April to October
Namibia & Botswana Self-drive Safari
NAMIBIA – BOTSWANA – victoria falls
Adventure in the remote wilderness of Southern Africa through outstanding deserts, incredible wildlife and unforgettable sunsets!
Desert, wildlife, and the most spectacular waterfalls of africa.
Boasting the world’s most ancient desert, Namibia is considered unmatched in its raw, natural beauty. Its appeal lies in the rolling, red sand dunes of the Namib, extending inland from the cold Atlantic Ocean, to the rare desert elephants amble along Namibia’s dry riverbeds and the critically endangered black rhinos.
Botswana is one of the best wildlife destinations in Africa. From the immense emptiness of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans to the sheer natural beauty of the Okavango Delta, and untamed nature of wild camping in the famous Chobe, Savuti, and Moremi, 70% of the country is dedicated to national parks and protected areas.
SOSSUSVLEI
Sossusvlei, meaning “dead-end marsh”, is a salt and clay pan surrounded by high red dunes, located in the southern part of the Namib Desert. This area is characterized by high sand dunes of vivid pink-to-orange colour, an indication of a high concentration of iron in the sand and consequent oxidation processes. These dunes are among the highest in the world; many of them are above 200 meters, the highest being 388 meters high. It used to be an oasis with several acacia trees; then, the river that watered the oasis changed its course. The pan is thus punctuated by blackened, dead acacia trees, in vivid contrast to the shiny white of the salty floor of the pan and the intense orange of the dunes: a fascinating and surrealistic landscape.
ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK
The Etosha National Park is a nature conservation area in northern Namibia and is one of the most significant game reserves in Africa. The name Etosha comes from Oshindonga word meaning Great White Place referring to the 5,000 sq km Etosha pan, a bright white salt lake. A network of waterholes dispersed among the bush and grasslands surrounding the pan, a blindingly white, flat, saline desert that stretches into the horizon, attracts enormous congregations of animals. During the dry season, animals gather around the few last waterholes, creating a truly memorable game viewing spectacle. Etosha is simply one of the best places on the planet for watching wildlife.
SKELETON COAST
Among the most remote and inaccessible areas in the vast country of Namibia, the so-called Skeleton Coast is a 40 km wide and 500 km long treacherous coastal stretch, a hostile but fascinating area. It’s a murky region with rocky and sandy coastal shallows, where rolling fogs and swirling sandstorms encapsulate its ghostly, isolated and untamed feel. Here the cold and unpredictable Benguela Current of the Atlantic Ocean clashes with the dune and desert landscape of north-western Namibia. Despite the hostile character of the Skeleton Coast, there are quite a number of wild animals to observe: desert-adapted elephants, rhinos, desert lions, brown hyenas, jackals, giraffes, seals, oryx, kudus and zebras.
MAKGADIKGADI SALT PANS
The Makgadikgadi Pans are the largest salt pans in the world with an area of about 12,000 sq km. The name Makgadikgadi means “a dry thirsty place” in the language of the San people. The pans themselves are salty desert whose only plant life is a thin layer of blue-green algae. However, the fringes of the pan are salt marshes and further out these are circled by grassland and then shrubby savanna. The prominent baobab trees found in the area function as local landmarks and are protected as a national monument. During the rainy season, zebras migrate en masse, one of the great wildlife migrations in a continent of many. During the dry season, wildlife draws near to the rejuvenated Boteti River in similarly epic numbers.
CAPRIVI STRIP
Jutting out in the far north-east of Namibia is a peculiarly shaped stretch of land, the Caprivi Strip, that seems to defy any logical border definitions. This lush tropical strip of land is both fringed and crossed by wide permanent rivers, including the Zambezi, Kavango (Okavango), Chobe and Linyanti, whose very names conjure up images of lush green floodplains, herds of wildlife and ancient baobabs, a stark contrast to much of the rest of the country. The Caprivi is home to birds and animals that live almost nowhere else in Namibia. It provides significant habitat for the critically endangered African wild dog and it is a corridor for African elephant moving from Botswana and Namibia into Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
OKAVANGO DELTA
The UNESCO’s World Heritage Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta in the world at 15,000 sq km and none of the water reaches the sea: the large majority of it is either evaporated or transpired. Carrying water and silt from the Angolan highlands, Botswana’s Okavango Delta floods life into the Kalahari Desert. It contains a network of winding channels and small forested islands and this watery wonderland supports wildlife on an epic scale, from the Big Five to rare African wild dogs, crocs to catfish, and is fringed by countless local communities. It’s a pristine wilderness that can be explored on foot or by mokoro canoe through papyrus fringed channels, taking you closer to the wildlife and the immense landscape.
CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
Chobe National Park, known as ‘Land of Giants”, is is a true wildlife paradise and Botswana’s first and finest national park, also the most biologically diverse. Chobe National Park is extremely lush because of the many waterways. The dazzling, deep blue Chobe River flows through the park and draws many animals and birds during the dry season. The park is famed for some of the world’s largest herds of massive elephants: there are an estimated 120,000 Kalahari elephants living here, the largest in size of all known elephant populations. These gentle, graceful, gargantuan creatures have few natural predators and they wander the park in vast herds, causing significant damage to the vegetation in some areas.
VICTORIA FALLS
One of the greatest attractions in Africa and one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, Victoria Falls is located on the Zambezi River, and it defines the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls is the only waterfall in the world with a length of more than a kilometre and a height of more than a hundred meters. It is also considered to be the largest fall in the world. The noise of Victoria Falls can be heard from a distance of 40 kilometres, while the spray and mist from the falling water are rising to a height of over 400 meters and can be seen from a distance of 50 kilometres. No wonder that the local tribes used to call the waterfall Mosi-o-Tunya “The smoke that thunders”.
Are you ready for adventure?
tailor-made safari
We offer you our favourite itinerary to deliver the best experience of the remote wilderness of Namibia and Botswana!
We will provide you with everything you need, plus a personal professional guide for your trip.
We work with highly reliable people to deliver you the most authentic experience. We support local businesses and local communities!
Set your mind free and enjoy the adventure!
Included
- 16 nights accommodation mixed Style (Camping/Accommodated)
- Pre-tour accommodation in Windhoek
- Airport Transfers
- Transport (in a fully equipped 4×4)
- Meals (16 x breakfast, 14 x lunch, 11 x dinner)
- Professional & experienced tour guide
- All national park entrance fees
- Drinking water
Highlights
- Namib Desert & game drive & walking safari
- Sossusvlei & Deadvlei
- Skeleton’s Coast & Cape Cross Seal Reserve
- Spitzkoppe Arch
- White Lady rock paintings
- Etosha NP & game drives
- 2 nights Okavango Delta
- Okavango Delta bush walks & mokoro cruises
- Khwai (Moremi Game Reserve) & game drives
- Savuti (southern Chobe NP) & game drives
- Chobe River boat cruise
- Victoria Falls
Not included
- international flights
- travel and medical insurance
- personal drinks/snacks (other than water)
- personal spending money
- visas
- optional activities
- tips for guides
FAQ
When is the best time to visit Namibia and Botswana?
The trips run from April to October, in correspondence with the dry season. We will travel through a wide range of ecosystems at different altitudes. From the dry desert areas to the wet, tropical Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls rain forest. Although we are still going in the ‘dry’ season, in some places temperatures range from being very hot (+- 36 °C) during the day and dropping down to ±15 oC at night.
Do I need a Visa?
You can obtain your Visas on arrival when entering all these countries.
It is $50 USD for a 3-month tourist visa in Zambia to be paid in US$ cash. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of return home and must have at least 4 blank pages for stamps. Botswana and Namibia offer free visa on arrival.
Make two photocopies of valuable documents such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers’ cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
Please ensure that you are in possession of valid travel documents. Double-check with the embassy of your country about visa requirements.
Is the team on site to assist me?
How is the accommodation like?
We have selected all of our trip accommodation because of their fantastic location, facilities, service and comfort. We will go out of our way to ensure that any accommodation used does not disappoint!
We will stay in different types of accommodation. All rooms are invariably twin. In case you are accompanied and prefer a double bed (king size bed), we will try, without any guarantee, to book a double room. Individual bookings will be sharing a twin room or double tent with other individual booking guests. For single occupancy request, guests should enquire and an extra fee will be charged.
Camping is no doubt one of the best experiences on tour. This style of accommodation was chosen to enhance your experience in those specific areas.
On camping nights, we provide spacious two-person tent and a sleeping stretcher (camping beds), which we will help to set up. Don’t forget your sleeping bag, inflatable pillow and other items you find important to bring with you. In some campsites, you may be able to upgrade to rooms for an extra charge.
During this trip, we will be sleeping in unfenced campsites, in the heart of the National Parks. It is not uncommon to be visited by giraffes, various antelopes, or even elephants and hippo’s while camping out in this area. A truly memorable time!
The entire camp will be set up for the group prior to our arrival at the camp and, upon departure, the camp will be packed away for us (all of the benefits of camping in the wild with none of the work behind it!).
Toilets used here are homemade long-drop toilets (equipped with our portable toilet seats and tents). Showers used here are our portable bucket showers, equipped with warm water and a shower tent.
What if I have special dietary requirements?
Is it safe to travel?
All the places selected on tour are safe for travellers, although it is important to maintain usual travel precautions to avoid less desirable situations, especially in cities.
Even pickpockets are less frequent than in European cities but it is always advisable not to carry valuables with you or to be careful to carry them close to you and in a visible place.
Will we have electricity during the trip?
Electricity is limited on the tour, so if you have a power bank, you should bring it! There is, however, a small charging station in the vehicle that can be used while the vehicle is running. The power is 220 Volts and in some lodges, the sockets are compatible with those of Europe, and it is recommended to carry an adapter and possibly a 3 port charger if you have many devices to charge daily.
Which are the health precautions and requirements?
The only recommended prophylaxis is against Malaria. Please consult with your general practitioner before coming regarding this.
We strongly advise the use of insect repellant on exposed areas after sunset.
All guides have first aid boxes for use in emergencies, however, we recommend that you bring along your own basic supply of medication, headache tablets etc.
If you are taking any regular medication, we advise you to bring it with you for the entire stay, as it may not be easy to find these medicines at local pharmacies.
You are also required to have a yellow fever vaccination to enter Zambia. Please ensure you travel with your yellow fever vaccination card.
How to stay connected during the trip?
A large number of local cellphone operators offer roaming connection, however, it is best to inquire about tariffs and conditions before leaving. We can help you buy local SIM cards so that you can better and more economically communicate with friends and family back home and share your experiences.
The Internet connection is available almost all the way, although sometimes slow and nonexistent in the most remote areas, namely in some of the National Parks that we will visit. The easiest thing to do is to wait for a Wi-Fi internet connection in some of our lodges, cafes and restaurants, and communicate via Skype, WhatsApp, etc.
Is laundry available during the trip?
Yes, laundry services are offered in some of the accommodations.
Which is the local currency and how much money should I bring along?
Currencies:
- Botswana: The Botswana Pula
- Namibia: The Namibian Dollar
- Zambia: The Zambian Kwacha
It is recommended to bring extra US$ in cash which you can exchange into local currencies. All major currencies can be exchanged in any exchange bureau. Major credit cards can be used for expenses such as restaurant meals, etc. Although, small trading stores will probably not have the facilities to deal with a credit card.
There are ATMs in almost every major city along the way and this is undoubtedly the easiest way to get local currency and also the safest way without having to carry a lot of money with you. However remember that every time you make a withdrawal or transaction, you will have to pay a commission to the bank. We recommend bringing around $250 USD.
Ideally, you should bring US Dollars (not Euros because it is harder to exchange and the exchange rate is usually lower) and exchange if necessary.
Can I bring gifts for the local communities?
Please feel free to bring gifts for local communities in the form of stationary, school books and sports gear. Please avoid bringing gifts in the form of sweets and chocolates for children – dental hygiene and care are minimal in rural Africa and damaged teeth are a growing problem in these areas.
Any gifts brought for communities/school kids will be collected by your guide at the beginning of the tour. These gifts will be handed to the management team in Rubuguri village, Uganda (home to all of our on-going community projects) who will distribute the gifts to various schools in need in the area. During the tour, please avoid handing out gifts to individuals along the way. The expectation of gifts from foreign visitors is a growing issue in a lot of rural Africa and creates an uncomfortable experience for people visiting the area.