15 Days Discover Namibia & Botswana — Self-Launched
15 days · Namibia & Botswana
Motema Tours and Safaris charges £3,300
No-markup version: ~£1,310 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Motema Tours and Safaris' 15-day Namibia–Botswana auto tour. Instead of the operator's lodges and self-drive vehicle, you'll rent a compact car in Windhoek, stay in campsites, backpacker lodges and budget guesthouses, and join locally-run boat cruises, mokoro trips and safari drives as you go. The route is unchanged: Kalahari, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, Damaraland, Etosha, the Caprivi Strip and Chobe. Costs are rough estimates for a shared-car pair; a single traveller paying full car and fuel costs alone should budget roughly £300–500 more.
Day-by-day
Windhoek to the Kalahari
Windhoek → Kalahari
Land at Hosea Kutako International and pick up your pre-booked rental car (a small 4x2 hatchback is fine for this route; book via a local agency such as Asco or Drive South Africa for roughly £30–40/day). Stock up on water, bread and self-catering supplies at a Windhoek supermarket. Drive ~270 km south-east on the B1 to the edge of the Kalahari and camp or take a budget room in the Kalahari trail area near Stampriet or the Camelthorn reserve area. Take an evening walk up a dune ridge for your first Kalahari sunset.
🚌Rental car pickup at Windhoek airport; ~270 km self-drive on the B1
🛏Kalahari campsite or farm guesthouse (~£15pp)
- →Car pickup and provision shopping
- →Self-guided Kalahari dune sunset walk
Across the Kalahari to the Namib Desert
Kalahari → Namib / Solitaire area
Long driving day (~350 km) west via Mariental and Maltahöhe towards Solitaire, passing the Tropic of Capricorn sign for the photo stop. The tarmac gives way to gravel after Maltahöhe — drive slowly and watch for oryx. Set up at a budget lodge or campsite near Solitaire or Sesriem gateway (Sesriem Oshana Campsite inside the park is a good cheap option if booked ahead). Fill up with fuel at Solitaire and buy the famous apple crumble.
🚌~350 km self-drive
🛏Sesriem-area campsite or Solitaire budget lodge (~£15pp)
- →Tropic of Capricorn sign stop
- →Solitaire fuel and bakery stop
Sossusvlei and Deadvlei
Sossusvlei / Deadvlei
Enter the park at gate opening (around sunrise) and drive the 60 km to Sossusvlei, with a stop at Dune 45 for the optional climb. From the 2WD car park, take the park shuttle (roughly N$150–200 per person return) to Deadvlei and Sossusvlei. Walk Deadvlei's white clay pan and Big Daddy if you're up for the sand climb. On the way out, stop at Sesriem Canyon. Optional extras worth booking locally: scenic flight over the dunes from the Sossusvlei airstrip (~£200+), or a hot-air balloon at dawn (book well ahead, £300+).
🚌~120 km self-drive plus park shuttle
🛏Sesriem-area campsite or Solitaire budget lodge (~£15pp)
- →Sunrise drive to Sossusvlei
- →Dune 45 climb
- →Deadvlei walk
- →Sesriem Canyon
- →Optional scenic flight or balloon
Namib Desert to Swakopmund via the Kuiseb Pass
Namib → Swakopmund
Drive out via Solitaire, cross the Kuiseb Pass and the gravel plains of Namib-Naukluft, then join the coastal road south of Walvis Bay. Reach Swakopmund (~300 km) by afternoon. Check into a backpacker hostel such as the Swakopmund backpackers cluster on the waterfront. Wander the German-colonial town, the jetty and the beach at The Mole. Fuel up and pick up a map of the salt roads.
🚌~300 km self-drive via Kuiseb Pass
🛏Swakopmund backpacker hostel dorm (~£20pp)
- →Kuiseb Pass viewpoint
- →Swakopmund town walk
- →Jetty and Mole beach
Walvis Bay lagoon boat cruise
Walvis Bay / Swakopmund
Drive 35 km south to Walvis Bay and join a morning lagoon boat cruise (book direct with a local operator or via GetYourGuide, roughly £45–55 including a light lunch and oysters). You'll see Cape fur seals, pelicans and with luck dolphins and whales in season. Afternoon back in Swakopmund: try sandboarding or quad biking on the dunes (~£30–45 direct), or simply walk the beach and grab fish and chips at the waterfront.
🚌~70 km self-drive return to Walvis Bay
🛏Swakopmund backpacker hostel dorm (~£20pp)
- →Walvis Bay lagoon boat cruise
- →Optional sandboarding or quad biking
- →Swakopmund waterfront
Swakopmund to Twyfelfontein via the Skeleton Coast
Swakopmund → Twyfelfontein / Damaraland
Head north on the coastal road past Wlotzkasbaken and Henties Bay, stop at the Zeila shipwreck near the beach, then turn inland on the gravel C35/C39 towards Uis and Twyfelfontein (~450 km — start early, fuel at Henties Bay and Uis). Budget lodge or campsite near Twyfelfontein/Aba Huab. Optional detour: the ephemeral (dry) river drive tracks in Damaraland if you have a 4x4; skip in a 2WD.
🚌~450 km self-drive on coastal road and gravel
🛏Twyfelfontein / Aba Huab campsite or budget lodge (~£15pp)
- →Zeila shipwreck
- →Henties Bay stop
- →Damaraland gravel drive
Twyfelfontein rock engravings and Burnt Mountain
Twyfelfontein / Damaraland
Join a locally guided tour of the Twyfelfontein UNESCO rock engravings at the visitor centre (guided entry roughly N$250 per person; the site requires a guide). Then self-drive to the Organ Pipes basalt columns and Burnt Mountain, both a short distance away. If you're interested in local culture, the Damara Living Museum nearby is a worthwhile stop (~£10). Optional afternoon elephant-tracking drive with a local conservancy guide in Damaraland (~£45) if you're keen to see desert-adapted elephants.
🚌~40 km local self-drive
🛏Twyfelfontein / Aba Huab campsite or budget lodge (~£15pp)
- →Guided Twyfelfontein engravings
- →Organ Pipes
- →Burnt Mountain
- →Damara Living Museum
- →Optional desert elephant tracking
Damaraland to Etosha (Okaukuejo)
Damaraland → Etosha National Park
Drive east via Khorixas and Outjo to the Andersson Gate of Etosha (~350 km). Fuel at Outjo. Enter the park, pay conservation fees, and set up at Okaukuejo campsite (book well ahead via Namibia Wildlife Resorts, roughly £25–30pp camping). Visit a local Himba village en route with a community-run guide (negotiated at the gate, ~£10–15). Spend the late afternoon at the Okaukuejo waterhole — one of the best in Africa for rhino at night.
🚌~350 km self-drive; park conservation fee due at gate
🛏Okaukuejo campsite, Etosha (~£28pp)
- →Himba village visit
- →Okaukuejo floodlit waterhole at dusk
Full day self-drive safari across Etosha
Etosha National Park
Spend the whole day on the park's gravel roads between Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni waterholes — self-driving is perfectly doable and far cheaper than joining a group game drive. Lion, elephant, giraffe, springbok and black rhino are all realistic. Alternatively, join a morning or sunset game drive from Okaukuejo (book at reception, ~£30–45). Overnight at Namutoni or Halali campsite on the eastern side to break up the park.
🚌~150 km park driving
🛏Halali or Namutoni campsite, Etosha (~£28pp)
- →Self-drive game viewing
- →Optional guided game drive
- →Waterhole watching
Etosha to Rundu on the Okavango
Etosha → Rundu
Exit via the Von Lindequist Gate and drive east on the B1/B8 through Tsumeb and Grootfontein to Rundu (~400 km). Fuel at Tsumeb. Arrive on the Okavango River in the late afternoon. If you have energy, join a sunset boat cruise from a river lodge (~£25–35, book direct on arrival). Otherwise, self-cater at a riverside campsite or guesthouse.
🚌~400 km self-drive on tarmac
🛏Rundu riverside campsite or budget guesthouse (~£15pp)
- →Tsumeb fuel stop
- →Optional Okavango sunset boat cruise
Rundu to Popa Falls and the Caprivi Strip
Rundu → Popa Falls / Mahango
Drive east along the Okavango on the B8 through Divundu to Popa Falls (~200 km) and camp at a riverside site near Mahango. Join an afternoon mokoro (dugout canoe) trip with a community guide (~£20–30) along the Okavango/Kwando waterways — one of the most peaceful experiences on the route. Bring a torch for the night sounds.
🚌~200 km self-drive on the B8
🛏Popa Falls / Mahango riverside campsite (~£15pp)
- →Popa Falls rapids walk
- →Community-guided mokoro trip
Mahango National Park safari
Mahango / Caprivi
Do a self-drive loop through Mahango National Park on the Trans-Caprivi Highway corridor (small park, easily covered in a morning; park entry roughly N$100 per person). Elephant, hippo, buffalo, sable and roan antelope are possible. Alternatively, join a local 4x4 game drive or a mokoro safari in the park (~£35–50, booked at the riverside lodges). Afternoon to relax, fish or swim (carefully — crocs and hippos).
🚌~40 km self-drive plus park entry
🛏Divava / Popa Falls area campsite or budget chalet (~£18pp)
- →Self-drive Mahango safari loop
- →Optional 4x4 safari or mokoro safari
Into Botswana — Kasane and the Chobe River
Mahango → Kasane, Botswana
Cross the border at Ngoma Bridge into Botswana (Namibia exit and Botswana entry; pay in Pula, keep small notes ready). Reach Kasane in about 150 km. Check into a Kasane backpacker lodge or campsite (~£20–30pp). In the afternoon, join a Chobe River sunset boat cruise booked direct with a Kasane operator (~£35–45) — huge elephant herds come down to drink, and hippo, buffalo and birds are guaranteed viewing. Sort your Chobe park entry fees for tomorrow.
🚌~150 km self-drive across the Ngoma border
🛏Kasane backpacker lodge or campsite (~£25pp)
- →Ngoma border crossing
- →Chobe River sunset boat cruise
Full day safari in Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park
Book a full-day Chobe safari direct with a Kasane operator — a morning game drive and an afternoon boat cruise, roughly £65–85 including park fees and lunch, or split it into a morning drive (~£40) and afternoon cruise (~£40) for cheaper flexibility. This is the classic Chobe day: massive elephant concentrations along the river in the dry season, plus lion, leopard, sable and hundreds of bird species. Return to Kasane for a sundowner on the riverbank.
🚌Safari vehicle provided by operator (no self-drive needed today)
🛏Kasane backpacker lodge or campsite (~£25pp)
- →Chobe game drive
- →Chobe boat cruise
- →Riverside sundowner
Kasane — trip conclusion
Kasane
Return the car if you hired it one-way to Kasane (a cross-border drop-off carries a surcharge; alternatively drive back into Namibia to Hosea Kutako or hand the car over in Kasane — check at booking). Fly out from Kasane Airport, or take a shared transfer to Victoria Falls if you want to extend. Windhoek–Kasane flights are cheapest booked a few months out; flying out of Livingstone or Victoria Falls is often cheaper if you add a transfer.
🚌Car return and airport transfer (~£10)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Car return
- →Departure / optional Victoria Falls extension
Self-launched vs. Motema Tours and Safaris
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Motema Tours and Safaris | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,310 | £3,300 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,990 per person (60%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Motema Tours and Safaris-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,310
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does 15 Days Discover Namibia & Botswana — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,310 per person for 15 days in Namibia & Botswana. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Motema Tours and Safaris?+
Yes — Motema Tours and Safaris charges around £3,300 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,310 — a saving of roughly £1,990 (60%) per person.
How long is the Namibia & Botswana trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Namibia & Botswana.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, road-trip, wildlife trip through Namibia & Botswana, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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