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:
- $66 to $1,381 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Helene | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Absolutely recommend! Will use them again if we return to Namibia!
My husband and I traveled for a week around Namibia. We weren't really sure what was a feasible itinerary with regards to driving distances or what kind of vehicle we would need, so we reached out to a number of companies. Allison at Cardboard Box was the first to respond, and she responded with such a thoughtful, tailored response that we decided to stick with her. She was great to work with. She always responded within 24 hours, and took time to address all our questions and concerns (I never got a single canned response).
One of the other reasons we used Cardboard Box is because their website is chock full of helpful information about travelling in Namibia. It was sort of our unofficial guide book when we were planning the trip. We also really liked the guide book they included in our welcome pack about Namibia. It was nice to have a little more information about the country and wildlife. Another note -- Allison strongly recommended the full coverage on the vehicle. We did get a crack in the windscreen from gravel, and it was nice to not worry about it. No flat tires though!
I'd whole-heartedly recommend Cardboard box to other travelers!
CH
Email Elisabetta | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best Tour Operator ever found in my life
Since the very beginning and till the end of our contacts, I have always been enthusiast about their professionalism and kindness. I refer in particular to Allison's assistance. I think (and I do not exaggerate) they are the best tour operator I ever had the pleasure to deal with.
They were quick, efficient, and I received more info from them than I could ever have expected. Lonely Planet states they are the best TO in Namibia... they are absolutely right. And not only in Namibia... many TO in Europe should learn a lot from them... I don't really see how they could improve further.
AT
Email Rebecca S. | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Friendly, knowledgeable and patient. Loved working with them.
Halfway into our travel plans for 25 day tour of Namibia, I realized how difficult it was to contact and get timely responses back for reservations. At that point I decided I needed local help. Cardboard Box was one of the recommendations on the Swiss forum for agents in Windhoek. My agent was Anita. She was always very friendly and helpful. I especially appreciated her patience as I continued to alter my itinerary. She was also very helpful finding other accommodations when my choice was booked for a particular date.
Speaking with the hosts and lodges we stayed at, each one of them affirmed that we were in "the best of hands".
I can definitely recommend Cardboard Box for your travel needs.
NL
Email Ron Overweel | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Helpfull in any way.
Europeans like us have many opportunities to book and arrange safaritrips by local european travelagencies, but I prefer doing this in the land of destination. We don't want to be sent to the usual places and pre-arranged restaurants together with dozens of foreign tourists. No, we trust the local agencies to advise and provide us the local do's and don'ts and guide us to their chosen accommodations. People working there are the ones who really know Namibia.
As for the Cardboard Box Travel Shop: Chantelle helped us very well. She kept us informed, gave us proactive advice and responded quickly. No further improvement needed though. I think lots of European companies should take this organizaton as an example.
Having been in Etosha in 1988, we always wanted to go back and let our children experience what we experienced then. We absolutely succeeded in this matter. Both Okaukejo and Halali were perfect places to be for the six of us. Stayed in Etosha for three nights, all arranged by Carboard Box Travel Shop.
I certainly would recommend the Cardboard Box Travel Shop to anyone who wants to visit Namibia.
Email Christine | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Definitely one of the top experiences I have had with any travel agent anywhere.
Highly recommend Cardboard Box for anyone traveling to Namibia. Allison did a fantastic job in helping us to arrange our trip. She was responsive and listened carefully to what we wanted and gave useful advice, including telling us honestly when something just would not work and suggesting alternatives. When she went on vacation the person substituting for her was also very good so there was no decline in the service.
We had an issue with Air Namibia at the end of our trip that could have been a disaster but Allison sorted it out for us (on a Saturday) even though we had booked the plane tickets online ourselves and not through her. This was an example of really going the extra mile to help the customer which is RARE in Africa in my experience.
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Email Logan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Outstanding Service!
Rachael was absolutely wonderful and we can't think of a thing she could have done differently! She was most informative, gave wise counsel and promptly answered all our queries. We absolutely loved all the accommodation she chose for us, and felt that all her recommendations had been specifically tailored towards our needs.
The booking process & payments all went extremely smoothly, and we loved the fact we could use a secure online payment system (something no other operators seemed able to offer). The pre-departure emails where a joy, arriving at just the right time to offer packing tips, weather advice and tons of other info we'd never have thought about. And we were suprised that the beautifully presented info packs we received on arrival included a guide book and a local sim card!
On top of all this they have the most comprehensive, humorous & honest travel web-site I've ever encountered (which allowed us to track our route and find additional info on the activity and accommodation suggestions Rachael was making) .
The Cardboard Box certainly has the winning formula, and nothing is left to chance, I can not recommended highly enough.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
excellent
We used the services of Cardboard Box in 2010 and have used them again recently for a forthcoming trip, on both occasions they were outstanding. You can simply send them a rough itinerary and they will provide you with all sort of information and advice and will book everything for you. Everywhere we stayed last time was perfect. Not sure how they could improve their service. We'd recommend them to anyone.
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Email Matthew | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
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!
Email Matt & Fraz | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
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.
Email Jill | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fabulous service from Cardboard Box Travel Shop
My family (me, my husband and 2 kids - aged 9 and 11) recently did a self-drive trip through Namibia and Botswana. Having never been to Africa before, we found Cardboard Box Travel Shop to be a very useful source of information and support. Our consultant (Anita) provided great advice in planning our itinerary (and making sure we were seeing all the highlights while avoiding too many long driving days), and in recommending accommodation and activities that suited our family. She answered all our questions, made the bookings for us (including car hire), and ensured that our trip ran very smoothly. I highly recommend Cardboard Box for their passion and knowledge, professionalism, attention to detail, and friendly service. We had the most wonderful trip and look forward to returning. Thanks Anita!