Holiday Reviews
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same trip can have different views!
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Namibia self drive safari, independent reviews
 Reviewed 16 Sep 2008 by Geraldine Butler |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The entire trip was memorable - the surroundings varied tremendously, from the Kalahari desert to the Sossusvlei dunes, the dramatic coast line, and finally the wonderful animal viewing in Etosha. Highlights included the balloon ride at Kulala, and kayaking with seals in Walvis Bay.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't miss the rock paintings at Twfelfontein, the meteorite near Grootfontein, and the dinosaur trackway, within a few hours drive of Windhoek. Probably easiest to have a 4-wheel drive.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
This is a bit hard to judge. We chose some locally-run accommodation, and some areas clearly benefitted the local people. There was surprisingly little use of solar energy, and tourists probably put a lot of stress on water provision.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic.
| Reviewed 17 Sep 2006 by Claire Martin | |
We had a brilliant time; every day presented us with amazing new sights. I would thoroughly recommend the organisation of the itinerary. It went like clockwork from the moment we arrived. I hope that the trip did benefit local people, in that we avoided lodges owned by multinational companies etc. However I think much of the money spent in Namibia does get siphoned off into South Africa. We wished to stay at Doro Nawas or Damaraland camp, which are run by local people but these were fully booked.
I would rate the holiday as excellent: we are experienced travellers and both agree this was our most enjoyable trip.
I would rate the holiday as excellent: we are experienced travellers and both agree this was our most enjoyable trip.
| Reviewed 15 Apr 2005 by Fiona Thomson-Tur | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
All of it was very memorable too many fantastic things to describe in detail. We can't wait to go back and explore more of Namibia! just a few highlights....huge open spaces, low population density, lovely people, fantastic bird life, amazing natural environment, small low impact places to stay, wild animals unused to humans, good food and wine, wonderful climate, different views and experiences everyday, no problems with personal safety, fantastic walking with no one else around etc etc
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Would definitely book through this operator and they knew their stuff and could answer queries so would recommend talking to them about what you like doing and then they will come up with an itinerary to suit!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Unfortunately it was not the most environmentally friendly holiday in terms of us travelling by car for approx 3000kms around Southern Namibia. However with an unemployment rate of 35%, everywhere we stayed provided employment for both white and black Namibians. Tourism is one of the most important ways of the country earning revenue so I feel that going there did have a positive effect in this way.
| Reviewed 5 Apr 2001 by Justin Francis | |
What an awesome trip! The roads are pretty good and the is no traffic and so its a joy to drive yourself through Namibia. Make sure you ask for car with aircon - mine didn't and it got mighty hot in the desert!! Highlights of the trip were 1) a trip to Sandwich Harbour (a freshwater lagoon in the desert) with Bruno from Turnstone Tours 2) Damaraland Camp (ask for Linus as your guide) and of course the San or Bushmen!
I spent a day out hunting with 3 San grandfathers. In hindsight I wish I'd brought some photos or postcards from home to share with them. One evening I asked them if they wanted to know anything about my life and they asked me what I hunted - which left me pretty stumped! In Damaraland we saw the amazing desert adapted elephants, and I was lucky enough to track and find a black rhino on foot with Linus - one of the few places in the world that you can do this and an experience of a lifetime! Ask Linus if he will take you up to his village - I didn't make it but have since heard its great.
This trip also puts money back into local people who really need it. The San are paid directly for talking tourists out hunting - mine was a genuine hunting trip rather than a walk for the tourists (we caught 3 Spring Hares for the pot) - and for evening dances. At the time I was there they were very pleased with tourism and how its was benefiting them - it would be to good to hear from other travellers on this.
Damaraland Camp is a partnership between the local community and Wilderness Safaris. If you are lucky enough to be there when the staff sing and dance you'll not forget this in a hurry!
One last thing! It's not on this itinerary but ask about Okonjima - a cheetah and lion conservation centre that is a good stop off on the way back to drop the car off at the airport...
I spent a day out hunting with 3 San grandfathers. In hindsight I wish I'd brought some photos or postcards from home to share with them. One evening I asked them if they wanted to know anything about my life and they asked me what I hunted - which left me pretty stumped! In Damaraland we saw the amazing desert adapted elephants, and I was lucky enough to track and find a black rhino on foot with Linus - one of the few places in the world that you can do this and an experience of a lifetime! Ask Linus if he will take you up to his village - I didn't make it but have since heard its great.
This trip also puts money back into local people who really need it. The San are paid directly for talking tourists out hunting - mine was a genuine hunting trip rather than a walk for the tourists (we caught 3 Spring Hares for the pot) - and for evening dances. At the time I was there they were very pleased with tourism and how its was benefiting them - it would be to good to hear from other travellers on this.
Damaraland Camp is a partnership between the local community and Wilderness Safaris. If you are lucky enough to be there when the staff sing and dance you'll not forget this in a hurry!
One last thing! It's not on this itinerary but ask about Okonjima - a cheetah and lion conservation centre that is a good stop off on the way back to drop the car off at the airport...
| Reviewed 6 Oct 2009 by Seetha Karunaratne | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Drifting in a hot air balloon over the breathtaking sand dunes of the Namibian desert near Sossusvleii.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take clothing to suit hot day time temperature and really cold nights which are unpredictable. Travel with light luggage. Take some washing powder to wash underwear. Do not worry about other cloths getting dirty. Be prepared to be very waterwise, it is a desert country. It can be done. Take plenty of moisturising cream and some insect repellents, toilet tissues, wet wipes etc and of course a good head flash, spare camera batteries and memory cards. May be a few candles, I thought would have been handy to have at the camp-dinner table, bush toilet etc. Remember, only limited shopping can be done while on the move in this vast country. I felt the overnight stay in Swapkomund town was bit too long. A short stop here for shopping and camping elsewhere I think is a better option.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes by all means.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
One of those that I love to do again and I thoroughly recommend it to any one who wants to really see Namibia in "bush style" comfort.
| Reviewed 23 Sep 2008 by Sharon Fryer | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Our day out to Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbor was fantastic, also tracking elephants in Damaraland whilst staying at Doro Nawas, walking at Erongo Wilderness Lodge.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The distances are huge and even though you feel you may be prepared for this it is still very exhausting! Often we felt we needed a bit more time at each place to unwind a little more, certainly two nights minimum. Also it would be better to leave very early in the morning which is something we were not particularly good at in the beginning. Travel light and perhaps not try and cover such a large area.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes I think in some of the places we stayed it certainly benefited local people, with the use of the car and petrol perhaps not particularly good for the environment.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Overall a fantastic time, wonderful to experience the vastness, quietness and beauty of the varied landscape. The wildlife, birds and fauna were all marvelous and the people very welcoming.
| Reviewed 25 May 2008 by Kaye Gooding | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Namibia itself - a beautiful country full of beautiful people who are justly proud of their country. It was clean and welcoming everywhere we went.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Spend at least two nights most places - one night is not enough anywhere although sometimes necessary to get from a to b. Swakopmund is definitely a summer place, rather like our own seaside resorts - we were pleased only to be there one night. If you're on a two week break, if you can put in a three night stay somewhere we think that would be a good idea - certainly something we will consider next time we go.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic - we will definitely go back to Namibia, maybe to places already seen but also maybe further South to taste more of the country.
| Reviewed 4 May 2005 by Wendy Kilminster | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Sunset and sundowners next to calling lions at Ongava Reserve near Etosha in Namibia.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Try and stay a minimum of two nights in each location, so that you are not driving everyday (although driving a 2WD around Namibia is surprisingly straightforward).
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The majority of the locations we stayed, employed local people, provided good training programmes and development opportunities for their staff, supported community projects and provided eco-friendly toiletries. One of the camps had their environmental audit while we were staying there (water wastage, use of chemicals etc) and passed with flying colours.