- Sabi Sands Game Reserve

18-Day Namibia & Botswana (Best of Both)

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Lace up, pocket the binos and pull down your pith helmet - we're going on safari. Serious safari, so on second thoughts you'd better lose the pith helmet. This 18-day safari combines the best of Namibia with the best of Botswana and gives you the opportunity to visit the spectacular Victoria Falls. Botswana is no-frills wildlife country where game reserves account for one fifth of the country - that's an area the size of Iceland.

Tour Summary

You'll go to Botswana, Namibia & Zimbabwe

You'll visit Namib-Naukluft NP, Swakopmund (City), Palmwag (Damaraland), Etosha NP, Okavango River, Chobe NP, Victoria Falls, Makgadikgadi Pans NP, Okavango Delta & Kalahari Desert

This tour starts and ends in Windhoek - Getting there

Tour Features

Mid-range tour

This mid-range tour uses lodges and guest houses.

Self-drive tour

Drive a vehicle yourself and travel without a tour guide. Rental vehicle is included.

Can start any day

If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.

Cannot be customized

The accommodations and destinations of this tour cannot be changed.

Not for solo travelers

Solo travelers cannot book this private tour.

Minimum age of 2 years

The minimum age for this tour is 2 years.

Activities & Transportation

Activities: game drives

Game drives: normal 4x4 vehicle & self-drive

Getting around: self-drive & normal 4x4 vehicle

Book your own international flights when using this operator help

A transfer from and back to the airport is included

Accommodation & Meals

Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost

Day	Accommodation	Meals
1	Utopia Boutique Hotel Mid-range hotel in or near Windhoek (Namibia)	Breakfast Included
2-3	Sossusvlei Lodge Mid-range lodge bordering Namib-Naukluft NP (Namibia) without fences	All Meals Included
4-5	Cornerstone Guesthouse Mid-range guest house in or near Swakopmund (Namibia)	Breakfast Included
6	Palmwag lodge Mid-range lodge inside Palmwag (Damaraland, Namibia)	All Meals Included
7	Etosha Village Mid-range lodge just outside Etosha NP (Namibia)	Breakfast & Dinner Included
8	Mokuti Etosha Lodge Mid-range lodge just outside Etosha NP (Namibia)	Breakfast & Dinner Included
9-10	Shametu River Lodge Mid-range lodge in or near Okavango River (Botswana)	All Meals Included
11-12	River View Lodge Kasane Mid-range lodge on the crater rim of Chobe NP (Botswana)	All Meals Included
13	The Victoria Falls Hotel Luxury hotel in or near Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)	All Meals Included
14	Nata Lodge Mid-range lodge just outside Makgadikgadi Pans NP (Botswana)	All Meals Included
15-16	Thamalakane River Lodge Mid-range lodge in or near Thamalakane (Maun, Botswana)	All Meals Included
17	Kalahari Bush Breaks Mid-range lodge in or near Kalahari Desert	All Meals Included
18	End of tour (No accommodation)	Meals at Own Expense

Next:Day by Day

Arrival

(See Getting there for more details)

You'll be collected from the airport.
Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Day 1 Windhoek

Our driver will meet you at the airport. The drive into Windhoek takes around 40 minutes, so you can relax and enjoy the scenery on the way to your first destination. You stay at the Utopia Boutique Hotel. In the centre of the hustle and bustle of Klein Windhoek, Utopia is a peaceful and shady garden retreat. Our local representative will meet you at the hotel this afternoon to go through your itinerary with you, hand over your comprehensive tour file, and answer any questions you may have about the adventure ahead.

Main Destination:	Windhoek (Namibia)
Accommodation:	Utopia Boutique Hotel Mid-range hotel located in or near Windhoek
Meals & Drinks:	Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included) Drinks not included

Day 2 Sossusvlei

After a good night’s rest we recommend rising early for a 5 hour drive to Sossusvlei. Arrive in time for lunch at Sossusvlei Lodge and in the late afternoon you can watch the shadows lengthen as your guide takes you out to a panoramic location where sundowner drinks will be served as you relax and watch the spectacular sunset. The inner tranquillity that a desert sunset imparts while you sit amongst nature is really something special. Situated at the Entrance Gate to the Namib Naukluft Park, Sossusvlei Lodge offers direct access to the towering red sand dunes, the famous pan of Sossusvlei, the scorched black trees of Dead Vlei and the remarkable depths of the Sesriem Canyon.

Main Destination:	Namib-Naukluft National Park (Namibia)
Best Time to Visit May to September (Less hot) High Season July to November (Busy and high rates apply) Best Weather May to September (Cooler during the day) Wildlife in Namib-Naukluft National Park (Namibia) Leopard Rare Zebra Rare Hyena Rare White Rhino None Black Rhino None Lion None Elephant None Giraffe None Cheetah None Buffalo None Wildebeest None Hippo None Wild Dog None
Accommodation:	Sossusvlei Lodge Mid-range lodge bordering Namib-Naukluft NP without fences
Meals & Drinks:	All meals included Drinks not included

Day 3 Sossusvlei

Sesriem gate opens at sunrise. Wake up early and enjoy a hearty breakfast. Put your camera to work at Dune 45 and Dead Vlei – an enormous clay pan dotted with fossilized trees and flanked by sand dunes that stand out stark against the sky. Recommended Activities • Explore the natural wonders of the Namib-Naukluft Park • Take on Dune 45 or Big Daddy and marvel at the beauty of Sossusvlei from a higher vantage point • Explore the remarkable depths and incredible history of Sesriem Canyon • Enjoy the wonders of stargazing under the magnificent African night sky.

Main Destination:	Namib-Naukluft National Park (Namibia)
Accommodation:	Sossusvlei Lodge Mid-range lodge bordering Namib-Naukluft NP without fences
Meals & Drinks:	All meals included Drinks not included

Day 4 Swakopmund

After breakfast you will drive towards the lovely town of Swakopmund, approx. 6 hours. Stop in Solitaire, an aptly named cross-roads settlement with a service station, hotel and a small shop famous for its apple strüdel and home-made bread. You can admire the Kuiseb and Guab passes amazing landscape and breath-taking views as if brought directly from some fiction movie. You will overnight at Cornerstone Guesthouse, a small, private and peaceful bed and breakfast within walking distance to the seafront and the town centre of Swakopmund.

Main Destination:	Swakopmund (Namibia)
Accommodation:	Cornerstone Guesthouse Mid-range guest house located in or near Swakopmund
Meals & Drinks:	Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included) Drinks not included

Day 5 Swakopmund

Early this morning you will experience the amazing riches of the Atlantic Ocean, and also enjoy the friendly and fun cruise. You will see an abundance of bird and mammal life, pelicans and seals up close and delight in the sea air, great food with fresh oysters and Sparkling Wine. Swakopmund is the culinary capital of Namibia. Walvis Bay and Swakopmund are popular coastal towns offering a large diversity in terms of gastronomic delights. Optional Activities • Sand boarding, quad-biking, wind-surfing, sailing, sky-diving or paragliding • Take a stroll through the centre of Swakopmund and admire the historical buildings • Take to the dunes and beaches atop a horse or camel on a guided tour just outside Swakopmund • Go on a cultural township tour through Mondesa or Kuisebmond.

Main Destination:	Swakopmund (Namibia)
Accommodation:	Cornerstone Guesthouse Mid-range guest house located in or near Swakopmund
Meals & Drinks:	Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included) Drinks not included

Day 6 Palmwag

Today, you will say goodbye to the coast. You will drive along the Skeleton Coast and stop at Cape Cross where you will arrive at the amazing spectacle of the 288,888 Cape Fur Seals. Your journey will continue inland to the camera-friendly Damaraland region of Namibia with massive granite inselbergs and dolerite dykes carved into fantasy shapes by the wind. Approx. 5/6 hours driving. On the way, you may also visit The Living Museum of the Damara close to Twyfelfontein. The possibility to experience the traditional Damara culture in this form exists nowhere else in Namibia or in the world. This evening at 18:00, please attend the Rhino Tracking briefing in the main restaurant. Palmwag Lodge is nestled between huge Makalani palms and Mopane trees.

Main Destination:	Palmwag (Damaraland, Namibia)
Best Time to Visit May to September (Animals are easier to see) High Season July to November (Some places can get quite busy) Best Weather May to August (Less hot during the day) Wildlife in Palmwag (Damaraland, Namibia) Elephant Occasional Giraffe Rare Black Rhino Rare Lion Very Rare Leopard Very Rare Zebra Rare Cheetah Very Rare Hyena Very Rare White Rhino None Buffalo None Wildebeest None Hippo None Wild Dog None
Accommodation:	Palmwag lodge Mid-range lodge located inside Palmwag
Meals & Drinks:	All meals included Drinks not included

Day 7 Etosha South

Early this morning before departing for Etosha - You will depart on a Rhino tracking excursion, guided by a qualified guide from Palmwag Lodge. After lunch you will drive to Namibia’s premier wildlife viewing destination, Etosha National Park approximately 4 hours. Your stay is at Taleni Etosha Village. Situated only 2km from the Andersson entrance gate to Etosha National Park, Etosha Village combines affordability with comfort & style. Uniquely positioned amid an indigenous Mopane forest, the accommodation units ensure maximum privacy and tranquillity.

Main Destination:	Etosha National Park (Namibia)
Best Time to Visit July to September (Animals come to water) High Season July to November (The park gets crowded) Best Weather May to August (Less hot during the day) Wildlife in Etosha National Park (Namibia) Elephant Abundant Giraffe Common Zebra Abundant Wildebeest Abundant Lion Occasional Hyena Occasional White Rhino Very Rare Black Rhino Rare Leopard Very Rare Cheetah Very Rare Buffalo None Hippo None Wild Dog None
Accommodation:	Etosha Village Mid-range lodge located just outside Etosha NP
Meals & Drinks:	Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included) Drinks not included

Day 8 Etosha East

Pack your belongings because an impressive 5000-square-kilometre Etosha salt pan awaits you. The 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. Mokuti Lodge is located on its own private 4 000 hectare nature reserve, which shares a common border with this impressive wildlife reserve. This intimate lodge offers the Tambuti Dining Room and Marula Bar, the Pool Bar and Terrace, two tennis courts, a spa, a gym and the only open air African Boma in the area. Today your lunch is not included as you may want to stop at one of the camps inside the park on your own time.

Main Destination:	Etosha National Park (Namibia)
Accommodation:	Mokuti Etosha Lodge Mid-range lodge located just outside Etosha NP
Meals & Drinks:	Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included) Drinks not included

Day 9 Okavango East

After your fill of elephants, lions, hyenas, large antelope and many other interesting animals, its time to head off, for yet more spectacular safari action this time in the Caprivi wetlands and a complete contrast to the parched plains and shimmering pans of Etosha. About 6 hours driving. At Shametu River Lodge you will enjoy luxurious solitude on the edge of the Okavango river. Late afternoon you will glide gently downstream and watch the hippo frolic in the water while you try to spot the shy crocodile lurking in the reeds. You will experience the tranquility of the Kavango River and all the secrets it hold on an afternoon boat cruise.

Main Destination:	Okavango River (Botswana)
Accommodation:	Shametu River Lodge Mid-range lodge located in or near Okavango River
Meals & Drinks:	All meals included Drinks not included

Day 10 Okavango East

The Mahango park is home to numerous game. Herds of elephants and buffalos can be observed, hippos and crocodiles. Some spots are suitable for leaving the car and explore smaller areas by foot. Please be careful when walking around! Remarkable are the numerous, very large Baobab trees in the park.

Main Destination:	Okavango River (Botswana)
Accommodation:	Shametu River Lodge Mid-range lodge located in or near Okavango River
Meals & Drinks:	All meals included Drinks not included

Day 11 Chobe River Front

This morning you will leave an oasis, but you can look forward to the 5 hour drive with an abundance of wild life, the lush and green landscape and the impressive culture of the “Caprivians” and much more. You will leave Namibian and drive into Botswana. Chobe Game Reserve is a true wildlife paradise and one of the best national parks in Southern Africa. You will reside at River View Lodge Kasane, a private lodge situated on the banks of the beautiful Chobe River in Botswana. The perfect setting for that true African get-away, River View Lodge is an oasis of tranquillity right on the doorstep of some of Southern Africa’s finest natural sights. Tonight you can enjoy dinner on the Chobe River.

Main Destination:	Chobe National Park (Botswana)
Best Time to Visit August to October (Best at the riverfront area) High Season July to October (The park gets crowded) Best Weather May to August (Less hot during the day) Wildlife in Chobe National Park (Botswana) Elephant Abundant Giraffe Common Lion Common Buffalo Abundant Zebra Abundant Hippo Abundant Hyena Common Leopard Occasional Cheetah Occasional Wildebeest Occasional Wild Dog Rare White Rhino None Black Rhino None
Accommodation:	River View Lodge Kasane Mid-range lodge located on the crater rim of Chobe NP
Meals & Drinks:	All meals included Drinks not included

Day 12 Chobe River Lodge

Today you have a full day to experience a guided or self-drive game drive in the Chobe National Park where you’ll have a chance to see hippos and crocodiles basking in the sun, plus herds of elephants and an abundance of other wildlife and birdlife. This diversity of habitats provides a sanctuary to an astonishing array of African wildlife. In addition to spotting Chobe's great pachyderm herds, you are likely to spot lion, leopard, hyena, wild dog, impala, waterbuck, kudu, zebra, wildebeest giraffe, and warthog. Enjoy this full day exploring the park either guided or self-drive.

Main Destination:	Chobe National Park (Botswana)
Accommodation:	River View Lodge Kasane Mid-range lodge located on the crater rim of Chobe NP
Meals & Drinks:	All meals included Drinks not included

Day 13 Victoria Falls

The main attraction and number one reason to visit this unique destination - The Victoria Falls – Nature’s Masterpiece. One of Africa’s premier destinations for world travellers for more than a century and it evokes all the romance and awe of the explorers' era. The waters of the Zambezi River plunge over the sheer edge of a chasm with an indescribable roar. Victoria Falls is a must-see-in-your lifetime experience. The Victoria Falls Hotel overlooks the magnificent Batoka Gorge with the Victoria Falls with only a 10-minute walk away through the hotel’s path.

Main Destination:	Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)
Accommodation:	The Victoria Falls Hotel Luxury hotel located in or near Victoria Falls
Meals & Drinks:	All meals included Drinks not included

Day 14 Nata, Botswana

Enjoy an early breakfast and depart for Nata. Nata serves as an excellent base from which to explore the eastern section of the spectacular Makgadikgadi Pans. It is an oasis set among the Mokolwane palms on the edge of the pans. It is ideally situated close to the entrance to the Nata Sanctuary and is just off the main road, 10 km from Nata village. Visiting Makgadikgadi is a unique salt desert experience. Countless flamingo flocks creating a magnificent pink spectacle dotting the landscape.

Main Destination:	Makgadikgadi Pans National Park (Botswana)
Best Time to Visit All year (Areas are best at different times) High Season July to October (Higher rates apply but not busy) Best Weather May to August (Dry and less hot) Wildlife in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park (Botswana) Giraffe Common Zebra Abundant Wildebeest Abundant Elephant Occasional Lion Occasional Leopard Occasional Hyena Occasional Cheetah Rare Hippo Rare Wild Dog Very Rare White Rhino None Black Rhino None Buffalo None
Accommodation:	Nata Lodge Mid-range lodge located just outside Makgadikgadi Pans NP
Meals & Drinks:	All meals included Drinks not included

Day 15 Thamalakane River

Depart early today to make the most of the two days you will spend in the Okavango Delta. Very much at the centre of Botswana’s safari industry, the Okavango Delta is an oasis and known for its superb wildlife, with large populations of mammals and excellent birding. A myriad of species are found within the delta including African Bush Elephant, African Buffalo, Hippopotamus, Lechwe, Topi, Blue Wildebeest, Giraffe, Nile crocodile, Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Brown Hyena, Spotted Hyena… Notably the endangered African Wild Dog still survives within the Okavango Delta and exhibits one of the richest pack densities in Africa. Thamalakane River Lodge is placed on the banks of the Thamalakane River, just 19kms from Maun, and en route to the famous Moremi Game Reserve.

Main Destination:	Okavango Delta (Botswana)
Best Time to Visit July to October (Best wildlife viewing) High Season July to October (Higher rates apply but not busy) Best Weather May to August (Less hot during the day) Wildlife in Okavango Delta (Botswana) Elephant Abundant Giraffe Common Buffalo Common Zebra Common Wildebeest Common Hippo Abundant Lion Occasional Leopard Occasional Hyena Occasional Wild Dog Occasional White Rhino Rare Black Rhino Rare Cheetah Rare
Accommodation:	Thamalakane River Lodge Mid-range lodge located in or near Thamalakane
Meals & Drinks:	All meals included Drinks not included

Day 16 Thamalakane River

After breakfast, you will go on a full day game drive to Moremi Game Reserve. Moremi ranks as one of the most beautiful reserves in Africa, possibly in the world. This terrain makes driving Moremi’s many loops and trails both delightful and, at times, totally inspiring.

Main Destination:	Okavango Delta (Botswana)
Accommodation:	Thamalakane River Lodge Mid-range lodge located in or near Thamalakane
Meals & Drinks:	All meals included Drinks not included

Day 17 Kalahari East, Namibia

Enjoy an early breakfast and drive back to Namibia. Your stay is at Kalahari Bush Breaks, situated 25 km west of the Botswana border post. You will be surrounded by primordial, enthralling savannas while the ambience of the guest house itself is both natural and luxurious. You may want to relax on your last day in comfort while taking in a unique and unspoiled landscape – certainly the best of both worlds.

Main Destination:	Kalahari Desert
Accommodation:	Kalahari Bush Breaks Mid-range lodge located in or near Kalahari Desert
Meals & Drinks:	All meals included Drinks not included

Day 18 End of your Journey

We don't know what to tell you. You have come to the end of your incredible journey, the final stretch of your road-trip. Make it last. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast drive back to Hosea International Airport about 2 hours. Drop your rental vehicle and in time for your afternoon flight back home. Pick a great playlist, turn up the volume, and sing your heart out. Ignore the weird looks from the other drivers on the road – as well as your passengers.

Main Destination:	Hosea Kutako International Airport (Windhoek, Namibia)
Accommodation:	No accommodation
Meals & Drinks:	Meals at own expense Drinks not included

End of tour

(See Getting there for more details)

You'll be collected from the airport.
Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Next: Rates

Important to Know

This tour is not available to solo travelers or groups larger than 8 people.
Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
This tour must be paid in Namibian dollars (NAD). The ZAR rates shown are converted for information purposes only. Disclaimer
This tour accepts children who are 2 years and older.