16 independent reviews for Namibia self drive safari
Reviews for Namibia self drive safari
Anon review 8 Sep 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Dune Star Camp - sleeping out under the stars was incredible.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Try to get information about tipping culture in advance so that you don't feel like people are begging, and buy a number of small things with cash early on so that you have plenty of smaller denominations that you can hand out frequently. Don't underestimate how long some of the journeys on gravel roads are; you might want/need to drive a little quicker than recommended by the car-hire people; we were cutting it fine for arrival at our first accommodation, but settled into a comfortable pace after that. If I did the trip again I would be tempted to take the camping option for a couple of the nights so that we could stay in the national parks, although the guest houses were all fabulous.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I booked with the intention that it would, however I'm unclear as to how it did (apart from the fact that tourism is providing economic benefits to Namibia). I would have liked more specific information about the impacts of my vacation e.g. ownership and environmental credentials of the accommodation and activity providers. I would also have liked to understand about the Namibian tipping culture and its role in society before arriving. We were well into our vacation before we became comfortable with being approached in carparks, airport, etc., and never really worked out whether we were tipping an appropriate amount in different situations and we would have liked to get this right in order to benefit local people. Even though all the accommodation were notified in advance that we were vegetarian (& even if we weren't or they didn't know), many evening buffets were meat focused, and less emphasis on meat overall reduces environmental impacts.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Apart from the air travel problems which were outside of the control of your company, the vacation was excellent. We loved the mix of scenery, safari and activities (dune walking, sand-boarding and quad bikes). The car hire company, in particular Parsee at Warthog, was particularly welcoming and helpful.Read the operator's response here:
Several of the lodges used for this itinerary are all part of the Gondwana collection in Namibia. Gondwana has been a forerunner in the ‘Sustainability is our philosophy’ and offers the following: Gondwana Collection Namibia’s sustainable hospitality business strongly promotes nature conservation and social commitment. They have converted several farms into nature reserves in the vicinity of natural attractions, and reintroduced game species which had once
been indigenous to the area. Their nature conservation endeavours are financed with the proceeds from the eco-friendly hospitality business, which in turn creates career opportunities for the local population. The main core focus for the Gondwana Care Trust is sustainable impact. Projects across Namibia are supported, beyond our own projects (MealForTwo and the Back-to-School Christmas Bags).
We have recently updated our tipping procedures in our final documentation, and I always discuss tipping and what is expected with my clients in our final discussion which is 2 weeks prior to travel. We also have the same discussion with our clients when we do the meet and greet upon arrival.
Meat in lodges are sourced locally, and not mass produced. A lot of the lodges have their own vegetable and herb gardens which provide the lodges with fresh produce.
Shimuel Bernstein review 24 Jan 2023
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Meeting wildlife, just in nature, not fenced in2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Try to cover a less KM per day, that means take mire days or cover less on one trip3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Somehow, but not much4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Great experienceKadie Hodges review 27 Nov 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Every stop was amazing. But in particular, the dune star lodge was incredible, sossusvlei, and etosha!2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Book a slightly bigger car to make the journeys a bit more comfortable.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes definitely.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
We had a amazing two weeks seeing beautiful Namibia. Thanks so much for organising such a wonderful trip.Jane Robson review 2 Oct 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Overall beauty and diversity of Namibia and how friendly and helpful the people are.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Make sure you spend 2 nights in each place so you are not traveling every day and you have a decent vehicle with two spare wheels.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
10/10 brilliant trip.Polly Scott review 29 Sep 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
We really liked the flexibility of being able to stop for wildlife any time and in almost any place. Eg Etosha NP.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be prepared for huge distances and bring extra music if it is not already on your phone. Don’t bother with Namibian SIM card.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We felt that we supported the locals and smaller accommodations especially the Waterberg Guest Farm . Sossusvlei Lodge was really large after Swapkupmund Sands.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Very well organised and run and allowed us to feel independence yet with a clear itinerary. It was excellent.Sarah Tame review 19 Jul 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Sunset at the Trading post lodge before we entered Etosha. Camping at Ngepi with Hippos.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Take US dollars with you to pay for the border crossing from Namibia to Zimbabwe.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Fantastic! Quite an adventure and many memories made.Samo Naraks review 12 Apr 2022
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Wild animal encounters and breath-taking landscape.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Rise early and take time to look and listen earth creatures all around you.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
A little bit off all three.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Best vacations ever in 30+ years of traveling.Alexandra Ritter review 24 Nov 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
To see all the animals and the breathtaking sceneries.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Three nights in Swakopmund were too long. Two nights or even just one night is enough.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
One of the best vacations we had. Definitely have to come back one day.Geraldine Schulz review 13 Nov 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Coming face to face with rhino on foot!2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be prepared and know what to expect then you will have a great experience- it is definitely a must do for the independent seasoned wildlife traveler3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes some aspects definitely did. Support to both rhino and cheetah preservation and employment to local communities4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Incredible- our best yetSharon Crossfield review 22 Aug 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The whole trip was incredible. The wonderful animals at Etosha national park, spectacular scenery and the amazing people were all great experiences.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be prepared for driving on some dreadful, gravel roads.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, it supported conservation and benefited local people. It drew our attention to how poor alot of Namibian people are and how important it is to support them by buying their crafts, directly, and using them as guides etc.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Superb. We are planning another trip!Sarah Quilliam review 20 Aug 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The magnificent scenery and emptiness of the south of Namibia and our desert trek with Tok Tokkie trails.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be prepared for very long driving days but don't be scared of driving yourself or getting lost..3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Not especially. The lodge owners, who are often South African, benefitted most. We tried to find local guides where possible but that wasn't always easy given we had limited time in each place.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
ExcellentTarek Hbeichi review 23 Jul 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The ease of communicating and booking the trip with the provider, as well as the actual trip itself. Everything went according to plan and we had an amazing, once in a lifetime experience.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
We spent some time before contacting an agency doing our own research and creating a tentative itinerary with the things we wanted to see and do included. This really helps the provider tailor a unique program and experience for you.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Somewhat, the majority of the lodges and campsites we stayed at were privately owned by whites, whereas all of the employees were black. There's a significant salary gap between the two races and I personally would have liked to have stayed at more properties that were black owned.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
AMAZING!Victoria Cooper review 20 Mar 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The wonderful diverse scenery,flora and fauna appearing when you least expect.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Stay in accommodation near the sights you intend to visit, as travel times can be long due to the many gravel roads.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Not only the local communities ,as many of the staff had travelled from other areas in the county for the job opportunities made available through tourism .4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
WonderfulHelen Smeaton review 10 Dec 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
ALL of it! SO many amazing memories from the surreal, moving experience of climbing Big Daddy dune at Sossusvlei to stand on top of the sand dune world, scree running down to Deadvlei below, jaw-dropping scenery from another world, the raw beauty of the landscape and sheer scale of the mountain scenery, kayaking with playful seals at Pelican Point, black rhino tracking with exceptional guides from Grootberg lodge, the smiley amazing Namibian people, gazing for hours at graceful giraffe and zebra, the pride of lions that surprised us at our last waterhole stop in Etosha, stunning lodges, amazing food. It was all we could wish for and more!2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Don't be put off by the amount of driving. We covered over 3000km in 16 days, but it is not tiring if you stop frequently to literally "take in the views." Be aware that not all gravel roads in Namibia are equal! Driving at the max speed (80km on most gravel roads, some are 100km) is just not possible on some of the rougher sections. So allow plenty of time for your journey when moving from one lodge to another. Also very important - check that your mobile phone works before heading off into the wilderness! We had a signal so assumed it was ok, but our Cypriot mobile phones did not work. We bought a Namibian SIM card once we got to Swakopmund and had access to Wi-Fi at some of the lodges, but if you need assistance from the 4x4 company, you really need to be able to call them.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Absolutely. ALL the staff at lodges were Namibian, many from the north of the country where work is harder to come by. There was ZERO litter and staff at the lodges were very aware of saving water, not leaving anything behind after a game drive etc and were very aware of the difficult human animal conflict that exists where wildlife is freely roaming. Conservation is top priority to protect the wildlife, but we were also very aware that farmers have to live alongside the big cats and elephants, which sometimes leads to wildlife being shot.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
10 stars!!! Madri Bowman tailored the vacation to our exact requirements and the ground staff in Namibia were excellent.Susanna Diacono review 25 Aug 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Traveling through Namibia for 3 weeks meant we managed to see some of the different landscapes, people and animals where each was very exciting. It is difficult to choose as there were all special. Seeing cheetahs at close range in Bagatelle, feeling the eerie quietness at Deadvlei with the long perished trees, experiensing the harsh beating waves from the south Atlantic at pelican point with the acrobatic seals, feeling the vastness of Damaraland whilst meeting desert elephants at close range, experiencing the melting pot of cultures at Opouwo, going for sunrise drive game spotting at Etosha National Park and last but not least seeing the wild life along the northern border at Kavango river falling to sleep to the sound of a frig concert. How can one choose!!! All this in amazing lodges thanks to Madri Bowman.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
If you thinking of going to Victoria falls after Namibia go by air as a day was wasted on crossing 3 borders with all the papet work.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
All the accommodations we used employed local people which gave them job opportunities.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent! Can only use one word.Nevil Rimes review 23 Jun 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Very hard to pick one thing!! Many different aspects... Really enjoyed Fish River Canyon for its remoteness and lodge location, but then self-driving through Etosha and watching lions stalking prey at a water-hole was very special too.2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be prepared for long drives on gravel roads (max speed 50mph if its in good condition!) which can take a lot of time and with so many places to visit can lead to long days.3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Hopefully it helped all those things.4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Great trip that was enjoyed by all.Holiday Reviews
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