Desert to Delta Journey in Namibia and Botswana

Really great trip. Saw so many different parts of Namibia with excellent context by our guide, Omumborumbonga. It's a packed schedule with great walks and sights and I was sure I could not have done better on the budget.

April was the perfect time to visit Namibia and Botswana before the crowds arrive. First up the dune, only one other group on the olive trail, a pride of lions to ourselves. Local people were kind and welcoming. The trip was hard work and non-stop, so book those two down time days at the end to rest. Our guides could not have been better, full of brilliant information, kind and helpful, nothing too much trouble, any issues resolved immediately, wanting us to have the best time on their watch (and hilarious). Our small group of six became the very best of friends over the two weeks, and are loving sharing our photos and memories as we reflect on the trip of a lifetime.

Thia is the best trip ever: The most spectacular nature and wildlife and the most nice an gentle people I've ever met. Two weeks tour de force of beauty and pure joy.

Namibia & Botswana were amazing!!! The landscapes, the skies, the sunsets, the sunrises, the people. . . wow after wow after wow. And we also had fabulous guides with Lucas and Omumborombonga, who made the trip extra special. If you are reading this and doubting to book, don't. . . just do it! :-)

The Desert to Delta tour was an unforgettable adventure. The landscapes were breathtaking — from the vast red dunes of the Namib to the rugged granite peaks of Spitzkoppe and the lush, wildlife-filled waterways of the Okavango Delta. Each place offered its own kind of magic, and the contrast between desert sand, rock, and delta made the journey feel truly unique. Long travel days were softened by my noise-cancelling headphones and a playlist of African music, creating a truly immersive experience.

The hikes were sometimes tough but always rewarding. Climbing over Spitzkoppe’s granite formations or trekking across soft desert sand gave us incredible views and a real sense of accomplishment. Traipsing down Dune 45 after sunrise was so much fun! Hiking the Olive Trail tested most in our group who fear heights and narrow ledges. A word of warning for fellow travellers - if you have tired knees, pack walking poles!

The wildlife encounters were just as remarkable. Within our first hour in the Delta, Wako had us tracking a lioness that had just brought down a warthog. At first, we caught a glimpse of her bum through the bushes, then were treated to a full view as she turned, sat down, and looked back at us, panting. Over the course of the trip, we saw it all — elephants, hippos, giraffes, zebras, black rhinos, painted dogs, and more — but words can’t truly capture what it feels like to see such incredible animals up close and without barriers.

What made the trip even better were the people. Our group quickly formed strong friendships, sharing many laughs (and photographs) and supporting each other through the tougher parts of the journey. Language was no barrier. Our guide, Omu m’Boro m’Bonga (a loveable rogue) was knowledgeable, patient, and incredibly generous in sharing insights into his culture and way of life. His stories and perspective, told with a healthy dose of humour, gave depth to what we were seeing and made the whole experience more meaningful. Lucas, our fun-loving driver and cook, navigated some of the worst corrugated roads with a smile and still managed to prepare nourishing meals for us at the end of the longest days.

This wasn’t a holiday; it was a trip through some of the most spectacular country of southern Africa — and a reminder of the beauty of connection: to nature, to culture, and to each other.

All I can say is this holiday will leave you with memories of a lifetime. From the rugged baron landscapes of the Namib Desert to the green wetlands of the Okavango Delta. This holiday had it all.

Both long hikes will be fine if you have a decent level of fitness. The only thing that makes it difficult is heat. So pack plenty of water. The walk while staying at Spitzkoppe is more of a scramble than a hike but was great fun, plus we had a local guide to help us get over and under the rocks and bolders towards the summit, which had some breathtaking views.

There is a lot of distance covered in this trip, so expect to be setting you're alarm between 5 and 6 most morning in order to get to you're next campsite in good time and make most of the facilities. There are also a couple of days which are just travelling days, but these a good to catch up on some sleep, as long as the bumpy roads don't disturbe you.

Accommodation wise, the hotels in Windhoek, Swakopmund and Maun where all lovely and I can't really fault them. 8 nights are spent in campsites in the tents which are carried on this bus. These sites have showers and toilet blocks which were just a good as campsites in the UK, plus they usually have a bar, restaurant, swimming pool and free wifi. Camping in the Okavango Delta is the real treat, surrounded by all the wild animals of the safari park, you can hear the lions communicating while you are having dinner, and watch the hippos playing in the river next to the campsite during the day, then you get to go on your bush walks which start and finish at the campsite. This camp with give a new found respect for nature and the wild animals of Africa.

Between Etosha in Namibia and the Delta in Botswana we saw Lions, Elephants, Black Rhinos, Water Buffalo's, Hyenas, Wild Dogs, Giraffes, Zebras, Hippos and so much more which was truely incredible, make sure to bring you're binoculars.

Our main guide Omumborombonga, aka Sam and our driver/chef Lucas were both amazing. They catered to all our needs, were great conversationalist, and were always happy to get involved with the banter. But when it came to the serious stuff they were the ultimate professions who filled us with confidence that they knew what they were doing.

If you want to see a mixture of eviromemts, wild animals up close, go on hikes in the desert and learn about these two fascinating countries then don't hesitate to book.

Just returned from the September 2025 trip – it was amazing. Lots of distance covered, which obviously meant lots of time in the truck and some of that was over very bumpy and unmade-up roads – but it was worth it.

The dunes, the coast, the mountains, and ultimately, the delta, were spectacular, plus we enjoyed beautiful sunsets, wide open starlight skies and seeing lots of Africa's finest animals.

Our lovely guide, Michael (Mike), who was ably supported by the wonderful Lucas, were brilliant. We all agreed that camp cooking was the best food. Chef DJ, George and the team, who were part of the Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust, were also wonderful hosts for our final days.

There were early starts, 5am-6am on most days, plus you were having to get up, dressed, packed and help get the truck loaded. But if you were struggling, Michael, Lucas and the wonderful people travelling with me were there to support (I was one of two solo travellers).

All-in-all, I can't recommended this trip highly enough. If you want to see some of the highlights of two very special countries, you'll love it.

A big thank you to Michael, Lucas and the nine who made this holiday a memorable and vert happy time.

Not sure what more can be said that hasn’t already been included in the reviews posted, but I would be remiss to not contribute as well. Mike and Lucas were fantastic guides, going above and beyond in every manner to ensure we had the best experience possible.

If you’re a regular hiker you’ll find the hikes more than manageable, and would definitely recommend the big daddy dune hike if it’s not too hot - the beginning is the hardest bit then it gets (relatively) quite easy.

The flow of the trip is really good, building slowly through the desert, into the rocky Spitzkoppe, the coast and then onto the national parks, culminating in the Delta.

As others have mentioned, towards the back end of the trip you have a couple of long travel days, but there wouldn’t be any way to solve this, you’ve just got to accept it’s necessary to get into Botswana and the Delta.

It might be expensive at first glance but honestly I couldn’t say it was anything less than incredible value for money, no regrets!

This really is the trip of a lifetime, from trekking in Namibia to walking safaris in Botswana, every aspect of the trip was very well planned and fantastically executed by our amazing guides Mike and Lucas. They cooked us delicious meals, drove huge distances and shared incredible knowledge of both Namibia and Botswana, their culture and all the wildlife we encountered. Nothing was too much trouble for them and everything was delivered with humour and a smile. For me the highlights were the sand dunes, challenging but spectacular and of course the Okavango Delta was the best way to end this incredible adventure, tracking lions on foot is something I will never forget. Things to consider: As others have mentioned, the cold at night was a big factor so bring plenty of layers, it gets very cold. Namibia is a closed currency but there are cash points at the airport so it's very easy to get money when you first arrive. There are also phone shops at the airport so again very easy to get a local sim, don't get eSIM's they don't work in Namibia.

Such a varied and wonderful trip. From out of this world landscapes to incredible animal encounters.

The guides were fantastic, providing delicious food (despite our many dietary requirements), setting up beautiful campsites and sharing their endless knowledge about the countries and wildlife.

Some highlights had to be the first hike through the canyon, sipping a beer by the Etosha waterhole and managing to track two lions on foot on the final day.

A few things to consider:

• the evenings are much colder than we expected. Make sure you bring plenty of warm clothes to sleep in (I had 3 layers)
• the hikes are a little more difficult than advertised and require a fairly good level of fitness and being okay with heights
• the WiFi, signal and charging points are variable, so be prepared to be out of contact for the majority of the trip
• there are some long travel days during the second half of the trip
• most days involve very early starts
• bring a good pair of binoculars

Would 100% recommend to anyone considering it!

To call this a holiday would be doing it a disservice - the time spent with Mike & Lucas was beyond words, from every journey and campsite it was perfect. From the first day we were catered for beyond our wildest expectations. The big daddy hike is worth it if you’re up for it! Took us less than an hour. They are champions of Namibia and showed us the most amazing landscapes and animals from both Namibia and Botswana. The okavango delta was a personal highlight and can’t recommend it enough!

Some tips I would have found useful : The hikes are easy enough but warm, take plenty of water! Lots of snacks & some form of entertainment for the long journeys. Warm clothes for the cooler evenings & mornings - we all wore gloves and hats! Neck pillow or similar for those long bus days when you’re in need of a snooze. Some people had solar powered battery packs and that was a great shout!

I loved this trip so much! Lots of hiking and chilled nights by the camp fire.

I would say that the hikes were a lot more challenging than I had anticipated but I still enjoyed them fully, maybe even more so. For the hiking days I would recommend taking more water than you think you will need and bring some snacks as you will be a while in between meals. Also, take more sunscreen than you think you will need, you will be out in the sun for extended periods with no shade. A good sunhat can save the day too!

I hope you are lucky enough to have Michael and Happy as your guide/cook. They took care of everything and most of us managed to put on a few pounds despite the amount of walking due to Happy's delicious meals!! Dietary requests were so well accommodated, no one was ever left out and all the food was fantastic!

After the first couple of nights setting up the tents it becomes easy and we all pitched in to help set up camp.

Not a lot of places to do laundry along the way so either pack more or be prepared to wash out your smalls as you go. But you'll never get all the sand out of your socks. . .

Everything exceeded my expectations, I didn't want to leave!!

This road trip offers ample opportunities to spot animals big and small, stargaze, enjoy campfire carbs, hike rocky trails, take refreshing dips, and jostle along bumpy dirt and gravel roads in a cargo van. Our amazing group—including our guide Mike, with his great sense of humor, and Happy, who prepared delicious meals—had an epic time!

There are a few notable changes to the itinerary: you no longer camp inside Naukluft Park (Sossusvlei), so you’ll reach Dune 45 well after sunrise; the Spitzkoppe hike is an 800-meter, nearly vertical boulder climb in under a mile (more fun, more terrifying!); and there is no waterfall or dipping pool on the Olive Trail. While some of these changes were disappointing, the trip was still incredible. It’s best to see the itinerary as a general template and go with the flow.

A few suggestions:

If you have the means, I recommend doing the two related trips separately (Hiking/Stargazing Namibia and Botswana & Victoria Falls). This would break up the long drives and allow you to see more of Botswana—which was by far my favorite part of the trip.

Bring protein or meal replacement bars. Lunch is often at 2 or 3 p. m. , even on hiking days.

If you rent a sleeping bag, bring an extra luggage tag. The tents are numbered, but sleeping bags are piled together, so you might end up with a different one each night. I highly recommend bringing a liner and a pillowcase.

No need for a hammock. :(

Take a small first aid kit on hikes—guides only carry water.

After Spitzkoppe, there are several long (very bumpy!) driving days (including game drives). While the lunch stops are nice, group lunches often take two hours. You’ll usually arrive at camp around sunset, with little time for a walk. It would be great if packed lunches were an option, allowing time for walking or yoga instead of long restaurant stops (most serve burgers and toasties).

Pack water flavoring—it’s difficult to stay hydrated.

I bought a huge jar of lotion at our first stop, and I used every bit of it.

Save coins for toilet stops. The first few are free (as are the bush stops!), but most cost 2–3 Namibian dollars.

The Swakopmund scenic flight was expensive but absolutely worth it—I’m glad I got to see the desert and sea from above. The 4x4 drive was technically optional, but since our truck was hauling a trailer, it would’ve been difficult to see wildlife off the main road in Etosha without it.

The time in the Delta was one of the most magical experiences of my life—full of adventure, community, crafts, delicious food, blazing sunsets, cool waters, and close-up views of elephants, hippos, giraffes, zebras… the list goes on. I would do this trip 10,000 more times just to return to the Delta.

It was a truly amazing trip! Our two guides, Mike and Happy, were brilliant. Not only was all of the hiking and walks loads of fun, but the food was delicious and the camping, especially in the delta, was such a fantastic experience.

This tour exceeded my already high expectations — particularly the Botswana segment, where the wild camping and bush walks provided what felt like a unique and hard-to-replicate experience. The amount and diversity of wildlife we saw in Etosha and the Okavango was extraordinary, as was hiking the dunes of the Namib and seeing Deadvlei. Definitely do the optional desert flight! While expensive, it was a highlight of the trip that allows you to see the Namib's vastness and its intersection with the Atlantic.

The stretch of driving from Namibia to Botswana brought a few long days on the road. The itinerary might have benefited from a short flight to Maun instead of a drive — and ultimately allowed for more time in the Okavango, which for me was one of the best parts of the trip. The two big hikes were a bit harder than the tour’s difficulty level might otherwise suggest — and while I found the hikes very cool, I could see how some participants might feel a bit frustrated by the difficulty, depending on fitness level and comfort with rugged terrain and/or scrambling. (On a related note, be sure to bring sturdy hiking boots — there's lots of loose rock. )

This was ultimately an amazing trip that I’d recommend to anyone. A true standout.

I was looking for adrenaline and adventure—and I certainly got both! From hiking through the stunning landscapes of Namibia to drifting silently through the Okavango Delta in mokoros, watching hippos, elephants, and other wildlife just metres away, every moment was unforgettable.

The itinerary was well-paced, and the guides were exceptional. I’d highly recommend this trip to anyone looking for a true adventure

I had an incredible time on this trip. The landscapes and wildlife are out of this world. Our guide Mike was amazing and totally made the trip. Camp food was great. Waco, our guide in the delta was also great. I want to go again!

Optional extras:

• There is the evening boat trip but it’s a tight squeeze time wise and you’ll see lots of hippos in Okavango, so wouldn’t bother trying to squeeze in (Stressful for you and the guide!)
• Instead budget £350ish for a flight over the dunes or there is the option for £150ish to go on a 4x4 trip where the dunes meet the sea. It was foggy when we were there, but if I was planning again I would budget for the flight to see the skeleton coast.
• You could add on a day at the end and do a helicopter trip over the delta - around £300 ish per person with a minimum of two people, I would have done this if I had thought of it!

Kit:

• You need thermals (top and bottom) for night plus fleeces and a decent down jacket
• Binoculars, I would say these are a must
• No opportunity to use the hammock :(
• Trousers that cover the top of your walking boots otherwise on the waking safari you’ll get loads of spiky grass in your shoes
• No white/red/black or bright coloured clothing clothing for walking safari
• Washing line and pegs for drying towels and any bits of clothes you might need to wash along the way
• I had linen trousers but some proper thicker safari style hiking trousers wouldn’t have gone a miss
• For June trips you only need a small bottle of suncream and repellent! The sun isn’t that strong and there were no mosquitos. The desert is drying on the skin so take body moisturiser
• Merino socks great to handle the hotter desert days and the colder mornings in the delta.
• I wore heavier waterproof walking boots for the trip and they were perfect. For camp I had Birkenstocks which worked well.

Useful info

• You can have your clothes laundered at the hotel in Swakopmund.
• Good meal at the Tug in Swakopmund, we turned up without a booking for dinner
• Would recommend the Snake Park in Swakopmund
• The lodge at Windhoek - the steak is great!
• You could buy handmade woven goods from the village at the camp in the delta, around 5-20 USD so bring some extra cash for those
• Namibian Airlo virtual SIM did not work for my iPhone 16 in Namibian, Botswana one worked. Survived with the intermittent WiFi. Some charging is available in the van
• Any night owls be ready for a holiday with mostly early mornings ;)
• At the delta you can ask for extra blankets for the camp bed, you will need them if you’re there in winter!
• I would recommend booking single occupancy because if someone gets up and down at night for the loo, the zips on the tents are quite industrial and noisy!
• You can get cash when you arrive. There are lots of ATMs along the trip and most places take cards
• There are two longer hikes, they require a decent level of fitness. The first one has a slightly nerve racking narrow bit with a chain. The second one is scrambling up boulders and also really fun.

After a lifetime of independent travel I was given a recommendation to look at MBA. It’s been the most amazing trip. I’d do it again tomorrow. Finding like minded people was a line I’d read on your website - I didn’t expect to luck out with such great travel companions. Mike, our guide looked after us so well, as did Waco when we stayed in the delta. The trip delivered stunning scenery, wonderful wildlife, great food, and much laughter. Thank you.

This trip is really well designed with a very good itinerary across the two countries. I really enjoyed both the scenery and wildlife days.

The highlights for me were the sunrise hike up Dune 45 to see the glowing landscape, watching lions hunt in Etosha National Park, camping in Spitzkoppe away from any civilisation and giving way in our mokoro to a passing Elephant in the Delta. I also really enjoyed spending the long drives staring out of the window at the stunning scenery and trying to spot wildlife we hadn't seen before.

I chose the June departure for the star photography and I'm really glad I did. Not only did this work well but had the added benefits of being a good time for wildlife, seeing very few mosquitoes and being a pleasant daytime temperature.

The only part I wasn't keen on was the stay in Swakopmund. We didn't do any of the additional activities as we fancied some chill time and the weather was also foggy/overcast. I didn't enjoy exploring the town as we kept getting hassled by locals trying to sell things to us and in one case getting rather upset when we didn't comply.

There was just three of us on our trip but we got on really well from the beginning. Special thanks to Mike who not only guided, drove and cooked for us for most of the trip but did everything he could to give us the best experience possible.

Many thanks for an excellent trip.

I loved this trip. The first half you explore and walk many of the natural wonders Namibia has to offer and in the second half you experience the beauty of the wildlife in Namibia and Botswana. The perfect blend.

The highlight of the trip was camping in the Okavango Delta. Our trip guide Mike and our Delta guide Waco were incredible throughout and the experience they provided was one of the coolest things I've ever done. On top of all this the camp food throughout the entire trip was incredible.

The schedule is busy, but efficient. The tents are comfortable and truck can carry everything you need. You can charge your devices on the truck during the long drives, but a power bank does come in handy. It can get cold and there are mosquitoes so jumpers and long pants are a must. The packing list is accurate to what you need.

There were four of us with one guide. Mike was amazing, knowledgeable and kind. He is busy however driving, cooking and setting up camp, so it's important to help where you can.

Overall an incredible adventure that provides some amazing highlights of both countries.

Namibia is beautiful and so varied in terms of landscape. Not sure whether “easy” is the correct grading. Lots of driving and maybe a need to re jig the route to avoid 2 consecutive days of high mileage. Botswana delta camp was brilliant. Sedia hotel less so as they charge an exorbitant rate for their shuttle service. Mabaruli guide Mike was superb.

This really was the trip of a lifetime. Namibia is such a unique place and we were looked after so well by our guides. There was a good balance of physical exertion and general adventure and every day there was a new bucket list item to tick off (forgot we’d seen humpback whales at one point!). We had a fantastic group and got on so well, days were full of laughter and was so happy to have been able to share such a special place with equally special people. I’ve been telling everyone at home this was quite possibly the best trip I’ve ever had.

This trip was one of the most amazing trips I have ever taken. It was my first time in Africa and what an introduction to the continent! The landscapes in Namibia and Botswana are breathtaking and our guides Michael and Lucas were incredible as well and did everything to make our trip flow well. We were 6 people in the group and really got on from day 1.

A trip of a lifetime. If you are considering- do it.

Michael and Lukas looked after us incredibly well. Nothing was too much trouble and the food was great.

The scenery was incredible (highly recommend the dune tour and boat cruise near Swakopmund). We were lucky to see so much wildlife throughout the trip.

Some campsites were really good and some more basic, but all were in great setting and had showers. We visited during a heatwave in November/December which was uncomfortable at times so I’d personally go during cooler times of the year, if possible.

An incredible trip that gives a taste of the highlights of both countries. Our guide Michael and his assistant Lukas were fantastic. The vehicle provided was great, the campsites were mostly really well equipped some with pools, all with showers, the food was surprisingly good given the basic equipment the guys had to work with. Finishing in the Okavango which is truly spectacular really makes the trip, none of us wanted to leave!

The only change that every one of us suggested to the itinerary was one less night at Spitzkoppe. The site there is fairly basic and in summer it’s too hot for any sort of activity during the daytime and there’s not really anywhere to relax. Another night in Etosha at the first camp or potentially another on the Kavango river at Divundu to relax before another round of early starts might be better?