Discover Namibia - Camping

Donald Sandeman   -  Traveled, April 2019

Excellent trip There are quite a lot of long drives on bumpy dusty roads but this is unavoidable with a trip that takes in so much of the country. The itinerary keeps you busy with a good mixture of culture and wildlife. Camp sites all had excellent facilities and toilets were first class. Tents were comfortable Most Inspirational Moment Etosha game park was fantastic and we were able to spot most types of animals. Floodlit water holes were excellent. Dunes, canyon and rock paintings also very interesting Thoughts on Group Leader Ronney was excellent. A mine of information on every subject and always trying to please. His ability to spot wildlife from hundreds of meters away was astounding. Cook, Jonas had a lovely personality and created some fantastic dishes over an open fire Advice for Potential Travellers Prepare to get dusty and windswept when traveling Suggestions Only disappointment was the design of the truck whereby you were unable to see out the front. Felt that you may be missing some of the scenery

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 05/16/2019

Christine Glossop   -  Traveled, April 2019

AZN Amazing desert sand dunes and night sky, astonishing ancient rock paintings, beautiful diverse wildlife Most Inspirational Moment Walking sand dune 45, rock paintings, black rhinos at night waterhole, elephants, and elegance of antelopes. Thoughts on Group Leader Very good. Would have liked more info about various aspects of Namibia. But layout of minibus was counterproductive, as we were sitting much higher, leader was driving in separate cabin area, and spoke with microphone. Advice for Potential Travellers Check temperatures before going Suggestions Minbus was not good design [see above]. Also the front window between driver and passengers was split in two horizontally, so we could see very little through the front, as top window was too high and bottom window was too low.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 05/19/2019

Douglas Robertson   -  Traveled, October 2018

A Vast and Beautiful Country If you like huge landscapes and wildlife this is a must do trip. Namibia is unlike any country i have been to before and certainly felt different to other areas of Africa (im no expert!). The scale and space has to be seen to be believed and adds to the beauty – sunsets are amazing. We went towards the end of the dry season and this meant that animals were gathering at the waterhole. We were lucky enough to see herds of elephants and several rhino … not to forget giraffes, oryx, gazelle, hyenas and many many more. We were on the camping trip and Ronney and Jonas done an amazing job to set up camp and take it down … we tried to help but they are so good at it I think we slowed them up. They were fantastic guides, great ambassadors for the country and Jonas cooked food on a fire that i couldnt in a fully equipped kitchen. This is our fourth trip with Exodus and I will certainly be back for more. Most Inspirational Moment Being on top of Dune 45 at sunrise Thoughts on Group Leader Ronney was a fantastic leader and just made the whole trip go smoothly. Nothing was a problem and he put up with our sometimes dodgy timekeeping with a smile Advice for Potential Travellers book it ..... its a fantastic place to see!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/12/2018

Paul Richardson   -  Traveled, October 2018

Excellent Trip A very busy schedule, with lots of early starts, lots of dust and sand and quite a bit of travel over rough roads. But, it was all worth it. I would do it again. You see a wide variety of landscape and wildlife that could not be encountered any other way in two weeks. Most Inspirational Moment Dune 45 and Deadvlei, I am a landscape rather than an animal person, so you may disagree. Thoughts on Group Leader Ronnie, and his assistants, were excellent. Nothing was a trouble to them. They were always friendly and helpful. their knowledge was excellent and their animal spotting capabilities astonishing. Advice for Potential Travellers Don't get stressed about the dust, it washes out. Don't worry about it getting on your camera sensor, several photo enthusiasts (I was one) on the trip both confirmed that despite a bit of lens swapping the sensors remained clean. Ear plugs, tent canvas is not a good foil for snoring :) Suggestions I've been on about 8 Exodus trips and this was probably the best.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/17/2018

Philip Mason   -  Traveled, November 2018

Fantastic holiday The crew were fantastic. Group leader Ronney Kavari was a great leader, explaining the plans for each day and telling us what to expect with plenty of local tips. He was an exceptional spotter of wildlife and we saw large numbers of a huge variety of animals and birds. He was also very knowledgeable about the animals, birds and plants as well as the country. There was plenty of opportunities to see and photograph. Benson was the main driver and Jonas the main cook and the food was very good. All the crew were very friendly with a good sense of humour. The tents went up and came down very efficiently. The optional trips were also good-at least the ones we did: Visit to the Township was very interesting and enjoyable but quite thought provoking as well. We also went on the flight over the desert and although we enjoyed it, it was quite long and expensive and there was no commentary and the plane was very old-I don’t think we would recommend this at the price. We would thoroughly recommend this trip, esp with the crew we had! Most Inspirational Moment Seeing the wild animals in their environment Thoughts on Group Leader Group leader Ronney Kavari was a great leader, explaining the plans for each day and telling us what to expect with plenty of local tips. He was an exceptional spotter of wildlife and we saw large numbers of a huge variety of animals and birds. He was also very knowledgeable about the animals, birds and plants as well as the country. Advice for Potential Travellers Be prepared to camp! Despite this being clear in the description some people found this tiring. Suggestions No-fantastic trip

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/29/2018

Anne Slatter   -  Traveled, October 2018

Oh dear Disappointing service from the company. Itinerary description didnt really match up with events. No biologist with the cheetah tracking as advertised. Possibly inexperienced guide lacking information about anything. Most drives were done in guide silence. My Homeward info was only given to someone else a complete stranger that happened to be on the same flight. It had the wrong departure hotel on it nothing was corrected. When you are that far from home you need your info correct and in your possession Most Inspirational Moment Seeing the elephants unfortunately most animals were only seen at the waterholes. Thoughts on Group Leader Not much. A nice person but leader no Advice for Potential Travellers Dont go with exodus but if you do insist you get info about your holiday not a generic trip that isnt yours Suggestions I wouldnt recommend exodus

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/22/2018

John Saxton   -  Traveled, August 2018

Brilliant Certainly the way to see Namibia – early starts frequently and rough roads but all fades into significance when put into perspective. If your’re considering it, but are uncertain, just book it and enjoy. Most Inspirational Moment Difficult. Standing on top of a massive sand dune at sunrise? The 800 year old dead acacia trees against the white salt pan, red dunes and blue sky in Deadvlei? Or elephants drinking at a water hole at sunset? I cannot decide. Thoughts on Group Leader Our group leader, Ronney, was excellent. Nothing was too much trouble, constantly attentive, we lacked nothing. He seems to do the camping trips end-to-end so there's a good change of getting him. Advice for Potential Travellers In July/ August the desert is COLD. A duvet jacket is not out of place, as are fleece trousers, warm socks and a hat. The days can also be cold despite the sun, only warming up towards midday. As you go north, after the third day, it gets warmer and the warm gear becomes unnecessary. Camping is fun and confortable, the tents are easy to put up (the staff are supposed to do it, but we found it more fun to do it ourselves, which they appreciated) but getting organised in the dark in the tent is a pain. I would recommend a lantern to hang from the centre loop of the tent roof (intended for mozzie nets which aren't necessary most of the time) and of course good head torches are vital. Don't bring a cheap one. Toilets at the campsites are immaculate at virtually all the sites. As are the service station toilets - you could eat off the floor in most of them. Even the longdrop toilets (thankfully very few and none in the campsites) are clean and don't smell. The whole country is clean: I don't think I saw a single piece of litter the whole trip. It puts our country to shame. Everything gets a bit dusty and sandy. Packing clothes and sleeping bag into dustproof bags (or even drybags) helps to keep you organised and everything stays relatively dustfree. For all but the most hardened campers, an inflatable pillow is useful. If for nothing else, sitting on it helps iron out some of the jarring on the dirt roads! Suggestions Batteries AA and AAA are widely available , although quite expensive, so better to bring plenty of spares. A good camera with a lot of memory cards. If you are using an SLR then a long lens is a big advantage for the animals (I took a 500mm) but a wideangle wasn't used.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 09/18/2018

Annie Beunier   -  Traveled, June 2023

Discover Namibia Camping Two very exciting weeks discovering the varied landscapes of Namibia, flora, fauna and its peoples. 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 .

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 07/30/2023

Laura Savill   -  Traveled, November 2022

A Land of Diversity Namibia did not disappoint, it is a land of diversity, deserts, small towns, nature, animals, friendly people. Although I dislike camping, it really was the only way to do it, it felt raw as if Namibia was outside my tent. Most of the campsites were okay. There were alot of early starts and long drives but it was the only way to get to places. The stops were interesting along the way. 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.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/09/2022

Christine Lissoni   -  Traveled, July 2022

Fantastic moments Namibia is a wonderful country, and in our experience full of happy people smiling! There has to be a lot of driving to see the main places, but it’s worth 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.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/20/2022

David Halpin   -  Traveled, July 2022

Amazing trip The trip is a good a mix of seeing different destinations in Namibia and finding a lot of wildlife, particular in Etosha. The route is well planned and the long drive have a few stops with some good thought on why you stop there. The optional activities in Swakopmund where good (we did the boat tour and dune bashing, which was excellent)! I would recommend adding it to the main itinerary as it was probably our best day. 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.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/12/2022

Angela Parry   -  Traveled, November 2023

Namibia camping An interesting trip with fantastic landscapes and good wildlife viewing. 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.. Discover Namibia – Camping Reply from Exodus We appreciate your review for this trip, Angela. We are encouraged to view your comments of your tour leader’s professionalism, which has been shared, and that you found the overall trip to be interesting with good wildlife viewing. However, we were regretful to read that you were displeased with some aspects of your trip, especially your arrival transfer. Regrettably, your transfer details were incorrectly added via our system on your Final Joining Instructions, but pulled through correctly on the information sent to our local team, and they, therefore, attempted to meet you upon arrival to provide the service you will have expected. Unfortunately, no one in the Exodus team picked up on this error, meaning that the transfer driver was not aware you were making your own way to the start hotel, and while this is a very rare error, we sincerely apologise that it happened. As you have mentioned, this is a full-service camping trip, and we are very sorry if you felt pressured in erecting and taking down your tent. Having looked into this, your tour leader advised that the general procedure occurred where groundsheets are opened and all that is required of guests, is to place their bags and mattresses on the ground cover and the local team do the rest. On these trips, it is not uncommon for customers to choose to participate in the camp set up, but this is never expected. Pertaining to accommodation used in Etosha National Park which is run by the local government; we generally receive better reviews regarding these sites but have recently noticed a trend on more negative feedback regarding the upkeep during the busy month of December. We choose to stay inside the park as it provides better access to the waterholes and, unfortunately, the government have a monopoly over accommodation within the national parks in Namibia. Our local manager has raised this with the park management, though, as I am sure you can appreciate, we have limited influence on government run establishments. That said, we do find that customers enjoy staying in these sites despite the slightly lower standard compared to other accommodation on the tour, given their unique setting. We were regretful to learn that you found the food to be subpar, the truck to be too cramped and the cook and the driver to be unhelpful; this was naturally concerning, so we asked our local manager to look more closely into it. They have confirmed that the feedback they received from your departure was particularly positive regarding meals and dietary options provided and that further positive comments were made, in general, regarding the driver and that it was a 14 seater truck for a group of 12, which we find reassuring. We are sorry that you felt some parts of the tour could have been improved, but please be assured your comments have been shared with the local team. Moving forward, we will closely monitor future feedback, and should we receive comments of a similar nature to yours please be assured these will be followed up on accordingly, as it is always our aim for our customer to have the best experience on their trips with us. – John Penge, Exodus Product Manager

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 01/20/2024

Peter Rogers   -  Traveled, April 2022

Fantastic trip This is fantastic holiday, don’t hesitate to book it, this trip has varied landscapes, with the deserts in the south and national parks, with its varied wildlife in the north. There is a lot of long drives involved with this trip, up to 6 hours on some days, but that is part of the experience. 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!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 04/29/2022

Yolanda Harris   -  Traveled, March 2022

Highly Recommended Busy holiday that introduces you to the delights of Namibia from the sand dunes to the Skeleton Coast and game drives in the national parks. We saw loads of wildlife but due to an extended rainy season the waterholes at the campsites were not remotely busy or active, and the big cats were not seen at all. However, the tour guide was fabulous, and I loved every minute of the trip. My only wish was that we had more time there! Most Inspirational Moment There are too many: climbing the sand dunes, seeing Deadvlei, flight from Swakopmund, Dune explore and sand boarding, sky dive, getting up close to ostrich, cheetah, zebra, giraffe, rhino, warthog, dikdik and many more. I also had a great time chatting to the stall holders at the craft market. Thoughts on Group Leader Shane was fabulous. Tireless in keeping everything running smoothly and constantly cheerful. His knowledge of his country and of the flora and fauna is excellent. Suggestions This is a fabulous country to visit. The people are very friendly and happy to have a chat, or to sell you their crafts and all speak English. Sense of humour essential!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 04/10/2022

Jane Wilson   -  Traveled, July 2019

Wowed by the beauty Great trip for wildlife and desert scenery. I was wowed by the beauty of the Namib desert colours and by the wide variety of animal life we saw both in the desert and Etosha further north. Most Inspirational Moment The sunrise in the Namib desert seen from the top of Dune 45. Thoughts on Group Leader Our guide was friendly and enthusiastic and most importantly very knowledgable about the animals and country and a great animal spotter as we drove along! Advice for Potential Travellers July is a good time to go despite the freezing cold nights as the animals come to drink at the waterholes. Do buy souvenirs directly from the Himba and Herrera people when you get the chance as they have the best range of the things they make. You won't be able to get them in regular shops. Useful to have earplugs (for snorers) really warm jackets, and something to protect your face from dust during game drives in open sided vehicles.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/25/2019

Jan Biden   -  Traveled, June 2019

Excellent Trip Good company, good leaders, good food, good experiences. Most Inspirational Moment Seeing the family of sixteen lions playing at the waterhole. Thoughts on Group Leader Ronney was excellent. Understated but friendly, worked extremely hard, informative and a very good driver. Advice for Potential Travellers Take warm clothing because sleeping in the tents was cold at night in June.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/30/2019

Patricia Barnett   -  Traveled, July 2018

Loved it! My husband and I have never done a trip like this and we have never camped before. We loved it. The tour is interesting and varied. The walk in the dessert was spectacular, climbing the Dune was quite hard, but watching the sun rise made the climb worth every step. Eating supper round a camp fire was really nice and sociable and the food was really good. We are vegetarian and we were well looked after. We saw hundreds of animals: giraffe, rhino (and a baby rhino), lions, elephants and their babies, springbok, zebra, ostrich, fabulous birds, warthogs, hyena, jackal, many types of deer and antelope, baboons… We wish we could do it all over again. Most Inspirational Moment The most inspirational moment of the trip was the herd of elephants that came to the waterhole in Etosha. So many other animals came too. It was a really beautiful experience. Thoughts on Group Leader The group leader, Ben, was excellent. He looked after us with care and consideration. He had excellent knowledge on every question that was asked and he was very good at finding the animals for us to see. The crew (the driver and the cook - Jonas and Orbert) were also excellent. Advice for Potential Travellers July was a good time to travel because it was not too hot during the day. The temperature does fall at night so a really good sleeping bag and a blanket (if you feel the cold) is a good plan. The facilities at each site vary so it is better if you can be flexible. You need malaria tablets, but there were very few insects at that time of year - it may be different at other times. We are very cautious so we had insect repellent clothes. You can get clothes washed at the hotel in Swakopmund and one or two other places, so you need to plan clothes carefully. Some of the roads are very bumpy, but then we were travelling through the dessert. It would definitely help if you have a head torch with you. Suggestions If you have a little bit of adventure tucked in your spirit and you like so see animals in the wild - this is a fantastic trip.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/25/2018

Roger Lockey   -  Traveled, February 2018

Discovering Namibia If you haven’t been to Namibia and you like wildlife and stunning landscapes – book now! Our trip was absolutely amazing, and so much more varied than I thought it would be. I must thank our two local guides on the trip, as without them we would not have seen half the wonders we did. They were knowledgeable, helpful and unfailingly cheerful, which made our visit so much more enjoyable. Most Inspirational Moment There were so many highlights it is difficult to single out any one element, but I suppose our stay in Etosha National Park must rank with any wildlife experience I have ever had. Watching lions mate whilst springbok leapt in the background, being charged by an angry bull elephant, and seeing a family of cheetah stalk their prey, will stay in my memory for ever. Thoughts on Group Leader I must thank our two local guides on the trip, as without them we would not have seen half the wonders we did. They were knowledgeable, helpful and unfailingly cheerful, which made our visit so much more enjoyable. Advice for Potential Travellers We booked a flight over the Skeleton Coast when we were staying in Swakopmund and this was a wonderful way to see the landscape from a different perspective. I would mention however that if you are my height or taller (I am 1m 80), then the leg room on the plane is not generous and you are in the air for over two hours. Also, I would recommend taking a small compact camera with a good zoom, as my DSLR with a bulky zoom lens was much too cumbersome.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 03/15/2018

Julian Penge   -  Traveled, June 2017

Discover Namibia - Camping Trip What a fantastic trip in an amazing country! This is my eighth Exodus adventure in the last 6 years, and again, I wasn’t disappointed. From start to finish it was an exemplary journey. The trip itself was very comprehensive, from walking through a gorge at sunset to climbing a sand dune at sunrise; to dolphin watching in the morning and quad biking in the dunes in the afternoon. Both the wildlife viewing and the variation in geomorphology were outstanding across this beautiful county. Most Inspirational Moment The wildlife viewings were fantastic, especially the leopard and bull elephant we saw next to our vehicle. We were extremely lucky; it was as if the leopard was posing just for us. These animals are generally very solitary and evasive and seeing one so up close was just incredible. Thoughts on Group Leader Rooney our group leader was superb; his driving skills and knowledge of Namibia were incredible. How he spotted some of the wildlife from the distance, I will never know. His two deputies, Jonas and Ruben, were also very hard-working gentlemen who looked after the twelve of us very well from dawn to dusk. They were very efficient in setting up and dismantling our tents, loading and unloading our vehicle and their cooking skills were great. What a great team to look after us! Advice for Potential Travellers Travelling across this large country was very comfortable and safe; and both the tarmac and dirt roads were in excellent condition. The townships and campsites were very clean and the people were very friendly. I would just recommend bringing a good sleeping bag - and an excellent camera for the beautiful landscape and wildlife on show! Suggestions To date, I have visited nine African countries and this trip to Namibia is easily number one. What a beautiful country, what a great adventure! Definitely a five star trip for me!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 07/23/2017

Joanna Tobias   -  Traveled, December 2016

A great introduction to Namibia Discover Namibia camping was great to do over Christmas. We saw diverse wildlife and landscapes with unexpected early rains and a sandstorm but this added to the experience! Most Inspirational Moment Etosha was the highlight together with the wildlife that came to visit,including hearing a lion roar by night. Dune 45 and the petrified acacias were also great. Thoughts on Group Leader Ronney was approachable & friendly but occasionally overloaded us with too much info,for too many days ahead. Would have been nice if he had been a little more informative at times on the flora & fauna. Happy and Nathaniel made amazing food,especially 'Happy Bread'.They were amazingly helpful when early rains caused flooded tents but it all added to the experience! Advice for Potential Travellers Take something warm,as in layers for the early mornings on the truck and game drives in the early eve. In December I used just a sleeping bag liner for half the trip as was so warm at night but did use my sleeping bag. It's possible to buy cheap sleeping bags in Windhoek as one of our group did. Take a neck scarf to place over your nose and mouth when climbing Dune 45 & very useful if you encounter a sandstorm! Do the plane ride over the Skeleton Coast. Take a dark coloured travel bag as the red sand gets everywhere. Suggestions Just go and enjoy the trip! It's a shame a balloon ride over the dunes & / or skeleton coast wasn't available. Be careful as we weren't given the up to date prices for some of the optional extra's. Make sure you check as it may cost more than listed.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 01/25/2017

Helen Ross   -  Traveled, July 2018

Action packed Very good ,well organised holiday. Enjoyed the hotel and camping food . No day was boring. Most Inspirational Moment Seeing a leopard. Climbing sand dune 45 at sunrise. Thoughts on Group Leader Ronney was an excellent leader. Communicated well with the group and took good care of us. Advice for Potential Travellers Take plenty of warm clothing in July August We were surprised how cold it was at the start of the camping Temperature in the north much much warmer .We went from one extreme to the other. Camping is not glamping but one step up from my last camping trip as we had proper toilets and showers . Quite a lot of travelling involved ,sometimes on bumpy terrain. Suggestions Very good holiday , but I would agree with ‘ not for the faint hearted’

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/19/2018

Aaron Wood   -  Traveled, August 2018

Awesome Safari Whilst the driving at times becomes slightly tiresome the sights and nature where fantastic. The group were wonderful and the guide Ben was extremely informative. Most Inspirational Moment At Etosha watering hole where we saw 30 elephants walking with there young Thoughts on Group Leader He was incredible Advice for Potential Travellers Bring a cushion for the trip and definitely bring some decent binoculars and camera Suggestions I would recommend it to anyone who loves animals

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/22/2018

Patricia Barnett  -  Traveled, July 2018

Loved it! My husband and I have never done a trip like this and we have never camped before. We loved it. The tour is interesting and varied. The walk in the dessert was spectacular, climbing the Dune was quite hard, but watching the sun rise made the climb worth every step. Eating supper round a camp fire was really nice and sociable and the food was really good. We are vegetarian and we were well looked after. We saw hundreds of animals: giraffe, rhino (and a baby rhino), lions, elephants and their babies, springbok, zebra, ostrich, fabulous birds, warthogs, hyena, jackal, many types of deer and antelope, baboons… We wish we could do it all over again. Most Inspirational Moment The most inspirational moment of the trip was the herd of elephants that came to the waterhole in Etosha. So many other animals came too. It was a really beautiful experience. Thoughts on Group Leader The group leader, Ben, was excellent. He looked after us with care and consideration. He had excellent knowledge on every question that was asked and he was very good at finding the animals for us to see. The crew (the driver and the cook - Jonas and Orbert) were also excellent. Advice for Potential Travellers July was a good time to travel because it was not too hot during the day. The temperature does fall at night so a really good sleeping bag and a blanket (if you feel the cold) is a good plan. The facilities at each site vary so it is better if you can be flexible. You need malaria tablets, but there were very few insects at that time of year - it may be different at other times. We are very cautious so we had insect repellent clothes. You can get clothes washed at the hotel in Swakopmund and one or two other places, so you need to plan clothes carefully. Some of the roads are very bumpy, but then we were travelling through the dessert. It would definitely help if you have a head torch with you. Suggestions If you have a little bit of adventure tucked in your spirit and you like so see animals in the wild - this is a fantastic trip.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 08/11/2018