to Namibia and all went well. We are in our late 60s and were a bit concerned about going up to the Caprivi but roads are excellent and nothing to worry us - though if we were to go again I think we would choose a cooler time of year (if there is one) and/or confine ourselves to accommodation with air conditioning.
Two warnings
1. Petrol is evidently a problem beyond Rundu. There was none at Kongola and only 93 octane at Divundu when we needed to fill up for our return journey
2. As we drove from Windhoek to the airport for our return flight a car overtook us and shouted out that we had a flat tyre. I thought the car was driving normally and carried on to the airport parking where our tyres seemed perfectly OK, so I think this was an attempted confidence trick. Unfortunately I failed to get the registration number."
Two warnings
1. Petrol is evidently a problem beyond Rundu. There was none at Kongola and only 93 octane at Divundu when we needed to fill up for our return journey
2. As we drove from Windhoek to the airport for our return flight a car overtook us and shouted out that we had a flat tyre. I thought the car was driving normally and carried on to the airport parking where our tyres seemed perfectly OK, so I think this was an attempted confidence trick. Unfortunately I failed to get the registration number."
Arranged By Sabina Hekandjo
Out of Africa Town Lodge (Not currently featured by Expert Africa)
"Out of Africa Lodge, Otjiwarongo"
1 night
Arrived
4 Oct 2008
"OK but only as an overnight stop between Windhoek and Etosha"
Average
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location
Average
Service
Average
Rooms
Good
Food
Average
Not currently featured by Expert Africa
Okaukuejo Camp
"Okaukuejo Restcamp review"
2 nights
Arrived
5 Oct 2008
"Last year we stayed just outside the park because we had been warned (not by Expert Africa) that rest camps were unreliable. This meant we could not be at water hole at dawn and dusk and after dark.
This year we had a waterhole chalet which gave us excellent game viewing literally on our doorstep. The restaurant was fine once we mastered the system - choose a raw steak and get it cooked to your liking. ( comments in `trip advisor` were not complimentary)"
This year we had a waterhole chalet which gave us excellent game viewing literally on our doorstep. The restaurant was fine once we mastered the system - choose a raw steak and get it cooked to your liking. ( comments in `trip advisor` were not complimentary)"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Namutoni Camp
"Namutoni Restcamp review"
2 nights
Arrived
7 Oct 2008
"Water hole not as good as Okakujo. Courtyard of old fort an excellent setting for restaurant.
The new bungalow we were allocated was excellent.
The resort manager introduced himself and it is clear that the Namibian government is making a real effort to maintain high standards at the rest camps."
The new bungalow we were allocated was excellent.
The resort manager introduced himself and it is clear that the Namibian government is making a real effort to maintain high standards at the rest camps."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Hakusembe River Lodge
"Hakusembe Lodge review"
3 nights
Arrived
9 Oct 2008
"Very friendly and probably the best food on our trip.
We had three niights there which was perhaps one too many because scope for activities is limited - no game drives."
We had three niights there which was perhaps one too many because scope for activities is limited - no game drives."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Activities
Average
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Lianshulu Lodge
"Lianshulu Lodge review"
3 nights
Arrived
12 Oct 2008
"Fine location on river but not a lot to see while we were there from our deck or from the viewing platform .
Drives and river trips with excellent guides made up for this but NB Mudumu NP is nowhere near as big as Etosha so if you are there for three days you tend to cover the same ground more than once. No provision for self-drive game viewing (cf Mahango)"
Drives and river trips with excellent guides made up for this but NB Mudumu NP is nowhere near as big as Etosha so if you are there for three days you tend to cover the same ground more than once. No provision for self-drive game viewing (cf Mahango)"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Ndhovu Safari Lodge
"Ndhovu Safari Lodge review"
3 nights
Arrived
15 Oct 2008
"Good for birds and Mahango NP (where you can drive yourself - unlike Lianshulu) very close. Horst was an excellent host and dining family style worked very well
Note - I suspect we were under-charged for activities and drinks : we would be happy to put this right (perhaps via Expert Africa and Wilderness Safaris) if Horst lets us know what we owe him."
Note - I suspect we were under-charged for activities and drinks : we would be happy to put this right (perhaps via Expert Africa and Wilderness Safaris) if Horst lets us know what we owe him."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Average
Food
Good
Roy's Restcamp
"Roys Restcamp review"
1 night
Arrived
18 Oct 2008
"We shall not go again"
Poor
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Poor
Location
Average
Service
Average
Rooms
Terrible
Food
Poor
Feedback response
We emailed this regular traveller after his feedback, and asked him to elaborate a little on his thoughts on Roy's, so we could better understand his remark about 'not going again'. He commented:
"Perhaps we were too hard on Roys in our assessment, though I do not think we resorted to "terrible". It just seemed a bit scruffy and under-managed. We were, however, comparing it with some pretty sophisticated outfits (Lianshulu, Erongo) and perhaps failed to take proper account of the fact that it was probably the cheapest place on the whole trip. I suspect it may appeal more to your younger clients than it did to us."
"Perhaps we were too hard on Roys in our assessment, though I do not think we resorted to "terrible". It just seemed a bit scruffy and under-managed. We were, however, comparing it with some pretty sophisticated outfits (Lianshulu, Erongo) and perhaps failed to take proper account of the fact that it was probably the cheapest place on the whole trip. I suspect it may appeal more to your younger clients than it did to us."
Africa Specialist
Erongo Wilderness Lodge
"Erongo Wilderness Lodge review"
2 nights
Arrived
19 Oct 2008
"A fine way to conclude our holiday"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good