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-   -   namibia or botswana (https://www.fodors.com/community/africa-and-the-middle-east/namibia-or-botswana-745389/)

fluke Oct 28th, 2007 07:13 PM

namibia or botswana
 
I am thinking of going to South Africa in March. I only have 2 weeks and wanted to go to Capetown, shark diving, and wine country. Then I wanted to either go to Nambia or Botswana (or both if I have time) but assuming I dont have the time, which is better to go to during that time of year? I have been to kenya and rwanda for safari and i have been to morocco for the desert. So of Botswana and Namibia in March, which would be better a choice? thanks

HariS Oct 29th, 2007 07:13 AM

How long are you planning to spend at either Botswana or Namibia?

I hv never been to Namibia - so can't answer .......

Bots - will be their off season ...... cheaper prices, some rain, decent gameviewing and probably remarkable birdlife. Makes sense to go to if you have atleast a week or so at your disposal.

Game viewing in SA itself is still an option if you are pressed for time and don't want to rush(kruger and surrounding private reserves)

Hari

fluke Oct 29th, 2007 07:33 PM

6 days in capetown and the rest of the time in namibia or botswana.

HariS Oct 29th, 2007 07:57 PM

yeah ........ 8 days should be fine. You will love the Okavango delta!

mcwomble Oct 30th, 2007 06:16 AM

About 8 years ago, I went on a Namibia/Botswana (Delta) trip - one week in each. Have since returned to Namibia 3 times and will shortly return to Botswana.

That's me - you are obviously different, but I don't think anyone can answer - "which country is better?", without knowing a lot more about you. Your experiences, preferences, budgets, future plans, etc.

To me, the feeling of remoteness and yet having independent easy driving is unsurpassed in Namibia.

Botswana can provide similar but not in such a short time or without considerable planning, so you usually end up taking the convenient option - fly-in camps and lodges. Nothing wrong with that - it all depebnds what you are looking for.

mdellar Nov 30th, 2007 12:30 PM

I would recommend going to Namibia. Both are amazing places to visit, but you could go to the west of Namibia and see the sand dunes, which are amazing, and will be completly different than anything that you will see in South Africa. If you are interested in activities you could do Quadbiking or Sandboarding. I saw that you also posted about going to Vic Falls, which is also another amazing place to visit. If you wanted to fit in several locations in to your trip you could take a overnight bus from Namibia to Vic Falls. A long trip, but I didn't think it was that bad and the buses are pretty nice. If you do decide to go visit Victoria Falls I would highly recommend staying at Jollyboys in Livingstone. The hostel is really nice, and they have a cheap package that includes lodging, a couple of meals, and a visa.

Jed Nov 30th, 2007 01:01 PM

We had an 2 week itinerary you might be interested in.

Capetown 4 nts
Namibia 2 nts
Joburg 2 nts
Botswana 5 nts.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35086423 ((*))

Doogle Dec 3rd, 2007 12:58 AM

Oh my word Jed, what did you see in Namibia in two nights??? Without a doubt do not try and fit to much in do either Nambia or Botswana, decide what your main priority is, if it is game viweing than Botswana is the answer, remember if you go to Botswana you can do six nights in Botswana and finish off in Victoria Falls with some exciting activities. If you go to Namibia you can still do some game viewing, Etosha is gret for game but it is very different from game viewing in Botswana. In Namibia you will also have the choice of cruising in Walvis Bay, the dunes, the skeleton coast, there is no possible way you can do even a drop of Namibia in 2 days!

Jed Dec 3rd, 2007 07:24 AM

<Oh my word Jed, what did you see in Namibia in two nights???>

This is why we went to Namibia.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35091473

We were sorry that we did not have more time in Namibia, as we wanted to see the Skeleton Coast, but we had to make choices. A "drop" is what we had.

So many places to see, so little time. ((*))


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