Namibia Safari Special

After a short onward flight from Johannesburg, you’ll be met at Windhoek airport and transferred to your hotel in the suburbs. Later today, your 4WD hire car will be delivered and you’ll be briefed on your self-drive route, all the workings of the car and given some top tips for driving in Namibia. For dinner, we recommend Joe’s Beerhouse for a lively start or The Olive for something a little more upmarket.

There are two unforgettable guided activities planned for you today, all based around the wonderful work of the Africat Foundation. From leopard tracking and cheetah conservation to nature drives across the reserve, this will be a highlight of your Namibia safari holiday. After dinner, don’t miss the night hide, where porcupine and other nocturnal creatures come out to feed.

If you like, squeeze in one final Okonjima activity before driving north to Etosha, entering through the southern gate for a night at one of the park’s rest camps. Pull up a seat at the floodlit waterhole, grab a drink and let the wildlife come to you.

You’ll spend the day driving east through the heart of Etosha today, pausing at waterholes and spotting wildlife every mile of the way. After exiting through the eastern gate, you'll stay for two nights on the peaceful Onguma Reserve, just outside the park.

This morning, you’re in for a seriously special experience as you join a guided rhino tracking excursion, tracking white rhino. This is your chance to learn all about the conservation efforts in Onguma and maybe even see these incredible animals on foot if you’re lucky. This afternoon, you can head back into Etosha National Park for more wildlife encounters and a sundowner at your lodge.

Today is a bit of a longer drive (around 4–5 hours), ending near Rundu, the gateway to the Caprivi Strip. You’ll stay at a relaxed lodge on the banks of the Okavango River, where hippos and birds are often heard (and seen) from your terrace.

You’ll continue east into the Caprivi today. Stop at local craft stalls in Kongola before reaching your safari lodge near Mamili National Park for a two-night stay. The scenery here feels like a completely different country, lush, green and full of life.

Known as Namibia’s mini Okavango, Mamili is a floodplain area that's teeming with wildlife. You can self-drive if conditions allow, but guided activities are recommended, especially during the wetter months when flooding is likely. Expect to see elephant, hippo, buffalo and plenty of incredible birds on your adventures today.

It’s time to drive east again today, passing through Katima Mulilo before crossing the border into Botswana. You’ll drop off your car in Kasane and settle into your riverfront lodge, your base for the final two nights of your wildlife adventure.

You'll spend the day exploring Chobe National Park by boat or vehicle today. Cruises along the Chobe River are a real highlight, especially in the dry season when huge elephant herds gather at the water’s edge. Game drives can also be arranged in advance or on arrival, just chat to us if you think this is something you’d like to include.

This morning, you'll transfer across the border to Livingstone, Zambia. This is the most convenient place to board your flight to Johannesburg, before connecting to your overnight flight home.