Shipwreck Lodge

What really makes this place is not only the location but also the staff. This was my second stay this year. Their activities are well thought out where there is also plenty of time for photography and the guides are well read about the place and the environment. So mutch history. food is incredibly good!

We had a spectacular two-night stay at Shipwreck Lodge and loved every minute. The lodge is simply stunning - I have stayed in countless hotels and lodges during my travels and Shipwreck is unlike any other. The lodge is in the middle of nowhere and it is definitely a trek to get there, but so worth the time and effort. On our way from the meeting point to the lodge, we stopped by the Mowe Bay seal colony whose smell was something to behold and then by the shipwrecks or airplane crash along the way. The main lodge is beautiful and very comfortable with a bar area and plenty of places to sit and enjoy the view. The bar is well stocked and had snacks if you wanted a bite of something. The dining room is off the bar/lounge area. The food is superb and plentiful; no one will go hungry at Shipwreck. We had a lovely lunch down on the beach on our last day at the lodge. Our room was quite large with everything needed for a great stay. The room did get a bit warm during the day due to all the windows, but it never got uncomfortable and the room cooled down nicely at night. There is ample seating and tables so options for storing backpacks, cameras etc. There is a small closet area between the bedroom and the bathroom with places for luggage and a coffee station with biscuits. The bathroom is huge and well designed. The lions and elephants had moved on when we were there so we took advantage of the gorgeous scenery that looked otherwordly. We had great drives and our guide, Ballack, and I had a fun walk from the lodge down to the beach where our sundowner was waiting. The staff was superb - friendly, helpful, professional. Ballack was terrific and we learned a lot during our time with him. We have nothing but praise for Shipwreck and its wonderful staff.

The styling of this place is really incredible and fun to see but once was enough for me and I wouldn't suggest prioritizing it. For $2500/night I was astonished that we had to share a vehicle with two other groups and work together to decide what we wanted to do on our full day there. Luckily, we really liked the others and we all were happy to do the same things or work around the others, but at that price point, it just shouldn't be that way. We also asked multiple times to see the Roaring Dunes, but that never happened, not sure why. Some great staff members: Boro and Bonny are terrific, nice guides. There were a lot of friendly staff members but at the same time, it was kind of irritating to be asked by 8 different people how we were and how we slept every morning, interrupting our own conversation each time. Very nice people but a bit unpolished, I think (and again, at this price point...) The food was decent but again, not up to the price tag. Breakfast was pretty bad: I asked for sunny side up eggs but got a rubbery mess both days. There was a fish dish that stood out as well as a chocolate cake with amarula sauce one night that was really exceptional. The best time was the scenic drive and the lunch they surprised us with was terrific. The drive along the coast was fun and it was neat to see the wrecks and bones along the way. Quad biking was really fun but we wished it started about 30 minutes earlier, as it felt a bit short. So all in all, I don't regret going but wouldn't bother returning and wouldn't prioritize it if someone was coming to Namibia for just a week or two.