Fish River Lodge

This is an amazing place with an even more amazing view of Fish Canyon. It is a long drive to get there and you definitely need a 4 wheel drive vehicle but it was worth it. When we arrived at the lodge and saw the view I wondered why we had only booked two nights. We did a sun downer drive not long after arriving and had a view down into the canyon. The meals were wonderful and varied. They will take care of varied dietary needs. The next day we took the drive down into the canyon. It was an adventure and highly recommended. Our guides fixed an amazing lunch at the bottom. The chalets were lovely with a view of the canyon. It was quite warm during the day but cool at night and the ventilation of the chalets was excellent. Wish we had booked a longer stay but this spot is on our list when we return to Namibia.

My group of 11 people stayed here for two nights. We found the access road to the property easy to find but in my opinion you need a 4 wheel drive off-road type vehicle such as a Toyota Fortuna or Hi Lux bakkie to safely negotiate the long road into the property. We had 2 x 4WD Safari vehicles so we were fine but I’ve read before where folk have attempted this road in regular vehicles just with high ground clearance like an SUV. On approaching the property you see immediately that both the lodge and the view are spectacular. The rooms fan out either side from the Restaurant/Bar/reception building and the rooms are large and spectacular in appearance and construction. If you have difficulty walking on uneven pathways you should request a room closer to reception. The rooms were very clean and all features of the room worked well. We were here last July and it was absolutely freezing cold. We had even encountered some snowfall on the high elevations of the road leading from Sesriem. We had plenty of warm clothes but weren’t prepared for just how cold the rooms were once the sun went down. You really wanted to have a hot shower and jump into bed under the bed covers as soon as possible. There is no heating (or cooling) of any sort in the rooms. I understand why in such a remote location. Oddly enough we were given one hot water bottle each night but a single lady in our group was given two!! The meals were nice and it was great to be in a building with two big double sided fireplaces but once the fires went down it seemed staff were reluctant to replenish them. On the second night we were enjoying ourselves so much that we put more wood on the fires ourselves. Maybe it is a way of getting the guests to return to their rooms, maybe not but that was the impression we had. During the full day we walked around the canyon rim for a reasonable distance and returned to the lodge for lunch. Then later we all went on the sundowner drive. We were taken to a spot that seemed to be on the edge of the planet, it was truly spectacular and very decadent to be sipping on G & T’s and enjoying the delicious snacks in such a place. All in all we loved the experience here, just a pity it was so cold during our stay.

The most amazing accommodation to see the Fish River Canyon up close, without the tourist throng e.g. Hobas Viewpoint.

"When I grow up, I want to be Fish River Lodge", said all of the other 9 Game Lodges we have stayed in over the last three+ weeks in Namibia. Our short two night stay here proved to be the "pièce de résistance" in terms of Namibian lodges, hands down. The Fish River Lodge is situated "on the edge of eternity", overlooking the Fish River Canyon. As far as lodges go in this region, it occupies "pole position", set back just metres from the rim of the ancient canyon, invoking a breathtaking response from all first-time vistors who view her. Its fun to sit out on the long balcony and observe guests arriving to step out and see the Canyon for the first time, replicating your exact reaction the day before! The feel of the lodge is one of relaxed and informal luxury, with the rooms designed to feel calm and restful with tactile elements such as woven natural fibre light fittings, cushions and throws. The Canyon itself though is the real star of the show, its strange silence ever-present. Everywhere from the infinity pool to the terrace bar encourages you to revel in the panoramic, sweeping views. The food and service is very much the focal part of the Lodge's offering. I do not know the name of their chef, but she/he certainly knows that they are doing. Lodge Manager Phillip creates an friendly, warm and welcoming atmosphere for guests, which seeps down through to his staff. Top marks to our guide Gordon, who did a terrific job escorting us out on a sunset drive and makes a mean G&T sundowner to boot. What stopped us giving this a 5 star review? Just three small things - no wifi or hair dryers in guest rooms, (a bit annoying but easily fixed) and there was a smell of sewerage outside our room (Room 10) which made sitting outside taking in those magnificent views not as enjoyable as we would have liked. They are doing an amazing job providing this level of service to guests in the middle of the Namib desert though, so.......

We spent a few days at Fish River Lodge in Namibia. Wonderful weather, but more importantly the perfect stay at the hotel. Everything was just right there. From the warm welcome to the sweet guidance upon departure. We had a delicious meal there and were looked after by top staff. The drive into the canyon was a wonderful experience. We will definitely return to Fish River Lodge in Namibia this year A wonderful stay