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Now that we’ve reached the end of the trip, I figured I’d offer my overall thoughts and also a comparison of Namibia vs Zambia and Botswana.

First of all, I’d definitely have to give props to Wilderness Safaris. They put together some amazing camps with lots of interesting activities and very knowledgeable people. They also helped get us to and from the airport or hotel and made sure we made it between camps, a service I’m sure not all companies offer. At their best camps, we were basking in luxury (see my summary of Vembura Plains a few days ago), and at even at the lesser camps, we managed to keep busy, see lots of animals, and eat great. I’m not sure I would recommend this vacation to everyone, and certainly not for as long as we went, but photographers and game lovers should definitely add this to their vacation destination lists.

I’d also like to thank my cousin Jeff. He worked really closely with Eric to put this trip together, and also got me a huge discount thanks to my Save the Rhino Trust web design work. Mainly, though, he guided us through the best of Namibia from our first night at Joe’s Beerhouse in Windhoek to camping out in the bush. He also guided us around at Desert Rhino Camp quite a bit and even took me out on a drive to look for my lost phone. Our night camping was one of the best ones on the trip despite the pilchards and pop.

The worst part of the trip was probably Victoria Falls. Seeing it from the ground firsthand does it no justice, and we were given little warning as to how we it’d be. It was like walking through a car wash, and the only sight to see was shrouded in thick mist. We’re told the Zimbabwe side offers a much better view, but regardless, I think an ariel view would be the only worthwhile.

The best part of the trip would be much harder to pick. Even the best animal. The leopard was gorgeous and majestic, but the playful lion cubs went off the charts for cuteness. Rhinos and wild dogs aren’t exactly a beautiful animals, but they’re both very tough to find, and I really appreciated the sightings that I got.

I’d have to say that Namibia felt a bit more natural to me. When we approached animals, they ran away. It was great to see lions first hand in Botswana, but it almost felt artificial, like something I could do in a zoo. In all, I think I enjoyed the Namibian portion more, but this definitely could’ve been thanks to Jeff and the extra details in each camp that he brought. He also introduced us to a good deal more people that brought interesting stories from the bush, and also the homesick that set in in Botswana.

Most of all, I have to thank Eric for making this trip a reality. I don’t think I would be interested in traveling alone, but sharing the experience with someone else makes it more special. I’m mostly a creature of habit and find repeat trips to the cabin a lot of fun, but these trips are truly once in a lifetime. Your photos turned out brilliantly and will preserve the memories for ages to come.