Affordable Botswana / Namibia / Zambia – 8 days or more

Affordable Botswana / Namibia / Zambia – 8 days or more

Fly into Kasane

Here you will stay at Old House, a family owned guest house overlooking the Chobe River.

Activities in Chobe include game drives into the National Park and boat trips on the beautiful Chobe River.

Chobe National Park in Botswana is a renowned birding destination, boasting over 450 bird species. The park’s diverse ecosystems, from the Chobe River and its floodplains to the dry savannas and woodlands, provide habitats for a wide array of both resident and migratory birds. November to April, especially January to March, is the best time for birding, as it coincides with the arrival of migratory birds and the breeding season. Boat cruises along the Chobe River and guided game drives offer excellent opportunities to observe the park’s birdlife.

Where to stay:  Camp Muchenje, Kubu Lodge, Ngoma Safari Lodge, Chobe Safari Lodge

Or budget alternatives – The Old House, Chobe Bush Lodge, Kasane Self-catering, Ihaha campsite

Cross the Ngoma border into Namibia and drive towards Katima Mulilo (This can be done as a self-drive or use Caprivi Adventures)

Here you will stay at Caprivi Mutoya, situated in a small riverine forest, delicately perched on the tranquil banks of a backwater lake connected to the Zambezi River.

Prepare to be enchanted by the diverse avian wonders that call our lodge home. Nestled amidst a pristine wilderness, our location boasts an impressive array of up to 450 bird species, making it a true paradise for ornithological enthusiasts.

Join us for a mesmerizing sunset boat cruise along the tranquil waters, where you’ll have the opportunity to witness the graceful African Fish Eagles soaring majestically overhead, their haunting calls echoing across the landscape. Keep your binoculars at the ready as you scan the skies for sightings of the African Hobby darting through the air and the elusive Bat Hawk stealthily gliding amidst the twilight.

Where to stay:  Caprivi Mutoya Lodge, Caprivi River Lodge, Caprivi Houseboat Safari Lodge

Cross the border into Zambia and head north along the Zambezi River for about 100km through rural Zambian landscapes – small villages, miombo woodland, and increasingly wild terrain (approximately 2-3 hours depending on road conditions).

Where to stay:  Ngonye River Campsite or Mutemwa Lodge

Spend time exploring Sioma Ngwezi NP and Ngonye Falls.

Sioma Ngwezi National Park represents true wilderness Africa—remote, untouched, and spectacularly wild. Covering approximately 5,000 km² in Zambia’s far southwestern corner, this park sees fewer visitors in a year than Victoria Falls receives in a day, making it a genuine frontier destination for adventurous birders and wildlife enthusiasts.

Sioma Ngwezi’s remoteness and habitat diversity make it exceptional for birding, particularly for species associated with the Zambezi floodplains and miombo woodland specialists.

The remoteness of Sioma Ngwezi creates an unmatched bush experience. You may encounter no other visitors during your entire stay. Game viewing is unpredictable but rewarding animals are wild and skittish, making encounters more thrilling.

Ngonye Falls – “The Smoke That Thunders in the West”, is often called “Zambia’s other Victoria Falls,” Ngonye Falls is a spectacular, horseshoe-shaped cascade where the Zambezi River plunges over a series of drops spanning nearly one kilometre wide. While smaller than Victoria Falls, Ngonye is no less beautiful and offers something Victoria Falls cannot—solitude and intimacy.

Drive back into Namibia and then drive west along the Trans-Caprivi Highway to Bwabwata National Park, part of the Kavango Zambezi Trans Frontier Conservation Area.

Stay at Kazile Island Lodge located inside the park on the Kwando River, surrounded by pristine floodplain and woodland bird habitats.

Spend time exploring the diverse wetland, woodland, and savannah ecosystems of Bwabwata. The park is one of Namibia’s most productive birding destinations, with over 400 recorded species.

Where to stay:  Jackalberry Lodge, Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge, Rupara Community Rest camp, Mukolo Camp, Nambwa Tented Lodge, Kazile Island, Nambwa Campsite

Various options from here –

Continue west or south to explore more of Namibia or return to Kasane.