Praise For NWR

LAST year much was written or said about poor service in some of the Namibia Wildlife Resorts.Please let me share this positive experience: as a tourist guide I had to pick up a group of about 30 visitors three weeks ago.

The flight from Johannesburg was about 5 hours late, so I was quite worried about our first trip, which was to take us to the Bernabé De La Bat resort at Waterberg. When we left the airport, I reckoned that we should arrive there at about 22h00! After a phone call, we were assured that this was no problem; the staff would wait for us as long as necessary and someone would be at the gate as usual.Dinner had been booked too.Again we were told that this was no problem, even though I personally doubted very much that the restaurant staff would wait so long.Since the gravel road was very bad due to the rain (it had been closed the previous day) we arrived even later, at around 23h15.And indeed, the staff was waiting for us, the restaurant was still ready to serve us dinner (which we actually didn’t have since the guests had had snacks along the road and didn’t want to have dinner anymore, being too tired) and some staff members helped us with the luggage even after midnight! Entrance fees and papers were sorted out the next morning, when a game drive had also been booked.Since that day was also to be a long one, staff members suggested departing half an hour earlier than scheduled.This was quickly agreed by everybody.To finish with the NWR service at this resort, they had let an extra game-drive vehicle come all the way from Namutoni, and thanks to our three guides we had a wonderful time there with an outdoor breakfast even though we didn’t see much.The next day, lunch had been booked at Namutoni.However due to problems, by lunchtime we were still very far from there.Phone call, no problem, we wait for you.Again.At 17h00! We eventually managed to get to Namutoni where smiling and friendly staff took orders for an “A la carte menu” and served us until after 18h30! I have been touring Namibia for 13 years now and have hardly had any bad experience with NWR apart from blown lightbulbs and smaller things.There are problems around, but let’s be patient and fair, let positive attitudes and experiences be known too.Philippe Zilliox OutjoWhen we left the airport, I reckoned that we should arrive there at about 22h00! After a phone call, we were assured that this was no problem; the staff would wait for us as long as necessary and someone would be at the gate as usual.Dinner had been booked too.Again we were told that this was no problem, even though I personally doubted very much that the restaurant staff would wait so long.Since the gravel road was very bad due to the rain (it had been closed the previous day) we arrived even later, at around 23h15.And indeed, the staff was waiting for us, the restaurant was still ready to serve us dinner (which we actually didn’t have since the guests had had snacks along the road and didn’t want to have dinner anymore, being too tired) and some staff members helped us with the luggage even after midnight! Entrance fees and papers were sorted out the next morning, when a game drive had also been booked.Since that day was also to be a long one, staff members suggested departing half an hour earlier than scheduled.This was quickly agreed by everybody.To finish with the NWR service at this resort, they had let an extra game-drive vehicle come all the way from Namutoni, and thanks to our three guides we had a wonderful time there with an outdoor breakfast even though we didn’t see much.The next day, lunch had been booked at Namutoni.However due to problems, by lunchtime we were still very far from there.Phone call, no problem, we wait for you.Again.At 17h00! We eventually managed to get to Namutoni where smiling and friendly staff took orders for an “A la carte menu” and served us until after 18h30! I have been touring Namibia for 13 years now and have hardly had any bad experience with NWR apart from blown lightbulbs and smaller things.There are problems around, but let’s be patient and fair, let positive attitudes and experiences be known too.Philippe Zilliox Outjo