10 Night Botswana & Namibia Lodge-based Self-drive (Wdh-Mub)

Summary

10 Night Botswana & Namibia Lodge-based Self-drive (Wdh-Mub)

From price: GBP4,500.00

Focusing on the Kalahari this 10 night itinerary starts in Windhoek and ends in Maun. The itinerary includes 2 nights at Grassland Bushman Lodge where you will participate in a variety of cultural activities. You then spend 4 nights in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve travelling from west to east through the reserve with the penultimate night at Leroo La Tau along the Boteti River overlooking Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.

This itinerary combines well with a 2 or 3 night Okavango Delta fly-in trip from Maun.

*Indicative price is per person and based on 2 people travelling off-peak*

Map

Rooms: 20Type: LodgeSpecial Interests: Adventure, Hiking, Leisure, Shopping, WildlifeLocation: Namibia

River Crossing is located on a pristine 6500 hectare game reserve. The main lodge building comprises a dining room, a centrally situated bar, a lounge (soon with fireplace), a wellness room, a curio corner, and a conference room seating up to 65 delegates. Nestled outside between the lounge and dining area is the pool (great for swimming lengths – it really is quite long!) The elevated wooden deck offers a fairytale view of Windhoek. The lodge and the rooms have been designed to emulate old German farm houses – think ‘stoep’ with ‘afdakkie’ and pots of geraniums. The 20 guest chalets consist of 14 twin chalets and six double chalets (all chalets have en suite bathrooms with showers, loos and basins).

Type: LodgeLocation: Namibia

Rooms: 8Style: Self-drive lodge, Fly-in lodge, BirdwatchingType: Safari LodgeSpoken Languages: EnglishSpecial Interests: Indigenous Culture Art, Star Gazing, WildlifeLocation: Botswana

Tau Pan is the first semi-permanent camp inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and offers truly incredible views from the ridge of an ancient sand dune, an unusual experience in a land as flat as Botswana. It overlooks the famous Tau Pan, a large salt pan recognized for its stark beauty and remoteness. ‘Tau’ means lion in Setswana and the pan is so named for its pride of iconic black-maned Kalahari lions, who are frequent visitors to the camp as well. As well as game drives, activities at Tau Pan include day trips to the well-known Deception Valley, Sunday, Piper and Passarge Pans. A particular favourite is the bushman nature walk where visitors learn how the San used to gather food and water.

The main area of the camp includes open bar, lounge and dining areas all set around the fireplace, which is the ideal spot for game viewing down to the waterhole. Star-gazing is also especially beautiful here due to the remote location of the camp, and a telescope is provided for guests’ use. A sleep-out deck is available for guests who wish to spend an amazing night sleeping under the open Kalahari night sky.

Rooms: 8Style: Self-drive lodge, Fly-in lodge, HoneymoonType: Luxury LodgeSpoken Languages: EnglishSpecial Interests: Birding, WildlifeLocation: Botswana

In marked contrast to the Okavango Camps, Kalahari Plains sits on the edge of an immense pan. Large herds of gemsbok (oryx) and springbok arrive in the wake of the summer rains, and attract the attention of cheetah and black-maned Kalahari lions. The annual transformations belie a sense of timelessness, and authentic San Bushman cultural experiences give insights into an ancient yet sustainable way of life.

Eight cool canvas guest units (including a family unit) each feature a rooftop sleep-out platform, with unequalled views of the night sky. A refreshing pool and unique architecture make the desert temperatures much more comfortable.

INSIDER'S TIP: Journey back in time on a guided walk to learn about the fascinating and ancient lifestyle of the San Bushman people.

Rooms: 12Style: Self-drive lodge, Fly-in lodge, HoneymoonType: Luxury LodgeSpecial Interests: Birding, WildlifeLocation: Botswana

Rating: Type: LodgeSpecial Interests: Birding, Flora, LeisureLocation: Botswana

Activities: Okavango Mokoro Trip

Full Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive into Windhoek Hosea Kutako airport where you transfer to spend the first night at River Crossing Lodge on the outskirts of Windhoek.

Destination: WindhoekAccommodation: River Crossing LodgeType: Lodge

Day 2

Pick up your vehicle in Windhoek and head east towards the Botswana border, spending the night at Kalahari Bush Breaks Lodge/

Destination: Kalahari NorthAccommodation: Kalahari Bush BreaksType: Lodge

Day 3 – 4

Cross into Botswana and spend the next two nights at Grassland Bush Lodge, where you will have the opportunity of experiencing something of the San culture with a variety of activities included. Enjoy memorable moments in the company of the San bushmen. Learn how they search for vegetables and nuts, make medicines, their traditional dances and ceremonies and how they build their homes.

Destination: Hainaveld & Ghanzi FarmsAccommodation:

Day 5 – 6

Drive to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve – one of the world’s largest reserves, at nearly 53,000km². Accommodation for the next two nights is at Tau Pan Camp in the northern part of the reserve. Tau Pan is a medium sized grassy pan with camelthorn tree islands. The rooms are situated on a vegetated dune overlooking the pan.

Destination: Central Kalahari Game ReserveAccommodation: Tau Pan CampType: Safari Lodge

Day 7 – 8

Spend the following two nights at Kalahari Plains Camp, run by Wilderness Adventures. Kalahari Plains Camp is situated overlooking a large pan. Accommodation features unique en-suite canvas units with a sleep-out above each from which to enjoy the amazing star-studded Kalahari sky.

Destination: Central Kalahari Game ReserveAccommodation: Kalahari Plains CampType: Luxury Lodge

Day 9

Spend the next night at at Leroo la Tau along the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park’s western boundary. The lodge situated on the high banks of the Boteti River. The Boteti River attracts a variety of wildlife including herds of Zebra and Wildebeest with and lion also frequently heard at night.

Destination: Makgadikgadi Pans National ParkAccommodation: Leroo La TauType: Luxury Lodge

Day 10

Drive north to Maun where you return the vehicle before spending the final night at Thamalakane River Lodge on the oustkirts of Maun.

Destination: MaunAccommodation: Thamalakane River LodgeType: Lodge

Included / Not Included

Included

9 days unequipped 4×4 vehicle hire incl one way fees (vehicle with R20,000 insurance excess)
GPS with Tracks4Africa
All accommodation and meals where stated
Airport transfers
Guided Activities at Grassland Bushman Lodge, Tau Pan Camp, Kalahari Plains Camp & Leroo La Tau
Trip handbook, directions & maps

Excluded

International flights; Personal insurance; Visa / border fees; National park / Reserve vehicle fees

10 Night Botswana & Namibia Lodge-based Self-drive (Wdh-Mub)

Summary

10 Night Botswana & Namibia Lodge-based Self-drive (Wdh-Mub)

Tour Summary

Drive Botswana

Map