Travel reviews by Mr A & Mrs L from Norfolk

"Friendly,efficient and helpful. We stayed here for the first night of our trip and it is ideal for that. About 15km from Maun along a sandy road. Sets the 'mood' for the holiday better than I suspect a town centre hotel would.

We arranged for our hire car to be delivered to the lodge the following morning to begin our self-drive. It didn't happen and made for a stressful first day. We were taken in the lodge vehicle into town to go through the endless paperwork and collect the vehicle from the office. There were so many forms and photocopies required that I don't believe it is realistic to have the car delivered and have to do all that at the lodge. We were over 2 hours late leaving for the long drive to Nxamaseri. The advice from Julius, the very helpful manager, was to be met by the lodge vehicle and be taken to the hire car office. They will wait and you can follow them to the lodge. This way you can have confidence you will find the lodge and have seen the route when you leave the following morning at a time you will be in control of."

"Once there (see below) we really enjoyed Nxamaseri. As we don't fish this was a birding destination for us, as well as part of a water/land balance for our itinerary as a whole.

You can only reach it by boat and there are no other lodges in the immediate area, which makes it wonderfully tranquil. Our guide Adam was excellent and we saw so many new birds (to us) during our private boat and mokoro excursions. Tian, one of the owners, was extremely helpful.

The accommodation is simple and we are definitely not ones to 'rough it' but this was rustic in the best sense and we loved it. There is only a low wall at the front of the 'room' so it is open to the air unless you want to roll down a canvas cover. It was wonderful to wake up at dawn looking through the trees at the rising sun. It's the fresh air appeal of camping but in comfort!

With regard to the journey there from Maun, I have a few thoughts for Expert Africa based on our experience.
The A35, which is the road used for most of the journey to Nxamaseri, is indescribably awful. The size and sheer number of potholes, which join together to make avoidance impossible, makes this a challenge even for confident drivers. When you have been made late and feel you need to tackle it at 100kms per hour, it's even less fun. I suggest that EA should make clients aware of this when planning the itinerary so that they can decide whether they are happy to take it on. The separate sheet of details and directions supplied by EA contains a phone number not recognised by Tian at the lodge and caused confusion."

"This is a modern lodge with lovely rooms accessed via raised walkways enabling the elephants to walk underneath.

Having crossed the border (without difficulty) into Namibia's Caprivi Strip from Botswana at Mehombo, it was an easy drive along a good road to the entrance of the Bwabwata National Park. Our guide was waiting and having left our car securely, we were taken via a game drive to Nambwa.

It is true that game density is not as high as some other national parks but we did see two of the antelope on our wish list - the Lechwe and Tsessebe - plus one drive when we came across elephant as far as the eye could see. There are also water safaris which are enjoyable. Birding was good."

"We entered back into Botswana from the Caprivi Strip at Ngoma, once again without difficulty. One tip however is that as Botswana is particularly keen not to let foot and mouth disease into the country, there are regulations that EVERY pair of shoes you have must be dipped in a disinfectant bath on entry. Have them easily accessible and it will avoid having to unpack your luggage to find them.

We found this spectacularly located lodge very much to our taste. High quality, friendly, informal and very efficiently run by Judy, who we understand was the relief manager - a lovely lady! As with all the places we stayed, Ngoma catered for our preference for an individual table for meals outside without any problem at all and this was appreciated.

It is outside the Chobe National Park but there is a gate within 15 minutes drive. We were there at the peak of the dry season and so the reality was that all roads lead to the river's edge as the animals all congregate there for grazing and water. Makes for good sightings of mixed game.We particularly enjoyed the all-day safari. Drive for an hour to Kasane and board the lodge's boat for a couple of hours game viewing on the Chobe river. Then travel through the park - stopping for a picnic lunch - during the afternoon back to the lodge. Recommended."

"There are three Princess houseboats in addition to the Zambezi Queen. We travelled on a Princess with 5 cabins. This was the only accommodation on the trip which we would not return to. It markets itself as a luxury experience and it is not. We felt it was very much oversold. It was a somewhat tired vessel and cabin 4 next to the generator needs some serious tlc. We understood that every cabin had its own small boat to enable guests to choose what they might want to do. It was obvious on arrival that the staff wanted to treat all the guests as a 'group' doing activities together in a larger boat. After some pressure we managed to get a boat but there certainly was not a boat for each cabin. We enjoyed the excursions on the larger boat when we did them.

One other aspect to point out is that as Namibian registered vessels they have to follow that country's bank of the river. Most of the game is on the Botswana bank and that side of the large island which appears in the dry season."

"This is a truly special hotel. The biggest regret of the trip was that I had only asked for 1 night here. Having seen the Falls before I thought that was all we needed but this hotel is a destination in its own right!

We stayed here in 1970 and this was a sentimental return as part of a wedding anniversary. In those days it was a 3 star hotel and now it is 5 star+. They have kept all of the original colonial features (built 1904) and added the facilities expected in the 21st century. Corridors are filled with period photographs and posters, which we loved exploring

We had a room in the stable wing which was lovely. If I can find a half decent reason to return, we will."

"We had absolutely excellent game and bird viewing at Camp Hwange. Our guide, Washington, was one of the best we've had over several safari trips. A local man, he has come up through the ranks and is absolutely passionate about what he does. Ideally for us he was a mine of information about birds and keen on photography. Not yet 'Zim Pro' but he soon will be and we would always ask for him if we were to re-visit.

We were very appreciative that they set up a table on the small 'patio' in front of our room each evening and served our dinner there. Those doing the serving were delightful.

A few constructive comments - the 'back of house' was not as strong as the front. Our time of departure from the Victoria Falls Hotel was never confirmed and we spent too much of our all-too-short stay there running around during the evening and early morning trying to get the phone answered to find out. Comparing the housekeeping and laundry service with other equally remote camps, it left a lot to be desired. They have a known problem with dormice seeking food during the night. If we had been advised we could have avoided a luggage bag and a flight bag having holes eaten through them and the contents shredded."

"We stayed here only because it was in the vicinity of Great Zimbabwe. Our expectations were not very high but in fact we enjoyed our stay and it was a very comfortable, traditional, hotel. Everywhere was spotlessly clean and the gardens and views across Lake Kyle were beautiful.

Only 10 minutes from the entrance to Great Zimbabwe."

"Amalinda's unique selling point is how the whole lodge has been set into the landscape. The 'whaleback' boulders of the Matopos have been incorporated into the rooms and public areas. Note that this does mean a lot of steps everywhere, particularly to reach the bar and dining room. Our room was simply enormous with a high thatched roof and two double beds. The bathroom was bigger than most hotel rooms!

Having been guided around Great Zimbabwe by Paul Hubbard, a local historian of note, he was also our guide here for our exploration of the Matopos. I have a great interest in Cecil Rhodes, the founder of Rhodesia, and it was an ambition realised to have Paul take us through the area to sites and buildings associated with him. His knowledge is truly impressive. The highlight was to visit Rhodes' grave at 'View of the World' at sunset and watch the close of the day with a G&T. Amalinda was an excellent base for these activities and the full day we spent exploring Bulawayo.

The Matopos offers spectacular scenery, cave paintings and rhino tracking."

"This was our second stay here after a gap of three years. It is an ideal place to begin or end your tour of this stunning country.

Very easy to find in Klein Windhoek, one of best areas of this very small capital city. Most guests stay only one night but this time we stayed for two as we wanted to do a tour of the city (not really much to see in all honesty - the highlight was a visit to the township of Katatura and it's market with a guide). Rooms are clean and comfortable, staff are efficient and friendly. Breakfast is adequate. Secure parking. Only a couple of minutes drive to the famous Joe's Beerhouse restaurant. Free wi-fi in the public area. This guesthouse has a lot going for it and is recommended."

"This is not the traditional 'big 5' safari experience. As the home of the AfriCat Foundation it is firmly focused on cheetah and leopard. This should be seen as complementary to safari elsewhere (it is easy to combine with the excellent Etosha National Park) or for those particularly interested in these beautiful big cats.

We had a View Room at the Main Camp which was spacious, well equipped and comfortable. Free wi-fi in the public area. The tariff includes two activities each day - primarily to look for either cheetah (more or less guaranteed) or leopard (much more difficult). Both wear radio collars to assist location for research purposes. We found that the cheetah safari was the most satisfying as you are taken through a bigger area of the park and we saw a very impressive range of animals. In fact during this activity we were very lucky and found a superb un-collared leopard that we were able to see from very close range and get great pictures. We also walked 100 yards or so into the bush with a guide and tracker to see a mother cheetah and her cub. Cheetah don't see people as prey so that makes it possible to do this in relative safety.

Food was adequate if a little hit and miss. As long as you are clear how the Okonjima experience will fit into your overall plan/time available, it is highly recommended. In order to enjoy the activities to the full, I would strongly suggest you stay for two nights."

"Conveniently situated for the Namutoni Gate on the eastern side of Etosha National Park, we stayed at Mushara Lodge for three nights. This is a professional operation with high standards.

Our room was large, very attractive, stylish and well equipped with lovely comfortable beds. Free wi-fi in the public areas. The tariff works on a half-board basis as most people staying there are self-driving and spend the day in the National Park. However they also offer guided safaris into the park at extra cost if you don't want to drive yourself. There is a good pool and very nice public areas. Accommodation units are detached and well spaced for privacy.

Food was good. We stayed in 13 different lodges during our month-long trip and this was one of the very best. Highly recommended."

"Only half an hour from Etosha's Andersson Gate, this is a well-established, family run guest farm appealing to those looking for a personal accommodation experience. Rooms are rustic but fully equipped and very clean with nice bed and bathroom linens.

We were welcomed and hosted by Rachel, which added a lot to our overall enjoyment. Food was simple home-cooked. Guided safaris into Etosha are offered if you don't want to drive yourself. My only constructive suggestion would be that the combination of having to name a time for breakfast the day before, and having no in-room facilities for making a morning cup of tea/coffee is an uneasy one. If you get your waking-time estimate wrong it can seem an awfully long time to breakfast without a drink.

However this won't matter to many and the friendly hospitality and convenient location will make it a very good stopover choice."

"It's all about location! Unless you have a 4x4 (and some experience) you leave your car in a secure parking area and you and your luggage are transported 1.5km to the top of the mountain, where the lodge sits on the rim with stupendous views of the Klip River Valley below.

Accommodation is in stone and thatch chalets. All are detached with the exception of numbers 3 and 4 which are attached to each other. As we stayed for 3 nights (rather than the 1 or 2 which seems typical) we were annoyed to be allocated number 3 which was small, and although we have been married for an awfully long time, we would have preferred a door on the toilet! We were let down by Expert Africa on this occasion as they could and should have been aware enough to have requested one of the detached units (ask for number 13 or 14 which are new).

There is a pool which gives the term 'infinity' a whole new meaning, perched on the edge of the terrace before the sheer drop into the valley. I wouldn't think the lodge was suitable for young children at all. Staff were uniformly friendly and eager to please and the food at dinner was very good (and in the context of the location, excellent). Note that water is heated by solar panels and so in the colder months showers are best taken in the afternoon/evening.

There is 24 hour electricity but no sockets to re-charge batteries, though you can take them to a central point for that to be done. There are no room keys and so it is not possible to lock it at any time. There is a room safe with a returnable deposit for the key. Room cleaning was not as impressive as the restaurant service. Those with walking difficulties may find the rocky nature of the site and paths to rooms a bit of a challenge.

Activities are, frankly, expensive based on what we saw elsewhere. Elephant and rhino tracking are key attractions, though looking for the rhino may be considered arduous for mature guests. There is also a visit to a village of the Himba people and walks. Overall we had mixed feelings but the magnificent location probably conquers all and for that unique experience it is worth considering, probably for 2 nights."

"Something of an oasis in this dusty little town. We got a warm welcome and were the only guests the night we stayed in one of the thatch-roofed rooms. It was large, clean and simple with en-suite shower, fridge and air-con.

White Lady is actually quite a big set-up with camping as well as B&B and is attractively laid out. Breakfast is taken in an outdoor thatched 'lapa' complete with full kitchen. The food was very good, a buffet plus eggs, bacon etc., far exceeding expectations. No real reason to visit Uis other than as a stopover to break a longer journey or to see the nearby Brandenberg 'White Lady' rock paintings. White Lady does the job it is designed to do very well."

"Reviewed 2 weeks ago

Very conveniently situated just a few minutes walk from the main street of the attractive town of Swakopmund. Friendly and efficient staff ensure Central runs like clockwork. Smart and clean, there is a guest lounge with comfortable furniture and complimentary sherry in the evening. Free wi-fi in the public areas. Breakfast is excellent.

There is a complimentary drinks station on the first floor landing but this is not ideal as you are conscious of making a noise which could wake other guests when making an early morning coffee. We had room 6, which though small had our required twin beds and bath/shower, and was fully equipped. The bath was a welcome luxury in what can be the very cool micro-climate of Swakopmund. This is a comfortable base and a good choice."

"Most often used as a one night stopover, this lodge with the wonderful name is worthy of two nights if you don't want to charge from place to place. They offer a couple of excursions but the stunning space, scenery and total peace is its own reward. They have a series of self-guided walks of differing lengths and difficulty within the 12,000 hectare property, which is shared with non-dangerous plains game.

Accommodation is in solid igloo-shaped rooms, all with terraces enjoying spectacular views of the surrounding plains, dunes and mountains. Most are semi-detached though we had a suite, number 19, which was detached and very spacious with every facility. I believe the tariff is only available on a bed and breakfast basis with the restaurant operating as a la carte for lunch and dinner. Breakfast was a good buffet with eggs cooked to order. The dinner choices we made were disappointing. We enjoyed our stay at the (Namibian) Ritz."

"This is a really lovely lodge run under the personal and attentive care of the owners. Beautifully situated in the desert, about 7km from the road. Very convenient for Sossusvlei and the dunes.

The accommodation is in individual chalets which are excellent, with indoor and outdoor bathrooms. Towels, which let down so many otherwise good places, are first-class. Public rooms are very stylish and, along with everything else at Hoodia, beautifully kept. Food is good without being outstanding and nicely presented. Dinner begins according to 'African time' where the rule of thumb is that it is 7pm whenever it is served, even if that is 7.30!

We stayed at 13 places during our month-long trip and this was one of the very best. An excellent choice and recommended."

"Most guest farms in Namibia are wholly involved in tourism but Dabis is very much a working farm with tourists as a sideline. They only take one group of guests at a time and that 'group' might be one person or twenty-four. This ensures very personal attention.

The absolute highlight is the two-hour farm tour offered by owner Jorg who shares his obvious passion for farming in tune with nature and explains how it is possible to succeed even in the face of the aridity of this harsh and beautiful land. Accommodation is simple and clean though we did struggle without even a fan in the room (day temperatures were approaching 40 degrees and the night was still hot) and somehow the flying insects got through the mesh on the windows.

Food was simple country cooking. Free wi-fi is an unexpected bonus in such a remote location. The unique opportunity to meet and learn from working Namibians such as Jorg and Michelle is the Dabis trump card and the reason to visit."

"On the face of it a standard, local 4 star hotel but while we can't put our finger on why, it exceeded expectations and was very comfortable.

We specifically asked in advance for a room on the top floor with full sea view and balcony and I'm sure that added to our enjoyment. Waking up to the sound of the waves was very pleasant after days in the desert and the view splendid. Breakfast was very good and dinner at the a la carte Penguin restaurant was probably as good as anything in town.

The manager was notable in being visible at each mealtime and taking the trouble to speak to everyone - always a good sign. Free wi-fi. Overall I would have no hesitation in recommending."

"If ever a place could be described as a hidden gem, it is this lodge. Built in recent years, accommodation is in lovely light bungalows with views over the dry riverbed and bush.

Everywhere you look is imaginative, quirky and fun. It has great taste and style originating from charming owners Frikkie and Hilde. They have a genius for taking old items they have found or collected and turning them into objet d'art or working items. Food was excellent and equal to the best we had in a month in Namibia.

It has a waterhole to provide 'bush television' while you enjoy a sundowner on the terrace and eat dinner. Free wi-fi in the public areas. Only an hour from Keetmanshoop and 1km off the tarred B4, I have no hesitation in recommending Alte Kalkofen to those who appreciate a country location done with real style."

"A lodge without a definite character or personality. Our room 'Nyala' was huge with three elements joined together. One contained the sitting room (with an open fire for cold nights), one with the bedroom and one with the bathroom. It had the essential air-con in the bedroom (it was 40 degrees when we were there), fridge and coffee/tea making facilities. No complaints about that at all.

We originally had no hot water but that was fixed promptly when reported. Food was average. Good free wi-fi in the public area. As mentioned, we were there in very hot weather so as it was too hot to walk and there is nowhere of note in the vicinity to drive to, the early morning or sundowner drive is really all there is to do.

My advice would be to arrive in the early afternoon, enjoy the complimentary tea and cake, and then go on the sundowner drive. Stay one night at the beginning or end of your trip as it's only 2 hours from Windhoek (but 3 from the airport)."

"Situated on the side of Windhoek closest to the airport, the location is ideal.

The guesthouse has a very pleasing, modern design with good rooms, all at ground floor level and is in a quiet neighbourhood. There is an honesty system for any drinks you take from the fridge in the restaurant and complimentary tea and coffee at all times. There is secure parking and it is very easy to find after long flights when maybe you are not at your best. Breakfast is a combination of light buffet and someone to cook eggs etc in the open kitchen.

All in all we can't think of how it could have done it's job of a clean, quiet and comfortable first night stop any better."

"We spent 3 nights at the Dune Lodge at the beginning of our trip. The location and landscape is on an epic scale and in retrospect the accommodation was our favourite overall (and that was a very difficult decision based on the quality we enjoyed throughout).

The rooms are individual widely-spaced 'cabins'. Ours had 2 bedrooms, masses of space and was at the end of a line set in the sand starting at the public rooms. The walls are canvas which can be rolled up to create the nearest thing you'll get to sleeping outside while keeping a roof over your head - it was magic to feel the breeze while lying in bed and waking to a view of the sun rising over the desert. Highly recommended.

Management, service and guide excellent. The only aspects we thought could be improved is to (a) create a boardwalk through the sand to the public rooms from the cabin as it does get tiresome trudging through it several times a day and (b) offer a choice of main course at dinner."

"The accommodation was very good but there was something missing here. It lacked personality and felt a bit soulless in the public areas. The staff seemed to need more training and motivation from hands-on management.

The scenery is spectacular and it's worth the fairly high cost to join their tour to Sossusvlei as they have a private gate which saves over an hour travelling compared to using your own vehicle. It would also be easy to miss Dead Vlei (far more impressive than the more famous Sossusvlei) without a guide.

Food was only average - we were there on a Sunday night with only a few other guests and the normal buffet was changed to a set meal which was by far the worst meal of the whole trip. Chef's night off?

Quad bikes are great fun and we were looked after from a safety point of view and didn't feel we had to go any faster than we wanted to."

"Completely different from the lodges we used elsewhere, this was a resort hotel. Situated right on the beach in a very imaginatively designed building, it is an easy 5km drive from the attractive town.

The standard rooms are large, very clean and have a balcony or terrace as well as a simple kitchen. It's not 5 star but doesn't claim to be and if you were being really picky you might say that the room had a few bumps and scrapes which could be touched up but overall we found it to be an excellent choice and have no complaints at all.

The really big surprise was 'The Wreck', the hotel's very stylish restaurant which was very good and way above our expectations. It was noticeable that most of the diners were either local or staying elsewhere. It was full each night and pre-booking is a good idea."

"Set high overlooking stunning Damaraland scenery, Mowani was a great favourite. We had a deluxe room rather than a view tent and it was extremely good apart from the poorest shower of the trip. It was impossible to get a consistent temperature and the water hit you like needles..

Because of it's close proximity to the public areas we feared noise but it's not that sort of place and there was never the slightest problem. Views from the room deck, restaurant and particularly the sundowner spot (very memorable) are spectacular.

Service and food excellent. Drives to see the desert adapted elephants and Twyfelfontein rock engravings recommended. Twyfelfontein would be very easy to do yourself as it's close-by and there are guides available."

"This is a real 'Out of Africa' experience. The lodge is unfenced and there is a serious safety briefing on arrival to tell you you have to be escorted to your room after dark and to stay there until daylight. Sounded a bit OTT until we were woken at 3am by the deep rumbling of lions 'calling' outside our room. They were so close that they set off the light outside the door and you could feel the deep vibration through the floor! We took the briefing more seriously after that.

Accommodation excellent with a favourite outdoor shower with a view into the bush and the waterhole. Food and service were patchy (as we found at Kulala, our other Wilderness Safaris operated lodge - though Ongava was the better of the two).

If you are driving yourself we feel it is best to go into Etosha on an independent basis rather than pay for the lodge's trip, you are situated right at the park gate and if you get a map and check the waterholes (in the dry season) and drive slowly your chances of seeing game are good. Another thought is that if the rains have started and the animals no longer need the waterholes there is no need to get up before dawn. We saw all our major animals - lion; rhino; cheetah - in the middle of the morning after a civilised breakfast!"

"This was without doubt the best food and service of the whole trip. The staff hit just that right note between friendliness and professionalism, the management here were obviously top rate.

The chef came to the table at lunch and dinner to personally run through the menu, give you choices and make sure you were happy with each course - and the food was fantastic.

We had a package including activities. The drive on the private reserve was fine but very low key. The main drive takes you into Etosha when what you see is a matter of luck as always - the number of game (rather than the number of species) certainly seemed higher on the eastern side of Etosha than the west.

On the day we left they were closing for refurbishment work and the staff having a holiday but there was never the least suspicion that standards would be allowed to slip right to the moment we left. Highly recommended."

"This was our last stop at the end of a three week trip and we used it to relax prior to the journey home. Different from the lodges we had stayed at in the sense that Erongo has tents set up under permanent thatched covers (same principle as a car port) with a rear entrance into a built bathroom with shower. It's all a matter of choice but 2 nights was enough for us in accommodation as simple as this though there are absolutely no complaints and it was very clean.

Service was friendly (though the lady who meets you and looks after luggage could do with a few more days at the charm school) and Brian the manager was always around to make sure you were happy. The food was OK and there was always a choice for main course at dinner. Activities are low key and we did nothing except a self-guided walk on the property."