Ratings based on 39 Verified Reviews
3.8 Room cleanliness
3.9 Service & staff
3.2 Room comfort
3.6 Hotel condition
Expedia Verified Reviews
by A verified traveler
Could really use a good cleaning
Posted 15 Jan 2022 on HotelsIt is the oldest private game preserve, and it shows. Wrinkled pictures in frames filled with dead bugs, the yard needs a serious clean. That being said the bar/dinner area is quite lovely.
Game drive vehicles are ancient. (One hour drive is R450, which seems really steep).
I stayed at one of the ‘chalets’. As basic as it gets. Choose between sweltering or being devoured by mosquitoes (how about a net?). These are about 3km from the reception along atrocious ‘roads’ and (maybe just me….) the handrawn map got me disturbingly lost.
Comment from Hotel Management
2 Sep 2023 by Johann, Hotel Management
Good Day James,Thank you for your time and reply. Thank you for your critical advice. It seems to me to drive at night in nature was a little bit too much. If you want to be in real nature like being at the chalets you have to get to nature. Other people enjoy that adventure very much. I know the chalet are as basic as it gets but so is the price if you take into consideration to build a complete stand alone version with water flush toilet etc etc somewhere remote into the nature. But your comment is no 1.5 years back and all chalets have been upgraded seeing they are so popular from nature lovers. All have now 220 Volt electricity, they have a fridge and a 2 flame gas stove. Chalet Hippo 1 has complete new bathroom. The verbal feed back we get is very good. Next time I think it would be better to take a room at the main house.We have here accommodation from 2 star to 4 star. kind regards Johann Vaatz
by A verified traveler
Posted 14 Jan 2020 on Hotels
The staff are friendly . The charges are misleading, no Wi-Fi in guest rooms. Can say the place
by A verified traveler
Posted 20 Oct 2019 on Orbitz
by A verified traveler
Posted 30 Dec 2018
Arrived at around 1:30 pm expecting to be able to get a bar snack to tie us over till dinner based on experience from a visit 15 years previously. But no food available till 7:30 pm.
The logical thing to do was to drive 18km back up the road, cross the B1 and visit Okapuka Ranch which offers excellent food, drinks and accommodation at reasonable prices. And superior game drives.
I won't be revisiting Dusternbrook again. There is a much better option if you turn right instead of left as you travel north from Windhoek.
by A verified traveler from Germany
Posted 12 Oct 2018
We stayed there for one night and got the hippo 1 as a closer alternative to the chalet we had booked. The nature was really nice and we enjoyed the game drive in the evening with a nice guide. All in all, the farm and its accomodations/ facilities are a bit rundown. The pool for example is not clean and the loungers pretty old and uncomfortable. Dinner and breakfast were okay but not more. Staff is barely seen and we missed real hospitality. All in all, it is close to the airport but we know much better lodges.
by A verified traveler from Baltimore, MD
Posted 14 Aug 2018
This is a lovely place. The staff is extremely accommodating and helpful The room was made up with a flourish. The towel was shaped like an elephant to emphasize the ambiance.
by A verified traveler from Baltimore, MD
Posted 9 Aug 2018
Nice, historical setting with a wonderful, helpful staff. Lovely rooms with towel on bed shaped like an elephant, as an extra touch. Very nice tours,, and very reasonably priced.
Recommended
for Couplesby A verified traveler from Suffolk UK
good well located quiet chalet
Posted 23 Aug 2017
Pros: chalet, wild life
Cons: operation and service of restaurant.
Location: Excellent location, close to Winhoek, but you feel out in the wilderness.
We have used Duesternbrook lodge at the first and last night of our stay in Namibia. We did not use the lodge but a chalet, a few km.s away.
The Chalet Hippo 2 is simple but really very good. Clean, good warm water, solar lighting and an excellent fire pit and bbq spot with view over the lake. One can even sit on the roof. No complaints about the chalet.
The lodge was used by us for dinner and breakfast. Both are quite pricey. The dinner is a common dinner and you basically share table. Be one time!
The service during breakfast and dinner is very bad. All staff seem to hide in the kitchen, so if for instance bread runs out, you have to go and find them! Food is good, but not excellent.
On the last night we decided better not to join the shared dinner and make dinner ourselves, while w could hear, but not see, that the five hippos were coming around us to shore to have their vegetarian dinner. Summarized: Chalets recommended, restaurant not recommended.
Comment from Hotel Management
10 Oct 2017 by Johann, Hotel Management
Dear Jacqui and Rob,
Thank for taking time to make a comment on Duesternbrook. I am happy to hear that you enjoyed the chalet at the dam out in the nature.
Your comment on the service I see as a fair comment and will show it to the staff and I hope we can approve on it. Good idea to make your own dinner at the chalet that was part of the concept as you are alone and you can hear all the night sounds and you are closer to nature.
Thank one more time and all the best to you.
kind regards
Johann Vaatz
Recommended
for Everyoneby A verified traveler
Not close to beach but recommenable
Posted 25 Dec 2016I no bad experience the people are good very friendly and accommodative
by A verified traveler from Zimbabwe
Complete disregard for our safety
Posted 2 Sep 2016
Pros: Not much.
Cons: Guest Security and Customer Care is needed.
Perhaps Johan could consider the welfare of his guests and learn compassion.
Location:
There are cheetah and leopard in captivity. They feed them meat in enclosures from open vehicles. Even feed the hippo!
Before flying to Windhoek I called Dustenbrook to advise we would arrive late and to ask directions. Nobody could help me over the phone. On arrival Bidvest, Wilderness and I tried calling, no answer, it was late and I was travelling on my own with 2 children aged 6 and 10, I set the GPS for Okhandja hoping I would see a sign. After 70km, in pitch darkness and heavy road works, I was about to turn back to Windhoek I saw the Dusternbrook sign, in through a Poultry Farm. The security guard opened the gate, I could not see any signs, it was total darkness and he told me to go straight. New to Namibian roads, been in the country for 2 hours, I headed off on the gravel road, for what seemed like ages. I arrived at a closed gate, no sign for Dusternbrook, so I kept on the road as it bore right. After a few minutes of the road narrowing and getting sandy, I decided I will turn around, and couldnt, I was stuck in Sand. Tried calling, no answer, my children crying. Around 9.30pm I got through and advised Dustenbrook I was stuck. I was picked up around 11pm.
In the morning, in front of guests, Johan the very rude owner advised me it was my fault I got stuck and I must find my own way out the sand. I called Zenia at Bidvest who was shocked no-one would help me, she called Johan, he told her he called his lawyer and will not help us. Bidvest came from Okhandja to push us out the sand. At dinner that night Johan never asked if we were ok. They charged us for rescuing us at nite.
