Etosha Village

We cut our stay short by a day because we didn’t want another round of awkwardness and miscommunication. The safari booking was another example: staff said we could reserve the day before at any time, but when we tried, it was supposedly full, even though only two couples were staying and we were one of them. On the day of the drive, all the safari jeeps but one were parked outside. We also had trouble with the bill. Drinks we’d already paid for in cash the previous night were added again, so we had to call the manager to sort it out. At our campsite, we couldn’t find a power outlet either. Dinner was the main problem. We were told to book breakfast and dinner a day ahead, so we booked both for our three-night stay when we arrived. That evening, staff asked what time we wanted dinner and explained there’d be no buffet because only two couples were staying. They offered an a la carte menu, which we accepted. But at 7, when dinner was due, the manager handed my girlfriend a lunch menu with toasties, wraps and a few other options. He said a group had cancelled because of heavy rain, though the explanation was vague, and the night before we’d been told there would be no buffet anyway. The restaurant served buffets, yet he said he could only offer lunch food for dinner. I explained that a proper meal mattered because of a medical condition. After a lot of back and forth, he tried to find something at the buffet price, discussing it with the F&B manager. The chef eventually brought options, and we asked for a simple main course. The rice was cold, and the lamb was about 80% fat and bone. We paid less, but by Namibian standards it was still expensive. Meanwhile, another couple arrived with a room booking and received a mini dinner buffet included with their room. It felt absurd to see us met with difficulty over a staff communication problem instead of having it resolved. I’ve worked in hospitality for over 15 years, and this isn’t how it should be handled. Without mentioning my medical condition, I don’t think a solution would have been offered. It was very awkward. After dinner the manager asked if we were happy. I said putting the problem on the guest and making dinner difficult for more than half an hour didn’t feel hospitable. We’re simple about food and didn’t need anything fancy, just a proper meal. He tried to leave a couple of times while I was speaking. That’s not an assumption, it’s something you learn to notice after working in hospitality. The food arrangements had started with breakfast, which was great and had plenty of choice, though expensive by Namibian standards. We’d also booked dinner and breakfast when we arrived. For the first dinner, we came to the bar in the afternoon for drinks and saw our table set with wine glasses and cutlery for a three-course meal. Then, at dinner time, we got the lunch menu instead. We camped here, and if you want to eat at the property, breakfast and dinner need to be arranged a day in advance.