Sable Self-drive Safari: Summary
Sable Self-drive in a nutshell
Fly into Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, and drive north through the rugged desert landscape to the private Onguma Reserve on the border of Etosha National Park. Explore the reserve on foot or game drives, and venture into the national park to see Etosha’s famous animal gatherings where elephants, zebras, rhinos, giraffes and more gather around precious waterholes.
Things turn greener as you turn east to enter the Caprivi Strip, a narrow colonial cartographic oddity protruding from Namibia between Botswana, Angola and Zambia that is visited by just a handful of tourists. Lush and tropical, it's bordered and spanned by wide meandering rivers – the Zambezi, Okavango, Chobe and Linyanti – and home to herds of wildlife as well as a string of villages.
You’ll cross back and forth between Namibia and Botswana, staying at remote safari lodges. Enjoy more game drives and take to the water on boat and canoe trips where you can look forward to huge herds of elephants, wallowing buffaloes and fabulous birdwatching as well as rarer antelopes such as roan and sable. A highlight from Nxamaseri Lodge, sat on the edge of the Okavango Delta’s panhandle, is the chance to visit Tsodilo Hills, a sacred site to the San people of the Kalahari where you can see thousands of ancient rock-art paintings that date back millennia.
End the trip with two nights at an elegant Edwardian hotel by the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Rest and take in the views or keep the adventure going with some of the area’s adrenaline-fuelled activities such as white-water rafting and bungee jumping.
At a glance
Starts: | Windhoek International Airport | |
---|---|---|
1 night | Elegant Guesthouse - Windhoek, Namibia | Bed & Breakfast |
2 nights | Onguma Camp Kala - Etosha National Park, Namibia | Full Board & Activities |
1 night | River Dance - Caprivi Strip, Namibia | Half Board |
2 nights | Nxamaseri Lodge - North-west Kalahari & Panhandle, Botswana | Full Board & Activities |
2 nights | Nkasa Lupala - Caprivi Strip, Namibia | Half Board |
2 nights | Chobe River Lodge - Chobe National Park, Botswana | Half Board |
2 nights | Victoria Falls Hotel - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe | Bed & Breakfast |
Ends: | Victoria Falls Airport |
Elegant Guesthouse
Windhoek, Namibia
Onguma Camp Kala
Etosha National Park, Namibia
River Dance
Caprivi Strip, Namibia
Nxamaseri Lodge
North-west Kalahari & Panhandle, Botswana
Nkasa Lupala
Caprivi Strip, Namibia
Chobe River Lodge
Chobe National Park, Botswana
Victoria Falls Hotel
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Highlights
Our thoughts on five of the top experiences of this Sable Self-drive Safari.
- A proper road trip across three countries
- Beautiful landscapes from Etosha to Victoria Falls
- The ancient rock art of the magical Tsodilo Hills
- Fabulously varied wildlife, from rhinos to roan
- A great mix of experiences from walks to canoe trips
Activities
Some activities which can be included in the Sable Self-drive Safari: talk to us about those which interest you.
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Canoeing
Cultural excursion
Elephant encounter
Fishing
Guided walking safari
Helicopter
Kayaking
Microlight
Mokoro
Self-guided walking
White-water rafting
Key species to see on the Sable Self-drive Safari
Based on our travellers' observations, we’ve estimated the likelihood of seeing these species during the Sable Self-drive Safari. Click on the animals and our wildlife surveys page for more info.
100% chance
100% chance
100% chance
100% chance
99% chance
98% chance
96% chance
90% chance
70% chance
57% chance
51% chance
48% chance
35% chance
33% chance
25% chance
17% chance
17% chance
0% chance
0% chance
0% chance
0% chance
Side-trips whilst on this safari
We may be able to build in some of these optional excursions from the Sable Self-drive Safari. Talk to us: they’re usually best arranged when you book.
Let us help you customise your trip
All of our holidays on this site are just ideas; none are fixed. All of our trips are tailor-made, so we'll always adapt them to suit you. Talk to an Expert and let us help you to work out your perfect trip.
Talk to an Expert
Call us now! We’ll match you with the Specialist in our team who is best suited to help you. Then together we can start planning your trip.
Set up your itinerary
Based on our experience and your ideas, your specialist will create a detailed, costed itinerary. We’ll refine it together, until we have a trip that you’re perfectly happy with.
Prepare for your trip
The same Specialist will make the seamless arrangements for your trip, send you detailed travel documents, and be available to answer any questions before you depart.
Travel with peace of mind
After you set off, you’ll be cared for by our partners in Africa, most of whom have worked with Expert Africa for decades. And if you ever need us urgently, we’re available 24/7.
When you return
We love to learn about your trip, and so will always be grateful if you’ve the time to give feedback to your Specialist when you return.
Other ideas for Namibia safaris
Look at these ideas in Namibia: then talk to us. Will will design a trip that's perfect for you.
Other safari ideas across Africa
Talk to us: help us to understand what you like and we can create a safari that will really suit you.