Botswana and Namibia Epic

• Fully Inclusive Scheduled Wilderness Safari
• 15 days/14 nights
• Rates starting from US$ 8760 per person sharing
• Starts: Windhoek Airport, Namibia
• Ends: Livingstone Airport, Zambia (also operates in reverse direction)
• Please note: This is a SCHEDULED ITINERARY run by Wilderness Safaris, your consultant will advise you of departure schedules.

Days 1 - 2: Kulala Wilderness Camp, Sossusvlei

From Windhoek, you travel approximately 380km to Kulala Wilderness Camp, enjoying awe-inspiring views of the mountains and the desert floor. En route, you stop for lunch close to the Khomas Hochland escarpment, with sweeping vistas of the desert below.

One of the most enduring impressions of this area is the early morning light on the sea of vivid orange dunes of Sossusvlei, some of the largest in the world. Afternoon activities include nature walks, drives to scenic viewpoints and leisure time so you can marvel at the unique Namib fauna and flora in the private Kulala Wilderness Reserve.

Kulala Wilderness Camp lies at the foot of a mountain facing west to catch the vibrant Namibian sunsets. On the edge of the oldest desert in the world, wildlife here is sparse but fascinating; sightings of animals such as springbok, gemsbok, ostrich, bat-eared fox and aardwolf are exciting in these rugged conditions.

Day 3:Hansa Hotel, Swakopmund

You travel north-west, by road, via the Kuiseb Canyon characterised by its dark, craggy fissures and past the moon-like landscape of flat gravel plains, with stops along the way that include viewing the extraordinary Welwitschia plants. You arrive at the grand Hansa Hotel in Swakopmund in the late afternoon, allowing sufficient time to explore this quaint town on foot.

The grand three-star Hansa Hotel forms part of Swakopmund's architectural culture and dates back to 1905; it is ideally situated in the town centre and within easy walking distance of both the town and the beach.

Days 4 - 5: Damaraland Camp, Damaraland

Today you cover approximately 280km, heading partially up the legendary Skeleton Coast – which derives its name from the numerous shipwrecks caused by the treacherous shores over the years – to the Cape Cross seal colony, home to thousands of Cape fur seals. From here you drive along back roads through the game rich Ugab riverbed, journeying north past the Brandberg Mountain to Damaraland Camp.

Travelling through this area, you are afforded the opportunity to visit the remote petrified forests and experience the Gai As spring, with its archaeological stone circles. This all-day excursion, with lunch en route, ends with your arrival at Damaraland Camp.

Damaraland is a region of stark desert beauty. Early morning mists, generated by the clash between the icy Atlantic and warm desert air of the Skeleton Coast, drift inland along the canyons, providing sustenance to the flora and fauna in this harsh region.

Activities in this area include explorations on foot, by mountain bike or 4x4 vehicle, viewing springbok, gemsbok and ostrich, and tracking the unique desert-adapted elephant

Days 6, 7: Ongava Tented Camp, Etosha National Park

You depart Damaraland Camp and drive into the Huab riverbed in search of the rare desert-adapted elephants, before heading in a north easterly direction to Etosha National Park. You will be staying in an exclusive bush Camp in Ongava, a private game reserve which borders Etosha, giving you the chance to experience the prime game viewing that Etosha National Park has to offer.

Activities include day and night drives, walks and hides. Within Etosha you visit numerous perennial springs and pans, thereby encountering a myriad of diverse species which inhabit the area. Back at camp there is a small pool where you can cool off in the heat of the day, between safari activities.

Days 8, 9: Xigera Mokoro Trails, Okavango Delta

You enjoy a scenic air charter over dramatic desert landscapes to the shimmering wilderness of the Xigera concession in the heart of the Okavango Delta. This flight includes some border crossings; therefore, you have to make stops in Grootfontein, Namibia and also Maun, Botswana to clear immigration formalities.

There is no better way to experience the Okavango than to travel through it by mokoro (local dug-out canoe), walking and camping out on a verdant island - all essential elements of the Xigera Mokoro Trails experience. The aim of the experience is to afford you a glimpse of the permanently flooded inner delta, its serene waterways and tranquil, foliage-rich islands. Since mobility is key to the experience guest tents are smaller dome tents here than the rest of the safari, bedrolls are on the ground and a battery-powered lamp provides light.

Activities include mokoro and walking safaris, which enable up-close encounters with the excellent diversity of birdlife (including Pel's Fishing Owl), frogs and multitude of game species, some specially adapted to water, such as the rare sitatunga and the familiar red lechwe. Walking activities vary in length and duration through the seasons, especially in the months when the Okavango is at peak flood and they become shorter (June, July and August) as more islands become flooded.

Days 10, 11: Ketumetse Trails Camp, North-eastern Okavango Delta

This morning’s departure, by aircraft, sees you on your way to the superb Ketumetse Trails Camp, situated in an exclusive concession. Ketumetse is located in the south-western sector of the Selinda private concession, in the seasonally flooded portion of the Okavango Delta where it joins into the Selinda Spillway.

The exclusive Discoverer campsite is been erected prior to your arrival in the wildlife-rich seasonal plains region under large shade trees, affording some views of the floodplain in cool comfort.

Activities concentrate around the bushy and wooded islands, open plains and the flooded and dry channels surrounding the camp. In this area seasonal congregations of wildlife, especially in the late afternoons, make for a great experience on game drives, night drives and nature walks on the private concession.

Days 12,13: Linyanti Discoverer Camp, Linyanti region

After a light breakfast, you drive north eastwards to the private Linyanti Concession; arriving at another private Discoverer camp, elegantly set up under African ebony and knobthorn acacia trees overlooking panoramic vistas of the Linyanti Swamps. This journey involves an all-day game drive/transfer, with lunch at a shady place en route. This game/transfer drive is specifically designed to gain an intimate view of the "Stolen River" as well as enjoying a part of the Selinda Spillway and its rich floodplains.

The landscape of the Linyanti varies from floodplains to open dry land savannah and forested habitat with sweeping views, creating a paradise for a high diversity of wildlife and bird species. Activities include game drives in the private northern sector of the concession, exploring a range of habitats, from riverbanks to scrub and forest.

The seldom-seen sitatunga can also be spotted in the waterways, as well as rare plains game, such as roan and sable antelope and of course their predators, the lion and leopard - with the endangered wild dog as an incredible bonus. You go on a game drive to a private area for lunch, followed by a siesta in a hammock and the possibility of an afternoon canoe trip, before returning to camp at dusk.

To complete the experience, in the rainy season, you can possibly enjoy a full-day activity to the Savute Channel, with lunch at a scenic setting under a shady tree. The spectacular but seasonal (rain dependant) zebra migration moves between Linyanti and the Savute Marsh from November to March, the area also boasts an impressive diversity of mammals.

Day 14: Chobe River boat cruise, Chobe National Park and The River Club, Zambia

After a short morning drive and breakfast, you depart by light aircraft for the northern region of Chobe National Park. This area is famous for its vast herds of elephants in the dry season and other unique species such as the elusive puku and Chobe bushbuck that move to the river in the hottest hours of the day. Enjoy lunch on a cruise in a catamaran-style shaded boat.

You leave Botswana and enter Zambia by way of the Kazungula border, a point where the four countries of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia meet, arriving in the late afternoon at The River Club, in Livingstone.

The River Club is situated 18km upstream from Victoria Falls. The camp has a distinct Edwardian flavour and guests here have the opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Zambezi River in a peaceful and tranquil setting away from the crowds. The Zambezi National Park is located just across the river, and elephants can often be seen on the riverbank. Bird life is prolific in the area and hippos are regularly sighted along the river's edge.

Day 15: Guided tour of the Victoria Falls and transfer to Livingstone Airport

Victoria Falls is one of the “Seven Natural Wonders of the World” and arguably the greatest waterfall in the world. This epic Exploration comes to a fitting end with a guided tour to the Victoria Falls, ending with a transfer to the airport.