Destinations

“A pristine land of untouched natural beauty; of vastness, of awe-inspiring contrasts and mystical splendour such that it touches the soul! You take it with you forever.” (NTB)
This above is an apt description for this truly wonderful country. Namibia has rapidly become a well-known safari destination, offering the discerning traveller one of the most diverse African experiences possible. From the wildlife of the huge national parks, to the vastness and emptiness that stretches to the horizon of the Namib and Kalahari deserts, where you forget your cares and lose yourself in a landscape where time looses its meaning, to the desolate Skeleton Coast and to a cultural diversity unlike any other, Namibia celebrates an abundance of space and big blue skies in one of the most natural and spiritual places on this planet.
Namibia is not merely a safari destination, but an experience where you can be yourself, be alone or just be.

Over the years, there have been a number of cultural influences that have all contributed to the unique atmosphere of Namibia. At various times Germany, Great Britain and South Africa have all governed the territory, but it was with the eventual independence of Namibia in 1990 that the country was able to develop its multi-cultural character and reinvent itself. There is a rich and colourful uniquely African vigour that now freely blends in with the colonial influences on architecture, food, customs and art, all merging to create a distinctive Namibian character.

All this is in interesting juxtaposition with the expansive landscapes that surround the cities. The many national parks and game reserves boast a huge variety of wildlife in a kaleidoscope of diverse environments: giraffes amble across the blinding white saltpans of Etosha National Park, oryx plunge headlong up impossibly steep red dunes at Sossusvlei, and seals in their multitudes colonise lonely beachheads along the Skeleton Coast. Astonishing contrasts are everywhere for the visitor to savour, enjoy and photograph.

Namibia has rapidly become a well-known safari destination with a difference, known for its remote and intimate lodges, interaction with the indigenous people as well as the wildlife, and offering unique opportunities to become involved with the cultural heritage of all its peoples.

For more detailed information on Namibia visit www.orusovo.com ... our very own Namibia Guidebook

Africa’s success story, with a stable democracy headed by honest politicians, zero corruption and one of the strongest economies in Africa, Botswana is dedicated to delivering one of the finest and authentic wildlife experiences available. With 39% of the country’s surface area dedicated to conservation related practices, the tourism sector is managed according to strict guidelines; preventing overcrowding, enhancing the capabilities of local people through adequate training and employment, and substantial royalties for the privilege of entering these truly remarkable wilderness areas.

From the predators and large concentrations of game in the Okavango Delta, to some of the world’s largest herds of elephants in the Linyanti and Chobe parks, to the contrasts of the wide-open spaces and solitude of the Kalahari and Makgadikgadi Pans, to the endless stretches of uninhabited land seen from the air while being transported between camps, Botswana offers the most remarkable and authentic ‘game-viewing’ safari in Africa.  

 The most striking features of the country are its flatness and aridity. With the exception of the eastern part of Botswana where the great majority of Batswana live and where the summer rainfall is slightly higher, three quarters of Botswana is technically a desert. This is what makes the Okavango Delta even more remarkable. It is a wonderful wetland within a desert, getting its waters from rain falling in central Africa, 1 000 km away.

Botswana was prior to independence in 1966, one of the world's poorest countries. People living outside Botswana had never even heard of the Okavango. In those early days East Africa was "king" of the safari circuit. Botswana was undiscovered and was only visited by a few hardy adventurers (mainly hunters). But things were to change! East Africa lost its gloss in the eyes of the discerning traveller as it overcrowded its parks. South Africa became a "normal" country with Nelson Mandela's release, and the whole southern African sub-continent became a desirable region to explore!

Within Botswana there were big changes too. Diamonds were discovered in the Kalahari shortly after independence which kick-started the economy. Sir Seretse Khama was the country's first post-independence president. A great leader, he was one of the most pragmatic and far-sighted presidents any country could ever hope for. Seretse laid the foundations and the platforms that Botswana needed to propel it forward. Democracy has never been compromised and the economy has been booming. On the wildlife front, Seretse's son, Ian, is one of the country's unsung conservation heroes. When he became head of the military, he positioned his troops to secure Botswana's borders from poachers. The game concentrations within the country multiplied overnight.

The country abandoned mass tourism and focused on high quality / low volume tourism. The country's leaders took the view that high quality / low volume tourism was the best way to create a sustainable industry that would employ a large percentage of its people, while still preserving the environment. Today wildlife and tourism employs about 45% of all the people who live in northern Botswana.

The country has remained focused on delivering the finest possible, authentic wildlife experience. This is accomplished through one of Africa's most sensible land plans ever devised. Much of the country's best wildlife land is outside the parks! This land has been resurveyed over the past 10 years and has been divided into massive private reserves (called concessions) that are leased out to safari companies or to rural communities. The safari companies have to manage their operations within strict guidelines and with very strict carrying capacities to prevent overcrowding. These companies have to train and employ local people - and they have to pay large amounts to the communities or the government for the privilege of being there.

While most of the country's best wildlife experiences are in these private reserves (or concessions, as they are known locally), the country still has areas for the general public to visit. These are not the areas to which you should be travelling to find the best private wildlife experience. The safari camps that Tou Safaris recommends on this website are all in the private reserves.

Zambia is a vast country, friendly and peaceful, that offers superb wildlife and cultural encounters. Still relatively unexplored by most visitors to Africa, Zambia conjures images of a bygone era, with vast areas of pristine wilderness still to be fully discovered. Landlocked in central Africa, it has a population of approximately 12 million. Zambia is situated mainly on a vast plateau, and has three of Africa's largest rivers - the Zambezi, Kafue and Luangwa - as well as one of the largest waterfalls in the world, the Victoria Falls, which it shares with neighbouring Zimbabwe.

Most of the country has a mild, pleasant climate, while the river valleys are hotter and more humid; the extreme north becomes tropical on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, one of Zambia's ten large lakes. While Lusaka is the country's capital, Livingstone, just 10 km from the Falls, is more well known to travellers as the 'adventure capital' offering adrenalin-packed activities on and around the Falls and the Zambezi River.

When it comes to wildlife, what Zambia lacks in diversity, it makes up for in concentrations and numbers, offering some of the wildest and most remote game areas on the continent as well as a number of superb camps/lodges and safari options. Using either air charter or a combination of air and road it is possible to build an itinerary that takes in the most rewarding areas at a relaxed and leisurely pace.

You can see more than a thousand black lechwe on the floodplains of Bangweulu, catch some of the biggest tiger fish in Africa within sight of a large elephant herd on the Lower Zambezi, fly over the mighty Victoria Falls in spate, or view leopard on a kill at night in the South Luangwa. The modern walking or 'foot' safari originated in this lush land, today offering some of the best traditional walking safaris in Africa.