Fish River Lodge

The hotel was beautifully decorated with a stunning pool view on the Canyon. The independent, spacious villas had outdoor showers and offered breathtaking views of the canyon. However, 5 out of the 6 family members suffered from severe food poisoning after dinner, supposedly from the meat. For an establishment of this caliber, this is truly unacceptable.

Very nice location with wunderfull views. Rooms are dated and very bad isolated! Very noisy at night and also very cold(no heating system). Diner is very simple with low cost food. Breakfast serves only toast and coffee from a coffee machine. Toaster and coffee machine are very slow so you have to wait every time you want to use it! So beside the location you have the impression of staying on a camp site. If there were other options to visit Fish river canyon I would take them!

First the positives; Location is fantastic, probably the best view of the Fish river Canyon. The facility is built very modern and is attractive. The sundowner is worth the extra price and helps with snacks to skip dinner with. Unfortunately the lodge has quite a few short comings. 1. No Air Conditioning, neither in the main building or in any of the rooms, with temps well above 90 degrees for 4 months at a time, not to mention, no heating in the rooms for the winter months with temps below 30 degrees. 2. No mini refrigerator in the room, there is only a large bottle of warm tap water as refreshment and no possibility to keep drinking water cold, forcing you to pay at the main building. 3. No extras in the room e.g. small room amenities like hand lotions, sewing kits or anything besides soap and shampoo. 4. The staff makes no attempt to see if you would like to be served, and even after being served make no attempt to pick up the old glasses or dishes. 5. Culinary has a lot to be desired, at breakfast, again, you have to stop someone to order. Dinner has only one available meat option, either you take what they offer or eat vegetarian. Every other lodge that we have stayed in, in Namibia, had 4 course meals and at a minimum two main course meals, plus a vegetarian menu to choose from. The Fish River Lodge has a monopoly on the location, so if you want to see it, you're pretty much out of luck to stay anywhere else, and it appears that they know it. We would have loved to recommend this place to our other Namibia Visitors, and we probably will, but with a lot of "its okay" and if you really want to see the canyon, but at close to $400,00 a night, not really worth it.

"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.......

The property is right at the rim of fish river canyon with amazing views from the main building as well as the rooms. The kitchen was very accommodating. All the staff were extremely friendly, from reception, to wait staff and guides. We enjoyed the sundowner drive with drinks and snacks and had a great time overall.

Beautiful lodge located on edge of Fish River Canyon; exceptional views; very helpful and friendly staff, good food and service.