World Wildlife Fund

Epic Botswana & Namibia Safari

August 16 – 31, 2011

This is the ultimate southern African safari. A small group of just eight travelers will cross a vast tract of Africa’s prime wildlife regions on a journey that evokes the classic safaris of old. 

• Explore Victoria Falls, the Namib Desert and the teeming waterways of the Okavango Delta.
• Tour out-of-the-way locales where we see far more big animals than people
• Stay in deluxe tented camps that are the apex of comfort and atmosphere in the bush.

Trip Itinerary

The dates below do not include travel time to and from the destination. Please consult our tour operator, Natural Habitat Adventures, to discuss your best flight options.

Tuesday, August 16: Livingstone, Zambia
A tour representative will meet you at the airport upon arrival and take you to the River Club, a wonderfully remote lodge set on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River, 18 kilometers upstream from Victoria Falls. The lodge consists of 10 luxury thatched chalets, facing westward into the sunset and onto the Zambezi National Park on the opposite side of the river.  

Visit the famed Victoria Falls – one of Africa’s greatest natural sights, and a perfect way to begin your safari. At Victoria Falls National Park, explore the rain forest walkway created by the mist of the falls. In the evening, set off on a sunset boat ride on the Zambezi River, followed by a group welcome dinner and orientation. River Club (D)

Wednesday – Friday, August 17 – 19: Linyanti Concession, Botswana
Take a morning ferry to Kasane, where you'll board a flight to Savuti Camp, situated in the southern part of the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve and built along the Savuti Channel. This is one of the best wildlife-viewing regions in Botswana. The channel stopped flowing in 1980, and what was a hippo-filled river is now wide open grasslands. The area has good concentrations of roan and sable antelope and giraffe, and all of the predators occur in the area – lions, leopards, cheetahs and wild dogs among them. As the waterhole in front of the camp is the only supply of water for a large area in the dry winter months, one of the highlights is the fantastic wildlife viewing directly from the camp. Day and night drives may reveal all the large predators as well as impalas, zebras, giraffes, wildebeest and other plains animals. Duma Tau (B,L,D daily)

Saturday & Sunday, August 20 & 21: Southeastern Okavango Delta
Fly by light aircraft to a deluxe bush camp bordering the acclaimed Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. The camp is set among all of the classic scenery one expects on an African safari – open floodplains, marshlands, acacia and mopane woodlands, riverine areas and grasslands stretching to the horizon. The wildlife in this renowned corner of the Okavango is as diverse as it is prolific, from elephants and impalas to lions and wild dogs. Chitabe Camp (B,L,D daily)

Monday & Tuesday, August 22 & 23: Okavango Delta 
Fly today into the heart of the shimmering Okavango Delta and Xigera Camp, located in the Moremi Game Reserve. Nestled in a magnificent riverine forest, Xigera consists of 10 tented rooms with en-suite facilities and an outdoor shower. Each room is raised off the ground on a wooden deck, offering a superb view of the seasonal floodplain and river. Meals and evening drinks are enjoyed under the thatch of the raised lounge, pub and dining area overlooking a permanently flowing channel. A traditional African boma offers alternative dining under the African stars. Wooden walkways wind through the shady forest connecting the rooms to the main living area. Permanent water allows us to enjoy an unparalleled variety of activities including foot safaris, mokoro (dugout canoe) trips, powerboat outings and drives (when water levels permit). Guests may be treated to exhilarating views of lions, hyenas or leopards padding across the bridge as they move between islands. Xigera Camp (B,L,D daily)

Wednesday & Thursday, August 24 & 25: Etosha National Park, Namibia 
Fly over dramatic desert landscapes to Etosha National Park (clearing customs en route) and our bush lodge set on an extensive private game reserve. Ongava Lodge gives us access to some of the best game viewing in Namibia and activities include day and night drives and walks. Within Etosha we will visit numerous permanent springs and pans, looking for elephants, lions, gemsbok, springbok and hartebeest. Black and white rhinos and cheetahs are less common, but may also be encountered. Ongava Lodge (B,L,D daily)

Friday & Saturday, August 26 & 27: Damaraland
Drive south to Damaraland Camp on the northern bank of the Huab River Valley and looking south toward the imposing Brandberg Mountains. Early morning mists, generated by the clash between the icy Atlantic Ocean and the warm desert air of the Skeleton Coast, drift inland along the dry river beds, providing sustenance to the flora and fauna of the region. The camp presents endless vistas across stark plains, ancient valleys and soaring peaks. Although wildlife is not concentrated, the rare, desert-adapted elephant roams in this area, alongside gemsbok (oryx), springbok, ostrich and other hardy desert animals. Rare succulent plants somehow manage to eke out an existence in this harsh countryside. Activities throughout the area will be in 4x4 vehicles and on foot. Damaraland Camp (B,L,D daily)

Sunday & Monday, August 28 & 29: Sossusvlei
Fly to Little Kulala Camp, enjoying awe-inspiring views of the Skeleton Coast where the desert meets the Atlantic Ocean. As we get close to our destination, we catch our first glimpses of the famous dunes of the Namib and Sossusvlei itself. Massive golden red sand dunes await in the oldest desert in the world. Wildlife may include springbok, gemsbok, ostrich, bat-eared fox and aardwolf. Nature walks, scenic drives and the unique Namib fauna and flora make this private reserve a special experience. Accommodations at Little Kulala Camp offer magnificent dune scenery to the west and a rugged, mountainous Namib escarpment to the north and east, with grassy plains and “fairy circles” filling the space in between. The camp’s 11 stylish thatched villas or kulalas (meaning "to sleep" in the local Oshiwambo language) merge impeccably into the timeless desert landscape. Little Kulala Camp (B,L,D daily)

Tuesday, August 30: Windhoek, Namibia
Enjoy your last awe-inspiring views of the desert floor and mountain vistas en route to Windhoek. Upon arrival, drive to the Olive Grove, a luxurious converted home with a wonderful view of the Klein Windhoek valley. Namibia was colonized in 1884 by Germany, and its capital, Windhoek, still exhibits much of the German history in its wonderful colonial buildings and atmosphere. Olive Grove (B,L,D)

Wednesday, August 31: Windhoek / Depart
Explore Windhoek on a cultural city tour starting in the center of the city and continuing to Katutura, a municipality developed in the late 1950s as an apartheid township. Also visit Penduka Woman's Project, with an opportunity to purchase local crafts. Transfer to the airport in the afternoon for your return flight home. (B)