Namibia & Botswana: Dunes & Delta

Discover the wildlife and contrasting landscapes of Namibia and Botswana

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

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 reusable 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, 25 percent of all park entrance fees are reinvested into essential infrastructure and services related to tourism in the parks of Namibia. 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 contributing to local community initiatives and helping to fund the protection of the wide range of species that 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 1,075sqft (100sqm) 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 reusable 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, four lunches and six dinners are included.

For meals not included, please allow the equivalent of approximately US$15 per meal per person. Some meals are in restaurants or the lodges while others are prepared by the crew. Camp meals are freshly cooked over the campfire. 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 (barbecue) or stir fries

Vegetarians are well catered for on this trip though sometimes options might be more limited.

Weather

Namibia

Namibia is in the Southern Hemisphere, so essentially has the opposite seasonality to the UK and North America. June, July and August, while clear and warm during the day, can get cold at night, even reaching freezing point.

Between September and May, it is considerably warmer with October to March being the hottest, getting up to the high 30Cs (around 100F). However, it is always a dry heat and the temperature does drop at night. The wet season is between November and February, but this is not a bad time to go as the desert blooms after rainfall, there is plenty of birdlife to see and it never rains for very long.

Botswana

There is no best time to go for game viewing or conditions in the Delta as the Delta flows year-round despite flood periods. The wettest season is January and February when travel on dirt roads becomes difficult. March to September, although dry and bright, can be cold at night (in June and July it really can be chilly on occasions so bring appropriate gear). October and November are the hottest months, and midday temperatures can be uncomfortable. The rains normally start slowly in late November. December can be wet, but it does not rain for long periods and should definitely not put anyone off travelling as there is always plenty of sunshine.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate).

It covers a lot of ground but connects some of the best places in Namibia and Botswana with beautiful landscapes en route. Many of the drives take between four and five hours, with a maximum drive time of approximately seven hours on a combination of paved and gravel roads. On the gravel roads of Namibia, conditions are dependent on how they are maintained at the time and, on occasion, conditions can be poor. This can have an impact on journey times as well as comfort. Drive times to and from Etosha National Park vary depending on the camps we use within the park. Within Etosha National Park, journeys double as game drives. Drive times listed in the itinerary are approximations and vary with road conditions. They also do not include any stops 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 Toyota Hilux/Land Cruiser.

Walks are generally moderate.

There are a few days where we have to get up before sunrise but this allows 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 private bathrooms) apart from the two nights in the Okavango Delta, which are in our wild campsite, 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, 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 we are there. This will not impact the number of game drives 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.