Dear Huntley,
Thank you for reaching out! The trip was absolutely magical.
I am a well travelled individual (over 50 countries), and this has to be one of the all time highlights of my travel experience. It was my first time travelling overland and with a group of strangers, as the majority of the time I travel solo. It exceeded my expectations in every category.
Norman and Arlington were fantastic. Cooking for different diet requirements for that number of people was no easy task but they managed every meal with ease and always seemed to know what was best for the day at hand (from fresh watermelon on a hot day to a filling delicious chicken stew in the evening).
I was so impressed by how well timed all our excursions were, and that they knew how to gauge the weather so that we would have the best experience. I never at once felt like I had fallen into a "tourist trap" and that level of authenticity elevated the journey. Their knowlege of the country, politics, history, flora and fauna was impressive to say the least. Having an agricultural background, I particularly loved the farm stays and the ability to engage with people on the farms and understand their operations a little more. An absolute highlight was an afternoon tour of the farm with "Frans" who kept us all entertained and educated at the same time. It will definitely be one of the most memorable occasions for all of us.
I loved the 4 x 4 dune experience in Swakopmund as well - the tour operator was excellent and it is something I would definitely book again. I am very glad I booked the accommodation option given how hot it was, and every destination had a lovely room with aircon and comfortable bed and shower which is all you need. The only disappointing place was the third night (German guest house) as none of the amenities (fan or aircon) worked and it was unbelievably hot. But other than that the accommodation was fantastic.
I will be booking Namibia again with Nomads but this time with (hopefully) 11 of my friends so we can experience it together. I am in the process of onboarding people and we will be reverting back to you as soon as we have dates that suit everyone.
Thanks again for a fantastic trip, and see you soon!