Go Wild

Welcome to Namibia. You land at Hosea Kutako International Airport, about 46 km east of Windhoek, the capital. It's a calm, easy airport to navigate - through passport control and immigration, collect your luggage, and out into the arrivals hall.

Tonight you stay at The Weinberg, a stylish base on the edge of the city, the perfect place to shake off the flight before the long road north. Namibia keeps much the same time as Europe in season, so jet lag is rarely a problem.

Your vehicle comes with Premium Cover insurance - zero excess and no deposit held - so you can simply enjoy the drive. The handover covers everything you need to know about the car and the route ahead.

Namibia is one of the easiest countries in Africa to self-drive: roads are quiet, well signposted and a pleasure to travel. Stock up on water and a few snacks in Windhoek, and the open road is yours. Prefer not to drive? The same trip is available as a guided small-group tour of up to seven guests.

Head north into Etosha - one of Africa's great wildlife sanctuaries, built around a vast white salt pan. Three nights are split between the characterful Etosha Safari Camp near the southern side of the park and the stylish Etosha King Nehale on the Andoni Plains to the north, giving you two different gateways into the reserve.

Days are spent on Etosha's gravel roads, moving between waterholes that draw elephant, lion, giraffe, black rhino, oryx, springbok and much more. The open country and the animals' reliance on water make for superb, rewarding game viewing. Back at camp there's time to refresh, cool off and raise a glass as the sun goes down.

Northeast now to the Okavango River and Hakusembe River Lodge, on the green, palm-fringed banks near Rundu. After the dry country of central Namibia, the perennial river feels like a different world.

Settle in for sundowners on the water as the light turns gold - your first taste of Namibia's lush, watery north and the wildlife it brings to the riverbanks.

Into the Zambezi Region (the Caprivi) and the Kwando River, where Namushasha River Lodge sits among riverine forest beside Bwabwata National Park. Two nights here let you slow right down.

Take a river cruise, head into the park on a game drive, and let the birdlife wash over you - this is one of the richest corners of the country. Wake early and you'll hear hippo calling across the water before the heat of the day.

Further northeast to the floodplains of the Chobe River - Namibia's own version of the Serengeti. Chobe River Camp looks out across the water to the wildlife-rich reserve on the far bank.

With a little luck you'll see large herds of elephant and buffalo coming down to drink, along with antelope and a constant cast of birds. The best seat in the house is a boat at sunset, drifting quietly as the animals gather at the water's edge.

On to the mighty Zambezi and Zambezi Mubala Lodge, set among tall, shady trees on the riverbank. This is a paradise for nature lovers - vervet monkeys in the branches, fish eagles overhead and the melodic calls of the swamp boubou ringing through the air.

With over 450 bird species in the region, it's a dream for birders and anglers alike, and a wonderful place simply to sit and drink in the river. Two nights to soak up the enchanted world of the Zambezi.

Turning west, you return to the Okavango and Hakusembe River Lodge for a final riverside night.

It's the perfect place to raise a glass to the wild country you've travelled through - and to enjoy the river one more time before the long road home.

The long road south brings you back towards Windhoek and Okapuka Safari Lodge, set on a game reserve just outside the city.

There's a chance for one last game sighting on the reserve and a quiet final evening to reflect on the wild north before the journey home.

This morning you drive the short distance back into Windhoek, return your rental vehicle and transfer to Hosea Kutako International Airport for your flight home.

Namibia's wildness, its rivers and its wildlife have a way of capturing a little of your soul - we look forward to your return.

It's a self-drive safari - you drive yourself from lodge to lodge at your own pace. A guided small-group option (up to seven guests) is also available if you'd rather leave the driving to someone else.

The main route runs on good tar roads - the B1 north and the Trans-Caprivi Highway - and is comfortable in a 2x4. A 4x4 gives extra clearance for lodge access tracks and game-park drives, and many travellers prefer one for this northern, river-country route.

Yes. Unlike most of Namibia, the northern rivers and the Zambezi Region are a malaria area, particularly in the wet season from November to April. Consult your doctor or a travel clinic about anti-malarial medication before you travel, use insect repellent and cover up around dusk.

The dry winter (May to October) is best for game viewing in Etosha and along the rivers, with animals concentrated near water. The green season (November to April) brings superb birding, newborn animals and lush scenery, along with more rain and heat.

Etosha delivers classic big game - elephant, lion, giraffe, black rhino and plains game. The Caprivi rivers add elephant, buffalo, hippo, crocodile and over 450 bird species, with sunset river cruises among the real highlights of the trip.