Vingerklip Lodge

Staying up on the mountain was amazing, and the climb was worth it. I wish we'd been told we'd have to make the ascent and descent ourselves. The last stretch has 13 stacks of upright stairs like a lift. I got sick on the last day, which made getting back down hard.

Dinner at Eagle's Nest is a must. The food was precious, and the view from the restaurant was one of the most beautiful we've seen in Namibia. It's a charming lodge with a precious view of nearby Vingerklip and the other terraces.

The buffet had great choices, and the restaurant's views are breathtaking. From there, it's a short walk up to the top of the cliff, where the view is really nice. We were welcomed warmly, and they washed our car without us asking. The scenery and views from the rooms were unbeatable and exceeded my expectations. I'd love to return someday. This is about staying at this Lodge on your way to or back from Etosha National Park.

The hotel and its setting are lovely, but anyone who's even a little afraid of spiders should think twice. We saw one large spider in each of two bungalows, hiding under the ceiling and coming down to hunt as it got dark. The mosquito nets kept them away from us, which helped a little, but wouldn't be much comfort to an arachnophobe. I know this can happen in nature, and I'm not blaming the lodge. Still, meeting a creature like that at night could leave an arachnophobe traumatised for life. I just want people to know it wasn't a one-off: we saw one in each bungalow, and there could well have been others we didn't spot.