Namibian Family Adventurer

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing over 20 elephants bathe at a waterhole near our campsite.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Gabriel was very knowledgeable and we learned lots from him about local Namibian tribal cultures.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be aware that there is a lot of driving on this trip - typically several hours in a day. This is inevitable given the large distances but worth bearing in mind. The vehicle is fine but not that comfortable. Some of the campsites are lovely but the first one at Etosha was not very nice - but is right by the best waterhole!

Most Inspirational Moment

Hard to choose, but probably sitting atop the sand dunes or star gazing in the desert

Thoughts on Group Leader

Steffan was very knowledgeable about all aspects of the trip - especially the wildlife. But, you had to ask him questions to learn things, rather than him teaching us about Namibia. So, I just asked lots of questions!!

Advice for Potential Travellers

For those with younger children, I'd caution that some of the drives are long, and that it gets very cold in the early mornings both for breakfast and the first few hours on the bus

Suggestions

Just another thank you!

Most Inspirational Moment

So many to mention. The sunrise at Dune 45, seeing the Milky Way and shooting stars at night, for me the flight over the desert. But the waterhole in Etosho was undoubtedly the most special thing for me.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ronney was our leader and he was a star. Unflustered, level headed, knowledgable, great with the kids. He took all the hassle out of the trip and enabled us all to just follow and have a holiday. Jonas was the cook and I've already mentioned his culinary skills. He was also a really lovely guy.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There was a cold snap just as we arrived. Temperatures were really cold. Make sure you have enough cold weather gear. We did - just about. Be prepared to relax and be led. Not everything is going to be perfect but it was invariably good enough. The less polished bits are part of the adventure. Bring a light for inside your tent. Prepared to be dusty and dirty and don't overpack. Bring lots of moisturiser - it's really dry in August.

Suggestions

A great trip enjoyed by the four in my family and I think by everyone on the trip. We're looking at what adventure we can go on next....

Most Inspirational Moment

This is so hard to say - things like great sunrises, quad biking and seeing wild animals very close up in their natural habitat are the obvious ones, but it was also amazing just to learn about Namibia and its ancient and more recent history. The last morning was very special as well, eating a Happy breakfast at a small and very pretty campsite, overlooking a great African vista.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The group was led by Shane, ably assisted by Happy and Beli. They were a great team and I cannot speak too highly of them. They were hard working, competent, knowledgeable and always on the lookout for ways in which they could help. Their wildlife spotting abilities were amazing and they were endlessly patient. Even the best of us leave our brains behind when we go on holiday sometimes and they were calm and practical in all sorts of potential crises [mentioning no names, but if I say lost phone which turned up (eventually) in back pocket, you know who you are!]. Happy deserves a special mention for his cooking - what he can do in iron pots over an open fire is incredible - and for our party he did veggie and gluten free options as well. In general all the food we had was good but we all agreed that there was no restaurant meal we had that lived up to our campfire meals. He gives Happy Meals a whole new meaning! Shane was an endless fount of knowledge about all aspects of the country; history, politics, wildlife, you mention it and Beli's dancing was brilliant - very funny. All three of them were exeptional; they made our holiday really.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take a head-torch. Take African (three round pin) adaptors. Make sure you've got a couple of fleeces and warm PJ bottoms for night toilet visits and generally chilly evenings. We went in the dry season so didn't actually get bothered a lot with mosquitos, but you should still do all the preventative stuff. Be prepared for early starts "Families! Good News! We only have to get up at 5.30am tomorrow!!" Have a sense of humour and be prepared to be flexible. Read the trip notes properly - they are accurate and informative.

Suggestions

There are some long and bumpy journeys - some of the kids read, or plugged themselves into music. Personally I was happy to look out of the window and the time flew by. Spend as much time as possible at the waterhole at Etosha - be patient; it may seem as though nothing is happening and then a whole family of elephants will happen by. Be prepared to join in and have fun - but don't expect any late night partying! Enjoy - "In Africa, everything is possible".

Most Inspirational Moment

Watching the sunrise over the sand dunes and then rolling down afterwards. Watching a stand-off between an adult rhino and a herd of elephants at the Etosha watering hole. Also the township tour in Swakopmund was really interesting. Our guide was really friendly and it was good to see how people live and meet some of the residents. My son tried a fried caterpillar!

Thoughts on Group Leader

They were brilliant - they took excellent care of us. Great leadership by Ronney and we loved our daily PFT (plan for tomorrow) by the campsite fires. He has an incredible wealth of knowledge of his country (history, wildlife and plants). He also has a great eye for spotting wildlife. Jonas was an amazing cook and he was so friendly. Lollo was fantastic too. The three of them were a part of our holiday and not just the guides. We were sorry to have to say good-bye.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take lots of warm clothes if going in the UK summer months - it is cold at night. We bought extra blankets when we were there. It is very dry and dusty. Take head torches. The drives are long, but the countryside is so stunning, it is easy to pass the time just watching the scenery change and spotting wildlife. Also take binoculars for Etosha.

Suggestions

It was hard to leave such a wonderful country!

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing the "Big Mama" sand dune in the heat of the desert sun and then running and jumping all the way down. Watching animals in their natural environment coming to drink at the waterholes. The elephants seemed to be having such fun rolling in the mud and completely submerging themselves, apart from snorkel like trunks, under the water. Seeing the Milky Way so vividly in the black night sky.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shane was excellent. He had amazing local knowledge and went out of his way to be helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you travel in August you won't need a raincoat but make sure you have enough layers of warm clothes for cold nights and early mornings. It was 1C when we landed in Windhoek.

Suggestions

This was a fabulous way to experience a taste of Africa. All of the wildlife you can imagine, incredible landscapes that are so different from England and arid conditions that have to be experienced to be believed. The security of having local guides meant we were able to relax completely without the worry of working out where to go and what to see. Tents were put up and taken down, meals were prepared and washed up and happy campers enjoyed a worry free holiday.

Most Inspirational Moment

Experiencing the fantastic Dunes and the desert environment with a guide/tour leader who had an amazing knowledge of creatures and plants and who was able to engage children and adults in his explanations. The second, equally brilliant experience was seeing so many animals and birds in their own environment - looking out for these made the long journeys pass quickly. 

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our 2 Leaders were equally amazingly good.  The first for his knowledge of his country and his ability to pass on this knowledge and interest to all family members and the second for his equally good knowledge but also for his fantastic meals - incredibly good - being family recipes in some instances and each day received with amazement that he could produce such good, varied food at all times.  The good natured way in which they managed the children enabled them to enjoy the holiday - giving them some freedom to spend their energy, and their patience in answering all questions in depth and so the young people will have learned a great deal about a culture different from their own.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for lengthy journeys between centres which are largely on rough roads.

Suggestions

This is the second Exodus holiday I have had this year.  The first was very different the Simeon Mountain Trek, Ethiopia and both, though being different, have been excellent in similar respects ie organisation, food (very important on a holiday expecially when in a different culture), leaders (knowledge, attitude and enthusiasm).

Most Inspirational Moment

Watching the sun rise over the sand dunes at Sossusvlei on my daughter's 18th birthday was something very special.  But quadbiking on the dunes at Swakupmond was thrilling in a completely different way.  Seeing the landscape change from dunes to scrub desert to lush-ish green covered mountains as we travelled north through the country was pretty amazing.  And then all those incredible birds and animals.  How one can become nonchalant about seeing springbok, zebra, giraffes, warthogs, baboons, the seal colony, elephants and even rhino seems unthinkable but then add a lion with its kill; two lionesses with their cubs, cheetahs, hyenas and even a rare sighting of a leopard with photography opportunities to die for and words begin to fail me...Plus the fact that we are the least likely family ever to sleep under canvas and yet we loved it... all.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Franz was terrific.  He struck the balance between sharing his knowledge of the country and its inhabitants (of all kinds) and giving us the space to spend family time together.  We drove along looking left and right and straight ahead learning about Namibia's history, its economic, political and cultural context, and came home much more knowledgeable about the birds and animals, the geography and geology and so on.  He was really well organised and prepared us fully for each day and all activities.  And he had a great sense of humour too. And accompanied by Jonas, who cooked for us brilliantly, they were a great pair for whom nothing was too much trouble.  

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you go in the summer months; do take lots of warm clothing.  We didn't really have enough and there were nights and early mornings when warm gloves, woolly hats, ski jackets and thermals would have been useful. Don't expect to have much time to read and relax.  We took books that didn't even come out of our bags. And there is quite a lot of bus travel; so do take this into account.

Suggestions

I would heartily recommend this trip and the luxury of having a teenage departure meant that the itinerary was adapted to meet the needs of the group.  We also loved the balance of camping and nights in lodges.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to choose just one moment but sunrise over the sanddunes and the amazing variety and numbers of animals at the waterhole in Etosha were real highlights. Also camping- the stars and animal noises at night, we especially enjoyed the last campsite with no elecricity and no-one else there.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Shane and Jonas were brilliant, very knowledgable about the country and animals [the food was also really good and tasted all the better for being cooked and eaten in the open air].

Advice for Potential Travellers

It can be cool at night and on the skeleton coast but also very warm further north so take plenty of layers. Malaria tablets weren't necessary when we went. Lots of early starts and busy days.

Suggestions

Lots of travelling which wasn't a problem for us but could possibly be for smaller children, our truck kept breaking down which took up time to fix. Would highly recommend the kayaking at Swakopmund and the sandboarding- you'll not do it anywhere else and the setting was lovely with a beautiful sunset over the dunes!!