Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

We enjoyed the whole experience but here are some of our 'highlights': bonding with the group around the camp fire hiking up Dune 45 and watching the sunrise getting really close to Cheetahs at the conservation project at Solitaire getting really close to seals (sharing a boat!) and dolphins on the boat trip from Swakopmund seeing rhinos and elephants around the waterhole in Etosha

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ronney was great! He was very ably assisted by Shane and Jonas and nothing was too much trouble for any of them. They worked extremely hard. They answered our questions with a smile no matter how stupid the questions were nor if it was the third time they had been asked! The food was truly exceptional - Jonas even cooked bread and cake over the camp fire!

Advice for Potential Travellers

We would recommend the camping trip as it means you bond more with the group - sitting around a camp fire in the dark with the stars spread above is truly magical. It gets really dark very quickly so take a head torch! Scrabbling about in a tent in the dark holding an ordinary torch is not easy! All the facilities at the camp sites were very clean and functional. There were always flushing toilets and hot showers so even though it is not glamping it is hardly roughing it either.

Most Inspirational Moment

There are many...running down Dune 45, the cliche of watching the sun setting, seeing a Leopard for the first time, watching Elephants and Rhinos at the waterhole, being face to face with a Cheetah with no fence in between, even sitting next to a wild Seal that jumps aboard the boat in Swakopmund.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ronney was fantastic, he couldn't do enough for us and was superbly organised as well as laid back and flexible, you could almost believe he was seeing these places for the first time like us. The whole team of Ronny, Shane and Jonas were superb and we were all blown away by the quality of the food...how he prepared all that variety on a camp fire is a mystery to me!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just go! I wondered if I over packed by including a rain coat and fleece but they were needed on the coast especially on the Seal/Dolphin cruise (which although not the most adrenalin fuelled activity is superb and well worth doing). You get a chance to do laundry in Swakopmund and it's relatively cheap. All the camp sites (as well as the truck) have charging points, I bought a three pin (round) adapter at Heathrow for about £10. I took my Keffiyeh scarf and it was ideal for walks in the desert sand as it was extremely hot and when the wind picks up the sand really does blow!

Most Inspirational Moment

Sitting quietly on the sand at Deadvlei. Watching the interaction of the various wildlife at Etosha water holes, constantly changing sightings, much of it fairly close up. Seeing the sun set behind the distant mountains from the Wesrand Camp.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sven - couldn't have had a better leader! Vast experience, knowledgeable, polite, happy to answer all questions. Good driver, kept to times stated.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Cold at night in August but the mattress is thick and comfortable, take a warm sleeping bag. Cool until 9am - long trousers and a fleece, then shorts and shirt until 5pm ish.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me there are so many - sunrise at Sossusvlei, Rock Paintings at Twyfelfontein or seeing group Cheetahs cross the road in Etosha. On a trip like this it really is impossible to pick one great moment as each experience is a highlight in its own right.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shane, Freddie and Happy were an amazing crew - working tirelessly to make the trip a success. These guys made us feel so welcome and comfortable from day one.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travelling in November is very hot during the day (30-35C) and can be quite cold at night (4-8C) a three season bag is ideal; however as you head north it can warm up a lot over night and you may find yourself sleeping in just your liner. Plugs are large 3 pin ones - if you don't have one you can get one on arrival (the China Shop in Rehoboth does the best ones!). We had a couple of days where it was quite windy so be prepared to deal with some blown dust (if you are a photographer make sure you have suitable protection for your kit). Rand is accepted everywhere and can be bought in advance and changed when you return home (whereas N$ cannot).

Most Inspirational Moment

All of it, but there was one that will remain with us always………a cheetah with her kill in Etosha N.P. Sossusvlei a unique and unforgettable experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ronnie and Jonas were excellent in every sense of the word, knowledgeable and fantastic travel companions. Needless to say the food that was prepared was delightful, we even suggested that they could put their recipes in a book which could be purchased as a souvenir.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It can become very cold at night, so come well prepared. SA Rand is accepted everywhere and it can be obtained in the UK, so need to worry!

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing 2 rhino bringing there young to the waterhole one was still suckling. Watching & listening to a lion lap water whilst a rhino slurped at the other side of a waterhole - then getting a full blown lion roaring session. The cessna flight back over the areas just visited is well worth the cost - it puts the vastness of everything in perspective and shows just how little is not sand!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Washing can be done for you at the lodge in Swakopmond - fixed price for a basket load. All the toilets were good with paper - but it is single ply and rough...keep all your N$1 coins as you need these for the service station loos. Take a water bottle as the water is drinkable everywhere - although a bit yucky at Brandberg. Good binoculars make a huge difference to seeing all the extra creatures at the waterholes. Camping mats provided are good thick ones - nothing extra needed. It is VERY cold after dark in July so take lots of layers. The Cessna flight from Swakopmond is brilliant but you will need to book it asap as they only take out 5 people at a go. Also the restaurants need booking - we were lucky and got tables but it was only for 2 people.

Most Inspirational Moment

As with all good trips, there are so many. Dawn on Dune 45, visiting Dead Vlei - a personal ambition - the optional Cheetah safari at sunset (much better than the included Cheetah Conservation centre), the animals, seeing rhino at night, hearing lions roaring during the night, seeing "millions of zebras" and how they manage their time at the waterhole and not forgetting the mating lions..

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ronney is right up there as one of the best guides I have ever travelled with. He works incredibly hard, takes great care of the clients, anticipates needs, is a great spotter, has a sense of humour and is a delight. Also, he makes sure that the locals are benefitting from the trip, by ensuring that absolutely nothing is wasted. He is a credit both to Exodus and Namibia.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1. There are two laundry opportunities - in Swakop and in Etosha, plus some of the campsites offer handwashing facilities 2. The trip notes don´t mention that nearly every campsite has access to a swimming pool! 3. The local team don´t have DEET. Share yours with them and leave the leftovers behind. They are very grateful! 4. If, like me, you want to be sure of contact with home through the trip, you can buy a local mobile phone, SIM card and voucher at the airport - I paid 239 Namibian dollars for mine and donated it at the end of the trip 5. We had the opportunity to donate anything we didn´t want to take back at the end of the trip - do it. 6. You will get dirty. Dont take anything smart or find a way to pack it separately as everything will be covered in sand. 7. Consider the single supplement for the tent as it is a small space to share with someone you don´t know!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Sunrise from the top of Dune 45 and the rapid descent afterwards (straight down the side of the dune is the most fun way!). The wealth of animals on the trip - seeing our first desert elephant, our first gemsbok, our first zebra, giraffe, lion, rhino etc. We were also lucky enough to see meerkats and rock hyrax, as well as getting up close and personal with a horned viper!! This was balanced with the relaxed atmosphere of Swakopmund, which was a great contrast to the other elements of the trip.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ronney was truly outstanding and was the factor that turned a good trip into a very good one. His wealth of knowledge of his country, landscape and wildlife was truly impressive and his enthusiasm was always unwavering, even when he has been driving the safari truck for many hours! Ronney was ably supported on this trip by Hapi and Reuben, who both worked incredibly hard to ensure the camps were set up each night and that we were well-fed and watered at all times. We've never seen tents go up or come down so fast!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

When climbing Dune 45 - pace yourself - it is MUCH harder than it looks!! Travel with South African Rand as it is not always easy to get to bank on this trip to change money (and Rand and Namibian Dollars are interchangeable throughout the country). If possible try to take smaller denominations of Rand as some of the larger notes can be hard to change due to cheap prices in the country! Many of the campsites are in remote locations and although very well appointed, be prepared to share your shower with large insects (crickets, moths, locusts etc.) and lizards!

Most Inspirational Moment

Although not included in the itinerary, I took the advice of an Exodus member of staff and booked on a flight over the Namib desert from Swakopmund. To say it took my breath away is an understatement, I haven't seen as much sand since the last time I sat through "Lawrence of Arabia"! Also, flying up the coast and seeing Swakopmund almost clinging onto Africa by its fingertips was pretty amazing. The best thing of all was that it only cost about £160 for two and a half hours which was very good value.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Steven's command of english wasn't bad but he did sometimes seem to be struggling to find the right words so it helped if you'd read the trip notes so you could help him along. He did, however, really know his job and he was very helpful in arranging the flight above, even to the extent of walking down to the travel agency with me.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Contrary to the impression given in the Trip Info, some of the driving days were very long and on at least one occasion we were erecting tents in darkness. Added to which the dirt roads become pretty punishing after a while so there were days which I endured rather than enjoyed. With regard to the camping, the tents were good and the food even better but be warned that it can still be very cold at night in August / September so pack accordingly.

Most Inspirational Moment

The first night at the water hole at Etosha was just incredible.  5 minutes after sitting down over 30 elephants came down to drink and the next few hours flew by as a succession of animals came & went. Unforgettable.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ronnie was great.  Friendly, funny, knowledgeable and with a great eye for wildlife!

Advice for Potential Travellers

We followed the advice of others on here and took South African rand with us.  It's accepted everywhere and saved the hassle of changing money on arrival.