3 Country Self Drive Explorer

Your tailor-made safari holiday to Botswana, Namibia & Zambia

This 2 week, self-drive itinerary takes you on an epic journey through three countries, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia where you will experience huge contrasts in scenery and a host of wildlife and culture.

Upon arrival in Windhoek you will overnight in preparation for your journey. The following morning you will drive north and your first stop will be the Okonjima Nature Reserve, a 200-square km reserve at the base of the imposing Omboroko Mountains. Okonjima is most famous for its cheetah and leopard safaris. During your stay, there are unlimited opportunities to see these carnivores in their natural environment (as well as a host of other wildlife) and to witness the critical conservation work undertaken by the AfriCat Foundation which rehabilitates cheetahs, wild dogs and hyenas. You can also track these animals on foot, experience a day in the life of a San Bushman or take a nocturnal game drive.

Even more wildlife awaits at your next stop, Etosha National Park, one of Africa's greatest reserves. Etosha is the size of Holland and protects a vast shallow bowl of silvery sand and its surrounding bush. It is particularly good during the dry season when huge herds of animals can be seen in the many waterholes providing some of the most photographic safari scenery in Africa. During your safari, you will rise at dawn for your first game drive, you will relax during the midday heat and then venture out again in late afternoon / evening for your second game drive. Nights are spent around the camp fire.

After a 1 night stop in Grootfontein to break up the journey, you will head into the north east of the country to what is generally known as the Caprivi Strip which stretches eastwards to the border junction of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. A dramatic contrast to the rest of Namibia, this 450km strip of land is a wetland paradise, with broad perennial rivers fringed by papyrus and palm trees. The land stretches out over lush floodplains and woodlands, and due to this permanent water, wildlife here is rife. You can expect to see elephant, buffalo, hippo, lion, wild dog and antelope in great numbers. Almost 70% of the bird species found in Namibia have been recorded in the Caprivi and it is also a popular fishing destination. We have given you 4 nights in this area divided into 2 areas to maximise your experience of this special environment.

On leaving the Caprivi Strip you will enter Botswana and the famous Chobe National Park for your 3- night stay. Chobe is celebrated for its huge wildlife herds and the immense Chobe River. The area is explored on game drives and relaxing boat rides to see some of the best game viewing in Africa, including an estimated 60,000 elephants, joined by large prides of lion and impressive buffalo herds.

The final leg of your epic journey will be the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls in Zambia. Besides visits to the Falls, there are any number of adventure activities on offer in the area including helicopter flights over the Falls, elephant interactive safaris, bungee jumping, canoeing, walking with lions and of course unrivalled white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi River. We recommend lunch on Livingstone Island and if you dare, you can swim in the Devil's Pool and peer over the edge of Victoria Falls' sheer drop.

From here you will depart from Livingstone Airport.