19 day tour – Namibia & Botswana

In the middle of the Kalahari foothills, the guest farm nestles in the red sand. The Kalahari Desert (also known as “Kgalagadi”) is part of a vast sand basin stretching from the Orange River to Angola, west to Namibia, and east to Botswana and Zimbabwe – an area of more than 1.2 million square kilometers. It is dominated by grasses, thorn bushes and acacia trees, all of which can survive the long periods of drought of more than 10 months a year. In the camel thorn and other acacia trees one often finds the conspicuous nest buildings of the weaver birds. The Kalahari is also home to the bushman. Let these loving people take you into their world and learn to recognize and read nature.

KALAHARI BUSH BREAK or similar, B / B / D

Today you cross the border to Botswana and the landscape looks more African. Many people and especially many donkeys are on the way. Again and again, small villages line the route. The place Ghanzi is very good for a break. The town has about 47,170 inhabitants and you will find a gas station, a hotel and the

Possibility to change money. Maun is spread out on the banks of the Thamalakane River in the south of the Okavango Delta and has almost 50,000 inhabitants. The Okavango

Delta is a huge inland delta in the northern Kalahari Desert, with an area of ​​about 20,000 square kilometers. It is fed by the 1700 kilometer Okavango River, which rises in the central highlands of Angola and flows from there not to the ocean but to the southeast into the drainage-free Kalahari Basin.

With its abundance of water, the Okavango Delta is by far the most wildlife-rich area in Southern Africa, with more than 500 species of birds, more than 150 mammal species, and a wide variety of plants. On a mokoro ride (boat trip with a dugout) – optional, depending on water level – you experience the Okavango Delta with its variety of birds and animals.

THAMALAKANE LODGE or similar, B / B

On good tarred road you reach the place Nata. Past the large salt pans “Makgadikgadi” and “Nxai Pan” you will cross the Kalahari basin. Here you have the opportunity to take part in a guided tour on an open-terrain vehicle in the Makgadikgadi Pan and to admire, depending on the season, the flock of birds that brood in the water-filled pans.

NATA LODGE or similar, B / B

Already while driving you can spot various wild animals. Not infrequently elephants cross the road or various antelopes such. the sable antelope, which is also home here. The game concentration in Chobe Park is immense. No other nature reserve in southern Africa has a similarly high wild population. Alone 50,000 elephants live in the park. On a guided tour in the park in the open SUV, you can watch and take pictures of excellent animals. On the second day, take a boat tour on the Okavango in the morning and are very close to crocodiles, hippos and sometimes bathing elephants. In the afternoon, a game drive with the open SUV is provided. Also reserve a day for a trip to the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

CHOBE SAFARI LODGE or similar, B/ B

You leave Botswana and reach Namibia again. The border formalities are simple and it is quite speedy of equip. You reach the place Katima Mulio. This is

the economic center of the Eastern Caprivi region, located directly on the southern shore of the lazily flowing Zambezi River, which is 500 meters wide and marks the border with Zambia.

Today, the city has about 30,000 inhabitants and has an airfield with a paved runway, a modern hospital, schools, supermarkets, petrol stations and even an art center. With the completion of the Sesheke Bridge over the Zambezi River, Katima became the hub of Zambia. From there, continue on the tarmac road to Sangwali. Behind the village begins the conservation park and your accommodation is located in the middle of this park.

Depending on the vehicle you will be picked up at the entrance of the park, as it only continues from here with 4 x 4. From there you can take a guided game drive into the adjacent area.

NKASA LUPALA LODGE, B / B / D

You are in Caprivi. The Caprivi Zipfel or “Caprivi Strip” is a narrow strip of land in the extreme northeast of Namibia, about 400 kilometers long. The Caprivi falls into the tropical climate zone and records high rainfall during the rainy season. The Caprivi is the most water rich region in Namibia. The reason for this is not just precipitation, but a series of mighty rivers, Okavango, Kwando and Zambezi, all of which spring from Angola and drain a vast region. There are also other, smaller rivers such as the Linyanti and the Chobe. The abundance of water in the Caprivi ensures a large game population. The elephants are especially numerous, although they are not always seen in the dense vegetation. There are no border fences, so that the animals can move relatively unhindered to neighboring Botswana and Zambia. The entire Western Caprivi is now a wildlife sanctuary. In 2002, the former Mahango Game Park and West Caprivi Game Park were merged into the Bwabwata National Park. The park extends between the rivers Okavango and Kwando with an area of ​​over 5000 square kilometers. There are an estimated 8000 elephants in the area, as well as 1000 buffaloes and many antelope species, hyenas, lions and leopards. Crocodiles, hippos and numerous waterfowl can be seen along the rivers.

RIVER DANCE LODGE or similar, B / B / D.

Today you can decide whether you prefer to drive along the river or use the transit route. Sleds are used to move heavy objects that are pulled with oxen. The butcher is usually a shady tree, where you hang various meat pieces and showcasing. Creels are made from Ried to catch fish. It is a very nice track. You can always use one

Back on the tarmac road. You reach the place Rundu. Thatched mud huts stand in small settlements near the road. The bushland is dense and green, trees are still numerous. Also vegetable gardens can be seen between the settlements, and fields with corn and millet. There are no fences here and again and again goats, sheep and cattle on the road. At the roadside wood carvers sit in front of their huts and shelters and patiently offer their carvings to the few passing tourists.

HAKUSEMBE LODGE or similar, B / B / D

A visit to the Etosha National Park is one of the highlights of a Namibia trip. Etosha covers an area of over 22,000 square kilometers and was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1907 by the German-Southwest African administration. In the center is an extensive salt pan, surrounded by grass and thorn savannahs, mopane bush in the west and dry forest in the northeast. The pan is almost always dry. However, especially in the southern part of the park are scattered numerous waterholes, livelihood for the wildlife in the Etosha National Park. Almost the entire range of African big game is represented in the park The Etosha National Park is well developed. Well maintained – but unpaved – roads lead to the water holes, where you can observe the animals best.

ONGUMA BUSH CAMP or similar, B / B / D

The entrance gate to Waterberg Plateau Park about 90 kilometers south-east of Otjiwarongo and 250 kilometers north of Windhoek. The Hereros, who once settled here, called the place “The Place of the Fat Cows”, and indeed some of the best cattle farms are still in the Otjiwarongo area today. Due to Namibia’s high rainfall, pastures are good and soils fertile. At the Waterberg Massif, many farms have joined together to create the “Waterberg Conservancy”, a wildlife and nature reserve currently over 200,000 hectares in size. In the park beautiful hiking trails have been created that you can do on your own, or game drives are offered on the plateau with English-speaking guides.

GUESRFARM HAMAKARI or similar, B / B.

You will spend the last day on a typical guest farm about 4 hours from Windhoek and enjoy the African flair over a campfire. However, depending on flight dates, you might have to stay overnight in Windhoek.

GUESTFARM OHANGE or similar, B / B

A transfer will take you to the airport. Return flight to Germany or onward flight to South Africa.