Gondwana Travel Centre
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 1993)
- Member Of:
- Namibia Tourism Board
- Tour Types:
- Self-drive mid-range & luxury tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $63 to $1,306 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
SG
Email Joy | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very slow in responding
Have to improve their speed of communication and responding. Been several occasions without response and they kept customer waiting. Have know idea what is going on. First, I didn’t want to write about this thinking it is just one time and they are a small company. But it has been so many times and it is very annoying when I don’t know what is going on with what I have requested and I have already put down the deposit. To be fair for them, the lady who has been helping me has been helpful in answering the question but it doesn’t help when my message was sent and no one attended to the question for one week. They might be all on holidays but I am not sure if this works for everyone especially when it comes to business and we need to get something rolling for the trip in advance.
BE
Email Martina | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Top service - efficient, reliable, professional and friendly
We just came home from a 3 weeks’ trip to Namibia. We went to the Naukluft Parc (Olive trail, Namib dunes), Walvis Bay (Pelican Point), Swakopmund, Spitzkoppe, Opuwo, Epupa Falls, Van Zyl’s pass, Marienfluss, Etosha and Erongo. We travelled on our own with 5 family members (2 adults, 3 “kids” of 20, 18 and 15 years) and two 4x4 cars (as recommended by our travel agent for security reasons when you go to the Van Zyl’s pass and Kaokoveld). We slept in lodges, tents and in our car roof-tents.
It was an unforgettable trip : a real adventure where everything went well – no single problem, a lot of excitement !! No flat tyres although roads were frequently rough. All bookings had been done as announced, food and accommodation were very good. The fact that our trip, which we set up on purpose as an “adventure”, was such a positive experience is greatly thanks to Rachael from Cardboard Box Travel Shop who gave us invaluable advice about accommodation, places to see and to avoid, difficult roads, things to take with us…. As regular travellers, we never received such a personalised and attentive service as we experienced with her. We recommend everybody intending to visit Namibia to contact Cardboard Box Travel Shop (ask for Rachael !!). They will provide you with a tailored and friendly service, organising you a unique experience.
US
Email Annika H | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding from beginning to end
I traveled alone (solo female) on a 14 day self-drive through Namibia and Botswana. With ample help from Cardboard Box, it was the trip of a lifetime. Everything was organized perfectly and accommodations were superb. I kept Norelle on her toes with plenty of questions and changes, but she was always prompt and organized. Highly, highly recommend.
US
Email Goran Jovanovic | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Self-drive trip thru Namibia
Unable to find a tour that fitted our desired itinerary and the time frame, I contacted several tourist agencies and among them the Cardboard Box Travel Shop. My initial inquiry was responded by Erika of Cardboard Box Travel Shop within hours, with a wide array of options not received from other companies. Erika was on top of each question I had and she provided invaluable advice pertaining to the driving distances and lodges. Simply, she provided answers and tips just about everything I asked and beyond. Our Vouchers for the lodges were delivered promptly to our hotel along with a road map of Namibia. The roads on the map were highlighted and each lodge and attraction was clearly indicated. In addition, the package contained a pre-paid telephone SIM card in case we experienced a mechanical break-down or other emergency. All lodges (as well as the Strand Hotel in Swakopmund) were outstanding. Also, I have to mention that we arrived at Kulala Desert Lodge later than anticipated and just before the Lodge attendant was preparing to send a vehicle with a crew to search nearby roads for possibly stranded tourists. If we are to travel again in Namibia, the Cardboard Box Travel Shop will be the only Travel agency we will contact.
US
Email Fran | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Cardboard Box organized a self-drive trip with the convenience of a tour but without the hassles
We were impressed with the service and attention to detail by Cardboard Box Travel Shop. Friends of ours have traveled twice with them so we decided to try them. We wanted a self-drive adventure in Namibia but not the headache of finding guesthouses, a rental vehicle and other logistics. Allison, our agent, was terrific in helping plan our affordable trip. She frequently offered several options or alternatives for lodging and seemed to understand what we were looking for. That's quite a talent when all you have to work with are emails! She included enough details to help us make good decisions. Allison perfectly estimated necessary travel times that allowed us to really enjoy our journey from place to place. Allison also responded to our questions quite promptly. Once we emailed to ask about an alternative driving route and she responded within minutes! The information packet(s) we received both through emails and upon arrival at our hotel were very informative and useful. We received an excellent map of Namibia marked with all of our destinations (as well as ATMs and petrol stations) and suggested routes, along with little local maps on our vouchers for finding each guesthouse/lodge. Also included was a little Namibia guide book that was a surprisingly helpful addition to our own Bradt guide and a SIM card for our phone. It seemed to us that Cardboard Box had managed to book the best rooms in our chosen locations and reserved an excellent 4X4 vehicle that was in very good shape with almost new tires (and two spares, which we did not have to use). The accommodations ranged from luxury tent camps to lodges and B&B's. All of them were comfortable and included at least breakfast. Many were astoundingly beautiful. We recommend trying to stay 2 (maybe 3) nights in the nicest areas to give time to explore and to book side trips. We are Americans in our late 60's and found that it was not difficult to drive around the country (on the left side), as long as you respect the suggested speed limits of the rental car agency and roads. Namibians are incredibly friendly and helpful. Both of us have traveled and worked at times in African and we found Namibia to be very safe, with clean drinking water and lots of healthy, delicious food. We enjoyed spotting wildlife on our own at waterholes in Etosha, as well as some guided game drives/walks offered by the lodges. We loved the freedom of taking our time and stopping where we wanted, while knowing that we had an in-country person to contact if we had questions. All the convenience of a tour with none of the constraints. We hope to come back soon!
US
Email Barry | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent Travel Service
We have just returned from a 5-week trip in Southern Africa that included 2 weeks in Botswana (Okavango Delta) and Namibia (Windhoek – Etosha – Twfelfontein – Swakupmond – Sossusvlei – Windhoek). We had the dates arranged and a rough idea of an itinerary when we contacted Cardboard Box Travel for help in filling in the details and finalising arrangements. We found Cardboard Box to be very efficient and helpful. They made many invaluable suggestions and were very open and responsive to our needs. They made all the reservations for us, including three nights in Etosha and two nights at the Desert Camp at Sesriem. Our consultant (Allison) was amazing and guided us through the whole process – she advised on an SUV rather than a sedan and that was a great suggestion. . Everything went smoothly on our trip – no problems or misadventures. Cannot recommend Cardboard Box highly enough and would definitely use them again wqhen we return to Namibia or Botswana.
NZ
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Hugely impressed with their knowledge of Namibia and Botswana and great itinerary suggestions.
I have nothing but praise for the extremely valuable information we received from Cardboard Box in planning and organising our trip. At the outset they were keen to find out our travel needs (and budget) and then provided a range of fantastic suggestions. A very customer focused approach. Alison, our travel consultant, proved her weight in gold, drawing on her extensive knowledge of both Namibia and Botswana to tailor a 3-week trip around what we wanted to do. We had a unforgettable self-drive safari through unique African landscapes, camp sites, game reserves and some luxury lodges.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great service, great knowledge, very friendly
We were in Namibia in march 2012. In september 2014 we go to Namibia again. It's a great country, beautiful scenery, very nice people and great places to stay. Cardboardbox arranged everything for us. They have a great car rental place. They pick you up from the airport and bring you back. If you have troubles they come and help you (was not nessecary) The website of Cardboardbox shows under lodges all the places you want to go to. I made an itinerary myself and asked them to review it. They came with great suggestions. And the they book everything for you. They can book the parks in Namibia much easier and sooner than you can do it yourself. And there are some people who say it is not to save to give every place your creditcard data. With Cardboardbox you pay them en they arrange everything. At no cost for you. They sent you all the vouchers and a lot of information (very helpful) through email. I recommend Cardboard box to everyone who travels to this wonderful country (and to Botswana)
Email Nigel and Lydia | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Self Drive 16 day Namibia tour coordinated by Cardboard Box Travel Shop
Our experience booking through Cardboard Box Travel Shop was excellent - from the communication and planning before the trip to the welcome pack on arrival and the flawless adventure we had. Cardboard box sorted our car hire and all the accommodations based on an itinerary which we refined with them before finalising the booking. Lodgings which other firms had been unable to secure (such as those inside Etosha) were not only available to us, on arrival they were clearly at the top end of what was on offer in each of the sites.
Everything was smooth and efficient and we had an amazing time in an incredible country. We are very happy to recommend this company to anyone seeking to do the same!
CA
Email Barbara and Erich Baumann | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Self drive tour with itinerary and bookings from Lily and 4X4 rental from Tristan ran like clockwork
Arranged everything online and Lily provided custom made itinerary and bookings, and Tristan provided the 4x4 truck from Cardboard Box. Responses online were professional and efficient. From the moment we arrived in Windhoek we were in good hands. We were transported by Raymond their driver and at the office received friendly attention to everything we needed including Tristan's personal service with our almost brand new 4X4 Toyota truck. All Lily's accommodation bookings worked beautifully (although we met some people whose paid and confirmed bookings from other travel agents didn't work in two places). Earlier I had tried to create our own itinerary and book accommodations in Namibia and Botswana but it was too difficult. We could not have done this remarkable and great self drive tour without the Cardboard Box Travel Shop. We feel fortunate that we found them. We highly recommend the Cardboard Box Travel Shop Namibia if you want a self drive tour in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and/or South Africa. Thank you to everyone at the office - especially Lily and Tristan.