Lodge Review: Omaruru Guesthouse

With a focus on birding and very little time planned for this overnight stop, the Omaruru Guesthouse was a good budget option.

The door with the lit windows is where the reception and restaurant is.  Unfortunately, they don’t have dinner service, only a breakfast buffet.  You have to go to one of the nearby hotels for a proper dinner.  In our case, we were still pretty full after a huge late lunch at the Wimpy’s (like a Denny’s or Coco’s-ish) in Outjo so we were satisfied with snacks and drinks.

There is an attractive pool area which we didn’t have time to use.

The rooms were very pleasant and the wifi was pretty good.

Omaruru is the one town we passed through that I would have liked to spend more time.  It’s quite an attractive little town and has nice cafes and gift shops and the birding in the surrounding area is excellent.  It’s unlikely that we would get enough miles to afford a return to Namibia but Omaruru would be at the top of the return visits!

Birding The Grounds Of Huab Lodge, Namibia

One of the reasons for choosing Huab Lodge is that there had been several reports on eBird of Ruppell’s Parrots in the area.  We did find ONE parrots and lots more birds!

This pretty bird was seen on the roadside.  I think it’s a Yellow-crowned Bishop.

Quite a few lizards around sunning on the rocks.

And here he is…………….the ONE Ruppell’s Parrot we saw on the whole trip!  Thankfully he stuck around for awhile.

Ring-necked dove

Ring-necked dove

Another lizard

Dusky Sunbird

Laughing Dove

Guineafowls coming right into the restaurant.

Cape Bunting

Rock Bunting

Squirrel

Workers seen from the deck

Pale-winged Starling

African Red-eyed Bulbul

Fork-tailed Drongos

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Lilac-breasted Roller

Monteiro’s Hornbill

Apologies for not being able to id all the birds, if anyone knows what the LBJs & stripe-faced birds are, please comment!

Lodge Review: Huab Lodge, Namibia

Huab Lodge has a stunning location in Damaraland, Namibia and is one of the country’s top birding lodges.

It is accessed via a 35 km dirt road just south of Kamanjab.  Look for D2670 on the signs, then just follow the signs to the lodge.

The buildings are very cool architecturally………….

…………even the local birds think so!

They offer a variety of activities including game drives.  We didn’t do the game drive as I thought the lodge grounds offered excellent birding.

Meals are served at fixed times around one large table shared by hosts and guests.  Teh food was excellent and dinner was quite a show when one of the local ladies described the food in their language which has a lot of clicks.  Just beyond the dining area is a deck where you can watch birds and relax.

Our room was stunning!  We weren’t bothered by mosquitoes so didn’t use the nets, preferring to have an open look out the window to the scenery below.

The bathroom is actually a bit similar to ours at home with the walk-in shower and stone floor although our window doesn’t have such a nice view!

Here’s our deck and you can see how amazing the scenery is!

The swimming pool is just next to the restaurant.

You can walk down this trail to the hot pool below.

The gorgeous hot pool with the stonework is nice and hot and very relaxing.  A great place to loosen up those aching muscles………………

…………………before a nice relaxing massage!  This was our “spoil ourselves” treat after a long trip through Africa!

You can book on their website or try an online travel agent for better deals.  We used Orbitz as they had a good discount already and I was able to stack it with a 15% coupon code that was emailed to me.  We only stayed one night as it’s not a cheap place but wish we could have stayed longer.

Hotel Review: Oase Guest House, Kamanjab, Namibia

We needed a place to break the journey between two birding hotspots – Kunene River Lodge and Huab Lodge so Oase Guest House in Kamanjab was a good choice for our budget.  It’s right off the main road as you drive south and enter Kamanjab from the north.

The property is very secure with a huge wall around it and a pool in the back.

The fan-cooled brick rooms were actually a good size and had ensuite bathrooms and wifi.

Dinner is served a-la-carte and they had some good choices at good prices.  Breakfast is a continental buffet.

I had been hoping to see birds in the garden but there weren’t any.

Someone told me there were Rosy-faced Lovebirds visiting another guesthouse just down the street a bit called Oppi-Koppi Rest Camp so I had to go over for a peek!  They were kind enough to let me see this little guy and his friend having a meal!

Kamanjab is kind of in the middle of no-where so whether you are headed north or south, I strongly suggest filling up your fuel tank before moving on.  I didn’t see any petrol stations between here and Huab Lodge.  There aren’t any restaurants that I could see in town so plan on eating at the guest house.

Lodge Review: Kunene River Lodge, Namibia

The Kunene River Lodge is a birder’s paradise located on the Nambian bank of the Kunene River across from Angola.  I’d like to say that getting there is half the fun but not being used to rough gravel roads, it was quite daunting for me, but I managed in the rented Toyota Rav4.

They offer various accommodations from campsites to a-frame chalets.  This one was ours.

These beautiful little cabins are quite large and very comfortable for a couple.

Nice roomy walk-in shower

This deck has dining tables and can also be a good place to relax and watch birds.

The spacious grounds between the chalets and the camping area.  There is a pool in the rear that I forgot to get a photo of.

Dinner was our first meal and it was really good.  They offer 2 choices, this time I chose pasta and my husband chose steak and chips.  I love the bird placemats!

Here is the same deck in the morning where we hung out from the early hours to watch birds until it was time for breakfast.

Generous and delicious breakfast

More bird placemats!

The camping area attracts monkeys hoping to steal food.

Sunrise over the river

Souvenir hat with the Cinderella Waxbill logo, we each bought one!

Credit cards are accepted which was nice as we needed to pay for the meals, hats and the sunset cruise.  This is a beautiful place and I only regret we couldn’t have stayed longer.  The sunset cruise is a must (review to come) and I wish they had offered the morning cruise as well as the birding is really fantastic here!  You can book on their website or be on the lookout for discounts on booking sites like Orbitz as we got 15% off an already discounted room!

Hotel Review: Protea Ondangwa

Ondangwa is not going to be high on the list of eco-tourism must-sees, but it does make a handy layover point when traveling between Etosha NP (92 kms) and Ruacana (192 kms) which is the access point to Kunene River Lodge.  The Protea Ondangwa is a good deal which usually costs less than $100 or a category 1 in Marriott Rewards points.

We checked in around 8pm and it was pretty dark and the hotel is not well sign-posted from the main road so we had to pull into a petrol station and ask directions.  If we had arrived in the daytime, we probably would have seen the hotel sign, it’s just not lit at night.  It’s accessed on a back road around the corner so a bit tricky but this is what you are looking for.

The reception area looks clean and new and has some cool African art on display.

The room was a good size and nice to see bird art!  The wifi worked ok.

Just what you need after a long, dusty drive!

The next morning, we finally got a look at the hotel and grounds.  They have a security guard on duty and the property is fenced so we felt very safe.  Breakfast is included in the rates and served in the restaurant next to the hotel building.

This is more a business hotel than a tourist destination but it is a decent place to spend the night.  You can book online at their website.

Lodge Review: Eldorado Guest House & Camping

If you can’t actually stay inside the park, this is the next best thing.  Eldorado Guest House & Camping is only 8 kms from the Anderson Gate so you can still be one of the first ones in Etosha NP.  It’s easy to find, just follow the signs.

When traveling in the bush, always leave a gate the same way you find it.

With the sun setting rapidly, we were trying to check in while we could still see the property.

Reception and restaurant area.

The garden is very nice.

This is our cabin, I just loved the stonework! 

The private BBQ on the patio.

The stonework was all through the room with a very cool bathroom feature.

For self-caterers, there is a microwave, kettle and fridge.

We didn’t get a chance to swim due to late arrival and early departure but they do have a very nice pool.

For the price we paid (using Orbitz 15% off coupon) this was an amazing bargain so check your online travel agent portals or you can book with them directly.  It’s a great place to stay and very convenient to Etosha NP!

Hotel Review: Intercontinental, Lusaka

Our journey through Zambia was coming to an end and the next day we would fly to Windhoek via JNB.  After all those bus rides and accommodation ranging from backpackers to cheap hotels to safari lodges.  Now it was time to pamper ourselves in a bit of luxury courtesy of my Chase Free Night benefit with the IHG Rewards card at the Intercontinental Lusaka.

We took a taxi from the Lusaka Intercity Bus Terminus, I think it was 30-40ish Kwacha.  One of these days I have to remember to write down taxi fares.

The large lobby had a special desk for IHG elite members which I had from my IHG credit card so we had a relaxed check-in, then admired some artwork before heading up to the room with our out-of-place backpacks.

The room was typical of a 4 star hotel and had a nice view of the swimming pool.

Yay, a bath tub!

As an elite, I was gifted with wine and fruit in the room, a nice touch!

Free wifi that works very well!

We decided to just hang out and relax, I wanted to catch up online so we got room service for dinner.  I had some kind of pasta, my husband had kebabs and chips.  We aren’t foodies so it was all good.  I really just wanted internet!

Our hunger sated, I looked out the window for birds, not too many around.  If we hadn’t been so tired we would have gone for a walk, the grounds were pretty nice.

Safari Bar is near the restaurant which overlooks the swimming pool.

The fabulous buffet breakfast wasn’t included on a free stay but it sure was delicious!  We ate so much, we didn’t need lunch!

Waffles & pancakes

Omelette station

Afterwards we went down to the pool.  It was a bit too cold to swim that day so we just hung out a bit.

Dark-capped Bulbul

We really enjoyed out stay here and the staff treated us very well.  One man told us where to find cheaper taxis ( the official hotel taxis are expensive) and when check out was delayed due to a new person not knowing how to process the free stay, I was gifted 5000 IHG Rewards points without even asking!  They have a free airport shuttle which waited for us to settle our bill.  The flight was delayed anyways.  I’m happy to recommend the Intercontinental Lusaka!

Lodge Review: Marula Lodge, South Luangwa NP, Zambia

South Luangwa National Park in Zambia is arguably the best safari location I have been to in Africa, and I have been to quite a few!  But before we get to the safari details, first we need a place to stay.  After lots of research, I found the Marula Lodge which is a mere 5 minutes from the gate.  They cater for all budgets with backpacker dorms, camping tents and chalet rooms.  We had a special Backpacker Package for around $450 which included 3 nights for us both in a tent, all meals and 2 game drives per day-morning and late afternoon/evening.  You can pay with a credit card but there is a 5% surcharge, to me it was worth it for the added security and bank transfer fees on my end would have been about the same.

 

We were picked up at the bus station in Mfuwe and driven to the lodge about 5 minutes away.  You are advised not to try to walk as there could be dangerous animals around, lions don’t know the borders of the park!

Heading towards the main building which houses reception, the restaurant, bar, souvenir shop and bathrooms.

Do take some time to read the notice board!

We tried several times but the wifi just didn’t work during our stay.

Daily schedule.

Office building, I think the backpacker dorm is in here as well.

Our tent, here it is by night.

And in the early morning.

Sorry for the blurry shot, you can see the basic set up-2 cots and a table in the middle.  They give you a rechargeable lantern.

The showers and toilets are in this open-air structure.  I got a bit nervous to go there at night but there are security guards around who will escort you if needed.

You hook a chain across the entrance to show it’s occupied.

Our safari vehicle, please note that it is covered on top!  This is an issue as the sun gets very hot during the day and we passed quite a few other vehicles with open tops and red-faced tourists!

Map of South Luangwa NP

Wifi details, I would say don’t bother!  But come prepared with whatever you need for the duration of your stay-downloaded entertainment, books or whatever.

Here’s the restaurant.  You can see the bar in the rear and buffet table with red & white table cloth.  Each couple or group gets their own table.

Breakfast is a small buffet, lunch and dinner are served on a plate.

Some of the hand-made souvenirs from nearby villagers.  Support the local economy and bring something special home!

Dinner the next day, served after the evening game drive.

The bathrooms in the main building have some pretty amazing artwork!

The period between lunch and the afternoon snack is free.  You can sit by the river and watch for animals or have a dip in the pool.  We did both!

During siesta time, I was hanging out at the pool and watched an uninvited guest sneak in a free swim!  Thankfully I was on a lounger and not in the pool at the time!

Marula Lodge is an amazing place with a gorgeous setting and has everything you need for a successful safari.  The management is knowledgeable and friendly, the food is good and the guides top-notch!  We loved this place and were very sorry when we had to leave after 3 days, most people on Trip Advisor were also very happy.  I can highly recommend the Backpacker Special as one of the best deals you could find in Africa!

Stay tuned for our game drives in South Luangwa NP!

 

Hotel Review: Crown Plaza Inn, Lusaka

We had an overnight stay in Lusaka between 2 bus trips.  First we would arrive from Livingstone on Shalom bus and the next morning, we needed to be at the Lusaka Bus Terminal at 4:30 for the Johabie Express but to Mfuwe.  A cheap hotel near the bus station was in order.  After much research, I finally decided on the Crown Plaza Inn which (according to Google maps) was close to the bus station and very cheap.

We arrived around 6pm and it was already dark so I forgot to get the exterior shot.  Please enjoy this bright pink hallway instead!

The room was quite simple but considering it was about $20-ish we couldn’t complain.  The wifi worked but was really slow.

I could say that it was in need of a renovation, but you do get what you pay for. 

The staff were friendly and offered to book a taxi to the bus station the next morning but we had already arranged with the driver who brought us to come back for us.  There is no restaurant on the premises and we left around 4:15 so too early for the included breakfast.  They have soft drinks and water for sale.  Any shopping centres within walking distance were closed so we couldn’t go out for dinner and this isn’t an area where you want to be walking around after dark.  Thankfully we had some snacks we had brought on the bus and that was basically dinner!

Over all, it was ok for an overnight, especially since we arrived late and would be leaving early so the only facility I wanted was wifi and I got it, albeit slower than I liked.