botswana water safari

THE 10 BEST Botswana Safaris

Safaris in botswana.

Nature & Wildlife Tours
4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours
Up to 1 hour
1 to 4 hours
4 hours to 1 day
5.0 of 5 bubbles
4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
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Okavango Delta
Victoria Falls
Kalahari Breeze Safaris
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1. From Victoria Falls: Chobe National Park Small Group Tour

2. 5-Day Explore Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana

3. Chobe Full Day Safari Trip

4. 1 Day Okavango Delta Mokoro/Canoe Daytrip

5. Chobe Extended Day Trip from Victoria Falls - Zimbabwe

6. Chobe Full Day Trip From Victoria Falls

7. Full-day Safari Tour in Chobe

8. Full Day Chobe Safari Tour with Return Transfers

9. Chobe Safari Day Trip From Livingstone

10. 2 Nights 3 Days Chobe Safari ex Livingstone/ Victoria Falls

11. Chobe Safari Game Drive: Full Day

12. 2 Day 1 Night Chobe Safari ex Livingstone/Victoria Falls

13. Chobe Full Day Trip

14. Moremi Full Day Trip In The World Renowned Moremi Game Reserve

15. Chobe National Park from Victoria Falls

16. Chobe National Park Safari Day Trip

17. Guided Full Day Chobe National Park Tour from Livingstone

18. Victoria Falls Day Trip from Chobe - Silver Package

19. 2 Nights Okavango Delta Mokoro WildCamping Tour, all-inclusive

20. From Victoria Falls: A Full Day Chobe Safari with Lunch

21. chobe 3hr sunset boat cruise

22. Luxury Okavango Safari - 3 Day

23. 11Day WILDERNESS TRAIL:Okavango,Moremi&Chobe -WildCamping Safari +Victoria Falls

24. 11 Days and 10 Nights Private Northern Explorer Tour

25. 4-Day Discover Victoria Falls, Chobe and Hwange Park

26. Chobe Day Trip -Botswana

27. 2 nights 3 days Overnight Mokoro Trail Okavango delta

28. 13 Day WILDERNESS TRAIL: Best Of Northern Botswana -WildCamping + Victoria Falls

29. The Best of Botswana & Vic Falls - By Walking Stick Safaris

30. Madikwe Game Reserve Day Tour (Minimum per booking: 5 People)

What travelers are saying.

Our Safaris

Set departures, guest comments, okavango river safaris, classic tented safari, classic tent safari, okavango river safaris.

The best way to experience the Okavango Delta , Botswana’s spectacular wetland wilderness, is by boat. Okavango River Safaris traverses the length of the Okavango Delta in comfortable custom-designed game viewing boats. Our privately guided boat safaris in the Okavango Delta are a nostalgic but classic way of exploring Africa’s wilderness where our team set up comfortable luxury tented camps on private secluded and remote islands.

Our all-inclusive classic tented safaris are tailor made for private groups or set date departure safaris suitable for single travellers and couples. Activities include: an Okavango Delta experience, game viewing, bird watching, photography, boating, game walks, dugout canoeing, scenic helicopter excursions and fine dining.

Fully inclusive Okavango Delta tailor made safari for private groups at any available dates
Set Date Departure safaris for those who would like to join a group
Land based mobile tented safari using open game drive vehicles during the summer months

The best time of the year for boat safaris in the Okavango Delta is in the winter months between May and October.

Guest on the boat looking at elephant in the river

The Okavango Delta is one of the world’s largest inland water systems (16 000 square kilometres). From Maun we explore the diversity of the Okavango Delta all the way through to Moremi Game Reserve , western Chiefs Island and beyond (Map) .

With many years of experience in exploring the Okavango Delta’s maze of channels, we are able to guide you through one of the last remaining wilderness areas in comfort and style.

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For options and rates on our boat safaris in the Okavango Delta, please contact us

On our boat safaris in the Okavango Delta you will be guaranteed of luxury in the bush. Our camps have a full complement of staff including a chef, waiters, tent services and private guides. Meals are prepared according to the highest standards and your dietary requirements. You will always have a selection of soft drinks, fine wines, spirits, and mineral water at hand, and our fridges on board guarantee cold drinks and ice. Our river guides have over 25 years of guiding experience in the Okavango Delta and its waterways with extensive knowledge of this unique environment.

Our boat safari season runs from May thought to October when the flood waters are high in the Okavango Delta. The rainy season is in our summer months and the water takes some months to reach the Okavango Delta from the highlands of Angola . The best time for game viewing in the Okavango is also from May to October, as the animal life is concentrated along the flooded areas and the vegetation in the surrounding area has dried out. The best time for birding is from August when the migrant bird populations are returning.

During our boat safaris in the Okavango Delta, most of the day is spent exploring and drifting while game watching and birding or just relaxing onboard taking in the magnificent palm-framed views of the Okavango. Each days experience offers very different scenery and natural diversity.

As the sun makes its way to the western horizon, you will arrive at your overnight camp. Our exclusive luxury tented camps are set up on un-fenced remote islands in the Okavango Delta shared only with wildlife that roams freely. We operated in secluded parts of the Okavango where you will very rarely encounter any other tourists.

No African experience is complete without a refreshing sun downer cruise followed by a fine dining experience in our dining tent and evenings are spent around the campfire gazing at stars reliving the day’s experiences in the Okavango Delta.

Travelling on these remote waterways offers unique and special encounters with a variety of wild animals. Your safety is paramount to us, therefore we take all possible precautions to avoid dangerous situations. A certain amount of physical agility is required as you will need to board and disembark boats in natural wetland areas, we will however assist if necessary. Our boats are fitted with sun protection as well as environmentally friendly and quiet running modern outboard motors.

S cheduled departure safaris suitable for single travellers or couples that would like to join a group.

We have a maximum of 12 people on safari . Our set date departure safaris include a night before and after in a lodge in Maun.

2024 Scheduled Departures

16 to 22 June 2024 – (5 days 4 nights on safari on the Okavango Delta ) F ully Booked

14 to 20 July 2024 – (5 days 4 nights on safari on the Okavango Delta ) Book Now

11 to 17 August 2024 – (5 days 4 nights on safari on the Okavango Delta ) Book Now

For a private tailor made group safari, at dates of your choice, please contact us for available dates .

Go Magazine Article – May 2015

Honorable Alexander P. Bicket – Pittsburgh USA

We all arrived back safely in the US after an absolutely wonderful safari with you and your team last week. I just wanted to thank you for making our 5 days in Botswana so special and memorable. Susan, Ian, August, Justine and I cannot thank you enough for your hard work, hospitality and graciousness that went into making this safari the awesome time that it was. Please pass on our sincere thanks to BK, NT, Jackie, Wilfred and the rest of your team that made us feel so comfortable and at home. They all worked so hard with you to give us an amazing experience.

Jane, Terry, Charles & Teddy Endsor – London UK

I am writing to say a huge, thank you, for our wonderful time with you and your team in Okavango Delta. It exceeded all expectations and on every level, it was very special. We really enjoyed our time with you. The walks, game drives, animals, birds, food etc. etc. Thank you very very much. We very much hope that we will meet up again.

Teddy wrote. I can’t thank you enough for the most memorable days in Botswana. I am still digesting all the wonderful memories and how lucky we were to be in your very knowledgeable and safe hands. It was so special to get to know you and the team a bit as well, it made the whole experience a once in a lifetime. Everything and everyone felt very connected.

Ravindra and Kavita – India

It has been a month since we returned from the lovely trip to Botswana. Not a day has passed by when we did not relive the memories of the Bush. The idea of going to Botswana was a novel one and there were a lot of question marks along the way. We write this to thank you for your unstinting support all through the journey. We had the most fabulous of times, with an amazing scenery, wonderful bird and animal sightings and of course, the awesome bush camping experience. The love and care of the crew Jackie, David and Gabriel was humbling and the food was just delicious. I am finding it hard to describe every experience in nothing but the superlatives, as not even the superlatives come close to what we felt. It is a deeply nurturing experience that now lives on in our hearts. The wonderful people who made it possible deserve all the thanks we can offer.

We had a special meal preference and not once did we feel an inconvenience because of it. It speaks volumes of the capability of your team. The guide was awesome. I guess, a book can be written on just the guide. Ace was the backbone of the entire experience, he kept it alive with snippets of knowledge thrown in between the sightings helping us, the first timers, make a sense of the wild. His uncanny vision got us digging deeper into our binoculars to locate the birds flying far into the horizon or locate the cats sleeping next to us. The cherry on the cake was the amazing experience we had with Lions in the camp site. It remains an unforgettable experience. Thank you again for the experience of a lifetime, wishing you and your team the very best for years ahead.

Des Mahoney – South Africa

Dear Jacques and Team. My family is struggling to adjust to life after the delta. We all were looking forward to a holiday in the swamps but it exceeded expectations. There are many lodges and places to visit in the delta, but you and your team made it seem like we were the only ones ever to visit. It was such a treat and a privilege. Ace, Jackie, Mosh, David and Gabriel were not only brilliant at all they did, but made nothing look like any trouble. The game experience was unforgettable, the sundowners the best, the food, the camp (even the ablutions) were all spot on.

Thank you….we’ll be back and will recommend ORS to others.

Elke & Paul Hockings – Sweden

We have now arrived back home in Sweden after a fantastic trip to Botswana and the Victoria Falls. We brought back home many wonderful memories from this beautiful part of the world. Among all the impressions and marvels, the boat trip in the Okavango delta stood out by long shot! We would very much like to thank you for organizing this trip for us with such dedication, patience, knowledge and efforts! It is difficult to know where to start with the praise. All the logistics and operations went perfectly smoothly. The food was by far better than what we could have expected in these camping-in-the-wild conditions (just think of all these great fresh salads and freshly baked breads, muffins, desserts). The team caring for us was very friend and supportive. The jewel in the crown was, however, our guide Ace. What a great guide he was! He did not only share freely with us his infinite knowledge on birds, mammals and plants but he managed to infect us with his great love for the nature in the delta. All things large and small mattered and made us marvel. Your organisation, Ace and the team had set a high standard that was impossible to follow up. Surely, the car safari, Kasane and Vic Falls were great, too. But we all realised that nothing could match those four days in the delta! Allow me to say it one more time: thank you so much, guys, for this great experience! Warm wishes,

Larry and Marcia Ward – Australia

Here, here, echoing Elke and Paul’s comments, it was amazing and great thanks to Ace, Mosh, Jackie and David, an unforgettable experience!

Caroline and Mark – Northumberland UK

Back now and sorting ourselves out. That was just the most amazing and extraordinary holiday that you put together for us. Thank you so much for everything you did and we all loved every moment. Jacques and David were the most brilliant, knowledgeable and fun guides that we have ever had. The two parts of the holiday were so different and melded together so well. It was amazing how close we got to wildlife in the boat and absolutely amazing the food that was produced in both camps. A trip of a lifetime without doubt. The new experiences we had were wonderful. Camping out under the stars was brilliant. On our last night with Jacques, a leopard wandered through the camp and then lay down under a bush, quite happy with all of us, with head torches, watching him. We had a mock charge from an elephant and a very grumpy hippo who jumped into the river to see us off!

Wendy Adams – South Africa

Trying to adjust to reality back home – it isn’t easy! So many incredible visuals going through my mind. Just wanted to say a big thank you to you, and to Kathy in the background, for pulling it out the bag. It was an amazing trip and an amazing opportunity to see the Delta in that way. Except the floods have failed and our river safari had to be replaced by a vehicle and walking safari. What a hardship! We were extraordinarily privileged to be granted permits to drive in with our guide, Jacques Conradie, about 120kms from Maun into the heart of what would have been the Delta in a normal year. Never saw another person or vehicle. Even the roads disappeared after a while. Incredible wildlife all coming to the permanent pools in the river. A unique perspective of the Delta in a dry year. And the “flood” or the trickle of the flood, crept it’s way past our camp during the week.

Marie and Anton Reynolds – Rustenburg , South Africa

If we would express in words how amazing our experience was, it would take all the giga bites in cyberspace. This was truly the most incredible week of our lives. We would like to congratulate you on putting together the ideal package for bird lovers, nature lovers, animal lovers, water babies and adventure seekers.

The staff were amazing, all of them all the time. They were relaxed, displayed a wonderful sense of humor and absolutely professional in their conduct all the time. The way both Ace and Lister handled the boats with such care, respected the animals, conveyed their knowledge about trees, birds, animal’s reptiles… . . . and the list is never ending. The walks we had will always be part of our fondest memories. Jacky, Boyzi, Jani could do enough for us. The care they took with the meals, table decorations, serviettes, and by golly the FOOD! one cannot wish for better. The menu was interesting varied and extremely scrumptious, eish! Who will ever forget the succulent steak of the last night Amazing! In short (to use Boyzi’s words) the experience was SOOPA DOOOPA!

We will definitely be back, God willing next year the same time. Thank you yet again, we wish you every success with your venture! Till we meet again. God bless.

Sheila Head – South Africa

The river safari was a really fantastic experience. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. Ace is amazing and is so knowledgeable – a really lovely guy who was so patient and kind, especially with dear old Arthur. The whole team was wonderful and was all so helpful and friendly. How they managed to produce muffins, rolls and bread in that bush kitchen on an open fire is beyond me! All the food was delicious and we loved the special touches of the way the cloth serviettes were folded etc. All in all it was a really wonderful trip and I would have no hesitation in recommending your river safaris. It was the best wildlife experience I have ever had. Many, many thanks to you and the whole team.

Francois and Aletta Feenstra – Western Cape, South Africa

Dear Okavango Safari’s team: Thanks to Jacques, Ace and team for an outstanding adventure. Well planned, relaxed and professional outfit that you people run. Highlights were boat trips and exposure to nature and animals/birds; accommodation/facilities (outstanding small touches of greatness) in pristine nature; excellent food (manner of presentation) and, for us, the easy-relaxed-just enjoy yourself environment you present. Your outfit comes highly recommended, to all nature lovers, but in particular, bird lovers. Thanks, Johan Rothman’s group of 10 (Francois and Aletta Theron, Wellington, South Africa)

Freek & Kobie Lindeque

Very, , very enjoyable safari. Can recommend it to anybody loving nature. The camping facilities were very good and the food delicious.

Carole McMullen

The Delta has been on my ‘bucket list’ for years and I was not disappointed, it had to be one of the best holiday experiences I have ever had. Jacques, Costa and the team behind the scenes could not be faulted. The Delta has to be a very special place and no wonder it has been awarded a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Jacques and his team managed to create a unique experience that only comes with the obvious passion that they have for their environment and the wish to share their knowledge of both the flora, and fauna of the Delta. The camps were very comfortable, the meals that were produce from the bush kitchen were delicious and varied and the evenings around the camp fire were always entertaining with never a dull moment. Hopefully I will get the chance to go again.

For options and rates on our boat safaris in the Okavango Delta, please contact us

®2008 – Northwest Investment (Pty) LTD BW00000873360 T/A River Safaris is a licensed mobile safari operator in Botswana and a member of Botswana Guide Association – BOGA

Botswana Safaris

Botswana safari guide – where & when to go, and what to see.

Botswana safaris are truly special. The country doesn’t see as many tourists as most other countries in Southern and East Africa, but this in no way diminishes the quality of the game viewing and safari experience Botswana has to offer – and in many ways, it’s a bonus. Rural Botswana is an inhospitable place for humans, but a country that manages to support an incredible diversity and density of animals. Botswana wildlife is hands down some of the best anywhere in the world.

Botswana is a large, wild country (approximately the size of France) with a decent – but very limited – road network where only the major roads are tarmacked. This makes Botswana a safari destination for the intrepid. If you’re planning on doing an independent, self-drive safari in Botswana a high-clearance 4WD vehicle and spirit of self-reliance are essential to get the most out of your visits to the national parks. The country is easily accessed from South Africa, with the capital Gabaronne just a few hours’ drive from Johannesburg.

Self-drive safaris are a big thing in Botswana and are popular with overland tours and independent travellers alike. You’ll need a rugged 4WD to access all areas, and be confident that you’re totally self-sufficient if camping on your own in the bush. If this safari-style doesn’t appeal then browse our guide to safari companies in Botswana to speak to a professional.

Geographically Botswana is covered in scrub brush and savannah grasslands, with the occasional impressive geographic feature such as the Okavango Delta and adjoining Chobe National Park, huge salt pans, and the brutally picturesque Kalahari Desert. The country is landlocked and lies at a fairly consistent average elevation of 1,000m. The windswept and sand-based Kalahari Desert covers over 80% of the country in the south, west, and centre. To the north lies 15,000 km sq of the Okavango Delta, fed by the Okavango River and forming the northern border with Namibia . To the east lie the great salt and clay desert of the Makgadikgadi Pans and occasional deciduous forests towards the Zimbabwe border.

One of the most impressive African rivers for wildlife, Okavango River supplies year-round water to much of northern Botswana, and ends in the inland Okavango Delta, support a vast array of Southern African mammal species. These include the big five , wild dogs , hippos , hyenas , honey badgers , and a broad range of gazelles and hoofed mammals.

Each year Botswana is home to one of Africa’s largest annual migrations , featuring huge herds of wildebeest, zebra, and other wild animals as they move from their winter ranges in the Makgadikgadi plains to the summer feeding grounds of the Nxai Pan region. Not as large in scale as the East African ‘ great migration ‘, but there are also far fewer tourists around to take away from the experience. This lack of tourists, the sheer scale of the wilderness and the abundance of game in Botswana’s national parks come together to make Botswana a safari destination that’s hard to better, wherever you visit in Africa.

Useful resources

Book a Botswana safari

Botswana wildlife

Botswana Tourist Board

Bostwana guidebooks

Botswana safari highlights

Okavango delta botswana, fly-in safari.

Safaris don’t come much better or more luxurious than an all-inclusive fly-in safari deep in the Okavango Delta . Take a four-seater flight over the wetlands, wildlife spotting as you’re flown to an exclusive, out-of-the-way lodge for a few days of game drives, safari walks , and boat trips .

Big five spotting

Go big game spotting at Chobe National Park – perhaps Botswana’s most famous national park . Boat safaris are a big draw here, with a waterfront teeming with wildlife… but you’ll have to be very lucky to see all big five from a boat – game drives in a 4X4 jeep are more the order of the day.

Leopard spotting in Moremi

leopard lies on the branch of a sparse tree, with blue sky behind

The east side of the Okavango Delta Moremi Game Reserve is regarded as one of the top African leopard hangouts. On the fringes of the delta where water collects in small lagoons and fills grassy floodplains, antelope (and all sorts of other wildlife) are plentiful. Perfect leopard country.

Mokoro safaris on the water

man standing in mokoro on Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta offers ample opportunities to get out on to the water for some top-class wildlife viewing. Traditional wooden mokoros are a fun and eco-friendly way to head out on a canoe safari , though propeller boats are on offer too, and can easily be combined with superb walking safaris .

Best time to safari in Botswana

May to August is the best time to organize a safari in Botswana, as during this winter season the days are cool and sunny, and the lack of water drives the wildlife to congregate around permanent water sources. At this time getting around the country is fairly straightforward, with dust rather than water being the main obstacle. During winter months wildlife spotting is easy – simply find a river or watering hole and dig in to wait for the action. Bear in mind is that July and August is school holiday time, meaning more tourists than usual, higher prices for safari accommodation and tours, and busier national parks.

October to April is summer season in Botswana but brings with it severe heat and the rains – occasionally in extreme amounts. Getting around the country by road during summer can be disrupted by flooding, as many of the secondary roads are not tarmacked. Wildlife is also more dispersed and harder to spot, hidden by lush vegetation. An exception to this is in parts of the Okavango Delta where there’s so much flooding that many islands form, trapping wildlife which can be viewed from a boat – though vegetation still causes a problem.

Flights To Botswana

Search, track and book flights to Botswana, from anywhere in the world.

Botswana Accommodation

Find safari accommodation in Botswana – from budget campsites to luxury lodges.

Botswana Car Hire

Considering a self-drive safari? Research and book car hire in Botswana.

Activities in Botswana

Search and book things to do in Botswana – tours, excursions and activities.

National parks in Botswana

All national parks in Botswana are run by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), based in Gaborone, who enforce a strict no driving after dark rule in the parks. ( See this great article on driving in Botswana .)

Whilst not actually a national park or reserve, Botswana is renowned worldwide for the Okavango Delta region in the north of the country, providing water and supporting an incredible array of African wildlife.

Top Botswana national park picks

Moremi Game Reserve

Botswana safaris: Lion with buffalo herd

The only part of the Okavango Delta that’s officially a national park, Moremi covers almost one-third of the delta, and is packed with wildlife. There’s no public transport so you’ll have to get yourself there, but the trade-off is fewer tourists to share the plethora of wildlife with.

Chobe National Park

Elephant on edge of Chobe River, viewed by boat safari

Chobe National Park was Botswana’s first national park at an impressive 11,000 km sq. There’s easy access for spectacular game viewing from a boat on the Chobe river and the network of dirt and gravel roads. The Savuti area in south west Chobe is recognised as having one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa.

Makagadikgadi Nzai Pan National Park

Feel the unfettered freedom of driving through the never-ending parched-white salt pans, or plan your trip for the when the rains come and bird life and herd animals abound, including one of Africa’s largest migrations .

Central Kalahari National Park

One of Africa’s largest protected area at a whopping 52,000 km sq. Braving the tough conditions of Central Kalahari National Park in your own 4WD may reward you with viewings of hyena packs and prides of lions in the unforgiving desert.

All national parks in Botswana

Use the map to locate all national parks in Botswana. Click the icons for more info.

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Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Makgadikgadu National Park
Nxai Pan National Park
Okavango Delta

Botswana safari resources

Botswana safari companies.

Though Botswana has a relatively low number of inbound tourists each year, a very high proportion of these come for the wildlife. Around the capital Gabarone and also Maun – the de-facto capital of the Okavango Delta – there are numerous safari tour companies to suit all budgets. Check out our reviews of safari tour companies in Botswana .

Botswana safari lodges

Botswana has a focus on low-impact, high-end safaris, and the accommodation on offer reflects this. Luxury safari lodges are the primary accommodation in Botswana, though there are also mid-range accommodation in the tourist enclaves of Maun and Gabarone. If you have your own tent most safari lodges have an area where you can pitch up for the night, along with decent washing and BBQ facilities as standard. Search and book safari lodges in Botswana , or find all accommodation in Botswana below.

Search all Botswana accommodation

Read safari guides to all countries

Botswana safaris , Namibia safaris , Rwanda safaris , South Africa safaris , Tanzania safaris , Uganda safaris , Zimbabwe safaris

Do you have any experience of planning or going on safari in Botswana?

We’d love to hear any feedback or tips you may have – please get in touch , or add to the comments below.

Top countries for safaris

Botswana safaris
Kenya safaris
Namibia safaris
South Africa safaris
Tanzania safaris
Uganda safaris

Safari basics

Safari animals
How to find the right safari company
When to go on safari
What to take on safari
Safari clothing – what to wear
Safari rules & etiquette
Wildlife spotting tips

Africa’s best game reserves

Chobe National Park, Botswana
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

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Safari in Botswana

An expert guide to botswana's best safari reserves, camps and experiences.

Anthony Ham

In this guide

Okavango Delta

Chobe national park, central kalahari game reserve, makgadikgadi pans national park.

Need to know
Getting around
How it works

Of all the places I’ve been on safari in Africa, I think Botswana tops the list. There is so much to enjoy and, unlike in bigger safari destinations, in Botswana you’ll see a lot more wildlife than other travellers.

Botswana is where I went on my first self-drive safari, and, to this day, it remains my pick as the best place to drive yourself out into the wild in Africa. All but the inner reaches of the Okavango Delta are accessible in your own 4WD, and the experience of driving out into, and sleeping overnight in, lion country, or the amazing world of elephants, or miles from the nearest human being, remains my favourite way of going on safari.

At the heart of Botswana’s appeal are its signature wildlife destinations whose names – the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, Central Kalahari Game Reserve – read like a roll-call of storied wildlife kingdoms. And it’s not just the wildlife. From the deep greens and blues of the Delta in flood to the yellows and reds of the Kalahari, or the blinding whites of the salt pans, there is something elemental about Botswana’s call to the wild. In the following pages I’ll explain some of my Botswana safari highlights, and how you can see them for yourself.

featured botswana safaris

Popular Botswana Safari Through the Delta

Discover Botswana

Explore the okavango delta, kwando, the kalahari and chobe.

Best of Botswana Lodge Safari

Makgadikgadi Pans & Okavango Delta Safari Adventure

Botswana's Northern Highlights

10 day small group tour.

Okavango Delta horse riding safari

Discover botswana's amazing wildlife.

Affordable Victoria Falls & Chobe Safari

Chobe Camping Safaris

Okavango Kayaking Expedition

Unique camp-to-camp safari adventure.

Botswana Wildlife Camping Safari

Botswana's hidden gems.

Unlike Africa’s safari giants like Kenya , Tanzania , and South Africa , Botswana remains blissfully under the radar. Yet, it too faces the travel industry's irritating habit of focusing on the popular easy sellers at the expense of everywhere else. There's much more to Botswana than the Okavango Delta. In this guide I'll show you some of my favourite lesser-known Botswana safari spots.

Aerial view of the vast Okavango Delta, one of the best safari destinations in Africa

The best safaris in Botswana

Popular highlights & hidden gems, kgalagadi transfrontier park, tsodilo hills, northern tuli game reserve, okavango panhandle, nxai pan national park, kwando reserve.

Okavango kayaking expedition

Pretty much every Okavango tour itinerary will include a paddle on a traditional mokoro canoe. For something very different, set out on a multi-day, camp-to-camp kayaking expedition through the Delta. Paddle the gentle water spotting the planet's greatest wildlife and camp each night under the stars. Truly unique.

See elephants and more in Chobe National Park

Chobe incorporates two distinct regions: Chobe River (close to the Zimbabwe and Zambia borders), famous for its large elephant herds; and Savute (in the west), where a juxtaposition of contrasting habitats and handful of pumped water holes sustain a melting pot of species.

Chobe in general, but especially the riverfront, has one of the highest elephant densities in Africa and close-up sightings are almost guaranteed. Lions and leopards are also possible here, with giraffe, zebra, buffalo, hippo and crocodiles all commonly seen.

Game drives are the order of the day in Savute where wildlife-viewing is good year-round. Savute is known for its predators – I’ve always had luck with lion, leopard and cheetah here, and on my last trip I spent an afternoon watching a highly active den of African wild dogs. As with the rest of Chobe, elephants are everywhere in Savute.

Explore water world in the Okavango Delta

This is a world without fences and, because of the water levels, human settlements are mostly restricted to the Delta’s perimeter, leaving the rest to wildlife.

In the southern part of the Delta, including in Moremi Game Reserve and Khwai Community Concession, expect a mix of luxury tented camps and budget campsites catering mostly to those on self-drive safaris. The deeper you go into the Delta, the more the crowds thin, with entire concessions given over to the exclusive lodges and tented camps that are such a feature of a safari in Botswana. For most of the tourist season, many of these camps and lodges can only be reached by small plane. Out here, I’ve had the wildlife entirely to myself.

Taste true wilderness in the Central Kalahari

Measuring 52,000 square kilometres, I think this vast wilderness is a signature Botswana safari experience. Known for its golden grasslands, salt pans, sand dunes covered in vegetation and wide former river valleys, it’s a soulful experience that’s custom-made for a self-drive safari.

The mammal density and diversity are not quite a match for the northern parks making it less well-suited to first-time safari travellers but for the feel of a true African wilderness, CKGR is tough to beat.

Hugging the park’s northern boundary, the Hainaveld consists of a handful of compact, segregated, privately-owned reserves. The denser habitat means the landscape is less scenic than inside the park, but pumped waterholes concentrate the game in the dry season. Several of the lodges employ local Kalahari bushmen with legendary tracking skills, who will also teach you about their way of life on a guided walk.

Off the beaten path in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

In the far south of Botswana, this transfrontier park spills over into South Africa. The Botswana side of the park receives far fewer visitors than the South African sections across the border.

The scenery here consists of a dense scrubland and some of the loveliest salt-pan scenery anywhere in Botswana. With a number of hills overlooking these pans, they’re spectacular places, especially at sunset, and many of the self-drive campsites take full advantage of these hilltop positions.

Kgalagadi is known for its classic Kalahari wildlife, and aside from the usual oryx (gemsbok), giraffe and wide range of antelope species, I’ve always had luck with the extravagantly horned greater kudu, lion, cheetah and even a fleeting glimpse of meerkats.

The park provides habitat for nearly 300 different bird species, and I was particularly thrilled when the elusive Kalahari scrub robin and the vivid violet-eared waxbill visited my campsite one evening.

Ancient history in the Tsodilo Hills

Rising from the barren, sandy plains of the Kalahari in a remote corner of north-western Botswana, these four hills project a certain kind of magic. Sacred to the indigenous San people and reputed to possess mystical powers (as Laurens van der Post found in the 1950s on a visit that formed the centrepiece of his classic The Lost World of the Kalahari), the Tsodilo Hills are best known as one of the world’s finest galleries of ancient rock art. More than 4,500 artworks – mostly paintings, but engravings, too – adorn the rock walls of the range, and some date back thousands of years.

Walking trails lead past the artworks that range in subject matter from whales and penguins (despite Tsodilo Hills being more than 1000 km from the ocean) to lions and human figures. I highly recommend you visit with a local guide to greatly enhance your visit.

Unless you’re self-driving and staying at one of the campsites in the shadow of the Tsodilo Hills, there is no accommodation nearby.

Explore Northern Tuli Game Reserve

In the far southeastern corner of the country and formerly divided into a number of segregated farms alongside the Limpopo River, NTGR is now one of the largest privately-owned conservation areas in southern Africa. The spectacular landscape, featuring rolling hills, basalt cliffs, ancient riverbeds and towering granite kopjes , is unlike anywhere else in Botswana. In fact, when combined with its impressive portfolio of wildlife, it remains a mystery to me why more people don’t visit this remarkable place.

Expect regular sightings of elephant, giraffe, lion, leopard and cheetah as well as less common species like eland and klipspringer, and over 350 bird species. Ground-level photographic hides, ancient archaeological ruins and a choice of horse-riding, walking or even cycling safaris complete a chocolate box-assortment of activities.

Spot the flamingoes of Makgadikgadi Pans

Makgadikgadi Pans is famous for hosting one of the largest zebra migrations in Africa. Every year, tens of thousands of zebra migrate east-west through the park, between the pans in the east and the Boteti River out west. From high on the riverbank at the latter, I’ve watched zebras swarm down to the water’s edge in a haze of raised dust, dizzying stripes and distinctive zebra barks.

I’ve also seen flamingos away on the eastern pans in flocks so vast that they seem to move as a single entity. And I’ve drawn near to habituated meerkats just outside the park, and seen brown hyenas and aardvarks close to sunset.

Birding in the Okavango Panhandle

Although not a big game destination, the broad and meandering Okavango River in the northwest of the country is a birder’s paradise, with over 350 recorded species including several iconic Okavango specialties. It is also popular among anglers, particularly around September, when the receding flood waters concentrate huge shoals of baitfish, attracting a melee of catfish, tiger fish, bream and birds. Activities are mostly by boat or on foot.

Other wildlife is far less common, and you’d be lucky to see much more than a crocodile or hippo in the river’s waters.

Zebra migration in Nxai Pan National Park

I’ve always loved Nxai Pan – it’s never busy, my sightings of lion, elephant and cheetah seem perfectly framed by these big horizons, and the baobabs by the salt pans here are a striking presence. With a handful of campsites (including at remote Baines’ Baobabs, a remarkable cluster of seven ancient baobabs (named after explorer and painter, Thomas Baines) and just one upmarket lodge, there’s rarely more than a couple of other vehicles at any sighting.

As well as plenty of elephant, and a good chance of seeing lion and cheetah, Nxai Pan has a couple of other wildlife highlights to draw you here. After the rains, thousands of zebra migrate here from the Chobe and Linyanti rivers after the rains forming part of Africa’s longest zebra migration. And for reasons unknown, Nxai Pan is the only place in Botswana where you can see springbok and impala in the same place.

Linyanti, Kwando and Selinda Reserves

Scattered along the northern waterways of the perennial Linyanti and Kwando rivers, and the seasonal Selinda spillway, the camps in these three neighbouring private concessions operate in a similar manner to those inside the Okavango Delta.

Game-viewing is as good as in the Okavango, with predator-tracking a particular specialty of the Kwando camps. Most camps offer game or wildlife drives, mokoro boat trips, and sunset boat excursions.

What you see in these parts depends very much on the time of year you visit. In Linyanti, for example, from May to October, expect to see lots of elephants, while zebras migrate through the area, usually from February to April. At other times, wildlife can be very scarce, although the November-to-April wet season is excellent for birding in all three concessions, with migrants from Europe and North Africa here en masse.

Chitabe & Qorokwe concessions

In 25 years of African travel, I’ve never seen as much high-quality wildlife as I have in these fabulous Okavango concessions. Over two recent days, I saw leopards, nearly 30 lions, dozens of elephants, a pack of 20 wild dogs, and a cheetah mother with six sub-adult cubs.

Splash Camp

Rory Sheldon

Splash Camp is a small camp in the private Kwara Reserve. Operated by Kwando Safaris who have better responsible travel credentials than most: locally based, no greenwashing, and supporting valuable community projects.

Khama Rhino Sanctuary

Botswana doesn’t have many rhinos but most of them are here in this small, little-known sanctuary, in Paje, east of Central Kalahari Game Reserve. On a recent visit, I was waylaid for nearly an hour by two male black rhinos fighting for dominance right along the main track.

See the baobabs of Kubu Island

For the best of the pans, Kubu Island is a glorious ‘island’ of baobabs south of Makgadikgadi. This was the first place I ever camped in Botswana, and the magic has never left me.

Camp out in Khutse Game Reserve

The southern extension of the CKGR, Khutse gets very few visitors (except on weekends). I love its remote campsites (I once slept here, 40 km from the nearest person), its classic Kalahari scenery, and its lions, leopards and so much more.

Nata Bird Sanctuary

Out in the east of the Makgadikgadi Pans, the pans of this rarely visited community sanctuary draw up to 250,000 flamingos and other waterbirds from November or December until March or April.

Planet Baobab

A budget-friendly option with self-drive access, offering all the activities of its more expensive sister camps on the edge of the pans.

Savute Under Canvas

Easily the pick of the mobile camps in Chobe, &Beyond’s tented camp moves around the park almost weekly and captures the spirit of a mobile camp at its best.

Botswana Camping Safaris

Into Botswana & Zimbabwe

15 day small group tour, botswana safaris: need to know, everything you wish you'd known before you booked, inside tip: self-drive safaris.

Much is made of Botswana aiming for high-end, low-density safari tourism and it’s not uncommon for a luxury camp in the Delta to cost well over US$1,000 per person per night in high season. But it’s actually the mid-range, rather than budget, traveller that finds it difficult to build a reasonably priced safari in Botswana.

Much as the Botswana government prefers not to publicise the fact, it has a fantastic network of campsites around the country. Some are privately run, others are run by the Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP). Standard camping fees are USD $50/25 per adult/child. You can book directly through the park authorities or the private operators of the campsites, but you're better off booking through an agent. Renting a 4WD camper can seem expensive, but a two-week self-drive safari could end up costing the same for two people as one day on a fly-in, fly-out safari.

The best times for safari in Botswana

My favourite time to visit Botswana is during the dry season, June to September. During this time, most 4WD tracks are open, water levels in the Delta are ideal for mokoro trips and wildlife watching.

This period also corresponds with the high tourism season (which usually starts in June or July), so it’s also the busiest (and most expensive) time of year. During these months, it can also get extremely cold overnight and early morning throughout much of the Kalahari.

May or October can be a good compromise, although there’s a risk that the rains could linger or arrive early.

Access to the Delta may be limited, but the best months for birding are from November to March or April, when hundreds of migratory species arrive from Europe and North Africa.

Getting there & around

Although Gaborone is the capital of Botswana, the overwhelming majority of safari visitors to Botswana fly into Maun, in the country’s north-west. Maun is right alongside the Okavango Delta and not far from the Kalahari, and it has lots of safari companies, hotels, camps and restaurants and places to stock up on supplies making it the ideal gateway town.

Those heading to Chobe National Park may fly into Kasane, in the north-east. Kasane receives fewer international flights than Maun, but its proximity to Victoria Falls (84 km away by road, across the border in Zimbabwe) makes it well worth considering.

How a Botswana safari works

There are two main ways to go on safari in Botswana. One is to fly into Maun or Kasane (perhaps stay overnight, perhaps not) and then fly into one of the airstrips of the Okavango Delta or Chobe National Park. There you’ll be picked up by your accommodation, and then fly in and out of however many tented camps you’ll be staying in.

You can book all of this yourself, but most international visitors tend to book it via a tour operator.

The other option is a self-drive trip. You can fly into Maun or Kasane (or even Johannesburg) and pick up a 4WD, which will usually have a rooftop tent or other camping equipment. You’ll then drive yourself from one campsite to the next. Road and driving conditions in Botswana are significantly better than elsewhere in Southern Africa, but you’ll need to take obvious precautions such as driving during the day time and ensuring you’ve got sufficient supplies for long journeys.

Safari in the Okavango Delta

About the author.

Anthony is a renowned travel journalist and guidebook author and is one of the world's leading authorities on Africa safari, wildlife and conservation. He has been travelling to Africa for more than two decades to research Africa safari guidebooks for Lonely Planet. He is widely published in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, The Monthly, Virginia Quarterly Review (VQR), National Geographic Traveler, BBC Wildlife, Lonely Planet Traveller, Africa Geographic, The Independent, Travel Africa, among many others.

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How to Plan a Safari in Botswana, According to Experts

A beginner's guide to safari vacations in Botswana.

Marc Stickler Photography/Courtesy of Natural Selection

An African safari ranks high on the wish list of many a world traveler. Of the millions of adventurers who make the trek here annually, the (ahem) lion’s share will end up in the game reserves of Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania — enduringly popular destinations for wildlife viewing in Africa. But in recent years, Botswana has been nipping at the heels of those countries.

Botswana is home to diverse landscapes that span delta to desert, and the local culture is vibrant and inviting. The Botswana bush is teeming with majestic fauna, including Africa’s largest population of elephants — they are protected by a government focused on conservation, and tour operators committed to the same. And a safari here means you get to enjoy all of the above with far fewer humans than in its aforementioned continental counterparts.

“Botswana is an anomaly in Africa,” said Ian Proctor, president and managing director of Ultimate Africa Safaris . “It is considered one of the safest and most stable democracies on the continent.”

Proctor has been preparing customized itineraries for safari-going clients since 1996, and during that time he estimates he’s personally enjoyed more than 250 experiences across the African continent. Botswana has become his go-to destination, and in no small part because of the modernization of its government.

“Citizens receive free universal health care, and LGBTQ+ communities are legally recognized,” he cited as examples. “And with a very small population, its wilderness areas are unparalleled — and, importantly, uncrowded.”

Ready to pack your bags? Here’s how to plan your Botswana safari, along with insight from experts on what you can expect along the way.

Courtesy of Natural Selection

How to Get to Botswana

The most common way to get to the Botswana bush is by way of Safarilink flights out of Maun National Airport (MUB), in the northwestern part of the country. Midsized runways here can’t accommodate jumbo jets, so you won’t find direct service from the U.S. That’s a blessing in disguise, though. The added stop you’ll need — in either Johannesburg or Cape Town — weeds out those tourists who aren’t willing to brave nearly 16 hours of total flight time.

Really, it’s not nearly as arduous as it seems. American carriers now offer multiple direct options per day into South Africa from New York and Atlanta. And if you work with an outfitter like Ultimate Africa Safaris, you can bookend your safari with well-curated layovers in those connecting cities.

Best Times to Go to Botswana

Weather-wise, Botswana is at its most inviting from early May through the end of September. Temperatures are more moderate during these winter months, and malaria is less prevalent. Things start to get somewhat wet come mid-October, but if birding is your thing, the rainy season is precisely when you want to arrive. The Nata Bird Sanctuary along the northeastern edge of the massive Makgadikgadi Salt Pans is the world’s largest breeding ground for Lesser and Greater Flamingo. This ancient, Switzerland-sized lakebed is a shrimp-infested food source for the birds, which pass through by the hundreds of thousands from November through March.

Best Places to Stay

When it comes to world-class safari camps, this part of Africa is chockablock with options. They run the gamut from rugged to ultra-luxe and are scattered across every corner of the country’s dynamic terrain. You’ll want to allot ample time to explore the Okavango Delta. This massive marshland in northern Botswana boasts a footprint of nearly 8,000 square miles and is regarded as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. From there, you can transfer by bush plane to the outskirts of the Kalahari Desert to enjoy a wholly different landscape.

“Botswana dedicates so much space for wildlife — we are actually in the top 10 percent in the world for wildlife conservation,” said Super Sande, a native of Botswana who has been a guide in the country for 32 years. “Between the wet and dry parts of our country, the diversity of game that you see is like nowhere else. You can be surrounded by thousands of zebra and wildebeest and be the only car there. It’s so special.”

Logistically, it’s easiest to take all of these wonders in by booking an all-inclusive package with a tour operator. One such example is Natural Selection's “Botswana Explorer” package, which covers multitudes of terrain over 10 days, including an overnight on a Delta houseboat and luxe stays in private game reserves. The program starts at $8,235 per person, which includes a guide, transfers, and meals along the way.

As for individual standouts, Jack’s Camp is king of the desert. The legendary outpost along the edge of the salt pan underwent a full rebuild in 2021, and it now boasts rooms with private plunge pools and bedside air conditioning. Its common area is the aesthetic equivalent of stepping into the late 19th century, anchored by a Persian tea tent and a full bar with a comprehensive collection of cultural artifacts. Prices at the year-round lodge range from $1,450 to $2,495 per night, depending on room size and time of year.

In the Delta, a similar level of luxury can be found at Tuludi . The seven-room property sits on the Khwai Private Reserve — 772 square miles of floodplain awash with wildlife. Suites feature outdoor baths and plunge pools. Don’t be surprised if you’re visited in the evening hours by the local herd of elephants who enjoy feeding on foliage here once the sun has set.

Later this year, Tawana Camp will become the newest option in the Okavango, and the only camp located within the protected Moremi Game Reserve. This exclusivity is owed to a first-of-its-kind partnership between Natural Selection and the BaTawana nation — who have stewarded the land since the late 18th century (the camp takes its name from the nation's current ruler). It will feature all the trappings of five-star living, including butler service and its own gym. The whole camp is positioned alongside a gently rolling river crowded with hippos, lions, and zebra.

What You’ll See in Botswana

Peter & Beverly Pickford Wildlife Photography/Courtesy of Natural Selection

If you stay on a riverfront camp such as Duke’s , you can head out into the water on traditional canoe-like vessels known as mokorom, and from this vantage point, you’ll spy African fish eagles and saddle-billed storks along the shore. You’ll also likely paddle past hippos, whose eyes hover menacingly just above the waterline. Back on dry land, lions prowl in outsized prides, leopards carry slain impala into the trees, and baboons scamper across the plains by the dozen.

Elephant fans will want to book a stay at Hyena Pan , hidden among the thick mopane forests of Khwai Private Reserve. A short game drive brings you to a repurposed shipping container abutting a watering hole. This is the Elephant Hide, and it affords an intimate spectacle of the largest living land animal, which congregate just a few inches from a narrow viewing slot fashioned into the side of a steel wall.

In the salt pan, you can marvel at colorful creatures of all shapes, sizes, and speeds. The edge of the ancient lakebed is inundated with meerkats, Cape hares, aardwolves, hyenas, and cheetahs, to name but a small cross section of species.

“I see the most interesting things here at night, especially,” Sande said. “I just recently saw two honey badgers fighting off some jackals. No two game drives are ever the same.”

A lot of a safari experience depends on good fortune, of course. But luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity, and the difference between a good guide and a great guide is careful planning, according to Kagisano Bapute, who steers guests toward unforgettable game viewing in and around Tuludi Camp.

“You have to stay up to date with everything going on from day to day, and from season to season,” Bapute added. “You’re always checking in with a network of trackers, and you have to be working around the clock, so you’re not just going out there blindly once you have guests with you.”

What You’ll Eat and Drink

While staying at any high-end safari camp, you can expect robust meals that rotate regularly, often featuring staples of Western cuisine. At Tuludi, for example, elegant pasta dishes are mainstays on the menu. Sable Alley has its own pizza station.

While it’s easy to gravitate toward the familiar — and there are certainly some great hamburgers to be enjoyed in the bush — if you’ve come all this way, do as the locals do and save room for seswaa . The flavorful beef stew is frequently served for supper along with local bread, phapatha . Vegetarians can keep an eye out for morogo , a spinach dish studded with onions and tomatoes.

When it comes to cocktails, gin is king here, and Okavango even has its very own. The award-winning eponymous offering is distilled with local botanicals, including the mopane seed. At Sable Alley, the bar staff is working it into the Bluebird: two parts gin, one part blue curaçao, and a splash of simple syrup, garnished with a slice of lemon.

Alternatively, book a stay at San Camp and you’ll drive into the heart of the Kalahiri for cocktail hour. A makeshift bar is set up atop the pale, crusted earth, just in time for sunset. Once it gets dark, a multi-course feast is prepared by campfire, with nary another soul in sight. For dessert, gaze up at the most dazzling star-scape you’ll ever see.

Exclusive Okavango Land & Water Safari - Giraffe nuzzling her calf in Moremi Game Reserve

Exclusive Okavango Land & Water Safari: Jewel of Botswana

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Places visited, suggested duration.

You will find the true jewel of a Botswana safari on your 9-day Okavango Delta tour over the land and water. Your exclusive luxury safari will take you on guided excursions through the canals lined with towering reeds and over captivating emerald grasslands. You can discover wildlife grazing by the waterside and bask in luxury accommodations set beneath the stars for an unparalleled experience on your Botswana safari.

Customizable Itinerary

Shakawe - welcome to botswana.

Shakawe is a serene paradise on the banks of the Okavango River. The crystal clear waters create an exquisite setting coupled with a luxury lodge overlooking the tranquil riverbanks, the expanse of papyrus, and the small channel filled with exotic birdlife. Your charter flight will land at the Shakawe landing strip, where your guide will meet you upon arrival. Your room will feel tucked away amid the shady ravine forest where you will have a private deck that looks out over a small channel. The music of the Botswana wilderness will become your soundtrack as the water rushes nearby and the birdlife calls out at sunset. At dinner, you will enjoy the aromas of delicious dishes as the music of the Okavango River surges after dark. The dining area, lounges, and deck will all offer magnificent views to the water as you spend the evening relaxing in the secluded ambiance of the luxury lodge.

What's Included:

Okavango River - Boat Cruise on the Okavango River

After breakfast, you will board a luxury boat with your specialist guide to cruise downstream at a leisurely pace. The waters will open to views of the riverbanks and the surrounding grasslands that support a variety of captivating wildlife. You can listen to the sounds of the water brushing against the tall grass as you look for hippos, crocodiles, and birds hiding in the brush. Your guide will have an incredible eye for spotting wildlife, finding lively birds such as the slaty egret and the Malachite kingfisher. You could also spot elephants who arrive at the riverbanks eager for a drink. Your guide will bring fishing equipment, which will give you the chance to cast a line in search of the local favorite tigerfish. At lunch, you will stop on a river island to enjoy a gourmet picnic before you arrive at a luxury-tented camp. You can listen to the sounds of the river as you indulge in an elegant dinner cooked by your private chef.

Okavango Delta - Game Viewing, Photography, and Fishing in the Okavango

You will wake before sunrise to venture out onto the majestic channels of the Okavango Delta. The calls of the wild are vibrant near sun-up when predators return from the evening hunt, and other wildlife wakes after a restful evening. As you traverse the waterways, you will keep an eye open for giraffe and zebra, wildebeest, and Cape buffalo. Large herds of red lechwe typically graze on the grassy wetlands with the regal horns of the males featuring long, sophisticated spirals. You might also hear the yips and lively barks of the wild dog, who are often visible when returning to their den. You will arrive at your next safari camp for lunch and relax before taking a guided safari walk along the edges of the Delta. Your specialist guide will highlight the more intimate details of the African wilderness as you look out for lion tracks, discover bird feathers, or find an elephant herd dipping its feet into the delta to cool down.

Okavango Delta - Explore More of the Okavango River

You can tailor your tour to a specific interest, such as photography, birding, or fishing as you cruise down the waters for more water-based game viewing. The birdlife will remain active as you pass by, revealing marvelous colors and vibrant sounds. With over 400 different recorded bird species along the Delta, you might spot an African fish eagle and an African green pigeon. As you glide down the river, you might find red-billed oxpeckers swooping low over the water or saddle-billed stork foraging on the marsh. Jacana could also be seen walking on floating vegetation in search of insects. Your secluded location will ensure marvelous wildlife viewing and impressive immersion in the untouched scenery. You will return to your campsite for lunch, where you will then have the choice of another walking safari or boarding the boat for an afternoon game drive on the water.

Moremi Game Reserve - Boat Cruise to Chief’s Island

After breakfast, you will board a boat bound for Chief’s Island in the exclusive Moremi Game Reserve. Pristine wilderness supports abundant wildlife as you settle into refinement, comfort, and relaxation at a spectacular luxury camp focused on personal service in the extraordinary setting. You will find a sanctuary both for you and the wildlife experienced through exceptional viewing and enthusiastic expert guides. After lunch, you will have your first game drive in the Moremi Game Reserve, which covers one-third of the Okavango Delta region. Reeds fringe the water and grasslands spread from the banks to touch light woodlands. Your guide will take you out onto the plains in search of roaming lions or the region’s thousands of antelope, zebra, and buffalo. Your inspiring game drive will end with a classic sundowner cocktail accompanied by canapés at a spot selected for its combined views of wildlife and the sunset.

Moremi Game Reserve - Revel in Game Drives and Mokoro

You will begin your day with a morning safari that will take you into the depths of the Moremi Game Reserve before sunrise. Your professional guide will show you the bush from a different perspective that allows you to get up close and personal with the local ecosystem. Listen closely and you might hear the shrill call of the African fish eagle as it flies near its nest or the laughing sound of hyenas returning from their nightly hunt. Also keep watch for the dangling tails of leopards that lounge in the trees as you explore the reserve before lunch. In the afternoon, you will board a traditional poled mokoro to travel the narrow Delta channels. You can relax as the canoe glides effortlessly through lily ponds and let your eyes take in the gentle side of nature. The charming scenery will have a peaceful ambiance as you once again listen for eagles, frogs, and the wildlife that surrounds you.

Okavango Delta - Cruise to Okavango Delta Camp

After breakfast, your guide will escort you to a corner of the Okavango Delta to reach the wilderness retreat of your next property. You will find shading ebony trees and towering sausage trees standing upwards of 40 feet tall. You might see giraffes grazing on the tree branches and views from your accommodation often result in sightings of animals wandering through the savannah. You can indulge in an afternoon snack before your first safari activity. You choose between a walking safari, game drive, or mokoro excursion. On a mokoro excursion, you can once again wade through the narrow channels in search of sunbathing crocodiles or buffalo lapping up the water. The tranquil waters, rustling grass, and gentle pace of a mokoro safari will offer you a perfect introduction to the serene setting.

Okavango Delta - Meet the Local Elephants

After breakfast, you will have the unique experience of meeting rescued elephants who live in the expansive elephant habitat. They have plenty of space to explore their natural habitat and interact with the wildlife in their natural setting. You will savor the rare opportunity of visiting the wild elephants as you watch them forage, wallow in the mud, and stroll through the wilderness in their natural ecosystem. Your guide will offer information on the elephants you meet, as well as insight into the lives of elephants across the Okavango Delta with emphasis on their important role in the local ecology. In the late morning, you will have an exclusive brunch in the bush where you can enjoy gourmet food in inspiring nature. You can relax in the afternoon at your leisure before your evening game drive. The private sanctuary keeps crowds small, which gives you a more immersive experience as you search for leopards or hyenas as the sun starts to set.

Maun - Depart for Home

You will wake before sunrise once more to have your last safari excursion. As the sunlight peeks over the horizon, you will look out for elephants wandering along the edges of the floodplains or lions lounging in the shade of a tall tree. You will then return to the lodge for breakfast. You will share your favorite experiences before you travel with your transfer back to Maun. You will board your flight bound for Johannesburg and continue home. You can always extend your African safari with time in Chobe National Park and a visit to Victoria Falls.

Trip Highlights

Experience a truly unique excursion of a morning walk with a protected elephant herd in a private concession along the Okavango Delta
Delight in exceptional game drives led by specialist guides knowledgeable in the local wildlife, wilderness, and regional ecological history
Discover wildlife from the distinctive perspective of a traditional dugout canoe known as a mokoro that allows you to travel the narrow channels of the Okavango Delta
Enjoy the fascinating diversity of the Okavango Delta with specialized safaris focusing on birding, photography, or fishing
Bask in a more intimate wildlife experience on a walking safari where you can search for animal tracks, bird feathers, or other signs of active wildlife
Indulge in the comforts of luxury tented safari camps for secluded islands around the Okavango Delta for special views of the local wildlife
Witness the spectacular game viewing and luxurious accommodations on Chief’s Island with possible sightings of cheetah, lion, leopard, and elephants
Relax with effortless transfers into the wilderness with fly-in luxury safari experiences to the northern Okavango Delta region

Starting Price

$12,865 per person (excluding international flights)

What's Included

Accommodations
In-country transportation
Some or all activities and tours
Expert trip planning
24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

Reviews of this Travel Agency

4.86 stars based on 21 reviews.

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Mokoro boat safari with elephant on riverbank at Sanctuary Baines Camp in Botswana

Botswana Explorers Safari

Picture perfect landscapes, fantastic game viewing and quintessential water safari activities all come together in this excellent itinerary. Staying in intimate, authentic and charming camps and enjoying a host of activities, this itinerary offers a beautifully balanced safari experience. Over 8 nights you explore three different areas, the exclusive Selinda Private Reserve, the famous Duba private concession and the deep waters of the Okavango. The incredible game viewing of the Selinda and Duba reserves has featured in a number of Nat Geo documentaries and these camps were created by their filmmakers. The safari ends at on an idyllic little island deep in the Delta, a chance to slow the safari down and enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of the Okavango.

This 8 night itinerary begins with 3 nights at Selinda Explorers Camp on the private Selinda Reserve followed by 3 nights at Duba Explorers Camp, on a private concession in the Okavango Delta, ending with 2 nights at a classic water camp in the heart of the Okavango. Importantly, Setari offers water activities year round due to the deep water channels surrounding it. The perfect peaceful end to an exciting Botswana safari. All three camps have a great sense of place, a down to earth warm and welcoming atmosphere and plenty of character.

Selinda and Duba are beautiful and game rich areas – famously captured in a series of stunning and award winning Nat Geo documentaries by the founders- Beverly and Derek Joubert. The explorer camps here perfectly capture the sense of adventure which is innate to safari and they are styled to blend in perfectly to their surroundings. Being based on private reserves allows greater flexibility on activities. As well as game drives and boating, walking safaris are possible and off-roading is also permitted, which allows for more effective tracking and close up sightings. Night drives are also permitted.

The Selinda reserve is vast, beautiful and rich in wildlife. And yet one of the least visited areas, a hidden gem known mostly to keen safari goers and those attracted by some of the most famous luxury camps. This is 320k acre reserve is shared by just 3 camps, making it an incredibly exclusive safari experience. The north-eastern corners of the reserve are some of the most beautiful in Botswana, lovely grass plains are dotted with palm tree islands and fringed with tall forests. The reserve is named after the Selinda Spillway, an ephemeral channel which occasionally connects the Linyanti and Okavango delta areas in times of high flood. The game viewing is especially exciting in the dry season, when plains game are plentiful and predator sightings frequent. Lion, leopard and hyena are commonly seen here. Activities include day and night drives, guided walks are also very much part of the experience here.

Moving to the north west Okavango, to the private Duba Concession, an extremely scenic and game lively corner of the Okavango. Picture perfect Okavango scenery with tall palm trees, lush waterways and open grass plains make a stunning backdrop to some of the Okavango’s best game viewing.

This area is famous for the lion and buffalo interactions, beautifully captured in a series of Nat geo films – most notable ‘Relentless Enemies’ . Unusually, the lions here often hunt during the day, taking on the mighty buffalo herds delivering exciting game viewing. Over the years the dynamics of the pride have changed and these sightings are less frequent. This is no bad thing, the less dominating lion numbers have allowed other predators in and now leopard are frequently seen, and wild dog too. As the flood waters arrive and islands form across the concession it is not uncommon to see lions swimming between the higher grounds – a true Okavango safari sighting!

The itinerary ends at Setari camp – a quintessential Okavango water camp which allows for a change of gear. Importantly, Setari is able to offer year round water activities due to its excellent location at the base of the panhandle. This is a slower safari, where the boating, mokoro and walking activities on offer do not need a crack of dawn wake up call. This is a chance to reveal in the peaceful beauty of the Okavango for a final few days before returning home.

A fantastic safari for those safari purists for whom luxury is measured by the game viewing, the location, the lack of crowds and the guiding – in this sense, a classic luxury safari awaits.

Various offers are available throughout the year for this itinerary, please speak to us for the latest information.

Day 1 - Selinda Explorers Camp

On arrival in Maun, Botswana you will be met by a representative and assisted onto your light charter flight to Selinda, a flight of about 45 minutes. Your guide will be waiting on arrival and will transfer your to camp, a game drive of about 45 minutes.

A warm Botswana welcome awaits at this small little camp. With just 4 tents this is one of the smallest camps in Botswana, and one of the friendliest. Although mobile in appearance, this is a permanent camp which captures the spirit of the old safari expeditions. The tents are all set on the ground, and simply but elegantly decorated with antique furnishings from the East adding splashes of colour and comfort. The en-suite bathrooms are canvas walled but open air with proper flush toilets and hot bucket showers with plenty of water.

Having been introduced to the camp and team you will settle into your new Botswana home before sitting down with your guide for some light refreshments and an introduction to the area and activities on offer. You will have the chance to set off on your first activity or you may prefer to relax in camp after your long journey. Selinda Explorers offers game drives and bush walks which your guide will discuss with you and plan into your stay to ensure you make the most of your time here.

You may prefer to relax in camp after your journey, perhaps the game drive into camp delivered plenty for now. So feel free to relax on the sofa, or swing in the hammock. Alternatively, set off on your first activity in the late afternoon, a chance to explore the Selinda reserve and soak up the spectacular sunsets enjoyed in this part of the world. As the sun begins to set your guide will stopping in a scenic spot and with drinks in hand you will toast the setting sun.

As you return the camp is twinkling with lanterns and a welcoming fire. Dinner awaits followed by your first night in the Botswana wilderness

Day 2 and 3 - Selinda Explorers Camp

The day begins with a wakeup call before sunrise followed by a light breakfast before setting out as the sunrises for your first activity. Your drives will usually last around 4 hours with a coffee break and snack half way through. Returning around mid-morning for a hearty brunch you will then have time to relax in camp during the heat of the day before embarking on your afternoon activity.

Every day is different on safari here and you will have planned your activities with your guide the day before, enjoying a mix of the various activities on offer.

Game drives allow you to explore deeper into the vast Selinda Reserve and approach and photograph the more dangerous predators such as the lion, leopard and hyena. Wild dog can also be seen here. Keen an eye out for the various plains game found here, work your way through your checklist. These vary with the habitats – in the more wooded areas look out for the beautiful kudu browsing the lower leaves, on the plains the usual suspects include zebra and wildebeest while the wetlands are home to red lechwe and reedbuck. And so much more!

Guided bush walks offer insight into this wild corner of Botswana, this is a dynamic area of the country, the Selinda Spillway is the main artery of this reserve attracting animals to its banks when it flows. An ever changing environment which your guide will bring to life with fascinating facts and stories on these walks. A chance to share his knowledge of the flora, fauna and wildlife as you track animals and learn about the smaller but important aspects of this area.

Day 4 - Duba Explorers Camp

This morning you will enjoy one last activity at Selinda (or perhaps enjoy a lie-in) before bidding farewell to the team and flying to the Okavango. Your flight to Duba will take approximately 40 minutes. This is a beautiful flight as you fly east to west, over the Selinda spillway and across the western reaches of the Okavango into the northern corner of the Okavango. The Okavango is spectacular from above- keep a look out for the larger animals which you can view from the aircraft, elephant, hippo, giraffe, buffalo and much more can be seen on this flight.

Your guide will be waiting on arrival to transfer you to camp, a game drive of about 40 minutes.

Duba Explorers has a more permanent feel than Selinda Explorers – though it maintains the same expedition style and atmosphere. The tents are larger here and the bathroom more substantial with a normal indoor shower. Due to the nature of the floods here the tents are set on slightly raised decks which afford beautiful views. Again the décor invokes the spirit of the original safaris of the 1920s together with all the modern comforts.

Activities include morning, afternoon and night drives as well as guided bush walks. Boating safaris and mokoro rides are also offered when water levels permit.

Having met the team you will have a chance to settle into your room and relax a little in your new Okavango home. Later that afternoon you will set off on your first afternoon activity, as discussed with your guide, who will chat about your particular interests and plan your activities for the following days.

Setting off for your first activity that afternoon you will begin to explore the concession, enjoying a drink from a scenic spot as the sun sets.

Day 5 and 6 - Duba Explorers Camp

By now you will be familiar with the early morning wake up call, though perhaps it may not be getting any easier! After a light breakfast you set off on your morning activity returning for brunch around mid-morning followed by the siesta time, when you have a chance to relax in camp before departing on your afternoon activity.

The safari schedule continues for the next three days as before, with an early morning and late afternoon activity. The magic of safari is that every day is different, with fresh experiences and sightings no drive is ever the same. and this will be affirmed by your guide. You will have the next three days to explore the necklace of palm-dotted islands, shimmering flood plains and forest of this 33,000 hectare private reserve.

Game drives – morning, afternoon and evening drives are offered here. Being a private concession means off-roading is permitted and allows for more efficient tracking and closer sightings. 4x4 game drives are certainly the most efficient way to explore this vast area and to see the most animals. Game drives in this area stand out in particular for the regular water crossings which are necessary when the flood waters arrive (May-August). The specially designed vehicles drive through high waters over a metre deep, with water gushing into the footwells and sometimes over the bonnet- always an exciting moment! Animals are often seen swimming between island here too.

Boating through the Okavango, when water levels permit, is a very different and special safari experience. While the sightings are not as dramatic as the game drives the eco-systems here are certainly rich in life and very beautiful and offer a more complete insight into the Okavango wetland wilderness. Sunsets on the water, often reflecting a kaleidoscope of colour, are often a highlight.

Mokoro excursions are one of the most peaceful safari activities – gliding gentle through the shallow waters of the Okavango floodplains, between the pink, white and blue lilies of the which pepper the waters here. This is a chance to focus on the smaller wonders of the Okavango – the flora, the fauna and the culture of the river bushman who have made this wet wilderness their home for centuries. Your mokoro poler will offer interesting insight to all this and more.

Helicopter flights are particularly beautiful in this area of the Okavango and can be arranged at an additional cost.

In between activities you will have some time to yourselves to enjoy this wonderful camp and the stunning setting. Relax on your spacious private deck and watch the animals come and go from camp, enjoying the quiet sounds of the Okavango.

Day 7 - Setari Camp

This morning you will enjoy one last activity at Duba before moving further into the heart of the delta where the deep waters of the Okavango flow. This is a short flight west. On landing you will be met by your guide and take a 1 hour boat safari to camp. During high flood the transfer may be by boat.

Setari Camp is a delightful camp set on a little island surrounded by palm trees and lagoons at the base of the Okavango panhandle. This is where the alluvial fan of the Okavango Delta begins to spread out. The camp itself is structured like a huge treehouse with raised walkways connecting the tents and main areas creating a very special atmosphere. The camp is well equipped with a swimming pool and gym and plenty of inviting areas to relax with a good book.

Having settled into your room and explored the camp you will enjoy lunch and some time to relax before setting off on your first afternoon activity.

Activities include boating safaris, mokoro excursions, catch and release fishing and bush walks. Village visits can also be arranged for those interested in understanding more of local life in the Okavango. Walking safaris are conducted by professional guides, armed with a rifle, on the islands in the south of the concession.

Day 8 - Setari Camp

Your final full day in the Okavango – a chance to explore the lively waterways and small islands which dot the landscape here. A number of half or full day experiences are on offer here depending on your interest – take to the waters by boat or mokoro, and perhaps a guided walk too.

Between activities relax in camp – on your private deck, by the pool or lounge or work up an appetite at the gym!

There could be no finer ending to your Okavango safari than toasting your final African sunset from a boat on the lagoon – the waters reflecting the stunning colours of the skies. You final toast to the sunset, ‘Pula!’ as they say in Botswana.

Day 9 - End of Safari

Today you bid farewell to the Okavango and the team at Duba. The time for your flight to Maun will be finalised the day before and your guide will advise you what time you will be leaving camp. The flight will always be schedule to connect with any onward travel arrangements. Depending on the time of departure, as discussed with your guide, you will enjoy on final morning activity and brunch before bidding farewell to the Okavango. This morning activity will likely be shorter than usual due to your travel to Maun.

The flight to Maun will take approximately 30 minutes, depending on stops along the way. On arrival a representative will meet you to ensure you connect to your onward travel arrangements.

For those interested in visiting Victoria Falls flight to Kasane can be arranged. Please speak to us for more information.

Selinda Explorers Camp

Duba explorers camp, setari camp.

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Extensions to this safari

Tongabezi is a much loved haven of peace on the banks of the Zambezi River in Zambia. This owner-run boutique hotel has plenty of character and impressive attention to detail. It is a very special spot and has a welcomed many returning visitors over the years. A fantastic range of activities are available or simply savour the tranquil hours taking in the sights and sounds of the mighty Zambezi River from your luxurious room.

Cape View Clifton

On the slopes of Lion’s Head with breathtaking mountain and ocean views, lies the exquisite Cape View Clifton Beach Hotel. Stylish, sophisticated and service of a top notch standard from one of the most exclusive addresses in Cape Town, this is a fantastic hotel. Full concierge service, fine dining restaurants and splendid beaches are within easy reach - a combination of true luxury and convenience. Great for couple and families alike.

Duration 8 Nights
Rates Jan 2024 USD 8,767 Feb 2024 USD 8,767 Mar 2024 USD 8,767 Apr 2024 USD 10,995 May 2024 USD 10,995 Jun 2024 USD 14,835 Jul 2024 USD 15,341 Aug 2024 USD 15,341 Sep 2024 USD 15,341 Oct 2024 USD 14,835 Nov 2024 USD 10,995 Dec 2024 USD 10,995

Featured Properties

Luxurious guest tent with carpets and copper basin at Selinda Explorers Camp

Selinda Explorers Camp is a delightful little camp, perfect for travellers looking for a genuine “old world” safari in simple but elegant style. Unpretentious yet refined, this camp of just 4 tents offers a special safari experience with a focus on walking and 4x4 drives. The camp lies on the Selinda Spillway, embracing the natural riverine forest, in the heart of the vast and varied 130,000 hectare Selinda reserve. A truly remote and peaceful safari.

Guest tent with a view at Duba Explorers Camp

Duba Explorers Camp is a charming camp situated within the quintessentially scenic Okavango landscapes of the private Kwedi Reserve. Surrounded by the undisturbed wilds of a 33,000 hectare private concession this camp is perfect for wildlife connoisseurs who enjoy the elegant but unobtrusive style of the original 1920’s safari. Superb game viewing with morning, afternoon and evening drives, as well as boating when water levels permit, this great little camp offers a classic Okavango experience.

The shaded pool and swimming pool deck area at Setari Camp

The delightful Setari Camp (meaning ‘tree’ in Setswana) offers a quintessential Okavango water safari year round. A network of treehouses with breath-taking views over the sparkling, clear Delta waters, your safari at Setari will be an exclusively water based experience. A visit to the heronry provides spectacular birdlife and Setari is well placed for a glimpse of the elusive sitatunga antelope and the rare Pel’s fishing owl. Catch and release fishing is available in-season.

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Ukuri - safari camps

Explore Africa through its lifeblood

Tuesday, 27 June 2023

Every river has a character, and every waterway symbolises vitality. Life in Africa revolves around its rivers, streams and lakes, defining the essence of the wildernesses they flow through. A safari can be more than game drives, so why not opt for one of the continent’s numerous water safaris and explore Africa through its lifeblood?

Below is a list of our favourite water-based safari destinations.

Want to go on a water safari? Browse our African safaris on offer here .

Okavango Delta, Botswana: Water safari by mokoro

The swampy wildlife oasis of the Okavango Delta is one of the most extraordinary safari destinations in Africa, and a ride in a mokoro is an essential part of any exploration. These traditional dugout canoes cut silently through the wetlands’ many channels, propelled by expert guides’ poles. Aside from the peaceful immersion in one’s surroundings, this is the perfect way to encounter wildlife – from elephants to frogs and everything in between.

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Zambia: Rafting on Batoka Gorge’s white waters

At Victoria Falls , the mighty Zambezi River plunges 100 metres off a basalt plateau before being forced through a narrow and twisting path of Batoka Gorge. The rapids below the falls are classified as Grade V and are widely acknowledged as offering some of the best white water rafting in the world.

Adrift on inflatable rafts, armed with just a plastic oar and a lifejacket, visitors throw themselves at the river’s mercy. Nothing is quite as humbling as experiencing the sheer power of a churning river (especially while underneath it). And after the rather steep climb out of the gorge on somewhat shaky legs, a sundowner imbibed looking out over the “smoke that thunders” is a must! This is one of the most epic water safaris you’ll ever experience.

Jinja, Uganda: Kayak the Nile

The Nile River is the longest in the world, and its journey begins at the edge of Lake Victoria as it spills out of the lake into a series of plunging rapids. Not much compares to the thrill of riding the tumbling waves, pitting skill against the tremendous power of the torrent. And there are plenty of long flat stretches of calm water to steady the nerves, recover the muscles and marvel at the beauty of rural Uganda.

If this sounds too much (or perhaps when one’s shoulders and arms have had enough), opt for an ice-cold drink on a sedate sunset boat cruise.

Chobe River, Botswana and Namibia: Cruise on a riverboat

The Chobe River is Africa’s elephant Eden , its lush floodplains and surroundings home to the world’s highest density of these magnificent pachyderms. This corner of the continent is renowned for its water safaris. Explore the various channels and side creeks or meander peacefully, watching elephants snorkel and wrestle in the water. From predator to prey, the abundance of life on display along the riverbanks tinges any voyage with more than a hint of excitement.

Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania: Float or dive lazy waters

Only two parks in Tanzania offer chimpanzee trekking: Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains National Parks, and both are found on the banks of Lake Tanganyika. The terrain of these parks is mountainous, and if the chimps are particularly capricious, a trek might entail several hours of strenuous hiking. As such, there is no doubt that the only way to celebrate a successful day is to leap with joy into the cool embrace of the clear waters of the world’s longest freshwater lake. Sandy beaches are perfect for lazing the days away or soaking up romantic sunsets. Or, to make the most of a water safari at Lake Tanganyika (which hosts over 350 fish species), explore the waters by diving or snorkelling.

Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe and Zambia: Explore vast shorelines

The fertile shores of Lake Kariba and its fresh waters attract diverse birdlife and wildlife, including elephants, buffalo and various antelopes. Keep an eye out for lions and leopards too. Lake Kariba’s water safaris can be enjoyed in simple pleasure or luxurious style. Dozens of lodges perched on the water’s edge allow you to awaken to the copper glow of the sun rising over the endless lake. Spend the day admiring the scenery or watching elephants browse the shoreline of Lake Kariba. And at the end of the day, the calm waters are the ideal place to admire the starlit skies. There are plenty of opportunities to explore the shorelines from the water, whether on a catamaran cruise, motorboat or even a houseboat.

Lake Malawi, Malawi: Barefoot safari

Lake Malawi offers a plethora of fun for every intrepid safari goer, from the super active to the deeply relaxed. Across the shoreline of Lake Malawi , tiny beach villages and lodges offer many opportunities to explore the waters – above or below the azure ripples. Boat trips provide the perfect vantage to appreciate the lake’s blazing sunsets. Snorkel or dive beneath the surface to take in the fishy kaleidoscope darting around the rocks in the shallows. Sailing and kayaking are at the top of the list for those eager to investigate the various bays and coves along the shoreline. And for beach lovers, there is ample opportunity to lounge along Lake Malawi’s sandy shores and breathe in the crystalline waters, drink in hand.

Storms River Mouth, South Africa: Adventure in the breakers

Along the ocean’s edge in the Tsitsikamma section of Garden Route National Park , a microcosm of adventure can be found within a rocky ravine where breakers pound rocky shores beneath rolling forests and fynbos. Here, 5kms of sea, reefs and ocean life around Storms River Mouth are protected by the national park. Mere metres from where dolphins romp in the waves and southern right whales visit, thrill-seekers can negotiate the narrow passages of the magnificent Storms River Gorge by kayak, c liff jump into secret pools, lounge on a raft or hop aboard a lilo to float on cool waters after a long day of activity.

Lake Kivu, Rwanda: Kick-back, beach style

There are plenty of active ways to entertain oneself on a visit to Lake Kivu, from water sports to birding. But why not embrace the Caribbean-like tropical atmosphere of this Great Lake, and take a few days to kick back and relax on sandy shores? Besides, it is the perfect spot to let it all sink in after a life-changing trek with gorillas in nearby Volcanoes National Park.

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF AFRICA GEOGRAPHIC:

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Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is a sanctuary for the senses.

A little bit about the Okavango Delta

Where to begin? As soon as your small aircraft lands in this UNESCO World Heritage site, you will see for yourself what makes this part of Africa truly unique.

The Okavango Delta is a 360° panoramic Garden of Eden, with fairytale lagoons, dense forest, extensive savannahs, superb wildlife and over 400 bird species. All accommodations are small scale and personal – you just have to kick back and go with the flow.

Going on a safari in the Okavango Delta

There are some things you need to know before setting off to Okavango Delta in Botswana.

What is the best time to travel to Botswana? Do I need any special equipment? What wildlife will I see? You probably have a lot of questions. Start making your bucket list as you read more about your safari trip in the sections below. Find a question unanswered? Make use of the contact form below and we will be happy to assist you!

About the Okavango Delta

There is no other place in Africa where so many ecosystems seamlessly congregate. Where else can you discover this while sitting in a canoe, poled along by an African gondolier?

Okavango Delta special offers

Waiting for that special offer, one that seems tailor-made for you? Our Okavango Delta deals are outstanding values for the money, so we hope to see you soon!

Getting to the Okavango Delta

Wherever you want to go in the Okavango Delta, it all starts at Maun: a small but bustling town and the capital of the Kalahari Desert. Fly in directly from Johannesburg or Cape Town!

The exquisite food, privacy, the elephant experiences, private game drives and top-notch accommodation, staff (especially manager Aaron) left nothing for us to wish for...

Don't miss the mokoro ride, it's a great opportunity to experience the area a different way.

It was much different than the other safari's we were on, with the safari trips being on water (canoe and boat) or on foot, so we could really examine the wildlife.

Okavango Delta lodges & camps

A personal viewing deck to watch a watering hole attracting thirsty wildlife? Of course. An outdoor shower to start the day in crisp morning dew? No problem. Five star meals served around a crackling fire? Only here.

A head full of amazing memories needs a soft bed for the night. All of our accommodations are luxurious, eco-friendly and provide a true Okavango Delta experience. We love to help you find your home away from home.

Price $$$$$

Duke's Camp

lodge style A secluded Okavango oasis

Discover Duke's Camp, an exclusive luxury retreat nestled in the heart of the Okavango. Named in honor of its guardian, Sarefo 'Duke' Sarefo, this camp offers unparalleled wildlife experiences and world-class accommodations.

from US$ 934 per person per night

Selinda Camp

lodge style Nourishment for the soul

Where all the splendors of nature come together – water, lush land and African skies - is an exclusive camp. A warm place for families, couples and groups, and perfect for everlasting memories: welcome to Selinda Camp.

from US$ 1,884 per person per night

Camp Okavango

lodge style Relaxing, timeless, African

Enchanting, quiet, and relaxing: Camp Okavango is an unaffected paradise, located on a remote island in the delta. Discover this area by traditional mokoro, motorboat or foot – and be sure you take time to meet Alex, the local hippo.

from US$ 629 per person per night

Pom Pom Camp

lodge style Soulful safari

With an emphasis on a soulful nature experience, the vintage, well-appointed, tented camp Pom Pom Camp couldn’t be in better location: in the heart of the delta, surrounded by crystal clear channels where you will find a tranquil, intimate safari spot.

from US$ 599 per person per night

Zarafa Camp

lodge style Pure perfection

‘Have no fear of perfection, you will never reach it’, as Salvador Dali once stated. At Zarafa Camp, this statement is overthrown. From the views, till the best safari bed and a complimentary professional camera to use: they shouldn’t change a thing.

lodge style Elephant encounters

Trunks, tusks and trumpeting: Abu Camp is where you want to be for a true elephant experience. Located in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, you can prepare yourself for some splashing with elephants, so take the plunge into their world.

from US$ 2,490 per person per night

&Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

lodge style Spectacular design

Incredible jaw-dropping design, luxurious, modern decorated suites, healthy and nutritious food; this is where you come for around-the-clock pampering and de-stressing, plus the best wildlife viewing in Botswana's spectacular Okavango Delta.

from US$ 1,850 per person per night

&Beyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp

lodge style Welcome home

Nxabega means ‘Place of the Giraffe’, but besides the giraffe, there is big variety of wildlife to be seen around this luxurious, yet warm and neighborly &Beyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp. A bonus: all tents have recently been refurbished!

from US$ 1,270 per person per night

&Beyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp

lodge style Gentle as a water lily

Located on a Delta island is a wholehearted camp, with the serenity and calmness of a water lily floating in clear Botswana waters: this is Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp. Unwind and experience a constant flow of African hospitality.

from US$ 1,495 per person per night

Sanctuary lodges

lodge style Sanctuary retreats

Sanctuary Retreats boasts some extraordinary safari lodges in the Okavango Delta: Baines' Camp and Stanley's Camp. Sanctuary offers delightful luxury accommodations provide an elegant contrast to the rugged nature of the Okavango.

from US$ 1,024 per person per night

Moremi Crossing

lodge style Brand-new safari spot

Island camping, motorboat excursions, sunset cruises – become part of the bustling river life at this quaint, new gem in the Okavango Delta. This camp combines the timeless simplicity of nature’s splendour, with the latest eco-friendly techniques.

from US$ 450 per person per night

Duba Plains Camp

lodge style Lion-spotting paradise

Breathtaking, wonderful staff, best safari experience so far – these phrases are just a selection of the reviews written about Duba Plains Camp in the Okavango. Explore this accommodation yourself and discover why everybody wants to return.

Kadizora Camp

lodge style Lavish luxury safari

On a peninsula, beneath a majestic stand of trees, with uninterrupted panoramic vistas of the Okavango Delta, there is a beautiful, new and intimate camp: Kadizora Camp.

from US$ 499 per person per night

Kwando lodges

lodge style Kwando safaris

Kwando Safaris operates two wonderful safari camps in the heart of the Okavango. Kwando offers an unique safari experience - from decor to the amazing attention to detail.

from US$ 864 per person per night

lodge style Solar powered safari

With a personal guide (who grew up in the area) devoted to you throughout your stay, this camp offers a tailor-made safari experience and a homey and laid-back vibe.

from US$ 492 per person per night

Wilderness Safaris lodges

lodge style Wilderness collection

The Wilderness portfolion consists of thirteen wonderful individual properties, so there's always one that suits your taste! Choosing multiple lodges also allows you to see and experience different sections of the Okavango adding to your overall safari experience.

from US$ 679 per person per night

Belmond Eagle Island Lodge

lodge style Unspoilt splendor

This wonderful, far-flung, relaxing African safari retreat is located in one of the most scenic areas of the lush Okavango Delta. At Belmond Eagle Island Camp you will feel like you are walking on air, but realise quickly that floating on water is even better.

from US$ 834 per person per night

Xugana Island Lodge

lodge style Safari serenity

Let Fred, Julia and the dedicated staff embrace you with hospitality and become part of the warm Xugana family. Here, the air is filled with tranquility, hospitality and adventures – a paradise under a canopy of trees where forever cherished memories are made.

Ker & Downey Okavango lodges

Famous for its outstanding safari operations, Ker & Downey Botswana offers a portfolio of four magical Okavango Delta safari lodges. Whether you are staying at Shinde or Kanana, you can rest assured to experience only the best of the Okavango.

from US$ 634 per person per night

&Beyond Xudum Okavango Lodge

lodge style Glamorous gleam

From one of nine rooftop hideoutsa at &Beyond Xudum Okavango Lodge, you will find yourself overlooking a fairy-tale like lagoon with a patchwork of water lilies. In the distance grazing zebras, right behind you a beautiful, luxurious safari suite.

from US$ 989 per person per night

Oddballs Camp & Oddballs Enclave

The two wonderful Oddballs Okavango camps have something to offer for everyone. While Oddballs Camp is world renowned for its perfect setting, Oddballs Enclave -due to its small size- offers the perfect setting for a break with family or friends.

from US$ 318 per person per night

Sandibe is architecturally spectacular and a wonderful place to stay, with excellent food and very accommodating service.

For starters, the food was out-of-this-world good, and the chef (Herman) was unbelievably friendly!

Uncrowded game drives. boat and canoe rides to see elephant, zebra, giraffe, ostrich, wild dogs, lion, cheetah. crocodile, hippo, many birds.

Okavango Delta video

The best way of getting an idea what the Okavango Delta is about is by seeing some incredible footage from the area. View this video of Camp Okavango to experience one of the lodges and wildlfe in the delta.

Be careful, after watching this video you can be sure that you want to travel to Botswana. Today.

We so enjoyed the boat trips, big and small, the helicopter ride was the BEST and a must, and sundowners on the overlooking the delta were great.

As we were in our boat, just as the sun was going down, a male elephant came out of the reeds and crossed the lagoon right next to us - simply magical.

This area of the Okavango is stunning, with both deep water channels and open park-like grasslands with beautiful trees that go on forever. Watching the red lechwe fly over the water is grace itself.

Send your enquiry

We hope you have found all information needed to decide that Okavango Delta is the perfect place for your next travel adventure. Still have questions? Or maybe you would like some more specific information about the different lodges? Please fill in the contact form and we will get back to you soon!

Maun, Botswana
[email protected]

1 800 970 7299
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A couple giraffes grazing from a tree in Chobe National Park, Botswana

Botswana Safari Tours & Vacations

Destinations
Botswana Safari Tours & Holidays

It really is a zoo out there

Ever wanted to watch migrating zebras run across the African plains or feel dwarfed as a herd of elephants passes you on the highway? On safari in Botswana, experience the brilliance of the natural world up close as you fill up your camera roll with exotic wildlife, beautiful sunsets and the breathtaking natural landscape of Africa . With some of the world's most renowned game reserves such as Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta , Botswana has a spectacular variety of birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and aquatic life that call it home. So grab your binoculars, keep the lens off your camera and buckle in because you're not going to want to miss a second.

Our Botswana safari tours

See some of the amazing range of wildlife in Chobe National Park, Botswana

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Highlights of Botswana safari tours

A bloat of hippos swimming in Chobe River, Botswana

Chobe National Park

Chobe National Park is probably what you picture when someone says 'safari in Africa'. Located near the Okavango Delta , the park sits alongside the Chobe River and is home to what is thought to be the largest concentration of African elephants in the world. The majestic mammals often come to drink and bathe in the waters alongside other wildlife friends (and foes) including the cape buffalo, impala, hippos, lions, leopards and cheetahs. There are so many ways to spend your time here. Go on a 4x4 game drive, hop on a sunset cruise along Chobe River or simply sit back and listen to the noises of the great outdoors.

A mob of meerkats seen on safari in Africa

Makgadikgadi Pans

Get a first-hand glance at one of the largest salt pans in the world in what used to be Lake Makgadikgadi. The Makgadikgadi Pans are a beautiful mixture of baobab trees, salt flats and grassy plains, best explored in a 4x4. However, if the scenery alone doesn't tempt you, then hopefully you’re more swayed by its residents. Arguably the cutest animal on safari, the meerkat is native to the Ntwetwe salt pan and is often found huddling in mobs by the sand dunes. You'll also be among some of the world's largest animals such as the elephants and giraffes as well as some of its pinkest as the area is home to a flamboyance of flamingoes.

Boteti River

The Boteti River is a must for die-hard zebra lovers as over 25,000 zebras are known to migrate here from the neighboring game park. Due to the numbers and their stripey coats, it’s likely you’ll see them if you’re there in the migrating season. Since the Boteti River is the only permanent water source in the area, there’s always likely to be a number of animals perusing its shores. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re more interested in the prey or the predators, you’ll likely see them all. Find leafy-green eaters such as giraffes, springboks and oryx enjoying the lush vegetation and the toothy species, namely the lions, cheetahs and wild dogs, lurking hungrily nearby.

Khama Rhino Sanctuary

While not quite as fanciful as their mythical cousins the unicorn, rhinoceros sightings are almost as rare these days due to their near-extinct status. Luckily, places like the Khama Rhino Sanctuary have homed and rehabilitated rhinos since 1992 and are now home to both black and white rhino residents. The sanctuary has a successful breeding program and is protected with anti-poaching patrols. The continuing goal for the KRS is to reintroduce as many rhinos as possible back into their natural wild habitats, so visiting this amazing place is definitely worth the animal sightings, not to mention supporting their mission.

When is the best time to visit Botswana?

Winter (April through August) is a good time to visit Botswana. The days are usually mild and wildlife is generally quite easy to spot. The summer can bring frequent rain, which can make it difficult to travel around some of the national parks. Wildlife also tends to disperse during the summer rains, making animals a little harder to spot.

Read more about the best time to visit Botswana

Do I need a COVID-19 vaccine to join an Intrepid trip?

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 policy

Do I need a visa to travel to Botswana?

Australia: No visa required

Belgium: No visa required

Canada: No visa required

Germany: No visa required

Ireland: Yes - visa required

Netherlands: No visa required

New Zealand: No visa required

South Africa: No visa required

Switzerland: No visa required

United Kingdom: No visa required

USA: No visa required

Citizens of countries not listed above, including most EU countries, should check with the relevant consulates as to whether a visa is required. For passengers requiring a visa to Botswana, application forms can be downloaded from the Botswana Government website, as well as instructions for applying.

Entry Requirements - Yellow Fever Certificate:

A valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required for all passengers over one year of age who arrive or are transiting through Botswana, from a country or region listed by the World Health Organization as infected by yellow fever. Travelers who are unable to present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate issued at least 10 days before arrival will be refused entry. There is no option for travelers without a vaccination certificate to be vaccinated on arrival. Please note this also includes transiting through an infected country or region.

Children travelling to Botswana:

Please note that if you’re traveling to Botswana with a person under the age of 18 then you need to provide a certified copy of the child’s full unabridged birth certificate in order to enter the country (the one listing the child’s details and both parents’ details. - the short birth certificate which only lists the child’s details won’t be accepted).

Additionally, if the child is traveling with only one parent, with neither biological parent, or is unaccompanied, then they must provide an affidavit of the consent of the parent(s) that are not traveling, to prove that the trip is made with both parents' consent. Please contact your nearest Botswanan Embassy if you have further questions regarding this.

Can I drink tap water in Botswana?

Drinking tap water isn't recommended in Botswana. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Instead, fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water. Ask your leader where filtered water can be found, some hotels we stay in may have drinking water available. It's also advisable to avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit and vegetables before eating.

What are the best animals to see on safari in Botswana?

Some of the top animals to see in Botswana include the big five (lion, leopard, elephant, black rhino and buffalo) as well as giraffes, antelopes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos and crocodiles.

What is ATM access like in Botswana?

You will be able to find ATMs in the big cities, airports and regional towns of Botswana. Rural areas, national parks and small villages will have limited to no ATMs, so be sure to carry other payment options before traveling out of the big cities.

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Botswana safari: an insider's guide to the adventure of a lifetime

By Jane Broughton

Not many places in Africa still feel completely wild, which accounts for Botswana ’s ongoing allure as an exceptional safari destination. Regarded as one of Africa’s most expensive game-viewing destinations, Botswana represents the sharp edge of adventurous, transformative travel to pristine, remote places with a timeless appeal. All the best safari operators have a solid presence here, from AndBeyond and Wilderness to Great Plains Conservation and Natural Selection. In their shared mission to fund the conservation of wild places through sustainable , positive-impact travel, old camps in prime locations have been rebuilt to more exacting earth-friendly standards, while expedition-style camps and authentic mobile operations in increasingly far-flung concessions are all the rage – privacy and access to space being the ultimate luxuries.

Botswana’s main attraction is the Okavango Delta, a lush wilderness of grassy floodplains, islands and a complex network of water channels shaped by hippo and elephant activity in one of the most nutrient-rich ecosystems in the world. The Okavango Delta is known for exceptional wildlife viewing, unparalleled predator populations, and excellent birding, particularly in the breeding season. Like walking, exploration by boat and mokoro (dug-out canoe) adds an exciting, more immersive dimension to game viewing. Further north, the private reserves of the Selinda, Kwando and Linyanti are vast wilderness areas with equally rich river systems. With only a handful of stylish bush camps, guests enjoy exclusive access to all this space and prime game viewing. Enormous elephant herds are synonymous with the ever-popular Chobe National Park, which stretches from the Chobe River to the fringes of the Okavango in the south. In particular, the Savute marsh area offers some of Botswana’s most dramatic predator-prey interactions. The semi-desert Kalahari dominates most of Botswana and offers surprisingly diverse game viewing, from black-maned lions, brown hyenas and wild dogs to typically elusive species, like aardwolf, pangolin, wild cat, and meerkat. And then there is the other-worldly Makgadikgadi salt pans where arid savannah grasslands provide lush grazing for thousands of plains zebra during the green season. Interpretative walks with the Kalahari’s San people offer a fascinating insight into their traditional hunter-gatherer culture.

Where to go on a Botswana safari

Much of the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site , is protected by the Moremi Game Reserve. Surrounding this are privately managed conservation concessions, many previously given to hunting. Granted by lease from local communities, expansion in these small concessions has been kept in check by strict environmental standards and visitor number restrictions. Many Insta-worthy, eco-luxe, sustainably run safari camps are located in this low-footprint, game-rich private concessions that benefit local communities.

A fine example is Natural Selection’s partnership with local, land-owning communities in the Khwai reserve, a 200,000-hectare privately protected area where proceeds from eco-friendly camps, like Sable Alley and Tuludi, are ploughed straight back into conservation and empowerment projects.

Unlike the national parks and reserves, private concessions offer the flexibility and freedom of guided walking safaris, night drives and off-roading for up-close animal sightings and photography. It is unusual to see vehicles on game drives other than those from the same camp. Many of the best camps are only accessible by air, a perfect opportunity to appreciate the delta’s patchwork of islands, floodplains, crystal-clear channels, and lagoons from above. Helicopter transfers between camps or into remote areas, like the Kweene Trails concession where Beagle Expeditions operates exclusive-use mobile camps, reveal the diversity and amount of wildlife from the air: pods of hippos, elephants feeding on the water’s edge, and fleet-footed red lechwe leaping through the shallows.

African spoonbills fly across sunset over river

The Linyanti region, between the Okavango Delta , Chobe National Park and Namibia’s Caprivi Strip , has permanent rivers and sprawling floodplains supporting prolific wildlife, in particular hippos and crocodiles, big cats, large buffalo and elephant herds, and reliable wild dog sightings. Boat cruises and walks are also excellent for birding. During the dry winter season, the Linyanti, Selinda and Kwando reserves really come into their own as safari destinations when animals migrate to the Linyanti wetlands from the woodlands and high concentrations of game are seen along the waterways.

The wide, open spaces of the semi-arid Kalahari and lunar-like Makgadikgadi salt flats offer a completely different perspective of the country after the lushness of the wetlands. The Bousfield family’s Jack’s Camp put the Makgadikgadi salt pans on the safari circuit. Marooned on a grassy island on the edge of 10,000 kilometres of salt flats, it remains the only safari operation for 160 kilometres. (100 miles). From combing the pans for fossils and elusive brown hyenas to sleeping under the stars on nearby Kubu Island, this is a place to be humbled by the deafening silence of such extraordinary vastness, broken only by the rustle of mokolwane palm leaves on the islands.

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Botswana safari an insider's guide to the adventure of a lifetime

When to go on a Botswana safari

Given the popularity of Botswana’s small camps, ‘whenever you can get a booking’ is the best time to go. It also depends on what interests you and where you are going. The best time to visit the Okavango Delta is during the dry winter season from June to September when the delta floods and rising water levels attract animals from the dry interior. This is also the best time for water activities, like mokoro trips, boating and fishing. The water levels are usually at their highest in August , promising excellent game viewing along the waterways. Nothing beats being in Botswana when the life-giving first rains arrive in November , triggering the calving season for impala and other antelope species. For birders, the summer months offer the dual attraction of resident and migratory birds. Elsewhere, to witness dramatic predator-prey encounters, the dry months are also considered prime as animals are concentrated at water sources. Wildlife disperses during the rainy summer months, from January to April, and can be trickier to find. The best time to visit Chobe National Park is between June and October, when enormous elephant herds congregate on the riverbanks. The Makgadikgadi experiences dramatic seasonal changes, which dictate activities. The dry winter season is for zooming across the salt pans on fat bikes or quads, hanging out with habituated meerkats and camping out under the stars; summer’s lush grasses are a magnet for thousands of migrating zebras and flamingoes.

Where to stay on a Botswana Safari

Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge, Chitabe Concession, Okavango Delta

This designer off-grid lodge is on the edge of game-rich Chief’s Island in the private Chitabe concession. Twelve guest suites, clad in timber to resemble weaver’s nests, hang like giant baskets in the tree canopy, creating a sense of being cocooned in nature. During the day, iridescent dragonflies and jewel-bright birds dart in and out of the reed-filled Sandibe River in front of the camp while grunting hippos and a chorus of painted reed frogs lull you to sleep at night. Twice-daily game drives are good for regular sightings of lion, cheetah, wild dog, red lechwe and elephant.

Best for: Giddily romantic getaways for two include taking a plunge in your private pool after dark while fireflies flash in and out of the reeds and a hyena yelps somewhere out there in the wilderness. Luxurious sheets feel much more decadent in pared-down interiors, not overwhelmed by gratuitous detail. andbeyond.com

Xigera Safari Lodge

The most ambitious African art collection ever commissioned – during lockdown, no less – is the USP of this glamorous safari camp, accessed by boat when the delta floods. Red Carnation’s Tollman family collaborated with Southern Guild, a contemporary design gallery in Cape Town, to commission 80 artists, artisans, crafters and designers across Africa to produce a living gallery in the Moremi Game Reserve. It includes furniture sculpted on-site from fallen trees and bespoke crockery collections by some of the continent’s edgiest ceramicists. Design inspiration came from the natural surroundings, like the lily pad design of the bronze-cast shower floors. Menus tempt with lamb rogan josh, a nod to the Oyster Box in South Africa, but there is also plant-based wholesomeness. Despite its lavish footprint, the entire property is off-grid – the latest in Tesla solar-hybrid energy technology powers the staff village too.

Best for: Drift along in a glass-bottomed mokoro, then sleep in the triple-storey, an off-grid treehouse with an open-air rooftop bed. This star bed doubles as a monumental baobab sculpture. And don’t miss the shop for exquisite homeware and objects by Bronze Age, Chuma Maweni, Madoda Fani, and Stanislaw Trzebinksi, as well as African-made jewellery, clothing, bags, purses and linen. xigera.com

Jack’s Camp, Makgadikgadi

One of just three camps within a private 400,000-hectare wildlife reserve on the edge of the Makgadikgadi salt pans, the iconic Jack’s Camp has been reinvented for the next generation with the latest in Tesla-tech solar energy. While still paying homage to the much-loved 1940s campaign style embellished with rich fabrics worldwide, the nine dreamy 270-square-metre tents (two for families) now have private pools, wood-burning stoves, and indoor-outdoor showers. The beautiful pool pavilion is the spot for sinking into a stripy deck chair to admire the endless views.

Best for: Activities unique to the area. Head out after an English breakfast or decadent high tea to quad bike across the pans, walk with bushmen, track brown hyenas, or hang out with habituated meerkats. naturalselection.travel

Sable Alley

It’s all about location at this low-key camp. Twelve 55-square metre elevated tents overlook a tranquil lagoon filled with resident hippos in northern Botswana’s Khwai Private Reserve. Referred to in safari circles as a wildlife’ hot spot’, the reserve is located where the dry Chobe game reserve to the east meets the lush wetlands of the Moremi game reserve and the Okavango Delta in the south. Eco-chic in design and ambience, two of the 12 tents are double tents for families , and a honeymoon suite has a private outdoor tub and shower. While herds of elephants and buffalo are easy to spot from the pool deck, access to over 200,000 hectares of floodplains, rivers and lagoons typical, and open savannah and woodland thickets is a reason to get up and get out early. Game viewing is as diverse as the landscapes, which means that sightings of leopard, lion, cheetah, the resident wild dog pack and sable antelope (after which the camp is named) are common. Birding is also excellent, especially on walks, mokoro rides or a sunset boat cruise. Book a night in one of three open-air ‘sky beds’ perched high above a waterhole where elephants, buffalo and big cats come to drink.

Best for: Travel to make a difference, as Natural Selection are experts in sustainable, nature-based tourism, partnering with local, land-owning communities in the Khwai private wildlife concession and channelling funds back into conservation. naturalselection.com

Why Your First Safari Should Be in Botswana

By Erin Florio

Image may contain Land Outdoors Nature Water Bog Marsh Swamp Plant Human Person Vegetation and Pond

I had not heard the call. No one near me had—not the South African behind me, nor the Swedish woman to his left. Not even the Vancouverites, who'd finally silenced the shutters on the shiny new Canons they'd traveled 9,875 miles to test out in Botswana , and who had proven to be the couple in our mud-smacked 4WD who maybe, maybe , could spot something before OB, our guide, had a chance (they got high praise for spying a rare red-billed quelea 30 minutes earlier which sent those shutters aflutter). With two days of game drives already behind us, the five of us now understood when OB sensed something. Raised in a village on the fringe of the Okavango, the 49-million acre river delta in northern Botswana that we now drove through, he had been a guide with Wilderness Safaris for eight years, and could read the bush more sharply than a patient with binoculars could an eye chart. We slowed our conversation as OB slowed the jeep. Then we sat, alert and silent. Around us, the early evening sky swirled in pinks and oranges as the sun lowered; the animals were waking up. "There it is," OB's whisper was firm enough to reach the jeep's third row, "hear it?"

A distinct, distressed chirp sliced our quiet.

OB pointed to a tree where a small cisticola puffed and puffed, its brown feathered chest tight like a balloon. His hand directed our eyes to a group of impala in the distance on our right, whose Bambi eyes and ears were cocked and alert, staring at that songbird whose calls they knew, as OB did, to be warning. "Lions are near," he said. He turned to us and grinned.

The pride eventually appeared, and the hunt we went on to observe became the story to beat at dinner that night with the other guests, back at Mombo Camp . And for weeks afterwards, I found myself thinking about how the bush told us those lions were near—or at least, told OB. It's the kind of fine-tuned interaction that's more likely to occur in Botswana than other safari spots in Africa. And it's largely thanks to the efforts of the government, whose tourism model is unique to the region: fewer people, but high spenders, designed to steadily grow the economy and—this is key—have as little impact on the environment as possible.

For the average traveler, that means it'll be (or at least feel like) just you and the wide-open delta, as lush and untethered as the gods intended. To give perspective, you'll see lions in Kenya's Maasai Mara or in South Africa's Kruger, too. But your cue will probably be the stationary gang of jeeps who spotted them first, which feels about as natural as those air-conditioned beaches you get in Dubai . (On our aforementioned viewing, the South African behind me mentioned that he was once in one of 57 jeeps watching a pride of lions up in Tanzania's Serengeti.)

The policy's mechanics are simple: each concession is allowed a certain amount of beds, which varies depending on government decree, but always hovers extremely low; in Qorokwe, a 64,000-acre private concession in the central Okavango, just ten are allowed (you'll find them at the five-month-old Qorokwe camp, from Wilderness Safaris). It leads to more intimate game viewing, but more importantly, it means minimal manipulation of the surrounding nature and is less intrusive to the animals.

And though we as travelers today are more likely to define luxury as experience and immersion, it doesn't hurt, either, that the Botswana model leans hard on high-end camps with all the bells and whistles you'd expect of a camp that can clock in at $2,300 a head, per night. It's a jump from the $1,500 you can expect to pay at high-end lodges in South Africa or Zimbabwe , to be sure, but when you're safe in your room at the end of the night after spying leopards, hippos, and hyenas on your walk between the main lodge and your tent—extremely rare in general, but very possible at a place like Mombo—you won't be thinking about the money.

Travelers also like to know that their tourism dollars are directly invested into wildlife preservation, which is something not always clear with Africa—just look at the recent poaching allegations against South Africa's ex-president Zuma. Poaching is rampant across the continent; rhino horn is worth more than its weight in gold and three each day get poached (though less valuable, ivory is still hot on the black market, and an elephant is captured and killed every 15 minutes) .

To put it in perspective: In 2001, Botswana had exactly zero rhino left, which forced the government to get serious about passing legislature to combat and protect its wildlife. Since then, they've made poaching punishable by death, and are the only country in Africa to deploy the national military to make sure poachers stay out of the reserves (South Africa and Zambia still rely on private donation). Last year, Prince Harry lent the cause some dazzle when he became patron of Botswana's Rhino Conservancy , and today, at least 200 rhino have been repopulated to the Okavango Delta due to private-public partnerships.

Botswana's model is only a decade or so old, but the results have been so successful that Rwanda adapted a version of it last year with regards to its gorilla tourism and conservancy. Though it means you are almost guaranteed viewing that will surpass anything found elsewhere on the continent, maybe the most important part is that a traveler can feel good about where they, and their cash, is going.

Botswana in winter (our summer)—after the rains, when the delta floods and springs to life—is the best time to see the north: The savanna’s grasses are low, while growth along the waterways attracts tons of wildlife. Central Botswana is at its best in Africa’s summer, when the region’s desert and salt pans turn to grassland, drawing parades of animals. Due to dense vegetation, February through April is generally considered the most challenging time for viewing creatures who tend to stay close to the shrubbery, including leopards and rhino.

The town of Maun (typically reached via a connection from Johannesburg or Cape Town) is the safari starting point for north and central Botswana. If you’re headed to the former, consider flying into Victoria Falls International in Zimbabwe, a one-hour flight from Maun, and adding a day to your trip to see the epic cascade.

The Lodging Situation

Safari outfitters typically transport you via small plane between two or more of the country’s dozens of luxury outposts. Wilderness Safaris, a luxury outfitter who's focus on conservancy has been at the core of the company since opening their first lodge, in Botswana, in 1983 (they currently have 21 camps in seven countries) recently opened Qorokwe is on a private concession, meaning off-roading and night drives are allowed, unlike in other parts of the Okavango Delta where the land is government-owned (Qorokwe is also in a stretch of the Okavango with permanent marshes meaning canoe safaris are possible year-round.) Farther north, in Moremi National Park, Wilderness's flagship Mombo camp recently reopened on one of the most epic stretches of savanna of any camp anywhere in Africa: each tent has a bar cart and newly-added private plunge pools with panoramic views of grazing elephants, baboons, and giraffe, and its family unit now means it easier for multi-gen travelers to stay.

Planning Your Trip

Roughly one-third of Botswana is government protected for wildlife. The Okavango, in the north, has phenomenal viewing and seasonal canoes on top of its flood plains, while the Kalahari desert has geographic-adapted sub species like black-maned lions and offers bushmen walks. Botswana may be easier to pull off than most, but you should still stick to the pros when planning your first trip. A fixer can tell you which shots you need, take care of your transfers—even make sure that lodge can create whole menus around any type of dietary restriction or request. We like Safari Pros , Roar Africa and Explore , though our full list can be found here . Plan around six months in advance; the low number of beds means camps fill up fast.

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Botswana wildlife safaris

Best wildlife safaris in botswana.

Lions : top of many lists, and seen frequently from almost all the camps. Huge black-maned lions are a real attraction in the Kalahari.
Leopards : mainly nocturnal, so best seek them on private concessions, which offer 4WD night safaris.
Cheetahs : occur across Botswana, but are never common. Your best chances are around the Xakanaxa area and the private reserves north and north-west of there: Kwara, Vumbura, Kwando and Selinda.
Wild dogs : need vast areas to hunt, and Botswana has probably Africa's best remaining population of them. Found across Botswana, but for your best chances of seeing them, head for the Linyanti, Selinda, Kwando, Kwara and Vumbura reserves.
Elephants : occur throughout northern Botswana, gathering in their greatest concentrations at the end of the dry season, beside rivers like the Chobe, the Kwando and the Linyanti. When wet they disperse into the mopane woodlands and Kalahari bushveld.

Slaty Egret Safari

4 days • 2 locations MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

US$7,000 - US$14,130 per person

Chitabe Camp

The Chitabe concession has regular lion and leopard sightings but reasonably constant wild dog sightings over the last few years have really been the highlight. There are also good levels of plains game here.

Little Vumbura

Little Vumbura offers some of the best wildlife safaris in Botswana. It's in one of the Okavango's prime game areas, with a real depth and range to the wildlife. In our last few visits here, we have had good sightings of lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog.

Pangolin Safari

8 days • 3 locations MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

US$7,760 - US$16,190 per person

If you’re looking for a wildlife safari in Botswana that focuses on predators, look no further. Kwara’s game and environments are varied, with plenty of tsessebe, impala, zebra, red lechwe, reedbuck, kudu, giraffe, buffalo and elephant – as well as the big cats and wild dogs.

Lagoon Camp

Lagoon Camp excels at sightings of the large predators, particularly wild dog, lion and cheetah, making it a good addition to a wildlife safari in Botswana. The best time for dogs is in June/July, the denning season, or within two or three months of that, when the pups are too young to move far.

African Jacana Safari

7 days • 3 locations MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

US$7,770 - US$12,280 per person

Camp Kalahari

For a wildlife safari in Botswana, Camp Kalahari is pretty unusual. Visiting one of the families of habituated meerkats is an exceptional experience. Lion, brown hyena and other predators frequent this area, and during the rainy season, zebra can sometimes be seen here in their thousands, along with many wildebeest.

Khwai Lediba

With access to both the Khwai Community Concession and Moremi Game Reserve, Khwai Tented Camp is arguably in one of Botswana's greatest wildlife areas (though it can get busy). Sightings are good year round, with lion, leopard and wild dog seen regularly, as well as elephant and many other species.

Bushbuck Safari

US$13,570 - US$31,740 per person

Chitabe Lediba

The Chitabe area is renowned for its wild dog population, which has formed the subject of a book by the camp’s owners. Also worth noting are regular sightings of lion, leopard and even the odd cheetah, along with tsessebe, blue wildebeest, giraffe, zebra, reedbuck and steenbok.

Wild Dog Safari

13 days • 5 locations KASANE AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

US$12,230 - US$21,930 per person

Savute Safari Lodge

Savute Safari Lodge enjoys a prime location directly on the Savute Channel, which is absolutely pumping with elephant, giraffe, hyena and other game during the dry season – ideal for a wildlife safari in Botswana. Wildlife also concentrates at the camp’s two pumped waterholes.

Xakanaxa Camp is right in the middle of the Xakanaxa area of the Moremi Game Reserve, one of the best areas for wildlife safaris in Botswana. With excellent densities of game and birdlife, the only drawback is that you will often have to share game sightings with other vehicles.

Wattled Crane Safari

5 days • 2 locations MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

US$4,690 - US$8,310 per person

Kudu Safari

7 days • 2 locations MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

US$7,840 - US$18,400 per person

Sandibe Safari Lodge

Sandibe is situated in an excellent area for consistent big-game viewing. A variety of predators are regularly seen, alongside a good number of plains game. This is definitely a camp to consider for those wanting good year-round game viewing.

Spotted-necked Otter Safari

6 days • 2 locations MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

US$7,930 - US$14,800 per person

Tubu Tree Camp

Tubu Tree Camp has access to both land- and water-based activities, so offers the biggest diversity of game viewing within the Jao concession. There are good numbers of elephant and other plains game on the island, plus hippo in the deeper channels nearby.

Honey Badger Safari

US$5,790 - US$10,150 per person

Mopane Squirrel Safari

US$5,890 - US$11,770 per person

Wildlife safaris elsewhere in Africa

Our top ideas and inspiration for Wildlife safaris in other countries.

Kenya is the country where the word 'Safari' (Swahili for 'journey') actually comes from. Close ...

Don't expect spectacular game on a wildlife safari in Malawi, instead come for a relaxed safari ...

Mozambique is best known for its wonderful beaches and marine life, not its 4WD safaris. There ...

Wildlife safaris in Namibia can be outstanding. The country has Africa's highest cheetah population, ...

Having walked since dawn, you're tired but your senses are alive. You hear them grunt before you ...

South Africa

Expert Africa covers only the western side of South Africa, including the Cape and Kgalagadi. Within ...

Tanzania offers a winning combination: some of Africa's best wildlife safaris plus stunning tropical ...

For all of the Zambia specialists at Expert Africa, wildlife safaris are the core of what we do: ...

If watching wildlife from a 4WD is not close enough for you, then go on a wildlife safari in Zimbabwe! ...

Where to see wildlife species in Africa

Maximise the chances of seeing your favourite African animals based on traveller sightings reports from the field.

Panthera leo

Lions are at the top of the food chain and also most safari wish-lists, but with their numbers falling fast, any encounter with these majestic apex predators always feels like a privilege.

81% SUCCESS

2,971 sightings from 3,648 observations

Where to see lion in Africa

Panthera pardus

The most numerous of Africa’s big cats, leopard occur across many habitats, from wild tracts to populated areas. Their grace and their elusive nature make them a unique safari drawcard.

47% SUCCESS

1,892 sightings from 4,036 observations

Where to see leopard in Africa

Acinonyx jubatus

The cheetah is the fastest land animal and the only cat that hunts by pure speed. Found largely in open grasslands, its slim, elegant form is today an increasingly rare sight.

33% SUCCESS

1,030 sightings from 3,090 observations

Where to see cheetah in Africa

Lycaon pictus

African wild dogs are among the continent’s most compelling animals. Much misunderstood, these rare, tie-dyed canids are amazingly efficient hunters with a fascinating social life.

31% SUCCESS

843 sightings from 2,710 observations

Where to see wild dog in Africa

Spotted Hyena

Crocuta crocuta

The spotted hyena may be thought of as ‘ugly’ and ‘cowardly’. In fact, this versatile and intelligent carnivore is one of Africa’s most fascinating and warrants attention on any safari.

55% SUCCESS

2,130 sightings from 3,847 observations

Where to see spotted hyena in Africa

Brown Hyena

Parahyaena brunnea

This largely solitary scavenger is one of the more elusive and little-known of Africa’s carnivores. Shaggier than its spotted cousin, it occurs only in the arid southwest of the continent.

16% SUCCESS

239 sightings from 1,455 observations

Where to see brown hyena in Africa

Suricata suricatta

These highly sociable little mammals have an endearing appearance and comical antics. Found in the drier areas of Southern Africa, close encounters are a sought-after experience.

22% SUCCESS

85 sightings from 395 observations

Where to see meerkat in Africa

Loxodonta africana

By far the biggest of the so-called Big Five – indeed, the largest land animal on the planet – the elephant shapes the very landscape it inhabits and is a defining presence on any safari.

91% SUCCESS

3,545 sightings from 3,899 observations

Where to see elephant in Africa

Syncerus caffer

One of the ‘Big Five’, buffalo earned a fearsome reputation in hunters’ tales. By contrast, big herds of these sociable bovids are placid, but mount formidable defences against predators.

83% SUCCESS

2,505 sightings from 3,025 observations

Where to see buffalo in Africa

Giraffa camelopardalis

The world’s tallest land mammal, giraffes are herbivores which have evolved many unique adaptations. Their iconic outlines tower above the bush in many of Africa’s wildlife areas.

86% SUCCESS

3,422 sightings from 3,962 observations

Where to see giraffe in Africa

Hippopotamus amphibius

The territorial calls of the hippo create a signature soundtrack to Africa’s rivers & wetlands. Despite an endearing smile, this aquatic herbivore has a notoriously aggressive disposition.

89% SUCCESS

2,596 sightings from 2,915 observations

Where to see hippo in Africa

Black Rhino

Diceros bicornis

The black rhino is the smaller and rarer of Africa’s two rhino species but has the more fearsome reputation. Shy and heavily persecuted, it tends to stick to cover.

617 sightings from 1,999 observations

Where to see black rhino in Africa

White Rhino

Ceratotherium simum

The white rhino is the largest and most numerous of the world’s five rhinoceros species. They are larger, easier to see and generally more approachable than the black rhino.

44% SUCCESS

483 sightings from 1,093 observations

Where to see white rhino in Africa

Oryx are impressive antelopes, with a powerful physique and elegant markings set off by rapier-like horns. They cut a distinctive dash in some of Africa’s harshest landscapes.

70% SUCCESS

1,285 sightings from 1,845 observations

Where to see oryx in Africa

Taurotragus oryx

Africa’s largest antelope, eland are culturally important from prehistoric rock art to modern game farms. Though widespread, they are also shy so sightings are uncommon and often fleeting.

49% SUCCESS

1,444 sightings from 2,924 observations

Where to see eland in Africa

Roan antelope

Hippotragus equinus

Africa’s second largest antelope and one of its most handsome, with a powerful build and distinctive markings, roan are wary of people, but renowned for their bravery against predators.

23% SUCCESS

459 sightings from 1,968 observations

Where to see roan antelope in Africa

Sable antelope

Hippotragus niger

Perhaps Africa’s most beautiful antelope, sable are renowned for their combative nature, even holding off lions. Shy and restricted in range, sightings of sable are always special.

439 sightings from 1,959 observations

Where to see sable antelope in Africa

Tragelaphus spekii

The sitatunga is the most aquatic of Africa’s antelopes and specially adapted to its swampy habitats. Though widespread across Africa, only a handful of places offer reliable sightings.

19% SUCCESS

60 sightings from 317 observations

Where to see sitatunga in Africa

Connochaetes sp.

Superficially bovine in appearance, wildebeests are known for their spectacular migrations sometimes in huge numbers. These resilient animals are some of Africa’s most successful herbivores.

68% SUCCESS

2,417 sightings from 3,564 observations

Where to see wildebeest in Africa

The zebra is a quintessential African animal: the horse in stripy pyjamas at the end of every child’s A–Z. There are three species, of which the plains zebra is much the most common.

84% SUCCESS

3,732 sightings from 4,421 observations

Where to see zebra in Africa

Smutsia sp.

Pangolins appear to be more pine cone than animal in their unique armoury of scales. These nocturnal, ant-eating oddities are not only highly elusive but also increasingly rare.

54 sightings from 3,242 observations

Where to see pangolin in Africa

Orycteropus afer

The aardvark is one of Africa’s most bizarre and enigmatic animals. A shy, nocturnal termite-eater, signs of its presence may be scattered about the bush whilst sightings remain elusive.

67 sightings from 3,244 observations

Where to see aardvark in Africa

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The Best Safari Destinations in Botswana

Central kalahari game reserve.

Great For : Escaping the rest of the world and self drive safari.

Highlights : The great zebra migration, tracking animals around shrivelling waterholes.

An evocative desert that covers most of Botswana, the Central Kalahari is where you’ll find thrilling safari drama . There isn’t much to eat nor much water, so the animals are widely spread.

But if you seek adventure and have a little patience you’ll be bumping between waterholes, coming across all kinds of desert magic.

Check out the national park campsites as this is one of the best places in Africa for a self drive safari .

Best Time to Visit the Central Kalahari : January to April, during and after the rains will show the most wildlife although it’s hard to get around. May to August is also wonderful.

Also Consider : Etosha National Park in Namibia has a similar, wild desert feel.

Combine With : Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, Caprivi, or destinations in Namibia.

Chobe National Park

Great For : Elephants, elephants, elephants. And lots of hippos.

Highlights : The world’s largest elephant population; river safari and budget mobile camps.

It’s possible to picture a herd of 15 elephants. Maybe you can imagine what 100 elephants look like. But 100,000? That’s how many reside in and around the Chobe forests and the experience is unfathomable.

Giraffe and hippos are also incredibly numerous, although the thick greenery makes it pretty hard to see the big cats.

River safaris provide a great introduction and you only need two days to really get a sense of what Chobe is about. Best of all, Chobe is really good value for such a unique safari, especially wild mobile camps in the forest.

Best Time to Visit Chobe : The dry season of May to November has the highest concentration of animals and it’s easy to get around; many of the herds disperse during the rains.

Also Consider : Nearby Linyanti and Selinda for a more exclusive safari in this region.

Combine With : Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta for a brilliant holiday week.

Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve

Great For : Celebrating the wonder of nature and being surrounded by wildlife.

Highlights : The landscape itself; water and walking safaris; getting lost.

Every year the Kalahari Desert floods , thanks to water that has spent three months snaking down from the Angolan Highlands. It creates one of nature’s great events , an oasis that attracts animals from hundreds of miles around.

Moremi Game Reserve is the game-rich heart of the Delta. More than a dozen concessions surround Moremi, each offering a fairly exclusive safari experience.

Just note that a Delta is difficult to get around so it can get expensive to safari here. In general, the further you go towards Moremi the more animals and the higher cost.

A mixed safari program is recommended as the Okavango is probably the best in Africa for a water-based safari and there are great walking and riding options.

Best Time to Visit the Okavango Delta : June to August is when the water is highest and is when the animals migrate here, but the Okavango remains a great destination throughout the rest of the year.

Also Consider : There’s nowhere else in the world like the Okavango.

Combine With : Chobe for a varied safari.

Selinda, Kwando and Linyanti Concessions

Great For : Highly exclusive and intimate safari experiences.

Highlights : Everything; the landscapes, the guides, the activities and the chance to be alone with nature.

These private concessions showcase a mix of habitats, mingling Chobe-style forests with swamplands, grasslands, and floodplains. The safari experience is unparalleled but it’s also expensive and highly exclusive.

You’ll be paying upwards of USD 1000 per night and access to these concessions is restricted to just a handful of guests.

If you can afford such a premium it’s hard to find a better safari in the whole of Africa , given the abundance and variety of wildlife, plus the intimacy and diversity of experiences.

Best Time to Visit Selinda, Kwando and Linyanti : These destinations are superb all year around. July to October are considered the best months but the other months mean low-season price discounts.

Also Consider : Private concessions in the Greater Kruger .

Combine With : Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta.

World Class Safaris in Botswana

Wilderness safaris botswana.

Wilderness Safaris Botswana has a grand portfolio of luxurious, eco-friendly and sustainable safari lodges and camps. Synonymous with luxury safari camps in Botswana, Wilderness Safaris was established in Botswana in 1983 as a mobile safari operator and has grown to establish a presence in eight countries in Africa, protecting over three million hectares of pristine wilderness areas. The Wilderness Safaris Botswana camps are among the finest in Botswana. Exceptional guiding teams, the finest hospitality and gorgeous suites in some of the most stunning locations mean a stay at a Wilderness Safari camp will deliver only the best safari experience.

ABOUT WILDERNESS SAFARIS CAMPS

Flagship premier camps like Mombo Camp and Vumbura Plains and DumaTau rub shoulders with the classic favourite camps like Chitabe Camp, Kwetsani Camp and Kalahari Plains Camp. There are 20 camps in the portfolio, categorised by Premier, Classic and Adventure. There is only 1 Adventure camp, Pelo Camp, which is a comfortable and authentic safari camp. These are luxurious and high-end safari camps, where, once you get there, almost everything is included. All your meals, your game drives, mokoro rides and bush walks, many alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, and most will also include top-shelf drinks. Park fees or community conservation fees will also be included in the nightly rate. You would only need to pay for spa treatments, or helicopter flips, your curio purchases and your gratuities to the team on the ground.

Explore Victoria Falls to Botswana Luxury Safari with Wilderness Safaris

EXPERIENCES AT WILDERNESS SAFARIS CAMPS

Outstanding wildlife and incredible game viewing are at the top of a long list of why you should go on a Botswana Safari! Pristine wildlife havens are home to predators like lions, leopard, wild dogs, hyenas and cheetah. Huge herds of elephants can be found throughout the northern protected areas of Botswana. The Okavango Delta creates a breathtaking backdrop to the game viewing activities. Crystal clear, papyrus lined waterways, large flood plains, and numerous islands with palm trees come together to create a truly spectacular landscape. The Wilderness Safaris Botswana camps are in private concessions which allows for a myriad of activities to take place. Game drives and night drives are available at all the camps. Bush walks are on offer as well. Some camps are deep in the Okavango Delta and can offer water-based activities like Mokoro (canoe or mekoro) rides, motorised boating and fishing throughout the year. Camps on the edges of the Delta will only offer these activities in high season, water levels dependent. Kalahari Plains Camp is in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and offers an incredible interaction with Africa’s oldest people, The San. Interact with rescued, orphaned elephants at Abu Camp and gain a deeper understanding of these incredible animals.

Explore & Travel Africa-Wilderness Safaris Botswana-

SPECTACULAR SCENES AT WILDERNESS SAFARIS BOTSWANA CAMPS

We have said it before and will keep saying int, Botswana is a gorgeous country to go on a luxury safari to. The Okavango Delta, in particular, produces some spectacular sunsets. The birdlife in northern Botswana is outstanding all year round, while the green season from December through to March sees the arrival of the iridescent Carmine bee-eater and other migratory birds.

Read: Botswana Safari Guide

Let’s talk about Wilderness Safaris Botswana

Wilderness safaris – premier camps.

Mombo Camp is one of the finest safari lodges and in one of the best game viewing areas in Africa. Opulent, gorgeous and spacious suites boast sweeping views across the floodplains. The area around Mombo teams with plains game which attracts predators like lion and leopard. This area was chosen to reintroduce both black and white rhino to Botswana.

Vumbura Plains Camp

Vumbura Plains Camp is located in the northern Okavango Delta, offering a sublime safari experience and outstanding game viewing. Predator sightings are common at Vumbura Plains, with healthy populations of wild dog and lions. Both land and water-based activities are offered here. The raised tents all have private plunge pools and sala’s.

Set in riverine forests on the edge of a large lagoon, Abu camp is an opulent and beautiful camp. Each tented suite has an outdoor copper bath and a private plunge pool. A unique activity is spending time with the elephants of the Abu Herd. Abu rescued orphaned elephants and have worked tirelessly to rewild them. As a result, guests can witness the elephants in their natural habitat.

Jao Camp is famous for incredible wildlife sightings in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Regular sightings of wildlife from the camp make this an exciting place to visit. The gorgeous and luxurious Jao camp suites have private plunge pools and lovely views.

DumaTau Camp

DumaTau is a stunning camp in the Linyanti area of northern Botswana, in a beautiful spot overlooking a lagoon. Large concentrations of elephants are among the animals seen here.

Kings Pool Camp

Kings Pool Camp overlooks a lagoon in Linyanti. This luxurious camp also boasts a sunken hide allowing a unique perspective as animals, especially elephants, come to drink at the water.

Little Mombo Camp

Little Mombo is in the same area as Mombo, with the same incredible game viewing. This is an exclusive use, gorgeous and intimate camp perfect for small groups and families.

Little DumaTau Camp

Little DumaTau is an eco-friendly premier safari camp with a light footprint. Overlooking the same lagoon as DumaTau, this camp is an exclusive-use camp. Intimate and luxurious, this is a wonderful camp for small groups.

WILDERNESS SAFARIS BOTSWANA – CLASSIC CAMPS

Jacana Camp

Jacana Camp is on a small island in the middle of the Okavango Delta and offers s true water paradise safari. Mokoro through the waterways in search of the elusive Pel’s Fishing Owl and other birds found in this picturesque area.

Kwetsani Camp

Kwetsani Camp is a remote camp in the Okavango Delta and offers a good combination of both land and water activities. The camp has incredible views across the floodplains. This remote area has excellent game viewing.

Qorokwe Camp

Qorokwe Camp offers both land and water-based activities with outstanding predator sightings all year round. Located in the south-eastern Okavango Delta. The well-appointed and spacious tents overlook a lagoon.

Tubu Tree Camp

Tubu Tree Camp is on the stunningly beautiful Hundu Island, offering remarkable vistas, excellent leopard sightings and a host of other large game. Water and land-based activities are on offer at Tubu Tree Camp. Each elevated spacious tent overlooks the Okavango Delta, where animals are frequently spotted.

Chitabe Camp

Chitabe Camp is located in the southeast of the Okavango Delta, neighbouring Moremi Game Reserve. Chitabe offers outstanding game viewing all year round. Each tent is on a raised deck nestled under shady trees. The camp has stunning views over the floodplain.

Chitabe Lebida

Chitabe Lebida is perfect for small groups or families travelling together and offers the same excellent game viewing all year round as Chitabe. Daily game drives, night drives and walks are the activities on offer.

Savuti Camp

Savuti Camp is in the Linyanti concession with the Savute Channel running through it. When the channel flows with floodwaters, Savuti Camp has front row seats to the geological marvel. This area is well known for excellent predator sightings and high concentrations of plains game.

Kalahari Plains Camp

Kalahari Plains has views for miles over the Kalahari desert. Each suite is elevated to enhance the endless horizons and catch the breeze. Diverse game viewing and interesting cultural activities are available at Kalahari Plains Camp

Seba Camp is nestled under hardwood trees in an ancient riverine forest. Leopards are often spotted on game drives at Seba Camp as are large herds of elephants. This classic eco-friendly camp offers land and water-based game viewing and is family-friendly.

Little Vumburu Camp

Little Vumburu Camp is nestled under a canopy in the northern part of the Okavango Delta. This area offers diverse and spectacular wildlife sightings.

Linyanti Tented Camp

Linyanti Tented Camp is an exclusive-use camp in the Linyanti Concession overlooking the Linyanti Marsh. Perfect for small groups and families, each suite recreates the style of early explorers.

Little Tubu Camp

Little Tubu Camp is an exclusive-use camp in the Delta, boasting great leopard sightings among others. Elevate walkways connect the tents and main areas/ Each tent is a classic safari tent on decks with private viewing over a seasonal riverbed.

WILDERNESS SAFARIS BOTSWANA – ADVENTURE CAMP

Deep in the Okavango Delta lies Pelo Camp, offering a superb water safari experience. This eco-friendly camp has authentic safari tents with covered decks overlooking the picturesque Okavango. Only open from March to November, Pelo Camp is a remote and genuine safari camp to visit.

A safari through Botswana’s wildlife wonder

V eins of deep blue and algae green water intersect around parched islands, stretching as far as the eye can see like a complex train map. As we fly deeper into the heart of the Okavango Delta, the vast volume of water engulfs all but the highest points of land. This UNESCO World Heritage Site covers 22,000 square kilometres in peak floods.

Within minutes of taking off from Maun, the tourism capital of Botswana, I’ve already spotted elephants, hippos, zebras, buffalos and giraffes from the plane window. Having contorted by body into one of only 12 seats aboard, it’s a thrilling start to my weeklong air-hopping safari.

The first stop is Vumbura Plains Camp in the eastern panhandle, ideally located for year-round, water-based activities. Within hours of arriving in Botswana, I’m skimming across the spillways in a traditional dugout canoe. The mokoro gets you stealthily close to the minutia of the delta. It takes remarkable balance as my poler stands and propels us with a long bamboo pole. Wary of the danger of a hippo torpedo, I’m assured the shallow waterway has been scouted.

Switching pace, we swap for a speedboat and now the company of hippos is very welcome. Skipper Masco whips through a maze of towering papyrus reeds, riding the channels of trampled hippo highways. Bugs sandblast my face and a few are swallowed as I grin wildly on a ride crossed between a go-kart and waterslide.

As the fiery globe of the sun sinks to the horizon, we stop in a lagoon painted in perfect duplication of the sunset. Hollow grunting calls of the stirring hippos and the woodwind chime of frogs is the ideal twilight soundtrack. Masco cautiously navigates us home; dodging hippo heads bobbing up and down like a reverse game of whack-a-mole.

Another short flight delivers me to the private 311,353-acre Linyanti Wildlife Reserve on the border of Namibia. This corner of Botswana is home to Africa’s largest population of elephants, and Little DumaTau waterfront camp is ideally positioned to catch the most mesmerising show – the swimming elephant. My safari mode is a pimped-out brunch barge floating along the Osprey Lagoon with a mimosa in hand. I sip as an elephant herd appears one by one.

The growing congregation frolics by the water edge, blowing bubbles through their trunks like a straw and hosing down their parched crinkled skin. The procession of 30 elephants sounds like the thunder of a waterfall as the log-like legs drag through the water. As the lagoon deepens, the body mass that labours on land in a rocking horse motion now gracefully glides with just the forehead and trunk snorkel staying dry.

Keen to burn a few calories, my guide Kitso suggests a walking safari. Armed with a rifle and only the cover of the odd termite mound, he leads the way on high alert to every movement and nature call. Honing my tracking skills, it’s an up-close lesson in identifying animal prints and, most importantly, how recently they’d been left. I soon discovered even poo reveals a lot, based on its contents, shape, and location.

Back in the relative safety of an open-air jeep, I witness a circle-of-life lion brunch. An imposing male lion feasts on an infant elephant carcass, his stomach distending before our eyes. The lion pants then takes a micro nap, building energy for one more bite. We are just two metres from this documentary-worth spectacle.

This encounter demonstrates why many consider Botswana the best place to go on safari. The country’s tourism model is simple: high value, low impact. The camps are premium and accommodate a few tourists; the reserves are privately operated, many in partnership with the surrounding communities; and sustainable tourism isn’t just a buzzword. There are no other jeeps sharing this experience and there’s no time limit on when I must leave.

The unique ecosystems within Botswana offer wildly diverse landscapes and wildlife experiences. So far, my safari has included plane, jeep, foot and assorted boat, and now I’m adding plunge pool at Mombo camp. Aptly known as ‘Place of Plenty’, it’s where the animals come to you. Located on Chief’s Island, the largest island in the heart of Okavango Delta, each of eight luxury tents overlooks a dry floodplain dotted with scarce waterholes.

From the vantage of my private pool, the bush TV keeps me entertained with grazing zebras, elephants painting themselves with cooling mud, warthog families scurrying by, and a broad-shouldered eagle catching a snake in a flurry of wings and swallowing it whole.

An ideal respite from the afternoon heat is Mombo’s new walk-in wine cellar, an impressive circular display of 2000 bottles. Managed by Botswana’s first and only sommelier, Alfred, I swiftly add wine safari to my list.

I’m like a kid in a candy store, and Alfred is equally excited to host a private tasting of seven very agreeable wines. The pinnacle is a bottle of the 2019 Sadie Family Palladius, a sublime blend of grapes from 17 vineyards in Swartland, South Africa. It’s very special and, in Alfred’s words, “A special occasion is the day I open it.” It’s an occasion I won’t soon forget.

The post A safari through Botswana’s wildlife wonder appeared first on The Australian Women's Weekly .

COMMENTS

THE 10 BEST Botswana Safaris (Updated 2024)
3. 1 Day Okavango Delta Mokoro/Canoe Daytrip. The tour usually starts with a 07:30hrs hotel pickup. Then followed by a 45mins to 1hr transfer to the Okavango Delta NG32…. 4. Chobe Full Day Safari Trip. A Trip all day in the Chobe National Park Botswana for about 9 hours.
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The best way to experience the Okavango Delta, Botswana's spectacular wetland wilderness, is by boat. Okavango River Safaris traverses the length of the Okavango Delta in comfortable custom-designed game viewing boats. Our privately guided boat safaris in the Okavango Delta are a nostalgic but classic way of exploring Africa's wilderness where our team set up comfortable luxury tented ...
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Exclusive Okavango Land & Water Safari: Jewel of Botswana
9 Days. You will find the true jewel of a Botswana safari on your 9-day Okavango Delta tour over the land and water. Your exclusive luxury safari will take you on guided excursions through the canals lined with towering reeds and over captivating emerald grasslands. You can discover wildlife grazing by the waterside and bask in luxury ...
Botswana Water & Wildlife Safari 7 nights │ Cedarberg Africa
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There's so much to see on safari in Botswana, you're sure to come home with a full camera. See elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras and more on an Intrepid safari tour through Botswana. MENU; 1 800 970 7299; 1 800 970 7299; Live Chat ... Drinking tap water isn't recommended in Botswana. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water.
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THE 10 BEST Botswana Safaris

1. From Victoria Falls: Chobe National Park Small Group Tour

2. 5-Day Explore Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana

3. Chobe Full Day Safari Trip

4. 1 Day Okavango Delta Mokoro/Canoe Daytrip

5. Chobe Extended Day Trip from Victoria Falls - Zimbabwe

6. Chobe Full Day Trip From Victoria Falls

7. Full-day Safari Tour in Chobe

8. Full Day Chobe Safari Tour with Return Transfers

9. Chobe Safari Day Trip From Livingstone

10. 2 Nights 3 Days Chobe Safari ex Livingstone/ Victoria Falls

11. Chobe Safari Game Drive: Full Day

12. 2 Day 1 Night Chobe Safari ex Livingstone/Victoria Falls

13. Chobe Full Day Trip

14. Moremi Full Day Trip In The World Renowned Moremi Game Reserve

15. Chobe National Park from Victoria Falls

16. Chobe National Park Safari Day Trip

17. Guided Full Day Chobe National Park Tour from Livingstone

18. Victoria Falls Day Trip from Chobe - Silver Package

19. 2 Nights Okavango Delta Mokoro WildCamping Tour, all-inclusive

20. From Victoria Falls: A Full Day Chobe Safari with Lunch

21. chobe 3hr sunset boat cruise

22. Luxury Okavango Safari - 3 Day

23. 11Day WILDERNESS TRAIL:Okavango,Moremi&Chobe -WildCamping Safari +Victoria Falls

24. 11 Days and 10 Nights Private Northern Explorer Tour

25. 4-Day Discover Victoria Falls, Chobe and Hwange Park

26. Chobe Day Trip -Botswana

27. 2 nights 3 days Overnight Mokoro Trail Okavango delta

28. 13 Day WILDERNESS TRAIL: Best Of Northern Botswana -WildCamping + Victoria Falls

29. The Best of Botswana & Vic Falls - By Walking Stick Safaris

30. Madikwe Game Reserve Day Tour (Minimum per booking: 5 People)

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For options and rates on our boat safaris in the Okavango Delta, please contact us

For options and rates on our boat safaris in the Okavango Delta, please contact us

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