Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia Adventure and Astrophotography
Picture rolling sand dunes of the brightest orange, lions with manes to match, more zebras, elephants, hippos, and giraffes than you've ever seen in one place before, and the gorgeous blue of the Okavango Delta. It's all waiting for you on this amazing all-women's adventure trip to Africa.
Are you coming?
Get The BMTM Experience:
A Magical, One-Of-A-Kind Adventure:
This is the Africa experience that you won’t find anywhere else, incorporating outdoor adventure and the comforts of luxury safari lodges without the astronomical price tag.
We’ll be journeying to Namibia, Botswana, and Victoria Falls (Zambia), a natural wonder of the world, for two weeks on two very different, but complementary, trips. The first takes you through Namibia, a desert country in Southern Africa known for gorgeous sand dunes, starry skies, wide open spaces, and lots of amazing animals including lions, flamingoes, and possibly even rhinos! Week two will take us through Botswana where we will fly over the Okavango Delta to spot elephants, cruise the Chobe River along with hippos and crocodiles, and finish in Zambia at the world famous Victoria Falls. Join me for periodic photography workshops, as we photograph the night sky, amazing African animals, and the stunning landscape.
Join my pal Pete, who starred in MTV’s Made as an expert adventure guide, and me as we explore some of Africa’s most beautiful and safest places. Meet like-minded female BMTM readers who also want this kind of incredible, immersive experience, get to know new places, and indulge in a trip that will show you what adventurous travel is all about in a safe, attainable, and fun way.
Our groups are kept small and are booked on a first-come, first-serve basis. This allows us to all get to know each other and for you to feel less like a number and more like an integral part of the experience, all while giving us access to smaller, local, more authentic, and ecological local operators.
Below you’ll find itineraries for both weeks of adventure in Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia beginning on October 18, 2020.
WEEK ONE: Namibian Highlights
Adventures in Comfort - Enjoy Adrenaline During the Day and a Warm Bed Each Night.
Oct 18 – Day 1: Windhoek
Fly into Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, and meet your adventure guides and other members of the tour.
Tonight we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner and get to bed early.
Lodge: Windhoek Gardens Boutique Hotel or similar
Oct 19 – Day 2: Sossusvlei
Today we’ll hit the road, driving through the breathtaking Namib Desert down to two of the most famous sights in the country, Dune 45 and Deadvlei.
Enjoy the afternoon poolside at the beautiful, luxurious Dead Valley Lodge and roast marshmallows under the starry Namibian sky. The lodge is inside the gate, so we can go up the dunes at sunrise/sunset. Almost everyone else will have to line up outside the gate and wait until sunrise to get in!
Lodge: Dead Valley Lodge or similar
Oct 20 – Day 3: Dune 45 and Deadvlei
Today we’ll hike up the famous Dune 45 for one of the world’s most famous sunrises. Sit atop the sand dune as the sun rises to illuminate the orange desert around us. Watch for kudu and oryx running across the dunes, and take in the 360-degree view of bright orange dune after bright orange dune.
Next, we’ll jump into safari vehicles and make our way through the sand to Deadvlei to see the famous, picture-perfect acacia trees that have been blackened by the desert heat. Walk amongst the most intriguing and fascinating dead forest in the world, tip toeing across the salt pan and walking across the tops of the dunes. This is truly an experience you can only have in Namibia!
Lodge: Dead Valley Lodge or similar
Oct 21 – Day 4: Swakopmund
Next we’ll journey to Namibia’s adventure capital, stopping to say hi to the flamingoes of Walvis Bay on our way.
Watch as the sun sets over the coast, in layers of color that often seem surreal, in this little German-influenced Namibian town. In the evening we’ll enjoy some game meat (with veggie options available) for those who are curious what ostrich, springbok, and kudu taste like.
Lodge: Hotel Eberwein or similar
Oct 22 – Day 5: Swakopmund
Today you get to choose your own adventure! There are several optional activities for today: Go kayaking, hiking, horseback riding or strap on boards and glide down the amazing dunes we’ve been admiring so much so far on the trip. Even if you don’t have snowboarding experience, sandboarding can be tons of fun, thanks to the soft sand.
For those who want a little more adrenaline, skydive over some of the most beautiful scenery on planet Earth. Give something new a try, and take in the stunning surroundings from way up above while you float back down to the desert below – a truly unforgettable experience.
Lodge: Hotel Eberwein or similar
Oct 23 – Day 6: Etosha National Park
Today we’ll journey to Etosha National Park, one of the most famous safari destinations in Africa, to see some incredible animals. On the way, we’ll stop by the amazing granite peaks and arches of Spitzkoppe, one of Namibia’s most recognizable landmarks.
We’ll stay at Emanya Lodge, yet another 5-star luxury lodge. The highlight at Emanya will be watching the watering hole at night, where the animals will come to us! Also, everyone gets a complimentary foot massage!
Lodge: Emanya Lodge or similar
Oct 24 – Day 7: Etosha National Park
Today we’ll drive through Etosha, one of the best places in Africa for wildlife viewing. The park is home to wild lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebra, springbok, honey badgers, and hundreds of species of mammals, birds and reptiles, many of which are endangered.
Thanks to the dry nature of Namibia, wildlife viewing in Etosha is made easy by heading to the watering holes and scanning the salt pan, which is the largest on Earth, for animals.
Lodge: Emanya Lodge or similar
Oct 25 – Day 8: Okonjima – Windhoek
Today we’ll head to Okonjima’s AfriCat sanctuary, which houses and rehabilitates cheetahs and leopards. Here we will get a chance to get up-close with these amazing and rare predators.
Next we’ll make our way back to Windhoek for the night.
Lodge: Windhoek Gardens Boutique Hotel or similar
Oct 26 – Day 9: Windhoek
Today, we will meet the members of the tour who are joining for week two in Botswana and Zambia, or for those who are heading home, catch your onward flights.
If you are doing both weeks 1 and 2, you'll have time to go shopping at local craft markets!
Lodge: Windhoek Gardens Boutique Hotel or similar
The trip is open to 16 adventurous women who are ready for the trip of a lifetime!
Price: $2975
Join both weeks for $5500!
WEEK ONE: Namibian Highlights
Adventures in Comfort - Enjoy Adrenaline During the Day and a Warm Bed Each Night.
Oct 18 – Day 1: Windhoek
Fly into Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, and meet your adventure guides and other members of the tour.
Tonight we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner and get to bed early.
Lodge: Windhoek Gardens Boutique Hotel or similar
Oct 19 – Day 2: Sossusvlei
Today we’ll hit the road, driving through the breathtaking Namib Desert down to two of the most famous sights in the country, Dune 45 and Deadvlei.
Enjoy the afternoon poolside at the beautiful, luxurious Dead Valley Lodge and roast marshmallows under the starry Namibian sky. The lodge is inside the gate, so we can go up the dunes at sunrise/sunset. Almost everyone else will have to line up outside the gate and wait until sunrise to get in!
Lodge: Dead Valley Lodge or similar
Oct 20 – Day 3: Dune 45 and Deadvlei
Today we’ll hike up the famous Dune 45 for one of the world’s most famous sunrises. Sit atop the sand dune as the sun rises to illuminate the orange desert around us. Watch for kudu and oryx running across the dunes, and take in the 360-degree view of bright orange dune after bright orange dune.
Next, we’ll jump into safari vehicles and make our way through the sand to Deadvlei to see the famous, picture-perfect acacia trees that have been blackened by the desert heat. Walk amongst the most intriguing and fascinating dead forest in the world, tip toeing across the salt pan and walking across the tops of the dunes. This is truly an experience you can only have in Namibia!
Lodge: Dead Valley Lodge or similar
Oct 21 – Day 4: Swakopmund
Next we’ll journey to Namibia’s adventure capital, stopping to say hi to the flamingoes of Walvis Bay on our way.
Watch as the sun sets over the coast, in layers of color that often seem surreal, in this little German-influenced Namibian town. In the evening we’ll enjoy some game meat (with veggie options available) for those who are curious what ostrich, springbok, and kudu taste like.
Lodge: Hotel Eberwein or similar
Oct 22 – Day 5: Swakopmund
Today you get to choose your own adventure! There are several optional activities for today: Go kayaking, hiking, horseback riding or strap on boards and glide down the amazing dunes we’ve been admiring so much so far on the trip. Even if you don’t have snowboarding experience, sandboarding can be tons of fun, thanks to the soft sand.
For those who want a little more adrenaline, skydive over some of the most beautiful scenery on planet Earth. Give something new a try, and take in the stunning surroundings from way up above while you float back down to the desert below – a truly unforgettable experience.
Lodge: Hotel Eberwein or similar
Oct 23 – Day 6: Etosha National Park
Today we’ll journey to Etosha National Park, one of the most famous safari destinations in Africa, to see some incredible animals. On the way, we’ll stop by the amazing granite peaks and arches of Spitzkoppe, one of Namibia’s most recognizable landmarks.
We’ll stay at Emanya Lodge, yet another 5-star luxury lodge. The highlight at Emanya will be watching the watering hole at night, where the animals will come to us! Also, everyone gets a complimentary foot massage!
Lodge: Emanya Lodge or similar
Oct 24 – Day 7: Etosha National Park
Today we’ll drive through Etosha, one of the best places in Africa for wildlife viewing. The park is home to wild lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebra, springbok, honey badgers, and hundreds of species of mammals, birds and reptiles, many of which are endangered.
Thanks to the dry nature of Namibia, wildlife viewing in Etosha is made easy by heading to the watering holes and scanning the salt pan, which is the largest on Earth, for animals.
Lodge: Emanya Lodge or similar
Oct 25 – Day 8: Okonjima – Windhoek
Today we’ll head to Okonjima’s AfriCat sanctuary, which houses and rehabilitates cheetahs and leopards. Here we will get a chance to get up-close with these amazing and rare predators.
Next we’ll make our way back to Windhoek for the night.
Lodge: Windhoek Gardens Boutique Hotel or similar
Oct 26 – Day 9: Windhoek
Today, we will meet the members of the tour who are joining for week two in Botswana and Zambia, or for those who are heading home, catch your onward flights.
If you are doing both weeks 1 and 2, we are going shopping at local crafts markets!
Lodge: Windhoek Gardens Boutique Hotel or similar
The trip is open to 16 adventurous women who are ready for the trip of a lifetime!
Price: $2975
Join both weeks for $5500! Continue reading to see Botswana Bliss!
Empowered by other like minded women along the way.
I have now done two tours with BMTM adventures and I would do it again. Kristin and Pete have every detail planned out and organized to create a stress free vacation for any adventure goer with an open mind. Whether you are surfing in the Galapagos or going on safari in Africa, you are going to have an amazing time and be empowered by other like minded women along the way. I don’t even have to see what the itinerary is anymore. I just see it’s a destination I want to go to and know I am all in! - SAMANTHA
Everything I was hoping for and so much more!
These tours have been everything I was hoping for and so much more! We’ve traveled to amazing places, and each day is always packed with fun, active adventures. I love that the emphasis is on doing awesome things, rather than ticking off a checklist of sights that I’ll forget before I’ve finished editing the photos (because I’m not on top of that shit at all). I have so much confidence now in these tours that I barely need to read the itinerary – I know when we go someplace new that each day will be fun and different, and I just have to be open to it! Pete is an amazing guide, a rare combination of totally competent and organized and completely laid back and funny. Together, Kristin and Pete set a fun and friendly atmosphere. - JENN
WEEK TWO: Botswana Bliss
Elephants, Hippos, and Victoria Falls
Oct 26 - Day 9: Windhoek
Fly into Windhoek and meet up with the group from week one. If your flight gets in early, we’ll have some time to explore Windhoek before we head out to incredible Botswana.
Lodge: Windhoek Gardens or similar
Oct 27 - Day 10: Kalahari Bush Breaks
Today we’ll hike or hang out at the watering hole to view wildlife (choose your pleasure) around the Kalahari Bush Breaks, our introduction to the Kalahari Desert – a large semi-arid sandy savanna that is home to nomadic tribes who have historically lived off of the land in this harsh environment.
Take in the gorgeous surroundings as we prepare to leave behind the desert and make our way into the lush greenery of the Okavango Delta.
Lodge: Kalahari Bush Breaks or similar
Oct 28 - Day 11: Okavango Delta
Today we’ll journey to the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a vast inland river delta that floods seasonally and is known for its lush animal habitats. This is the perfect place to see elephants, wildebeest, buffalo, hippos, and so much more. The delta also includes over 400 species of birds!
In the afternoon, we’ll take in the magnificence of the Okavango Delta with a scenic flight, perfect for getting a glimpse of elephants from up above.
Lodge: Island Safari Lodge or similar
Oct 29 – Day 12: Okavango Delta
This morning we’ll take a traditional mokoro ride in a canoe-like boat for another point of view of the Okavango Delta. This is the perfect opportunity to see the smaller animals and get up close with the plants in the delta in the traditional way of the locals, who have been traveling through the delta for centuries. This combination of the scenic flight and the mokoro ride gives us a bird’s eye view and an up close encounter with this world-famous spot in Africa.
Lodge: Island Safari Lodge or similar
Oct 30 - Day 13: Elephant Sands
Today we’ll head to Elephant Sands, a safari lodge with its own watering hole that is famous for attracting wild elephants. View these incredible creatures up close as they drink, bathe, and socialize right in front you while sipping a sundowner.
This is a unique opportunity to see wild elephants in an intimate setting without endangering them or ourselves. It’s truly a magical experience and still one of my top travel memories.
Lodge: Elephant Sands or similar
Oct 31 - Day 14: Chobe National Park
Today we’ll journey to Chobe National Park, known for its herds of elephants and Cape buffalo, and for having one of the largest concentrations of wildlife in all of Africa. We’re also likely to see lions, hippos, lots of birds, and crocodiles.
In order to see them up close, we’ll take a cruise down the river to watch as the animals eat, bathe, and drink, culminating in a gorgeous sunset with Pinotage wine, a grape varietal that was developed just south in South Africa. It feels a bit like leaving real life and teleporting into the Lion King.
Lodge: Kubu Lodge or similar
Nov 1 - Day 15: Chobe National Park / Livingstone
Today we’ll do an early morning safari in Chobe National Park before crossing into Zambia where we’ll have a chance to marvel at Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
The falls are a spectacular sight, straddling two countries with a combined width of 5,604 feet and height of 354 feet. It has been classified as the waterfall with the largest sheet of falling water in the world, and is a magnificent sight to behold.
Lodge: Victoria Falls Waterfront Hotel or similar
Nov 2 - Day 16: Livingstone
Explore Livingstone before heading out on your flight back home!
The trip is open to 16 adventurous women who are ready for the trip of a lifetime!
Price: $2975
Join both weeks for $5500!
WEEK TWO: Botswana Bliss
Elephants, Hippos, and Victoria Falls
Oct 26 - Day 9: Windhoek
Fly into Windhoek and meet up with the group from week one. If your flight gets in early, you’ll have some time to explore Windhoek before we head out to incredible Botswana.
Lodge: Windhoek Gardens Boutique Hotel or similar
Oct 27 - Day 10: Kalahari Bush Breaks
Today we’ll hike or hang out at the watering hole to view wildlife (choose your pleasure) around the Kalahari Bush Breaks, our introduction to the Kalahari Desert – a large semi-arid sandy savanna that is home to nomadic tribes who have historically lived off of the land in this harsh environment.
Take in the gorgeous surroundings as we prepare to leave behind the desert and make our way into the lush greenery of the Okavango Delta.
Lodge: Kalahari Bush Breaks or similar
Oct 28 - Day 11: Okavango Delta
Today we’ll journey to the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a vast inland river delta that floods seasonally and is known for its lush animal habitats. This is the perfect place to see elephants, wildebeest, buffalo, hippos, and so much more. The delta also includes over 400 species of birds!
In the afternoon, we’ll take in the magnificence of the Okavango Delta with a scenic flight, perfect for getting a glimpse of elephants from up above.
Lodge: Island Safari Lodge or similar
Oct 29 – Day 12: Okavango Delta
This morning we’ll take a traditional mokoro ride in a canoe-like boat for another point of view of the Okavango Delta. This is the perfect opportunity to see the smaller animals and get up close with the plants in the delta in the traditional way of the locals, who have been traveling through the delta for centuries. This combination of the scenic flight and the mokoro ride gives us a bird’s eye view and an up close encounter with this world-famous spot in Africa.
Lodge: Island Safari Lodge or similar
Oct 30 - Day 13: Elephant Sands
Today we’ll head to Elephant Sands, a safari lodge with its own watering hole that is famous for attracting wild elephants. View these incredible creatures up close as they drink, bathe, and socialize right in front you while sipping a sundowner.
This is a unique opportunity to see wild elephants in an intimate setting without endangering them or ourselves. It’s truly a magical experience and still one of my top travel memories from both times I stayed there 5 and 2 years ago.
Lodge: Elephant Sands or similar
Oct 31 - Day 14: Chobe National Park
Today we’ll journey to Chobe National Park, known for its herds of elephants and Cape buffalo, and for having one of the largest concentrations of wildlife in all of Africa. We’re also likely to see lions, hippos, lots of birds, and crocodiles.
In order to see them up close, we’ll take a cruise down the river to watch as the animals eat, bathe, and drink, culminating in a gorgeous sunset with Pinotage wine, a grape varietal that was developed just south in South Africa. It feels a bit like leaving real life and teleporting into the Lion King.
Lodge: Kubu Lodge or similar
Nov 1 - Day 15: Chobe National Park / Livingstone
Today we’ll do an early morning safari in Chobe National Park before crossing into Zambia where we’ll have a chance to marvel at Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
The falls are a spectacular sight, straddling two countries with a combined width of 5,604 feet and height of 354 feet. It has been classified as the waterfall with the largest sheet of falling water in the world, and is a magnificent sight to behold.
Lodge: Victoria Falls Waterfront Hotel or similar
Nov 2 - Day 16: Livingstone
Explore Livingstone before heading out on your flight back home!
The trip is open to 16 adventurous women who are ready for the trip of a lifetime!
Price: $2975
Join both weeks for $5500!
Pete Kornmeier
Chief Adventure Architect
Pete has traveled to over forty five countries and led trips on six continents. He was featured as a leader in Alaska on MTV Made: Extreme Survivalists. His favorite traveling experiences were volunteering for two months at the Tibetan Refugee Assistance Center in India and backpacking for fourteen days through remote areas of Wrangell St. Elias National Park in Alaska. He wants me to tell you that his strongest attribute is ability to pack snacks for a trip, but I think it's his inventive 'would you rather' jokes.
Kristin Addis
Ambassador of Exploration
Kristin is the founder and main author and photographer of bemytravelmuse.com. She has traveled to over fifty five countries on nearly every continent, hiking, hitchhiking, and solo traveling each time. She's always looking to discover new and exciting things, and to gain a new perspective on old favorites by connecting with locals and finding amazing photo ops. She is passionate about female empowerment and encouraging people to put their fears aside and see the world!
Completely present and fully enjoy each moment.
The absence of anxiety from the tiny details of planning, allowed me to be completely present and fully enjoy each moment. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to experience these special corners of the earth with someone mindfully planning each step. - JENNIFER
I always felt included, never once felt unsafe.
A tour is only as good as its guide, so you have nothing to worry about!
Kristin is awesome. She has a calming nature about her and a genuineness that is magnetic. Pete, her right hand man with BMTM Adventures, is a perfect complement—charismatic and completely unfazed by the conversations that occur when you put 16 women in a van. Together, the pair is unstoppable. I always felt included, never once felt unsafe, and when there were hiccups, Kristin & Pete handled them behind the scenes while the rest of us remained blissfully unaware. They’re professionals without all that corporate stiffness, as responsible as they are silly. - ASHLEY
What to Expect from Our Women's Adventure Trips
All the juicy details
Thanks to Pete’s years as a guide, including several trips to Africa and my experience encompassing six months on the continent, we’ve put together a trip that we’re both excited about and dying to go on ourselves, and we know that you’ll love it, too. We worked tirelessly to find lodges that are unique and beautiful, and experiences that are safe, taking place in countries with a low crime rate (all 3 are ranked as safer than the US by the Institute for Economics and Peace). Here’s what you get:
• All permits, park fees, and local guides.
• All meals.
• Accommodation in comfortable lodges – double occupancy with the exception of two nights where triple occupancy is possible.
• Ground transport, including to and from the airport.
• All listed activities and associated entry fees except for adventure options in Swakopmund.
What’s not included:
• Travel insurance (required).
• Tips and gratuities, at your discretion.
• Travel to and from Africa.
• Any additional snacks and alcohol.
• Visa fees, if applicable.
Immunizations and a visit to your doctor are important before embarking on this trip as well. In some areas, anti-malarials might be recommended.
16 spots are available to female travelers each week on a first-come, first serve basis.
Have questions? Contact me!
*Please wait until the trip is confirmed to buy your flights.
Namibian highlights
Desert + Astrophotography
$
2975
Reserve your space now with a $900 deposit*
*Please note that placing your deposit requires a full YES and cannot be refunded
Botswana bliss
Elephants + the Magical Delta
$
2975
Reserve your space now with a $900 deposit*
*Please note that placing your deposit requires a full YES and cannot be refunded
BOth weeks
Namibia + Botswana + Zambia (Victoria Falls) for a discount!
$
5500
Reserve your space now with a $1800 deposit*
*Please note that placing your deposit requires a full YES and cannot be refunded