Dramatic Wildlife, Caprivi Strip, and Traditional San Tribes
Ultimate Namibia & Botswana
Overview
Truly secluded parks, incredible wildlife, and exquisite lodges that don’t cater to mass tourism make this safari one of-a-kind. We explore Namibia’s Etosha National Park, a UNESCO site, from the remote eastern gate, and safari across the private Onguma Game Reserve, home to a family of black rhino as well as lions, leopards, and cheetahs. In the land of the Ju/’hoansi (San) people, we’ll join San hunters on a bush walk, then head way up to Botswana’s pristine northern Okavango Delta, far from the crowds. Our grand finale is Bwabwata, the new jewel in Namibia’s conservation crown, set in the once-forbidden Caprivi Strip of northern Namibia, with a final overnight at Victoria Falls. We cap our group at just six travelers!
Arrive: Windhoek, Namibia
Depart: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Highlights
- Go leopard tracking at AfriCat, observing these big cats as they roam Okonjima Nature Reserve
- Explore Etosha National Park from its eastern gate and look for rhinos, leopards, lions, and elephants
- Enjoy cultural experiences and bush walks with San hunter-gatherers on their ancestral lands
- Safari in the remote Caprivi Strip in northeast Namibia
- Look for wildlife in Bwabwata National Park in the pristine northern Okavango Delta
Itinerary
At the AfriCat Foundation, we track leopards, and in the private Onguma Game Reserve east of Etosha National Park, we search for kudus, giraffes, zebras, impalas, as well as lions, leopards, cheetahs—and the rare black rhinos that call this reserve home. Four of the Big Five—rhinos, leopards, lions, and elephants—are found here and the birding in Etosha is fantastic.
We enter the world of one of Africa’s oldest cultural groups. Namibia’s Ju/’hoansi (San) people. Here we enjoy a fascinating bush walk with San hunters on their traditional land. After viewing World Heritage rock art in the Tsodilo Hills, we move to secluded Nxamaseri Island Lodge in Botswana’s isolated northern Okavango Delta to safari by canoe, a wonderfully quiet way to explore.
Crossing back into Namibia, we enter the far-flung Caprivi Strip, long off-limits to safari travelers but renowned for its abundant wildlife, navigable waterways, and large stretches of national park. From beautiful Nambwa Tented Lodge, our days are filled with game drives and boating on the Kwando River.
After a grand finale visit to spectacular Victoria Falls, depart on Day 13 or join one of our extensions.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 2+, Easy to Moderate, according to our trip grading system. This is a lodge safari with game viewing by 4WD vehicle and short walks (during the San tribe portion of the trip) that can be enjoyed by anyone in reasonably good health. While we do not see major elevation gain or loss, you need to be able to walk on uneven surfaces and feel comfortable on your feet for up to two hours a day.
Review Trip Level Details
Namibia has a typical desert climate: hot in the day, and cool at night, mostly sunny and dry. Daytime temperatures range from the mid-70°Fs to the low 90°Fs, with night temperatures dropping to the 40°Fs and 50°Fs. The coastal region is cool and dry throughout the year. In Botswana in June and July, there is minimal rainfall and the bush turns golden brown, so game viewing is easier and animals concentrate around major water sources. Daytime temperatures range from the upper 70°Fs to mid 80°Fs, and nighttime temperatures can sometimes drop to below freezing, so warm layers are necessary. The temperatures at Victoria Falls this time of year are similar with highs in the upper 70°Fs to low 80°Fs, dropping to the mid-40°Fs and low 50°Fs at night.
Please note that the average road journey between our six lodges takes about five hours, sometimes longer. The Trip Leader will discuss what to expect on the drive and how long the journey might be. Most of the roads are gravel and are in excellent condition but take longer to drive than a paved highway. All the routes are scenic. We will be traveling in comfortable safari vehicles, and driving times may vary depending on sights of interest we come upon, photographic opportunities, or wildlife encounters. Ideally, we will depart for drives after breakfast so as to arrive early enough at the next lodge in time for afternoon game viewing.
During drives and walks, we can at times get quite close to wild animals. Being very quiet improves everyone's chances of observation. In the interest of safety, your Trip Leader explains limitations on movement while on game drives, in the safari vehicles, and around camp. Incidents with wild animals are extremely rare on safaris, but no trip can guarantee immunity from such incidents. Wilderness Travel is not to be held responsible for incidents involving the behavior of wildlife.
Client Testimonials
"There is nothing more I could ask for. We got to see a leopard with its kill in a tree, hundreds of elephants, cheetahs calling out to each other, so many antelopes, warthogs, mongoose, giraffes, hippos, and so many birds!"
Athena L.
Minneapolis, MN
"Traveling through the countryside, interfacing with the San people, and the diversity of wildlife and flora was mind altering. We loved it."
Daniel K.
Elkins Park, PA
"It was a fantastic five-star journey that shall probably endure as one of our most memorable vacations."
Jeff P.
Boston, MA
"We enjoyed it all! It was a special combination of being in the wild with luxury accommodations with high quality food and drink and very attentive customer service at every place we went. With an excellent “super” guide, all we had to do was enjoy without worry or need to keep up with travel plans. What could be better?"
Sandy S.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.