Epic Botswana & Namibia Safari

Have questions about Southern Africa? We've got answers! We've compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions about African wildlife, weather and more.

Discover fascinating facts about elephant herds, lounging leopards and the other wildlife you may encounter on your Southern Africa safari.

Read on to discover how our initiatives in Southern Africa help protect African wildlife, preserve culture and support community development. 

Take our African safari wildlife quiz to put your knowledge to the test, then share it with your family and friends to see who knows the most about life on the savanna!

Find out the typical weather conditions and climate of Southern Africa's ecosystems during the green season and dry season.

We've made a comprehensive list of all the clothing and gear you'll want to pack so you'll be well prepared for your Southern Africa safari.

—By Mandy Scott
The goal of Natural Habitat Adventures is to exceed expectations and I can truly say that goal was met on this trip. I got everything I wanted and more. The photos, and more importantly, the memories captured on this trip gave me an incredible sampling of what a visit to the African continent has to offer and whet my appetite for several more visits to this diverse land in the future.

—By WWF
Situated on the southwest coast of Africa, Namibia is home to the world’s oldest desert—the Namib. The country was the first African nation to include protection of the environment in its constitution, which has helped restore southern Africa’s populations of black rhinos, lions, cheetahs, zebras and other native wildlife. Here are seven reasons to make Namibia your next African adventure.

—By Matt Kareus
Compared to elephants, rhinos and the big cats of Africa, hippos are generally under appreciated, despite their declining numbers and the critical role they play in creating and maintaining healthy ecosystems. In the interest of shedding a little light on this enigmatic creature, here are a few interesting hippo facts to consider when you encounter a pod on your next safari.

—By Megan Brief
On September 22, conservation scientists and animal advocates join forces in recognition of our planet’s five species of rhino. Learn how Richard saves species as a Sony Ambassador and Expedition Leader for Nat Hab & WWF.

—By Megan Brief
Known as ‘The Land of The Giants’—Chobe National Park, nestled in the north of Botswana—is home to Africa’s largest population of elephants. Travel with Nat Hab & WWF and watch these mammoth mammals bathing and playing in the water as you cruise the Chobe River’s marshy channels and visit local communities to see their conservation initiatives in action!

—By Megan Brief
As an apex predator, the lion influences trophic systems from the top down. They maintain balance within the ecosystem by stabilizing populations of herbivores—like zebra and wildebeest—to prevent overgrazing of endemic plant life. Not only do lions promote the integrity of food webs, but they also serve as measures of environmental success…and indicators of environmental decline.

—By Jesse Marcus, WWF
I traveled to Southern Africa on a Natural Habitat Adventures trip in October 2019, just a few months before COVID-19. I saw a pride of lions dozing in the shade of an acacia tree. An adult rhino squaring off with his child in a playful, even tender, shoving match. A herd of wild buffalo at magic hour, trailing a sepia-toned dust cloud behind them. I also met people whose lives and livelihoods directly benefited from local conservation efforts. The time I spent in Southern Africa seems like a dream now. But even though the memories may fade, they remain the gift that keeps on giving. That is what it means to be enriched by an experience. It stays with you. It changes you. It makes you a part of it. Forever.

—By Jon Jared
The green season in Botswana falls between late October and March. It’s a time when rain showers turn arid landscapes green, animals migrate from their winter watering holes to the salt flats of the south, and new life appears around every corner.

—By Emily Goodheart
Victoria Falls is the Eden of Africa. Spray from the cataract creates a multitude of rainbows and forms a rainforest microclimate, with lush greenery growing along the canyon sides. The thunderous, iridescent water is astounding to behold. Learn more about one of Earth’s greatest natural wonders with these 5 facts.

—By Samantha Miller
Isolated camps on private sanctuaries allow travelers to interact with and photograph the species-rich habitats of Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Take flight on three separate helicopter safaris and a hot air balloon safari to capture aerial shots of Southern Africa’s most pristine wilderness enclaves.

—By Candice Gaukel Andrews
Zambia’s lions are telling their own travel stories of a sort: tales about their times caught in wire snares, noose-like traps used to poach bushmeat and control carnivores. And those stories could help researchers improve conservation efforts in the country.

—By Peter Davis Krahenbuhl
Botswana safaris are evocative of a bygone era, when the African wilderness was uncrowded and...