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Map of Premium Botswana & Namibia including Botswana and Namibia

Magnificent wildlife and otherworldly landscapes await in Botswana and Namibia

From ethereal landscapes to rich wildlife, experience the best of Botswana and Namibia on a 17-day Premium adventure. Look out for wildlife in Chobe National Park, cruise down the Chobe River, hang out with a family of meerkats and admire the curious beauty of the Makgadikgadi Pans. Marvel at the desert landscapes of Swakopmund and Sossusvlei, uncover petrified forests in Damaraland and search for animals in the vast Etosha National Park. With the guidance of experienced local leaders along the way, discover two remarkable countries that will leave you in awe.

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Terms & Conditions
Start
Kasane, Botswana
Finish
Windhoek, Namibia
Destinations
Botswana, Namibia
Style
Premium
Theme
Wildlife
Code
UBPDC
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

premium accommodation

Our best accommodation and highest level of service.

premium experiences

Unusual, exceptional and authentic on-trip experiences.

premium knowledge

Led by our most experienced and highest rated local leaders.

  • Packed full of animal viewing opportunities, enjoy game drives, guided nature walks and boat cruises in Etosha National Park, the Boteti River and the iconic Chobe National Park.

  • Enjoy two magnificent Feature Stays – a perfectly positioned camp on the Namibian banks of the Chobe River, and a lodge in the Naukluft Mountains offering views of the ethereal desert landscape.

  • Climb the iconic Dune 45, visit the Damara Living Museum, explore the Deadvlei Salt Pans and Sesriem Canyon, and enjoy an Exclusive Experience nature drive through Sesriem’s desert.

  • Uncover the unique beauty of the Makgadikgadi Pans during an Exclusive Experience – a 4x4 excursion through the sprawling landscape, stopping for drinks and snacks as the sun goes down.

  • Enjoy Exclusive Experiences at the Boteti River, including morning and night game drives and a guided nature walk on a private conservancy. Here, lions, leopards and wild dogs are regular visitors.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This itinerary features some long travel days, which can be exacerbated by bumpy African roads. Please review the approximate durations of travel listed throughout the itinerary.

  • As the early bird catches the worm, the early camper sights the animals. There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.

UBPB - Included activity: River Cruise
UBPN - Namibia Feature Stay: Desert Hill Lodge outdoor pool
Dramatic landscapes in Sossusvlei, Namibia
UBPB - Travellers on game drive spotting animals in Chobe NP, Botswana
UBPB - Travellers watching sunset at Chobe NP
Zebras by the waterhole in Etosha National Park, Namibia
UBPN - Namibia Feature Stay: Desert Hill Lodge interior twin room
UBPB - Feature Stay: Chobe River Camp from a birds eye view

Itinerary
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Welcome to Botswana! Your adventure begins at Chobe National Park – one of Africa’s premier wildlife destinations and home to its largest population of Elephants. You will be collected from the airport and transferred to your accommodation on the banks of the Chobe River at the fringe of the national park. Here you will meet your tour leader and small group of fellow travellers for a 6pm welcome meeting. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. After your meeting, join your group and leader for dinner at the lodge. Enjoy a celebration of indigenous food and the rich flavours of Africa as you dine alongside the scenic Chobe River.
Accommodation
  • Chobe Safari Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Chobe - Welcome Dinner
  • Complimentary airport arrival transfer
Optional Activities
  • Chobe National Park - 4x4 Game Drive - BWP580
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
An airport arrival transfer with your trip is included. This transfer is valid if arriving today or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Intrepid. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 15 days prior to travel.

Rise early for a morning game drive in Chobe National Park. You might see elephants drinking at the water's edge, large herds of cape buffaloes and many impalas within the park. Head back to the lodge for breakfast, then journey to the Ngoma Border Post before continuing to the Namibian side of the Chobe River. Here you will find your Feature Stay accommodation, the fabulous Chobe River Camp, in a prime position across the river from the world-renowned Chobe Nature Reserve. Tented chalets are gorgeously constructed in line with the camp's green philosophy, using indigenous Mopane timber and canvas. Enjoy home comforts in a wild setting, including solar power, en suite bathrooms and a private deck offering unrivalled views of the vast, wildlife-rich bush. Arrive in time for a hearty lunch at the lodge, then enjoy some downtime to relax by the pool, spot wildlife from the bar or soak up the wild surroundings on the banks of the Chobe River. Speak to your leader about some fabulous optional activities for the afternoon, including a canoe trip, guided walking trail or a birding drive.
Accommodation
  • Chobe River Camp (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Chobe National Park - 4x4 Game Drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 2.5 hours (excluding border crossing).

After breakfast, head out for a full-day cruise on the Chobe River. The privileged position of your camp allows you to access a part of the river that most visitors don’t get to see, which means you’ll have the special opportunity to view abundant wildlife without the crowds. This region offers a wildlife spotting experience like no other – with a bit of luck you will see large herds of elephants, buffalo and antelope. Enjoy lunch and refreshments on and island, explore the channels of the river and dock at a small island to appreciate the diverse bird life. After a memorable day, return to your lodge just in time for sunset – perhaps grab a drink at the bar to watch the changing colours of the spectacular landscape.
Accommodation
  • Chobe River Camp (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Chobe River - Full Day Boat Cruise & Lunch
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Heading south, continue your journey to the vast salt flats and grassy plains of the Makgadikgadi Pans. Located in the north-east of Botswana, the Makgadikgadi Pans are situated in the middle of a dry savanna and are all that remain of the former Lake Makgadikgadi. This afternoon, get to know your gold-hued, otherworldly surroundings during a 4x4 excursion. The immense, sprawling salt flat will unfold in front of you as you look out for aardvark, ostriches and mongooses. Surrounded by the Nata sanctuary, a breeding ground for thousands of water birds, the horizon is tinted pink by clouds of flamingos and pelicans. Savour the ethereal landscape as you sit out on the pans and enjoy drinks and snacks as the sun sets. Return to the lodge for dinner and relive the highlights of an exciting day.
Accommodation
  • Nata Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Makgadikgadi Pans - Sunset 4x4 Excursion & Sundowner
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 5 hours.

Embrace a very early start this morning and head out with a packed breakfast in hand. Today’s experience will surely be one to remember. Travel to the edge of the Ntwetwe salt pan, home to a resident family of entertaining Meerkats. With the aid of trackers, arrive in time to observe their morning rituals as the sun rises. Watch the meerkats bask in the morning sun before heading out for their daily foraging – the fantastic conditions and lighting will help you snap an unforgettable picture of these marvellous creatures. Stop at a neighbouring lodge for lunch, then continue to the Boteti River. Another magnificent spot for viewing wildlife, the river attracts some 25,000 zebras each year who migrate from the neighbouring Makgadigadi Pans Game Reserve. As the only permanent source of water in the area, the river also receives visits from lions, cheetah, oryx, springbok, giraffe, elephants and many more. In the evening, retire to your delightful eco-lodge, featuring tented rooms with en suites and solar power.
Accommodation
  • Leopard Plains Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Makgadikgadi Pans - Meerkat Pan Experience
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 3 hours.

Start the day with a 4x4 game drive under the guidance of a skilled game ranger. Your eco-lodge has a private conservancy, home to antelopes, blue wildebeest, zebras and giraffes. Predators like lions, leopards and wild dogs also make regular appearances on the farm. Your ranger will share knowledge about the habits of these animals as you seek them out. After your exhilarating game drive, return to your lodge for lunch and some downtime to relax by the pool. In the evening, embark on nighttime game drive through the private conservancy to search for animals that reveal themselves as the sun goes down – a special opportunity not always possible in the national parks.
Accommodation
  • Leopard Plains Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Boteti River - Private Concession Morning 4x4 Game Drive
  • Boteti River - Private Concession Evening 4x4 Game Drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Set out on a guided nature walk this morning with a professional guide. View plants, trees and animals from a different perspective and observe close-up details often missed on game drives. Your guide will provide expert knowledge and help you gain a deeper understanding of the environment. Then it's time to head to Maun, the gateway of the Okavango Delta. This afternoon you'll take a flight to Windhoek, known for colonial German architecture and a relaxed atmosphere. On arrival, you will be picked up from the airport and transferred to your hotel.
Accommodation
  • AM Weinberg Boutique Hotel or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Currently, there are no direct flights operating between Maun and Windhoek. Your flight will transit through Johannesburg.

Spend the day on your own exploring Windhoek. Return to your hotel in the evening for a meeting at 6pm to welcome any new travellers joining you on the next leg of your adventure. After the meeting, head to your boutique hotel’s sky lounge for a tapas dinner made with the freshest local ingredients. From here you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding valley – a perfect spot to watch the sun go down.
Accommodation
  • AM Weimberg Boutique Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Windhoek - Welcome Dinner
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group will likely change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary. We suggest you attend, as this is also a great chance to meet your new fellow travellers. It’s important that you attend the welcome meeting as your new group leader will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

This morning, drive south to Sesriem, your gateway to the Sossusvlei Dunes, Deadvlei, and Sesriem Canyon. Arrive at the Desert Hills Lodge in the Naukluft Mountains, your Feature Stay accommodation for the next two nights. Thatched roofed chalets are inspired by the Namib desert’s nomadic inhabitants, and feature modern amenities and spacious en suite bathrooms. Each chalet faces west, playing to the striking desert sunsets, and you’ll enjoy a private balcony to soak in your spectacular surroundings. Enjoy lunch at the lodge’s restaurant, with the otherworldly landscape stretching far in each direction, then spend the afternoon relaxing by the bar or next to the fantastic pool. Later on, head out on a guided four-wheel drive (4x4) nature drive to discover the unique flora and fauna of the desert. Stop for a drink to take it all in as the sun sets then return to the lodge for dinner.
Accommodation
  • Desert Hills Lodge (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sesriem - Guided Nature Drive & Sundowners
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 6 hours, including stops.

Make an early-morning visit to Sossusvlei, which lies at the end of an ancient riverbed. This is a great opportunity for unsurpassed views of the surrounding area. Climbing to the top of Dune 45 will reward you with a spectacular perspective of the surreal desert landscape. After breakfast, travel to Deadvlei, a clay pan that lends itself to many iconic images. When you see the skeleton trees against a vibrant orange backdrop of dunes, you’ll soon understand what all the fuss is about. The pan is surrounded by some of the highest dunes in the world, 'Big Daddy' or 'Crazy Dune' average about 350 metres in height. In the afternoon you will visit Sesriem Gorge, a tranquil natural corridor that you can walk through and explore. Return to the lodge for the evening.
Accommodation
  • Desert Hills Lodge (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sesriem - Sossusvlei & Deadvlei Salt Pan Visit
  • Sesriem - Dune 45 Visit
  • Sesriem - Sesriem Canyon Visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Continue your journey to the beachside town of Swakopmund on the Skeleton Coast. Stop by the small settlement of Solitaire. Scattered with abandoned trucks, cars, petrol pumps and cacti, it's the only place between Walvis Bay and Sossusvlei to feature a petrol station, post office, general store, and bakery. Enjoy a piece of the local apple pie which has earned itself quite a reputation. Continue on past moon valley, named for its eerie lunar-like appearance, and the Tropic of Capricorn. Walvis Bay is the hibernation area for thousands of migratory birds, most notably flamingos. If in season you may take quick detour to see these elegant birds. Upon arrival at Swakopmund take some time for lunch, then join your leader on an orientation walk to get a feel for this interesting township with a German-Namibian atmosphere.
Accommodation
  • The Delight Swakopmund or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Solitaire - Bakery Visit & Apple Pie Tasting
  • Swakopmund - Leader-led Orientation Tour
  • Walvis Bay - Visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 6 hours, including stops.

The day is yours to enjoy this gorgeous coastal town. Your accommodation conveniently located within walking distance of the town, where you can enjoy a walk on the beach, open air markets or the local museum. You may wish to take an optional trip north to Cape Cross, a breeding site for Cape fur seals. There can be in excess of 100,000 seals there at any given time, making for quite the spectacle (quite a smell too, if the wind happens to change direction). Wander the coastline and attempt to document these beautiful creatures with a photo or two, and visit the large cross that lies nearby, left by Diego Cao, the first European to arrive on Namibian soil in 1485.
Accommodation
  • The Delight Swakopmund or similar (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Swakopmund - Swakopmund Museum - USD2
  • Swakopmund - Seal and dolphin cruise - USD60
  • Swakopmund - Fishing trip - USD120
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Your leader will take you to a local activity centre where a range of activities will be on offer. We have not risk assessed all activities and only those listed in Optional Activities are recommended. It is against our policy for leaders to facilitate the booking of any activities that have not been risk assessed or do not adhere to our company’s Responsible Travel policy and ethos. This includes organising transport to and from these activities in our vehicles.

Leave the Atlantic Ocean coastline behind and drive towards the Namib Desert, along a portion of the Skeleton Coast. Take in the beautiful, diverse and colourful landscapes that stream past along the way; mountains, sand dunes, ocean waves and, shipwrecks. Continue to Damaraland. Home to Namibia's highest peak, ancient rock paintings and petrified forests, the harshly beautiful and sparsely populated Damaraland region is a land of extraordinary contrasts. Depending on the time of year, you might be lucky enough to see the desert elephants that roam the area. Your accommodation while here features a centrepiece swimming pool fringed by beautiful chalets, each with a private garden. End the day with a walk to a viewing platform to take in truly remarkable views of the surrounding Mopane woodland. The best spot to enjoy a drink as the sun goes down.
Accommodation
  • Damara Mopane Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Damaraland - Sunset Walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 6 hours, including stops.

Spend the morning visiting the Twyfelfontein Heritage Site and the Petrified Forest with expert local guides to provide insight on these wonders. Twyfelfontein has one of the largest concentrations of ancient rock engraving in southern Africa and is a fascinating insight into the past. The Petrified Forest looks back into nature’s history, where 280-million-year-old fossilised tree trunks lie. Continue on to the Living Museum of the Damara, which aims to reconstruct and preserve the 'lost culture’ of the Damara people. Your leader will tell you all about this fascinating traditional culture that is, along with the Bushmen, the oldest in Namibia. Return to the lodge in the afternoon, with the rest of the day free to relax by the pool with a book.
Accommodation
  • Damara Mopane Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Damaraland - Twyfelfontein Bushman Paintings
  • Damaraland - Twyfelfontein Heritage Site
  • Damaraland - Petrified Forest
  • Damaraland - Living Museum of the Damara
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
We will be accompanied by local guides at both the Petrified forest and the Twyfelfontein sites. The guided walks take between 30-60 mins and although not difficult there are some steep rocks and hills at the Twyfelfontein site. It can get hot at this time of day so be sure to have a hat, sunscreen and a bottle of water with you.

On instances where we use an alternative lodge to Mopane Lodge, the included activities scheduled for today may occur a day earlier to minimise driving time.

Leave Damaraland behind and head towards Etosha National Park. On arrival, the afternoon will be free to relax at your lodge. Maybe cool off in the pool, read a book, or enjoy a sundowner by the bar. Be sure to charge your camera tonight as tomorrow will be a full day in the park. This is one of the world's premier game-viewing destinations; spotting animals in the park is relatively easy due to the man-made waterholes and the large, sparsely vegetated pans. The bushland surrounding the pans is difficult to see through, but there are enough clearings, pans and waterholes to allow for sightings. Namibia has protected its game reserves against poaching, so there are large herds of elephants, antelope and other herbivores.
Accommodation
  • Etosha Safari Lodge or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 5 hours, including stops. Many of the roads we travel on today will be untarred and often corrugated. They are some of the worst on this itinerary so be prepared from some extra bumps.

Rise early for a morning 4x4 game drive in the Etosha National Park. Keep a close eye on the landscape for black rhino, Hartmann's mountain zebra, black-faced impala, roan antelope and the tiny Damara dik-dik. The park is also home to some 340 bird species. Retire to a rest camp within the park for lunch and a swim, a welcome break from the midday sun, then set out again for an afternoon game drive in search of any wildlife you may have missed on the morning outing. Return to the lodge and reflect on the day's adventures with your fellow travellers over dinner.
Accommodation
  • Etosha Safari Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Etosha NP - PM Game Drive (4x4)
  • Etosha NP - AM Game Drive (4x4)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

This morning after breakfast you will make your way back to Windhoek. Your adventure comes to an end on arrival. Please do not book any international flights departing from Windhoek before 8pm this evening to allow for any unexpected delays. If you would like to extend your stay, additional accommodation can be booked in advance (subject to availability).
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 8 hours, including stops.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

16 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 13 dinners

Transport

4x4, Open safari vehicle, Boat, Private vehicle

Accommodation

Lodge (12 nights), Hotel (4 nights)

Included activities

  • Chobe - Welcome Dinner
  • Complimentary airport arrival transfer
  • Chobe National Park - 4x4 Game Drive
  • Chobe River - Full Day Boat Cruise & Lunch
  • Makgadikgadi Pans - Sunset 4x4 Excursion & Sundowner
  • Makgadikgadi Pans - Meerkat Pan Experience
  • Boteti River - Private Concession Morning 4x4 Game Drive
  • Boteti River - Private Concession Evening 4x4 Game Drive
  • Windhoek - Welcome Dinner
  • Sesriem - Guided Nature Drive & Sundowners
  • Sesriem - Sossusvlei & Deadvlei Salt Pan Visit
  • Sesriem - Dune 45 Visit
  • Sesriem - Sesriem Canyon Visit
  • Solitaire - Bakery Visit & Apple Pie Tasting
  • Swakopmund - Leader-led Orientation Tour
  • Walvis Bay - Visit
  • Damaraland - Sunset Walk
  • Damaraland - Twyfelfontein Bushman Paintings
  • Damaraland - Twyfelfontein Heritage Site
  • Damaraland - Petrified Forest
  • Damaraland - Living Museum of the Damara
  • Etosha NP - PM Game Drive (4x4)
  • Etosha NP - AM Game Drive (4x4)

Premium Inclusions

  • Arrival airport transfer
  • Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
  • Luggage transfer
  • Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
  • 24/7 on-ground support

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Premium Botswana & Namibia trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

Travellers on Intrepid trips that start on or before 31 December 2022 are required to produce proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. Learn more about Intrepid’s COVID-19 policy.

1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you'd prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip;and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. Travel is always an adventure and, as destinations reopen, there are a few challenges as everyone gets back up to speed and adjusts to the new normal. Our leaders are experts when it comes to dealing with anything unexpected along the journey, so pack your understanding and flexibility, sit back and relax while they take care of the rest.
4. Our operator has advised that customers with the J&J vaccine and no booster may have difficulty crossing the border into Botswana (and potentially Zimbabwe) without a negative test result. This information conflicts with various government travel advice websites. We recommend you check with your local consulate before travel to ensure you have the most up to date information.
5. Border crossing delays in the region have been sporadic and difficult to predict as travel rebounds. What takes an hour one day may take four hours the next. This may affect the order of activities in the itinerary. We understand this uncertainty can be frustrating, and we strongly recommend packing a bit of patience and flexibility.

Essential trip information

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