My route: 14 days Namibia – Botswana – Zimbabwe and back
The Botwana Route presented me with some challenges in my planning. Which route is the best in March, how long does it take us to get from A to B, can we even drive in the Moremi National Park and where is the best place to start?
Until I had sorted out which place in this country is exactly where on the map 2 weeks had already passed. Of course, this may also be due to the fact that navigation is generally not one of my strengths. But where there is a will, there is a way.
In my travel report „Good preparation is everything“ you can read what to expect when booking a hotel or camp if you want to plan your trip in advance.
But let’s start over:
If you are planning a self-drive trip, it is best to get a suitable travel guide first. I decided for the Iwanowski´s, because here all distances and routes are exactly described and there is even information about when which distance is good or even less good to drive and how much time one needs for it. The large map, on which you can see the whole country at a glance, is also very helpful. A really good investment to shed light on the dark.
I started with sticking Post-its on the map to get an overview of where I would like to go. If you already know how far the routes in Botswana really are, you will surely sort yourself out quickly. Since the holiday was already tight with only 2 weeks time anyway, it is all the more important that before everything is well planned and one becomes clear above all also about how much time one will spend in the car. Admittedly, our curiosity about the country and our thirst for adventure were so great in the planning that I felt 8 hours driving over one of Botswana’s country roads was totally easy. I was actually taught a better lesson…
As starting point for your self-drive trip I recommend either Windhoek or Johannesburg. The flight connections are good and if you are lucky and book early enough, you will get a flight at an affordable price. From Johannesburg as well as Windhoek you can rent a car with roof tents and reach Botswana within one day.
Another consideration was to fly directly to Maun, which lies directly at the Moremi National Park or the Okavango Delta and to start the journey from there. However, the rental cars in Maun are much more expensive, as they are delivered from Namibia or South Africa.
After a long back and forth we decided for the Windhoek variant. On the one hand we were already in Namibia and on the other hand the track constellation seemed better to me. The rough plan was to drive from Windhoek to Maun, from there to explore the Moremi Game Reserve and the Okavango Delta in a three-day camping tour and to drive back to Maun.
From there we took the main road via Nata to Kasane and made a detour to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. This tour Maun – Nata – Kasane was, by the way, the eight-hour drive on the Road of Death. An overnight stop wouldn’t have hurt, but it just didn’t fit in. The way back then led us from Kasane through Namibias Caprivi Strip to de Popa Falls and then again through Botswana in the direction of Maun to Windhoek.
Here are the individual stages of the journey:
Day 1: Flight to Windhoek and drive to the border of Botswana.
Day 2: Cross the border into Botswana and continue to Maun. Here you can do your shopping for the next few days in the wilderness.
Day 3 – Day 5 (2 nights): Off to the Okavango Delta to Xakanaxa Camp. Originally we wanted to go to Third Bridge Camp. However, as a bridge had collapsed due to the heavy rainfall, we had to reschedule at short notice.
Day 5: Return to Maun and overnight stay. After 2 days in the wilderness a warm shower is a real highlight
Day 6: Day trip with the Mokorro from Maun
Day 7: Miserably long drive from Maun via Nata to Kasane and evening boat trip on the Chobe River
Day 8: Cross the border into Zimbabwe and visit Victoria Falls (we have booked a driver for this in our accommodation). Depending on the car rental company you can also drive yourself. But we wanted to be comfortable after the horror ride the day before.
Day 9: Morning guided safari in Chobe National Park and drive to Katima Mulino including border crossing to Namibia
Day 10: Through Namibia’s Caprivi tip to Popa Falls with evening boat trip to sunset.
Day 11: Border crossing to Botswana, visit the rock paintings on the Tsodilo Hills including camping
Day 12: Drive through Botswana and overnight just before the border.
Day 13: Morning hike with the San and border crossing to Namibia, last overnight stay in Windhoek.
Day 14: Return flight to Germany