Botswana & Namibia: Delta & Dunes
Botswana & Namibia: Delta & Dunes
Botswana & Namibia: Delta & Dunes
14 Days Starting in Maun and ending in Windhoek
Visiting: Botswana, Namibia
Tour operator:
Tour code:
AZB9
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat
Tour operated in:
EnglishTour Overview
Explore Botswana and Namibia, two of the top wildlife destinations in Africa. Our journey takes us into the wilderness: voyage by dugout canoe on the hippo-populated waters of the Okavango Delta, search for lions, elephants and giraffes in Etosha National Park, and spend nights by waterholes where animals congregate. The adventure continues beyond the fauna: we also climb the highest dunes in the world at Sossusvlei and stargaze at our remote camp in Damaraland. This is Africa at its most wild.
Want to travel soon? See our 2024 itinerary here, which begins in Namibia.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Maun, Botswana
Meals Included: Breakfast
The adventure starts in Maun, Botswana, gateway to the Okavango Delta. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring or relaxing, with a chance to change money and pick up any supplies you may need (such as snacks and drinks).
The tour leader meets you this evening at the hotel for dinner and a welcome briefing, a chance to ask any questions you may have. Tonight is a good time to pack your overnight bag for the Okavango Delta; pack light as we travel to camp by canoe (your larger bag is left with the driver and stored safely).
Accommodation: Cresta Maun (or similar)
Day 2 : To The Okavango Delta
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Relax at the hotel this morning or head into town to pick up any last-minute supplies. After lunch, we journey to the Okavango Delta, where we board mokoros (traditional dugout canoes helmed by an expert local poler) and head to our Delta camp (depending on water levels we may drive in a 4×4). Camp is ready for us on arrival, and we meet the local guides who are our hosts for the next few days.
The camp is made of dome tents fitted with camp beds, a mess tent and bathrooms that have a bush-shower and toilet. Camping allows us to experience Africa at its fullest: swimming in shallow pools, listening to the sounds of the Delta (particularly birdsong and hippo grunts!), and enjoying some of the best views of the Milky Way you are likely to see.
Total drive: 19mi (30km), one hour
Accommodation: Okavango Delta wild camp
Day 3 : Full Day Exploring The Okavango Delta By Foot And Dugout Canoe
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Rise early for breakfast and spend the rest of the day exploring the waterways and islands by mokoro and on foot. Year-round, the Delta is home to a vast array of animals, including elephants, lions and hippos.
We return to camp for lunch and, this evening, enjoy sundowners. Relax around the campfire after dinner looking back on a day well spent.
Accommodation: Okavango Delta wild camp
Day 4 : Mokoro Safari; Return To Maun
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Rising early, we enjoy one final exploration of the Delta before returning to our collection point by mokoro. Return to Maun after lunch, where we have a free afternoon to relax or enjoy one of the many optional activities available, such as scenic flights or helicopter rides.
Accommodation: Sedia Riverside Hotel (or similar)
Day 5 : Transfer To Guma Lagoon; Optional Boat Ride
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Relax this morning before our transfer to the northern part of the Okavango Delta, enjoying views of the Botswana bush as we go. Reaching a landscape of thick sand that’s inaccessible to our vehicle, we are collected by a 4x4 vehicle and transferred to our lodge on the banks of Guma Lagoon.
The rest of the day is free to enjoy the peaceful waterside property or there is the option of an afternoon boat ride.
Total drive: 220mi (350km), five hours
Accommodation: Guma Lagoon Lodge (or similar)
Day 6 : Cross Border Into Namibia; To Rundu
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast, continue the journey north and cross into Namibia through the Mohembo border post. From here, we travel through Mahango Game Park, where we hope to see elephants and other animals. We then drive along the Caprivi Strip (a thin protrusion of Namibia bordered by Botswana, Angola and Zambia) to the small town of Rundu, which is situated on the Okavango River close to the Angolan border.
Total drive: 250mi (400km), 6hr 30min
Accommodation: Nkwazi Lodge (or similar)
Day 7 : To Etosha National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we travel to Etosha National Park, the premier safari sanctuary in Namibia. In contrast to the Okavango Delta, Etosha is a relatively arid wilderness of mixed forest and grassland around a large saltpan. It is scattered with waterholes where a great variety of animals congregate to drink, making them fairly easy to find.
We should arrive in time for a late afternoon game drive before heading to our accommodation. We typically stay within the park on some or all the nights (subject to availability) and some of these are next to waterholes. These camps also offer optional night drives, which you can book and pay for on arrival.
Total drive: 280mi (450km), eight hours
Accommodation: Halali/Namutoni Lodge (or similar)
Day 8 : Game Drive In Etosha
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we embark on an essential Namibian experience: a three-hour game drive in Etosha National Park. Zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, elephants and lions are all present, while the park is also home to several black rhinos. Additionally, Etosha is a good place for birds, with plenty of water birds on the lakes and weaverbirds and hornbills in the trees.
The wildlife watching continues at our camp, which has a waterhole where animals gather to refresh and you can take a cooling dip yourself in the swimming pool. After sunset, a spotlight helps us to watch the nightly activity at the waterhole.
Accommodation: Halali/Okaukuejo Lodge (or similar)
Day 9 : Drive To Brandberg
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Leaving Etosha, we head to the Damaraland region, driving past Damara huts, Herero houses and cattle. We stop en route in Outjo, a small town with a nice German bakery for coffee, cake or an early lunch.
Our destination is a remote lodge at the foot of Brandberg, the highest mountain in Namibia. Here, it’s often possible to see desert elephants roaming the Ugab River, while stargazing is normally spectacular from this isolated location.
Total drive: 235mi (380km), six hours
Accommodation: Brandberg White Lady Lodge (or similar)
Day 10 : Visit The White Lady Rock Painting; Transfer To Swakopmund
Meals Included: Breakfast
Begin the day with a short drive to Brandberg, where we walk (1hr 30min) through a valley seeing beautiful, granite formations and a variety of birdlife. The valley takes us to the White Lady rock painting which, along with a number of other small paintings and engravings, are thought to have been left by indigenous San people at least 2,000 years ago (please note, if elephants walk into this area then it might be too dangerous to do the walk – in this case we typically go on a game drive looking for elephants).
After, we head to the Atlantic Ocean and the coastal town of Swakopmund. This small German colonial town has quaint cake shops and coffee houses and is known as a hotspot for high-adrenaline activities.
Total drive: 185mi (300km), 4hr 30min
Accommodation: Prost Hotel (or similar)
Day 11 : Free Day For Optional Activities
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is free to enjoy one of the many optional activities on offer in and around town. On the water, you can go deep-sea fishing; in the desert, you can go sandboarding and quad-biking; and in the sky, you can fly over the Skeleton Coast. Alternatively, spend the day enjoying fantastic Viennese-style cakes, walking along the beach or nearby dunes, or just watching the world pass in this town that seems strangely out of place in Africa.
Accommodation: Prost Hotel (or similar)
Day 12 : Morning Stop At Walvis Bay; Drive Through Namib Desert To Sesriem
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Visit nearby Walvis Bay after breakfast, where we hopefully see flamingos. Our journey then takes us through the Namib-Naukluft National Park – home to one of the driest and oldest deserts on Earth. The park contains spectacular desert scenery and there are photo opportunities along the way. We take a long gravel road into the desert, going through two small passes and towards Soltaire, where we stop for lunch, before continuing to Sesriem.
Total drive: 210mi (340km), 5hr 30min
Accommodation: Weltevrede Guestfarm (or similar)
Day 13 : Explore The Sossusvlei Dunes; Optional Excursion To Deadvlei
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Rise early to see the Sossusvlei dunes, the tallest in the world, in the gorgeous morning light. We can also climb one of the dunes for fantastic views of the area.
We then witness an eerie desert landscape strewn with dead 900-year-old camelthorn trees, either taking a 2.5mi (4km) walk to Hiddenvlei or, if you'd prefer not to walk, a transfer (optional extra) to Deadvlei. If we’re lucky, we may see gemsbok or ostriches among the dunes. In the afternoon, take a 30 to 45-minute walk in Sesriem Canyon before returning to our accommodation. In the evening, we enjoy our final dinner together.
Total drive: 125mi (200km), 3hr 30min
Accommodation: Weltevrede Guestfarm (or similar)
Day 14 : Return To Windhoek; End
Meals Included: Breakfast
We typically have an early start this morning as we have a long drive back to Windhoek where the tour ends. If you’d like to spend a bit longer in Namibia, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
Total drive: 210mi (340km), six hours
Please note: The group transfer back to Windhoek is scheduled to align with a chosen flight to London, UK; therefore, you should not book flights leaving before then. Please contact your sales representative for the timings of this flight.
What's Included
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13 breakfasts, two lunches and seven dinners
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All accommodation
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All transport and listed activities
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Tour leader throughout
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Arrival and departure transfers (from Windhoek)
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Visas or vaccinations
Accommodation
For our time in Botswana and Namibia, we spend 11 nights in lodges/hotels and two nights full-service camping. Occasionally, we stay in permanent tented camps. These are comfortable rooms, in part made of canvas, with private bathrooms and are a quintessential African safari experience. Properties are comfortable, well located for our activities and some have swimming pools. Below are a few of the standouts.
Okavango Delta: Wild camping (nights 2-3)
The highlight stay on this trip for many is our two nights of wild camping in the Okavango Delta. Our neighbours, which you’ll likely hear shuffling around at night, include hippos, elephants and lions, while our away-from-it-all location normally allows us to see a night sky illuminated with stars. To make things easier, our camp is set up for us and all equipment is provided. We sleep in spacious, two-person tents fitted with thick foam mattresses and there is a bush shower and toilet, while dinner is taken around our atmospheric campfire.
Etosha National Park: Lodges (nights 7-8)
In Etosha, we stay within the national park itself – a huge plus for any animal lover. The resorts we use are either Halali or Namutoni. Both have a restaurant, swimming pool and bar but the highlights are the flood-lit waterholes where wildlife regularly stops to drink and bathe.
Brandberg: Brandberg White Lady Lodge (night 9)
Our Brandberg stay is in the middle of nowhere. From the viewpoint, you will not see another property, just the ruggedly beautiful landscape of Damaraland and possibly some desert elephants in the distance. There’s a dining area, well-stocked bar, lounge, and two swimming pools.
Worth knowing
Wifi is available in several properties but not everywhere, notably not in Sesriem or Etosha.
When visiting the Delta, we take only what we need for three days (sleeping bags and pillows are provided).
Due to the limited amount of accommodation within Etosha National Park, it is sometimes necessary to sleep outside the park. However, this is rare. Where we stay will not impact the number of game drives we have within the park.
Food
13 breakfasts, two lunches and seven dinners are included.
For meals not included, please allow the equivalent of approximately £12.50/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, 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.
Check out our Q&As
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Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
The minimum age for this tour is 16 years old.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes, our local guides are English speaking.
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Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.