Namibia & Botswana

Days 1 – 2: The Giant Dunes of the Namib

The journey begins with the sit-back ease of a shared charter flight to a private reserve in the Namib Desert. You’ll be greeted with big smiles at Little Kulala Lodge, an intimate 11-room accommodation. The lodge is made from timber and thatch, set amid a panoramic landscape at its most beautiful during dawn and dusk. Your glass-fronted chalet is air-conditioned and comes with en-suite bathroom, private plunge pool and mini bar. The chalet’s flat-roof is designed to take your bed if you want to enjoy an unforgettable star-filled night.

Little Kulala Lodge has direct access to the Namib Naukluft National Park and the towering red dunes of Sossusvlei. Also on the list of activities are guided walks and nature drives as well as optional hot-air balloon safaris.

Days 5 – 6: The Last Frontier

Flying north, you arrive in one of the wildest regions left in Southern Africa: the Kaokoveld. A land of the harshest appearance, its rugged hills hide many secrets, not least Serra Cafema Camp, set on the banks of the Kunene River, a true green-fringed oasis surrounded by desert dunes.

Offering unbridled comfort, the camp even has a masseuse and a plunge pool but you’ll want to explore the landscape first. Game drives and quad-bike adventures take you into the wilderness in search of wandering wildlife and unspoilt views but you can also drift down the river by boat and spot crocodiles and endemic birds. You may also want to meet the local community – the Himba people – which is arranged in a non-intrusive way by the camp.

Days 8 – 9: Into the Okavango Delta

From desert to delta … you fly from Windhoek to Maun, the bustling, dusty town that sits on the edge of the Okavango Delta, one of the world’s natural masterpieces. A sprawling labyrinth of rivers, lagoons and glittering floodplains, the Okavango is home to tens of thousands of large animals – elephants, buffalo, hippo and giraffe as well as rare wild dogs and all the big cats.

You’ll be at the heart of it at Xugana Island Lodge, set on a private island and surrounded by rustling reed and papyrus beds. It’s a fly-in location so keep your camera handy during your flight – the views are amazing. You’ll be met and transferred to the lodge where you’ll plan your delta activities: choose from motor boat safaris and bird watching to guided walks and exploring by mokoro, the traditional flat-bottomed canoe.

Days 12 – 14: Savute: Predator Paradise

Savute lies at the heart of the Chobe National Park, far from the more famous Chobe River, but well served by the Savute Channel. The combination of permanent water and savannah grazing attracts large numbers of big herbivores, and that means predators.

Most famous for its warring clans of lions and spotted hyenas, Savute is also home to leopards, giant eagle owls and jackals. Nomadic cheetah and wild dogs often range in from distant hunting grounds, especially in early summer when migrating zebra pass through the area.

Your destination for 3 nights is Savute Safari Lodge, located on the Savute Channel itself and with its suites positioned for guests to enjoy game viewing from the comfort of their armchairs. You’ll enjoy morning and afternoon game drives with expert guides, and there’ll be plenty of time to soak up a bit of Savute sun around the pool too.