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Cheaper
Average
Higher
About
4.0
#2 of 2 ranches in Otjiwarongo
Location
4.6
Cleanliness
4.2
Service
3.8
Value
3.6
Waterberg Wilderness is a private nature reserve located at the Waterberg, offering access to the plateau and an open border with the Waterberg Plateau Park. Guests can choose from three lodges (Plateau Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, and Valley Lodge) and two campsites (Plateau Campsite and Andersson Campsite). No day visitors are allowed. Waterberg Wilderness is a partner of ONE Namibia, a company that integrates tourism, agriculture, and nature conservation.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
My wife and I stayed here for one night during our recent tour of Namibia. The Lodge consists of a number of small Tented Lodges which were very well constructed and maintained. Each lodge has a terrace with stunning views of the Waterberg Plateau. All the tent windows had privacy blinds and the terrace had large sun curtains to shade the room. The shower room is attached to the tent but is of a more substantial brick & tile construction. The whole Tent Lodge & Shower room were very well appointed. Our meals were taken in the main building, just a short walk away. The restaurant provided a buffet style breakfast and a set menu evening meal, we were slightly concerned about this type of meal both being strict vegetarians, we needn’t have worried, they specialty catered for our needs. The food was delicious. In the afternoon they provide Tea, Coffee and Cake. Late afternoon, early evening a member of staff visited every lodge and lit the outside wood boiler which provided ample hot water, even for the next morning. A lovely, quaint lodge. Free WiFi in the main building, although we managed to access the WiFi from our lodge. NOTE: On arrival there are staff present to carry your luggage to your lodge as you have to park a short distance away and the terrain for those less mobile can be quite challenging. If you have mobility issues it’s worth mentioning this when booking. Highly Recommended
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Caroline Rust, Owner at Waterberg Wilderness - ONE Namibia
Responded Feb 12, 2021
We are glad that you enjoyed your stay at Waterberg Wilderness. Our employees were happy about the positive feedback. With warm regards from the Waterberg Wilderness private nature reserve
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We stayed 2 nights at the Valley lodge. The tents are spatious with good bed and shower plus a balcony that provides a top view of Waterberg plateau. We did all 5 hikes that are set out. They are all called easy but I would only classify the Giraffe trail and thr botanical trail as easy. The other 3 I would classify as medium due to the climbing over lots of boulders. All hikes are beautiful. The pool is small and would be greatly improved with a few pool beds. We actually took the car in the afternoon to the Wilderness lodge and used one of their pools and poolbeds. The food was average but sufficient. We received several times the answer "out of stock" with gin, sparling water, plain jogurt. My wife has a sugar allergy and the chef went out of his way to cook something for her without sugar. Praise for him! We took part in the Rhino drive. That was a superb experiencd and met their 6 white Rhinos in person. We would certainly return.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Caroline R, Inhaber at Waterberg Wilderness - ONE Namibia
Responded Feb 21, 2020
We like to apologise for the supply issues which were caused by an unfortunate internal misunderstanding. Great that you enjoyed our nature trails. We will look into revising our descriptions. Best regards from the whole team of Waterberg Wilderness private nature reserve, including our white rhinos ;-)
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We booked months ago to Valley Lodge Ekono Chalet, but once we got there, we learned that they have upgraded us to a Plateau Lodge. It was a lovely place, very beautiful and only few other guests. Breakfast and dinner were included and they were nice and good quality. At breakfast there was a selection of cereals, bread, ham and cheese, vegetables, fruits etc. They also cooked you some eggs, bacon and sausages if you liked. Dinner was set 3 course menu. Soup, main and dessert – always tasty. Lunch was not included and there was only available some Greek salad once we were there. It was plenty and very fresh though. Our chalet was very comfortable and roomy and had a plunge pool with a most spectacular views to the walley. There was a donkey boiler burning every night, so warm water was plenty and water pressure also good in shower. We couldn’t unfortunately attend to any of the activities available. In the morning we were supposed to have our bush walk/rhino tracking, but it just rained that time too much. In the afternoon game drive was cancelled due to road conditions caused by rains. We still enjoyed our stay greatly and had walks nearby. We saw quite a lot wildlife there: paradise flycatchers, two different sunbirds, klipspringers, baboons, impala, hyrax, jackals etc. I would warmly recommend this place for a great relaxation and beautiful nature experience.
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Date of stay: January 2021
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Caroline Rust, Owner at Waterberg Wilderness - ONE Namibia
Responded Feb 12, 2021
We are glad that you enjoyed your stay at Waterberg Wilderness. Our employees were happy about the positive feedback. This rainy season was exceptional with 420mm (as per 13.02.2021) so far. We hope that we can welcome you again for a revisit and catch up on all the activities missed. With warm regards from the Waterberg Wilderness private nature reserve
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We were recommended by friends to spend some time in Waterberg Plateau as a stopover en route to Windhoek. However feel very strongly that we chose the wrong place to stay. We booked a econo chalet for a night for £96, which included dinner and breakfast. The scenery and location are both fabulous with spectacular views from the chalet and restaurant, but it all ends there. The place is run on a shoestring despite the cost of staying here. Our chalet was a tent with a wooden floor, which is absolutely fine, as we had stayed in a few tented rooms during our stay in Namibia, however the others were quite luxurious and spotlessly clean ( similar cost or cheaper). This tent was extremely basic and dirty. There was nowhere to put anything except a dusty table, the mosquito net had holes in, bed uncomfortable and hard, towels threadbare and no fridge. The advert specifies a fan, there was a fan, however it was a fan standing on the floor and such a short lead, was only effective from one side of the bed. The cold water was so hot in the en suite bathroom, it was not possible to wash your hands. And it gets worse - we decamped to some filthy dirty rickety sun loungers around the swimming pool further up the valley to try and cool down ( it was 36 C) pool was too dirty to swim in. On our arrival back at our tent, there was fire lit at the rear of the tent, to heat up the hot water - we couldn’t believe what it, what with the cold water too hot to wash in.... unfortunately we had left the bathroom window open too and the bathroom and tent were all smoky. The restaurant has fabulous views of the plateau and is a lovely place to watch the sun go down, however it is so hot in there and we were served boiling hot soup as a starter ( no choice). Food was not great but not terrible. The breakfast buffet was sparse with little choice. We were so disappointed with our last nights stay in Namibia after staying in some absolutely fabulous places and would definitely not recommend this place to anyone
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Date of stay: December 2019
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Caroline R, Inhaber at Waterberg Wilderness - ONE Namibia
Responded Jan 13, 2020
We regret that you did not enjoy your stay. May we add that you were staying at the Waterberg Valley Lodge, our budget accommodation. The nine tented chalets are all the same, in size, layout, equipment and price. We recommend to place the fan at the foot end of the bed and switch it to auto-turn. The other complaints we forwarded to our lodge manager. Kindly note that we renovate and exchange all worn towels, mosquito nets etc. on a regular basis. Pity that you did not mention any of our activities, such as the five nature trails incl. "botanical garden", our History Path, the guided Plateau hikes and Rhino drives & trackings... Best regards from the Waterberg Wilderness private nature reserve
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We stayed here longer than average and that is only recommended if you really want to do a lot of walking the trails. Campsites very in size but we were lucky with a large one. They are well maintained with a good braai area and a nice shady roof. Trash is collected daily, which is necessary as the animals are roaming free incl honeybadgers. The private ablutions are actually not on the pitch itself you still have to walk to them. The mirror is positioned others walking past can actually look into your shower or toilet which is not the nicest. Staff is friendly and helpful. Campsite pools are small but nice. There is no shop to buy supplies for the campsite. Restaurant bars did not have ice and were out of most common drinks more than once.
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Date of stay: November 2019
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Caroline R, Inhaber at Waterberg Wilderness - ONE Namibia
Responded Feb 21, 2020
Thank you very much for your comment - and the four "stars" ;-) In addition to our nature trails, "botanical garden" and History Path, we offer a guided hike onto the plateau, a Rhino drive and Rhino tracking tour (on foot) as well as a Cultural tour into Hereroland. Kind regards from the Waterberg Wilderness private nature reserve
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The campsites (13 and 14) at waterberg wilderness are basic but clean. The waterberg plateau is a beautiful place. The staff however was reluctant to give us any information about hikes in the region. We went hiking on our own and afterwards the staff forced us to pay a guided tour because we hiked on a "forbidden" trail. They closed the gates of the exit road until we paid. This was cleaely not the first time they dit this. They were proud to tell us we were not the only ones that got "fined" that day. Japanese tourists got fined 5000 NAD for using a drone.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Waterberg Wilderness, Inhaber at Waterberg Wilderness - ONE Namibia
Responded May 16, 2021
Our receptionists give every guest a detailed information brochure when they check in. It contains a list of all activities such as the hikes onto the plateau which are GUIDED and a map showing the walking trails in the valley that the guests can do ON THEIR OWN. You obviously climbed onto the plateau, without guide, ignoring the "strictly no entry" sign on the path. This is a serious offense. You can easily get lost in the rocky and bushy terrain on the plateau, there is an open border to the national park where visitors are not allowed and there are dangerous animals on the plateau (black rhino, buffalo). If you were spotted by a park ranger, you might have been arrested. You were lucky to be spotted by one of our guides, who asked you to climb down immediately and to report at the reception. For your illegal hike our reception manager did not charge a fine, but our rate for a guided plateau hike of N$ 200 (ca. Euro 12.50). You tried to leave the premises with your car without paying, but were stopped at the gate. We had to establish this gate two years ago after experiencing quite a few times that guests left without having settled their bill. As soon as you show your receipt our staff will open the gate. We do not know anything about the fine you mentioned for Japanese tourists. However, using a drone without official permission is strictly forbidden in Namibia, and especially in / near National Parks. We are bordering the Waterberg Plateau Park, being home to rhinos. If people using a drone are caught by park wardens, they will be fined - and quite rightfully so.
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First of all, the Rhino Tracking was worth every money! Our guide was amazing, very knowledgable (not just about Rhinos but also Herero and local culture) and we managed to spot 3 Rhinos which was an unforgettable moment! Wow! This place is definately worth a stop, the views and hikes are nice and like I said the Rhino watch and how they look after them (trying to protect them from poachers) is truly outstanding! However, the campsite was average. It was by far the most expensive camping and facilities like the pools, restaurant and bar were somewhat old and very hard to reach - steep and distances are big so you have to go by car and 4x4 to grab a drink. Another thing we noticed is that staff seems slightly frustrated, not just due to the fact that due to covid there are less bookings but also that their contracts have been amended financially. This made us sad, and we had little understanding knowing that the prices themselves had been raised compared to pre-covid and that locals especially are struggling financially.
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Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Waterberg Wilderness, Owner at Waterberg Wilderness - ONE Namibia
Responded Oct 17, 2021
Dear Callulu11 Thank you for your review. Our entire team will be glad to hear this positive feedback. Also our rhinos were delighted - because with your stay you directly contributed to the upkeeping of the nature reserve and therefor the safeguarding of the animals. We are sorry to hear that members of the team were perceived as frustrated. However, the remark on the salaries of the staff is not accurate. None received pay-cuts or any amendments to their contracts. On the contrary, we from Waterberg Wilderness did (and do) everything to employ as many employees as possible, being aware that each workplace supports eight- to ten-person families. The increase in price is rather due to the following factors: Currently our group of companies survives on increased levels of overdrafts. Now, after the travel restrictions are partly lifted, increased debt levels have to be serviced and also repaid. In addition, due to the drop in the Rand exchange rate of more than 20 percent since last year, we do experience a sharp rise in input costs. We foresee the number of tourists in the coming years will be less than in 2019 – a strong year before the pandemic. However, we remain confident that the Namibian tourism industry will restore to its former level, and also have the potential exceed these levels in not that long time from now. Taking into account the uniqueness of our destination and product, we consider it fatal, to wage the battle for customers by reverting to undercutting each other. If we want to survive the Corona onslaught onto our industry, we simply cannot afford to freeze or lower our prices, but had to adjust them to the new situation. We hope and trust that you will understand the above and are glad that you otherwise enjoyed your stay with us. Sincerely you Waterberg Wilderness Team.
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We camped for two nights and enjoyed our time. Every campsite has its own ablution facilities with hot water. It is clean and well maintained. Nice swimming pool. Camping site has own verandah with water tap and braai facilities. Lots of birds and things to do. Free wifi at lodge. It can be very hot in summer.
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Â It can be very hot in summer.
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Response from Waterberg Wilderness, Other at Waterberg Wilderness - ONE Namibia
Responded Jan 15, 2022
Thank you for your positive write-up! We are glad you enjoyed your stay. Kind regards from the entire team at Waterberg Wilderness.
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Loved the location! Right in the middle of Waterberg bush. The whole place is designed to deliver that feeling of being closely connected to nature.
Beware that the rooms are actually bungalows with walls made of cloth. So you literally hear everything that happens outside and you cannot block the room from insects.
So I recommend to take a repellent with you, and check the bags before handing them and clothes before wearing.
We also absolutely loved the plateau hiking experience with the local guide! He showed us the best viewpoints and shared lots of lifehacks, rhino tracks etc. Warthogs and baboons were cute on the way.
Dinner is also great and full of local specialties. Booking with the dinner is strongly recommended because the place is very remote and you wouldn’t find any restaurants around.
And yes, be ready to disconnect during your stay: there is barely any mobile connection here and wifi did not work during all our stay :)
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Â I recommend to take a repellent with you, and check the clothes before wearing.
Plateau hiking...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Waterberg Wilderness, Owner at Waterberg Wilderness - ONE Namibia
Responded Feb 13, 2022
Thank you for this super review! We love your simile on connecting with nature and can just agree – there is no wi-fi in the bush, but we promise you will find a better connection. With warm regards, your Waterberg Wilderness Team
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The Bungalows are clean and slightly above basic but by no means worth the daily rate charged. The food preparation is below standard. There is no management evident and no welcoming reception. Example -our shower water had not been heated resulting in cold showers that evening. The staff are very friendly but poorly trained, particularly in the kitchen. Before writing this review I contacted the owners asking for a 30% refund and they accused me of blackmail when all I was doing was requesting fair value for what was a disappointing two day stay. I did tell them that I was going to write review in any event. Had we not prepaid for two nights we would have left after our morning breakfast which was basic.
The views are spectacular and it is a pity that the owners do not put effort into guest comfort. This Lodge could be world class with minimal extra cost.
The owners use conservation costs as a reason for their high rates but Onguma the Fort and Kwessi Dune Lodge charge the same rates and offer vastly superior service whilst also being conservation conscious in their local communities.
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Date of stay: April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Waterberg Wilderness, Sonstige at Waterberg Wilderness - ONE Namibia
Responded May 11, 2021
Dear Adventure13767734043 Thank you for your feedback and detailed overview of your stay. We do recall your e-mail very well. Quote: We, out of decency, are informing you that before we post our experience on Social media we are giving you an opportunity to rectify matters by reimbursing us. (...) I look forward to your response and this will determine what I write next weekend. We believe it best to again state what we wrote in the answer to your e-mail: We took note on your complaint regarding the price. Please provide us with your banking details and we will gladly refund you the remaining 495.35 NAD. Not because we are intimidated, but rather are focusing on guest who understand and support our concept. We consider it fatal to wage the battle for customers by undercutting each other. This is why we ask prices enabling us to sustain ourselves. After all, tourism is about sustainability. Pity that this concept is not supported especially in the corona crisis where nature conservation must go on. We want to continue to preserve wildlife and habitat. Our guests contribute to our efforts by not just paying for the room / food, but the whole upkeep of the nature reserve. We regard this as a win-win-win situation and are grateful for guests who appreciate and support this concept. Kind regards, Your Waterberg Wilderness Team
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We booked it on there webpage with no problems. When we we’re there it was low season, So there was planty of free space. You also can take that challange.
Wij hebben de drive geboekt bij de receptie van de lodges. Wat wij betaald hebben, weet ik niet meer maar op de website van het park zie ik dat het 600 N$ kost.
There are more places to choose from in the Otjiwarongo area.
PRICE RANGE
$223 - $335 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
NamibiaOtjozondjupa RegionOtjiwarongo
NUMBER OF ROOMS
29
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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