Düsternbrook Guest Farm

The views are beautiful, and the food was good, but it was very expensive for a simple meal. We also only had communal tables, and I would have preferred a table of our own. We stayed in a chalet, and the booking site's photos and description didn't match what we found. The room was tidy, but the bed hadn't been made when we arrived. For the price, I expected more. It has potential, but it wasn't what we'd hoped for. Although the booking said self catering, basics were missing, and we had to ask for coffee cups and spoons. The room got very hot, with no fan, so bring something to help cool it. We tried leaving the hot water running for a while, but it never warmed up. The available plugs could charge a phone but couldn't power a hairdryer. I also missed having a bedside lamp for reading.

Went hiking here. Interesting place, but in September everything was dry and there were no animals. Bring extra water.

At Campingsite Pioneer, our stay was a letdown. The camping rate was 355 P/P, drinks were 60 for Shandi and 350 P/P for Leopard, yet there was no hot water or even firewood to heat it ourselves. The kitchen sink was filthy, the showers were dreadful, and only the toilets were acceptable. We got a strong sense of neglect and unprofessionalism. Rock and MalawiShandi were the worst of our two-month trip. The leopard was the one bright spot, though they had fed it so much meat that morning that we had to go back three times before getting a good view. We honestly couldn't see the appeal of staying overnight here. Kaliombo Safari, less than two hours toward Swakopmund, was far better. Its campsite reminded us of Hoanib, with large trees and fine sand. Towels were included, hot water was a given, and the owner checked several times to make sure everything was all right. The swimming pool was superb, with the clearest water we'd ever seen.

I picked this place for the horse riding at the start of my trip through Namibia and Botswana. The horse I rode was well trained, and the horses all looked well cared for. There are also plenty of birds and wildlife on the property, plus hiking trails. On the game drive we saw giraffe, kudu, oryx, springbok, and impala. We stopped at the dam, where there were hippos and lots of different water birds. Dinner was very good, and the staff were helpful and polite. I had a really nice few days here.