Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

So difficult - was it the quad biking on dunes stretching as far as the eye could see for 360 degrees, or spending time watching the pride of lions playing and interacting almost within touching distance of the truck, or watching the sun rise after climbing a huge sand dune or scrambling on all fours up the Waterberg plateau? Each day brought a new experience and a significant challenge bringing its own thrill of achievement.

Advice for Potential Travellers

When the trip notes say the temperature can get down to freezing at night in August, they were not kidding - make sure your sleeping bag can cope in a tent- or bring lots of thermal undies!Water is all drinkable - great.Travel was often very long, often on gravel roads, not for tender behinds! Take a good guide book to read and to make sense of the amazing landscape and wildlifeCan't always promise it but there were no nasty beasties biting us at this time of year.

Suggestions

A wonderful holiday, a hidden gem of Africa. Just 2 million people inhabit the huge land so traffic was not a problem even in the capital.

Most Inspirational Moment

too many to mention seeing the milky way, hearing the Lions roar, seeing 24 elephants while drinking a cup of tea! A flight over the dunes and coast line.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The leader Ronney and the lads, Gecko and Tulfeni were fansatic. they knew all the birds and animals and could put up a tent in about 4mins, they said that was slow! The food that prepared was top notch. you won't go hungry. my lunch's not are very very boring compared to the ones they prepared.

Advice for Potential Travellers

if you are a bit apprehensive of going to Africa, don't think twice about Namibia. It's safe clean and quiet. Make sure you take layers as in the day andnight temperatures probably differentiated by 25-30 degrees c. Pack for cold nights and sunny hots days in the same trip.As everyone says a headtorch and spare batteries and good binoculars.

Suggestions

Go!

Most Inspirational Moment

Hearing the roar of lion from under canvas in the still of the Etosha night. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ronny was fun, knowledgable, very helpful and diplomatic.   

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for cold nights in July under canvas and travel light.

Suggestions

Cannot wait to go on another similar trip!

Most Inspirational Moment

Standing round the water hole in Etoshia National Park watching more than 20 elephants, giraffe, zebra, springbok...

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Ronnie was brilliant! Really good fun, very knowledgable and friendly. He went above and beyond throughout the whole trip to make sure that everyone was happy. 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Travelling in July is winter in Namibia. Daytime was lovely and warm, but when the sun goes down around 6pm the temperature really drops. Completely managable but would recommend 4 season sleeping bag or fleece liner, plus a couple of warm jumpers. Wolley hat and gloves also worthwhile.We encountered no mosquitos in July so would question the need for DEET, etc.  

Suggestions

Completely brilliant trip! As a photographer I found July to be a good time to travel as the sky is flawless blue and there is very little dust. Makes for great photos, especially by the sand dunes! I would recommend this trip to anyone. Having not camped before I was surprised by the standard of all the camp sites. The tents are very large and the mattresses provided are thick and comfortable. Hot showers available at nearly every site and excellent food. Power points available everywhere so no problems with charging batteries, etc. The people of Namibia are lovely and the guides are excellent. Can't fault this trip and am already thinking about ways that I can go back!  

Most Inspirational Moment

Probably the leopard in the tree. We had seen all the other animals that we had wished for, but still needed to see the leopard. And suddenly it was just there in the tree. Almost missed it when driving past.But it was amazing to see so many different animals. Elephant, zebra, giraffe, oryx, blackfaced impala, hartebeest, kudu, leopard and rhino. But also the cute mongoose and rock dassie, all the amazing birds and even a caracal and honey badger. What more can you ask for. Another highlight for me was a trip to the Mondesa township in Swakopmund (not included). 3 of us went there with Hafeni Cultural Tours. Our guide was a 23 year old who had lived in the township all his life. He was just so open about their life and history. Highly recommend it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sam was brilliant and so was Jonas and Tuhafeni. Sam was really knowledgeable and told us about his own family and background as well.It would have been good if he had sometimes been in the back of the truck with us instead of driving. I am sure he could have entertained us with more stories on the long drives.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring a waterproof jacket! We had about 86mm in one day and climbed Dune 45 when it was raining. Wet.Don't pack you swimming custome at the bottom of your case. Quite a few of the camps had swimming pools, so it's good to have your swimming gear and towel ready when you arrive.There is quite a few stops where you are able to buy water. But just listen to the guide, they will tell you when you need to buy an extra bottle or when you can just use the water at the camp. And bring extra water when you go climbing. Some people don't need a lot of water, but others do.Always have the camera ready. Don't back it too far away, so many photo opportunities.You can charge your batteries at most camps, so that won't be a problem. The adapter is a bit different. I wasn't able to get it from home, but you can just buy it at the supermarket in Windhoek and lots of places. Bring a sleeping bag acording to what Exodus recommend. Mine wasn't thick enough so I had a couple of really cold nights.

Suggestions

We went to The Lighthouse for dinner in Swakopmund. If you are going there, I highly recommend The Lighthouse Burger. It was so good - and everybody just stared at it. And that's all I'm saying!And really, just go to Namibia - you won't regret it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Many moments:- seeing a lion drinking from a large puddle in Etosha - we were so close we could hear him lapping up the water, absolute breathtaking.- watching the thousands of seals at the Skeleton Coast - everywhere you looked there were seals in different poses, barking to one another and baby seals feeding.  The smell is indescribable - and worth it. - the scenery across Namiba - from the sand dunes and desert in the south, the incredible hills in the Namib-Nauklaft park, the huge boulders in Damaraland and the Waterberg plateau.  - sleeping under canvas for the first time - the night sky in Namibia is second to none, seeing the Milky Way, Mars, Venus and Jupiter.  All the night-time noises, the lions roaring, the jackals scratching at my tent, the crickets chirping.....

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sam was brilliant - a great guide and a great driver. He was so knowledgeable about his country, the people and the animals. Jonas was a superb cook - I've never eaten so well!  Tuafeni was a lovely camp assistant, and the three of them got on really well.  

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a waterproof!! It rained more than 85mm of water on the day we walked up Dune 45 - it was at the end of the rainy season but this was apparently more than they'd had the entire rainy season, and roads got washed away.  You can buy a proper pillow at the supermarket/shop stop before the first night camping, well worth doing, and the guys collect any unwanted items for distribution to locals afterwards.   You also get a fair amount of free time; many of the campsites have pools so take a swimsuit and plenty to read.  You need to get a special adaptor for Namibian plug sockets - if you don't get one before you go, you can buy one in the same shop as the pillows (sorry, cant remember the name of it).  The campsites all have sockets for recharging electrical items.  You can buy a guide pamphlet (A4) on the animals/birds of Etosha in many places, so you dont need to worry about getting a book beforehand.

Suggestions

This was my first camping trip and I loved it.  I was a bit concerned about the ablution facilities but they were (on the whole), absolutely fine.  The only 'dodgy' ones were at the municipal camp site but a few of us found the one decent shower and formed a queue outside for it.   If you are considering going to Namibia, this trip is definitely for you - I really enjoyed it.

Most Inspirational Moment

The amazing sunrises and sunsets, Death Valley and the sand dunes, seal and dolphin watching, the sight of 21 elephants of all ages coming to the waterhole at night (just when I didn't have my camera! and lion cubs playing by the side of a waterhole.   Breakfast at Solitaire Guest Ranch with an oryx ever so gently putting her nose over my shoulder to sniff my cereal, first one side and then the other!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sam was knowledgeable, always ready to answer our questions and looked after us well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

We went the last week in August/first week in September and the nights really are very, very cold so take warm clothing.   Also very cold for early morning game drives when the canvas roof was rolled back on the truck! Not a cheap destination but where we did eat out the meals were excellent - and do try the local fish - delicious!

Suggestions

I can thoroughly recommend this holiday.   Travel arrangements all went smoothly and nearly all of our stops were excellent.   Camp sites were good and our cook produced some very tasty meals for us over the camp fire!

Most Inspirational Moment

I had especially wanted to visit the sand dunes and was not disappointed. The colourful hues of the sand as the dawn broke was magical. The randomness of these giant dunes in the middle of nowhere and flat land all around was fantastic. Te most fun was seeing if we could get the jeeps through the sand on the way to Dead Vlei another MUST.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was funny, entertaining and very informative. He was friendly and helped to ge the group to gel at the beginning of the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

None. Go on the trip! Oh actually do remember to take thermal wear for the chilly nights under canvas.

Suggestions

We organised a trip for the free day befoe we left the UK. We went on a kayaking trip wth Jeanne at eco-marine tours and also added in a 4x4 trip around Sandwich harbour. This was really worthwhile and a nice opportunity to have a day to yourself as well!!!

Most Inspirational Moment

There is no one favourite bit - so much of it was so memorable.  Delicious fat creamy oysters, the lionesses and 2 cubs plus the white rhinos on a night drive at Etosha, the Etosha pan itself, a herd of 30 elephants at a water hole, the dunes, the scenic flight over Sossusvlei and the coast (even if the first hour was spent desparately trying not to throw up), the beautiful embroidery, the stars (we had a new moon in the middle of the trip), the birds, the banter, the joy of hot cleansing showers almost every day.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Sam was great - very experienced, patient and knowledgeable.  Jonas is an excellent cook and we had a good variety of food cooked on open fires - even a birthday cake, not to mention his almost encyclopedic knowledge of birds.  And finally, Ya, who made up the triumverate, allowing tents to be erected and lunch ready within an hour.  All unfailingly good humoured and helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

For anyone considering taking this trip - do it - you won't be disappointed.

Suggestions

The only thing I would change is, in addition to a single room/tent supplement, a supplement for an extra mattress - I'm not as bendy as I used to be!!!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Some of our highlights included seeing the massive seal colony at Cape Cross, walking to Deadvlei (hard going but beautiful), arriving at Etosha and spending hours and hours sitting at a waterhole watching many animals come and go.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide was fantastic. He was friendly, helpful, informative and well-organised and really couldn't have done anything more for us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

My advice for potential travellers would be to expect to spend a lot of time covered in sand and to bring warm clothes, a very warm sleeping bag (if travelling in Winter) and a (head) torch.

Suggestions

There really was a lot packed into this trip and we were glad that we were able to see so much of this fascinating country. Obviously the accommodation was quite basic as it was mostly in tents and we didn't have a lot of sleep as it got very cold and on a couple of nights it was also really windy. However, the campsites were generally quite well-equipped and the food was much better than I expected. The dinners, in particular, were excellent - especially given what the assistants had to work with. I would definitely recommend this holiday for those who want something a bit different.