Mountain Peak Game Lodge Namibia

The lodge has a lovely layout, with a pool, landscaped paths to the rooms, and a panoramic terrace over a waterhole where you may see rhinos in the evening. Our room was spacious and clean, with a comfortable mattress, a large terrace, and tea and coffee. A few small dead bugs showed up on the floor during the day; we know that's common in rural places, and it didn't bother us much. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were tasty and nicely presented. The drinks list was good, though the staff couldn't explain the cocktails well. When I asked which bitter was used, I just got the ingredients read back to me. We came to Mountain Peak Lodge near the end of our Namibia trip to relax, and the setting is beautiful, but communication and service were uneven. A week before arrival, I got an email about meals and activities saying advance booking was strongly advised and that I'd receive a confirmation. I sent my choices through Booking.com, to two email addresses, and on WhatsApp, but heard nothing. Staff were kind and polite, and the welcome juice and fresh towels were a nice touch. Still, the person handling check-ins and the main area seemed easily overwhelmed, and the team overall seemed undertrained. A clanging ventilation system also interrupted the peace by the pool. The “sunset drive” was a short trip to a viewpoint, not a wildlife drive with a sundowner drink like similar activities at other Namibian lodges. The fireplace and snacks at the spot were pleasant, but the appetisers caused food poisoning and ruined the next day. The value for money felt fair. This is my personal view, of course, and other guests may have a different experience.

The meals were the highlight for us. We had two three-course dinners, and both were outstanding, on par with a five-star dining experience back home. The spinach soup was so good it converted someone who doesn't even like spinach, the game meat, usually kudu, was 10/10, and the portions were generous. Desserts finished things off perfectly. I wish we'd got the in-house chef's name so she could get the credit. We stayed for 16 days in Namibia and this was our favourite place. We had a 4x4 with rooftop tents and didn't stay at other “luxury” lodges, so we can't compare directly. The views are stunning, the staff friendly and professional, and the rooms spacious, luxurious, and comfortable. The waterhole can be seen from about half the property and draws plenty of wildlife. The owners leave feed out for the resident rhinos at night, and we were lucky enough to see two on our first evening. They stayed for over an hour. We skipped the game drives since we were on our way to Etosha for three days. A few things fell short: Wi-Fi wasn't available in the rooms as advertised, and the connection in the main building was terrible at best. There's no AC, so rooms get hot even with the windows open. Laundry costs extra and is quite expensive, despite the website marketing. The drive from the main road is about 20 minutes, too. Even so, I'd recommend the place if you're visiting Damarland, and suggest the owners make a few small changes to the website so future guests aren't caught off guard.

The rhinos came by at night, and we had a fantastic dinner at the restaurant. We camped in a nice spot with our own bathroom and enjoyed the pool. Special thanks to Selma, who made our stay feel personal and friendly.

The staff were pleasant and the lounge was nice, but I can't recommend this lodge. The owner was especially unpleasant. The rooms are decent, though there's no air conditioning for the extreme heat or the chilly nights. I was told meals were included in my package when I asked on arrival, then asked to pay for them as I was leaving. At every meal they handed us a menu with no prices. In countries where meals aren't included, prices are normally shown, and the restaurant has guests sign so the charge can be assigned to their room. This felt like a scam. They also advertise Wi-Fi in the lounge and rooms, but we couldn't connect at all. And the one-hour “games” or “safaris” they offer are much shorter than the four-hour outings at other lodges. So I don't recommend staying here.