Hello everyone.

I just booked the tickets for my first safari! Now I'm looking at some hotel options in Windhoek since I'll have one nights stay there before my flight out the next morning.

Can anyone give me some recommendations? So far I've found the Airport Lodge and Onganga that look good, bit I would'nt mind some firsthand experience from all of you.

MEC1,

Are you saying that you will be in Windhoek one night before you flight out to your hunting area or returning home? If you are flying out to your hunting area, the Safari Court hotel is very close to the Euros airport, which is where you likely would be flying out of. The international airport is of course about 45 minutes out of town.

I have stayed in several hotels/pensions/guest houses in Windhoek. Hotel Villa Verde, Safari Court and Hilltop House are 3 that I have stayed at that I can recommend. I've also stayed at the Roof of Africa but was not all that impressed. Olive Grove is highly recommended but they never had availabilities on the two occassions I inquired. There is another guest house east of City Centre that several recommend. For the life of me I can't recall the name but the lady is very nice but also never had availability when I called.

Good luck.

George

Thanks George, I'll check those out!

I'll be staying in Windhoek for a night following my hunt, and then I'll fly out of the international airport the next day.

We were very comfortable, well-entertained, and well-fed at the Okapuka Game lodge which is a few miles nort of Windhoek. http://www.okapuka-ranch.com/main.html

The food was excellent, the bar unique, and there are plenty of animals to see. Since our plane was out late in the day, we spent most of the day of our departure hiking the trails and seeing lots of game. Beats the devil out of sitting around a hotel.

I preferred the Arrebuch Square to either the Safari Court or Hotel Safari. Far more modern accomodations, excellent service and great restaurant.

Take a look at my recent hunt report - I think I posted a photo or two and look at the website here:

Arrebuch Square

That really is how it looks as of this past November.

And it was less expensive per night than either Hotel Safari or Safari Court.

The Kalahari Sands is convenient to the city's shopping areas and other amenities, if that's important to you. The hotel has a good restaurant as well.

There's also a casino of sorts in the hotel, but I stay out of such places.

we had "day rooms" at Hotel Palmquell on our first morning in 2007 (prior to being met by our outfitter PH) and in 2010 on our last day (prior to our flight home). Rooms were very comfortable, nice and clean, and they took care of our cab rides to and from the airport. Of course, both stays were set up by our outfitter . . . and given we spent only about 4 hours there each stay, I can't really speak to their meals or little things like cleaning staff, etc.

I've had such good luck with Onganga, I don't even look elsewhere anymore. Small, quiet, family owned and run, and they have a safe to lock up your guns.

Safari Court is a bit upscale for a thug like me...

Roof of Africa had all the charm of a Super 8.

I like Onganga as well. It is just out of town but the people who run it are very helpful. I have stayed there a few times and will the next time I am in Namibia.

+1 on the Onganga, very pleasant.

I've stayed at Onganga twice, once in 2004 and again in 2007. Nice folks. Good accomodations. Good safe for your firearms/valuables.

What about the Hilton?
I understand it's a new hotel in downtown Windhoek not far from Joe's Beer House.

MauserK98

quote:

Originally posted by Mauser K98:
What about the Hilton?
I understand it's a new hotel in downtown Windhoek not far from Joe's Beer House.

MauserK98

Joe's - excellent Gemsbok steak ...

quote:

Originally posted by CCMDoc:

quote:

Originally posted by Mauser K98:
What about the Hilton?
I understand it's a new hotel in downtown Windhoek not far from Joe's Beer House.

MauserK98

Joe's - excellent Gemsbok steak ...

Gemsbuck filet and zebra steak.

Stay at Onganga, hire the driver they recommend (I'm sure Joseph is not doing that anymore) -- go to Joe's, but I'd recommend the Zebra steak (as opposed to the gembok), or the Springbok, or the Kudu, or ... Hell, the gemsbok aint bad either. Anyway, you really can't go wrong.

Hi guys, there are so many. there is Londiningi,
well run, small, good food and friendly.Not too far from Joes.
Casa Picolo,also small friendly and clean.
Hilton in town very up market.
Windhoek Country Club very good, good service good food. Heinitzburg up market, excellent service and food.Gogaganas near Windhoek and excellent in all respects.
Please pm me if you need info. I live in Namibia near Grootfontein and can help with info. We have a tour and Safri company and we are in Windhoek a great deal.

Hi MEC1
What are you looking for. I often have to stay in Windhoek as I live some what out of Windhoek. I never let my guests stay in an establishment I have not stayed in.
Mail me I have given some names. do you want to stay in Windhoek or out on a ranch close to Windhoek?
Look forward to your mail
regards Margie

quote:

Originally posted by MEC1:
Hello everyone.

I just booked the tickets for my first safari! Now I'm looking at some hotel options in Windhoek since I'll have one nights stay there before my flight out the next morning.

Can anyone give me some recommendations? So far I've found the Airport Lodge and Onganga that look good, bit I would'nt mind some firsthand experience from all of you.

there is a nice guesthouse directly accross from the airport. etango guesthouse. this is owned by robert gruelman, son of namibian hunting forefather. nice place. i also had the gemsbok fillet at joes, it was great.

I'm sensing a theme in all your replies, I should eat at Joe's.

I always stay at the Kalahari Sands. It's down town Windhoek and you can walk to a lot of shops and attractions, like the native craft center. If you don't eat at Joe's I feel sorry for you, to be that close and miss one of life's great experience's.........Tom

Let your outfitter book it.
He gets a little kick and this makes everyone one happy. You have to do it anyways so let the guy you are going to spend the next 10 days with get some of the benefits
Money is still king in all of Africa.
There are a lot of great places to stay in Windhoek. Oh another option take a tent.
Larry

The Bradt Guidebook" Namibia" Ed.#4 by Chris McIntyre is HIGHLY recommended for travelers to Namibia.It is available from Amazon .com for about $25. I have never gotten a "bum steer" or any bad info from this source in five trips.I stay at Casa Piccolo Guesthouse, a B&B located
in Klein Windhoek,in SE part of town. Owner Claudia Horne is hunter friendly and she has secure storage for guns etc.Price is very reasonable.Location is handy to Hwy to Int. airport, several restaurants(Luigi & the Fish,O Portuga and Joe's BH ),just a short cab ride away. The Ocean Basket in the Town Sq. Mall DT is also good and close to the native market.
Namibian oysters are wonderful,the best I have ever eaten-chased with draft Hansa or Whk Lager beer ! Good maps of you hunt area are avail. at the Surveyor Generals Office on Robt. Mugabe Ave. at Lazarett St. Liquor is avail. at the Spar Mkt. bottle shop at Marula Mall.

Good Luck !

quote:

Originally posted by Stopckmaker:
...I stay at Casa Piccolo Guesthouse, a B&B located
in Klein Windhoek,in SE part of town. Owner Claudia Horne...

This is the lady whose name I could not recall in my post above. Very nice lady.

You should most definitely eat at Joe's. You will not be disappointed.