TRAVEL: Stunning Wildlife Photos from Africa – Namibia and Botswana

If you have a travel bucket list, it should probably include at least two – if not all six – of South Africa’s neighbouring countries. And judging by the breathtaking photos on this page – taken by British traveller Deborah Mathews – Botswana and Namibia should feature high on that list! (The other four of course being Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.)

Deborah, who works in the health sector in Britain and whose best friend is a South African expat, has taken a year off work to do some travelling and “some of the things I had been longing to do for years”.

She didn’t choose to explore South Africa this time around because she had already visited our shores in the late ’80s and “I tend not to go back to places that I have already visited”.

During that trip she hadn’t had time to go on safari, so this trip to Botswana and Namibia blew her away.

“I chose these two countries as they both had things I have wanted to visit for years – the dunes in Namibia and the Okavanga Delta in Botswana.”

They both surpassed her expectations.

Deborah travelled with an organised group and spent 12 days in Namibia and about six in Botswana.

“We spent a fair amount of time in the game parks looking at the incredible wildlife – this was a total dream come true.

“I have been on Safari before to Zambia and Zimbabwe but had never seen Lion!!

“Was determined to see lions. I did… and this was a bit of a highlight for me.

“The leopard was just a mind-blowing bonus.

“The landscape and people of Namibia were fantastic. I also loved meeting the San Bushman in the Kalahari and learning about their medicines and culture…

“One thing that I particularly love about Africa is the big skies and superb sunsets and sunrises. Really missed that when I got back to England.

“Love the big open spaces in Namibia and the miles and miles of nothingness on some of the (very long) journeys in the truck…

P.S. Deborah concedes that maybe she’ll have to make an exception and visit South Africa once more…

MORE

You could consider a 4×4 adventure trip to Botswana with friends!