Even though we wrote about our adventures every day, there are a few things – observations, thoughts, etc. – that just don’t fit in the daily blog, so we have assembled them here.

The Planning

We typically plan our own travel – even internationally – using sites like booking.com and various hotel sites (Hilton, Marriott, IHG, etc.). However, this journey was beyond our abilities. So, we contacted Africa Driven (formerly Drive Botswana) for assistance. They could not have been more accommodating! Over the course of 10 weeks in 2024, we traded email correspondence until we settled on the perfect itinerary. The end result was the ideal balance of camping and lodges – we particularly enjoyed the private campsites and game reserves. A huge shoutout to Phil, Andy and the entire team for their patience throughout the process. We can’t imagine a better safari advisor to work with.

The Prep

About 6 weeks prior to departure, we went to a travel clinic (Passport Health) in Orlando for a consultation. We were advised to get a polio booster, a typhoid vaccine, a tetanus shot, and an anti-malarial prescription. We got the polio booster shot and the typhoid vaccine (oral) from the clinic, as well as the prescription for Malarone (malaria). We got the tetanus shot at Publix at no charge. We did not get the Malarone from the clinic as it was much more expensive than our local pharmacy. We needed 60 pills each and the clinic charged $6 per pill for a total of $720 for both of us. We got the prescription filled at CVS for $108 for both of us. It pays to shop around!

We also wanted to update our paper maps since ours were 20 years old. We found really great maps on Amazon – both the Botswana and Namibia maps were from National Geographic Adventure and were much more detailed than any of our older maps (or the ones received from Botswana Drive). It was comforting to be able to see our route on paper every day; particularly when the GPS failed. Funnily enough, our maps from Moremi, Chobe, and Etosha, which were dated 2004, were still up to date! Although, to be honest, we relied on the GPS more than those old maps when in the parks.

Lodges

The lodges – and the camp sites – that we stayed at were typically very remote. In nearly all cases, power is solar generated, and there are no conveniences such as dishwashers, washing machines, clothes dryers, or air conditioning. Laundry is done by hand and hung to dry. Kitchen staff work incredibly long hours, usually starting around 5:00 am and finishing near 10:00 when all the dishes are done and the kitchen is clean for the morning.

Management also have very long days – starting at 6ish and ending when the last guests retire. And, guests are known to linger until quite late at the bar!

Tipping

We talked about the car guards in our prior blog from 2005, and again in this blog. The car guards are just that – individuals that keep an eye on your vehicle when you are in the shops. When we returned to the truck, and all was in order, we tipped these people for safeguarding our belongings. A usual tip was 20 Rand ~ USD1.

Tipping was also customary at the gas stations for all services, be it filling the tank, washing the windows, or airing up the tires. Again, a usual tip was 20 Rand.

The largest tips went to the lodge staff and/or the safari guides. We tipped the guides individually and the lodge staff – housekeeping, wait staff, and kitchen staff – on a combined basis. Typical amounts were 200 Rand for safari guides (assuming 2 drives) and 150 Rand per night for lodge staff. If there was a tip box, we also tipped at the camp sites as the ablutions facilities were incredibly clean and this was very much appreciated, particularly when the day is spent in the dusty bush. As mentioned above, all of these people are amongst the hardest working we have ever encountered.

The Deets

We were away from home for 49 days, traveling more than 25,000 miles over the entire journey – 20,000 via the airways and 5,000 on the ground.

We spent 23 nights camping and the remainder in lodges or hotels.

More than half (55%) of our ground travel throughout Southern Africa was on gravel / sand tracts.

Diesel cost an average of $1.16 per liter or $4.39 per gallon. More expensive than the U.S. but not the most we have ever paid. We purchased 854 liters / 229 gallons across three countries and too many towns to remember.

Groceries, including wine and beer, were relatively inexpensive, averaging only $15 per day for the entire trip.

EXTRAS!

See our “transportation” video here, which highlights all of the various ways we traveled across the southern part of the continent.