Discover Namibia - Lodges

I really enjoyed getting to see all the animals you usually only see in books or Disney movies: Lions, meerkats, elephants, mongoose... the list goes forever. As if this wasn't enough, the Namibian landscape is varied and impressive with sand dunes, mountains and the ocean. This trip takes you to all of these, and offers unforgettable adventures, such as tracking rhinos on foot or flying over the desert in a helicopter! The pace of this trip is gentle enough that you will get some R&R in besides all the action, but is never boring - how could it be when there's so much to see and do?

We booked this trip to celebrate my 70th birthday, aware that it included some long days on rough bumpy roads and a couple of challenging walks. I am very fit for my age but did find the itinerary very intense, with numerous early morning starts (a 6:15 alarm felt like a lie in for us!) and little time for relaxation or recovery (apart from the free day in Swakopmund, when we declined all the optional activities). The walk in Brandberg was difficult underfoot, with lots of rocks to negotiate and boulders to scramble over, with the potential to twist an ankle with each step; we were rewarded by the sight of cave paintings dating over 2,000 years, which fascinated me but may not be to everyone’s interest. The walking trail at Waterberg is even more challenging, and nobody in our group completed it (one couple went part of the way up); most opted for a game drive that took us onto the plateau, and we were fortunate to come upon a group of giraffes at a waterhole / salt lick at close quarters, but otherwise there was little to see on the drive. I would have liked to have experienced and learned more about the history and culture of the country. Waterberg is a place of great significance in the Herero genocide and I think time could have been better spent exploring its historical aspects (there is a German cemetery there but we had no time to visit it), instead of the walking trail or the optional game drive. And the brief encounter with Himba and Herero people on day 7 was merely a photo and shopping opportunity (you had to pay to take photos - I declined - and nobody in our group bothered with the market stalls); I would have preferred to have spent time seeing their village and learning about their culture and history. That’s the negative aspects of the trip dealt with. On the positive side, Namibia is a country of contrasting landscapes, each of them impressive in its own way: red ochre sand dunes, lunar landscapes, vast open plains and grasslands, strange granite outcrops, desolate mountains, limitless horizons … and the grandeur of the Waterberg Plateau, a table top mountain fringed with bare granite and best appreciated from below and a short distance away. We saw a variety of wildlife along the way, and a good deal in Etosha, although the recent rains after a three year drought meant that game was hard to spot in the tall grass and vegetation that had sprung up; we saw no leopards, briefly glimpsed a few cheetahs (although we got up close to a group in the cheetah conservatory early in the trip), and spotted the head of a lone male lion resting in the long grass and watching us for a short moment. But we had some amazing encounters with elephants, giraffes, wildebeest and zebra, and saw many different antelopes and other fauna. Unfortunately the flamingos had left Walvis Bay, and the desert elephants were no longer in the valley at Brandberg, which was disappointing. Wildlife watching is mostly a matter of luck, and nothing is guaranteed.The best wildlife encounter was the rhino safari at the end of the trip, when we walked to within 20 feet of three white rhino at Eagle’s Rest; an unforgettable experience. There were many other interesting sights and experiences along the way: countless giant ground crickets, almost everywhere we went; walking through the Sesriem Canyon ; old German colonial architecture in Swakopmund; eating apple strudel and ice cream at Anton’s Cafe; the Zeila wreck on the Skeleton Coast; pet meerkats in Brandberg White Lady Lodge.

From sand dunes to rock piles to boat trips to game safaris, there is so much to see in Namibia, albeit separated by several hours of less interesting drives through desert scrub. But this trip managed to make it all interesting, splitting the longer drives up with short stops. The converted truck/bus ("Gogga") was comfortable enough, even though the AC had problems coping with the 35°C + heat. Accommodations were good, and vegetarians were accommodated well enough.

A packed and varied itinerary with desert landscapes, mountain walks and a chance to see a huge range of wildlife (we got to see the Big 5). Accommodation was good: big rooms, mosquito nets when needed, always a fridge and kettle, tea, coffee. Pretty good for vegetarians. Breath-taking skies and vast plains and mountains.

Fantastic trip, saw such a range of wildlife. Really great to go to so many different locations on this trip. Great guide, comfortable and spacious vehicle and some very nice lodges and hotels. Would highly reccomend this trip.

This was a well organised trip. Namibia is a vast country of great contrasts and spectacular scenery. Each area we visited was so different and fascinating and our guide (Shane Katjirua) was incredibly knowledgeable about the history, geology, people and wildlife of each particular region. This all contributed to a very interesting and most enjoyable holiday..

A truly great trip. Namibia is a big country and that becomes apparent very quickly. You can drive for hours on dirt roads without ever seeing any sign of civilisation. There's a whole lot to see you won't be disappointed.

A truly magical, memorable tour experiencing all Namibia has to offer. The scenery is spectacular with wide open skies inviting you further. The wildlife sightings surpassed my expectations thanks to our fabulous guide Ronney.

This was a great trip overall. You really got to see the country, including the amazing red sand dunes, the Skelton coast and of course wildlife in Etosha National Park. This did mean that there were some long drives, but this all felt part of the adventure. We had a fantastic group and the accommodation was spot on in all places.

A well paced trip through Namibia taking in the main highlights.

Fully enjoyed this trip. I have been on 8 exodus trips and this is one of the best. Always the guide is critical to the success of a trip and our Guide was the best ever. A brilliant country which is a shining example to the rest of Africa. It was an honour to visit it and enjoy their spectualar scenery and amazing wildlife and lovely friendly people.

This was my first trip with Exodus and it has left me hungry for more! The whole experience from start to finish was excellent and professionally managed. I have come away with so many wonderful memories, from the vast landscape of the Namib Desert, the beautiful orange/red sand dunes to the skeleton coast and then Etosha National Park The ever changing scenery was just fantastic and then there is the wild life! There was eleven of us in total on this trip in July, guessing 35 - 70yrs, we gelled on day one and had a fantastic time. The lodges and food were excellent, and very friendly staff. The Tour truck was comfortable and well maintained. There were some long days and early starts, these are necessary and well managed with lots of breaks to stretch the legs.

Namibia is a beautiful country of amazing contrasts.

This was my first trip with Exodus and it has left me hungry for more, I have returned with a lifetime of memories. (It has taken me a couple of weeks to back to reality :( ) We were a group of eleven, that gelled from the offset and that was the icing on the cake. Such a wonderful, magical country with fantastic scenery from the Namib desert to the skeleton coast to Etosha National Park. Lots to see, lots of wildlife , excellent accommodation, good food, and very friendly people. Some early starts and long drives in the tour truck, that was quite comfortable. There was lots of stops where you can get of and stretch the legs, that breaks up the journey. I truly enjoyed every minute!

I took my mum to Namibia to celebrate her birthday. We were with other 9 fellow travellers and our excellent lead guide Shane. The trip was quite comprehensive and we traveled almost 3000 km, exploring some of the most beautiful and picturesque parts of the country. The truck used for the trip was quite comfortable, with large windows and operable roof. Although we traveled long distances we made frequent stops and the landscapes were always fascinating. We explored the magical desert, the skeleton coast and ship wrecks, the Etosha natural park with its wildlife and the majestic mountains/plateaus. Truly memorable. Our guide Shane was knowledgeable, kind, funny and patient. He could also spot hidden animals easily (he spotted a chameleon while driving the truck!!). Really good trip

A 2 week tour to a beautiful country. Everywhere we went we saw spectacular scenery, met interesting and friendly people and stayed in lovely lodges. I won't forget the elephants, pronking springbok, dancing ostriches and roaring lion.

Just back from a wonderful trip to Namibia. There was 10 people on the group. We travelled on a truck through this amazing country. Our guides Ronnie and Chef Rueben where amazing. They were so professional and efficient,they actually made the holiday. Long drive days but these were made easier by Ronnie the driver's flexibility. Loo stops and photo stops where never a problem. Fantastic hosts and Reuben is an amazing chef. Thank you....i put on 3 3lbs last 2 weeks haha.

Stunning country Trip was very sedentary. More hiking options would have been welcome

I returned from this trip having experienced many moments which will last a lifetime, from seeing numerous animals in the wild or at watering holes to seeing the vastness of the Namib desert and the changing colour of the sand dunes. It really is a trip that is a photographers dream as you want to capture each and every moment. We were a group of 12 with ages ranging from early 20s to 70s and we all got on very well. Yes there were lots of long drives but these were broken up well. Accommodation was good and food often excellent. It certainly is a trip of a lifetime.

This holiday was a great adventure in a magnificent country that I fell in love with. We went during Namibia's Winter and as a result there was an abundance of wild animals throughout our trip. Lodges were more than adequate, WIFI was more widely available than I had predicted ( only needed to send gloating photos back home!), Most major places such as supermarkets, lodges and activities took either cash or credit/debit card and food although very meat centric was still complemented by lots of vegetables so didn’t come back too much heavier than we went!