Namibia & Botswana Budget Lodge Safari

Starting and ending at the Zambian side of Victoria Falls this 21-day budget lodge safari combines top destinations in Namibia and Botswana.

Witness the mighty Victoria Falls and enjoy optional adventure activities at the Falls, before heading into the Caprivi strip of Namibia. Explore wildlife-rich Etosha Park on game drives then drive south to dramatic Damaraland to visit San rock art.

Spend time in coastal Swakopmund participating in exciting optional activities and continue south into the barren Namib Desert walking to the towering red dunes at Sossusvlei and in Sesriem Canyon. Stop over at charming Windhoek and cross into Botswana's Kalahari Desert for a nature walk. 

From Maun this accommodated safari travels into the pristine Okavango Delta exploring the delta channels and islands by Makoro canoes and on guided walks. Spend a night in the vast Makgadikgadi Pans then drive to Chobe Park and embark on a sunset game viewing boat cruise.

Return to Vic Falls bringing this diverse Namibia & Botswana Budget Lodge Safari to a close.

• Victoria Falls –  Waterfall & adventure activities
• Caprivi Strip – Game drives
• Etosha Park – game viewing
• Damaraland– rock paintings
• Swakopmund – dune boarding & quad biking
• Namib Desert – walk Sossusvlei dunes
• Kalahari – bush walk with San Bushman
• Okavango Delta – mokoro excursion and bush walks
• Chobe Park – sunset boat cruise on Chobe River

Day 1 – 2: LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA / VICTORIA FALLS [permanent tents Bx1]

This Budget Namibia & Botswana Lodge Safari starts in Zambia at the famous Victoria Falls waterfall, the largest sheet of falling water in the world.

We visit the impressive Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, witnessing the “Smoke that Thunders” or Mosi-o-Tunya as the locals call it. Admiring the spectacle of the Zambezi River plunging over 100 meters into the Gorge below is an awe-inspiring experience.

We spend 2 days in Livingstone at Victoria Falls giving you plenty of time to explore the area and participate in some of the thrilling adventure activities available at Vic Falls (own expense).

• Includes: Entrance fees to Vic Falls.
• Overnight: Tented Camp – twin permanent tents with shared facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
• Optional Activities: White water rafting, sunset cruises, elephant back safaris, scenic flights over the Falls, bungee jumping & many more.

Day 3 – 4: CAPRIVI, NAMIBIA [chalets BLD]

On day 3 we depart from Livingstone leaving Zambia and crossing into north eastern Namibia. We make our way to the Caprivi Strip, a narrow stretch of Namibia nestled between Angola, Zambia and Botswana.

We spend two days exploring this lush area on game drives as we travel west. Several major rivers are found in Caprivi, Namibia's wettest region, which is home to a large variety of wild animals and birds, including the endangered African Wild Dog.

• Includes: Park entrance fees & game drives.
• Overnight: Chalets – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar. 
• Distance/time: Day 3: 300km, ± 4 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch.
• Day 4: 200km, ± 3 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing.

Day 5: RUNDU [chalet BLD]

In the morning we enjoy some excellent birdwatching around our camp, hosting an abundance of birdlife. Then we continue our journey west driving along the Kavango River deeper into Namibia. Along the way we pass villages made of grass huts where local wooden crafts and carvings are produced.

We spend the night at a riverside lodge in Rundu admiring a spectacular African sunset at the of another exciting day on this affordable lodge safari.

• Overnight: Chalets - twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
• Distance/time: 210kms, ± 3 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch.

Day 6 – 7: ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK [lodge BLD]

On day 6 of our Southern African Lodge Safari we travel to Etosha National Park, one of Africa’s finest game parks. Etosha is dominated by a flat saltpan that it is named after, Etosha, meaning “the great white place of dry water”.

Game-rich Etosha, located in the northwest corner of Namibia, is home to a variety of wildlife including more than 110 mammal species. The vast Etosha Park is known as a top safari destination for sighting endangered black rhino, the elusive cheetah and a rare black-faced impala species. Etosha hosts large herds of elephants and numerous plains game, such as zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, springbok, impala and eland among others. Lion, hyena and jackal are also found in Etosha Park, as well as around 340 bird species and over 100 reptile species.

Our game drives take us in search of Etosha’s diverse wildlife that congregate at waterholes scattered across the huge dry saltpan. We stay at a comfortable guest farm not far from Etosha Park.

• Includes: Etosha National Park entrance fees. Morning & afternoon game drives.
• Overnight: Guest Farm – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
• Distance/time: 420kms, ± 5 hours excluding stops for sightseeing and lunch.

Day 8: TWYFELFONTIEN [permanent tents BLD]

Leaving game-rich Etosha Park we head south to Twyfelfontein, a world heritage site. We explore the mountains on a walk with a local guide, in search of San rock art.

About 2000 rock engravings can be found in the hills around Twyfelfontein!

• Includes: Guided walk to view San Rock Art.
• Overnight: Tented camp – twin chalets with en-suite bathroom, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
• Distance/time: 600kms, ± 7½ hours excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch.

Day 9: BRANDBERG [lodge BLD]

Today we travel through some beautiful desert landscapes heading south to the Brandberg Mountain, Namibia's highest mountain. In the Damaraland area we experience Namibia's contrasting landscapes of stark plains, petrified forests and ancient valleys scattered with rocky outcrops. 

The dry Ugab River found in this area is home to rare desert elephants. We visit the petrified forest in Damaraland and the san rock paintings found in this remote area.

• Includes: Entrance to petrified forest and San Rock Art.
• Overnight: Chalets - twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
• Distance/time: 170km, ± 2½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing.

Day 10 – 11: SWAKOPMUND [chalets Bx2 Lx1]

We travel to the stark Atlantic coastline of Namibia crossing the flat plains of the Spitzkoppe area, dotted with huge granite boulders. Reaching the west coast we make our way south to the Cape Cross seal colony, one of the world’s largest Cape Fur Seal colonies.

After visiting the seal colony we head to our next safari stop, the popular coastal town of Swakopmund.

You have a full day to go sightseeing in this charming African town with strong colonial influences or you can partake in some of the numerous adventure activities available in Swakopmund.

Activities include dune boarding and skydiving (own expense). There is also an optional half-day sea kayaking excursion to view seals, birds and sea life around the peninsula of Walvis Bay.

Enjoy dinner at one of Swakopmund’s many local restaurants in the evening (own expense).

• Includes: Entrance fees to Cape Cross Seal colony.
• Overnight: Chalets – twin rooms with en-suite facilities & restaurant.
• Distance/time: 250kms, ± 3½ hours excluding stops for sightseeing.
• Optional Activities: Sea Kayaking, Sand boarding, Skydiving, Ocean canoe safari, Scenic flights & many more.

Day 12 – 13: NAMIB DESERT [permanent tents BLD]

Driving to the barren Namib Desert we pass through the lunar landscapes surrounding Swakopmund.

The Sossusvlei area of the Namib Desert is known for its towering red-orange sand dunes, some of the tallest dunes in the world. Entering the ancient Namib Desert we walk to Sossusvlei and explore the Sesriem Canyon with its ancient sedimentary layers.

At the end of the day we get to enjoy another dramatic African sunset over the tall sand dunes of the Namib.

• Includes: Entrance fees to Sesriem Canyon and Naukluft National Park.
• Overnight: Lodge or Tented lodge – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, restaurant, swimming pool & bar.
• Distance/time: 350kms, ± 5 hours excluding sightseeing stops.

Day 14: WINDHOEK [guest house BL]

Today we leave the towering dunes of the Namib making our way north to Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city located in the center of the country.

There is time to explore the charming city of Windhoek discovering its unique colonial German and African influences and architecture. In the evening we enjoy dinner at one of the local restaurants in this friendly city (own expense).

• Overnight: Guesthouse – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
• Distance/time: 345kms, ± 4½ hours excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch.

Please Note Shorter Tour Option:

The shorter 15-day Livingstone to Windhoek Lodge Tour option ends in Windhoek on the morning of day 15 after breakfast. See the full pricing details for the price of this shorter safari option.

Day 15: KALAHARI [san bushman huts BLD]

We depart from Windhoek driving east towards Botswana.

After crossing into Botswana this safari through southern Africa travels into the heart of the Kalahari Desert where we stay in traditional grass huts overnight.

In the afternoon we take a guided nature walk with a local San Bushmen, learning about these fascinating people and the ancient bush skills that they have developed to survive in this harsh terrain.

• Includes: Nature walk with local San bushman and translator.
• Overnight: Grass huts – very simple twin huts, with shared ablutions, swimming in old quarry.
• Distance/time: 550kms, ± 7½ hours excluding border formalities & stops for sightseeing & lunch.

Day 16 – 18: OKAVANGO DELTA [tented lodge x1 BL] [tented camp x2 BLD]

Set off for Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta where we prepare for our delta trip and stay in permanent tents for the night.

On day 17 we journey deep into the untamed wilderness of the Okavango Delta by Makoro (dugout canoe) poled by locals. The unforgettable Makoro ride brings us to our tented camp set on a remote island in the pristine delta.

For the next 2 nights we stay in the wild delta experiencing the African bush at its best.

Our days in the Okavango Delta are spent enjoying bush walks, swimming in the waterways and spotting the abundant birdlife and various wild animals found in the delta.

The Okavango Delta is a truly wild African safari destination, considered one of the best wildlife areas in Africa. The Okavango system consists of a vast network of winding channels, secluded estuaries and reeded islands making up the largest inland delta in the world.

• Includes: Entrance to Okavango Delta, morning and afternoon game walks with local guides.
• Overnight: Maun: twin permanent tents with shared facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
• 2 nights Okavango Delta: Tented Camp – basic facilities, with bucket showers
• Distance/time: 300km, ± 4½ hours (Kalahari – Maun) Okavango transfer in 4WD ± 2 hour each way.
• Optional Activities: Scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (+/-USD70-90 pp depending on number of people per aircraft)

Day 19: MAKGADIKGADI PANS [permanent tents BL]

From the watery labyrinth of the wild Okavango Delta our African Safari takes us to the barren Makgadikgadi Pans, one of the world’s largest saltpans. The vast open expanse of the dry salt flats was once an enormous lake in the Kalahari basin.

Makgadikgadi is an ideal place to experience open space with the wide African skies and endless pans. We enjoy a spectacular sunset over the solitary flat pans.

The pans are however not always dry. Annual rains fill the pans with pools of water that attract thousands of water birds and herds of zebra, wildebeest and springbok.

• Includes: Entrance fees to Makgadikgadi Pans.
• Overnight: Tented Lodge – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
• Distance/time: 320km, ± 4 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing.

Day 20: CHOBE NATIONAL PARK [chalet BL]

From the vast Makgadikgadi Pans we drive north towards Chobe National Park. Arriving in Kasane we settle into our overnight lodge before venturing into Chobe.

Chobe Park is home to one of the highest concentrations of game in Africa and is famous for its large herds of elephant and buffalo. In the late afternoon we embark on an exciting game viewing boat cruise in Chobe National Park. This sunset boat cruise along the Chobe River provides excellent close up game viewing and birdwatching opportunities.

• Includes: Sunset game viewing boat cruise on the Chobe River.
• Overnight: Chalets - twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
• Distance/time: 300kms, ± 3½ hours excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch.

Day 21: LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA / VICTORIA FALLS [B]

On the last morning of this Namibia & Botswana Budget Lodge Safari we cross back into Zambia. Arriving in Livingstone near Victoria Falls at around noon this budget lodge safari comes to an end.

The 21-Day Victoria Falls to Victoria Falls Lodge Safari is also available as a shorter 15-Day Victoria Falls to Windhoek Lodge Tour at a cheaper tour price.

Highlights on the shorter trip include Victoria Falls, the Caprivi strip, Etosha National Park, Damaraland, Swakopmund & the Namib Desert. See Full Pricing or contact African Budget Safaris.

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