Twyfelfontein Country Lodge

The desert elephant outing was one of the best parts of our trip. We drove in a 4x4 across wild terrain and were lucky to find several herds roaming freely, including mothers with calves. The landscape was breathtaking, and our guide drove slowly so we could really take it in. Afterward, we watched a magical sunset while a small picnic was prepared, then headed back to the lodge. The setting at Twyfelfontein Country Lodge is so unusual, with red rock formations all around and cabins that blend into them. It felt like a beautifully designed, luxurious version of The Flintstones. There’s a shared area with a pool, lobby, bar, and restaurant. You can have a drink at the bar and take in the views. The upstairs restaurant serves buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with plenty of variety and genuinely good, tasty food. The staff were especially attentive and helpful, always checking that we had what we needed. Our room was clean and comfortable, with a good bed, ensuite bathroom, and a small terrace with two chairs. The lodge is truly in the middle of nowhere, which made the stay feel peaceful, special, and unforgettable.

Very disappointing service, especially for a lodge that cost us CHF 360/night. We lost a family member during our holiday and had to cut the trip short to return to Europe. I contacted the Lodge several times by phone and email to discuss our options and request an invoice for insurance. They only replied after several follow-ups, and didn’t offer condolences, a chance to rebook, or any other help. They told us to wait for the finance team, but we’d already been waiting days for the invoice. That delayed our insurance request, and in the end the insurance won’t cover that night.

The night sky was unforgettable, clearer and fuller of stars than I’ve rarely seen. The elephant excursion in Damaraland was spectacular and absolutely worth doing. Twyfelfontein was excellent too, though I’d go directly instead of booking through the hotel to avoid an unnecessary surcharge. The property is clean and well kept, service is thoughtful, and I appreciated that they offered plenty of activities even in low season. MTC mobile service only reaches 2G, and WiFi is limited to the main building, where it works well. The food was average. One useful thing to know: there were no plugs in the 4x4 for connecting a car fridge.

We took a wonderful elephant safari during our stay, and the staff were friendly and attentive. The rooms were nice, with great views of the horizon, red rocks, and dark skies. The only downside was that WiFi was limited to reception and the restaurant, and mobile data signal in the area was poor.