Guided Botswana Offroad Tour

Welcome to Namibia!

Internation flight to Hosea Kutako International Airport [Windhoek]

A driver meets you at the international airport in Windhoek. He takes you straight to the rental station, where the handover goes quickly and smoothly.

Then you meet Rainer or an English-speaking colleague for the Meet and Greet. You get all the important documents for the journey, can ask whatever you like, and go through the details of the tour once more.

The rest of the day is yours to explore Windhoek or do any last-minute shopping. Namibia’s capital has plenty of restaurants, shops, and places to stay, and it is notably clean and well organised.

The sights worth seeing in Windhoek include Christ Church, the Independence Museum, the historic Tintenpalast, and the Old Fortress. Enjoy this first day and let the beauty and variety of the country win you over!

Includes:

Airport Transfer

Destination:

Windhoek

Accommodation:

Naankuse @ Utopia

Today marks the beginning of your adventure in Botswana.

You meet your guide Rainer in the morning; he is with you for the self-drive off-road safari over the coming days.

A long day of driving lies ahead, but the thought of what is coming carries you along. You cross the border into Botswana around midday, usually a straightforward formality.

You reach the beautiful lodge near Ghanzi in the evening, where comfortable rooms and a good dinner wait after a day on the road. We sleep at the lodge campsite, though the fixed rooms are an option too. Say which you prefer when you book. Take in the atmosphere and unwind, with exciting days of adventure in Botswana ahead.

Includes:

Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. Beverages are not included – please bring your own drinks.

Exclusive:

Road levy at the Botswana border post –
approximately BWP 300.

Destination:

Kalahari

Accommodation:

Palm Afrique Lodge & Campsite

An Exciting Start to the Central Kalahari!

Our off-road adventure into this fascinating area starts today. We take gravel roads first, then off-road tracks, and work our way through the deep sands of the Kalahari. A region full of game, and of predators such as big cats.

We camp right in the middle of this breathtaking wilderness in the evening. Deception Valley rises among a series of beautiful pans known as Pipers Pan, a place of exceptional beauty where pans of different sizes and soils run into a complex pattern of ecosystems.

Waving grass covers parts of the main pan, where lions often lie up through the heat of the day. Meerkats and ground squirrels live along the edges, and birds of prey patrol the ancient shores. Exploring the pristine wilderness of the Kalahari and seeing its wonders up close promises to be unforgettable.

Includes:

Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. Beverages are not included – please bring your own drinks.

Additional extras:

Park entrance fees for people and vehicles included (Central Kalahari National Park)

Destination:

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Accommodation:

Xade Campsite

The safari in the Central Kalahari carries on today. We roam the bush along small, sandy tracks, always looking out for the abundant wildlife of the region.

With a bit of luck, we may encounter the famous black-maned Kalahari lions, cheetahs, brown hyenas, or large herds of antelope. Giraffes, zebras, ostriches, and a wide variety of birds of prey are also commonly seen in this region.

We drive to our campsite in the evening, in the heart of the wilderness. We gather round the campfire under a clear starry sky, swapping stories and going back over the day. Stay alert, though: the campsites are unfenced and wild animals can walk through at any time. We hope for more sightings, and stay under the spell of the beauty and silence around us.

Includes:

Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. Beverages are not included – please bring your own drinks.

Additional extras:

Park entrance fees for people and vehicles included (Central Kalahari National Park)

Destination:

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Accommodation:

Piper Pans Campsite

Final Night in the Central Kalahari

We spend our last full day exploring the breathtaking wilderness of the Central Kalahari. Once again, we venture through its diverse landscapes of vast grasslands, ancient acacia trees, and expansive salt pans, which provide a habitat for an incredible variety of wildlife.

Later in the afternoon, we return to our final campsite in the Central Kalahari. As the sun begins to set and the evening air cools, there is time to reflect on the memorable experiences of the past few days. We gather for a delicious dinner around the campfire.

As with all campsites in the park, there are no fences separating us from the surrounding wilderness. With a bit of luck, we may once again hear the distant roar of a lion or the unmistakable laughter of a hyena during the night.

Includes:

Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. Beverages are not included – please bring your own drinks.

Destination:

Makgadikgadi National Park

Accommodation:

Sunday Pan Campsites

We leave the Central Kalahari and its untouched wilderness today through the Matswere Gate in the east. Adventurous tracks take us through the region’s stunning landscape to the paved road at Rakops, where we can refuel and stock up for the road ahead.

Well-maintained tar roads then carry us through the vast, quiet landscapes of Botswana, whose gentle beauty never fails to impress. We reach our destination in the afternoon, a cosy campsite near Orapa, and enjoy the quiet before the next adventures.

Includes:

Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. Beverages are not included – please bring your own drinks.

Destination:

Makgadikgadi National Park

Accommodation:

Tuuthebe Lodge

We head today for one of Botswana’s most fascinating destinations: Kubu Island. The route runs first through enchanting Mopane woodlands, where small clearings break the dense vegetation. We enjoy the peace and perhaps spot animals hiding among the trees.

The forests fall away and the landscape opens into vast, endless plains. We reach the striking salt pans, surreal in their beauty and overwhelming in their sense of space. We arrive in the afternoon at the magical gem that is Kubu Island, a granite hill rising out of the salt pan. Ancient baobabs stand round it like guardians over this mystical place, and from the top a breathtaking view opens over what looks like an endless expanse of salt.

Includes:

Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. Beverages are not included – please bring your own drinks.

Destination:

Kubu Island

Accommodation:

Kubu Island Camp

We say goodbye to Kubu Island and make for Gweta. Our route runs along the vast, breathtaking salt pans, an awe-inspiring sight that shows once more the magic of this landscape. Conditions permitting, we may even cross parts of the pans and see the shimmering salt flats up close.

We arrive in Gweta in the afternoon, where a cosy lodge and campsite wait. We unwind after the drive and enjoy the quiet as the day ends, and the large swimming pool holds clear, cool water for a refreshing swim.

Includes:

Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. Beverages are not included – please bring your own drinks.

Destination:

Makgadikgadi National Park

Accommodation:

Planet Baobab Campsite

The Boteti River

We start on tarred roads before heading into the wilderness of the fascinating Makgadikgadi National Park. Sandy tracks then lead us through the park’s varied country to the picturesque Boteti River.

With a bit of luck we see an impressive variety of game along the riverbanks. The Boteti draws elephants, zebras, and antelopes down to drink, especially in the dry season, and lions and leopards turn up now and then, a paradise for anyone who loves wildlife.

Our campsite is beautifully located right on the banks of the Boteti River, in the heart of Makgadikgadi National Park. Here, we can unwind and enjoy the peaceful beauty of our natural surroundings as the day comes to a close.

Includes:

Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. Beverages are not included – please bring your own drinks.

Note:

Destination:

Makgadikgadi National Park

Accommodation:

Boteti River Camp

We say goodbye to the game along the Boteti River and to the impressive Makgadikgadi National Park and make for Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Well-maintained roads carry us through Botswana’s varied country. Maun is a busy hub for travellers heading into the Delta, and we restock supplies and refuel there, important preparation for the adventure ahead.

We carry on from Maun, closer and closer to the spectacular Okavango Delta. Our destination is the southern entrance of the Moremi Game Reserve, where more of Africa’s incredible wildlife waits.

Includes:

Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. Beverages are not included – please bring your own drinks.

Destination:

Okavango Delta

Accommodation:

Kaziikini Campsite

We explore the breathtaking Moremi Game Reserve today, working through deep water crossings and over small wooden bridges, always looking out for elephants, antelopes, big cats, and many other fascinating animals.

We travel mostly on narrow, sandy tracks through the dense Mopane woodlands of Moremi. We reach our campsite inside the park in the afternoon and spend the night under the stars, surrounded by the sounds of the wilderness. An unforgettable night, deep in the beauty and variety of the reserve.

Includes:

Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. Beverages are not included – please bring your own drinks.

Destination:

Okavango Delta

Accommodation:

Third Bridge Campsite

The Khwai Area

We have time for more of the beautiful Moremi Game Reserve. Once again we work through deep water crossings and over small wooden bridges, watching for elephants, antelopes, big cats, and other animals.

We travel mainly on small sandy tracks through the dense mopane forest of Moremi. We leave the reserve in the late afternoon and cross the bridge over the Khwai River, where our lovely guesthouse waits for the night.

After an exciting day of sightings and adventure in Moremi, we can relax and go back over what we have seen, a pleasant, restful night in a cosy guesthouse. If we arrive in time, we may even book a mokoro (dugout canoe) ride on the spot.

Includes:

Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. Beverages are not included – please bring your own drinks.

Destination:

Khwai Community Concession

Accommodation:

Khwai Guest House

We leave Khwai and head north through the Chobe National Park. Much of the route is challenging, sandy, and sometimes very rough, so we may not get above 20 km/h for long stretches. We camp in the evening at the beautiful Thobolo’s Bush Lodge campground; the fixed rooms are an option too, say which you prefer when you book.

After a day of exciting driving in the bush, we enjoy the comforts of the lodge or the atmosphere of the campground, with more of the Chobe National Park to come.

Includes:

Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. Beverages are not included – please bring your own drinks.

Note:

Each guest pays their own park entrance fee for Chobe National Park at the gate. You can usually pay by card, but carry cash in Botswana Pula as well in case of technical problems. Draw it from an ATM as you arrive in Botswana to avoid delays at the gate.

Destination:

Chobe National Park

Accommodation:

Thobolo’s Bush Lodge

We leave the bushlands of northern Botswana behind and make our way to the Chobe River, Botswana’s northernmost border river. Small tracks follow the river, which is famous for its wildlife. Animals come down from the park to drink, so we may see large herds of elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, giraffes, and big cats, with crocodiles and hippos in the water.

In the evening, we stay at one of the many lodges or guesthouses near Kasane, many of which are beautifully situated along the riverfront.

Includes:

Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. Beverages are not included – please bring your own drinks.

Destination:

Chobe National Park

Accommodation:

Tlou Safari Lodge

We hand the rental vehicles back to a representative of the car rental company at our accommodation in the morning, at the agreed time. A shuttle bus then takes us to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. We use the shuttle on purpose, as taking our own vehicles across the border is slow and expensive and we do not need them at the falls.

The visa costs approximately USD 30 and can be purchased by most nationalities directly at the border. Please check in advance whether this also applies to your country of citizenship. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure. You may wish to enjoy a helicopter flight over the magnificent Victoria Falls or choose from the many other exciting activities available in the area.

Includes:

Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. Beverages are not included – please bring your own drinks.

Destination:

The Victoria Falls

Accommodation:

Bayete Guest Lodge

We give ourselves another leisurely day at the majestic Victoria Falls. We visit the Rainforest National Park in the morning and explore the falls on foot, along scenic trails that wind past the roaring water as it drops into the gorge. Closer to the heart of the rainforest, the mist of the falls settles over us. The paths open view after view of the spectacle, an unmatched way to feel the sheer force of the water. The walk ends with an impressive view of the historic iron bridge over the mighty Zambezi.

A shuttle picks us up in the late afternoon and takes us to a jetty on the Zambezi. An amazing sunset cruise with dinner on board waits there, a fantastic way to see the river above the falls and end the day.

Includes:

Breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner. Beverages are not included – please bring your own drinks.

Destination:

The Victoria Falls

Accommodation:

Bayete Guest Lodge