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Traveller reviews

Travel reviews by Mrs C. from London

Review Distribution

Excellent
Good
Average
Poor
Terrible

Total number of trips

1

Countries visited

3

Lodges stayed in

9

Excursions taken

1

My Aug 2023 trip

Namibia and 2 other countries between 31 Aug 2023 and 19 Sep 2023

Trip rating: Excellent
"A trip of a lifetime. Namibia and Botswana were different but spectacular in their own ways.

I saw much more wildlife than I expected and so much of it close to. The scenery, sunrises and sunsets were glorious and I feel that I have experienced a proper African safari.

The lodges were excellent with all the facilities I could have wanted. What made the trip so special was the quality of the staff everywhere I went. They were friendly, professional and keen to show their countries at their best. They were fabulous ambassadors for Africa as a whole.

Thank you for arranging such a wonderful experience."

Arranged By Tracy Lederer


Elegant Guesthouse

Elegant Guesthouse

"Elegant Guesthouse review"

1 night Arrived 1 Sep 2023
"The guest house was clean and comfortable. The staff were friendly and helpful with the manager (Pauline I think) booking us a lovely restaurant The Stellenbosch for our supper.

We just had breakfast which was fine but I can’t really comment on the food. We didn’t stay long enough to participate in any activities."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Hoodia Desert Lodge

Hoodia Desert Lodge

"Hoodia Desert Lodge review"

2 nights Arrived 2 Sep 2023
"This was a fabulous lodge with attentive staff, excellent facilities, beautiful rooms and delicious food.

What a treat - thank you.

It was a wonderful welcome to the Namibian desert and the communal areas were so relaxing as was the rather fresh but welcome pool."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Hoodia Sossusvlei excursion

Hoodia Sossusvlei excursion

"Hoodia Sossusvlei excursion review"

3 Sep 2023 • All-day excursion

Daniel was a tremendous guide. There were just 5 of us and he made sure we were comfortable before we set off.

He showed us small desert animals as well as Oryx, Wildebeest, Springbok, lizards, spiders, vultures, stag beetles and Ruppells Korhaans and other birds, and so much more.

Daniel was very knowledgeable about Namibian history and geology too. It was fascinating to see the iron deposits in the red sand dunes, and climb to the top of one. He accompanied us pointing out flora too including the petrified trees.

The lunch picnic was delicious; beautifully set out on a carpet with tables, chairs, tablecloths and cutlery.

Sitting under an acacia tree in the desert with Oryx grazing nearby was an unforgettable experience
Excellent
Cornerstone Guesthouse

Cornerstone Guesthouse

"Cornerstone Guesthouse review"

2 nights Arrived 4 Sep 2023
"This was a very pleasant guesthouse, clean and well appointed with a good breakfast.

The reception staff helped us with supper bookings in local restaurants which were good, generally wholesome food. My friends had a disappointing meal but my sole was good.

Swakopmund was rather cold and generally lacking in much to do and see, although the museum there was excellent, full of interesting facts and artefacts about Namibia’s history, geology, flora and fauna.

The flamingoes at Wallis Bay were great and the seal colony on the way to the Skeleton Coast was amazing if rather smelly!"
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Doro Nawas

Doro Nawas

"Doro Nawas review"

2 nights Arrived 6 Sep 2023
"This was one of my favourite locations in Namibia. The design of the lodge was fabulous and the staff were outstanding.

Nothing was too much trouble, and the welcome was impressive including the a capella singing to greet us, entertain us at supper and wave us goodbye at the end.

The rooms were well appointed and spacious with plenty of hot water and other amenities. You could sleep under the stars and the staff would roll out your bed and ensure you had extra blankets and a hot water bottle. It was magical.

The food was delicious, with barbecues and tables under the stars on one night.

The guiding staff were around the evening before pointing out stars and constellations. The early start the next day was wonderful with the sun rising over the desert. Our guide showed us how to spot tracks, and we headed off to find desert elephants - surprisingly friendly. Our guide was hugely knowledgeable on flora and fauna as well as animal behaviour. Again a lot of birds as well as elephants, giraffes, baboons, ostriches, tree squirrels and much more.

It was also really interesting to be part of a community project and to see this in action.

The pool was wonderfully refreshing and lovely to use"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Etosha Oberland Lodge

Etosha Oberland Lodge

"Etosha Oberland Lodge review"

2 nights Arrived 8 Sep 2023
"An excellent lodge which felt bigger and more international than our other lodges.

The room was very luxurious and the tasting menus each evening were unbelievable - great variety of Namibian gin and delicious food on the terrace watching the animals come in to the watering holes. Such a magical experience.

Our guide was impressive and the three of us enjoyed snuggling under fleece lined ponchos as we set out at daybreak to Etosha. The huge breadth of animals was stunning. As well as those detailed below, we saw black backed jackals, honey badgers, springbok, dikdiks, impalas, waterbucks, ostrich, warthogs, eagles, hornbills, goshawks and many species of birds.

After the excursion, a dip in the lovely pool with the Wildebeest and antelopes walking past completed a fabulous day. The staff were endlessly helpful, and thoughtful."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Mushara Bush Camp

Mushara Bush Camp

"Mushara Bush Camp review"

2 nights Arrived 10 Sep 2023
"Not as luxurious as Etosha but a more authentic experience, the room and facilities were good, and the staff so friendly.

Everything worked and it was great chatting to other guests at the pool or by the campfire. We didn’t go out on an excursion here as we had just driven through Etosha park and seen all the wildlife as detailed on the previous page.

There was a small watering hole and a family of Warthogs were a treat to watch. At night you could hear the wildlife going past my tented room.

The food here was fresh and delicious with a lovely banquet laid out under the stars. Fabulous."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Villa Violet

Villa Violet

"Villa Violet review"

1 night Arrived 12 Sep 2023
"Very helpful staff who prepared us a packed breakfast for our early start, and a restaurant the night before.

We went exploring Windhoek which was interesting although the main museum was disappointing. There was a lack of narrative to support the photos.

We returned to the Stellenbosch wine bar which was excellent."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Facilities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Ilala Lodge

Ilala Lodge

"Ilala Lodge review"

2 nights Arrived 13 Sep 2023
"This felt like the biggest hotel we stayed in. It definitely had an international feel and all the facilities you would want from such a hotel.

Staff were professional and helpful, food was good, and there was plenty to do and see for my stay.

I visited Zambia to go to the Devil’s pool and also saw Victoria Falls from Zimbabwe.

A delicious lunch at the Lookout cafe was worth it for the views as well as the food.

All transport and transit arrangements worked like clockwork.

Lovely pool and a chance to see some local wildlife including baboons, hippos , antelopes, meerkats, warthogs, giraffes and elephants."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
4 Rivers

4 Rivers

"4 Rivers review"

3 nights Arrived 15 Sep 2023
"Outstanding. This was an area full of wildlife and extremely well managed.

All the staff including the cooks, the managers, and the guides felt like a great family team.

The rooms were well appointed on the river and although canvas, they felt safe even when the hippos went crashing past in the night.

The food was plentiful and truly delicious with plenty of options. Breakfast by the fire as the sun rose whilst waiting for the safari was really special. Two safari drives a day with expert guides and trackers with coffee stops and sundowners as the sun set were fabulous. The night time safaris yielded so many extra animals to see.

There is no wifi currently at the lodge and it would have been good to know this in advance - my daughter almost sent a search party when none of her messages were getting through! However I loved being disconnected from the world and would definitely recommend this.

The pool and a siesta in the middle of the day was wonderful. I saw all that I had hoped for and more.

A special mention to Meloni and Bonnie as well as our guide Tapps and our tracker G. The breadth of knowledge from Tapps in particular was impressive. I was also so grateful to keep the same team when my friends left a day early.

I felt very welcome and supported as a solo traveller"
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent

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