Namibia & Botswana: Dunes & Delta

Discover Namibia and Botswana’s wildlife and contrasting landscapes

Namibia and Botswana are two of Africa’s top wildlife destinations and on this itinerary we safari in their most renowned and distinct wildernesses – Etosha National Park and the Okavango Delta. Etosha is famous for its arid landscape scattered with waterholes, where a variety of animals reluctantly congregate for a drink. By contrast, the Okanvago is a lush habitat of grassy plains and reed-lined channels that have been carved into the landscape by wandering elephants. But there is more to this region than wildlife. From the world’s highest sand dunes at Sossusvlei, to the bushmen of the Kalahari and the adventure sport scene at Swakopmund; there is something for everyone to enjoy on this epic 15 day adventure.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
• Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for re-usable bottles.
• Energy saving bulbs and water conservation signs utilised in the lodges are a great way to reduce environmental impact.
• On our wildlife safaris and game drives, twenty-five percent of all park entrance fees paid is reinvested into essential infrastructure and services related to tourism in Namibia’s parks. This is done through the Game Products Trust Fund by the MET (Ministry of Environmental and Tourism). In addition, by running game drives in Etosha National Park, we are also contributing to local community initiatives and helping to fund the protection of the wide range of species which live there.
• Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices regarding working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
• We rewild 100 square metres per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: we do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: please bring a re-usable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Visa

Namibia

Travellers from the UK, US and some EU states normally do not need a visa to enter Namibia. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/namibia
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/namibia
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/namibia/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Namibia.html

If you are transiting through South Africa and are a non-UK passport holder you may require a transit visa. Please check before travelling. Please note that if flying via South Africa you will probably have to pass immigration there.

Passports: Ensure you have at least one full blank page in your passport (but we recommend three) and that it is valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of entry into Namibia. Before leaving the immigration desk in the airport arrivals hall, check the duration of your stay has been noted correctly – we recommend adding a week to your duration in case of Covid-19 related issues.

Travelling with children: In addition to valid passports, parents travelling with children (under 18) should at all times carry the original or certified copy of the unabridged birth certificate (listing the child’s and both parents’ details). Adults travelling with children where they are not the biological or legal guardians of those children, should be in possession of an affidavit statement from the child’s parents giving consent for their travel. If a child is travelling with only one parent, the other parent should give consent for travel in the form of an affidavit.

Botswana

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Botswana. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/botswana
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/botswana
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/botswana/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Botswana.html

Please note, if you are transiting through South Africa and are a non-UK passport holder you may require a transit visa. Please check before travelling. Please also be aware that children under the age of 18 must provide a full birth certificate (a short one won’t be accepted) as well as a valid passport. If the child is travelling with only one parent or with another adult, the missing parent (or parents) will have to provide an affidavit giving their consent for the child to travel. If flying via South Africa, you may have to pass immigration between flights and the same regulation is needed for entry into South Africa.

Vaccination

Namibia

Botswana

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts, 4 lunches and 6 dinners included.

In the itinerary we state which meals are included on which day. Please allow approximately £10/US$15 per meal per person for meals not included. Some meals are in restaurants or the lodges whilst others will be prepared by the crew. Camp meals are freshly cooked over the camp fire. They are wholesome and plentiful, but do not expect cordon bleu cuisine and please note it is not always easy to get fresh meat. However, the standard of food is generally good. Breakfast - cereals, coffee, yoghurt, muesli, fresh fruit or the occasional fried breakfast. Lunch - cheese, cold meats, pasta, salads, bread or rolls. Dinner - potjie (stew), braai (BBQ) or stir fries. Vegetarians are well catered for on this trip though sometimes options might be more limited.

Weather Charts

Is this trip for you?

This trip has been graded as grade 2 (leisurely/moderate).

This itinerary covers a lot of ground but connects some of the best places in Namibia and Botswana and there are some beautiful landscapes along the way. Many of the drives take between 4-5 hours, with a maximum drive time of approximately 7 hours on a combination of tarmac and gravel roads. On Namibia’s gravel roads, conditions are completely dependent on how they are being maintained at the time and on occasion conditions can be poor. This can have an impact on journey times as well as comfort and can be punishing on the vehicles. Drives times to and from Etosha National Park may vary depending on the camps that we use within the park. Once within Etosha National Park the journeys double up as game drives. Drive times listed in the itinerary are only approximations and do vary with road conditions. Please note that the drive times listed in the itinerary do not include any stops that we take along the way.

Transport is in a specially modified safari truck with plenty of legroom and packing space. All vehicles carry a reference library, fridge and/or icebox. Smaller groups may be in a Hilux/Land Cruiser.

Walks on the tour are generally moderate, such as climbing Dune 45 and visiting the White Lady rock painting at Brandberg.

There are a few days where we will have to get up before sunrise but this will allow us to get the most from our days (for example, the game drives in Etosha where we are more likely to see wildlife in the early mornings before it gets too hot).

Accommodation is in lodges and hotels and occasionally in permanent tented camps (which also have beds and en suite facilities) apart from the two nights in the Okavango Delta which are in our campsite in the wild allowing for a different experience of Africa. This is a safari for people who want to see wildlife and get immersed in nature but do it in more comfort. Please note that due to the limited amount of accommodation within Etosha National Park, it may be necessary to sleep outside the park on some or all of the nights that we are there. This will not impact on the number of game drives that we have within the park.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.