Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa

Recent reviews

• 1.0
  D6290OPnancyb2026-09-10

  Terrible lunch setting and dishonest waiters

  Very disappointing experience during my chobe day trip on the 05th. We were placed in a conference like room , it was very packed and hot , the pricing at Cresta Mowana was inconsistent and frankly concerning. I was told by a waiter (short skinny lady with glasses) that a Windhoek Draught was $7, yet when I went to pay at the nearby bar, the barman told me the actual price was $6. Even more concerning, I heard one waiter quote a wine at $9, while another waiter quoted the exact same wine at $7. This is unacceptable and raises serious questions about how prices are being communicated to guests. It makes one wonder whether some staff are deliberately inflating prices, possibly expecting guests to simply pay the difference as a tip. Guests should not have to question whether they are being overcharged. Management needs to address this urgently and ensure that all staff provide the same, accurate prices.

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• 5.0
  Torm_UI2026-08-14

  Cresta Mowana Hotel and Game-drive, worthwhile high-end experiences

  What I will remember about this hotel, is the friendly staff. I mention examples below but that is not the main point. The main point is that ALL staff are friendly, without exception, a memorable difference from many other travels. Our Airlink flight was (as usual) delayed but the friendly shuttle driver not only waited patiently, he also offered us cold drinks on the bus on 10 August. After a fast and friendly check-in at the hotel, a friendly housekeeper brought us a gift of snacks for our wedding anniversary. Our room was everything we asked for, and very clean. To this day even Google says you can see elephants in the river from the hotel. That is a myth, you have to book an excursion to see anything larger than boars or monkeys. Although expensive, the game-drive was certainly worthwhile. We saw elephants, lions, kudu, jackals, giraffe and, from afar, buffalo and hippo on 1 drive on 12 August. Though extremely cold at 6AM, the friendly driver handed blankets to everyone. Another myth, even told at the hotel, is that a light lunch menu can be requested while watching the stunning view at the Savuti bar. There was not a soul in sight there during day-time from 10 to 13 August. Instead, we ended up at the Boma at the pool. The lunch there was not light at all but it was a la carte and it was expertly delivered with some of the best service ever in a restaurant. Thank you Tefu! I've seen complaints about waiting too long for drinks, which could be true for the Savuti where nothing happens, but certainly not at any restaurant where Tefu works. The service was brilliant, fast and (of course) friendly on 11 August. I really do not see how anyone can complain about the breakfast which had a very wide variety. The tropical fruit, pastries and omelettes deserve special mention. We were sorry to have to leave the hotel for an Airlink flight (late as usual) back home.

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• 1.0
  Andywoo12026-08-12

  Could be so much better - overall just a disappointment

  This resort has a great location on the Chobe River with rooms overlooking the river and I did enjoy the river cruise and the game drive. This really is just a mass tourist hotel with very little personal hospitality and no warmth or really caring about your experience - their goal really is just to move the groups in and out and it doesn't seem they really care about your experience. We did not have hot water in our room for the first two days and the drain in the bath tub didn't work. After complaining about 4 times we finally had hot water but bath tub drain was never fixed. General confusion about where to eat, they shuffle individual guests around to wherever they have room after they accommodate tour groups so that was confusing and impersonal. Food was ok - it's your basic buffet, there were plenty of choices. They offered buy two get one sundowner cocktails which is nice, but, the Savuti Bar is very shady looking and not hospitable then the other bar we were refused service because they had a private event. Then one night they had a band for a private event, they played very loudly until after 10:00 which seems reasonable but when you have a 5:30 game drive that's a problem. There are better choices in Chobe I'm sure, unless you are stuck going here on a tour - pick somewhere else. This was definitely the low point in our two week trip to Africa.

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