Gästebuch

April 2011

Dear Andrea,
Good to hear about you and thank you for remembering me to write this letter! Actually I was planning to make a summary for you about the questions you just have asked, but then – under the usual daily pressure I forgot about it.
So here is our “judgement”.
We very much enjoyed the trip, the country and all the places we have visited in Namibia.
About the trip:
I thank you again for convincing me not to take the longer route (to Victoria falls) within this limited timeframe. The distances were quite all right to the 11 days. It was a good mix of cities, landscape and animals… The car was excellent. Good that you have convinced us for the big 4x4 – maybe a smaller could have fit to the 90% of the road but the last day we have got a full night rain in Waterberg and with a smaller car we definitely could not have managed to cross the waterholes on the street leading up the hill. (...)
Your description was full and comprehensive, detailed enough and clear. We did not miss once the road targeted (by the way the road signs in Namibia are excellent). The only point where we have hesitated for some time was the Sesriem Canyon (there the signs were not 100% clear for us). (...)
About the Lodges:
Desert Homestead: 5 (of 5) – very friendly staff, good location and meal – a bit far from Sossusvlei
Cornerstone Guesthouse: 5 – very friendly (family) staff, good location, nice rooms.
Twyfelfontein Country Lodge: 4 – Maybe because there were many people there, a bit crowded, car park a bit far. Very good meal.
Vingerklip Lodge: 5+ The best place of all – very friendly staff and owner, beautiful surrounding, very comfortable house.
Okaukuejo: 3-4 Exactly what one can expect from such a place. There is not too much other choice to go. Good location.
Mushara Bush Camp: 4 Very friendly staff (they made a good show for the guests in the evening also), the living in a tent like this was a bit strange first, but OK once accustomed.
Waterberg Wilderness Lodge: 5 – unbelievable nice location, very friendly staff and owner, good food. Sorry for not having enough time to enjoy. The rain made us worried very much how we can get down to the tar road and catch our plane in Windhoek by time. (...)
Andrea,
Thanks for the organisation and for the many advises during the preparation. We hope to come and see your county maybe once more in the future.
Best personal regards,
György and Éva

Liebe Andrea,
über eine Woche sind wir nun wieder zuhause und es hat hier seit vier Wochen nicht geregnet. Verkehrte Welt, nachdem wir in Namibia einiges vom Regen und seinen Folgen abbekommen haben! Aber das war vielleicht der einzige kleine Wermutstropfen bei der ansonsten fantastischen Reise. Ich möchte Euch ganz herzlich danken für die perfekte Organisation und die Auswahl der Stationen! Es hat bei keiner Reservierung irgendwelche Probleme gegeben – auch Sofias vegetarische Wünsche wurden am Anfang berücksichtigt. Dann hat sie aber sehr schnell selbst darauf verzichtet, denn bei dem schmackhaften Fleisch in Eurem Land kann man schon mal eine Gemüsepause einlegen – zumal die Tiere hier noch artgerecht gehalten werden – jedenfalls was das Wild betrifft, das wir in allen Varianten auf dem Teller hatten.
Drei Höhepunkte der Reise möchte ich besonders hervorheben: Die Fest Inn Fels Lodge auf Koiimasis hat uns besonders gut gefallen. Das war ein einmaliges Erlebnis einer Einheit von Natur, Komfort und Gastfreundlichkeit! Das zweite Highlight war eindeutig die Vingerklip-Lodge, wo dank Eurer Ankündigung der Morgen des 25. April mit einem Geburtstagsständchen, Torte und Champagner wunderschön begann. Vielen Dank auch für Eure Geburtstagsgrüße in der Reisemappe, die sehr liebevoll und individuell gestaltet ist. Ein weiterer Höhepunkt war die Lodge im Onguma-Park. Da die Renovierung im Bush Camp nicht rechtzeitig fertig geworden war, erhielten wir ein Upgrade für die „The Fort“ Lodge. Das war fantastisch und ist absolut empfehlenswert, soweit es nicht unter regulären Bedingungen das Budget sprengt. (...)
Mit herzlichen Grüßen
Ihre Jörg, Dolores und Sofia

November 2010

Hello Andrea,
Please find here below a few notes concerning the trip your organised for us.
First of all, let us congratulated you for this unforgettable journey.
As you remember, we were picked up at the airport by a very kind employee of "African Tracks" which offer us a very good car. (...)
Our stay at Okonjima was a fantastic adventure. Thanks to the whole staff, specially to the safari guide.
First very warm welcome, then we had the chance of assisting of the hunt of two cheetahs killing a kudu. Then another luck with the kill of another kudu by a leopard. Unbelievable !
The lodge was perfect with a beautiful view on the bush, and the management so efficient.
Then we departed to Mushara Bush Camp were, o surprise, we had the whole lodge for ourselves. Very very kind welcome and delicious cuisine. (,,,)
The game (we saw at Ongava) were plenty : 4 beautiful lions, then last but not least an aperitive in company of rhinos (white)!
The same evening from the dining terrace, a lot of animals going to the waterholes down to us ! Really magic.
And the last evening, we were driven down to the waterhole (in the little cabin) to admire most animals, including a black rhino which didn’t appreciate our presence. (...)
Swakopmund was a very nice surprise : charming little hotel, gourmet Italian cuisine, and very nice service. We found a lot of coincidence with Emilio (the owner) who spent some holidays time in the village where we were in the South of France ! (...)
We found this city so clean that we have been very impressed (more than in Switzerland which is normally a reference ...)
Then we left Swakopmund to the Namib desert, admiring the difference of all these valleys with so many different colours and rocks.
And we saw the star of Namibia, the old welwitschia; what a plant!
The Desert Homestead was waiting for us... We visited those fantastic dunes and after the dinner, appreciate the "dancing and singing show" of the kitchen staff, which was so funny and warmly!. (...)
We would like to emphasize on the perfection of your organised trip. In one word : the one who get lost in Namibia with your road book is just not good for travelling. Again and again congratulations and hope to be back in Namibia in another time ...Si Dieu le veut.
Very kind regards, and all the best for you.
Nicole and André

Liebe Andrea,
gerade habe ich einen kleinen Reisebericht an Bettina Collins geschickt und möchte mich nun auch bei Ihnen recht herzlich für die perfekte Organisation des Namibia-Teils unserer Reise bedanken. Alles in allem war es eine Traumreise, und es gibt nichts zu bemängeln. Alles hat sehr gut geklappt. Mit allen Unterkünften waren wir sehr zufrieden. Besonders gefallen haben uns Onguma Rest Camp, Etosha Safari Lodge, Seidarap Guesthouse, Kalahari Farmhouse und Elegant Guesthouse. Vielen Dank auch für den ausführlichen Reiseplan. Er war erstklassig - sehr informativ und hilfreich. Ich kann Sie und Distant Horizons 100%ig weiterempfehlen.
Für das Jahr 2011 wünsche ich Ihnen privat und beruflich alles Gute.
Herzliche Grüße aus dem verschneiten Westfalen
Christine Körting