Our Team
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:
- $80 to $1,073 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Mario | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The Etosha reserve and the Namib Desert in semi private tour!
I have just come back from a 10 days tour that included some of the major spots in Namibia (Etosha Park, Damaraland, Swakupmund and the coast, the Namib Desert). I have to say that I have organized this trip only 7 days before departure and I found and very good assistance with great professionality by Traudy. I had no worries with the airport transfer and the nights at arrival and departure in Windhoek , and received all suggestions and and advices needed before departure. At arrival everything was perfectly organized and the good surprise was that the tour took place with 3 travellers only (me and 2 nice american), with a brand new Toyota 4x4, which is a "plus" regarding comfort and security in a 3000 Km trip mainly on dust roads! The guide, Elton, was an excellent driver and behaved with capability and prudence in all circumstances. It was enjoyable to spend hours also in the car, with the feeling of being alone sometimes, in the immense landscapes of Namibia. Camp equipments and campsites were all perfect and we had sufficient time to enjoy the beauties of the places that we visited. Meals were all excellent! I have to say that the main feeling is that I found was I was looking for: the chance of visiting the places I wanted to see, living the days with the perception away from the tourism masses, in a safe way. I would recommend to travel across Namibia with Blue Crane, and for sure whatever is your type of expectation I have seen that it can be discussed in advance with the staff in order to program what best fits to the traveller intention.
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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.
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Email Anne & Didier | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful Namibia
We discovered Namibia with our family and it was beyond our expectations. The fauna and flora, the landscapes, are unbelievable. Friends told us about their experience with Blue Crane Safaris and we were not disappointed! The organisation of our trip was great thanks to Derek, very nice and mostly efficient. He answered quickly and accurately to all our questions, and was very flexible. Our guide-driver, Samy, enthusiastic, smiling and organized, taught us a lot about the animals, birds, trees, geology... Our vehicle 4x4 was very comfortable and spacious, with all our luggages in a small trailer! We highly recommend Blue Crane Safaris for a successful holiday to discover this fabulous country!
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Email Curt | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Well planned tour
Traudy was great at organizing my daughter and my 10 day camping trip to Namibia...
Our guide and driver Elton was outstanding .. very courteous and accommodating
Traudy made sure our overnight stops were conveniently located by excellent lodges
I highly recommend Blue Crane and would encourage anybody planning a trip to Namibia for a safari to strongly consider Blue Crane safaris.. you won’t be disappointed!
Email Jenny | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
What a welcome to Africa
Our 1st experience with Africa was through a 5 day tour of the Namib Desert, Sossusvlei & Coastwith Blue Crane Safaris and they did not disappoint. From the outset the communication with Derek was exceptional with him responding promptly and patiently. Then after months of waiting we finally arrived and were greeted by our guide, Sammy, who was a upbeat kind of guy with amazing knowledge and who went out of his way to ensure we had the best experience. He went above & beyond when one of our group left his passport behind on our last day and arranged to have it sent from Swakopmund to Windhoek. (Thanks again Sammy!) We saw amazing sights and a wide variety of birds & animals. Would happily recommend Blue Crane to you.
Email Roger Mehr | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
3 Weeks of adventuring throughout Namibia
My 21 year old son and I took a trip to Namibia. Our booking agent in Capetown organised a 3 week trip with Blue Crane Safaris. We travelled from Windhoek, southeast through the Kalahari, across to the Atlantic coast. We had a rest in Swakopmund then headed up the Skeleton coast for a few days before heading northwest through Palmwag to Etosha and then back to Windhoek. Generally I am not one for guided tours and kind of ended up on this one by accident, which makes the positive review even more meaningful. I prefer down and dirty, gritty and wild. Well we got 5 star all the way. Our trip included camping and hotel accommodation, all meals and the best team (guide and assistant) I've ever met. Everything we needed was provided for and our travel team were the most knowledgeable, professional, friendly and fun couple of guys we could have had the pleasure to travel with. We say wild desert elephants, black rhinos, lions, hyenas, giraffes and all the other things we wanted. Magusto (our guide) was one of the most knowledgeable people I've met in my life with a comprehensive knowledge of local geography, geology, botany, zoology, culture, ethnography...pretty well an encyclopaedic knowledge of Namibia (and beyond). Dave ( Magusto's off sider) was the friendliest, funniest and most helpful person you could ever wish for. Always on hand when needed and never a complaint or sour word in the entire 3 weeks. I will remember this trip as long as I live and if I get back to Namibia (highly likely and that largely because of my positive experience with these guys) I will definitely book through Blue Crane Safaris. 6 stars out of 5!!!
Thanks again for everything!!!
PS Man these guys are good!!! :)
Great Desert Experience
Communications were excellent. The lodging was exceptional with tasty food options from a huge buffet and braai options of game meats.
For the three day tour, the first and last day are really all driving with the desert tours on day 2 at sunrise and sunset. Most of the second day was spent relaxing at the hotel.
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Email Andrey | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Gorgeous experience! top-class organisation! very professional guide!
We took an individually tailored 9-nights guided tour for 2 persons in October 2017. We travelled along Namibia's standard "Golden Circle": Windhoek - Sossusvlei - Naukluft - the shore - Skeleton Coast - Twyfelfountein - Etosha - AfriCat Foundation - Airport. We were chronically incapable to plan the tour in advance because of uncertainty with our vacations (every time it's a battle with the boss). The tour was above expectations: we visited all iconic views of the country. Out of African Big Five we saw 4, except buffalo.
We had 3 weeks to plan only! After general Internet browsing we figured out we were too late! Namibia tour portfolios from leadings agencies were fully booked. The only company who was able to design this incredible tour at reasonable price was Blue Crane Safaris. It was not a budget tour but the price was quite fair. Ms Traudy Hagen personally was in touch with me via email. She took into account all our specific requests. Our guide, Gusto, is a professional who faithfully loves his country and knows everything about local wildlife. His is not only an educated professional but also a good driver and a good company! And very surprisingly for Africa, time management was above any compliments! Everything was in time!
I would highly recommend Blue Crane Safaris for individual or small groups travellers. I want to plan my next tour to Caprivi Strip and Victoria Falls with this company in 2 years or so.
P.S. Oysters on board the catamaran in Walvis Bay and a flute champagne after hot air ballooning in Naukluft, desert adapted elephants and the game are things you'll never forget. Blue Crane Safaris can really maximise your experience in this country.
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Email Angelina | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Book with Blue Crane Safaris! - Amazing Tailor Made Tour
We were a group of 10 American students studying abroad in Cape Town. Our group had been hoping to plan a trip to Namibia but it seemed like too much to plan the trip on our own. We eventually came across Blue Crane Safaris and Derek (the owner) helped us craft a unique tour that accommodated all of our needs. We booked a 3 day tour starting in Windhoek, traveling to Sossusvlei, Walvis Bay, and Swakopmund, and ending back in Windhoek. Derek was able to fit in every activity we had hoped to do, including hiking the dunes in Sossusvlei, seeing Deadvlei, and sand boarding and ATVing in Swakopmund. We sent him nearly 15 emails finalizing details, but he was always so patient and catered to every request we had. When we told him we were planning on spending the night we arrived in the airport, he even helped us book airport transfers and an additional night in a hostel. Despite the fact that those plans were not in the original itinerary, he was kind enough to include it in the original tour price. Derek was so professional, accommodating, and helpful! If we are ever able to return to Namibia, we will absolutely book another tour with Blue Crane Safaris.
Our guides Quentin and David were also extremely knowledgable and professional! We had numerous vegetarians in our group and they catered to all of their needs, as well as preparing meat for our other group members. The accommodations were very comfortable and we particularly enjoyed our one night of camping in Sossusvlei. We had the most amazing trip with Blue Crane Safaris and are taking home memories that will last a lifetime. No matter what your needs are Derek will be able to accommodate them and leave you with an incredible itinerary. We received 5-Star service from everyone on Blue Crane Safari's staff and I highly recommend booking with them!!
Email Michael | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The only way to see so much wildlife .Namibia and Botswana have it all.
A great adventure with a lot of travelling which was the only way to see the wonderful things we experienced on the way.