Gondwana Travel Centre

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.

Broken head and eyeglasses, downgraded to poorer accommodation, standard scams with optionals etc...

We encountered:

- one broken head and eyeglasses

During the exit from the 4x4 vehicle at DINE 45, the driver opened all doors that could rotate 180 degrees and did not secure them. The back door curved and hit the head of my colleague who had already come out of the vehicle and then crash his glasses and he got hematoma on his head. This only happened due to negligence of drivers and guides. We have seen other drivers unloading passengers and holdin the doors in place so that a similar problem would not happen.

- downgraded to poorer accommodation

When we booked the trip, they confirmed our stay (2 days) at Namibia Desert Lodge and instead we were in a campsite with no internet in anything that looked like a tent.

- standard scams with optionals

During the trip we went to a lodge where we were told we could go and watch some wild animals in the cage. They did not let us know that we had to pay for it. Only later, they asked us to pay about $ 10 per person. Everybody in the group was surprised and the guide later said he warned us that we could watch animals "only if we want." But he did not say that if we want we have to pay for it and that this activity is not included.

- a minibus that was constantly drowned

They have been late for more than 1 hour when taking over the hotel for the first day. Explanation: Vehicle problem. I do not know what they did in those hours, but the vehicle we were on for 6 days and over 2000 km was a permanent breakdown and it was not pleasant to stay in the middle of the road with a broken vehicle and the first village 100 km away.

- we were stolen money from the minibus while there was no one around the minibus, only the driver

The last day, only a 2 hours before the end of the trip, we stopped at a lodge for lunch. Until then, the drivers (who is also the guide) was always sitting during the lunch and the dinner with us (group of 7) at the same table. This time not. We were alone in a restaurant inside the lodge, there were no people around. The driver moved away from the group. We left inside the minibus a bag with my colleague's wallet. The money was stolen from the wallet: not all the money was stolen, but only a few large banknotes. We realised this when arrived to the hotel.

I asked the agency to give me an explanation on these issues (and many other things I did not even mentioned here) but they mostly refuse responsibility. I demanded a refund and I told them that if they decided to make a refund, that would be to the account of the humanitarian organisation I will indicate to them. I do not want a refund, but someone who has accomplished this kind of service needs to bear responsibility for it. Apart from the agency I will write more reviews on the internet, it is even more a responsibility of the tour operator (SWA SAFARI).

Sorry for my bad english but I will write other reports on Italian and Spanish (my mother tongues).

Good!

Norelle is polite and efficient . She gived us all the advice and information we needed and is able to solve all our doubts and problems. She is very patient and punctual. The website is simple to understand and navigate.

Checked many different accommodations and was able to pay in one amount rather than paying each site seperately.

ECCELLENT when you plan all the details of your holiday and also if you need any help during it.

The internet isn't as good as in EU, so the car navigator could stop working: it's better to have a very detailed map.

I also suggest to buy a mobile pre-paid card (there is a box Office into Windhoek Airport); MTC Tango Prepaid is good.

Remember to fuel your car at every petrol station because you might not find any for many many miles.

Lastly, buy a lot of water to take into your car.

Excellent service - highly recommended

We recently returned from a trip that included 2 weeks in Namibia. Cardboard Box Travel were very helpful in suggestions and bookings. Sonja, the contact there, did a great job. We decided on a self drive tour. The 4x4, accommodation and suggested route were all excellent. I highly recommend the organisation.

Excellent services!

Have used the Cardboardbox for my arrangements for many years, very staisfied with them! Good communication, quick responses and the they provide and set up your travels ass desired! They provide accomodations after excactly what you want. Good knowledge about places you want to see/do. Set up an itenirary that will suit the days you will spend! Highly recomend them if you are travelling in Namibia or Botswana!

Customized, Thrilling, and Diverse Trip

Our Cardboard Box representative spent a month working with us on a fully customized 22-day trip through Namibia and Botswana. Working within our budget, she designed an adventure that mixed thrilling wildlife encounters with cultural experiences and unique places to stay. Through Namibia2Go, Cardboard Box also reserved us a safe, reliable Toyota 4X4 that could handle the gravel, sand, and potholes that are common there. And when we had an issue with the vehicle, they responded promptly and sent someone immediately hundreds of kilometers to replace the vehicle. Top-notch service from our first inquiry to our transfer to the airport on our last day. The website is also incredibly informative about all things Namibian. We're so glad we stumbled across Cardboard Box on the internet!

Friendly, trustworthy and professional travel company

We had a fantastic and trouble-free self-drive holiday in Namibia, thanks in large part to Cardboard Box travel, who booked all of our camping and lodges in and around Etosha, and also arranged our camping-ready Hilux through Namibia2Go (who were also excellent.) Communication was great (that's important as there is quite a lot to plan on these trips!) and we liked all of the accommodation, including some memorable stays at lodges that Cardboard Box had recommended to us. Our vehicle was in immaculate condition and fitted out with everything we needed. They also have a really nice website full of detailed information about Namibia, its wildlife etc which shows a real love for the country. All in all, if looking for a local agent you can trust to help you book your annual holiday, then based on our experience, we'd 100% recommend this company.

Incredible adventure in Namibia!

We booked two weeks self-driving tour in Namibia and we experienced a great organization from the first day till the end. The tour has been properly planned in all details and we've got all the information in an easy and clear way.
All days have been easily planned with enough time for transferring and sightseeing a nice counrty as Namibia is.
All lodgeges and hotel we staid offered great service, nice rooms and delicious food!
First day we had a very nice introducion meeting with the staff who provided us all the maps,information and suggestion for driving and visiting safely all the counrty.
Absolutely well done !!