Namibia Desert and Botswana Delta Safari

This 21-day Namibia Desert & Botswana Delta Safari starts and ends in Livingstone at Victoria Falls and combines safari camping and guesthouse accommodation.

This extensive Namibia and Botswana safari visits some of the top African safari destinations, including:

• Caprivi Strip
• Etosha National Park
• Namib Desert – Swakopmund, Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon
• Kalahari Desert
• Okavango Delta
• Chobe National Park
• Brandberg Mountain in Damaraland

The Namibia and Botswana African safari takes you on game viewing drives, bush walks, mokoro boat excursions and sunset cruises in unspoilt wilderness areas of Southern Africa.

Day 1 & 2:  Livingstone – Zambia (Breakfast)

The 21-day Namibia Desert & Botswana Delta Safari starts in Livingstone, on the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls. Victoria Falls, also known as The Smoke that Thunders, is the largest continuous sheet of falling water in the world, plummeting 108 m (360 ft) into the Zambezi River below.

We spend 2 days exploring the mighty Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Considered the adventure capital of Africa, there are numerous exciting activities to choose from at Victoria Falls, including white water rafting, bungi jumping and helicopter flips.

Day 3 & 4: Caprivi – Namibia (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

On day three we leave Livingstone crossing into the Caprivi Strip at Sesheke.
The Caprivi is a narrow strip of land in Namibia extending between Angola, Zambia and Botswana. This region is known for its large rivers that attract a variety of wild animals and birds. We spend two days exploring this remote and scenic area, camping in safari tents.

Day 5: Rundu – Namibia (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

The Caprivi safari camp and surrounds are home to a rich variety of bird species, making for an enjoyable morning of bird watching before we depart for Rundu.

On day five we travel west along the Kavango River passing through African villages with grass huts. We encounter locally made wooden crafts and carvings in these traditional villages. We arrive at our riverside campsite in Rundu in time for a spectacular sunset.

Day 6 & 7: Etosha National Park – Namibia (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Etosha National Park, in the game rich northwest of Namibia covers an area of more than 22 750 sq km. Etosha means 'place of dry water' and is one of Namibia’s top safari game parks, home to a variety of wildlife.

We take safari game drives on the vast open pan in search of elephants, various antelope species and lions that congregate at the waterholes of Etosha. Our camp for the night will be selected to make the most of game viewing opportunities based on animal movements in the area.

Day 8:  Ugab Wilderness – Namibia (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Our next stop is near Namibia’s highest mountain, Brandberg Mountain, in the Damaraland region. We camp beside the dry Ugab River bed, home to rare desert elephants. We explore the mountains in Damaraland on foot with local guides, who take us to see rock art, such as the “White Lady”.

The safari lodge that we camp at in the Ugab wilderness region in 2003 signed a sustainable tourism partnership aimed at benefiting the local community. This partnership benefits the community through employment and sharing a percentage of the income generated by the lodge.

Day 9: Spitzkop – Namibia (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

We journey south through some stunning desert landscapes as we head for Spitzkoppe, where a group of rocky peaks rise up out of the surrounding desert terrain. Spitzkoppe, also referred to as Spitzkop or the Matterhorn of Namibia, is located between Usakos and Swakopmund in the Namib Desert.

We set up camp at the foot of these exposed granite domes, and explore the rugged area on foot. The vastness of this silent desert landscape forms the perfect backdrop for a spectacular sunset.

Day 10 & 11: Swakopmund – Namibia (Breakfast & 1 Lunch)

On day ten we cross flat open plains to the coastline of Namibia, where we visit the Cape Cross seal colony on our way to Swakopmund. The next day is spent in and around the coastal town of Swakopmund, offering a number of adventure activities. The optional activities at Swakopmund are at your own cost and include quad biking and dune boarding. The town has a number of restaurants for dinner, at your own expense.

Day 12 &13: Namib Desert – Namibia (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Leaving Swakopmund we explore the dramatic lunar landscapes surrounding the town and head into the expansive Namib Desert. The Namib Desert is home to a number of unusual plant and animal species as well as boasting the highest sand dunes in the world.

We walk to the Sossusvlei pan and explore the deep Sesriem Canyon witnessing breathtaking sunsets over the towering red dunes.

Day 14: Windhoek – Namibia (Breakfast & Lunch)

We travel to Windhoek, Namibia’s capital city, on day 14. This charming city lies in a scenic basin surrounded by the Eros Mountains, Khomas Highland and Auas mountains. Windhoek is a pleasant blend of African and European cultural influences, owing to its colonial history.

We enjoy a meal out at one of this cosmopolitan city’s restaurants, at your own expense.

Day 15: Kalahari – Botswana (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Crossing into neighbouring Botswana we overnight at a safari camp set in the heart of the Kalahari Desert, one of the largest semi-desert areas in the world. The vast Kalahari Desert was formed over 60 million years ago and covers the western and central regions of Botswana.

The Kalahari is known for the San Bushmen who have lived in the area for about 20,000 thousands years. We take a guided walk with the local San Bushmen to learn bush survival skills from these nomadic hunter-gatherers.

Day 16, 17 & 18: Okavango Delta – Botswana (Breakfast, Lunch & 2 Dinners)

On day 16 we camp overnight in Maun in preparation for our journey deep into the Okavango Delta on Mokoro dugouts canoes. The Okavango Delta is the largest freshwater wetland in Africa and is considered one of the last truly unspoiled wilderness areas in Africa. 

 Our Mokoro trip into the delta takes us through the winding channels of this watery ecosystem on an unforgettable wildlife experience.

For the next two nights we camp in the wild, on remote islands tucked away in the scenic waterways of the Okavango Delta. We enjoy game viewing bush walks, swimming in clear pools and spectacular bird watching in this pristine wetland wilderness area.

Day 19: Makgadikgadi Pans – Botswana (Breakfast & Lunch)

Experience the untamed vastness of Africa under the wide-open skies of the Makgadikgadi Pans.  Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans are the remnants of a vast lake system and are considered the largest saltpans in the world. This flat expanse is covered in grasslands, particularly after the rainy season, attracting thousands of wild animals, including herds of zebra, wildebeest and springbok and a rich variety of birds.

Day 20: Chobe National Park – Botswana (Breakfast & Lunch)

We travel north through the Chobe Forest Reserve to the village of Kasane where we set up camp for the night. Chobe National Park, Botswana’s second largest National Park, is famous for its high concentrations of game, especially elephants and buffalo.

Chobe is renowned for offering some of the best boat based game viewing in the world. In the afternoon we get to experience an exciting game viewing boat cruise on the Chobe River.

Day 21: Victoria Falls & Livingstone – Zambia (Breakfast)

On the last morning of the 21-day Namibia Desert & Botswana Delta Safari we transfer to Livingstone on the Zambian side of the mighty Victoria Falls where the tour ends.