Premium Botswana & Namibia

Intrepid Travel · 17 days

5.0

1 Reviews

View Map

Duration

17 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Unknown

Physical Rating

Light

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

From ethereal landscapes to rich wildlife, experience the best of Botswana and Namibia on a 17-day Premium adventure. Look out for wildlife in Chobe National Park, cruise down the Zambezi River, hang out with a family of meerkats and admire the curious beauty of the Makgadikgadi Pans.

Highlights

Packed full of animal viewing opportunities, enjoy game drives, guided nature walks and boat cruises in Etosha National Park and the iconic Chobe National Park.
ature Stays – a perfectly positioned camp on the banks of the Zambezi River and a lodge next to the Namib-Naukluft National Park offering views of the ethereal desert landscape.
Climb the iconic Dune 45, visit the Damara Living Museum, explore the Deadvlei Salt Pans and Sesriem Canyon, and enjoy an Exclusive Experience nature drive through Sesriem’s desert.
Uncover the unique beauty of the Makgadikgadi Pans during an Exclusive Experience – a 4x4 excursion through the sprawling landscape, stopping for drinks and snacks as the sun goes down.
Explore the Okavango Delta's maze of lagoons, lakes, and streams via a traditional mokoro boat safari and enjoy lunch on one of the many secluded delta islands.

Trip Details

Duration

17 days

Transportation

4WD,Open Safari Vehicle,Boat,Private Vehicle

Tour Type

Small Group

Guide Language

English

Starts

Chobe National Park, Botswana

Finishes

Windhoek, Botswana

Accommodations

Unknown

Travel Style

Physical Rating

Light

Itinerary

Day 1: Chobe National Park

O Amogelesegile! Welcome to Botswana. Your adventure begins at Chobe National Park – one of Africa’s premier wildlife destinations and home to its largest population of elephants in the world. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll be met by an Intrepid representative and transferred to your accommodation on the banks of the Chobe River, at the fringe of the park. Meet your local leader and fellow travellers at a welcome meeting at 6 pm. After, head out for dinner at the lodge. Enjoy a celebration of Indigenous food and the rich flavours of Africa as you dine alongside the scenic Chobe River.

Included Activities:

Chobe - Welcome Dinner
Complimentary Arrival Transfer

Optional Activities:

Chobe National Park - 4x4 Game Drive (580 BWP)

Accommodation:

Chobe Safari Lodge or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 2: Zambezi River

Rise early for a morning game drive in Chobe National Park. You might see elephants drinking at the water's edge, large herds of cape buffaloes and many impalas within the park. Head back to the lodge for breakfast, then journey to the Ngoma Border Post before continuing to the Namibian side of the Zambezi River. Tonight you’ll stay in your Feature Stay accommodation – the fabulous Zambezi Mubala Lodge. Newly built, the Zambezi Mubala is a secret river hideaway where you can find hippos, vervet monkeys and over 450 species of birds. Arrive in time for a hearty lunch at the lodge, then enjoy some downtime to relax by the pool, spot wildlife from the bar or soak up the wild surroundings on the banks of the Zambezi River. Speak to your leader about the optional activities for the afternoon, including a canoe trip, guided walking trail or a birding drive.

Included Activities:

Chobe National Park - 4x4 Game Drive

Accommodation:

Zambezi Mubala Lodge (Feature Stay) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 3: Zambezi River

Today, enjoy a restful morning at your Feature Stay. This afternoon, take a cruise down the Zambezi River. The privileged position of your camp allows you to access a part of the river that most visitors don’t get to see, which means you can view the abundant wildlife without the crowds – look out for large herds of elephants, buffalo and antelope. After, head back to the lodge for dinner and watch the sunset change the colours of the landscape.

Included Activities:

Zambezi River - Afternoon River Cruise

Optional Activities:

Zambezi River - Morning River Cruise (750 NAD)

Accommodation:

Zambezi Mubala Lodge (Feature Stay) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 4: Makgadikgadi Pans

Heading south, cross the Ngoma border back into Botswana and continue your journey to the vast salt flats and grassy plains of the Makgadikgadi Pans. Located in the north-east of Botswana, the Makgadikgadi Pans sit in the middle of a dry savanna and are all that remain of the former Lake Makgadikgadi. This afternoon, you’ll head out on a 4WD excursion. The immense, sprawling salt flat will unfold in front of you as you look out for birds and animals, some who are seasonal visitors and some who call the area home all year. Sit out on the pans and enjoy drinks and snacks as the sun sets, then return to the lodge for dinner.

Included Activities:

Makgadikgadi Pans - Sunset 4x4 Excursion & Sundowner

Accommodation:

Nata Lodge or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 5: Maun

Travel to the edge of the Ntwetwe Salt Pans, home to a resident family of meerkats. With the aid of trackers, you'll observe their morning rituals – watch the meerkats bask in the morning sun before heading out for their daily foraging. When you’ve had your fill of watching these magnificent creatures, you’ll stop at a neighbouring lodge for lunch, then continue to Maun – the gateway to the Okavango Delta, one of the world's most complex ecosystems.

Included Activities:

Makgadikgadi Pans - Meerkat & Kalahari Bushman Experience

Accommodation:

Maun Lodge or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 6: Maun (Okavango Delta)

Today, you'll take a traditional mokoro (a dugout canoe steered by friendly local 'polers') for an Okavango waterways experience. With some luck, you might spot some of the delta's wildlife or exotic birdlife. Spend some time exploring the maze of lagoons, lakes and streams by mokoro before exploring on foot with a local guide. View plants, trees and animals from a different perspective and observe close-up details often missed on game drives. Your guide will provide expert knowledge and help you gain a deeper understanding of the environment. Lunch will be served on one of the many secluded islands created by the Delta waterways.

Included Activities:

Okavango Delta - Mokoro safari
Okavango Delta - Expert Guided Bush Walk

Accommodation:

Maun Lodge or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 7: Windhoek

Check out of your lodge this morning and transfer to the airport for an unaccompanied flight to Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, known for its colonial German architecture and relaxed atmosphere. On arrival, you'll be met by another transfer driver who will take you to your hotel. Perhaps head out for a stroll around town to admire the architecture of the Tintenpalast and Christuskirche buildings or stop by a local market to peruse handmade crafts.

Accommodation:

The Weinberg Boutique Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 8: Windhoek

Today is yours to explore Windhoek, or perhaps just relax and take it easy at your hotel. You'll meet your new group and leader for a welcome meeting at 6pm. After your meeting, head to your boutique hotel’s sky lounge for a tapas dinner made with the freshest local ingredients. From here you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding valley – a perfect spot to watch the sun go down.

Included Activities:

Windhoek - Welcome Dinner

Accommodation:

The Weinberg Boutique Hotel or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 9: Sesriem

This morning, drive south to Sesriem, your gateway to the Sossusvlei Dunes, Deadvlei, and Sesriem Canyon. Arrive at your Feature Stay accommodation for the next two nights, situated next to the Namib-Naukluft National Park. Take in the magnificent views, which can be enjoyed from your very own private patio. Enjoy lunch at the lodge’s restaurant, with the otherworldly landscape stretching far in each direction, then spend the afternoon relaxing by the bar or next to the sparkling pool. Later on, head out on a guided four-wheel drive (4x4) nature drive to discover the unique flora and fauna of the desert. Stop for a drink to take it all in as the sun sets, then return to the lodge for dinner and relax on the terrace overlooking the floodlit waterhole.

Included Activities:

Sesriem - Guided Nature Drive & Sundowners

Accommodation:

Sossusvlei Lodge (Feature Stay) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 10: Sesriem

Make an early-morning visit to Sossusvlei, which lies at the end of an ancient riverbed. This is a great opportunity for unsurpassed views of the surrounding area. Climbing to the top of Dune 45 will reward you with a spectacular perspective of the surreal desert landscape. After breakfast, travel to Deadvlei, a clay pan that lends itself to many iconic images. When you see the skeleton trees against a vibrant orange backdrop of dunes, you’ll soon understand what all the fuss is about. The pan is surrounded by some of the highest dunes in the world, 'Big Daddy' or 'Crazy Dune' average about 350 metres in height. In the afternoon you will visit Sesriem Gorge, a tranquil natural corridor that you can walk through and explore. Return to the lodge for the evening.

Included Activities:

Sesriem - Sossusvlei & Deadvlei Salt Pan Visit
Sesriem - Dune 45 Visit
Sesriem - Sesriem Canyon Visit

Accommodation:

Sossusvlei Lodge (Feature Stay) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 11: Swakopmund

Continue your journey to the beachside town of Swakopmund.Stop by the small settlement of Solitaire. Scattered with abandoned trucks, cars, petrol pumps and cacti, it's the only place between Walvis Bay and Sossusvlei to feature a petrol station, post office, general store, and bakery. Enjoy a piece of the local apple pie which has earned itself quite a reputation. Continue on past moon valley, named for its eerie lunar-like appearance, and the Tropic of Capricorn. Walvis Bay is the hibernation area for thousands of migratory birds, most notably flamingos. If in season you may take quick detour to see these elegant birds. Upon arrival at Swakopmund take some time for lunch, then join your leader on an orientation walk to get a feel for this interesting township with a German-Namibian atmosphere.

Included Activities:

Solitaire - Bakery Visit & Apple Pie Tasting
Swakopmund - Leader-led Orientation Tour
Walvis Bay - Visit

Accommodation:

The Delight or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 12: Swakopmund

The day is yours to enjoy this gorgeous coastal town. Your accommodation conveniently located within walking distance of the town, where you can enjoy a walk on the beach, open air markets or the local museum. You may wish to take an optional trip north to Cape Cross, a breeding site for Cape fur seals. There can be in excess of 100,000 seals there at any given time, making for quite the spectacle (quite a smell too, if the wind happens to change direction). Wander the coastline and attempt to document these beautiful creatures with a photo or two, and visit the large cross that lies nearby, left by Diego Cao, the first European to arrive on Namibian soil in 1485.

Optional Activities:

Swakopmund - Swakopmund Museum (2 USD)

Accommodation:

The Delight or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 13: Damaraland

Leave the Atlantic Ocean coastline behind and drive towards the Namib Desert.Take in the beautiful, diverse and colourful landscapes that stream past along the way: mountains, sand dunes, ocean waves and shipwrecks. Continue to Damaraland. Home to Namibia's highest peak, ancient rock paintings and petrified forests, the harshly beautiful and sparsely populated Damaraland region is a land of extraordinary contrasts. Depending on the time of year, you might be lucky enough to see the desert elephants that roam the area. Your accommodation features a centrepiece swimming pool fringed by beautiful chalets, each with a private garden. The evening is yours to relax and enjoy the amenities as the sun goes down.

Accommodation:

Damara Mopane Lodge or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 14: Damaraland

Spend the morning visiting the Twyfelfontein Heritage Site and the Petrified Forest with expert local guides to provide insight on these wonders. Twyfelfontein has one of the largest concentrations of ancient rock engraving in southern Africa and is a fascinating insight into the past. The Petrified Forest looks back into nature’s history, where 280-million-year-old fossilised tree trunks lie. Continue on to the Living Museum of the Damara, which aims to reconstruct and preserve the 'lost culture’ of the Damara people. Your leader will tell you all about this fascinating traditional culture that is, along with the Bushmen, the oldest in Namibia. Return to the lodge in the afternoon, with the rest of the day free to relax by the pool with a book.

Included Activities:

Damaraland - Twyfelfontein Bushman Paintings
Damaraland - Twyfelfontein Heritage Site
Damaraland - Petrified Forest
Damaraland - Living Museum of the Damara

Accommodation:

Damara Mopane Lodge or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 15: Etosha National Park

Leave Damaraland behind and head towards Etosha National Park. On arrival, the afternoon will be free to relax at your lodge. Maybe cool off in the pool, read a book, or enjoy a sundowner by the bar. Be sure to charge your camera tonight as tomorrow will be a full day in the park. This is one of the world's premier game-viewing destinations; spotting animals in the park is relatively easy due to the man-made waterholes and the large, sparsely vegetated pans. The bushland surrounding the pans is difficult to see through, but there are enough clearings, pans and waterholes to allow for sightings. Namibia has protected its game reserves against poaching, so there are large herds of elephants, antelope and other herbivores.

Included Activities:

Etosha NP - Nature Walk

Accommodation:

Etosha Safari Lodge or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 16: Etosha National Park

Rise early for a full-day 4WD safari in Etosha National Park. Keep a close eye on the landscape for black rhino, Hartmann's mountain zebra, black-faced impala, roan antelope and the tiny Damara dik-dik. The park is also home to some 340 bird species. After, return to your lodge and reflect on the day's adventures as you take in the views from the outdoor pool, viewing deck, or spacious veranda overlooking the mopane woodlands.

Included Activities:

Etosha NP - Full Day 4WD Safari

Accommodation:

Etosha Safari Lodge or similar (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 17: Windhoek

This morning after breakfast you will make your way back to Windhoek. Your adventure comes to an end on arrival. Please do not book any international flights departing from Windhoek before 8pm this evening to allow for any unexpected delays. If you would like to extend your stay, additional accommodation can be booked in advance (subject to availability).

Exclusions

Flights to and from origin and destinations
Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
Recommended gratuities/tipping
Optional activities/tours
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.

Important Information

Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We willdo our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an Average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.

Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.

AUD $16,200

(Tour only)

Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 17 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Light

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 01 Aug 2026

View Map

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating

Excellent

4.5

Guide

Excellent

4.5

Itinerary

Excellent

4.5

Accommodations

Excellent

4.5

Transportation

Excellent

4.5

Tour Operator

Excellent

4.5

Food

Excellent

4.5

5.0

Lianne

Traveled, September 2024

09/30/2024

The Namibia itinerary was excellent. There was so much to see. The beginning of the trip was the dunes which were magnificent. Then the coastline which were stark and beautiful. The anthropology part with people and history was amazing! Loved the stone drawings and Damara/Himba were lovely!

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

Book Now