Andre
CrissCross Namibia Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2003)
- Member Of:
- NTB & TASA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $350 to $800 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Namibia and Thinus Blaauw constantly amazed us
We spent 3 weeks traveling the length of Namibia with Thinus Blaauw in May just after the "rainy" season in a 6 person 4WD van. Every day was a new adventure and Namibia had a new surprise for us from beautiful desert dunes and open skies to canyons and moonscape to unique quiver trees and fossils to minerals and ghost towns to waterfalls and animals. The mix of cultures and peoples was wonderful too. Thinus put together an ambitious itinerary at our request and made it all happen. European dining and lodging in a remote setting. What's not to like? The best part may have been Thinus himself, a native and veteran of the many changes that have occurred in Namibia; he is a wealth of information, not to mention kindness, realism and optimism for the future of his country. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would gladly travel again with CrissCross Namibia.
US
Email Barry Wulff | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Two tours with CrissCross Safaris
Thinus has organized and led two very successful sixteen-day group tours for me and a dozen of my friends, all from Oregon. Our first visit, in 2009, stretched from the Fish River Canyon near the Orange River to Etosha National Park. We returned in 2011 to travel from Windhoek to Victoria Falls. We have nothing but wonderful memories of the places we visited and the things we saw. Thinus, with his personable manner and varied background, was able to make our trip a comfortable adventure with a mix of learning about the various cultures in the area and the viewing of plenty of wildlife. It would be hard to find another tour guide with such breadth of knowledge of and contacts in Namibia. Our first trip involved some camping along with staying in small communities and guest lodges. Each day brought a different environment – a different world! For our second trip, across the Caprivi Strip, we opted for staying in comfortable lodges and out-of-the-way places. My thirteen-year-old granddaughter will never forget the many wonderful experiences she had on our tour, especially the visit to the school in Rundu, interacting with the San people in Tsumkwe, or riding the elephants in Livingstone.
We have many choices in the places we want to travel to and a large selection of tour operators to choose from. We could have done any better than travelling with Thinus of CrissCross Safaris in Namibia. No doubt we’ll return again in the near future.
CH
Email Annemarie + Roberto Geneva | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
5 star treatment highly recommend this company
We had a great time during our 3 weeks journey through Namibia. Everything was planned perfectly well. The choice of the accommodations, the parks and all the animals that we managed to see in their native environment. Also the seaside and dessert was a marvelous attraction.
The driver was excellent and he explained very well the history of the country and their wildlife. We had a five star treatment! It will remain our most memorable trip of our live.
Thanks a lot
Annamarie +Roberto from Geneva
CH
Email Patrick H | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Wonderful experience from start to finish and very well organized!
Can recommend Namibia to anyone for Safari's and or tours , its safe , clean , friendly and scenery you will not see anywhere else in the world. Our Tour operator Crisscross made it wonderful from start to finish , well organized and with a fantastic guide .
CH
Email Robin | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent trip exceeding expectations.
The suggested trip covering Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia covered all highlights regarding wildlife, landscapes and people. Markus, our guide, was very knowledgeable and knew the countries like his pocket. Very enjoyable company too. Had the time of our lifes.
CA
Email Lucy Willcox | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Knowledge of a Local
I had the pleasure of seeing Africa - Botswana and Namibia for the first time with my travel buddy. It was adventurous, and fun, with lots of laughs and what turned out to be an intimate and emotional experience seeing the varied landscape of Namibia and its animals. Thinus was instrumental - hearing his stories and experiences, sharing his knowledge of the different areas, and knowing when and how to see the animals up close and personal. Our tour was customized and focused on suggestions made by CrissCross and incorporated our own wish list. They were flexible, quick to respond, and knowledgeable. I appreciated we were put first and every effort was made to meet our travel goals. Note, we are experienced travelers but, you don't need to be. I loved my first experience with Africa and wouldn't hesitate to go again and book through CrissCross - it was an emotional goodbye - we will see you again.
CA
Provided an Exhilarating Experience
We had aproximately 25 days in Namibia including our wonderful time in the Chobe River where Thinus met us at Kasane airport in Botswana,
We immediately when on a game drive within 15 min of our lodge and saw most of the big 5. Our adventure in Namibia after Botswana continued through Etosha Park, (we loved the tents camp right outside the lodge with a watering hole in front of our luxurious tent)
We loved Damaraland with its stunning rock formations and night sky. We also adored the Skeleton coast and the colours in the sand and the dunes. We had also an amazing jeep ride along the coast line during low tide with the waves crashing in under us, followed by an amazing drive up and down the enormous dunes. You can do this from Swapomund or Walvis Bay . ( I would suggest hiring your own private guide for this)
Thinus was a great driver and knows how to handle the gravel and sand roads and booked great accomodations for us. We also enjoyed the company of Marcus who was a wonderful and knowledgeable guide while Thinus took a few days off. We loved this trip....it was one of a lifetime and we do plan to come back when time allows. We saw every living creature in Africa and the scenery is spectacular.
trisha from Vancouver
BG
Email Polya | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything was perfectly organized!
Really, really good organization! We made self drive around Namibia. 3000 km for 10 days. Our trip was a combination of B&B and camping in a roof tent on the top of a Toyota car. Thinus has chosen really amazing lodges - small and charming places! Our camping was so beautiful place!
We met Thinus on the day of our arrival. He was very kind. Thinus gave us a marked road map, gave us really helpful advices - about the roads, about the fuel, places to eat, about the camping.
Wе wanted to met Thinus on the last day of our trip to say THANK YOU but we didn't get to see each other one more time. So see you next time, Thinus!
Thanks for everything!!!
Gratefully,
Your first guests from Bulgaria
TH
Email Chris and Tingting | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Thinus, the tour operator was honest, forthright, and engaging. Full of interesting information.
From our arrival in Windhoek to our departure from Victoria Falls, CrissCross Namibia did an excellent job building the itinerary for my wife and me, with stops at numerous fascinating destinations. We travelled with a guide/driver who arranged all the details of the program and left us with the opportunity to follow our curiosity. The lodges and camps where we stayed ranged from high-end five star to quirky, but comfortable. The food was ample and delicious and out local guide, Markus, was extremely well-informed about the natural history, wild mammals and birds. Some of the drives were long, but the driver was skilled and stops were well-timed. The program combined fascinating wildlife encounters with a significant cultural component. We travelled in Namibia for two weeks, Botswana and Zimbabwe for one week. If I could make any changes, it would only be that to spend more time at several of our destinations.
Initially, correspondence with CrossCross Namibia was hampered by difficulty between our respective email servers. So the amount of discussion pre-trip was less than I would have preferred. But the important points were covered. And any uncertainties we had coming into the program evaporated as soon as we arrived. Experiences exceeded our expectations on almost every level. We especially liked the diversity of Namibia: the dunes and coastline of Namib Desert, the cultural legacy of Damaraland, and the stark beauty and abundant wildlife of Etosha National Park. Next time, we would love to visit the southern part of Namibia.
Highest marks to Thinus, Markus and the Namibian people for an exceptional tour.
IL
Email Dana and Shimshon | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
WELL PLANNED ITINERARY AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
We just came from 12 days self drive safari tour in Namibia organised by CrissCross.
We choose the company on previous online reviews and they did not disapoint.
They organized the tour in a record time and answered promptly to any inquiries we had.
Accommodation and food on the trip were excellent. The lodges (3-5star) were fantastic- interesting locations and unique styles.
We enjoined every minute of our trip.
We already discused with Thinus about next trips in Namibia and neighbouring countries.