Travel reviews by Dr R & Dr M from UK
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
15
Excursions taken
0
excellent
Namibia between 12 Aug 2009 and 31 Aug 2009
Sabina's advice to stay a couple of nights in some places was probably correct and at Sossus Dunes Lodge and Erongo we could have certainly done with the extra night. We booked flights independently and then Air Namibia stopped flying from the UK. We weren't allowed onto the replacement BA flight at Heathrow and if Expert Africa hadn't sorted it at a moments notice we wouldn't have got there!
Sabina had to rebook everything because of the revised flights which would have been difficult for us alone. We had an accident and we were really grateful for the support from you that was always available on the end of the phone. I should also say that if you hadn't made extra insurance readily available, we would now be very out of pocket...naively we would have thought that the car hire would cover it.
Suggestions for improvement:
no since approaching perfection!
I would certainly recommend you...and my photos are already drumming up new business!"
Arranged By Sabina Hekandjo

UOA
"Sylvanette Guest House Okahandja"
Lodge not featured by Expert Africa

Namibgrens Guest Farm
"mixed review for Namibgrens Guest Farm"
We had an en suite room in a separate building at the back of the farm, which was clean and pleasant. The hostess was very pleasant and attentive, but despite there being some seating and a bar, at night it was dead and we ate on our own in a large dining room in the main house....so it wasn't very jolly.
This was one of many views on Namibian lifestyle.......I'm glad I went but I'm unlikely to return."
Lodge not featured by Expert Africa

Sossus Dune Lodge
"Sossus Dune Lodge - first posh grass roof"
Accomodation could not be faulted. Run by the park extremely well. Very handy for early morning trip to dunes.
Wish we had stayed here a day longer - bad judgement on our part. I have no complaints about the food served in the restaraunt... but everything else was so amazing...."

Lagoon Lodge
"Lagoon Lodge - a nice surprise"
Room was nice and separate - own front door on the bay. Run by a French couple - so breakfast was a cut above most other breakfasts! They looked after us extremely well. The first evening we ate at the Raft which is the best known fish restaraunt in Walvis Bay and written up well in all the guidebooks. The guidebooks are wrong, our hosts were right....very mediocre.
Second night we succumbed to advice from our hosts and went to their French friends new restaraunt....supposedly fusion but seemed pretty North African to me. This was the best food I had in Namibia by a million miles. Called Lyon des Salles I think. Sadly my pal had too bad a cold to taste it!"

Brandberg White Lady Lodge
"Brandberg White Lady - small rock paintings"
I wasn't prepared for this being such a beautiful location. Again a separate chalet - travel by car to lodge for dinner to avoid elephants...which we didn't see. The lodge grounds were very nice and being a largish lodge there was a good enclosed area floodlit for a beer.
Food was fine...but light much of the food we had, not a highlight."

Rustig Toko Lodge
"Rustig Toko - I enjoyed this"
Owner seemed slightly downbeat considering it was such a nice lodge."
Lodge not featured by Expert Africa

Okaukuejo Camp
"two chalets - take the pricey one!"
The restaraunt facilities are what you would expect from such a large operation - fine but not splendid!
We had a good chalet one night and the best waterhole chalet the other. However much it cost, the second one was worth it - to be able to sit in a palatial bed looking out over a balcony and floodlit waterhole and see lions in the early hours of the morning cannot be surpassed."

Halali Camp
"a different view of Etosha"
Halali was a little more wooded than Okaukuejo. again a lovely stay."

Onguma Etosha Aoba
"a nice lodge even though outside park!"
eating outside in the wood at night was memorable."

Shamvura Camp
"Shamvura for birders"
our car had just been hit by some drunk drivers and we were given plenty of support to sort the mess and extract an accident report from the police. my average rating for the room is perhaps a reflection that up to this point I had been amazed at the quality of accomodation I got for my money in Namibia ie I had been spoilt. Shamvura is a bit more basic."
Lodge not featured by Expert Africa

Ndhovu Safari Lodge
"lovely but for the hippos"
food was served at large tables...which I don't like....however we did end up with good company. despite marking this as excellent, I am not convinced that this was the most interesting place to stay."

Shakawe Lodge
"beautiful location"
the location is lovely. this had one big plus for us....it was our only stop where we were able to eat with Botswana 'locals' also staying here...everywhere else we were on our own or with tourists primarily German, Italian and S. African. the rooms were fine but did feel slightly in need of a makeover......it felt like the owners were running out of puff. nevertheless the hospitality was good and nicely non invasive.
of course this is a quiet location after the hurly burly of Etosha. maybe Botswana is a more relaxed country than Namibia?"
Lodge not featured by Expert Africa

Hakusembe River Lodge
"smart lodge"

Frans Indongo Lodge
"very smart just not quite right for us"
My travelling companion was very sniffy about imported game...which I think was our problem not a problem with the lodge!"

Erongo Wilderness Lodge
"spectacular location"
Tented accomodation in the mountains is great. a pity this was our last night...it was the only night we could get....worth booking for 2 nights a year ahead!
wildlife is more low key than before but still special and different."
This is a very nice little B&B. It is in a suburban street so not good for views. However at only an hour north of Windhoek, we chose to stay here rather than in the capital on the first night. It is central for travelling the following day to other destinations.
The rooms were very clean and comfortable and the hospitality excellent. There is a large hotel a couple of kms away with a good restaraunt for the evening."