Namibia & Botswana Safari Adventures - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Windhoek (Namibia), Optional Activities

Welcome to Namibia! This country sits just above South Africa on the continent's west coast and has much to recommend it. The nation is home to the Namib Desert, which at 80 million years old is the world's oldest desert (Namibia literally translates to "the land of open spaces"). It also has large conservation areas, a massive collection of ancient petroglyphs, and some of the largest sand dunes in the world—all of which you'll see shortly!

You'll arrive in Windhoek, the capital of the country. On the ride to your hotel, you'll notice right off that the city has a distinctly European feel due to its German colonial legacy. After checking in, you can spend the rest of the day exploring Windhoek's tranquil streets, strolling past Gothic churches, leafy parks, and imposing fortresses. Must-see historical sites include the almost gingerbread structure of Christuskirche (Christ Church) and the Tintenpalast (Ink Palace), now the Namibian parliament building. When you're hungry, you can stop for a braai (barbecue) at a local restaurant. 

Day 2: Fly to Sossusvlei & Namib-Naukluft National Park

Your driver will take you back to the airport this morning, and you'll catch a quick flight to Sossusvlei, a red desert region located approximately 242 miles (390 km) southwest of Windhoek. Sit back and enjoy the scenery from above as you make your approach over the sweeping desert landscapes.

Eventually, you'll arrive in Namib-Naukluft National Park. At 19,215 square miles (49,768 sq km), this is the largest conservation area in the country. Among other wonders, it's home to the iconic red dunes of Namibia, which are a photographer's dream. These distinctive dunes rise up to 1,300 feet (400 m), making them some of the highest in the world. They're particularly attractive around sunrise and sunset. Snap some photos as your driver takes you to your luxury tented accommodations at Dead Valley Lodge, where you can settle in with dinner and a spectacular desert sunset.

Day 3: Morning Balloon Ride, Sossusvlei Activities

Rise and shine! It's an early start, as you'll leave the lodge before dawn for a hot-air balloon ride. It begins with the transfer to the launch site in the desert. There, you'll hop in the basket and take to the skies, enjoying sunrise views of the iconic red dunes of Sossusvlei. Waiting for you back on terra firma is a champagne breakfast, during which you can toast the flight and your epic journey through Namibia.

Afterward, spend the day exploring the highlights of Namib-Naukluft National Park. A fun activity is climbing Big Daddy, one of Sossusvlei's tallest dunes. You can also hike around Deadvlei, a salt claypan dotted with ancient trees. For a more extravagant outing, opt for a scenic flight. There's fascinating wildlife here, too. Get lucky, and you might spot an oryx, springbok, ostrich, or one of the many reptiles like chameleons and the leopard tortoise. After exploring the area and glimpsing the wildlife, you'll return to your desert lodge for another night among the dunes.

Day 4: Fly to Etosha National Park, Ongava Game Drive

This morning, you'll board a small plane for the flight north to Etosha National Park. Namibia's premier wildlife sanctuary is located in the Kunene region and spans 8,600 square miles (22,270 sq km). It's one of Africa's largest national parks, celebrated for its diverse landscapes, abundant wildlife, and shimmering salt pans. The park's wooded savannas and open plains offer excellent wildlife viewing year-round, and it's a prime spot for safaris.

You'll experience the wonders of Etosha soon enough—for now, a driver will pick you up at the airstrip for the ride to neighboring Ongava. At 125 square miles (323 sq km), this is one of the largest private game reserves in Namibia. Once here, you'll hop in an open-topped safari vehicle for a thrilling safari.

Over a few hours exploring the plains and woodlands, you'll witness an astonishing variety of wildlife. These include lions, black and white rhinos, elephants, giraffes, and several species of antelope, including the rare black-faced impala. Afterward, you'll transfer to your accommodations at the luxurious Ongava Lodge, located within the reserve.

Day 5: Etosha National Park Game Drive

Return to Etosha National Park this morning for a full day of safari fun. Etosha is known by the Indigenous Ovambo people as "the great white place" for its 1,900-square-mile (4,920 sq km) salt pan, which is visible from space. During the dry season (May-Oct), sparse watering holes dot this pan, drawing various animals and birdlife looking for a refreshing drink. Set off with your guide in search of the park's iconic wildlife residents, which include plains game like gazelles and antelopes, two kinds of zebras, big cats, colorful birdlife, and even endangered black rhinos.

Day 6: Morning Game Drive, Fly to Windhoek

Today, you'll say goodbye to Etosha—but not before another thrilling game drive. Hop back in the open-topped safari vehicle this morning to marvel at more wildlife, which includes hundreds of lions and giraffes, plus thousands of elephants. After the game drive, you'll return to the airstrip for the one-hour flight back to Windhoek. A driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your guesthouse. After settling in, take the rest of the day to relax and enjoy dinner in town.

Day 7: Fly to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), Sunset Cruise

Bid farewell to Namibia as you head to the airport in the morning to catch a 1.5-hour flight to Victoria Falls. This charming town in western Zimbabwe serves as a gateway to the iconic waterfall of the same name, which is also the largest falls in the world. Upon arrival, you'll transfer to your hotel, where you can settle in and relax.

Later in the afternoon, head to the jetty and jump on a boat for a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River, the fourth-longest river in Africa. Relax with local wines, beers, soft drinks, and snacks while you watch the sun slowly set around you. Before it gets too dark, you can spot abundant wildlife along the shores, like elephants, hippos, and crocodiles. 

Day 8: Victoria Falls Tour, Helicopter Ride, Dinner & Drum Show

This morning you're off to see Victoria Falls from both the land and the air. It begins when you meet your driver and hit the road toward the falls. Before arriving, you'll stop at the Big Tree, a towering baobab tree over a thousand years old and with a circumference of 72 feet (22 m).

Continue to the David Livingstone statue, dedicated to the Scottish missionary who named the falls after Queen Victoria. Finally, you'll arrive at the astonishing waterfall, where you'll embark on a brisk 1.8-mile (3 km) hike through the rainforest, stopping at various viewpoints along the way. Enjoy the best vistas of Victoria Falls when you reach Danger Point. From here, you'll be treated to unobstructed views of the river plunging over the edge, forming the world's largest curtain of falling water.

After an up-close look at the falls, you'll get a bird's-eye view with a 12-minute helicopter ride. Rise above the river and watch as the cascading water plummets into the deep gorge below. Dinner this evening will be served at the outdoor patio of a local restaurant, accompanied by a dinner and drum show. This wildly fun spectacle involves a four-course Zimbabwean meal paired with nonstop entertainment and interactive drum performances featuring traditional song and dance.

Day 9: Transfer to Chobe National Park (Botswana)

Your driver will pick you up this morning for the one-hour ride west into Botswana and Chobe National Park. This 12,597-square-mile (11,700 sq m) reserve is the first national park in Botswana (it was created in 1967) and is famous for its 100,000 Kalahari elephants that congregate near the Chobe River. You'll arrive at the ridgetop Chobe Elephant Camp, a comfy and eco-friendly safari lodge that overlooks the river and fertile floodplains below. After checking in, you can spend the rest of the day enjoying park activities. Game drives are a popular option, as are safari boat cruises down the Chobe River.

Day 10: Chobe National Park Game Drive

Get ready for a half-day game drive to see the exotic animals that call Chobe home. After breakfast, you'll hop in an open-topped safari vehicle and explore Chobe's remarkable ecosystems, which include marshland, swamps, rivers, and dry savanna. These are havens for a wide variety of wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, wildebeests, leopards, and even lions. Morning is a great time to see them, as that's when many animals are at their most active.

Day 11: Fly to Okavango Delta, Afternoon Game Drive

At the appropriate time, say your goodbyes to Chobe and transfer to Kasane Airport, where you'll take a one-hour charter flight to the Okavango Delta. The remote Okavango ecosystem is interesting in that it's an inland river delta that, rather than emptying into an ocean, dissipates at an inland basin in northern Botswana. During seasonal flooding, these grassy plains turn into wetlands that are a haven for exotic wildlife.

Upon arrival, you'll transfer Okuti, a luxury tented lodge right on the plains. Then, hop in a 4WD vehicle with your expert guide and head off into the delta wetlands. Because of Okavango's remote location, there are very few safari vehicles in the area. That means you'll have a more intimate experience and enjoy the wildlife and scenery without mass tourist crowds. Each game drive is an adventure, as you traverse narrow wooden bridges and splash through shallow crossings in your open-topped safari vehicle.

Set out in search of the delta's diverse wildlife, including rare antelope species like the elegant red lechwe. Look for apex predators like lions, cheetahs, leopards, and African wild dogs as you scan the open woodlands for sable antelopes, giraffes, and zebras. On the edges of the delta, marvel at herds of elephants bathing in the shallow channels. You can also opt to continue the adventure into the night. These nocturnal wildlife encounters allow you to glimpse other rare animals, like the armored pangolin. After the safari, you'll return to your lodge.

Day 12: Okavango Guided Safari Walk

Today, you'll eschew the 4WD vehicles and instead join your expert guide for a memorable safari bush walk. As you follow the paths and trails through the wetlands, your guide will reveal the fundamentals of animal tracking. In doing so, you'll learn to identify certain animals just by their footprint, whether that print is in the soil or grass. You'll also learn to interpret the sights and sounds of the bush as you sample wild herbs and learn about the medicinal uses of native plants.

Besides the exotic land animals, during this walk you'll be well-positioned to observe the delta's magnificent birdlife. Spot the rare go-away bird, the iridescent lilac-breasted roller, the brown snake eagle, and the grey-headed kingfisher. After the walk, you'll return to the lodge and have the afternoon free.

Day 13: Fly to Johannesburg (South Africa), Optional Activities

Return to the airstrip this morning, where you'll board a 1.5-hour flight to Johannesburg, South Africa's biggest city. A driver will meet you at the airport terminal and transfer you to your hotel to refresh. When you're ready, you can spend your penultimate day in Africa exploring on your own. An excellent place to start is the Apartheid Museum to learn about the country's turbulent history of racial segregation. Browse the multimedia displays, artifacts, photographs, and personal accounts to gain insight into the apartheid era and its lasting impact on locals. 

You can also visit the UNESCO-listed Cradle of Humankind, located 50 minutes outside the city. Explore this ancient archaeological site (which dates back some three million years), where the remains of ancient hominids and other prehistoric creatures have been unearthed. Join a guided tour of the underground cave system and stop at the Maropeng Visitors Centre to see some of the artifacts found here. In the evening, return to the city and head to the Maboneng Precinct, a trendy neighborhood known for its hip cafés, restaurants, and bars, for dinner and a drink.

Day 14: Depart Johannesburg

Enjoy one more breakfast at the hotel before meeting your driver for the ride back to the Johannesburg airport. There, you'll catch your flight home or onward to the next adventure. Come back soon!

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