Blue Crane Safaris Namibia
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Member Of:
- NTB & TOSCO
- Tour Types:
- Mid-range & luxury tours with set start dates and a fixed itinerary
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $81 to $1,083 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
IT
Email Antonella - Milan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good in planning and organizing - but the guide was terrible and too many lodges were changed
I joined a 17 days taylor-made safari planned for another lady (2 people being the minimum needed to have the tour going), so it was the two of us + guide (a free -lance, first time working for Blue crane Safaris, named Ronnie).
The booking part was really easy and Traudy very helpful and fast in giving information and answers.
1) The other lady (who over the past 2 years had been organizing this Safari with BCS had been confirmed that we would have a Bluecrane guide, and only the day when she arrived she was informed that we would have a free lance instead; I was told by Traudy that this guy was working for them for the first time, but came highly recommended; I told her it was not a problem for me, as long as he was a good guide.
Sadly, he wasn't; not to bother you with a long list of smaller events, I will just mention 2: Sussusvlei Dunes, he started climbing Big Daddy running like crazy (I am very sportive, a marathon runner and fit; the other lady was none of this) for 10 minutes, without even turning his head to check if we were ok (knowing the other lady would surely have problems); then, when he saw she couldn't breath (she had to call him and ask him to wait) he said "well, maybe it's better we don't climb the dune and go down to take pictures to the deadvlei; I WANTED to climb the dune up to the top, and asked him how much time I would have to do it. He gave me one hour to climb it, come down, and go and see the deadvlei, and finally go back to the parking site. I asked him: are you sure that is at all feasible? and he said "it depends on how fit you are". Well, I thought then I could make it and I did arrive half way without stopping, and saw already 30 minutes had gone - so I said to myself there is no way I can make it up there and back in 30 minutes. Not even Usain Bolt could do that! I had to give up, quickly run down to see the deadvlei, take some pictures veeery fast, and run to the parking. I was more than 10 minutes late, and breathless for the run, and mad for not being able to enjoy the most iconic site of Namibia.
All of this rush to do what? to be at the Lodge at 4 PM doing NOTHING!
Second episode: at Swakopmund he tried to book an activity for us, asking 2000N$ for an activity which cost 1200 N$ (and telling us he had got "a very special price...SURE it was SPECIAL); I checked prices on the internet - telling him - and when I found the prices without adding any comment I just told him "Thank you, I have found it at 1200N$ so we'll book ourselves, no worries".
And there would be many more episodes; the most annoying thing is that, even when you caught him doing something really wrong, HE would get mad and say we were wrong, and he never did those things. It's all "misunderstandings" (and I have to say it was pretty annoying, after sending me feedback to BCS, to be told that "they were all misunderstandings". Well I am old enough and an extremely experienced traveler, for work and leisure... I think I can tell a misunderstanding from something else)
The only good thing I have to say - to be fair - is that he was a very good driver and organized in terms of documents/diesel filling/ practical things like those. As a guide, the only days when I saw him really passionate (and willing to use the whole day instead of cutting it short) it was in Etosha, doing game drives. However his English (I think it was a language problem, although I am not sure) was not very good, so many times if you would ask you questions you would not be able to get answers.
And he was complaining all the time this tour was very hard on him, lots of km, the program was wrong, etc etc etc..
A good Guide is the most important thing on a Safari, he/she can make it awesome or poor... I understand it was just 2 people on the Safari, but it was 17 days and we had paid a good amount of money, so...
Then, it was also very annoying that MANY Lodges were changed from the plan, and we had no information until the day we started the Tour (Sussusvlei one not even at that point - we found out during the tour)
- Camelthorn lodge has become Anib Kalahari Desert
- Sossusvlei Lodge has become Namib Desert (Sossusvlei being INSIDE the park gates, Namib Desert being ONE HOUR AWAY - so, no sunrise or sunset on the dunes since only who is INSIDE the gates can enjoy those, due the closing times of the gates)
- Palmwag lodge has become Khowari (2 nights): Palmwag being right AT the gates, Khowari one hour away (so, 2 hours drive added in the day JUST to go back and forth)
- Epupa Falls lodge has become Opwo Country Lodge (again ... hours wasted in the car and all the activities mentioned in the initial program -rafting, birdwatching, sundowner) DISAPPEARED
- Epacha lodge became Eagle (these two might be similar)
This is not my first Safari, and I know that it MAY happen that ONE/TWO Lodges may have a last minute problem and need to be changed (but should be changed to an EQUAL Lodge); however, since we had booked in February and were asked a 25% advance payment (needed to block reservations at Lodges), and we only paid the balance in July - I think there was plenty of time to inform us about the changes (if the Lodges were full) and have prices RE-ADJUSTED accordingly before we paid the balance.
So, I am sorry but I cannot say I am fully satisfied, because I really think that there were several things that were not fair and quite annoying. I saw many excellent reviews (which is also the reason why I chose BCS) and I am sorry having to say that my experience was different.
All the above being said, Namibia is so wonderful, that I loved it anyhow; I always try to see the glass half full and do not let external events take away my smile, so I focused on how lucky I was to be there and was happy for that. Nonetheless, concerning how high the cost of these kinds of Safari are, I think it is fair that I share my experience so that visitors are informed, and BCS (whom I had already sent me my feedback) can improve (if they want) their service.
FR
Email Huvet -Eliot | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip in Namibia -10 days
We had a super trip in namibia -4 pax -10 days with Blue Crane Safaris.
Our guide Melican was excellent. He was very knowledgeable and he was a very good driver too.
The road trip and hotels selection was perfect , except in Etoshas park , old resort ....
I would highly recommended Blue Crane Safaris who is very professional agency and I would definitely use them again should I be back in bostwana and Niagara Falls...
IT
Email Paola | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional
Interesting tour; professional and helpful drivers who also guide; good accomodation in lodges. Hotels in towns were too far from the centre (they should be changed) and for the city tour in Windhoek I paid 30 euro for seing and learning nothing (it should be done by a professional guide).
PT
Email Maria | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good!
Very good service in general (booking, tour, informations...).
AT
Email Laura thrunis | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Saw a lotnof things in a short time.
Got picked up at hostel, long drive to the national park with lunch stop, good food, game drive on all three days, guide showed us lots of animals we wouldnt have seen without him, tents were set up from assistant when we got back that was very nice!
IT
Email Mauro | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Competences, knowledge and Customer care
Very good, everythings respect our aspectatives. Timing and distances daily ok
Email Sam | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professional tour operator created a fantastic trip
Thank you for the excellent tour you organised for us, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Communication with the office team was always prompt and professional. Whilst this type of holiday is generally expensive, the tour was good value for money, especially when compared to quotes from other operators. Most of the lodges booked by Blue Crane exceeded our expectations, with excellent service, lovely accommodation and memorable experiences. Frank was a brilliant guide, ensuring that the whole trip flowed seamlessly with no stress on our part. He happily accommodated our wishes, whilst answering all of our questions. We will definitely recommend Blue Crane and Namibia to our friends and family.
Email jaqui raimondo | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
We recently went on a fabulous discovery of Namibia which we booked through Blue Crane Safari's.
Derek at Blue Crane Safari’s was excellent at suggesting suitable itineraries for our 17 day trip. We were met at the airport and right through the trip until the end, we were looked after extremely well and our guide, Marcus went above and beyond what he needed to do to make sure we saw the very best of Namibia. I would thoroughly recommend this company when considering a trip to this amazing country.
Email Wendy Dallas-Smith | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Efficient, easy to deal with and well priced.
The planning and communication with regard to the 17 day escorted tour of Namibia I recently took was excellent. Some lodges exceeding expectations. Our driver Marcus was knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. His contribution was a most important factor of the overall success and I would recommend him unreservedly. I was happy with the cost, level of accomodation and activities. The only hiccup I incurred was paying into a Namibian bank account from a UK bank account. UK Banks don’t like this! It was difficult. Not the fault of Blue Crane but something they could look into to help future guests.
Thank you Derek and team for a very memorable holiday. I hope to return and would use your services again.
Email Joanna S | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable experience
I just completed the 10 Day camping safari with Blue Crane and had the most amazing adventure.
The organisation was seamless and the itinerary was perfect. My favourite places were Damaraland and beautiful Naukluft Park. I saw everything I wanted (and more) in Etosha. All camping places on this tour were well located and of very good quality.
The guides (Me-Gusto and Tony) were simply the best. They cooked the best food, were super organised, knowledgeable and fun to travel with.
I would recommend Blue Crane and will be using them again.
