This 10 Days Best of Namibia and Botswana Safari takes you through southern Africa's premier wilderness destinations. Starting from Namibia's otherworldly desert, Etosha National Park and ending in Botswana's lush Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park, this carefully crafted adventure promises an unparalleled safari experience combining two remarkably diverse countries.
Your Namibia and Botswana Safari expedition traverses the ancient Namib Desert with its towering red dunes at Sossusvlei, the wildlife-rich plains of Etosha National Park, and continues to the pristine waterways of the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park. Each destination on this Namibia and Botswana Safari showcases dramatically different ecosystems, all teeming with unique wildlife adapted to these contrasting environments.
This immersive Namibia and Botswana Safari offers the perfect blend of adventure and luxury, with accommodations ranging from desert lodges to riverside camps, accompanied by expert guides who enhance your understanding of these remarkable landscapes. From tracking desert-adapted elephants in Damaraland to gliding silently through the Okavango's channels in a traditional mokoro, every day brings discoveries and unforgettable encounters with Africa's most iconic wildlife.
Climbing the massive red sand dunes of Sossusvlei at sunrise
Exploring the hauntingly beautiful Deadvlei clay pan
Discovering ancient rock art in Twyfelfontein (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Encountering desert-adapted wildlife in Damaraland
Game viewing in Etosha National Park's vast salt pan
Cruising the Okavango Delta's pristine waterways
Witnessing the massive elephant herds of Chobe National Park
Mokoro (traditional canoe) excursions in the Delta
Night drives for nocturnal wildlife viewing
Spectacular birdwatching opportunities across diverse habitats
Your Namibia and Botswana Safari adventure begins with your arrival at Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek, Namibia's capital. After a warm welcome, your Namibia and Botswana Safari guide will drive you southwest to the NamibRand Nature Reserve, a journey of approximately 5 hours (330km) through the changing landscapes of central Namibia. Your Namibia and Botswana Safari first night is spent at a luxury desert lodge near Sossusvlei, where you can relax and enjoy the breathtaking desert views and star-filled skies.
Rise early for the highlight of your Namibia and Botswana Safari Day – witnessing the sunrise over Sossusvlei's magnificent red dunes, some towering over 300 meters high. Your Namibia and Botswana Safari continues with a 4x4 adventure into the heart of the dune field, where you'll explore the hauntingly beautiful Deadvlei clay pan with its ancient camel thorn trees. The afternoon portion of your Namibia and Botswana Safari includes a visit to Sesriem Canyon, carved by the Tsauchab River over millions of years, followed by a sunset nature drive in the private reserve.
After breakfast, your Namibia and Botswana Safari journey continues north toward the Atlantic coast, traveling approximately 4 hours (350km) through the dramatic landscapes of the Namib Desert. During this Namibia and Botswana Safari drive, you'll cross the impressive Kuiseb Canyon, which forms a natural barrier between the sand dunes and the gravel plains. Your Namibia and Botswana Safari experience today concludes in the charming coastal town of Swakopmund, where German colonial architecture meets the Namib Desert, offering a fascinating cultural contrast to the natural wonders you've experienced.
Your Namibia and Botswana Safari moves inland today with a 4–5-hour drive (330km) to the rugged landscapes of Damaraland, home to desert-adapted wildlife and ancient rock art. The Namibia and Botswana Safari highlights today include exploring Twyfelfontein (locally known as /Ui-//aes), a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring over 2,500 rock engravings dating back 6,000 years. Your Namibia and Botswana Safari Day concludes with an afternoon game drive searching for desert-adapted elephants and other resilient wildlife in this harsh but beautiful environment.
Today your Namibia and Botswana Safari reaches Etosha National Park after a 4-hour drive (300km) northeast through increasingly verdant landscapes. This premier Namibia and Botswana Safari destination centers around the vast Etosha Pan, a salt flat visible from space that attracts abundant wildlife to its surrounding waterholes. Your afternoon Namibia and Botswana Safari activity includes game viewing around Okaukuejo's famous floodlit waterhole, renowned for excellent night viewing of rhinos, elephants, and lions.
Your full-day Namibia and Botswana Safari experience in Etosha takes you on a west-to-east traverse of this remarkable park, covering approximately 100km and taking 6-7 hours with wildlife viewing stops. This Namibia and Botswana Safari Day focuses on visiting the numerous waterholes along the southern edge of the Etosha Pan, each attracting different species including zebras, giraffes, and various antelope. Your Namibia and Botswana Safari overnight is at a lodge near Namutoni, originally a German fort, providing access to the productive eastern section of the park.
Leaving Namibia behind, your Namibia and Botswana Safari continues with a morning flight from Namutoni airstrip to Maun, Botswana, followed by a light aircraft transfer into the heart of the Okavango Delta, a journey of approximately 2 hours. Your Namibia and Botswana Safari experience dramatically shifts from desert to delta as you arrive at your water-based camp in the northwestern region of the delta, locally known as Ngamiland. The afternoon Namibia and Botswana Safari activity introduces you to the delta's waterways with a peaceful mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) excursion, gliding silently past hippos and elephants.
Today's Namibia and Botswana Safari is dedicated to exploring the Okavango Delta, Earth's largest inland delta and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Your morning Namibia and Botswana Safari activity includes a guided walking safari on one of the delta's islands, where you'll learn about the ecosystem's smaller creatures and the plants that thrive in this unique environment. Your afternoon Namibia and Botswana Safari continues with a motorboat cruise through the deeper channels, offering opportunities to spot crocodiles, hippos, and the delta's exceptional birdlife including the African fish eagle and rare Pel's fishing owl.
Your Namibia and Botswana Safari journey continues with a light aircraft transfer from the Okavango Delta to Kasane (approximately 1.5 hours), gateway to Chobe National Park. This Namibia and Botswana Safari destination is renowned for hosting Africa's largest elephant population, with an estimated 120,000 elephants roaming the park. Your afternoon Namibia and Botswana Safari activity features a boat cruise on the Chobe River, offering a unique perspective on the wildlife that congregates along its banks, including huge herds of elephants, buffalo, and the predators that stalk them.
The final day of your Namibia and Botswana Safari begins with an early morning game drive in Chobe National Park, focusing on the Serondela area near the Chobe River, a prime location for wildlife viewing. This culminating Namibia and Botswana Safari experience allows you to witness the park's famous predators, including lions and leopards, as they're most active during the cooler morning hours. Your unforgettable Namibia and Botswana Safari concludes with a transfer to Kasane Airport (30 minutes) for your onward flight, carrying with you memories of two of Africa's most spectacular wilderness destinations.