Self-Drive Safaris
‘The Journey is the Destination’
As indicated by the name, self-drive safaris, involve getting behind the wheel and exploring a region in your own vehicle at your own pace. Namibia and Botswana are two of the most popular self-drive safari destinations in Africa, both offering completely unique landscapes and wildlife to explore. With a self-drive safari organised by us, adventures in the vast wilderness, reminiscent of old times are not only possible, but made smooth with a perfectly equipped 4WD all-terrain camper with roof tent. This special way of travelling is ideal for those in search of an authentic adventure designed to allow them to cover large areas without missing all the special sights in between the main landmarks. |
Vehicle Highlights
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The Advantages of a Self-Drive SafariThe freedom of self-driving safaris is very appealing, as although your general routing and accommodation is preplanned, you can set the pace of your safari and daily schedule. Travellers can choose to ‘rough-it’ in a basic campsite, spend a night in a boutique hotel, traditional safari camp or stay in luxury lodges. Luxury does have a different meaning when camping in Africa, though, as for some setting up the roof tent in a remote region with nothing around but nature and the vibrant night sky above is an experience second to none! The satisfying feeling of reaching a destination, setting up camp, lighting the fire and getting ready to BBQ dinner with a drink in hand is truly magnificent. Therefore, we generally recommend a mixture of camping and lodging in order to have a diverse experience and to enjoy all the advantages of a self-drive safari. In addition to the flexibility of a self-drive safari, it also is a more manageable option from a cost perspective, in comparison to a classic safari. Several nights camping in the magnificent nature can allow larger budgets for the nights between spent lodging and enjoying a bit of rest and relaxation. |
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The Safari Classic: Toyota Land Cruiser 79Our local partners, who we work directly with to plan our client’s journey’s, are one of the most experienced self-drive companies in Africa. They set themselves apart in a variety of ways from other companies including with their exceptional off-road vehicles which are strong, reliable and have all the modern gear one could need. These elegant vehicles have the classic safari look and can comfortably navigate the sand and gravel roads along the way. All vehicles are equipped with 2 roof tents and comfortable sleeping mattresses, two refrigerators, a gas stove, cooking and grilling utensils, cutlery, bedding, a camping table and chairs and many other useful extras. Navigating African gravel roads has always been one of the biggest challenges, which is why all vehicles have modern GPS and satellite navigation equipment. |
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Our Tip:Track wildlife in national parks and private reserves can be a challenge, even for most seasoned safari goers. In contrast to the protected national parks, in many private reserves you are also allowed to drive ‘off-road’, which can sometimes cause you to lose your orientation. Therefore, we recommend to do the first game drive within the parks accompanied by an experienced safari guide. Most lodges have highly trained guides who know the parks like the back of their hand and usually know where certain species of wildlife are at any given time. They are also regularly in contact with other trained guides who share sightings and assist them in locating them. Thus, the chances for many exciting wildlife sightings are much better! The game drives are mostly done in the lodges' and camps' open four-wheel drive off-road vehicle, very much in the traditional safari style. |
