Name: Düsternbrook Guest Farm
Address: P.O. Box 870; Windhoek, Windhoek, NA

6/10

Pleasant

15 Jan 2022

James

Could really use a good cleaning

It is the oldest private game preserve, and it shows. Wrinkled pictures in frames filled with dead bugs, the yard needs a serious clean. That being said the bar/dinner area is quite lovely.

Game drive vehicles are ancient. (One hour drive is R450, which seems really steep).

I stayed at one of the ‘chalets’. As basic as it gets. Choose between sweltering or being devoured by mosquitoes (how about a net?). These are about 3km from the reception along atrocious ‘roads’ and (maybe just me….) the handrawn map got me disturbingly lost.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

13 Jan 2020

Verified traveler

The staff are friendly . The charges are misleading, no Wi-Fi in guest rooms. Can say the place

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

30 Dec 2018

Verified traveler

Arrived at around 1:30 pm expecting to be able to get a bar snack to tie us over till dinner based on experience from a visit 15 years previously. But no food available till 7:30 pm.

The logical thing to do was to drive 18km back up the road, cross the B1 and visit Okapuka Ranch which offers excellent food, drinks and accommodation at reasonable prices. And superior game drives.

I won't be revisiting Dusternbrook again. There is a much better option if you turn right instead of left as you travel north from Windhoek.

6/10

Pleasant

12 Oct 2018

A.

We stayed there for one night and got the hippo 1 as a closer alternative to the chalet we had booked. The nature was really nice and we enjoyed the game drive in the evening with a nice guide. All in all, the farm and its accomodations/ facilities are a bit rundown. The pool for example is not clean and the loungers pretty old and uncomfortable. Dinner and breakfast were okay but not more. Staff is barely seen and we missed real hospitality. All in all, it is close to the airport but we know much better lodges.

10/10

Exceptional

14 Aug 2018

james

This is a lovely place. The staff is extremely accommodating and helpful The room was made up with a flourish. The towel was shaped like an elephant to emphasize the ambiance.

10/10

Exceptional

09 Aug 2018

James

Nice, historical setting with a wonderful, helpful staff. Lovely rooms with towel on bed shaped like an elephant, as an extra touch. Very nice tours,, and very reasonably priced.

8/10

Excellent

23 Aug 2017

Jacqui & Rob

good well located quiet chalet

We have used Duesternbrook lodge at the first and last night of our stay in Namibia. We did not use the lodge but a chalet, a few km.s away.
The Chalet Hippo 2 is simple but really very good. Clean, good warm water, solar lighting and an excellent fire pit and bbq spot with view over the lake. One can even sit on the roof. No complaints about the chalet.
The lodge was used by us for dinner and breakfast. Both are quite pricey. The dinner is a common dinner and you basically share table. Be one time!
The service during breakfast and dinner is very bad. All staff seem to hide in the kitchen, so if for instance bread runs out, you have to go and find them! Food is good, but not excellent.
On the last night we decided better not to join the shared dinner and make dinner ourselves, while w could hear, but not see, that the five hippos were coming around us to shore to have their vegetarian dinner. Summarized: Chalets recommended, restaurant not recommended.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Dec 2016

Verified traveler

Not close to beach but recommenable

I no bad experience the people are good very friendly and accommodative

2/10

Poor

02 Sep 2016

Odette

Complete disregard for our safety

Before flying to Windhoek I called Dustenbrook to advise we would arrive late and to ask directions. Nobody could help me over the phone. On arrival Bidvest, Wilderness and I tried calling, no answer, it was late and I was travelling on my own with 2 children aged 6 and 10, I set the GPS for Okhandja hoping I would see a sign. After 70km, in pitch darkness and heavy road works, I was about to turn back to Windhoek I saw the Dusternbrook sign, in through a Poultry Farm. The security guard opened the gate, I could not see any signs, it was total darkness and he told me to go straight. New to Namibian roads, been in the country for 2 hours, I headed off on the gravel road, for what seemed like ages. I arrived at a closed gate, no sign for Dusternbrook, so I kept on the road as it bore right. After a few minutes of the road narrowing and getting sandy, I decided I will turn around, and couldnt, I was stuck in Sand. Tried calling, no answer, my children crying. Around 9.30pm I got through and advised Dustenbrook I was stuck. I was picked up around 11pm.
In the morning, in front of guests, Johan the very rude owner advised me it was my fault I got stuck and I must find my own way out the sand. I called Zenia at Bidvest who was shocked no-one would help me, she called Johan, he told her he called his lawyer and will not help us. Bidvest came from Okhandja to push us out the sand. At dinner that night Johan never asked if we were ok. They charged us for rescuing us at nite.

8/10

Excellent

07 May 2016

Katja

Nice place in the nature

The place is beautiful and with many animals, really quiet. We had a chalet far away from the main house with view to the water and animals. All was good except for the smell in chalet - like it would be newly painted and it was hard to sleep in. Prices for additional services are quite high. Otherwise everybody is very nice. They have pool area to relax, however for cleaness of the water they should take more care.

8/10

Excellent

05 Jan 2016

Edwin

Rural escape close to Windhoek

Friendly welcome, genial atmosphere, ample accommodation in beautiful surroundings. Although all other guests and owners and management are German, my lack of the language was not a problem. Indeed the communal meal arrangements gave a homely atmosphere.

8/10

Excellent

01 Oct 2015

Ramohudi Simon

Safari Stay

It was an \"okay stay\" nothing out of the ordinary or special for that matter

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jul 2015

Verified traveler

Like America's old west.

Duesternbrrok would not be for everyone. If you desire all the creature comforts then I suggest you look somewhere elae. But if you want have dinner with a rwal character who is more than happy to share his Namibia storie then this plqce is for you. It's informal dining and you just run a tab. Wonderful property. Went for a great 2 1/2 hour hike. There are many trails. If you decide this is alace you want to try, I suggest you stay a minimum of 2 nights (3 would be better), as there are a lot of activities to try.

4/10

Poor

05 Nov 2014

Ian

Colonial home in the bush

i looked for something a little different than a traditional hotel in Windhoek, Namibia and came across dusternbrook safari lodge. On vacation...perhaps, but definitely not a stopover for business travels in this large country.
No aircon in the rooms and only a small fan to vainly attempt to cool one down in hot and dry conditions is not conducive to much needed sleep.
The shower did not drain properly which left one in a virtual paddling pool in a few minutes.
The food served at dinner time was rather good, despite having to brave the daily venison on offer. Dinner is a social affair where all guests sit at a large table and eat. Unfortunately the majority of guests seem to be German and conversation was largely limited to hello and good bye and pass me the salt bitte.
If youre a german tourist on a budget...this is definitely something to look at. Just keep in mind that you have approx 18 km of sand road off the main road, and 2 farm gates to open/close in both directions.

8/10

Excellent

15 Apr 2014

natasha

nice lodge good for walking, game drive

nice leopard and cheetas on premises. Excellent dinner.

10/10

Exceptional

11 Aug 2024

Annette

Toll für ein paar Tage

Die Farm liegt wunderschön. Wir hatten ein großes Zimmer mit viel Komfort. Es war sehr sauber. Jederzeit war jemand zu erreichen. Alle waren sehr freundlich,

Partner

8/10

Excellent

26 Nov 2023

Doris

Viele Tiere

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 Sep 2023

Jennifer

We stayed in a Double room (Point of View) at Düsternbrook and very much enjoyed the tranquility and the incredible view at the pool and our room & deck. The staff are all kind, helpful and happy to answer all questions. Whilst driving to the lodge we already spotted heaps of animals like giraffes, warthogs, all kind of birds, baboons, Kudus, springboks etc., so driving slowly pays off. Breakfast was delicious and the lady servicing us was an absolute gem. We’d come back for the room, view and the animals we saw, when driving through the park by ourselves.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

22 Aug 2022

Manuela

In unserem Zimmer gab es leider keine Teller.
Beim check-in erfuhren wir, dass unsere Unterkunft noch 11 km entfernt war, mit unserem kleinen VW nicht zu bewältigen. So waren wir gezwungen, einen Aufpreis zu zahlen, damit wir direkt hier bleiben konnten. Eine Info diesbezüglich wäre von Vorteil gewesen. Das Zimmer war sehr schön, nur der Fußboden staubig

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Apr 2021

Peter

Mitten in der Natur bei Windhoek

Diese Anlage ist außergewöhnlich...... man kann es einfach haben, mitten in der Natur, oder auch in der Nähe zum Swimmingpool, der Bar oder dem Restaurant bzw. Frühstücksraum. Sehr leckeres Essen zusammen mit anderen Gästen (wenn man das mag) Auch der Inhaber setzt sich dazu und erzählt etwas über die Geschichte des Hauses. Dank unseres 4 X 4 Fahrzeugs konnten wir die älteste Guestlodge Namibias auch gut erreichen.
Es war ein sehr schöner und interessanter Aufenthalt hier.

Self