Dramatic Wildlife, Caprivi Strip, Traditional San Tribes
Ultimate Namibia and Botswana
Overview
Incredible wildlife, truly secluded parks, and exquisite lodges that don't cater to mass tourism make this safari one of a kind. We explore Namibia's Etosha National Park as few do, from the remote eastern gate, along with private Onguma Game Reserve, home to a family of black rhino as well as lion, leopard, and cheetah. 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 Chobe 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
- Leopard tracking at AfriCat
- Rhino, leopard, lion, and elephant in eastern Etosha
- Cultural experiences with San hunter-gatherers on their ancestral lands
- Safari in the remote Caprivi Strip and pristine northern Okavango Delta
Itinerary
From Windhoek, we head to the AfriCat Foundation to track leopards and learn about leopard conservation. In the private Onguma Game Reserve, we search for kudu, giraffe, zebra, impala, as well as lion, leopard, cheetah—and rare black rhino that call this reserve home. The salt pans and savannas of famed Etosha are a vast haven for wildlife, including four of the Big Five—rhino, leopard, lion, and elephant. And with more than 340 species, the birding in Etosha is absolutely fantastic.
We enter a different world today, that of one of Africa's oldest cultural groups, the San tribe. Our accommodation lies within the ancient area of Namibia's Ju/'hoansi San people. Here we enjoy a fascinating bush walk with San hunters on their own 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 in the new Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, our days are filled with game drives and boating on the Kwando River.
Tour spectacular Victoria Falls, then 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
"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
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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—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.