Much to the surprise of everyone I’ve talked to after my overland trip in Africa, the campsites you’ll stay in on a tour with Acacia Africa in Southern Africa are actually fantastic. Flush toilets, clean campsites, and hot water can be found at nearly every site, along with amenities like swimming pools and full bars.
After traveling for 19 days on Acacia’s Desert Tracker Overland tour, here are my five favorite places we stayed:
- Felix Unite’s Orange River Camp
If you’re traveling on Acacia’s Desert Tracker going from Cape Town to Livingstone, you’ll stay on the banks of the Orange River on your second night. If you stay at Felix Unite’s Orange River Camp on the Namibian side of the river, you’re in for a treat! Campsites overlook the tranquil Orange River (which is not home to anything scary like crocs or hippos), and the site has a nice bar and a big pool. The view is particularly nice at sunrise.
- Canyon Roadhouse
When you first pull up to the Canyon Roadhouse, you’ll be struck by the quirkiness of it. If you’re American, you’ll probably be reminded of something you’d find along Old Route 66. There are old cars dotted around the property, and the bar in the main building is covered in license plates. Not only is this place cool, but it also had the best hot showers out of all the campsites!
- Spitzkoppe Community Camp
After two nights of luxury (i.e. a real bed) in a hostel in Swakopmund, you’ll head out into the proper bush in Spitzkoppe. The camp here has no electricity and no running water – meaning you’ll cook over an open fire and be in an amazing position for stargazing if the skies are clear. At night, be sure to listen to the sounds of the dark desert as you sip some tea, and keep your eye out for the Milky Way. THIS is the epitome of overlanding in Africa.
- Okavango Delta Elephant Camp
In Botswana, you’ll head into the Okavango Delta via mokoro – a thin canoe maneuvered by a standing poler. There are no permanent camps within the Delta, but a mobile camp called Elephant Camp will be your home for the night. What makes this place so special is the fact that, wherever your tents are set up, you’ll be in the heart of the Delta. Don’t be surprised hear hippos up close, especially after the sun goes down. The Skiptzkoppe camp is certainly disconnected, but Elephant Camp in the Okavango Delta feels the most wild.
- Elephant Sands
Lastly, Elephant Sands in Botswana is likely to be one of your favorite stops in Southern Africa. The site is in the middle of nowhere in Botswana, where elephants most certainly rule the land. There are no fences or barriers around the camp, so be prepared for elephants to come loping through on their way to the watering hole that sits right in front of the swimming pool. This can actually get a bit scary at night (elephants are MUCH quieter than you probably think), but it’s amazing to be able to watch wild elephants up close like this.
Blog by: Amanda Williams – A Dangerous Business Travel Blogger