Luxury Namibia & Botswana safari

Experience the best of Namibia & Botswana in luxury

Our 14-day Luxury Namibia & Botswana safari is all about luxurious accommodation and activities in the most prominent locations in the two beautiful African countries. Our safari start with Sossusvlei, home to some of the highest dunes on Earth, where after you will spend two nights in Swakopmund on Namibia’s Skeleton Coast.
Next up is Damaraland, home to Namibia’s tallest peak, Brandberg, and the rocky mountains that support the majority of our species that has adapted to live in the desert. Our next destination is the wildlife-rich Etosha National Park, which has a variety of waterholes to explore. We’ll spend the next three nights in Etosha and then travel to our Caprivi region to see Bwabwata National Park.

A striking difference between the warm and lush region of Namibia’s south and the dry, arid region. Then, we’ll enjoy a flight over the Moremi Game Reserve and the Delta to end our adventure on a high note. The Okavango Delta, which covers an area of more than 15,000 square kilometers, is the largest inland delta in the world. At Maun International Airport, your tour will come to an end.

Day 1: Windhoek to Desert Homestead Lodge, Sossusvlei
Upon arrival your Nature Travel Namibia Tour Guide will meet you at the arrival’s hall and escort you to the awaiting vehicle. We will not waste too much time before departing on a 6-7 hour journey to the south of Namibia where some of the world’s highest dunes are located. We will enjoy dinner under the Namib stars and have an early night. Tomorrow we rise before the sun to visit the Namib-Naukluft Park.

Sossusvlei is where you will find the iconic red sand dunes of the Namib. The clear blue skies contrast with the giant red sand dunes to make this one of the natural wonders of Africa and a photographer’s heaven. Aside from the attractions at Sossusvlei – Dune 45, Hiddenvlei, Big Daddy and Deadvlei – other attractions in the area include the Sesriem Canyon and Namib-Naukluft National Park, where the mountains of the Namib meet its plains.

Day 2: Strand Hotel Swakopmund, Swakopmund
We’re off to an early start this morning before sunrise with a breakfast on the go. We will explore Sossusvlei, Deadvlei, and, if time permits, climb Big Daddy dune during our morning tour to the park. Following our picnic lunch, we will travel to the coastal town of Swakopmund by way of the northwest. Enroute, we’ll pause at Solitaire for a coffee and some of Namibia’s well-known apple pie. By late afternoon, we will arrive at our destination and enjoy dinner at one of the best restaurants Swakopmund has to offer.

Dead Vlei:
This ancient clay pan was once an oasis, studded with acacias and fed by a river that suddenly changed course, leaving the earth to dry up along with the trees it previously supported. So dry were the climatic conditions that the trees never decomposed – instead they were entirely leached of moisture so that today, 900 years later, they remain as desiccated, blackened sentinels dotting the pan’s cracked surface. Surrounded by the red-pink dunes of the Namibia Desert, they create a surreal spectacle that is a photographer’s dream.

Sossusvlei:
Sossusvlei is where you will find the iconic red sand dunes of the Namib. The clear blue skies contrast with the giant red sand dunes to make this one of the natural wonders of Africa and a photographer’s heaven. Aside from the attractions at Sossusvlei – Dune 45, Hiddenvlei, Big Daddy and Deadvlei – other attractions in the area include the Sesriem Canyon and Namib-Naukluft National Park, where the mountains of the Namib meet its plains.

Solitaire:
Situated in the Khomas region of Central Namibia, the town of Solitaire serves as an oasis in the Namib Desert. There is not much to do or see in the small village of Solitaire, but it nevertheless, it is an important stop on the way to the ancient dunes of Sossusvlei as it provides the only petrol station, general store and post office between Sossusvlei and Walvis Bay. Solitaire also has a small bar and is renowned for its famous apple pie- said to be the best in Namibia.

Day 3: Strand Hotel Swakopmund, Swakopmund
Today you have a day at leisure to participate in various activities the coast has to offer.

Day 4: Mowani Mountain Camp, Twyfelfontein
Today we can have a leisurely breakfast at the hotel before we make our way north to Damaraland. En-route we will pass the small settlement of Wlotzkabaken followed by Henties Bay and a stop at one of the shipwrecks on the Skeleton Coast. We will be able to see Brandberg, Namibia’s highest mountain and Spitzkoppe, the most photographed mountain in Namibia due to it’s size & shape. Better known as the “Matterhorn of Namibia”. We will reach our lodge in the afternoon and should time permit we can visit one of the geographical sites in this area or search for desert adapted elephants.

Twyfelfontein:
Set in the Kunene Region of northwestern Namibia, Twyfelfontein is a spectacularly scenic area, featuring one of the largest and most important concentrations of rock art in Africa. The name ‘Twyfelfontein’ translates to ‘Fountain of Doubt’, which refers to the perennial spring situated in the impressive Huab Valley flanked by the slopes of a sandstone table mountain. It was this spring that attracted Stone Age hunters over six thousand years ago, and it was during this time that the extensive group of rock engravings and paintings were produced.

Day 5: Etosha Safari Lodge Gondwana Collection Namibia, Etosha South
This morning we have an exciting day as we make our way to Etosha National Park. But not before our NTN guide takes a de-tour through the dry river beds in search of desert adapted wildlife that frequents this harsh environment. If we are lucky, we will see some Desert Elephants – a true highlight! Upon arrival at our lodge outside the entrance gate to Etosha, we will enjoy an ice cold refreshment and soak in the nature that surrounds us. We will enjoy a scrumptious dinner together and discuss our upcoming game viewing for the next 2 days.

Etosha South:
Located just south of the boundary of Etosha National Park in North-western Namibia, Etosha South makes up the southern region of this wild paradise. The national park can be accessed via the southern entrance at Andersson’s Gate. Visitors can catch a glimpse of a variety of wildlife including: lion, giraffe, elephant, white and black rhino, and a multitude of plains game.

Day 6: Etosha Safari Lodge Gondwana Collection Namibia, Etosha South
We will enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in Etosha today, returning to our lodge in the heat of the day for lunch and to relax. Your guide will decide, with your input as to your fauna and flora sighting preferences, what the best routes will be to follow. All our guides know Etosha intimately and will make sure you see all that this great African wildlife park has to offer.

Day 7: Mushara Outpost, Etosha East
We have another full day to enjoy Etosha today, but we will also slowly make our way to the eastern side of the park, where we will overnight outside the park. Tonight we will again sit around a fire after dinner, chat about the day’s sightings and enjoy another spectacular African night sky.

Etosha East:
Located in North-western Namibia, Etosha East is a protected sanctuary in the eastern part of the world-renowned Etosha National Park, known as one of the most accessible game reserves in Southern Africa. Etosha East boasts vast open plains scattered with semi-arid savannah grasslands dotted with watering holes and secluded bush camps. An impressive 5000-square-kilometre Etosha salt pan makes up a large area of the eastern side of the park and can even be seen from space. This remote area teems with abundant wildlife such as lions, elephants, black rhinos and giraffes, as well as a variety of birdlife featuring flamingos, ostriches, eagles, hornbills, and owls.

Day 8: Divava Okavango Resort & Spa, Divundu
We have a lengthy trek to Caprivi West ahead of us today. Tonight, our lodge is located on the Okavango River’s banks. To get some fresh air and look for local animals and bird species, we can go around the walking trails within the resort grounds. We shall have a pleasant night’s sleep after the day’s journey while listening to the sound of hippos on the lodge balcony after dinner.

Divundu:
Set roughly 200 kilometres east of Rundu on the southeastern banks of the great Okavango River, the small village of Divundu is a wonderful destination from which to explore the river, game parks and national reserves of the area. Visitors can enjoy fishing or bird watching boat safaris, or visit the Mahango Game Park, which is home to herds of elephant as well as hippo, buffalo, giraffes, antelope, and many other animals. The spectacular Popa Falls, a dramatic series of cascades – are a popular must-see attraction. Divundu is also the perfect base for adventures in Botswana and the Okavango Delta.

Day 9: Divava Okavango Resort & Spa, Divundu
Today we will have a full day of exploring Bwabwata National Park with an Okavango Boat Cruise included for this afternoon.

Bwabwata National Park:
Stretching over 6200 square kilometres in northeast Namibia, the Bwabwata National Park includes the Caprivi Game Park and the Mahango Game Reserve which extends along the narrow Caprivi strip. The park functions as a wildlife sanctuary and practices community-engaged conservation, which visitors can take part in. It has been dubbed the ‘People’s Park’, as the local Caprivian people live in harmony with the land and the animals. With an ever-growing wildlife population, the park is home to many animals including elephant, leopard, lion, buffalo, wildebeest, crocodile, and red lechwe. Avid birdwatchers will be thrilled to find over 330 bird species in the area. Visitors can look forward to excellent game viewing, boat safaris, nature walks and camping under the brilliantly clear Namibian night sky.

Boat Safari:
Discover the Okavango River and its surroundings on one of Divava Okavango’s boat cruises.
Explore the river on either a small or large boat, heading down stream where you will see Hippo, Crocodile, an enormous variety of Birdlife and much more! The guide will tell you everything you wish to know about the amazing nature and wildlife in and around the river.
Just before sundown the cruise will head up stream from the Resort, to the Popa Falls to watch the sunset with some refreshments and snacks.

Day 10: Nxamaseri Island Lodge, Okavango Panhandle
We will journey across the border to the Okavango Panhandle, where your guide will drive gently through the Mahango National Park—home to numerous herds of buffalo and elephants—will be an interesting one today.
Your tour guide will deliver you to your Panhandle lodging before returning to Windhoek. You will go by plane from this point on. Arrive at your lodge and participate in your first activity the lodge has to offer.

Okavango Delta:
Situated in the northwestern area of the Okavango Delta, the Panhandle is a stretch of the Okavango River that follows a more-or-less straight course for approximately 70 kilometres before entering the wetlands. This deep channel serves as the main water source feeding the delta and offers excellent tiger and bream fishing, while the surrounding woodlands and the river’s shallow waters teem with a myriad of birds. The Okavango Panhandle is dotted with several villages and serves as a gateway to the scenic Tsodilo Hills, some 40 kilometres west, with their various tribal cave paintings, some dating back as far as 20 000 years. Visitors can enjoy excellent fishing, first-class birding, boating on the Okavango River and game viewing in the Mahangu National Park.

Mokoro Excursions:
Guided mokoro excursions in traditional dug out canoes. Guests experience the shallower channels and floodplains of the Okavango Delta.

Day 11: Nxamaseri Island Lodge, Okavango Panhandle
You will spend the entire day exploring one of Southern Africa’s most significant biological sites with the help of the lodge guides. The Panhandle is a haven for birdwatchers and even anglers because of its deep blue river channels and tall reeds.
Tonight you will have dinner while listing to Africa’s 2nd largest owl – Pel’s Fishing Owl .

Day 12: Camp Moremi, Moremi Game Reserve
After breakfast you will embark on a short scenic flight over the Delta en-route to your next camp, Camp Moremi, located in the Moremi Game Reserve where the wildlife is dense and abundant.
After your arrival you will enjoy lunch before participating in your first Moremi activity.

Moremi Game Reserve:
Situated in the east of the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve ranks as one of the most beautiful reserves in Africa. It covers more than 4871 square kilometres of pristine wilderness, and this varied terrain includes savannah, winding waterways, and dense forest. The diverse ecosystem supports an incredibly wide spectrum of wildlife, ranging from large herds of buffalo, wildebeest and zebra, to the rare sitatunga and lechwe antelope, lion, cheetah and packs of wild dog in the open grasslands. The birdlife is prolific and includes most of the 550 bird species recorded on Botswana’s national bird list. A range of luxury lodges in the reserve offers visitors the perfect base to experience this corner of paradise.

Day 13: Camp Moremi, Moremi Game Reserve
Today will be dedicated to exploring the Moremi Game Reserve by vehicle & boat cruises.
A startling diversity of fauna, birds, and landscapes, including papyrus rivers, acacia woods, floodplains, lagoons reminiscent of fairy tales, and mopane woodlands. No other location in Africa has the smooth fusion of so many habitats.

Camp Moremi game drives:
Guest activities include morning and afternoon game drives throughout the many different ecosystems that the Moremi Game Reserve has to offer. The Moremi Game Reserve is renowned for exceptional wildlife sightings including lion, leopard, wild dog, elephant and exceptional general game.

Camp Moremi motorised boating trips:
Explore the Xakanaxa Lagoon and its surrounding channels by boat for a chance to enjoy the picturesque waters of the Okavango Delta, with its kaleidoscope of birdlife.

Day 14: End of safari
After breakfast, you will embark your plane and make your way to Maun International Airport for your departure flight home.

For more information contact the Nature Travel Namibia team at info@naturetravelnamibia.com