Hoodia Desert Lodge

We had a fantastic stay. Everyone was super helpful, and the tour provided by the hotel was exceptional. Perfect for a romantic weekend. Definitely would come back.

The food could be a bit better :)

Staff was exceptional, Ndeshy is very professional and awesome. Ranger Pauls also was very professional, we learned a lot about Namibia. We really recommend this lodge to discover the country. Sundown experience was amazing.

Quality of the dinner was good. Being refunded 4 of our 5 nights so we could stay somewhere more hospitable. We returned to Sonop (which is fantastic btw) for two nights and then spent two nights at Desert Quiver Camp which was basic but the service was better and they had power and they are just 4 mins drive to the gate. More Cons: Location is not that near to the Sesriem gate compared to some other lodges. No Wi-Fi due to power cut and generator switched off at night leaving the room hot and no light to read or go to the bathroom. Bathroom lighting was poor - old style LED lighting. Outside seating area looked at the neighbouring chalet rather than the view.

Hoodia was a huge disappointment. We had trips included in the rate - the rate is high for what you get. When we arrived they did not let us choose which of our 5 days to go on the trips. The guide was insistent that we should get up 5.30am to join the trip the next day. The only way to avoid an early start the day after a very long journey was to forego one of the two trips to Sossusvlei. On seeing the indoor dining area, which was very hot, I asked for one of the outdoor tables for dinner on the terrace which is immediately adjacent to the indoor dining area. I was told dinner was served indoors. When I insisted that I would like to eat outside, I was told he would check with his manager. Thinking this to be a formality (I was asking to eat approx 2m from the inside tables) we went to unpack. About an hour after arrival we had a power cut at around 7.30pm and went for dinner once the generator kicked in. I explained again that we wanted to sit outside. I politely tried to persuade them but no. There was no logic to this. They explained it would be unfair to other guests who also want to sit outside to which I said let them sit outside! There was space for everyone and that’s where we all had breakfast the next day. I asked to speak to the manager and they said I would need to speak to the owner by phone. The owner was also adamant we should follow his rules. He literally talked at me for 10 minutes giving a bizarre list of reasons as to why he wouldn’t allow us to dine at an outside table. This ruined our evening. He told me if he had known I would want to sit outside he would have suggested I stay elsewhere. In the end he agreed to refund the remaining nights and we left the next morning. The owner is a tyrant with terrified staff who cannot make decisions without deferring to the owner. Owner satisfaction comes first at the expense of the guest experience. At £530 pn they need to do better. Read the other poor reviews before booking!

Beautiful Lodge, loved the excursions and the friendly staff. They went out of their way to provide for my food allergies. Thank you

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The rooms were exquisite, particularly the outdoor bath/shower with a view. The design was lovely, and the staff could not have been nicer. Kaarin was an excellent hostess and Enos was a stellar guide and genuinely nice guy.

no complaints!

Exceptional! I did a lot of research before deciding on Hoodia. This is near perfection. Wonderful staff, stunning location, excellent food, and stylish decor all pulled together thoughtfully. The customer service booking was also superb. While I booked via Expedia, I was also in touch directly. Other lodges were not helpful in answering questions. Stay at least two nights and add a third if you want some time to relax.