Red lechwe self-drive: In full

Once you've collected your hire car from Windhoek Airport you drive via Windhoek city and north through Namibia's Central Highlands to reach Okonjima. Here the dedicated Hanssen family transformed their cattle farm into a private wildlife reserve that is also home to the successful AfriCat Foundation, established in 1993. Today the foundation focuses on the protection and long-term conservation of all large carnivores in Namibia. You'll learn about their work and often have the chance to see some of these predators up close. All guided activities are included in your stay at the lovely Okonjima Bush Camp.

Follow the excellent tarmac roads through fertile farmland of the Otavi Triangle where you may like to detour to visit the famous Hoba meteorite. Continue north across the veterinary fence into communal land of the Kavango Region where the local people live a more traditional pastoralist lifestyle. You'll break your journey towards the Caprivi Strip at the gateway town of Rundu – a vibrant mix of rural Africa with ramshackle buildings and flashes of colour combined with the occasional Portuguese influence from neighbouring Angola. Here you overnight just outside of town on the banks of the Kavango River at Hakusembe Lodge.

Today you drive further east to Divundu and then south to cross the Mohembo Border into Botswana. It's then a relatively short drive to Nxamaseri Village where you swap your vehicle for a boat and transfer into the waterways that form the Okavango Delta Panhandle. Spend a relaxing three nights here, cruising the picturesque waterways, birdwatching, fishing and discovering the Delta's aquatic flora and fauna from your island hideaway at Nxamaseri Lodge.

Back on the road to Namibia, you again cross the Mohembo Border and head east from Divundu into Bwabwata National Park, formerly known as Caprivi Game Park. Your destination for the next three nights is a fantastic intimate safari lodge on Birre Island, within the eastern border of the park. During your time here you will be treated to guided 4WD game drives and boat cruises along the Kwando River, based from the secluded Susuwe Island Lodge.

Journey through the bustling town of Katima Mulilo and then across the Ngoma Border into Botswana. Here you'll stay in the Chobe Forest Reserve bordering the western side of Chobe National Park – a great base from which to enjoy exciting guided game drives and a boat cruise within the park. As these activities and on-going transfers are included, you drop off your hire car today and let the lodge guides and staff take care of the rest. When you aren't game viewing around Chobe National Park you may visit a local village, take a guided walk or night drive within the Forest Reserve and just enjoy the stunning views from your elevated vantage point at Muchenje Safari Lodge.

A road and short boat transfer takes you across the border into Zambia at Kazangula and on to the historic town of Livingstone where you'll overnight near the mighty Victoria Falls on the outskirts of town. From the convenient location of your hotel you can wander along pathways to reach various lookout points over the falls. Your final night is in colonial style luxury at the Royal Livingstone Hotel.