Namibia & Botswana: Dunes & Delta

• 12 nights in lodges/hotels and two nights of full-service camping
• Travel by purpose-built overland bus, 4×4 vehicle and dugout canoe
• Some long drives

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.

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.