The Best of Namibia and Botswana

On your arrival at the Windhoek International Airport, you are presented with your rental car and soon thereafter, you will be on your way to Windhoek. Use your free time today to get to know Namibia’s capital a little better and make a stop at some of the shops if you want to gather some snacks and supplies for the coming days. Some of the city’s landmarks which you can visit include the Christ Church, the Train Station, and Independence Avenue. For dinner, we can recommend Joe’s Beerhouse (own expense), as “Joe’s” is an attraction in and of itself. You spend the night at The Elegant Guest House.

You begin your tour by driving in a southern direction towards the town of Mariental. The beautifully located Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch will be your destination for today. The accommodation is situated like an oasis amidst the red sand dunes of the Kalahari. Upon arrival, you will have enough time to take in the beautiful scenery around you. For the afternoon, we recommend you go on a guided nature drive (optional). Here you can explore the Kalahari in an open safari vehicle and you could very well come across giraffes, zebras and various types of antelopes whilst doing so. As the sun starts to near the horizon, you return to your accommodation. You will spend the night in a Savannah Chalet of the Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch.

Those who rise early this morning are in for a treat as the sunrises in the Kalahari are quite spectacular. From atop one of the dunes, you can witness how the rising sun throws a warm glow over the landscape around you. Then after a hearty breakfast, you make your way towards the Namib Desert. There lies a serene beauty in this region’s barrenness, and you are welcome to go explore a little on foot once you have checked into your accommodation. In the afternoon, you can also take part in a guided nature drive and admire one of the stunning sunsets the region is famous for. Your accommodation for the next two nights is The Elegant Desert Eco Camp.

Namibia is a country where you are rewarded for rising early and this is certainly true for today. Time your arrival at the gates of the Namib-Naukluft National Park just before sunrise and you will be greeted with an amazing sight, as the first rays of light illuminate the orange sea of dunes around you. You can hike up some of the dunes too if you like. Dune 45 offers lovely views and for those who are a bit more ambitious, ‘Big Daddy’ is one of the largest dunes in the world. You then descend onto the white clay pan of the Deadvlei. Take a moment to soak in your breath-taking surroundings. Also make a stop at the Sesriem Canyon, which for the most part of the year is dry and its riverbed can be hiked along. After a riveting day in the oldest desert in the world, you return to your camp for dinner and some well-deserved rest. You also can explore the region on a guided day tour with a guide of your lodge (optional). You spend another night at The Elegant Desert Eco Camp.

After a tasty breakfast you start today’s scenic drive. Be sure to take a deep breath of fresh ocean air once you reach the Atlantic coast. From there the road leading into Swakopmund is a special one, you drive with the Atlantic Ocean to your one side and the Namib Desert to the other. As you reach Swakopmund, you reach the adventure capital of Namibia, with many exciting activities to choose from. These include guided desert tours, quad biking, camel riding, skydiving, and sandboarding. Alternatively, you can spend some time on the water on a catamaran boat trip or on a kayaking outing. All these activities will probably awaken a healthy appetite. Luckily, there are a number of tasty dinner options for you to choose from (own expense). Your accommodation for the next two nights is the Cornerstone Guest House, just a stone’s throw from the beach.

Continue your journey along the Atlantic coast and if you like, visit the Cape fur seal colony at Cape Cross, one of the largest in the world. Thereafter you head inland and soon you will see the Brandberg Mountain on the horizon, the highest mountain in Namibia. The Brandberg is also the site for Namibia’s most famous piece of rock art, the “White Lady” which can be visited on a guided tour (please note that you need to calculate at least 3 hours for this detour). You continue driving deeper into Ugab Valley before reaching your accommodation for tonight, the Vingerklip Lodge. Take a moment to appreciate your beautiful surroundings either by relaxing at the lounge or by taking a walk to the Vingerklip rock formation.

The earlier you can get going today, the earlier you will arrive at the Etosha National Park. You enter the park through the Anderson Gate and your game drive can begin straight away. You have the chance to witness lions, elephants, hyenas, zebras, wildebeest, warthogs, and giraffes today. You might very well also encounter herds of springbok, kudu, oryx, and the near endemic black-faced impala on your game drive. After a first day of hopefully many wonderful wildlife sightings, you head to the Okaukuejo Camp, where you will spend the night. The camp is located in the park, thereby enabling you to go on a guided night game drive (optional). Otherwise, you are welcome to spend your evening observing the animals that come to your camp’s own floodlit waterhole for a drink.

The large camps in the Etosha National Park are owned by the Namibian government. The running of the camps and their general maintenance falls under the responsibility of state employees, who we sometimes wish were a little more enthusiastic about their work. The accommodation options range from basic chalets to more standard self-catering units. Outside of the park’s boundary, you will find more luxurious lodges from which you can make day trips into the park. If this is something which you prefer, please inform us and we will gladly amend the itinerary accordingly.

Make the most of your day by starting early and heading out on your game drive. You will soon discover the animals are not having a sleep-in either. You have the whole day for game drives and you will most likely be spending most of your time at the Etosha’s various waterholes. The waterholes are a lifeblood to the animals in the region and you will notice that some of the best game viewing is when you wait patiently at these waterholes. More often than not, you will be rewarded with something special. This is what makes the Etosha so popular with wildlife photographers and wildlife enthusiasts in general. With a little luck, you may even come across a leopard, cheetah, or rhino on today’s safari. Before sunset, you will have excited the park via the Von Lindequist Gate and arrived at your accommodation for the next two nights, the Mushara Bush Camp. The following day you can go on another self-drive game drive and visit some of the waterholes you have not been to yet, or you can book a guided game drive in an open game view vehicle with your camp (optional).

Today you will be greeted with a wonderful and dramatic change of scenery. You pass through the towns of Tsumeb and Grootfontein, both good options for restocking on some supplies, before you continue further north into the Kavango Region. Lush green vegetation and a sub-tropical climate awaits you in an area that enjoys an abundance of water, wildlife, and birdlife. Your accommodation for the next two nights is the Riverdance Lodge, nestled in an indigenous forest overlooking the Kavango river. It provides the perfect oasis to relax in after a long drive. On the next day, you have a variety of activities to choose from. You can go on game drive in the Mahango National Park (this requires a 4×4 vehicle or the booking of a guided tour), go on a river cruise along the Kavango River or visit the local Hambukushu people on a cultural tour. For those who want to get active, you can go on a nature walk with a guide from the lodge (all activities optional). In the evenings, sit back and relax on your private veranda and listen to the wonderful sounds of nature around you. You will spend both nights at the Riverdance Lodge.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast before starting on another adventure, as today you travel to Botswana and drive along the Okavango Panhandle before reaching your camp, on the edge of the Okavango Delta. Be sure to visit the Tsodilo Hills on your way, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tsodilo Hills is sometimes referred to as the ‘Louvre of the desert’ because of its high concentration of well-preserved ancient rock art. On a tour with a local guide, you can witness these ancient paintings for yourself and gain a better understanding of early human life in the region. Back on the road, you continue to the Guma Lagoon Camp, located on the north-western edge of the Okavango Delta. Enjoy a cold beverage whilst sitting on the camp’s deck and gaze over the serene lagoon before a tasty dinner is served to you.

After breakfast it is time to get back on the road. Although tarred, you will come across your fair share of potholes today and you could encounter all sorts of animals near the road so best remain vigilant. In the afternoon, you reach the frontier town of Maun. Feel free to explore this ever-expanding town or alternatively, head straight for your lodge, the Thamalakane River Lodge on the banks of the Thamalakane River. Here you can have a refreshing swim in the lodge’s swimming pool and relax for the rest of the day. During your stay, you will be notified of the details concerning your upcoming flight into the Okavango Delta. Dinner can be enjoyed at a restaurant in Maun or at the Thamalakane River Lodge (both own expense).

With great anticipation you arrive at the Maun Airport in time for your flight taking you to the Okavango Delta this morning. The sheer size and beauty of the Delta can really be appreciated from the air. Provided there is clear weather, you will be greeted with an amazing view. You touchdown near your accommodation for the next two nights, the Rra Dinare Camp in the Moremi area. The camp’s picturesque location is not only beautiful, overlooking the Gomoti River’s floodplains, but also borders the renowned Moremi Game Reserve. Over the following two days you will have the opportunity to observe many different animal species including elephants, buffaloes, lions, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and of course the animal most synonymous with the Delta, the hippopotamus. The Moremi is also one of the best places to spot African wild dogs, one of the most coveted wildlife sightings in Africa. You go on scheduled game drives in an open game view vehicle, on bush walks and you can take part in night drives in the private concession on which your camp is located. If the water levels allow it, you can also glide along the waterways of the Okavango Delta on mokoro excursions. When you are not out exploring the Delta, delight in the camp’s marvellous food and relax at the Rra Dinare Camp.

Light aircraft flights in Botswana have a luggage restriction of 20 kg per person. This includes your camera equipment and your hand luggage. Hard suitcases or travel bags are not allowed as they won’t fit into the aircraft. Please make sure your luggage is in soft bags only, with a maximum size of 25 cm wide by 30 cm high and 62 cm long. If you require more luggage space for your journey, please contact us and we will provide you with a quote for any additional luggage.

Passengers who weigh more the 100 kg must advise us of such at the time of booking. Due to safety and comfort reasons, we may need to cost an additional seat for this light aircraft flight.

After a wonderful time in the pristine wilderness of the Okavango Delta, you step aboard your flight back to Maun. Once safely landed, you step into your rental car and continue your journey on a tarred road towards your next accommodation, the charming Planet Baobab. The lodge has the (self-proclaimed) largest swimming pool in the Kalahari, so be sure to cool off in the refreshing waters before relaxing in your charming surroundings. You spend the night at the Planet Baobab.

Have an early breakfast before leaving your lodge in a timely manner. Your goal is to reach your accommodation in Kasane with enough time to spare to still take part in the afternoon game drive in the Chobe National Park. Once you reach Kasane, you drop off your rental vehicle at the rental depot and then a transfer driver will bring you to the Chobe Bakwena Lodge, your accommodation for the next two nights. From here you can start your activities into the Chobe National Park. Famous for its over 40,000 elephants, the Chobe also has many other animals with which it can impress. Buffaloes, crocodiles, and hippos can often be spotted near the riverbank and the park also boast exceptional birding opportunities. Lions are also commonly sighted. On two daily scheduled activities including game drives and river cruises you can explore the Chobe National Park, accompanied by a local guide. Your home for the next two nights will be the Chobe Bakwena Lodge.

Make the most of one more morning game drive before you are greeted by your transfer driver at your accommodation and brought to the Victoria Falls. The rest of the afternoon is yours to marvel at one of the most recognisable natural wonders in Africa. The Victoria Falls is not only one of the largest waterfalls in terms of water volume in the world, but also one of the most beautiful too. For dinner, you can visit one of the restaurants in town (own expense). You spend the night at the Pioneers Guest Lodge.

If you would like to do activities, such as sunset boat cruises lasting several hours, white water rafting or bungee jumping, you’ll need to stay one extra night at Victoria Falls.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before your epic journey draws to a close. You will be picked up at your accommodation and then brought to the Victoria Falls International Airport. It will be with a newfound love for the beautiful wilderness areas and the majestic wildlife of Namibia and Botswana that your return journey can begin.