Guestbook

Dear Ms Harter,
thank you very much for the great advice ahead of our trip to Tanzania.
The safari as well as our beach holiday on Zanzibar were perfectly organised from start to finish,
compliments from us. It could not have been done better.

Our guide Lazaru was an absolute stroke of luck. With him we were able to experience unforgettable moments. He gave us a deep insight into the fascinating flora and fauna of Tanzania as well as the way of life of the people, especially the Maasai.

He drove us unerringly along the gravel tracks to the most interesting spots and amazed us again and again with his incredible knowledge. Lazaru could practically sense the animals, and especially the Big 5.

The choice of lodges was great. Every evening the anticipation was high for what awaited us.
The accommodation in the middle of the steppe was simply fantastic. Experiences you should have once in your life.

With our hotel on Zanzibar, the Mwezi, we experienced the crowning finale.
Impressive bungalows, delicious food and super attentive and friendly staff.

Finally, we would like to thank once again everyone who made an unforgettable holiday possible for us. Lazarus, a very special thank-you to you. The week with you will remain unforgettable for us.
We were allowed to experience the fascination of Africa and are already looking forward to the next trip with Elefant-Tours.

We had been looking forward to our eight-week trip through southern Africa for a long time, and sadly it was over again very quickly. Eight weeks with many, many highlights and hardly any points of criticism despite Covid.

Our self-drive round trip started in Windhoek with a great briefing from Sven Schmidt and took us through southern Namibia, through the Kalahari, to the very impressive Fish River Canyon. The view from Fish River Lodge there is indescribable. We continued across the Namib Desert and Sossusvlei to Swakopmund on the Atlantic, and with that from a sunny 40° to a sunny 16°. In the desert you also learn how dependent the inhabitants and farms are on water, which perhaps makes you handle the water we take for granted at home a little more consciously again.

Of course, Etosha National Park with its African wildlife diversity must not be missed in Namibia. But you also see the animals outside the parks. Again and again you come across oryx antelopes, springboks, giraffes, baboons and so on. The breathtaking landscape is mostly characterised by desert and mountains, so you have to keep stopping for a snapshot. On the way you are generally on gravel roads, often completely alone, which means a sensible car with good tyres is a must.

After Etosha we headed to the north-east of the country towards the Caprivi. Here the landscape is completely different: it gets ever wetter and therefore greener. Here you are generally on good tarred roads, but you also have to watch out for potholes. The nights spent directly on the Okavango and Zambezi rivers are an experience. The wildlife also expands to include hippos and crocodiles. On our three-day detour to Botswana we stayed in a luxury tent and, on guided tours, got almost within touching distance of elephants, crocodiles and hippos.

The end of the first part of our trip was Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, which, because of the current situation, we were able to marvel at almost on our own. Although the Zambezi carries comparatively little water at the end of October, the falls were still very impressive.

We then flew on to Johannesburg in South Africa. After Blyde River Canyon we spent four days in the southern Kruger National Park. The state-run accommodation in the park is not quite as comfortable and luxurious as we were used to from the other accommodation. But it is always clean, and after all you are there for the animals and the scenery. As in Etosha, in Kruger you can go on a game drive yourself or take part in guided tours.

Scenically, South Africa is completely different from Namibia. It is much greener everywhere, but apart from baboons you see animals almost only in the national parks. South Africa is also much more densely populated than Namibia, and you are generally on tarred roads.

We would not make the detour to Swaziland again. The roads have extreme potholes, which at times makes driving life-threatening. A shame really, because the country is scenically beautiful. However, there is hardly any opportunity to stop properly.

After a few days on the warm Indian Ocean we continued to the Drakensberg for hiking with incredible views. There are hikes for all levels of difficulty. From Johannesburg we then flew to Port Elizabeth to tackle the famous Garden Route.

In Tsitsikamma National Park you hike in places directly beside the roaring Indian Ocean. In the Little Karoo you drive over great mountain passes. At our lodge we were able to enjoy a delicious ostrich steak from the surrounding ostrich farms.

Back on the coast we drove along the ocean towards Cape Town. At the end of November we were unfortunately a little too late for the whales, but we will definitely make up for that. Cape Town and the Stellenbosch wine region are worth a trip on their own: we “climbed” Table Mountain by cable car under a cloudless sky, and another day trip took us to the Cape.

In Stellenbosch we did a full-day wine tasting with a total of 23 wines – brilliant. Culinarily, Cape Town and Stellenbosch leave nothing to be desired: if you want, you can get star-level cuisine for little money.

…What was your biggest highlight of the trip?
There isn’t really a single biggest highlight. There were so many great experiences, views, conversations and places to stay. But what impressed us again and again was experiencing giraffes in the wild in Namibia, or meeting crocodiles or elephants two metres away, as on a guided tour in Botswana. Victoria Falls, Table Mountain, …

…What personal tip do you have for future travellers?
In Namibia we had three flat tyres with our Duster, once in the middle of a national park. Changing the tyre was quite exciting. Next time we would take a car with better tyres.

…What did you particularly like about Elefant-Tours, and what did you not like?
Ms Harter responded to our wishes at all times, and we were very satisfied with the route planning over this long period. The extra effort caused by the Covid situation was no problem either. When we had questions along the way, we got a quick reply. Always happy to come back.

…Which accommodation was top, which more of a flop?
Phew, hard to say. We had 33 places to stay, almost without exception comfortable to luxurious with great food. In Namibia we particularly liked the hospitality at Namtib Desert Lodge in the Namib. Very luxurious was Mubala Lodge directly on the Zambezi. In South Africa we were thrilled by Fairlight Beach House on the east coast and by Crayfish Lodge on the south coast. Both places have breathtaking views directly over the sea, especially Crayfish Lodge, with Sandra’s hospitality leaving nothing to be desired.

As a flop we would name Brandberg White Lady Lodge (known from “Hummeldumm”). This place has long since had its best days but doesn’t notice. We had chosen that lodge ourselves, though, not Elefant-Tours. An absolute disappointment was Aero Guest Lodge in Johannesburg. There, aspiration and reality are worlds apart.

…Travelling in Covid times: how did you experience your trip?
For us, Covid had the advantage that we had many hotspots such as Fish River Canyon, Big Daddy at Sossusvlei, Victoria Falls etc. almost to ourselves. The operators and staff at the accommodation were always delighted that someone could finally come again and looked after us superbly from start to finish. In total we needed four PCR tests, by far the most expensive being the one in Germany. But it went completely smoothly every time, and the result was sent by email each time. We did not regret making this trip in Covid times for a single day and would do it again at any time.

Hello Mr Schuff

Our trip to Uganda was fantastic, you put together a great programme for us. Almost everything worked out too.

Our flight was 3 hours late and we only landed at 00:30, then all the formalities with visa and test, and when we were finally outside at 1:30, unfortunately nobody was there to take us to the guesthouse, so we had to take a taxi.

The next morning, however, our guide Hassan appeared on time (06:30) and our trip could begin. Hassan did everything absolutely perfectly, he is a very good driver, has great knowledge and is a good sniffer dog for animals.

The lodges were all very beautiful too, the food great and the people very friendly. Uganda rightly bears the name Pearl of Africa. It is a beautiful, green, lush country with wonderful people and great wildlife.

The two treks were also great. The chimpanzees and gorillas are very impressive, but I had my personal highlight in an encounter with a leopard. It was so beautiful that tears came to my eyes.

The tree-climbing lions in Ishasha will also stay unforgettable for us; they were absolutely delightful, the way they hung in the trees.

It was truly an unforgettable trip and we will certainly travel to Africa with Elefant-Tours again.

Many thanks for your efforts with all the rescheduling.

Our trip with Elefant-Tours / Namibia-Experience was, as always, an experience we will never forget. We can’t say exactly what we liked best. Once again it was superbly organised from start to finish. Camping was definitely a highlight, as we camped for the first time. Another big compliment goes to Sven, who really gave his all to make our tour something very special.

The best thing we have to say about Covid is that in the beautiful solitude of Namibia’s remote paths, for the duration of the holiday we didn’t notice so much of it.
Our tip for all travellers is to book such a fantastic trip too, to slow down, to reflect in Namibia’s nature and to learn to appreciate the simple things in life again.

We can say for ourselves: “You can leave Africa, but Africa will never leave you”

Many thanks again for everything, we will be back.

We are in Africa very often. This was our third time in Namibia, this time travelling only in the south (Windhoek, Mariental, Keetmanshoop, Fish River Canyon, Lüderitz, Namib-Naukluft).
Perfectly organised by Elefant Tours: itinerary, tour manual, accommodation.

Hygiene measures everywhere, you feel safe in this other world.
Expectations of the country and its people are met and exceeded.

The vastness and silence of the various desert landscapes are fascinating, as are the flora and fauna found only here.

Heartfelt thanks to Elefant-Tours. An ode to Ms Brode.

After very smooth, consistently empathetic and patient trip planning, we have now travelled a year later than originally planned because of the Covid pandemic. This simply meant the anticipation lasted a little longer, and at no point did we think of cancelling.

Rebooking and even extending our dream trip by one person was a matter of course and immediately possible for our travel planner, Ms Heitzmann. We were away from 8 to 28 November and all four of us had an unforgettable time with great people, landscapes, accommodation as well as fantastic food and drink.

Everything was perfectly planned, the respective accommodations were within easy driving distance and tailored to our taste. All our wishes for the respective places and areas were fulfilled and even improved with tips.

Of course we also had concerns about flying to South Africa in these pandemic times. We can only say it was a fantastic idea and we never felt unsafe. The test required for entry gives you a good, safe feeling on the plane and for the start of the trip. At the airport, at the respective accommodation, in the national parks and even in some of the shops, temperatures are taken, and we have honestly never had to disinfect our hands as often as in South Africa. The majority of the people we spoke to at the accommodation were even vaccinated. All of that, as well as the fact that the number of guests is currently regrettably very low, lets you enjoy the trip very safely, and in our assessment it is actually better organised there and people act much more carefully and prudently.

On the last day we then received the alarming news of the new Omicron variant, and that in Germany there were reports of flights from South Africa being suspended. After contact with Ms Heitzmann, who called us straight away and reassured us, we took our return flight completely smoothly, without disruption or incident. The only important thing is that a current PCR test accepted by the airline is presented on departure. It could be done both in Port Elizabeth (4–6 hours) and very quickly (2 hours) within the airport grounds at check-in in Johannesburg. We cannot confirm any of the other reports that were circulating here in Germany. It is a little sad that there is such incredible panic in Germany, which of course also reaches and unsettles the guests in South Africa. We are now in home isolation for 2 weeks, but we accept that gladly and all 4 of us say it was still worth it for this trip.

We can only give an absolute recommendation to every traveller who is toying with the idea of setting off even in the current times. It is a great country with wonderful people who really do everything they can to keep their guests, and themselves, healthy.

There was actually no real highlight of this trip in that sense, as every place we stayed, every stop and every experience was incomparable. It was already our 2nd time in South Africa and of course you make comparisons. Our stay and the safaris at Ukhozi Lodge were very special and unbelievably beautiful. We were able to see sooo many different animals very close up and had a fantastic guide. Our whale-watching tour in Gansbaai, as well as the special accommodation Oyster Bay Lodge with horse riding on the beach, were also unforgettable for us. In the national parks the nature and the closeness to the animals are unique.

We actually liked everything about Elefant-Tours, we are happy all round and are already planning a repeat in 2–3 years.

With very warm regards and a big thank-you, we look forward to the next contact and to planning another dream trip.

We are all back safe and sound from Tanzania and Zanzibar, and everyday life already has us firmly in its grip again, with a temperature difference of 30°C ………..

The anticipation of the trip lasted a full 2 years because of the well-known circumstances, and found new nourishment again and again through the email exchange with you and thanks to the great travel documents. And so our expectations of our trip were huge. But we are delighted to announce that the long wait was worth it. As professional as your preparation was, the whole trip went just as brilliantly and smoothly. I really could not have imagined so much punctuality and smooth running on the African continent.

It is incredibly hard to pick out one biggest highlight – rather, the whole trip was a highlight. Being able to experience so many animals, and above all so close up, in Tarangire, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro exceeded our wildest expectations. Getting even the “Big Five” in front of our lens was then really the icing on the cake. We were also surprised by the accommodation, both the lodges and the tented camps. Everything was always perfectly prepared and very clean. The evening welcome was always extremely friendly and the food tasted excellent everywhere.

Our tour guide Silayo Setas also deserves great praise. With his astonishing command of German, he passed on a lot of information about the animals, the plant life and the different landscapes very well and in an easily understandable way. Thanks to his extremely anticipatory and defensive driving style, we always felt safe and well looked after in the vehicle.

One thing has also become clear to us now – a safari like this makes you tired. The constant rattling and shaking on the bumpy roads and the constant lookout for animals is tiring, and all the more you look forward to a few quiet days on a beautiful beach on Zanzibar.

Thank you for organising this great trip. I wish you and the whole Elefant-Tours team all the best and above all good health.

What a beautiful, extraordinary trip! We had booked a 10-day safari, 5 days in Kenya and 5 days in Tanzania. It started in Nairobi on 26 September and the safari ended in Arusha on 5 October. Because of the border crossing we had two guides – one for each country, for legal reasons.

Both spoke very good German. Emmanuel started with us in Nairobi. With his passion and his knowledge he gave us a great time. We learned so much fantastic information about animals, plants and the country, and he patiently answered all our curious questions 😉

The entry process at the border was quite simple, as we had been able to prepare most of it online. Here our guide Daniel took over and gave us a wonderful insight into Tanzania.

Our favourite place on this tour was the Masai Mara. Thank you for the fantastic organisation and for letting us feel so at home! For one of us it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For the other, the trip sparked great curiosity about the other countries of Africa.

Three generations (aged between 9 and 73) during Covid, 5 Namibia newcomers and 2 experienced “old hands”, of whom two people had dietary restrictions for health reasons – that was a real challenge, BUT… we had an absolute dream trip on which EVERYONE got their money’s worth.

We spent 14 days travelling through Namibia as self-drivers with 2 Toyota Fortuner 4 x 4s. The distances were perfectly matched to our needs and the choice of lodges was great. A successful mix of relaxation and getting to know the country and its special features. The “adventure” for the young people never fell short either. After climbing a dune we were rewarded with breakfast in the dunes, we kayaked right through fur seals, took a quad bike on a historical tour through the Namib at Walvis Bay, and went on several game drives. A particular highlight was the game drive looking for the desert elephants in the Brandberg, and also our drive with a guide at Mount Etjo Lodge.

We had an exceptional stay at Vingerklip Lodge, where we were spoiled at Heavens Gate and Eagles Nest high up on the rocks with a fantastic view, great rooms and really good food.

Our wildlife tally was great, and we were also able to share the joy of the first rain in a long time with the local people.

For all wildlife enthusiasts we can also recommend the Etosha app, which answers all questions as quickly as possible and also creates a lovely memory with its sightings diary.

Once again we booked an unforgettable, adventurous and at the same time relaxing holiday with Elefant-Tours.
Our trip started in Tanzania. This time we aimed high and climbed Mt Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route.
They were very impressive, beautiful and of course strenuous days 😅 that we will never forget.

After the climb we went on to Zanzibar. We stayed at “The Loop” hotel on the east coast. The beach is simply incredibly beautiful and we really enjoyed our time there.

The planning beforehand and the holiday in Africa went superbly. Despite Covid, everything went smoothly and we always had a good feeling.
A heartfelt thank-you goes to Elefant-Tours, in particular to Ms Brode.
We are already looking forward to the next trip with Elefant-Tours!

We now know quite a few countries on the African continent, including such rarely visited ones as Sudan, Eritrea or Angola. And I have to admit that before our flight to Windhoek we had a few concerns that Namibia might be a little boring for us.

But that was not the case at all, quite the opposite. The trip was a great experience for us and we really enjoyed our stay. Namibia is a great country. The people are extremely friendly. We had the opportunity to learn a few things about the different tribes that live there. What is particularly impressive is in fact the magnificent landscapes, of which Namibia has plenty to offer.

Now specifically on the points you raised:

– the biggest highlight of the trip? That is very hard to answer, because there was not just one highlight. There were several. They included Fish River Lodge and Grootberg Lodge with their unique locations, Deadvlei and of course Etosha National Park. We particularly liked Omarunga Camp at the Epupa Falls. We simply enjoyed sitting on the terrace of our tent and looking out over the Kunene River. It was wonderfully relaxing. Our far too short stay with Thorsten and Lynn at Namtib Desert Lodge was also great. We felt very much at home there. We especially liked eating together at the big table.

– a personal tip for future travellers: Etosha and Sossusvlei are really worth seeing, that is undisputed. But I would recommend everyone to also take some time for the less-visited regions.

– what we particularly liked about Elefant-Tours: Only afterwards did it become clear to us that the setting of the individual daily stages was really almost perfect. We drove about 5,000 kilometres in the 3½ weeks, which was quite a workload. Every daily stage was easily doable time-wise. There were only a few days on which we arrived at the lodge relatively late.

We also particularly liked the choice of the various lodges and guesthouses. It was a really successful mix, exactly as we had wished. Almost all the hotels were truly outstanding and stood out for a special location and really great service. Okaukuejo Camp, however, has to be excepted. The resort is simply huge and therefore also impersonal. The service is not comparable with privately run lodges. But our stay there was fine, above all the location was good for our route.

After our arrival we had also taken up the briefing by Sven. It was very interesting and extremely helpful. He went to incredible trouble and created a very detailed map for our trip. We received many good tips from him.

– Travelling during Covid: To say it up front, we really chose the absolutely perfect time for a trip to Namibia, so soon after the reopening, i.e. after the downgrading from a high-incidence area. There were almost only independent travellers out and about. Some of them we kept seeing every now and then. We hardly met any tour groups, which we found very pleasant. Sometimes we were on the roads for hours without meeting a single car. We were often the only guests at the lodges. The managers and staff had a lot of time, even for a nice chat. Everyone was very happy that more visitors were slowly coming again. Many people had a very hard time during the Covid pandemic and could not earn any money.

In conclusion I can say that we had a wonderful time in Namibia, thanks also to your very good planning. We were thrilled.

Elefant-Tours has without doubt organised a wonderful, eventful holiday for us in South Africa (Garden Route). It was enormous fun getting to know the country and its people and the flora and fauna on the self-drive tour.

The rental car (Toyota Avanza) was ideal for the four of us. With four medium-sized suitcases, though, the boot is really fully used. A boot cover would be nice, so that not everyone can see what you have “loaded”.

L’Avenir Wine Estate / Stellenbosch

A very beautiful lodge surrounded by vines. Great rooms and a good, generous breakfast.

Thabile Lodge / Oudtshoorn

The approach over a few kilometres of “gravel track” is no problem. The welcome was very warm! The cottages are spacious and functionally furnished. Service, breakfast and dinner were really great. We were thoroughly spoiled.

Oyterbay Lodge / Oyster Bay

The last 24 km to Oysterbay Lodge are really a bit of an adventure. This gravel track has so many potholes, some of them really big, that you cannot drive around them. In addition there was a small valley bottom filled with water, which we drove through at the risk of getting stuck. It all worked out!

The lodge is beautifully located and invites you to take walks to the sea. Great cottages, good breakfast and dinner, and the nature with countless birds and vervet monkeys make up for the pothole track.

Kariega Settlers Drift / Kariega Game Reserve

Certainly a highlight of our trip. The location of the lodge, with a magnificent view down into the valley where countless antelopes, giraffes, wildebeest, … graze, is simply beautiful. Service, food and the luxury tented cottages were really great. We particularly enjoyed the safari drives with our guide Michael, of course.

Elephants Footprint Lodge / Colchester

A lovely lodge with spacious rooms, good breakfast and dinner and very good service! After a few kilometres of driving you reach Addo Elephant National Park. This park can be explored on a self-drive safari in your own car. We saw a great many elephants and other animals too. It was really fun. The roads/gravel tracks in the national park are very easy to drive.

Tsitsikhaya Lodge / Storms River

Lovely spacious cottages and a good breakfast let us start the day full of energy. Here you should definitely go on a hike in Tsitsikamma National Park (jungle, huge ancient trees, suspension bridges and all of it right by the sea).

Dolphin Dunes Guesthouse / Wilderness

Lovely, functionally furnished rooms with a balcony and sea view. We could watch dolphins from the balcony. The beach invites long walks and there are a few great restaurants in the village.

Sea Star Cliff Lodge / De Kelders

A very modern house with generous rooms, a good breakfast and good service. What a feeling to stand on the balcony and watch the whales frolicking in the sea. Indescribable! If you want to get even closer to the whales, I recommend “Dyer Island Cruises”, which set sail by boat from Kleinbaai for whale, shark, penguin and sea lion watching. A great experience for those with sea legs.

Antrim Villa / Cape Town

A nice villa in a good location (below Signal Hill) with lovely rooms, a good breakfast and great service. Cape Town is of course a great city with many attractions. You could of course enjoy yourself here for even longer. An excursion to the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach, to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope must of course not be missed. We were lucky to be able to go up Table Mountain by cable car, as the day before and also the day after the cable car was not running because of strong wind. On the last evening we also enjoyed the sunset on Signal Hill.

Covid has left enormous marks/damage here too. With the exception of Antrim Villa, all our lodges/guesthouses were only very sparsely occupied; i.e. the tourists are still missing. We often sat alone at breakfast or dinner. A shame!

Restaurants are generally very well attended (by locals); i.e. a certain normality has returned here. The mask requirement is followed with discipline everywhere, a digital or paper check-in (Covid contact tracing) takes place and we occasionally had to show our vaccination certificates.

We are very enthusiastic about South Africa and can well imagine that this will not be our last trip to this great country.

Dream trip through Namibia

Thanks to excellent preparation by Ms Heitzmann of Elefant-Tours and great support from our contact on the ground, with tips on activities and bookings, we had a unique holiday.

Our 15-day drive along the “tourist route” took us to the top sights, and the distances and stage durations were well calculated. If you have the chance, you should also plan a few relaxing days at one of the beautiful lodges: driving mostly on sandy roads requires a lot of concentration! To name a single highlight of our trip would not do justice to the other experiences, but the flight over the Namib from Swakopmund was spectacular.

We are glad to have made the trip despite Covid. We felt safe at all times. The hygiene measures were well implemented everywhere, and the staff at lodges, restaurants and parks wore masks. This was not our last time in Africa!

We women, aged 55 to 69, are a travel-loving group who very much enjoy a change of scene and switching off from daily life now and then. We all have families and grandchildren too.

After we were able to experience a wonderful, perfectly organised private lodge safari in Tanzania with Elefant-Tours back in February 2020, it was clear to us that we wanted to have more great experiences with lots of animals in Africa. “The safari virus” has infected us. So in spring 2021 we booked another trip, this time to Kenya.

Despite the Covid pandemic we were able to set off on 1 September. We had all already been vaccinated twice, and the travel formalities for Kenya and back to Switzerland could be completed online without any problems and loaded onto our mobile phones. Through Elefant-Tours’ representative, Kenya-Experience, we were picked up in Nairobi and competently and perfectly prepared for and accompanied on our safari. With our guide and driver Simon, we hit the jackpot. It is incredible what a nose he has – he also has more than 25 years of safari experience. He led us through the Masai Mara to Lake Naivasha, then to Amboseli and Tsavo West National Park. Because of “Covid” there were very few safari vehicles out and about, and we were able to watch a great many animals for hours without being disturbed by other vehicles.

One highlight followed the next. All the lodges and tented camps that Elefant-Tours selected for us we can recommend very much, with the maximum number of stars possible.

After the safari we spent another 7 days at beautiful Diani Beach. There too we found that there were not as many tourists as usual. All in all a unique, wonderful trip that we can definitely recommend. Many thanks to the team at Elefant-Tours and Kenya-Experiences.

The first time but certainly not the last

On my 13-day self-drive tour I drove to many highlights in order to get my bearings for a new 2022 “survival tour”, and experienced quite a lot.

Driving alone through the big-city jungle of Windhoek to the guesthouse, on the left-hand side of the road and without a satnav, was already a real challenge.

On the 2nd day I received from Sven Schmidt, operations manager of Elefant-Tours in Windhoek, a personally prepared route plan with valuable tips and tricks. I suspect he knows everybody there.
In total I drove just under 3,000 kilometres and felt welcome everywhere.

As a solo traveller I never had a moment of unease and found Namibia very hospitable, the people always helpful.
My highlights were Sossusvlei, Etosha, the Erongo Mountains and the Bushman Walk with the indigenous people of Namibia, the San. I would like to recommend the AfriCat Foundation in Otjiwarongo. Here you can watch cheetahs and leopards very well.

Because of the heavy rainfall in January and February, you could actually swim wonderfully in Sossusvlei. A very special experience, as it is only rarely that so much rain falls that water collects there.
I would like to thank Lisa Heitzmann in particular for her support in booking a Covid test for departure. Perfect service, which goes beyond the usual activities of a travel agency. For problems and challenges of any kind, I would have received help from Elefant-Tours at any time. A heartfelt thank-you for the wonderful Namibia break.

From 14.4. to 14.5.2021 we travelled in Namibia as self-drivers (Toyota Land Cruiser 4×4 from Savanna-Car). In total we visited 11 lodges and also stayed at 2 guesthouses. When we visited Sven Schmidt, operations manager of Elefant-Tours, we heard about an upgrade as well as further tips for our trip. Superb care. After 3 days in Windhoek we set off eastwards to the Harnas Wildlife Foundation.

That was a brilliant start to the rest of the trip. Mongooses, wild dogs, leopards, lions and baboons are cared for here. Then south to near Mariental (Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch). A visit to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park had also been planned. Because of Covid-19 this was unfortunately not possible, so we limited ourselves to the very good game drives offered by Kalahari Game Lodge. Further west via Keetmanshoop to Namtib Desert Lodge, then on to Little Kulala Lodge (Sossusvlei). A visit to the dune landscape there goes without saying.

Via Walvis Bay and Swakopmund to Cape Cross (a very large seal colony). Then via Damaraland into Kaokoland, via Grootberg Lodge to Khowarib Lodge (a drive into the Khowarib Gorge and a visit to a Himba village). Now Etosha National Park lay ahead of us. We entered the national park via Galton Gate and left it via Andersson Gate for Etosha Heights Safarihoek Lodge. On this drive we were able to watch animals and birds at the most varied waterholes.

We spent the last 4 nights at Okonjima Luxury Bush Camp. Here, with our guide, we were able to watch elephants at the waterhole from close up. After eventful days it was unfortunately back to Windhoek already.

One more thing about comfort during the trip:

Be sure to go on the game drives with sundowner afterwards that are offered at most lodges. It is a special experience.

Conclusion:
The advice from Elefant-Tours (Ms Sonja Harter) was very good. We were able to contribute our wishes, which she then incorporated when putting the trip together. The price/performance ratio was right. At the lodges and guesthouses we were welcomed and looked after extremely warmly by the staff everywhere. On all guided excursions and game drives we had very well-trained guides.

We are already quite experienced in Africa, and after more than a year of “travel ban” we decided to use our remaining leave from 2020 to travel to Namibia a 2nd time. We had been lucky enough to see the little-known north on an earlier trip, so we had Sven, the operations manager of Elefant-Tours’ local agency, put together a varied tour into the lesser-known Namibia.

Before the tour Sven prepared a vehicle for the special requirements of the tour. We set off on Monday morning at the airport, from where we drove directly to Sesriem. Dead Valley Lodge, superbly located, was the starting point for excursions into the canyon, to Sossusvlei, which was still under water, and to Deadvlei. We were almost completely alone here, and at the lodge we were looked after most attentively.

We continued north to Spitzkoppe and on to the Brandberg. Here too we were almost completely alone at the camps.

Via Palmwag we went to Warmquelle and then on through the dry river valleys of the Hoanib and Hoarusib as far as Purros. Along the way we met the famous desert elephants, giraffes and many other large and small animals. We stayed partly at beautiful campsites and partly in the wild.

Via Opuwo we went to Epupa, to the falls of the same name. We also visited a traditional Himba kraal with Maria. Sven has known the family for a long time, so we learned a great deal about the life of the Himba here.

We spent a few relaxed hours at Kunene River Lodge before heading south again. At Otjitotongwe Cheetah Guest Farm we learned that a leopard had killed 3 of the wild cheetahs. At Waterberg Guest Farm we went on one more hike up the little Waterberg before returning to Windhoek.

Big praise to Sven, who has now introduced us to his adopted home for the 2nd time. He has lived there with his Namibian wife since 2008 and knows the country like no other guide. He visibly enjoyed the drives off the roads and tracks, as well as the cooking over the fire every evening.

The Covid test required for departure was also organised on site, and the carrying out of the test and notification of the results are very professional. Another compliment to the Elefant-Tours team in Germany for the quick and uncomplicated handling of the formalities.

It was in any case 17 days far away from the topic of Covid. Namibia is safe and we can only recommend everyone to visit the country. There is no short-time work allowance or similar here; many people depend on tourism and currently have no income.

My husband and I have booked trips to Africa through Elefant-Tours several times in the past and we have always been very satisfied. Over Easter I was now with my adult grandson in the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa, right in the north of the country almost on the border with Botswana. The days at two lodges were so indescribably beautiful that we would have loved to stay much, much longer. The days were perfectly structured: fascinating game drives early in the morning and in the afternoon, with relaxing by the pools of the two lodges in between. We saw the Big Five – with the exception of the leopard – all of them every day, and right up close.

A lion family had four cubs, who were practising climbing trees, and we watched fascinated. We met a pair of cheetahs every day and could hardly believe our luck. Our second lodge was Impodimo Game Safari Lodge. As the only non-Africans, we were given chalet no. 1 with a direct view of the waterhole in front of our terrace. Whole elephant families came with their young every day to drink, and we had, so to speak, a “game drive” from our own terrace.

The weather was always high summer, the food sumptuous, and the guides and lodge staff warmly attached to us. At the first lodge, Buffalo Ridge Lodge, we were initially the only guests and were welcomed extremely warmly. Covid in Germany was very far away for a few days. The incidence in South Africa during the days we were there was below 10. The country has hardly any Covid deaths and has the pandemic under much better control than Germany. The airports in Frankfurt and Johannesburg were deserted, the planes less than half full. In Johannesburg, before the return flight, we sat in the outdoor dining area and watched the goings-on in the streets; all the shops were open.

We are truly glad to have finally enjoyed a holiday in beautiful South Africa, after our departure had been postponed four times because of Covid. Special thanks here to Ms Verena Brode. She prepared this trip perfectly and accompanied us with advice and action throughout our entire stay in South Africa.

We visited Namibia on a self-drive round trip in January/February 2021. The service from Elefant-Tours was first class. All individual wishes were accommodated. Problems on site caused by weather conditions (roads washed away, so rebookings were necessary) were solved immediately. The agency even helped where it was no longer within its remit (Covid test for departure after the booked trip had ended, problems with the local police). In my experience with many different travel agencies: far above-average commitment, always quick and friendly.

The support from the Elefant-Tours team was very good from the start. We got to know the travel agency at the FreeMesse in Munich and immediately felt very professionally looked after.

Unfortunately, because of Covid, Namibia only worked out on the 2nd attempt. But here too, despite tourism on the ground running on a low flame, all our requirements were met, which allowed us as a family (child aged 2½) to enjoy really great things.

For future trips we would definitely let Elefant Tours look after us again.

Great what you achieve despite the restrictions and setbacks!