21 Day Namibia and Botswana "Southern Circle" Safari

Out-of-this-world landscapes and panoramas make Namibia a photographer's dream destination.   While not as much of a wildlife destination as other countries, Namibia makes up for this with phenomenal scenery, cultures and activities.

Namibia is a desolate and largely uninhabitable country, well-known mainly for its deserts and coastline.  However, there is far more to the destination.  

Namibia is home to some fascinating people, and in the right season, can provide you with some of the best game viewing on the continent.

When travelling Namibia, the distances are vast, and often you will go without seeing another vehicle, or person, for hours. 

Around every bend of the road awaits another breathtaking landscape, with wide open spaces and incredible colours giving you photo opportunities at all times of day.

Below are a few of the popular areas frequented by travellers to Namibia,  and they are places which will remain in your memories forever:

Caprivi Mutoya Lodge, a small owner-run lodge, is situated in a small riverine forest, on the banks of a tranquil backwater lake of the Zambezi River, approximately 24km east of Katima Mulilo. A variety of accommodations include contemporary standard rooms, standard safari tents in the campsite, and a campsite. Leading off the restaurant and bar is a deck area offering magnificent views and sunsets. Activities include boat cruises, canoeing, forest walks, village tours, and floodplain drives.

Also on offer is a nature-inspired workshop/conference pavilion set amongst ancient indigenous trees.

With 12 en-suite thatched bungalows, a restaurant, bar and lounge with free Wi-Fi, sparkling clear swimming pool, sunset river cruises, traditional dances, a wide variety of bird life, cultural excursions and the possibility to help the Mayana Community through sponsoring orphaned children, nKwazi Lodge is the perfect stop between the Etosha National Park in Namibia, and the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

You have travelled! You have seen places! Brandberg White Lady Lodge in Damaraland will add to your travel experience through Damaraland. This is our promise.

Since its opening in 2002, Brandberg White Lady Lodge has become a destination of choice for nature orientated tourists looking for an experienced guide to take them on a wildlife safari in Damaraland.

Our clients visit us from all over the globe not only for our experience and professionalism, but also for our hospitality in the Lodge, the friendliness of our staff and the tranquility of the Damaraland Camp. Brandberg White Lady Lodge in Damaraland is a place where you will feel at home and enjoy a true warm-hearted hospitality and friendship. Whether you camp or stay in a chalet - there will be nothing you'll miss.

Here, at the foot of Namibias highest Mountain, nothing has changed since the earth's early days. Clocks, cellphones and watches are not part of this world. Here, you have got time.

Desert Camp is is situated on a 40 000 hectare private reserve, with views over the desert landscapes and surrounding mountains, 5 km from Sossusvlei Lodge and the entrance gate to Sossusvlei and Sesriem Canyon in the Namib Nauklauft Park. .

There are 28 spacious air-conditioned units with en-suite bathrooms, shaded verandas with a fitted kitchenette, barbeques, power points and adjacent parking areas. The units are intended for self-catering occupation, but the restauarant and other facilities at Sossusvlei Lodge can be utilized.

The facilties at Desert Camp main building include a fully stocked and serviced bar with big screen television, a swimming pool and 2 communal bomas with cooking and wash up facilities. Wi-Fi is access available at the bar area.

The nearby Sossusvlei Lodge Adventure Centre offers a range of desert activities including guided excursions and walks, hot-air ballooning, scenic flights, and sundowner drives.

Children of all ages are welcomed.

The camp is accessible to all vehicles on well-maintained gravel roads and is about a 1 hour flight from Windhoek, Swakopmund or Walvis Bay to the Sossusvlei landing strip.

Well known as one of the great safari destinations in Africa, Botswana offers some of the most beautiful, luxurious, and active safari experiences in Africa.

A Botswanan safari can never be long enough, and never experienced often enough.   Although one of the flattest countries you will ever visit, Botswana is blessed with an incredible variety of landscapes and eco-systems.  

It is the very flatness of Botswana which has created some of the world's most special wilderness areas, and exploring the Kalahari, Okavango Delta and Makgadikgadi Salt Pans rewards you with memories for a lifetime.

Easily accessible from Johannesburg, and simply combined with Victoria Falls, Botswana needs to be on your safari list if you are planning a visit to Southern Africa.

As soon as you land in Maun or Kasane, you will know that you have arrived in a country which operates like nothing you have experienced before.

With the warthogs running through the streets of Kasane, and the hippos grunting in the Chobe River, your welcome to Botswana is one which tells you straight away you are in Africa's wilds.

Ghanzi Trailblazers is a recreated San/Bushman village with amenities that Western cultures are accustomed to. It is situated 10 km south of Ghanzi, on the western side of the main highway. The camp is well signposted and therefore easy to find for self drives. The guests of Ghanzi Trail Blazers have the opportunity to get a glimpse of a San/Bushman culture that is fast disappearing.

Accommodation offered includes chalets, bushman huts and camping. The chalets have solar powered lights and en-suite bathrooms which are partially roofed, remaining open to the night sky.

The bushman huts are equipped with two stretchers with mattresses and mosquito nets, a bedside table, and a solar powered light. There are no en-suite facilities connected to the bushman huts, the guests camping and staying in the huts have use of a communal ablution facility.

In the main area of the lodge there is a bar, office, dining area, and a kitchen where the staff prepares traditional Afrikaans or San/ Bushman cuisine (pre-booking required).

Ghanzi Trail Blazers offer their guests a genuine San/Bushmen experience which comes highly recommended. Optional activities include guided walks, village visits and the option of participating in dancing sessions when traditional dancing takes place. The camp also offers swimming in The Gat – a man made quarry.

Each tent has twin camp beds with linen and an en suite chemical toilet. Shared bucket shower tent with hot water off the fire. Tents have built-in insect nets. We need to take our own water and all equipment. Wild tented camping can be very enjoyable but please remember that we leave no trace of our stay and take all rubbish away with us. The wilderness tented camp supplies all linen blankets and pillows. The camp chairs have a backrest. You will need to bring your own towel. WiFi not available. 

Thebe River Safaris is ideally situated for visitors to Chobe National Park and the Chobe River area in Northern Botswana. Our lodge and camp overlook the placid Chobe River and echo the surrounding bush with a rustic design. We are 12km from the Kazungula border and 5km from the entrance to Chobe National Park. Our restaurant and bar provide welcoming food and drinks and visitors can enjoy our sparkling swimming pool. Free WiFi is also available throughout our public areas and lodge.

Thebe River Safaris was started in 1994 by Jan Van Wyk with a single Land Cruiser. The business has expanded over the subsequent years into a bustling lodge and camp, and most recently a new luxury tented camp Jackalberry Chobe, all located in the heart of Kasane, Botswana. Jan’s original idea of sharing the wonders of Chobe National Park with visitors has continued with game drives, boat cruises and mobile safaris, taking guests into the true African wilderness. The operation now includes Jan’s sons Jannie and Louis and daughter Franci.