Guest Reviews
Thoughts from our guests....
As a company we do everything we can to turn dreams into memories for our clients. They arrive as guests and leave as extended members of the Crisscross family. Below are their thoughts and comments. References are also available.
Annemarie + Roberto Geneva – Visited: October 2023 Reviewed: Oct 30, 2023
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
5 star treatment highly recommend this company
Rating 5/5 
We had a great time during our 3 weeks journey through Namibia. Everything was planned perfectly well. The choice of the accommodations, the parks and all the animals that we managed to see in their native environment. Also the seaside and dessert was a marvelous attraction.
The driver was excellent and he explained very well the history of the country and their wildlife. We had a five star treatment! It will remain our most memorable trip of our live.
Thanks a lot
Annamarie +Roberto from Geneva
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Patrick H – Visited: July 2023 Reviewed: Aug 8, 2023
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Wonderful experience from start to finish and very well organized!
Rating 5/5
Can recommend Namibia to anyone for Safari’s and or tours , its safe , clean , friendly and scenery you will not see anywhere else in the world. Our Tour operator Crisscross made it wonderful from start to finish , well organized and with a fantastic guide .
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Robin – Visited: May 2023 Reviewed: Jun 13, 2023
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent trip exceeding expectations.
Rating 5/5
The suggested trip covering Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia covered all highlights regarding wildlife, landscapes and people. Markus, our guide, was very knowledgeable and knew the countries like his pocket. Very enjoyable company too. Had the time of our lifes.
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Lucy Willcox – Visited: December 2022 Reviewed: Feb 7, 2023
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Knowledge of a Local
Rating 5/5
I had the pleasure of seeing Africa – Botswana and Namibia for the first time with my travel buddy. It was adventurous, and fun, with lots of laughs and what turned out to be an intimate and emotional experience seeing the varied landscape of Namibia and its animals. Thinus was instrumental – hearing his stories and experiences, sharing his knowledge of the different areas, and knowing when and how to see the animals up close and personal. Our tour was customized and focused on suggestions made by CrissCross and incorporated our own wish list. They were flexible, quick to respond, and knowledgeable. I appreciated we were put first and every effort was made to meet our travel goals. Note, we are experienced travelers but, you don’t need to be. I loved my first experience with Africa and wouldn’t hesitate to go again and book through CrissCross – it was an emotional goodbye – we will see you again.
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Trisha from Vancouver Canada – Visited: December 2022 Reviewed: Jan 24, 2023
Provided an Exhilarating Experience
Rating 5/5
We had aproximately 25 days in Namibia including our wonderful time in the Chobe River where Thinus met us at Kasane airport in Botswana,
We immediately when on a game drive within 15 min of our lodge and saw most of the big 5. Our adventure in Namibia after Botswana continued through Etosha Park, (we loved the tents camp right outside the lodge with a watering hole in front of our luxurious tent)
We loved Damaraland with its stunning rock formations and night sky. We also adored the Skeleton coast and the colours in the sand and the dunes. We had also an amazing jeep ride along the coast line during low tide with the waves crashing in under us, followed by an amazing drive up and down the enormous dunes. You can do this from Swapomund or Walvis Bay . ( I would suggest hiring your own private guide for this)
Thinus was a great driver and knows how to handle the gravel and sand roads and booked great accomodations for us. We also enjoyed the company of Marcus who was a wonderful and knowledgeable guide while Thinus took a few days off. We loved this trip….it was one of a lifetime and we do plan to come back when time allows. We saw every living creature in Africa and the scenery is spectacular.
trisha from Vancouver
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Polya – Visited: September 2022 Reviewed: Oct 24, 2022
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything was perfectly organized!
Rating 5/5
Really, really good organization! We made self drive around Namibia. 3000 km for 10 days. Our trip was a combination of B&B and camping in a roof tent on the top of a Toyota car. Thinus has chosen really amazing lodges – small and charming places! Our camping was so beautiful place!
We met Thinus on the day of our arrival. He was very kind. Thinus gave us a marked road map, gave us really helpful advices – about the roads, about the fuel, places to eat, about the camping.
Wе wanted to met Thinus on the last day of our trip to say THANK YOU but we didn’t get to see each other one more time. So see you next time, Thinus!
Thanks for everything!!!
Gratefully,
Your first guests from Bulgaria
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Chris and Tingting – Visited: August 2022 Reviewed: Oct 1, 2022
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Thinus, the tour operator was honest, forthright, and engaging. Full of interesting information.
Rating 5/5
From our arrival in Windhoek to our departure from Victoria Falls, CrissCross Namibia did an excellent job building the itinerary for my wife and me, with stops at numerous fascinating destinations. We travelled with a guide/driver who arranged all the details of the program and left us with the opportunity to follow our curiosity. The lodges and camps where we stayed ranged from high-end five star to quirky, but comfortable. The food was ample and delicious and out local guide, Markus, was extremely well-informed about the natural history, wild mammals and birds. Some of the drives were long, but the driver was skilled and stops were well-timed. The program combined fascinating wildlife encounters with a significant cultural component. We travelled in Namibia for two weeks, Botswana and Zimbabwe for one week. If I could make any changes, it would only be that to spend more time at several of our destinations.
Initially, correspondence with CrossCross Namibia was hampered by difficulty between our respective email servers. So the amount of discussion pre-trip was less than I would have preferred. But the important points were covered. And any uncertainties we had coming into the program evaporated as soon as we arrived. Experiences exceeded our expectations on almost every level. We especially liked the diversity of Namibia: the dunes and coastline of Namib Desert, the cultural legacy of Damaraland, and the stark beauty and abundant wildlife of Etosha National Park. Next time, we would love to visit the southern part of Namibia.
Highest marks to Thinus, Markus and the Namibian people for an exceptional tour.
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Dana and Shimshon – Visited: August 2022 Reviewed: Sep 3, 2022
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
WELL PLANNED ITINERARY AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Rating 5/5
We just came from 12 days self drive safari tour in Namibia organised by CrissCross.
We choose the company on previous online reviews and they did not disapoint.
They organized the tour in a record time and answered promptly to any inquiries we had.
Accommodation and food on the trip were excellent. The lodges (3-5star) were fantastic- interesting locations and unique styles.
We enjoined every minute of our trip.
We already discused with Thinus about next trips in Namibia and neighbouring countries.
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Traveller at Heart – Visited: July 2022 Reviewed: Aug 6, 2022
Proffesional service, friendly and experienced guides, flexibility and decent portfolio
Rating 5/5
We got professional service from Criss Cross, stuff remained flexible, ready to adjust our trip as per our needs.
We decided to go for self-designed tour through Namibia – we chose the path, Criss Cross helped us with planning the best itinerary for the time we had, booking accommodation on the way, and provided professional guides. Guides were highly experienced and very friendly. Lodges chosen for the trip were good.
Criss Cross has big portfolio of tours: self-driving (they will help you with setting up itinerary, car and lodges booking (in high season you have to do it well in advance, if you’ve never been to Namibia it’s better to check what car is suitable for the path you chose)), guided tours tailored for the customer (you choose the path, duration, and if you want to go for a 3 or 5 star trip), pre-defined tours to choose from the list.
I have already some plans for next trips in Namibia and neighbouring countries, next time I will also reach out to Criss Cross, because we had good experience and I have a feeling that I may rely on their advice.
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Charles V. – Visited: July 2022 Reviewed: Jul 28, 2022
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding agency with extensive experience in Nambian tour planning
Rating 5/5
Criss cross organized for our family a 3 weeks trip around Namibia and we really enjoyed our time very much.
The tour was extremely well organized with lots of practical details and very interesting.
Thinus was always very reactive to our questions and helped us to recover some delayed luggage from Lufthansa.
What a beautiful country and beautiful people which will leave us lasting memories.
I’d recommend anyone to contract this agency and will refer some of my friends.
Tony and Juliet – UK
Visited: June 2022 Reviewed: Jul 26, 2022
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Patient, with a well thought out itinerary
Rating 5/5 
Three years after we booked we finally made it to Namibia. Our itinerary was structured to focus on the things we wanted to do and the places we wanted to see. While structured for us it had clearly been built on considerable experience and detailed local knowledge. Thinus was very patient, reorganising our itinerary several times to accommodate changes and delays enforced by the pandemic. It was good to finally meet him in Namibia after so long in the planning stage.
We had an excellent tour around much of Namibia over a period of 20 days covering 5,500 km. A lasting impression is of vast open spaces with dramatic and engaging scenery, which seemed to get better almost every day. The quality of the lodges was high, much higher than we expected. The wildlife was of course often plentiful and beautiful.
We had a good guide/driver and met many other people who shared their knowledge and passion with us. Namibia must be one of the politest and friendliest countries we have visited.
Some highlights included: a drive along the Angolan border to Epupa, the scenery was incredible, the road rougher than most but passable and the small Himba villages showing us another side of Namibia. A balloon trip at Sesreim was exciting. At the other end of the country Luderitz and Fish River Canyon gave us a completely different view of the country.
Our accommodation was of a high standard. Everywhere the staff were very helpful, friendly and polite – remarkably so. Of special mention Erindi, Canyon Lodge, Sossusvlei Lodge and Epupa are particularly memorable, as much for their location as the quality of service.
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Harvey Brooks – CA
Visited: May 2022 Reviewed: Jun 9, 2022
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Well planned itinerary with professional and thoughtful personnel throughout the entire experience
Rating 5/5
From the outset and my first enquiry, Thinus was very helpful and prompt in organizing my tour, paying close attention to my timing and for the kind of experience that I was seeking. Emails from the company were informative, laying everything out in a clear and complete manner, and when I arrived in Windhoek to start the tour, I was met by both Thinus (the company owner and operator) and my guide, Markus, who was to be with me for the duration of the tour – some 14 days of exploring the heart of Namibia. For the entire time, everything went smoothly – Markus made sure that there were no issues with accommodations, and his knowledge of several languages made a great difference every day. We drove some 3500 kilometers over the two weeks, through both private and national game parks, and he found both big game and plains game for me, enabling some amazing photographic opportunities. We also explored the Skeleton Coast, and the Sesriem/Sossusvlei area – all stunningly beautiful. In short, I had a first-class experience, in good company, and am happy to recommend Criss Cross Safaris to other travelers looking for a unique experience.
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Aitor – ES
Visited: May 2022 Reviewed: Jun 4, 2022
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Changing the itinerary or chossing the restaurant depends on the client. Flexibility
Rating 5/5
First of all, thanks to Thinus, Marcus and Randy. Thinus took us through the history and current politics of Namibia. Randy knows the natural parks like the garden of his house and a multitude of animal names. His experience and insistence has allowed us to see a multitude of species, lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, ……….
They are good drivers and it is important because the roads are not always easy. If we want to stop at a local bar, no problem. We adapt.
Magnificent hotels with good quality food.
CrissCross makes the trip easy and to your liking
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Maya – EG
Visited: October 2021 Reviewed: Nov 18, 2021
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very well organized and wonderful people
Rating 5/5
We had a 10-day customized safari across Namibia and the experience was excellent. Thinus, our guide, really helped us in organizing and crafting the perfect tour for our family for a very good price. We visited the most beautiful places across Namibia: Etosha, Skeleton Coast, Swakopmund, Sossusvlei and Windhoek. All accommodation, leisure & restaurants were perfect for our taste.
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Kim and Mark Drucker – US
Visited: June 2021 Reviewed: Jul 11, 2021
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They were organized thoughtful people with in depth knowledge of wildlife, backroads and Namibia.
Rating 5/5
We just spent 3 weeks on a safari with CrissCross. We traveled over 3000 miles and went from north to south and back with our guides. We saw it all; Etosha, Kaokoland, Domaraland, the Skeleton Coast, the Namib and Kalahari Deserts, dunes, Fish Canyon, Walvis Bay and every kind of wildlife you can imagine. Thinus, our first guide and the owner of CrissCross was born to white settlers and lived on a farm in the heart of Namibia. He has experienced Namibian history, first hand. His knowledge of the roads and “shortcuts” is encyclopedic. FYI Most Namibian roads are gravel and many times they turn into rocks-small and large. Riding in a 4X4 was exciting, noisy and bumpy. He knows wildlife and where to find them. Every day was an adventure. Our 3rd week’s guide was Marcus. He too has lived in Namibia his whole life. His point of view is from the “colored”(his word) man’s perspective. Both men have lived through apartheid, social unrest, war and the reorganization of Namibian society. Traveling with these men deepened our understanding of the human condition in this very complex country. Both points of view were necessary to truly understand. With Marcus we experienced Fish Canyon, quiver trees, the Giants playground, the Namib dunes and the Kalahari Desert. The trip was well planned and customized to our wishes with different lodges almost nightly. We never worried about the arrangements and payments because we were well cared for. On our last day before our flight out, Marcus took us to the National museum which explained the wars, sacrifices and torment leading to Namibian independence from South Africa in 1990….very eye opening and important to think about. All in all the trip was brilliant and we owe our thanks to Thinus and Marcus for their constant care, knowledge and conscientiousness. Our 2 favorite lodges: 1.the Cape Cross Lodge with its crashing waves 100 yards from our room, seals and further down the coast: flamingos, dolphins, and grey whales. 2.Okapuka Private Game Reserve with game drives where rhinos, sabel antelopes, warthogs etc run up to the land rover to get food pellet treats.. it was so amazing and fun.
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Sharyn – AU
Visited: October 2019 Reviewed: Nov 18, 2019
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Had a great trip with CrissCross Namibia Safaris
Rating 5/5
Spent 2 weeks in Namibia with my sister and our guide Maddi , what fun we had ,tough environment ,harsh driving conditions at times but we enjoyed every minute, maybe not all the dust , oh well still great time was had by all .
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Russ, Pat and Mike, British Columbia – CA
Visited: September 2019 Reviewed: Oct 5, 2019
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our Exciting CrissCross Namibia Adventure
Rating 5/5
Three of us plus a driver/guide in a 4×4 were privileged to go on a month long/6600km holiday primarily in Namibia and fortunate to have chosen CrissCross Namibia Safaris as our tour company. We based our choice of company on previous online reviews and the flexibility allowed in planning our itinerary. They organized the tour and route we requested. We were also impressed with the prompt responses to any inquiries that we gave them.
Our trip started in Capetown where we spent four enjoyable days, before proceeding north. We spent a few days travelling through western South Africa up to the border of Namibia. This was carried out by another company organized by CrissCross.
At the border we were met by CrissCross owner, Thinus, who escorted us through the border, and from that point on we decided we were in good hands!! We had a very enjoyable 8 days with Thinus.
First to the Orange River and the Aussenkehr Nature Park with amazing rock formations, next Fish River Canyon which rivals the Grand Canyon in size, then onto Luderitz and Kolmanskop, a diamond mining ghost town which has been encroached on by dunes and so interesting to see, especially for photographers. Next was on to Soussevlei and the amazing dunes, fun to climb, even part way up to the top.
Some of the drives were long but the scenery so different from Western Canada that it was still interesting. Thinus always seemed to find great points of interest, along with interesting stories. We went on to Swakopmund and had a very enjoyable dune ride out of Walvis Bay where we also enjoyed seeing the large number of flamingos. In Swakopmund we were met by Markus, our guide for the rest of our trip. He was also a very capable and knowledgeable driver. First stop was Twyfelfontein where we saw the rock engravings of the Bushmen. Next we travelled to Grootberg with beautiful scenic views and then proceeded to visit a Himba village. An experience in itself! From there we continued on to Etosha Park NP, where we saw lots of wildlife including four rhino sightings which was a thrill for us!!
Driving through the Zambezi region (Caprivi Strip) we saw many local villages and this gave us a glimpse of how the local people carry out their daily lives.
Next we had a stop in Bwabwata NP where we had very up close encounters with elephants!! We then went into Chobe NP in Botswana where we were surrounded with hundreds of elephants. Finally we visited Victoria Falls, although less water than usual due to the drought, was a fantastic experience seeing the strength of mother nature.
All our accommodations were very nice, comfortable, had interesting views and great food, often with an opportunity to try game meat.
Although it was the driest spring on record, it was a welcome contrast to home where we get too much rain!!
Thanks to Thinus, Helena and Markus for a wonderful trip, so much variety in a short time, landforms, scenery, wildlife, some quirkiness, a meteorite, a castle, desert elephants, wild horses, always something unique in this special country. Not much traffic either!!
We were glad to have been shown the country by two gentlemen who know their country well and could share so much with us.
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Peter Willemsen – CN
Visited: August 2019 Reviewed: Aug 18, 2019
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful Namibia experience for the whole family – Guided by a true insider
Rating 5/5
We had overall a wonderful experience – as first comers to the country traveling with a 10 year old daughter we were a bit anxious but found traveling and arrangements were a breeze from start to end.
We picked Criss Cross from Safari booking based on mixture of reviews, proposed itinerary and feedback received by mail (we contacted 3-4 operators).
Communication was fast and efficient – downpayment via credit card not a problem and further payments via money order.
Two weeks prior to the trip we clarified last details about pick up (and got very patient answers to our probably very naive questions)
Thinus (owner and manager of Cross Cross who was our guide for the trip) picked us up at the airport in Windhoek and brought us to the hotel for the first night.
We had booked a proposed 12 day guided tour (our family only) itinerary through Namibia only and then adjusted that with 2 additional days (which fit our flight schedule). Planning and proposals was very convenient. Cross cross asked us about our preferences regarding what we would like to see, accommodation style etc and made proposals based on that. We got a detailed travel plan with daily schedule and links to the respective lodges.
Traveling was done in a comfortable car (4 people traveling including Thinus who was driving us).
The most amazing thing was the many stories and backgrounds he could share about his country, it’s people and it’s flora and fauna.
There was a lot of traveling involved (more than 4000km (!)) but with a talking guidebook next to us it never got boring – we felt like traveling with a friend that knows every corner and every stone in his country.
Namibia is a fantastic country to travel for families. It offers all the adventures of genuine safari experience while being safe and comfortable to travel. It is incredibly faceted. We saw all the “Big 5” animals (on our first day), the fantastic wildlife in Etosha (though it is VERY dry this year), dramatic landscapes (Waterberg, damaraland, soussevlei, fish river canyon) different types of desert (incl kalahari) and coast aren (Swakopmund where we did an amazing Boat/Dune Combo Tour).
As they say – once you have Namibian dust on your shoes (and you will have lots of dust if traveling during winter as it is one of the driest countries in the world) you will always return… we are already planning our next trip to the region ….
Heartfelt thanks again to Criss Cross team and especially to Thinus for making this the best vacation ever !
Any questions please feel free to contact under pwillemsen@me.com
BR,
Peter
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Karen – AU
Visited: July 2019 Reviewed: Jul 28, 2019
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime
Rating 5/5
We did a 3 week tour from Victoria Falls to Botswana then Namibia with Thinus as our wonderful guide.
it was an amazing trip. Chobe in Botswana was fantastic for wildlife, especially elephants. Moremi game reserve in the Okavango was beautiful for bird life and a resident hippo at our lodge was a bit of a thrill!
Namibia was beautiful also. Damaraland was spectacular and unexpected! Soussovlei was incredible too. Was great to incorporate beautiful landscapes into the trip instead of just focusing on game viewing
In terms of travel, accommodation and food the trip exceeded our expectations. The lodges (3-5star) were fantastic- interesting locations and unique styles.
Everything went perfectly smoothly thanks to the superb organization and attention to detail of our guide Thinus. Thinus was more than a “guide” – he was a born and bred Namibian with an interesting history and unique perspective and knowledge of the country.
We highly recommend Crisscross!!
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Desislava Ivanova – BG
Visited: November 2018 Reviewed: Nov 27, 2018
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Thank you, CrissCross
Rating 5/5
It was an unbelievable two-week journey. Accommodation, food and service were at a very high level. The tour operator’s organization was perfect. I hope to return to this part of the world again and use their services.
Judith Crawford – UK
Visited: October 2018 Reviewed: Oct 22, 2018
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unbelievably brilliant holiday which surpassed our expectations by being full of variety.
Rating 5/5
We booked a 14 day self- drive safari from UK and all communication with Thinus and his team were excellent.
We celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary during our trip and stayed at the amazing, Erindi Private Game Reserve for a couple of days. The safari organised by the lodge was superb and we saw lots of game on our early morning and sundowner drives.
Everything went like clockwork; we stayed at different lodges but all had character and were excellent.
The route Thinus planned was just what we wanted and took us on a great tour of Namibia, incorporating Damaraland, The Skeleton Coast and the Namib Nauluft Park.
We didn’t have time to seeFish River Canyon or Luderitz but are hoping to return at some point to visit this area.
In summary I could not recommend Cross Cross Tours highly enough and would most certainly use them again!
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Gino and Carine Verdonck-Ragolle – BE
Visited: September 2018 Reviewed: Oct 19, 2018
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic !
Rating 5/5
Dear Thinus ,
Thanks a lot for the great time we shared together during our recent trip in Namibia.
We were extremely impressed by learning that you and your family are part of the history of this lovely country and this puts you in a position to explain better than anyone else the evolution of the last decades. You are better than any “travelguide” since you can explain things you really experienced yourself and therefore listening to your stories give a real image of the history which is very important to know backgrounds and present situation of a country.
Because of your background you also know the most lovely and interesting places to visit and each time you came up with a nice surprise.
We booked a 19 days roundtrip arriving from Cape town and starting in Windhoek. After a short “recuperation” we started our trip exploring the Kalahari desert . After that we went to Fish river canyon (amazing views) and Luderitz ( a must visit here is Kolmankop , a town conquered by the sand).
More sand in the Namib desert but special experience when going to Sossusvlei and the huge dunes .
Quite an experience for belgian people, knowing that the sand dunes in Belgium are only +/- 30 meter high !
Next stop : Swakopmund , a lovely town . Must do here: Marine Dune Day starting from Walvisbay (Marine Cruise + 4X4 dune excusrsion) .
Damaraland ( Twyfelfontein ) : Thinus explained the complete history of past and present of this region– most interesting . Thank you once again Thinus for organising the champagne , cake and live performance for Gino’s birthday which we celebrated at the Twyfelfontein lodge!
Etosha National Park : Amazing the variety of wildlife and how close you can get. Try to stay in the park instead of looking for a lodge outside the park. Much more to see/experience because of the waterholes.
Erindi Private Game reserve : A MUST !!!!!!! Great lodge , food and game drive !
We ended this fantastic tour with a nice dinner and drink at Joe’s beerhouse , a very interesting and cosy please ,
a must visit when in Windhoek !!!
19 days seem an eternity but when you are having a good time – and good company – time flies. We have seen a great part of this lovely country but there is still a lot to discover. We rely on Thinus to prepare a next vist for next year.
Warm regards also to our friend Barney !!!
Gino and Carine
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Gino and Carine Verdonck-Ragolle – BE
Visited: September 2018 Reviewed: Oct 18, 2018
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic !
Rating 5/5
Dear Thinus ,
Thanks a lot for the great time we shared together during our recent trip in Namibia.
We were extremely impressed by learning that you and your family are part of the history of this lovely country and this puts you in a position to explain better than anyone else the evolution of the last decades. You are better than any “travelguide” since you can explain things you really experienced yourself and therefore listening to your stories give a real image of the history which is very important to know backgrounds and present situation of a country.
Because of your background you also know the most lovely and interesting places to visit and each time you came up with a nice surprise.
We booked a 19 days roundtrip arriving from Cape town and starting in Windhoek. After a short “recuperation” we started our trip exploring the Kalahari desert . After that we went to Fish river canyon (amazing views) and Luderitz ( a must visit here is Kolmankop , a town conquered by the sand).
More sand in the Namib desert but special experience when going to Sossusvlei and the huge dunes .
Quite an experience for belgian people, knowing that the sand dunes in Belgium are only +/- 30 meter high !
Next stop : Swakopmund , a lovely town . Must do here: Marine Dune Day starting from Walvisbay (Marine Cruise + 4X4 dune excusrsion) .
Damaraland ( Twyfelfontein ) : Thinus explained the complete history of past and present of this region– most interesting . Thank you once again Thinus for organising the champagne , cake and live performance for Gino’s birthday which we celebrated at the Twyfelfontein lodge!
Etosha National Park : Amazing the variety of wildlife and how close you can get. Try to stay in the park instead of looking for a lodge outside the park. Much more to see/experience because of the waterholes.
Erindi Private Game reserve : A MUST !!!!!!! Great lodge , food and game drive !
We ended this fantastic tour with a nice dinner and drink at Joe’s beerhouse , a very interesting and cosy please ,
a must visit when in Windhoek !!!
19 days seem an eternity but when you are having a good time – and good company – time flies. We have seen a great part of this lovely country but there is still a lot to discover. We rely on Thinus to prepare a next vist for next year.
Warm regards also to our friend Barney !!!
Gino and Carine
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Peter Vriethoff\Marlies Gollner – ES
Visited: September 2018 Reviewed: Oct 12, 2018
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely fantastic experience,highly recommended
Rating 5/5
We booked a three week trip starting at the Victoria falls (2 days) ,Chobe in Botswana,flying from Kasane into the Okavango delta and driving through Namibia visiting Caprivi gamepark,lodges on the Okavango and Cuando riverside,Bushmanland,Damaraland,Etosha national Park,Grootberglodge,Swakopmund,Sossusvlei (Namib-Naukluft) and Windhoek.CrissCross provided a Guide-driver,an airconditioned 4×4,reserved all our accomodationes,and visits.
This experience totally exceeded our expectationes.During the safaris we saw the big five, sometimes hundreds of animals together, in Etosha fighting rhinoceros,a hippo in the garden of the Xakanaxa camp where we received the unexpected visit
of a waterbuffel during the night.In between this animal festival we visited the bushmenvillage,the Damara people and the
engravings in Twyfelfontein.We searched for hours in the desert for the desert-elephants and found them.We drove over the dunes near Swakopmund( hundred meters high) ,admired thousands of sea lions in Walvisbaai some of them jumped onto the boat
meanwhile we ate the marvelous oysters cultivated in the bay.What a beautiful coast,thousands of flamingos,pelicans,whales,
and schools of dolphins. CrissCross continued surprising us.On our way to Sossusvlei we slept in the desert under the starlit sky
and the accommodations had organized fantastic sunset parties.We climbed the dunes and enjoyed the valley of Sossusvlei.
We did not expect a lot of Windhoek ,but even here our guide surprised us with a great city trip (our regards to Maria) and
a lovely dinner at Joe’s Beerbar.
Thanks once again to CrissCross,it’s fantastic guides and organization.
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James – FR
Visited: July 2018 Reviewed: Oct 12, 2018
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A fabulous way to discover Namibia
Rating 5/5
For our family holiday in Namibia in July/August 2018, we opted for the 11-Day Self Drive 4×4 Tour offered by Criss Cross Namibia Safaris. It was a perfect way to discover this beautiful country. We had been dreaming of visiting Namibia for a number of years and I am pleased to say that it more than matched up to our expectations. I can highly recommend Criss Cross Namibia Safaris – Thinus and his colleagues were extremely efficient and helpful in organising the details of our itinerary, which involved changing a few details compared to the sample programme. This was due in part to the fact that we reserved rather late (booking early is clearly *very* important when travelling to Namibia), so alternative accommodation had to be found at a couple of points on the circuit. I am happy to say though that we were very pleased with our accommodation. The collection and dropping off of the 4WD vehicle went very smoothly too and the firm who took care of this were efficient and friendly. For me the biggest attraction of Namibia is its incredible diversity of breathtaking landscapes, but we also got to chance to see some fabulous animals in the wild and learn about the history of Namibia and its cultures. It was the holiday of a lifetime: thanks Criss Cross!
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julie – AU
Visited: June 2018 Reviewed: Jul 12, 2018
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Experienced Tour Operator
Rating 5/5
We very much enjoyed Namibia especially the landscape and wildlife. Thinus was on another tour so he engaged Marcus as driver and guide for our tour. Marcus was a very good driver and at all times we felt safe with his driving. Over the 16 days we covered over 4300 kilometres without an issue despite many kilometres on gravel roads and I feel we would have been very tired without a driver, so I’m glad we engaged Criss Cross for an escorted tour.
Thinus, was very patient in putting the final itinerary together (after four iterations). The quality and hospitality of the lodges we chose was exceptional. We did depart from Thinus’ accommodation recommendations for most nights as we were looking for luxury accommodation which is not usually the places Thinus stays in. We also like walking / hiking and had to push for these changes to the itinerary to accommodate this, but once Thinus was on board with our requirements he was very responsive. Best experiences – 2 day hike in the Fish River Canyon, walking in the Naukluft area, hiking big daddy in Sossuvlei, Swakopmund and the cheetah foundation. Least Favourite – The “staged” tribe experiences in the Kalahari & Himba. Organ pipes was also a waste of time. However, the absolute worst was the Lake Oshikoto stop – poor signage, unkept trails around what is really just a quarry. We chose not to do the Damara Living museum and ran out of time to do the Quiver tree forest & Giants Playground as well as Hardap Dam on the way down to Fish River Lodge but I’m not sure we missed much going by the trip advisor reviews. All of our least favourite activities and those we chose not to do require an entrance fee – which is fairly substantial, we would have excluded these if we knew more about them before we travelled.
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Ron and Kathy – US
Visited: May 2018 Reviewed: Jun 20, 2018
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Thanks to Crisscross Namibia Safaris for a fantastic experience
Rating 5/5
We recently completed a 20-day trip guided by CrissCross Namibia Safaris that started at Victoria Falls and ended in Windhoek. Our itinerary, which covered about 3000 miles of road travel and game drives, was developed to meet our interests and abilities with outstanding input and advice from CrissCross Namibia Safaris. All aspects of the trip were excellent: the game drives and wildlife watching spectacular, exposure to cultural diversity of southern Africa engaging and informative, the transportation comfortable, and the accommodations outstanding. This was all thanks to the extensive experience and knowledge of the company and our well-seasoned guide. I would recommend this company without qualification to anyone planning a trip to southern Africa.
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Lyndal – AU
Visited: April 2018 Reviewed: Apr 28, 2018
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We were always well looked after, safe and Thinus ensured that we saw the best of Namibia.
Rating 5/5
The trip was more than expected as Thinus had arranged a varied and interesting itinerary covering different landscapes, people groups and wildlife experiences. The accomodation was very comfortable and well positioned. The truck was well suited to the variety of road conditions and Thinus was a great driver who also kept us well informed and shared his love of Namibia with us. Nothing seemed to be too much trouble and he was concerned that we saw the most we could in the time.
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Lee & Jane – AU
Visited: September 2017 Reviewed: Nov 7, 2017
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Once in a life time experience made so much better by our guide and his invaluable knowledge
Rating 5/5
Fantastic tailor made tour, nothing was ever any trouble and the hotels and tours of high standard
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Allison – US
Visited: May 2017 Reviewed: Sep 6, 2017
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic Introduction to Namibia
Rating 5/5
First time visit to Namibia in May 2017 and loved every minute of it. Saw so many wonders, got a true sense of the many different areas of the country, and, thanks to Thinus, learned about the history and culture as well as the wildlife. I also really appreciated his flexibility in making adjustments based on what our group really wanted to see and do. A trip of a lifetime.
Therese and Michael – DE
Visited: June 2017 Reviewed: Jun 26, 2017
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Thanks for a life-changing trip!
Rating 5/5
We have just completed a fantastic 18-day trip with Thinus that has left us with a lasting impression of the diversity and natural beauty of the Namibian landscape. We spent time in the cities of Windhoek and Swakopmund, saw amazing wildlife and visited the Living Museums of the Bushmen, the Himba and the Damara People. We saw ancient rock engravings and paintings, the Skeleton Coast, the Erongo Mountains, the Namib Desert and the dunes at Soussusvlei. It was a life-changing trip. As a guide Thinus is knowledgeable, experienced, professional and accommodating. We are convinced that he knows every dirt road in the country. His stories about growing up in Damaraland as well as his observations of Namibia’s growth and development helped us have a better understanding of the country. The lodges that he chose for us were comfortable and atmospheric and throughout the trip we felt looked after and safe. During the planning stages of the trip, Thinus and his team were responsive and helpful. We would recommend CrissCross Safaris to anyone interested in experiencing the richness of Namibia. Thanks, Thinus, for an amazing trip!
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Mary Beth & Dan Webster – US
Visited: October 2016 Reviewed: Dec 20, 2016
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wow what a great trip!
Rating 5/5
We would greatly recommend this company to others. Thinus was very knowledgeable, resourceful and accommodating. His good humor and personal story were also a plus. His choice of lodges and itinerary maximized our group comfort and ability to experience the flora and fauna of Namibia,Botswana and Vic falls.
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Heather –
AU
Visited: November 2016 Reviewed: Dec 12, 2016
Email Heather | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An exciting and enlightening safari.
Rating 5/5
My friend and I recently enjoyed a 19 day tour with Thinus across Namibia and Botswana to Victoria Falls.
In that time we traveled through diverse landscapes, saw a vast array of wildlife, engaged in a variety of activities and learned a great deal about this part of the world. We experienced a range of comfortable accommodation including hotels, lodges and tented camps – all possessing great character.
Highlights of the tour included the dramatic sand dunes at Sossusvlei, the charming Swakopmund (the sand dune ‘buggy ride’ is highly recommended), the accessibility of the wildlife at Etosha National Park, and the delightful Camp Xakanaxa in the Okavango Delta.
Thinus was gentlemanly, helpful and above all, very knowledgeable about the countries we visited. We thank him for looking after us so well.
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Dr Aurelio Ruiz – PR
Visited: September 2016 Reviewed: Oct 15, 2016
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safaries by differents ways, personalized tours and charming lodges
Rating 5/5
Thinus, the owner, was in charge of all details to fullffill all the expectations.
Etocha National Park is a must.
Dont forget the Dunes Jeep Adventure in Swakopmund
All accomodations were differents but with a special flavor of Africa.
All included dinners were spectaculars, again , with african touch: sprinbuk, orix, kudu, elant and ostrich fillet in gourmet cousine
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Beverley – UK
Visited: June 2016 Reviewed: Jul 30, 2016
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful overview of this beautiful and varied country
Rating 5/5
We knew very little of Namibia, but knew we wanted to see wildlife, indigenous culture and landscapes. We were not disappointed – in fact we were overwhelmed! The accommodation and transport were both very comfortable and the guide organised a perfect trip for us. He was very knowledgeable and personable and gave us an insight into the country which added to our enjoyment of it. Highly recommended.
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Elize – ZA
Visited: April 2016 Reviewed: May 12, 2016
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Way beyond our expectations
Rating 5/5
My husband and I just completed a safari trip with CrissCross accompanied by Thinus.
This was the experience of a lifetime! We loved sleeping over at the beautiful Erindi game reserve where one of the waterholes is located in front of the neat chalets and the activity of the wild animals were breath taking and endless.
Namibia offers so much more than wildlife, we also visited Swakopmund, the most beautiful seaside resort with its German origins in its European – style colonial architecture, this is a must visit ! It is amazing to see how the ocean and desert stretch along side by side.
Swakopmund also offers lots of activities to explore and several excellent restaurants surrounded by the beautiful scenery.
We highly recommended Thinus at CrissCross for a pleasant, safe trip with a professional and experienced guide. Thank you again Thinus and Helené.
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DTeoh – CA
Visited: November 2015 Reviewed: Feb 24, 2016
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A review of the Lodges and Company
Rating 4/5 
My husband and I went on a 21d overland Safari with Crisscross. We were accompanied by Thinus himself. Rather than going into details about where to go, I would like to review CrissCross as well as some of the lodges we stayed at rather than Namibia itself which is a must do location for Safari.
Communication with this company and their response time is superb, especially when you consider that when Thinus is on the road, wifi is sketchy and that he may be limited in how often he could see to business. I found this company to be highly responsive and excellent in providing several options and listing suggestions. I am an avid researcher and all their suggestions were what we were looking for after. Kudos to the support staff as well as the organization that they maintain. Please understand that in Namibia, as well developed in infrastructure for an African nation it is, there are still small barriers that would make it difficult towards organization but this company overcomes this well.
A criticism I would have of the company is that during the organization part there isn’t a clear idea of the amount of driving and time required in a vehicle. Distances that are covered at highway speed in developed nations take much, much longer. As such, much of my distress during our safari was the amount of time spent cooped up in a vehicle. I would have appreciated knowing in advance the approximate time it would take to journey from one destination to another. I find being stationary in a car exhausting (more so than a very active day) so would have really appreciated either a few extra days to recoup. The car is a comfortable 4×4 and was very reliable for our long journey. However, now knowing the distances that need to be covered and the very straight, unfortunately repetitious scenery (not many villages or natural sights) I think I would have changed my safari and included some flights instead.
The Lodges presented as choice were amazing. Paying more to stay at certain locations are definitely recommended. In my opinion places to “splash out” include (in order of importance): 1. Mowani camp in Dmamaraland (this is a must! I would never think of staying anywhere else and when I sleep I wish to dream of the scenery here), 2. the Premier Waterhole room in Okaukejo (too bad there wasn’t room service! food here was terrible but the Waterhole is superb!), 3. Hoodia Lodge in Sossusliev (unless staying in the park which is also a nice option).
Other highly recommended lodges or trips for interest and for uniqueness: 1. Senyati (very hot rooms but a real introduction to Elephant herd behavior…did you know they line up for water? so polite); 2. Ndhovu (Hippos outside your tent…need I say more? Yes because they have a resident Hippo named Chomp who is adorable); 3. Tenting in the Okavango.
CrissCross managed to find us an outfitter (maun_backpackers.com) that did camping in the Okavango Delta (Botswana side). This was by far my favourite part of this entire safari. We’re talking about real camping here, not a lodge and I loved it. I would highly recommend this over any other tour if you love to camp. Elephants, hyenas, the possibility of wild dogs, tracking a black rhino, swimming in the Okavango… all experiences that I wouldn’t have thought possible unless you camp.
Finally, I would like to recommend Thinus as a guide. He is an excellent source of information for history as well as provides a unique view and opinion on the Apartheid movement that I had not considered before. I did initially have an issue with Thinus smoking while we were on game drives, but after letting him know of this, he desisted. It would have been nice if he opted first not to smoke around us nonsmokers rather than needing me to bring this to his attention. In addition, please be aware that your guide is with you the entire time, even for meals. If you’re looking for a romantic holiday or special time with your significant other to reconnect, you may want to tell your guide. We asked to have several dinners by ourselves just to give us time to spend together as a couple. A suggestion I have for the company is to clarify expectations with your guests regarding smoking and meals at the start of the tour. It would have made some uncomfortable situations less of an issue.
The strengths of this company lies in its organization as well as ability to provide guests with a variety of tour options at various price points. I would recommend CrissCross Namibia.
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Ryan Yuk – US
Visited: November 2015 Reviewed: Dec 2, 2015
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
What a gentleman! Best trip of my life.
Rating 5/5
My dad and I just completed a 10 day trip across Namibia with Thinus. We had an absolutely amazing time exploring Namibia with Thinus. CrissCross was very responsive from the beginning when I contacted bunch of Namibian tour operators to put my itinerary together. Thinus works on the itinerary/pricing himself so he knows all the places of interest and he has stayed at the lodges he recommends. I’m not that picky when it comes to hotels and food but I liked every spot he picked for us. He is a Namibia native (with a very cool family history) and was very knowledgeable about every region we visited. It was also a special treat to visit his childhood village in Damaraland. I really hope to return to Namibia at some point and explore the rest of Namibia I did not get to see this time with Thinus. I highly highly recommend Thinus if you are looking for a guide who is courteous, punctual, not annoying, funny (understated sense of humor), a great driver, and all around will ensure a fantastic time in Namibia for you. I have no complaints about my trip. It was the best trip experience I’ve had in my life so far (and I’ve been to over 50 countries, so not saying it lightly). Thanks so much Thinus (and Helene)!
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James Wu – CN
Visited: August 2015 Reviewed: Sep 18, 2015
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wonderful trip with a five-star guide
Rating 5/5
We three families from China experienced a memorable 10-day trip during Aug 8-17 with Thinus. This is our first time to Africa, so we did a lot of prep work by dozens of emails with Helena of Crisscross to confirm all details of the trip, she is a kindly Madam with quick response, never minding of any trouble we caused.
The whole trip is organized perfect by Thinus, our guide and driver, from the moment of picking up at airport to the departure. As a son of Damaraland farmer who once named Twyfelfontein, he is affectionate to the land and very knowledgeable about the history, nature of Namibia, as well as wildlife. As a pre-employee of the government organization, he is familiar with local society, economy, culture, we really learned lots of knowledge from him while enjoying the stunning landscape and diverse scenery. If not limited by our poor oral English, we must have a more deeply communication with him and learn more.
Our trip had a compact itinerary and almost each day had a long driving, from one place to another, Thinus spared no effort to ensure us safe and comfort, he always asked whether what we see meet our expectation and tried his best to find more animals in Etosha, to make us more time shopping in Swakopmund.
In a word, Thinus is such a kind, attentive, friendly gentleman that we can’t imagine if we could have a wonderful trip without him. He and his Crisscross are really the best.
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Claire Barnes – UK
Visited: July 2015 Reviewed: Jul 17, 2015
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This safari trip more than met our expectations
Rating 5/5
My husband and I travelled with Thinus for the two week trip in a 4 WD vehicle, starting in Windhoek, visiting the Erindi Private Game Reserve, Etosha National Park, the Kavango Region, the Caprivi Strip, and Chobe National Park. We also visited the San Bushmen which was a very moving experience and one we would highly recommend. We saw large numbers of game, both huge herds of the many antelopes (springbok, impala, kudu etc), wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, elephants, and smaller family groups of hippos, giraffes and wild dogs. We also saw all these animals up close and personal at the waterholes. The highlights were seeing 2 cheetahs, 2 sightings of leopards and 6 different sightings of lions, including 3 small lion cubs. We loved it all, especially the luxury tented accommodation which we opted for on a couple of occasions. The whole trip was very well organised and ran smoothly without any problems. Thinus was an attentive guide and very well informed, not only about wildlife, but about Namibia in general. We would very much recommend this safari company.
Kylie Burnley – AU
Visited: June 2015 Reviewed: Jun 29, 2015
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A beautiful Safari throughout Botswanna and Namibia- First Trip to Africa
Rating 5/5
This was my first trip to Africa and Criss Cross Namibia was wonderful from the get go. Travelling with a friend who had travelled with Thinus before, made booking with Criss Cross Namibia a must. Thinus is a wonderful guide with a wealth of local knowledge throughout not only Namibia but Botswanna as well. I instantly felt comfortable with Thinus as our guide and looked forward to our time with him. From Chobe National Park, to the Okavango Delta, through Etosha national park, Twyfelfontein to the coastal Swakopmund in Namibia Thinus made me feel safe and cared for. I highly recommend using Criss Cross Namibia for any Africa trips!!!
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Faysa Anthony – FR
Visited: October 2014 Reviewed: Nov 29, 2014
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Land tour of Namibia
Rating 5/5
We were picked up at the airport by Thinus with a warm smile and welcome. The week we spent with him was interesting with beautiful scenery. He was very knowledgeable and a real gentleman. We stayed in good lodges in different locations. Sossusvlei was amazing with wonderful dunes and interesting landscapes. The accomodation was beautiful as was the choir in the lodge that sang for us. We stopped at a lagoon side view in Swakopmund for lunch as then saw the Pelicans. Damaraland was very different. Thinus our guide grew up there and had stories concerning his childhood. His courage impressed us in sharing these memories that are so intimate to him. The views at sunset were beautiful and the village we visited a fond memory that lives on. Etosha was much more a traditional saphari but the richness in animals was extraordinary. We saw herds of elephants, several lions, zebras amongst many other animals.
Namibia is a large country. The people are very friendly, the scenery due to the lack of water very different and well worth visiting. With Thinus one is in safe experienced hands. We would recommend him without any hesitation. At the end of our trip we had not just a tour guide but a new friend.
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Dandan & Michel – CA
Visited: September 2014 Reviewed: Nov 6, 2014
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime
Rating 5/5
We did our first safari trip with CrissCross Safari for 21 day, we were very lucky to have Thinus as our guide.
We selected CrissCross based on the reviews on safaribookings.com. Thinus and his team was very responsive from beginning of inquire, all the way to end. They developed the detailed itinerary, to which were incorporated some specifics we had identified. We trusted CrissCross and were well rewarded.
During the trip, every day was an adventure. We don’t know what’s going to happen, but we knew there will be something exciting awaiting for us, all thanks to Thinus excellent planning and vast knowledge of the area, culture, animal…!
A great guide will make a huge difference to your safari trip! That became obvious when we started sharing photos with other guests in various lodges we visited, and all were jealous of all we had seen.
The dedication of the guide, his intimate knowledge of all areas visited, the choice of hotels, the right balance of activity and rest periods, made this trip a true trip of a lifetime
If there is way to give 6 stars, I would!
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The Damn Danes – DK
Visited: July 2014 Reviewed: Sep 25, 2014
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
CrissCross and Thinus are the best!!
Rating 5/5
When we began this holiday, we expected beautiful scenery and magnificent wildlife, but our three week travel with CrissCross (and Thinus, our guide and the owner of CrissCross) turned out to be much more than this – it was a real adventure. Our itinerary was perfectly planned and our accomodations were great, especially the lodges in Damaraland. What he had planned was way more than we could have ever expected. Throughout the journey Thinus continued to fascinate with his large culturel, historical and political knowledge of Namibia. We fondly remember all the personal anecdotes and hilarious stories told during the evenings while eating lovely meals (preferingly different kind of game) and drinking great wine. We especially enjoyed Damaraland and the great sand dunes in Sossusvlei! Thinus and the people we met on this trip was so accommodating and outgoing, and the experiences during the three weeks from Windhoek all the way through Etosha National Park to Victoria Falls were countless, and it all went incredibly fast. We strongly recommend CrissCross, and all hope to be back one day.
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Jan and Becky – US
Visited: July 2014 Reviewed: Aug 17, 2014
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Tailor Made Safari
Rating 5/5
After we thoroughly compared several different agencies, we choose CrissCross Safari Travel Agency. We planned our trip a year in advance and were most impressed with the attention CrissCross employees took to tailor make our trip itinerary reflect our wishes and budget. They really listened, made great suggestions, and quickly responded to us.
Our trip to Victoria Falls, Botswana and Namibia was even better than we anticipated. Our main goals of this trip were to observe the wildlife and scenery, have an opportunity to visit various cultural groups, and see the petroglyphs in Namibia. We had a great time doing all of these activities plus we had opportunities to meet many interesting people along the way. Our trip was well paced and our accommodations, both tented camps and hotels were wonderful.
Our guide, Thinus Blaauw, the owner of CrissCross, shared his knowledge, great stories, and fun personality each day of our trip. He is also an excellent and safe driver. We are very happy that we chose CrissCross, and definitely recommend them.
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Petra and Julian Visited: June 2014 Reviewed: Aug 6, 2014
Wonderful safari holiday in Namibia and Botswana
Rating 5/5
We had an amazing holiday!
The CrissCross team (Helene & Thinus) put together a great itinerary and managed to fit us in with 3 months notice (not nearly long enough apparently. Take note!). Communication was clear and prompt and everyting went according to plan. We have have no problem whatsoever in recommending CrissCross for a personal, reliable service.
Thinus knows the parks incredibly well. He is a goldmine of detail on all the wildlife, and of course the people and country. On our very first evening we saw dozens of elephant, zebra and warthog come to a waterhole to drink – we’ll never forget that introduction to safari! We were fortunate to have Thinus as our driver, guide and spotter! He was always in a good mood and was good company throughout.
The accommodation that CrissCross selected was generally excellent (there was one lodge we were slightly disappointed with, but we did book late) and catering was good to superb. We preferred the smaller lodges.
All in all we have wonderful memories of great holiday – thank you!
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Julie Olive – AU
Visited: June 2014 Reviewed: Aug 3, 2014
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome
Rating 5/5
Thinus met us at the airport and within a few minutes I knew my niece and I were in good hands. Thinus was able to identify readily what we wanted to achieve on our trip through Namibia and he delivered. My niece had been before and Thinus was able to provide her with new experiences that exceeded expectations. It was my first trip and I was also extremely pleased. I wanted to see animals and the shots I got as an inexperienced photographer are fantastic. Thinus just knew where to take us and some of his ‘detours’ were the best part of our 10 day journey. He left us wanting more which for me was the real indication of a great trip. In a heartbeat I would return to Namibia with Thinus as our guide.
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Cory Newman – AU
Visited: June 2014 Reviewed: Jul 22, 2014
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unforgettable!
Rating 5/5
I travel to Africa every year and this year I brought my aunty with me. I did a self drive tour last time I was in Namibia and it was no where as good as the experience we had with Criss cross. Thinus tailored the tour to our exact needs and his wealth of knowledge was invaluable. We had a magical time, always felt safe and highly recommend Criss cross. This was my 7th year travelling to Africa and this tour was by far the best value for money, the best tour guide I have ever had and the best itinerary as we created it with Thinus’s help. You will never regret travelling with crisscross.
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Cory Newman – AU
Visited: June 2014 Reviewed: Jul 18, 2014
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An incredible adventure with safety and style.
Rating 5/5
Communication from Australia to Namibia prior to our departure was nerve racking as you don’t know who to trust. Crisscross put together a tailored trip and delivered the moment we arrived. My Aunty and I couldn’t speak highly enough of our experience. If your going to Africa and want the experience of a lifetime… This is it!!!!!
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Elna – ZA
Visited: June 2014 Reviewed: Jun 25, 2014
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
CrissCross Safaris is an affordable, well organised and experienced operator.
Ratinig 5/5
A short overview of my 2014 Safari in Namibia with Cory and Julie.
Thanks to the pleasant atmosphere, courtesy of CrissCross Safaris, the tour consisted of one highlight after another.
The landscapes were impressive and cycled like a screen saver through thick bush, open grassy plains and red dunes in the Namib desert. Wild animals came to make our acqaintance around every corner. Even the roads, although gravel, were in a fair to good condition, making our driving experience safe and comfortable.
To get that close to the wildlife in the Etosha Nature Reserve was truly an experience of note. The water holes also did not disappoint with a wide variety of animals ranging from giraffe, elephants, rhinos, lions and various different species of antilope. The birdlife is also abundant, colourful and keeps things interesting.
Our visit to the Ovahimba kraal was very interesting and the guide did a good job of intruducing us to the Ovahimba lifestyle, culture and customs.
Touring through Namibia means long distance driving, but the accommodation in the lodges more than makes up for that. very tidy, clean and the personnel are courtious and friendly. All meals were very well prepared and tasty, and plentiful. Namibia left me with the impression that it is a safe place to visit and the people relaxed and friendly. It is a very interesting country to visit and has so much to offer tourists.
I want to thank and commend our guide, Thinus, from CrissCross Safaris, who always makes the safety and enjoyment of his guests first priority. Thinus also shares his enormous wealth of knowledge about Namibia, its history, attractions, culture and people in a very entertaining and informative manner. And when the going gets tough, he is always ready with a little joke to uplift the spirits of the tour group.
Roy and Kathy Apter – US
Visited: April 2014 Reviewed: May 26, 2014
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A wonderful combination of scenery, wildlife, accomodations and personality.
Ratiing 5/5
We haven’t been home but a couple of days and are already planning a new expedition with Thinus Blaauw of CrissCross Namibia Safaris. Our almost 3 week tour of Namibia hit all the highlights we had read about as well as a few places we never would have found on our own. The camps and lodges suited us well, even though we booked late and Thinus had to scramble to reserve all the places we needed. Pretravel communication included a complete description of possible itineraries as well as a an effort to get to know our small group of four early elderly travelers. Thinus led us deftly but never with a heavy hand and there was always opportunity for aimless wandering and picture taking. But his strongest suit may be a sense of humor that cushioned even the rockiest gravel road.
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Peter and Patti – US
Visited: May 2014 Reviewed: May 26, 2014
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Namibia and Thinus Blaauw constantly amazed us
Rating 5/5
We spent 3 weeks traveling the length of Namibia with Thinus Blaauw in May just after the “rainy” season in a 6 person 4WD van. Every day was a new adventure and Namibia had a new surprise for us from beautiful desert dunes and open skies to canyons and moonscape to unique quiver trees and fossils to minerals and ghost towns to waterfalls and animals. The mix of cultures and peoples was wonderful too. Thinus put together an ambitious itinerary at our request and made it all happen. European dining and lodging in a remote setting. What’s not to like? The best part may have been Thinus himself, a native and veteran of the many changes that have occurred in Namibia; he is a wealth of information, not to mention kindness, realism and optimism for the future of his country. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would gladly travel again with CrissCross Namibia.
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Daniele – IT
Visited: August 2010 Reviewed: Sep 30, 2013
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The best tout I have ever made
Rating 4/5
I thanks Thinus for his wonderful job with us. He menaged everythink in a perfect way, patience and helpful in every situation.
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Mireille Hjerrild – DK
Visited: June 2013 Reviewed: Aug 19, 2013
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The ostriches liked to race with our car !!!
Rating 5/5
I choosed Crisscross Safari to organize our second tur to Namibia (19 days), from Windhoek to Victoria Falls and back. We experienced a wonderful journey ! mr. Blaauw, Thinus, understood perfectly our wishes : a blend of nature, culture, and a bit of wilderness…To se games, breathtaking landscapes, to meet people as Damara, Himba, Herero, and Bushmen was the purpose of the trip. This has been absolutly fulfilled !
We enjoyed very much the mixture of comfortable lodges, well located and a bit primitive camps choosen by CrissCross during our sojourn. it’s nice to feel being in Africa far from the nearest “Intercontinental Hotel !”
We had the privilege to be accompanied by Mr. Blaauw, Thinus, it is a priceless treasure to travel with someone with so much local knowledge. Thinus was a mine of informations and anecdotes, this mixed with great humor.
Namibia is a wonderful country to visit and I highly recommend CrissCross Safari.
PS : From June (Winter) it’s very nice to be in Namibia.
The food was excellent…We enjoy the wines too !
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Barry Wulff – US
Visited: August 2011 Reviewed: May 31, 2013
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Two tours with CrissCross Safaris
Rating 5/5
Thinus has organized and led two very successful sixteen-day group tours for me and a dozen of my friends, all from Oregon. Our first visit, in 2009, stretched from the Fish River Canyon near the Orange River to Etosha National Park. We returned in 2011 to travel from Windhoek to Victoria Falls. We have nothing but wonderful memories of the places we visited and the things we saw. Thinus, with his personable manner and varied background, was able to make our trip a comfortable adventure with a mix of learning about the various cultures in the area and the viewing of plenty of wildlife. It would be hard to find another tour guide with such breadth of knowledge of and contacts in Namibia. Our first trip involved some camping along with staying in small communities and guest lodges. Each day brought a different environment – a different world! For our second trip, across the Caprivi Strip, we opted for staying in comfortable lodges and out-of-the-way places. My thirteen-year-old granddaughter will never forget the many wonderful experiences she had on our tour, especially the visit to the school in Rundu, interacting with the San people in Tsumkwe, or riding the elephants in Livingstone.
We have many choices in the places we want to travel to and a large selection of tour operators to choose from. We could have done any better than travelling with Thinus of CrissCross Safaris in Namibia. No doubt we’ll return again in the near future.
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Carole – US
Visited: July 2012 Reviewed: May 27, 2013
65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
CrissCross cares for clients as if they were part of the family.
Rating 5/5
After traveling throughout southern Africa with Crisscross for the past 5 years, and planning to do so again this year, I believe I can speak very highly of the care they provide for their clients and their well being. Itineraries were well planned and changed or added to upon request. Provisions during travel were more than adequate, as were accommodations, which ranged from luxury lodges to tents in the National Parks. Wildlife viewing and cultural experiences were magnificent. Best of all, our guide, Thinus, with his sense of humor and attention to detail, as well as really caring for his clients, made the six weeks more than just enjoyable. My son and I experienced such a variety of activities that it would be difficult to choose just one on which to elaborate. In our five summers in Africa with Thinus we have travelled through and experienced Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi! It has all been so wonderful that we’re returning in August for more exciting adventures! I wholeheartedly recommend CrissCross Safaris for everyone’s African experience!
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David and Carolyn Krueger – US
Visited: July 2012 Reviewed: May 27, 2013
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent Service and Great Value!
Rating 5/5
We traveled all over the country with Thinus Blaauw/Criss Cross Namibia Safaris during our one month visit in Namibia. The destination cannot be beat for sheer diversity in landscape – from the lush north to the desolate Skeleton Coast to the dry and arid Kalahari. Excellent game viewing at Etosha National Park and lots of opportunities to meet with locals – the Himba in the northwest and Bushman in the east (among others!) – makes it possible to learn a lot in a short period of time. Thinus did an excellent job customizing an itinerary to fit our interests and budget. He is very knowledgeable about the country and its history having grown up and worked in the Namibian government. We recommend him highly and look forward to touring with him again in Botswana this summer.
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Camilla – DK
Visited: January 2011 Reviewed: Feb 15, 2013
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Thinus is a 5 star operator!
Rating 5/5
We have travelled with Thinus and CrissCross the last three times we have been in Africa, and we’re returning again this December. Once again we and our friends have a tailor-made trip ahead of us, that we have designed from scratch with Thinus: This time we’re starting in Namibia, then we cross into Botswana and then end up in Zambia. 3 weeks of wilderness and wildlife. Cannot wait to return!
Apart from being the best tour operator we’ve ever travelled with in Africa, CrissCross is 100% locally owned – meaning that all your money spend on any trip (apart from the flight tickets, of course) will end up in the hands of people actually living in Africa, which we find is very important. Mind you, most tour operators offering trips to Africal these days are in fact based out-side of the continent, hence only part of the investment you make, when you book a trip to this fantastic continent, will in fact benefit people living on it. Worth a consideration – and one other reason why Thinus and CrissCross come very highly recommended from us and all friends we have travelled with to date.
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Agata, Tom with Kasia & Gregory – ET
Visited: January 2013 Reviewed: Feb 1, 2013
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent quality for a reasonable price + family friendly!
Rating 5/5
My family (2 adults + 2 kids age 7 and 9) went on a two-week desert-safari in Namibia with CrissCross Namibia in Jan 2013, with a stop-over in Livingstone to see Vic Falls. We have been planning to go on a trip like this for a while and since we live in Ethiopia and had already done safaris in Tanzania and South Africa we wanted to focus exclusively on deserts in Namibia. We searched the web for tour operators that would provide us with the best fit and the best deal. By far, out of close to 10 companies we contacted, the most responsive and accommodating was Thinus, the owners of CrissCross. Not only was he listening to what we wanted (!), but he also gave us very good ideas where to go and stay (so that it was good quality but not overpriced), was flexible (and there were many changes in flight schedules), accommodating (we changed the order of activities many times on the road depending on the weather and kids’ wellbeing) and never “pushy”. Therefore we went with him, which turned out to be an excellent choice. The trip was what we have expected and much more. We would not change a single thing about it if we were to do it again (well maybe just add a few more days if we could 🙂 It was perfect – the places to visit, lodges, hiking trails, the pace, activities, etc. Staring with Sosussvlei gave us all, urban creatures, an unforgettable feel of the desert starting early in the morning (at 5:30am!!!), in the middle of the day when the sand must be about 50C to sundown at the dunes. Few days in Swakopmund filled with activities in the morning (e.g., quad biking, sandboarding, catamaran, 4×4 desert tour, living desert tour) and lazying around the beach in the afternoons were great. Cross Cape Lodge is a beautiful place and I wish we could stay there longer. Finally Damaraland with so many places to hike, explore, learn was a real treat for avid hikers like us. Having said all this, I do want to emphasize that without Thinus the trip would not have been the same – his knowledge of the country, sense of humor, kindness – were essential ingredients to make our trip unforgettable. I would recommend CrissCross to anybody who wants excellent quality for a reasonable price. Thank you very much Thinus!