Gondwana Damara Mopane Lodge

We stayed at a few Gondwana lodges on our tour, but Damara Mopane Lodge was the one that stood out. The hospitality was warm, and the food was absolutely delicious. They also surprised us for our honeymoon, which gave us a memory we'll always treasure.

A lovely Damaraland base, with really friendly staff, comfortable rooms, and a huge pool. You can also take a walk through the savannah.

The food and general amenities are good, but the layout makes staying here inconvenient. “Walkerville” would be a fitting nickname: rooms are a few hundred metres from reception and other facilities, so any room issue means a trek back. When the aircon remote batteries ran out, I had to walk to reception to sort it out. There’s no Wi-Fi in the rooms and no entertainment, so download anything you might want to watch beforehand. Breakfast is split between two stations in separate parts of the dining facility. Unless someone tells you about the second one, you can easily miss its food. I've stayed three times, and even with a discount, I don't think the price justifies the hassle. International guests pay even more for the same inconvenience. I won't be back.

Such a cute place! Each clean, charming cabin has its own garden with local vegetables that go into the meals. The beds are comfortable, and the shower is big with good pressure. The courtyard dining area was lovely, with a delicious buffet and plenty of local choices. The pool area is nice too, and the bartender makes great drinks. Staff were so friendly, and a sweet woman cleaned our room every day. We really enjoyed this spot.