20 Days Botswana & Namibia

The tour gets underway after landing in Kasane Airport with a 10-minute drive to the lodge. We drive to Chobe Safari Lodge, check in and freshen up. The restaurant offers both a la carte and buffet lunch options. After lunch we sit together for the tour briefing and signing of indemnity forms, and then it’s a free afternoon to relax or wander around the lodge, which is nestled on the bank of the Chobe River. The river separates Botswana and the Namibian Caprivi Strip with a beautiful sunset view from the bar. A buffet dinner will be served at the restaurant. 

The day starts with a sunrise Jeep safari (game drive) in Chobe game reserve, the best reserve to see elephants in Africa and the world, including some of the Big 5 animals: lion, leopard, and buffalo. The safari runs until 09h00. After the safari, we have a buffet brunch at the restaurant and the day is free. At 15h00 we have a sunset boat cruise through Chobe River, running until 18hoo. The boat cruise offers a rare experience where we get close to the water and land mammals. Sunset over the Caprivi Strip is one of the best, and not to be missed. Dinner will be served at the restaurant.

Today we have an early start: breakfast at 07hoo and we leave for Victoria Falls at 08h00. We have the whole day to spend exploring Victoria Falls, on the Zimbabwean side, and visiting the town. It is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and one of the highest falls in the world. The visa costs USD30 at the border and the entrance fees to the falls are USD30 (for your own account). Take your camera with you for great shots and lasting memories. The transfer back to Botswana will pick you up at 15h00 and you will be back to the hotel just after 17h00. Dinner will be served at the restaurant.

We cross out of Botswana to Namibia via the Caprivi Strip, which is an eastern narrow section of Namibia that extends between Angola, Zambia and Botswana. We spend two days in different lodges exploring this rich game area. Camp Kwando is on the bank of Kwando River with abundant bird life, and offers some optional activities for the late afternoon. 

Ngepi Camp, one of the best camps in Southern Africa, on the edge of the Okavango River, is our next stop. We drive through this game-rich area with animals roaming freely. If luck is on our side, we spot herds of elephant, buffalo and antelope along the way before we reach Ngepi Camp. Our camp is located close by Mohembo National Park and the river, which attracts herds of elephant and other species. 

After a morning enjoying the sunrise and abundant birdlife that surrounds the camp, our road takes us to Rundu. Etosha is too far to be reached in one day from Ngepi, so we stop at Rundu for one night. Our river lodge is located on the bank of the Okavango River, which separates Namibia and Angola outside town. After checking in at the lodge, you can relax around the pool until late afternoon or book an optional, village walk, which is recommended. 

Etosha National Park, “the great white place of dry water” surrounds the Etosha Pan. The waterholes surrounding the pan attract a lot of game. The park is famous for its great sightings of elephants, lions, hundreds of springboks and other antelopes. We have a day to spend in the park spotting some of the Big 5, with a morning game drive and two afternoon game drives in our vehicle. The waterhole behind the camp offers some of the best game viewing opportunities when animals come for a drink.

Brandberg Mountain, meaning “burning mountain”, offers some rare opportunities to spot the desert elephants. Our drive covers beautiful semi-arid and desert landscape as we move south towards Brandberg. Our lodge is at the bank of the dry Ugab River which is the home of special desert elephants. Tracking these elephants is an amazing experience, so don’t miss the opportunity ‒ book with the lodge (optional). The following morning, we walk through the rocks in the foot of Brandberg Mountain to visit White Lady. 

We drive through the flat, open landscape towards the south-west of Namibia, drive past the Spitzkoppe granite domes on our left side, then head to the coast and visit Cape Cross seal colony. After visiting the seals, we have a 90-minute drive towards the south of Henties Bay to reach Swakopmund. There we have a day free (following day) to explore the German influenced town or book optional activities such as sand boarding, quad biking, sea kayaking, fishing or flights over the desert. 

We leave Swakopmund and cross the lunar landscapes that surround the town and head to the Namib Desert with its towering red sand dunes. We cross the Tropic of Capricorn before reaching our destination. We have a day to walk Dune 45, Sossusvlei, and explore the Sesriem Canyon. The desert offers the best sunsets, so take a stroll out of the lodge for some great pictures.

Windhoek is the capital and the largest city in Namibia and it is regarded as one of the cleanest cities in Africa. The interesting architecture of the city has been influenced by German colonialists and the blending of cultures between African and Europeans. This city boasts friendly people and that makes it more harmonious. We explore the city before heading to the lodge. We dine out at Joe’s Beer House, which is one of the famous restaurants in Namibia (own expense). 

As we cross out of Namibia to Botswana, we leave the city and drive east before we reach the border. We have one night to spend in the heart of the Kalahari Desert. Late afternoon, we have a walk with local San people (bushmen) who will share with us their fascinating bush skills and how they survive in the mountains. Later in the evening, we gather around the fire and enjoy dinner.

Maun is the getaway to Okavango Delta and is the tourism capital of Botswana. After checking in and getting settled we go to Maun shopping centre and stock up for the delta. Flights over the delta (optional) can be arranged through the guides: this is the only time to see Okavango Delta in flight and take beautiful aerial pictures. 

The Okavango Delta, formed by the Okavango River, which starts from the high mountains of Angola, cuts through Namibia, Caprivi Strip and creeps slowly, taking about six months to reach its destination. There it spreads its contents over the Kalahari sands, forming the inland delta in Botswana. We have two days and one night to explore the delta and enjoy nature with local guides. Try the Mokoro with the assistance of your pola or cool yourself in the natural swimming pools of the delta.

We leave the delta early in the morning heading back to Maun and stop at the lodge to freshen up before we head to Nata, Makgadikgadi Pans. The largest remaining salt pan in the world covers about 16 000 square kilometres. After the rainy seasons, the pan attracts hundreds of flamingos, pelicans and other water bird species as well as zebras and antelopes. We spend our afternoon in the pan for a short walk and the beautiful sunset.

The tour comes to an end, and we leave Nata lodge heading to Kasane. We spend the afternoon preparing our luggage for the next day’s departure. Later we have the group’s last dinner at the restaurant (own expense).

Tour ends after breakfast and transfer to Kasane airport.