Situated between Namibia’s capital city of Windhoek and the renowned Etosha National Park, Okonjima Nature Reserve is a 22,000-hectare wilderness sanctuary celebrated for its conservation efforts and exceptional wildlife experiences. The reserve is home to the renowned AfriCAT Foundation, which focuses on the protection and rehabilitation of Namibia’s carnivores, particularly leopards, cheetahs, and other threatened species. Set against a backdrop of rolling plains, rocky outcrops, and acacia woodland, Okonjima offers visitors the opportunity to gain unique insight into conservation initiatives while enjoying outstanding game viewing. Activities include guided carnivore tracking excursions, leopard-spotting safaris, off-road night drives, birdwatching, and cultural experiences along the Bushmen Trail. Accommodation ranges from luxury lodges and private villas to intimate bush camps, providing a memorable base from which to explore this remarkable reserve.
Situated east of Etosha, bordering Fisher's Pan, Onguma Game Reserve is one of Namibia's best-kept secrets. The reserve offers visitors the opportunity to experience Africa in all her beauty and diversity. Onguma Game Reserve features over 35 480 hectares of protected land scattered with a variety of wildlife including plains game, black rhino, kudu, giraffe, zebra, lion, cheetah, leopard and more than 300 bird species. The seasonal rains attract thousands of migrating birds to the Fisher’s Pan wetland area. The neighbouring Etosha National Park is home to a rich array of wildlife, including 4 of the Big 5. Visitors can enjoy game drives, guided walks and rhino research drives within the private reserve as well as wildlife safaris into Etosha National Park to view abundant game in the largest national park in Namibia.
Bordering Angola, on the banks of the Okavango River in northern Namibia, the town of Rundu serves as the capital of the eastern Kavango region. Rundu is renowned for its local woodcarvers market and is filled with impressive woodcarvers' workshops. The town provides a great stopover to refuel for visitors heading to Katima Mulilo, enthralling Popa Falls, or Mahangu Game Reserve, home to the endangered wild dog and lion, leopard, elephant, cheetah, and hippo. Visitors to Rundu can also look forward to great game viewing, excellent bird watching as well as kayaking on the spectacular Kavango River.
Flowing through the Zambezi Region of northeastern Namibia, close to the borders of Botswana, Zambia and Angola, the Kwando River is a scenic waterway that forms part of the vast Kavango–Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area. Lined with riverine forests, floodplains and reed-fringed channels, it supports an exceptional diversity of wildlife and birdlife, making it one of Namibia's premier safari destinations. Visitors can enjoy game drives, boat cruises, canoeing and guided nature walks, with opportunities to spot elephants, hippos, crocodiles and an abundance of bird species. The river also borders Bwabwata National Park and provides access to nearby Mudumu and Nkasa Rupara national parks, where seasonal wetlands support a rich diversity of wildlife throughout the year.
Situated in northeastern Botswana on the banks of the Chobe River, the town of Kasane is the main gateway to Chobe National Park and one of southern Africa's premier safari destinations. Renowned for its exceptional wildlife viewing, Kasane offers game drives and river cruises where visitors can encounter large herds of elephants, buffalo, hippos, and crocodiles, as well as abundant birdlife. Its location near the borders of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe also makes it a convenient base for exploring the wider region. Golden sunsets reflected on the river, the sounds of wildlife and a relaxed safari atmosphere combine to make Kasane an unforgettable destination for nature lovers.
Situated 180 kilometres north of Francistown, the small village of Nata is a popular stopover between Maun and Kasane along the ‘game drive route’ (there is often a chance to catch a glimpse of wildlife along the way). The unique surrounding landscapes feature white sand, tall termite mounds, and Mokolwane palm trees. The Nata Sanctuary is a particular highlight for avid bird watchers, where lucky visitors can be rewarded with large flocks of Flamingos and Pelicans, which breed here each year. The town is also a perfect base for exploring the legendary and spectacular Makgadikgadi Pans, where quad biking and four-wheel-drive tours can be enjoyed.
Situated on the southern edge of the Okavango Delta in northwestern Botswana, Maun is a laid-back safari town known as the gateway to one of Africa’s most remarkable wilderness regions. Dusty streets, scattered palms, and the slow-moving Thamalakane River give the town a relaxed frontier atmosphere, where safari vehicles and small bush planes are part of daily life. Travellers come to experience mokoro excursions through reed-lined delta channels, scenic flights above shimmering floodplains, and wildlife safaris into nearby game reserves. While Maun itself is functional rather than polished, its blend of local culture, open landscapes, and close access to untamed wilderness makes it an atmospheric and rewarding base for exploring the Okavango region.
As previously described
Situated 300 kilometres southwest of Maun and just north of the Trans-Kalahari highway, which runs from Lobatse in Botswana to Walvis Bay in Namibia, the small town of Ghanzi is sometimes referred to as the 'Capital of the Kalahari'. It serves as the administrative centre of the Ghanzi district which covers a vast area of cattle ranches and farmland in the west of Botswana. The Ghanzi area has a number of lodges that focus on cultural tourism as well as wildlife viewing - here you can experience the fascinating world of the San Bushmen as they explain to you how they forage, hunt and find water in this harsh environment.
