Since returning home, we have been thinking a lot about this wonderful trip and sharing our experiences with our loved ones, who are all amazed by our stories and photos. With time, we realise even more how lucky we were to have had such an adventure. For all these memories, smiles, experiences and images engraved in our minds, we would like to say a huge thank you.

From the very beginning, our contact with you was simple, pleasant and efficient. This allowed us to look forward to the trip with peace of mind and growing excitement to discover Namibia and Botswana. This relationship of trust continued throughout our journey, and we were also delighted to meet you during our last stop in Maun.

Start of the trip

We chose to spend two days in Windhoek before starting our road trip, and thank goodness we did! This allowed us to recover from the long flight and nurse a bad cold we had brought back from Switzerland. Once we were well rested, we picked up our vehicle, laughing at our clumsiness at driving on the left, and the adventure finally began!

The first few kilometres offered us sumptuous landscapes, endless roads lined with nature, and our first encounters with the local wildlife. We also discovered our tent and camping equipment, which proved intuitive to use thanks to the rental company’s explanations. The first few nights were quite chilly, reminding us of the importance of bringing warm clothing.

The pace and the stages

We particularly appreciated the balance between nights camping and stops in lodges or guesthouses. Each stage offered us a different experience: the comfort and calm of the lodges allowed us to relax, while camping added a touch of adventure and closeness to nature.

The campsites were of high quality: spacious, quiet and always clean. As for the lodges, their warm welcome and the activities on offer also made a lasting impression on us. The balance between the two types of accommodation was perfectly suited to our pace.

Highlights

Your maps and recommendations were invaluable throughout the trip: the ‘favourite’ spots you indicated never disappointed us, quite the contrary! We saw more and more wildlife, and each encounter became a new lesson about the local fauna.

We also really enjoyed the organised excursions and activities: the guides were passionate, knowledgeable and very pleasant.

A few stories

Although driving in Botswana was sometimes tricky, the advice from the rental company saved us from any major issues (no getting stuck in sand or mud!). A small fine for forgetting to use our headlights added a bit of spice to the adventure, but it’s one of those funny memories.

Our interactions with the locals, both Namibians and Botswanans, were rich and warm. We particularly appreciated the humour and simplicity of the locals in Botswana, where we were not seen solely as tourists, but as sincere interlocutors.

The end of the trip

At the end, we returned our car with nearly 4,500 km more on the odometer and a twinge of sadness at leaving it behind. The return of the vehicle went smoothly, in the same professional spirit as the rest of the trip.

Despite the cancellation of our return flight, we were able to find a solution to get home, but not without some drama.

Thank you!

We are very grateful for all the work you did to make this trip possible. It was an unforgettable experience, and that is largely thanks to you! We will not hesitate to call on you again in the future, and our friends and family are already aware of your excellent work.

Our favourites

– The lodge in Divundu (++ their magnificent evening songs)
– The Valley of Thousand Hills campsite
– The town of Kasane
– The boat on the Chobe River
– The desert elephants
– Popa Falls
– The dinner at Discovery B&B

Published on: 30 August 2024