Explore Namibia with us!
Lark Journeys Namibia
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Member Of:
- NTB & ETEA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $138 to $1,104 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Excellent guide
Last year we went on an interesting 5-day trip to Namibia. I am a professor at a US university, and I brought a group of 3 students to Namibia for their capstone project. Our guide was Greg from Lark Journeys (http://www.larkjourneys.com/) -- he was great, and I'm writing to recommend him to others.
Our goal was to spend a couple of days in a village near Ondangwa, and then spend a day in Etosha. I wanted flexibility in the plans, so we could adjust to what we find interesting. As it turned out only 1 of the 4 nights was spent in the location initially planned. The flexibility of course made it harder on Greg, but he did an amazing job making all work out great.
We had a very packed 5 days. We arrived in Windhoek on the 7:30 AM flight from Frankfurt. After a brief stop in Windhoek for supplies, we drove up north -- we didn't have lodging set, as we wanted to see how far we'd get driving in one day. We ended up in Tsumeb, and Greg found a nice hotel for us there.
The next morning we got up early and drove to Ondangwa, where we met our contact in the nearby village. We camped out there the second night, which was our original plan.
The plan for the rest of the trip changed when I decided during the trip that we should go to Opuwa, to see the Himba and Herero people. This made things hard for Greg, as he did not have time to prepare, and had to improvise on the spot. But he managed to work things out great. We drove to Opuwa in the afternoon of the third day, and spent the night in a nice hotel in town that Greg found for us. Greg also arranged for a local guide to bring us to a Himba village. The visit to Opuwa was the highlight of the trip for me.
The Opuwa detour changed our Etosha plans ... initially we were going to stay in a lodge near the eastern entrance, but Greg came up with a new Etosha plan to make it work with the Opuwa visit. On our fourth day we drove to the western entrance of Etosha, and had a great game drive through Etosha to the Okaukuejo lodge, where we stayed for the fourth night. Greg drove us on another great game drive the next morning before bringing us to the airport in Windhoek for our evening flight.
We had a jam-packed 5 days, with lots of driving throughout the northern half of Namibia. Days began early in the morning and ended in the evening. I changed our plans throughout the trip. But all worked great, thanks to Greg!
Greg was also great to talk to, and we learned a lot about Namibia from him. He is very educated and knowledgeable (eg, he had a prestigious Young African Leaders Initiative fellowship in the US). We all enjoyed getting to know him.
I highly recommend Lark Journeys to others.
FI
Email Juhani | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Great experience
I had heard of Namibia, its nature, views, culture and people, from several of my friends who had visited the country. When I got the opportunity to make a trip there, I wanted to plan it carefully. I was fortunate to meet with Gregory from Lark Joyrneys during a Travel Fair in Helsinki, and asked him to draft a plan which we together finalized so that it met all our expectations.
Greg was at the airport to meet with us (my wife and myself), and took us for a two-week trip with his car. All the accommodation was arranged in high quality lodges, all around the country. We did see the sand dunes, mountains and the ocean, and could make safari drives in different places to see the animals (incl white and black rhinos and desert elephants, lions and cheetachs). Greg was a good companion, always helpful and was able to enrich our trip with his vast knowledge.
I can strongly recommend Lark Journeys and Greg as an organizer of the trip in Namibia.
US
Email MJ | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best Travel Company in Namibia!
I had the most wonderful trip in Namibia in December 2016 through Lark Journeys. Greg, the owner of the company, responded to my e-mails promptly and took care of me from start to end. I was a solo female traveler and Greg ensured that I had the safest and most comfortable trip. I arranged for airport pick-up and Greg was waiting for me at Arrivals as soon as I passed through Immigration. I had a tight schedule, but Greg ensured I got the most out of my vacation by planning everything meticulously, allowing me to relax and just absorb everything Namibia had to offer. From the airport, we stopped in Windhoek to pick up a few items we'd need on the road, then started the drive north to Agama River Camp, one of the few lodges closer to Sossusvlei. It was a 4-5 hour drive on both paved and dirt roads, and Greg did an excellent job maneuvering the van! We made a short pit stop at Solitaire, almost like a ghost town scene from a movie where I had the to take photos and stretch my legs. Once at Agama, we had sundowner drinks and dinner was served at 8pm.
We left our lodging the next day at 5am, bringing our boxed breakfasts with us to head to Sossusvlei National Park. It took about 45 minutes to get there, which is not too bad compared to the driving we did from the previous day. Sossusvlei is amazing! Greg took me to the famous sand dunes and climbed Big Daddy with me, choosing a route not many tourists know about. It was really hot and I don't think any physical training could have prepared me for it but Greg motivated me to finish the climb to the top. The views from the summit were amazing and I have never seen anything like it! From the summit of Big Daddy, we made our descent to the Deadvlei and walked some more to reach the famous dead trees we only see in pictures. Then we headed back to the park entrance to have lunch at the cafe. After lunch, we visited Sesriem Canyon, then headed back to the lodge for a much-needed rest. Dinner again was at 8pm and another opportunity for drinks and star-gazing.
The next day we headed back to Windhoek after breakfast at around 9am, choosing a scenice route quite different from the first day. We reached the city at around 1300 and had lunch, then he dropped me off at my hotel for the official end of the tour.
That was the official end. Greg and I had become great friends during my short trip, so I ended up hanging out with him and his friends during my last night in Windhoek. We went to trivia night at Chopsis and I was really impressed with the band playing fun, chill, African music. I also got to try some Namibian street food and had a great time getting to know some of Greg's accomplished friends.
You'd think only a crazy person would travel solo to Africa and get in a van with a guy you've only met through a travel website. But I took a risk on this one, because my fears were relieved after reading reviews of Lark Journeys and after hearing good things about Greg. I have travelled extensively around the world and have worked with dozens of tour guides. None has provided me with the remarkable level of service that Lark Journeys did. For this company, tourism is not just a business---it's their passion. They go above and beyond, and they truly make your travel memories last a lifetime!
Overall, the trip cost me around N$10,000 but that includes lodging, breakfast and dinner prepared by a German chef at the lodge. It also included the van, fuel, park entrance, water (a prized commodity in Namibia!) and of course, the privilege to get to know Greg, who is one of the best tour guides I've ever worked with so far. He's a very educated man and really sensitive to your needs. I'm glad I trusted my instinct and chose him to do the trip with me!
AT
Email Michael | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great trip with an amazing guide
Gregory was our guide during an amazing trip in July/August 2017. I believe one of the reasons it turned out so great was his presence. We gave him quite the tough job organizing a trip for a big group of 12 people from different countries with different wishes and he managed to make it an unbelievable experience for all of us!
The main reason was his flexibility, we were talking via e-mail months in advance and we discussed the possible itineraries. After many e-mails going back and forth, we found a plan which suited all our wishes and we started our 2 week trip!
He assisted us from day one when picking us up at the airport. The first day we stayed in Windhoek and he took us to a great bar called Chopsi’s, we liked the atmosphere that much we returned at the end of our trip. Of course Greg is not only a great guide because of taking his guests for beers, the day after we were already on the move! We stopped by his place to get some sleeping bags, mattresses and the two jeeps and off we went! A nice surprise was that we could drive as well, who does not want to tell stories about driving through the Namibian desert?!
Our first highlight was the Fish River Canyon, after stopping for a night in Keetmanshoop, we arrived and enjoyed the amazing views over the canyon. The first part of the trip we were mainly camping, setting the tents before sunset and enjoying a barbecue and some beers. Afterwards we drove further to Luderitz where we slept in a hotel and a bizarre encounter took place, suddenly Michael Williams (The Wire, Boardwalk Empire,…) was ordering eggs at breakfast next to me. Apparently they were recording the movie ‘The Red Sea Diving Resort’ in Namibia. After meeting some celebrities in Luderitz, we went on to Sossusvlei where we headed up the dunes in spite of the heavy wind and saw the famous dead trees. These days we were staying in an amazing campsite in the middle of the desert, luxury camping with nobody around except of some oryx coming to the drinking hole. Next, we passed by the ‘German city’ Swakopmund and went through to the beautiful landscapes of Damaraland. The big finale still had to come in Etosha where we saw lions, rhinos, elephants and a huge amount of zebras, pretty amazing!
So yes, book with Lark Journeys and hope Greg is your guide, you will have both the touristy highlights which make the country famous but you will also meet a great Namibian guy who will give you some insights about Namibia as a country and who will take you out for a beer. What do you want more?!
BE
Email Brambo | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The trip of a lifetime. Great plan great execution!
We left Gregory free to create an awesome itinerary that would cover most of Namibia's Highlights and he did exactly that. Of course you need to understand you'll be driving allot of kilometers but the Cars were very well equipped for the task at hand! Greg has great local connections so every location had allot to offer. You like adventure? Chill? Mix with the locals? Everything is possible..... The trip of a life time!
BE
Email Ivan Karabaliev | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
All taken care of from the airport to the wonders of Namibia
Lark Journeys was probably the best choice to explore the wonders of Namibia. The friendly team prepared a great journey for me and my friends. Everything was well thought through right from the airport to amazing locations: Windhoek, Fish River Canyon, Luderitz, Swakopmund and the gem of the trip Etosha Park. Transport, tents and all camping materials were all taken care of. We had a good balance between camping and hotel stays. The journey was a great adventure where all needs were met and it was an epic dive in the wonders of this amazingly rich with experience country. Whatever your expectations of Namibia, Lark Journeys can exceed them!
CH
Email Sandro | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unforgettable beautiful trip!
Our trip was wonderful! Everything was super organized by Lark Journeys. The route was explained to us in detail before the trip and we were able to ask any questions to Claire. On our 6 Day Namibian Loop we were able to discover the diversity of Namibia with all the animals, landscapes and cultures. Many thanks to our travel guide Franco, we have made many unforgettable impressions and discovered a lot more than we imagined. We can recommend this trip to anyone who wants to see a lot in a short period of time. Traveling during the coronavirus was not a problem at all, all safety regulations are observed and made available. Thanks again for everything Lark Journeys and we look forward to our next trip.
BE
Email Jeroen en Liesbet | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
High quality trip to Namibia thanks to Lark Journeys
Namibia is an astonishing country that we could fully enjoy and discover thanks to very professional preparations and good care of Lark Journeys. The 3 weeks self drive through the Namibian nature and safari parks was taken care of down to the last detail. Lodges were well chosen and of high quality, Greg and Claire are very nice people who are always ready and standby for their guests. Absolutely recommended and worth repeating!
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Email Carrie N | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Namibia: Lark Journeys is the BEST!
I booked a 10-day Private Tour with Lark Journeys. I am a very discerning traveler that books many corporate and personal trips for my boss, so I have tons of experience with agents and companies, but booking in Africa can be tricky. Lark Journeys was professional and thorough from the first email. Claire was very quick with her responses (even though a 6-hour time zone difference). She answered ALL my questions (and I had a lot of them). As a solo female traveler, she understood some of my concerns about safety and addressed them all. She prepared for me trip that checked all my must-haves and made great recommendations every step of the way.
Greg was my host and guide and I could not have asked for anyone better to show me Namibia. He is patient, thoughtful and delivers excellent customer service. We had great chats as we traveled down the road or sometimes he allowed me to just soak in the beauty of Namibia's ever-changing landscapes. I always felt safe with him driving hours down dirt roads and I cannot say enough good things about him and Lark!
If you have never been to Namibia, run don't walk to plan a trip! If you are looking for a top-notch company to help you plan, I cannot recommend Lark Journeys more highly as they over delivered a most spectacular holiday for me! Namibia has so much to offer, from games drives, to amazing sunsets, to other-worldly landscapes that don't stop impressing you. You get so much more than 'just a safari' with Namibia and with Lark you get excellence at planning your great adventure!
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Email Izzy | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Knowledgable, thorough, professional - look nowhere else!
I can't thank Claire enough for an incredible trip. Within a few weeks, finalized just 10 days before travel, she helped me put together a perfect, custom 15-day trip.
She was SUPER knowledgeable and thorough - I think she's been to every hotel/lodge/hike/activity in the country. We talked through all of the options for stops and accommodations. She took into account my interests and budget, tweaked it when I extended my vacation - everything felt very tailored to me.
Claire was also very helpful on the ground, especially important as a solo traveler. She sat down with me for an hour when I arrived and walked through the itinerary day-by-day and gave me essentials (map, books, etc.). The next day (a Saturday!) she took me to pick up the car rental. And she responded immediately on Whatsapp throughout my stay with local tips and help when I ran into issues.
I talked to multiple top operators before booking. Lark was by far the most knowledgable and communicative - and it still came out cheaper than what anyone else would match.
In the end, I had a wonderful trip and owe it all to her. I cannot more strongly endorse them.