Namibias untamed North & Botswana

3 weeks of adventures in Namibia’s untamed nature of the northern Zambezi Region & Botswana are waiting for you with the option to visit Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. From the vast salt pan of the Etosha Nationalpark to the lush green riverine landscapes – photographers, nature lovers but also families will enjoy this tour.

The journey starts with your arrival in Windhoek, where the shuttle is waiting for you at the airport and you can pick up the rental car. Prepare yourself for the road with some snacks and enough water – do not miss out on a delicious meal in one of Windhoek’s phenomenal restaurants before making your way north. You will spend the first two nights of your African adventure at either the stunning hiking and wildlife hotspot Waterberg Plateau or Okonjima Private Reserve waiting for you with outstanding wildlife encounters and compelling stories of conservation efforts in Namibia.

Continue to Etosha, where you start the Parks exploration with a night in the southwestern part, known for exciting lion and rhino encounters before heading towards the eastern shores of the Park for two more nights. Enjoy the scenic drive through Etoshas’s diverse landscape where wildlife can wait around every corner. Gentle giraffes walking next to your car, elephants happily bathing in muddy water, and cheetahs stalking for their next prey – everything is possible. Your accommodations will be located outside of the park but at a short distance from the gates and offer a highly comfortable stay with several wildlife spotting options depending on the accommodation package. 

Before making a long way north, venture to the serene Otavi Mountains for two days of special activities like a wine-tasting tour at one of Namibia’s few vineyards or head out on a horseback safari bringing you so much closer to giraffes and antelopes in the breathtaking landscape dominated by bushland savannah and rocky outcrops of Uiseb Mountain.

After a one-night stop-over close to Rundu at the Okavango River, where you can head out for your first boat cruise safari and stop hippos in the wild, you will discover the hidden gems near Bwabwata National Park and Kwando River. Head out on self-drive safaris in the untamed Bwabwata National Park which consists of several sections like the Buffalo Park with ruins of an old military station where antelopes but also lions like to hide. Or you head further south to the Mahango Core Area, where elephants and buffalos are commonly sighted but it is also a splendid place for birding. Continuing in a western direction along the Caprivi Highway, another 2 nights will be spent at the Kwango River where you should focus on boat cruise safaris and go on a Mokoro tour. 

Cross into Botswana’s Chobe River, experiencing three nights of wild adventure overlooking Chobe National Park on boat safaris and private wooden decks where you can have a first-morning coffee with birds chirping above your head and hippos snorting beneath your feet in the river.

Extend your journey to Kasane for two nights, with an option to witness the majestic Victoria Falls on a day trip. Return to Namibia and relish two nights at Zambezi Mubala, surrounded by nature’s tranquility to calm down after all these thrilling adventures at the Zambezi River.

Finally, drop off your rental car in Katima and hop on your short flight back to Windhoek. Here you will have one more night before your flight home will depart to ensure a seamless journey.

This unforgettable expedition promises a fusion of diverse landscapes, thrilling wildlife encounters, and soul-stirring moments. 

The route is suitable for first-time African travelers but can be also adapted for experienced off-road drivers with knowledge about wildlife encounters. The Bwabwata National Park offered several opportunities to head into the untamed parts of the park.