Discover Namibia - Camping

Most Inspirational Moment

We enjoyed seeing the wildlife but for us the dunes were incredible, the scale and colour at dawn, breath taking. Deadvlei with its skeleton trees, spectacular. The optional excursions at Swakopmond we highly recommend the 2 hour quad biking in the dunes - such fun, and in the afternoon we took a scenic flight - sit on the right side for brilliant view of dunes and wrecks. The walk to see the White Lady rock painting was a small adventure.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ronnie and cook Reuban were an excellent team. Reuban had been cook for the prime minister and cheerfully cooked us delicious meals, catering for every diet. There was always a hand washing station before meals. There were miles and miles of driving through arid and semiarid desert and long days of bumpy gravel roads but we felt Ronnie always drove us safely. and then set up camp for us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't bother getting a visa in advance as everyone joined the same queue at the airport, no fast track, and everyone filled in the same forms! Be prepared for delays - one of our group was in the queue for 2 1/2 hours ! Waterberg was a great place, it felt like entering Jurassic Park with all its security and gates, but the temp dropped and that drive back down in the open vehicle was freezing! Hats and scarves needed! Craft market on the way back to Windhoek full of bowls and carvings but expect over intense haggling - we preferred to pick up a few souvenirs on the way especially from the Herero women. Taste the best apple pie in the world at Solitaire. Phones can be charged on the truck and also at each campsite there is an electrical point next to the tents.

Most Inspirational Moment

Dune 45 and Etosha - coupled with the most amazing African sunsets - sublime !

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shane was truly the most accommodating - genuinely looking after the smallest needs of each traveler.

Advice for Potential Travellers

South African Rands are widely accepted. Binoculars are a MUST!

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many. Seeing the high sand dunes and Deadvlei, the 2000-9000 year old rock art and the large number of animals in Etosha. We spent over half an hour watching a leopard in a tree next to the road, and saw 3 lions close to our vehicle on the night safari that started to roar to each other before one set off to hunt. I also saw a herd of elephants run to a waterhole whilst trumpeting with a number of young in their number and then watched their interactions as they drank and applied "dusty sun protection" for over an hour. It was also wonderful to see so many animals with young - rhino, zebra, giraffes, springbok etc.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader was excellent, friendly and knowledgeable. He was well organised and ensured that the trip ran efficiently.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I went in June and had sunny weather every day with a dry heat so with a hat and sunscreen it was comfortable. It did get cold some nights and so its worth taking a decent sleeping bag. We all purchased blankets in Windhoek, which ensured that we slept well on a couple of the colder nights and then donated these at the end of the trip. There are some long drives on bumpy roads that can't be avoided, but there was usually something of interest to see out of the window and we did make a number of stops.

Most Inspirational Moment

Watching a Kudo at night following a Cheetah and sending out warning signals to other animals. This was on an optional extra charge game drive

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was professional and friendly. With good knowledge of animals. Some more information on the rock formations etc would have been good. He did not accompany us if we had a specialist guide when at times it would have been useful. He had a difficult time with the other 2 men who were the driver and cook however he tried to keep this from the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take good hiking shoes and be fairly fit for this trip

Suggestions

We received the wrong joining instructions . Due to this we booked our own taxi to the first night hotel rather than wait over 4 hours at the airport . However the guide was waiting for us and concerned when we didn’t find him at the airport. This was very poor from the Exodus Office. We understood this was full service camping however pressure was put on the group to pitch and take down tents etc. The 2 day stay at Etosha was changed to Etosha’s first camp and was a very poor campsite with poor facilities and a small pitch. The food was also very poor on Christmas Day with no choice and limited quantities of vegetables etc. The driver and cook seemed to be very unhelpful at this point. The vehicle we used was cramped with little space for us to put anything..

Most Inspirational Moment

The most inspirational moment was climbing the magnificent red sand dunes before dawn and watching the sunrise.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ronney was a top class group leader. Always cheerful and very well organised. The tour went very smoothly thanks to his personal and people skills. Simply The Best !

Advice for Potential Travellers

For visitors travelling in June/July, be aware that evenings and nights can be very cold. Frosts are not unusual. Pack enough warm clothes for evening , night time and early mornings. The tents are very basic and sleeping mattresses only 5cm thick. No camp beds, no pillows provided. It is however possible to last-minute-upgrade to bedroom-lodges, in some camp sites, for extra comfort. A certain amount of fitness is recommended to take part in the walks and climbs.

Suggestions

A very comprehensive and enjoyable tour of Namibia .

Most Inspirational Moment

The first waterhole at Etosha Park. There were so many animals to see during the day, a herd of elephants with babies playing in the water giraffes, zebras, so many different types of unglazed. So many different types of birds. Both nights we were there black rhinos came down to drink one had a baby. Naturally during the day we saw more animals, highlight was seeing a pair of lions mating. Wonderful park with so many different areas to enjoy.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ronny was a super leader. He always had a smile on his face, even when he was asked the same questions. He was very proud of his country and loved to show it. He was so knowledgeable on history of the country. He was able to spot so many different birds even while driving safely. He with his Assistant,Mr Happy organised the camp very well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take advantaged of the rest stops in hotels. Drink plenty of water walking sandals for the evening. Waterproofs if going in the rainy season. Take moizzie spray. Be prepared for anything. Take old clothes for most of the trip, pack a torch. Don't get stress at the airport in Ethiopia, as there is about 1 hr to catch tge connecting flight.

Suggestions

It's a long flight, niot really enough time to transit going. It is tge best way to see Namibia.

Most Inspirational Moment

The trip to the desert, and to Etosha were magical. Some of us took a 4x4 vehicle over the sand dules which was very much worth the payment. Watching the wildlife come to you att he Okaukueja waterhole was excellent. We wended up having two nights here, and only one at Namutoni. This was good as the latter's waterhole is hardly visible and we never saw animals there.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gabriel was excellent at helping us get the best out of all the activities.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take eye drops for dusty eyes. And a plastic bag for your camera in the desert - if you drop it the iron oxide will damage the electronics. Your clothes will get incredibly dusty, but just accept that! The best place if you want small souvenirs is day 7 after you leave Brandberg - the craft market on the last day was disappointing.

Suggestions

There was a disappointment at Brandberg on the mornng before setting off. We were told we weren't doing the Painted White Lady trip as so many guides didn't rate it. Instaed we had a very average walk through the savannah. Even a rtiver bed walk (which we saw the previous evening on the game drive) would have had flowers and birds. Plus you are too far from the Brandberg location to actually appreciate it.

Most Inspirational Moment

The trip to the desert, and to Etosha were magical. Some of us took a 4x4 vehicle over the sand dules which was very much worth the payment. Watching the wildlife come to you att he Okaukueja waterhole was excellent. We wended up having two nights here, and only one at Namutoni. This was good as the latter's waterhole is hardly visible and we never saw animals there.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gabriel was excellent at helping us get the best out of all the activities.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take eye drops for dusty eyes. And a plastic bag for your camera in the desert - if you drop it the iron oxide will damage the electronics. Your clothes will get incredibly dusty, but just accept that! The best place if you want small souvenirs is day 7 after you leave Brandberg - the craft market on the last day was disappointing.

Suggestions

There was a disappointment at Brandberg on the mornng before setting off. We were told we weren't doing the Painted White Lady trip as so many guides didn't rate it. Instaed we had a very average walk through the savannah. Even a rtiver bed walk (which we saw the previous evening on the game drive) would have had flowers and birds. Plus you are too far from the Brandberg location to actually appreciate it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the only desert elephants in the world, which is an optional excursion (£17.50), should definitely be included in the itinerary. Sitting at the waterhole in Okaukuejo camp was unbelievable with constant wildlife (giraffes, elephants, rhinos, jackals, zebras, wildebeests etc) there for you to view.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gabriel was a very helpful and kind leader. He was extremely knowledgable about Namibia and all the wildlife it had to offer. He also had a good sense of humour and cooked good meals throughout the tour. The only thing to improve on would be the information on optional tours as we wouldn’t know until a few hours before and the clients would always bring it up. A simple sheet with trips, days and prices would have been perfect.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Ensure you pack good walking shoes and a thick coat/hat in winter as it gets very cold of a night. Food was good throughout and restaurants/cafes were mostly really good. Would be difficult for a vegetarian as most dishes are meat based.

Suggestions

The airline choice needs to change as Ethiopian airlines are the worst airline I have ever been on. They lost both check in bags on arrival, which took 4 days of the holiday to return. They then lost one of the check in bags on the return flight. On the flight I was served chicken which had completely gone off which was very clear from the look and smell. Check in staff were rude and unorganised in some of the airports. Not much more could have went wrong as the flights were so poor.

Most Inspirational Moment

There are a number of highlights in this trip, climbing the large sand dunes, feeding ostriches, seeing springboks bounding across the Etosha NP and other animals including Rhino, Zebra, Giraffe, Elephants, because of the rain in the park before we arrived we didn't see many animals around the water holes,

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shane was a great group leader, he was very informative, funny and well organised, he looked after us very well, nothing was to much trouble for for him, this was my 15th trip with exodus, and I think he was the best guide I have had, I would also like to thank Jonas, our cook for the week, he served up some great dishes during our trip, him and Shane worked well together, we had a big downpour of rain while they were packing up the tents, and they did it with a smile and a joke.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for some long drives and early starts, but it is worth it.

Suggestions

book it ..... its a fantastic place to see!