We mainly had dinner in lodges, and for lunch we prepared either greek salads (they love feta cheese), taboulé (we found Cous Cous only in Namibia), or a rice salad, which you can store in tupperwares in the fridge.
While in the car, especially in Botswana, keep in mind that the fridge will move, crashing all your food; avoid buying eggs, cut your vegetables and keep them in tupperwares, and avoid thin containers. Unless you can use a power supply at the campsite (only in Namibia), the battery of the fridge will last for only 6 hours, so we purchased meat to grill only for the first nights after our grocery shopping, for the rest we mainly cooked pasta.
Each campsite is equipped with a grill, so do not forget to buy wood!
Download the app Tracks4Africa, it works with the gps
Always buy maps at the National Parks
Keep the tire pressure around 1.8 bar on gravel and sand, if you get stuck in sand you need to further deflate them (do not follow the guidelines for higher pressure, because you will puncture them!).
Pay for the Super Cover insurance when renting the car.
A 4×4 is not necessary in Namibia, but it is mandatory in Botswana.
If you are thinking of going to Savuti, ask or buy the sand ladders, because you will get stuck!
We did not rent a satellite telephone because we were told that we would have crossed many tourists; in Savuti we got stuck in deep sand and without the ladders we could not get out, and after 1 hour the first cars arrived; another family at our campsite had to wait for 3 hours. If possible therefore, rent it, because there is no signal in the parks!
You do not need to book a Game drive in Etosha, but I highly suggest you do so in Botswana, at least once, because the driving will make you stressed and you will not enjoy it as much!
Be aware of elephants in Moremi, especially when there are calves around. Wait at least 10 meters away and let them pass, do not honk and do not approach them; if you respect the animals, they will respect you.
Always have at least 10L of water with you, our bottles opened up in the trunk due to the humps in Savuti!
For the reservation of the car and campsites, I passed through Oshana reservations (the campsites are not directly bookable like hotels) and Info Namibia.
Our car was a Nissan Double Cab 4×4, but if possible ask for a taller car, especially for Savuti.
Do not cheap out on the car, our equipment with Britz was fine, but from my understanding one of the best agencies is Bushlore.
For french speaking people, I found the group Namibian Travel extra useful!
The Yellow Backpack 