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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

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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

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

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.

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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

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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

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

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.

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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

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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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Embrace your wild side

Spot silhouettes of leopards against the red evening light. Be awed by centuries-old Bushmen paintings hidden among Baobab groves. In Botswana, be at one with some of the most majestic creatures to grace the earth—together under the inky, star-filled sky. Explore our seasonal calendar and choose your perfect time to go.

Every step brings a new discovery

Eagle Island Lodge

Okavango Delta

Nestled on its own private island deep in the Botswana wetlands, Eagle Island Lodge is at the heart of the Okavango Delta's wild wonders.

Savute Elephant Lodge

Chobe National Park

On the edge of the Savute Channel, our harmonious lodge overlooks the Chobe National Park watering hole where elephants, hyenas and cheetahs gather before you.

Get a taste for local village life in Maun, the starting point to your adventure in the Okavango Delta.

Kasane lies at the meeting point of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Here you'll find the gateway to Chobe National Park.

Livingstone

Both a hub for visitors to Victoria Falls and a fascinating place to visit in itself, Livingstone boasts a host of adventures for explorers.

Victoria Falls

One of Southern Africa's most breathtaking sights, Victoria Falls lies over the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe and is home to several unique plant and animal species.

THE CALL OF THE WILD

Grand Tour of Botswana

Embark on the ultimate Belmond adventure in Botswana with a stay at out two uniquely enchanting safari lodges.

Includes: Four- or six-night stay at any combination of our Belmond Safari Lodges All meals, local beverages and activities while on safari National park fees Light aircraft transfers between lodges Emergency insurance

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Our Support of the Wild Entrust Africa Conservation Project

We’ve joined forces with Wild Entrust Africa to help mitigate the lethal conflict between predators and people in Northern Botswana. With the help of our partnership, six camera traps will assist the project’s ground-breaking scent-mark research, which keeps predators away from livestock and safely inside protected wildlife areas.

Our guests can visit the Wild Dog Research camp and listen to a Botswana Predator Conservation Programme researcher talk about their fascinating and invaluable work.

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A pair of unforgettable adventures

Unpredictable wet and dry cycles create a dynamic landscape alive with a vibrant, raw energy—and wildlife to match.

In the heart of UNESCO wetlands, this newly renovated lodge offers boutique tents and thrilling helicopter safaris.

Your private savannah sanctuary

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Enjoy the untamed decadence of your own secluded oasis amongst the wild wonders of the savannah.

Curl up with a book in the reading nook, or take a cooling dip with spectacular views, then sink into your dreamy four-poster bed by night. Our private tented rooms are the height of luxury living in the wild.

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“You know you are truly alive when you’re living among lions.” – Karen Blixen, Out of Africa.

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Unlock Botswana

“Africa changes you forever, like nowhere on earth. But how do you begin to describe its magic to someone who has never felt it? How can you explain the fascination of this vast, dusty continent, whose oldest roads are elephant paths?"

Mysteries of the Okavango Delta

The essential work of a ranger is the lifeblood of our Belmond Safaris. Read on to uncover the magic of Botswana’s Okavango Delta with Moses Maphane.

Botswana with Alexander McCall Smith

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of his bestselling series ‘The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’, Alexander McCall Smith reflects on his time in Botswana with Belmond Safaris.

Take Me To The River

Embark on the ultimate adventure and discover the breathtaking beauty of the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to our three Belmond Safaris.

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Botswana: six incredible safari lodges

By Stanley Stewart and Douglas Rogers

I wake when it’s still dark. Elephants are trumpeting from the island and I can hear hippos grunting beneath the lodge. Somewhere, hyenas are whooping. Africa is waiting for me, out there in the darkness. It’s still chilly from the night; at this hour, my game drive feels almost furtive, an early-morning raid to catch nature unawares. A white-headed fish eagle flies away into the grey pre-dawn followed by a host of long-tailed starlings. A startled impala vanishes like a ghost. Giraffes glide among mopane trees, and a family of warthogs retreat, trotting away in military formation, their tails in the air like salutes. Around a bend, a herd of elephants is shambling across the track, dusty behemoths glancing at us over their shoulders. Carefully tucked into the centre of the group, their little legs working double time, are two baby elephants hardly bigger than Labradors. At the first light, here is a vision of earth long before the arrival of man.

Botswana is arguably the greatest wildlife destination on the planet. The Kalahari, Chobe National Park, the Moremi Game Reserve, Linyanti, the Okavango Delta are all legendary habitats. But Botswana is also home to the luxury safari, with some of the continent’s finest lodges, and I have come to see two of the most highly esteemed – Wilderness Safari’s King’s Pool Camp and Jao Camp, both established in the 1990s – which have recently undergone major sustainable rebuilds. Founded in 1983 by Colin Bell and Chris McIntyre, Wilderness has always been a pioneer among safari operators. Long before it became fashionable, they saw their camps and lodges as playing an important role in conservation and community development. The work of their two formidable non-profit organisations – Children in the Wilderness and Wilderness Wildlife Trust – is what attracts shareholders such as Bono and Richard Branson to the company.

King’s Pool, an isolated camp set on an oxbow lagoon by the Linyanti River, was named after King Carl XVI Gustaf who came to Botswana on honeymoon with his wife Silvia in 1976. It’s the archetypal Wilderness property – luxurious, sophisticated and small-scale. Location is everything here. Bordering Chobe, it shares the national park’s concentration of game, particularly predators, but benefits from the flexibility of a private concession, offering a range of activities from walking safaris to scenic helicopter flights that are not possible inside the reserve. It is also close to the Delta, and days end with a sunset cruise on the Linyanti, a world of hippos, crocs and aquatic wildlife, where you can watch elephants crossing the river into Namibia. The rebuild is a delight. Nine tents look out over the water with hippos wallowing and crocodiles snoozing open-mouthed, arranged discreetly beneath colossal lakeside trees so there are great views of the animals but not of the neighbours.

Pictured: the bedroom of villa four at Jao Camp, Botswana

I say ‘tents’, but it is like calling Longleat a country manor – they are really stylish villas of canvas and thatch. Carved African doors open into spacious bedrooms with colonial desks, handsome travelling chests, wardrobes and a pair of double-width armchairs – the kind you might have curled up in as child with your mother to read The Wind in the Willows – where you can drink morning coffee while watching jacana birds tiptoeing across the water lilies. In atmosphere, King’s Pool is the close cousin of Zarafa Camp, one of Botswana’s grandest, where a lagoon is also the compelling focus.

Pictured: walking safari with a river Bushman

In the bathrooms , pale travertine stone surfaces frame double showers; motifs of burnished brass, bleached wood and woven rope recur in light fittings, wall divides and tableware; weathered artefacts such as bowls, shields and gourds are links to the cultures of southern Africa. On the main reception terrace, which is open to the lagoon, the different elements – library, bar, seating areas, dining tables, fire-pits and fireplaces – manage to be both connected and independent, allowing for privacy or engagement with other guests over supper of local venison carpaccio and a wonderful South African Shiraz. The property is also completely solar-powered and has one of the lightest eco-footprints in Africa.

Pictured: thatching made of recycled plastic at Jao's Camp

But for all its smart details, King’s Pool is still a classic safari camp. A short flight to the west, in the middle of the Delta, Jao Camp is something else entirely. Privately owned by the Kays family but marketed as part of the Wilderness Safari group, Jao originally opened in 1999 as one of the first luxury properties in the Okavango. Since then, others have been playing catch-up. With this overhaul, Jao has raised the bar again. The camp sits on an island of leadwood trees and termite mounds, in the midst of shallow lagoons in the wet season and savannah woodlands in the dry. Elevated on high terraces and boardwalks to keep above the annual floods and enhance game viewing, Jao feels like the world’s most spectacular tree house. It is contemporary, innovative and dramatic. Like Singita Boulders Lodge in the Sabi Sands or Chinzombo Camp in Zambia ’s South Luangwa, it has escaped safari traditions for bold design concepts inspired by its environment.

The architectural design studio of Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens has created award-winning lodges throughout Africa and I would put my money on Jao Camp adding a statuette to their mantelpiece. There’s a thrilling mix of materials: steel tendons and hardwood beams support soaring thatched roofs; leather and linen sofas gather round a fireplace flue of oxidised steel; woven room dividers overlook bathroom sinks of matt metal. Botanical themes run through the place like creepers, in tables printed with leaf motifs, lamp shades mimicking palm leaves and a cascade of white ceramic flowers tumbling down towards the bar, while the pool , gym and spa canopies are large, open-weave ‘nests’ of bleached sticks. As for the trees in which the whole structure stands, they become just another exciting material integrated into the fabric of the building.

Pictured: a giraffe skeleton in Jao’s library

There are only seven villas – larger, lighter and more open than Jao’s former incarnation. From the plunge pools and fire-pits on the private terraces you can watch leopards shadowing impala. Game drives are unrivalled. We track a lioness with two cubs strolling past with the indifference of a boulevard flâneur. Back at camp, my favourite place is the rosewood-lined museum filled with books, maps and artwork, and a giraffe skeleton that reaches the ceiling. In the gallery on the first floor is a fascinating account of the Kays family, who still run Jao and now count six generations in Botswana. That they were able to acquire this concession against stiff competition, and make it one of the most gorgeous lodges in Africa, is a tribute to their professionalism and energy.

Africa Travel can arrange a trip to Botswana from £6,950 per person, including three nights each at King’s Pool Camp and Jao Camp, full board, British Airways flights via Johannesburg, transfers and safari activities.

Botswana's Okavango Delta is the undisputed king of the African safari, a land where swimming lions clash with buffalo. Douglas Rogers approaches it from four different angles in this feature from the June 2017 issue of Condé Nast Traveller.

In 1997, the wildlife filmmaker Dereck Joubert was flying over northern Botswana in a light aircraft when he saw a cloud of dust rising from the earth below. Joubert thought it was strange, given he wasn't flying over desert but the vast palm-and-papyrus-covered wetland of Botswana's Okavango Delta. Back then the delta was still something of an undiscovered world and this north-eastern pocket of the oasis - a remote island of marsh, grass and riverine forest known as Duba Plains - was thought to be deserted.

Adam Turner

CNT Editors

Rachel Everett

Suspecting the red cloud was being caused by poachers, Joubert dipped the plane to take a closer look. What he saw took his breath away: a primordial battle taking place between a herd of Cape buffalo and two ravenous island lions, the thunder of the buffalos' hooves and sinewy thrash of the bodies creating that great swirl of dust.

Joubert was so thrilled by the sight that, four years later, he and his photographer wife Beverly moved to Duba Plains and built a home (later to become their first safari camp under the Great Plains Conservation banner). The couple went on to shoot two of the most spectacular wildlife documentaries ever made: Relentless Enemies (2006) and The Last Lions (2011), chronicling the dramatic conflict between buffalos and lions stranded on Duba by the incoming rush of flood waters.

Pictured: &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

I have tap-danced around the delta all my life, but never dived in. Born and raised in Southern Africa , I've travelled in and written about the region for decades, including the Chobe National Park in the north-east of Botswana, just 200km from the Okavango. Yet the scale and wonder of Africa's largest oasis has featured large in my imagination.

A Jackson Pollock splatter of blue on the bone-dry canvas of the Kalahari, the Delta's seasonal flood is caused not by local rains but by water originating 1,200km north, in the rugged highlands of central Angola. The Okavango River, known in Angola as the Cubango, flows south from those highlands for many months until it hits the flat Kalahari Basin. With its route to the ocean blocked, it then fans out to flood the landscape, seeping into deep hippo trails and forming swamps, islands, creeks and crystal-clear lagoons.

Pictured: the lodge bar at Belmond Eagle Island Lodge

When we think of floods, we think of devastation, but the Okavango Delta flood is different. It brings life: a luminous mosaic of plants, fish, birds and other wildlife. Botswana is famous for its diamonds, but its true jewel is the Okavango.

For most of Botswana's history, access to the delta was limited. Local tribes such as the Bayei navigated the channels in dugout canoes known as mokoros , but only the eastern edge of the region, Moremi, had any significant tourism. It was designated a game reserve in the early 1960s, when the country was the British protectorate of Bechuanaland. Back then, Botswana was one of the poorest countries on earth, but after independence in 1966 that changed. Democratic rule established under new president Seretse Khama, coupled with the discovery of vast diamond reserves in 1967, ushered in prosperity and growth hitherto unseen in the rest of Africa. (Khama and his marriage in 1948 to a white Englishwoman, Ruth Williams, is the subject of the biopic, A United Kingdom ).

Today, Botswana is a middle-income nation, often referred to as the Switzerland of Africa. The delta's emergence as the country's unrivalled draw only began in 1993, when the government modified its laws to allow companies to lease land on which to build safari lodges. So began Botswana's astonishingly successful low-volume, high-price safari model: lodges are limited to 24 guests, structures must be easy to dismantle, and the relatively short 15-year leases drives standards. In Botswana's big-stakes safari game, if you want to keep your concession, your product had better be brilliant.

Pictured: Belmond Eagle Island Lodge

From a handful of camps in the early 1990s, there are now some 90 lodges in the Okavango Delta, many among the smartest and most expensive in the world. But the genius of Botswana's safari model is that even as the area has become more popular, it has managed to maintain its natural state.

In Botswana's big-stakes safari game, if you want to keep your concession, your product had better be brilliant

The other miracle of the delta is that it is not a monoculture. 'You can fly 20 minutes in a light aircraft from a marshland to a riverine forest to a grassland habitat on an island ,' says Joubert. 'In other parts of Africa you'd have to fly for hours to see such variety.' Such complex and changing ecosystems mean lodges here offer a variety of different settings and experiences.

This past December I finally paid my first visit. Travelling in a clockwise loop, I had four camps in mind that would give me an idea of how varied the delta can be: the Belmond Eagle Island Lodge in the south; Little Tubu, an intimate three-tent camp in the north-west; Dereck and Beverly Joubert's Duba Plains Camp, where I hoped to see those lions and buffalo; and &Beyond Sandibe, a property so stylish it is said to have completely reinvented the architectural possibilities of the safari lodge.

Pictured: the sitting room at Duba Expedition Camp

Just a 20-minute puddle jump from Maun, gateway town to the delta, is the Belmond Eagle Island Lodge . Belmond (formerly Orient-Express Hotels ) also owns the Cipriani in Venice and Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire, among others. It has a reputation to maintain - and this classic camp, built in the 1990s, had started to look a little tired. So a decision was taken to close the lodge for 10 months and completely rebuild it. It reopened just before my visit in 2017.

Set under a canopy of fig and jackalberry trees, the main lodge is built in a figure-of-eight shape that mimics the bends in the Doro Channel, flowing 90 metres in front of it. A cocktail bar, its curved banquettes splashed with burnt-orange throws and tables laid with decorative chess sets, is at one end; a restaurant at the other, bird's-nest chandeliers of weaved brass swinging above. The most striking feature is a spinal wall in smooth black and rough grey Cemcrete. At first I was confused. Then I got it: the colours and textures allude to the hides of elephant emerging, wet and black, from the channel, turning grey as they graze and dry in the sun.

Pictured: entrance to &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

December is the green (rainy) season in Botswana, but conversely the dry season for the delta, which floods between May and November. During the floods the main means of game viewing is by mokoro or river boat. But what sets the new-look Belmond Eagle Island Lodge apart is something rather grander: 35-minute aerial safaris in a Bell 206 four-seat helicopter.

I take an early-morning flight with master guide Franz Schmidt, a 30-something German. Lions had been heard overnight to the north, and after removing the chopper doors to allow unhindered views, we take off to find them, flying low over an oxbow river, skimming strangler fig trees and scattering giraffes. Hippos and crocs wallow in the mud on the banks.

Pictured: the kitchen at Belmond Eagle Island lodge

Schmidt points to a shady palm grove near a herd of grazing buffalo, the likely location of the lions. We circle a while and appear out of luck, but then I glimpse it: the tawny flash of a pair of cubs wrestling in the dust before disappearing behind the fronds.

The view is the thing, the land below a vast green plain dotted with palm trees, buffalo, elephant, waterbuck, warthogs and dozens of delicate termite mounds. Schmidt is as knowledgeable about the small things: palm trees are not indigenous here - 'their seeds come down river from Angola'. And those termite mounds, part of the classic delta landscape, are a vital element of the life cycle: they will eventually become dry islands on which animals will find sanctuary from the floods.

Pictured: the sitting room of Duba Expedition

Back at the lodge I find sanctuary in my tent, accessed by a wooden walkway from the main lodge. It has a private deck with an infinity plunge pool facing the river; the mini-bar is styled on a vintage Louis Vuitton travel case and is stocked with gin, olives and a cocktail shaker. I mix myself the requisite Martini. Later that evening I opt out of the regular game drive (wild-dog prints had been spotted) to fish from a mokoro , my guide Boitshepo Maphane poling me gondolier-style through the lilies and mud flats. I get some nibbles from catfish but the real thrill is watching four elephant appear on the eastern shore, slide down the bank, and wade tusk-deep to the other side, as if crossing a road. A herd of red lechwe antelope judged their progress like traffic cops.

If Belmond Eagle Island Lodge is all about high-flying glamour, my next stop, Little Tubu , is more concerned with keeping it wonderfully old school. This intimate three-tent camp, baby sister to adjacent Tubu Tree Camp - both managed by Wilderness Safaris - is owned by fifth-generation Botswanans David and Cathy Kays, whose family helped pioneer safari tourism here in the 1930s.Wilderness Safaris, arguably Southern Africa's leading blue-chip eco-tourism operator, founded in Maun in 1983, is still headquartered in the country. It's a winning combination.

Pictured: thatched rooms at Belmond Eagle Island Lodge

Little Tubu's beige canvas tents are set on raised decks linked by a roped boardwalk leading to a shaded sitting and dining area, with a bar counter built into a giant woodland waterberry tree. The entire camp overlooks an open floodplain. During the floods a lower deck and boma (a sand-floor enclosure where afternoon tea of carrot cake and fresh-baked scones is served) becomes a civilised dock from which to step into a mokoro and pole out on game-viewing expeditions. In the dry season there are traditional, twice-daily game drives.

Heading off at dawn with a garrulous guide called Cruise (who I naturally name Tom), I see my first adult lions of the trip: three females and a giant male enjoying a post-prandial nap in the shade of a strangler fig. The bloody carcass of a red lechwe, last night's feast, lies a few metres away. For the rest of the drive I take in the spectacular bird and plant life: iridescent lilac-breasted rollers flash through a sycamore forest; scarlet fireball lilies and white and pink crinum lilies add dazzling bursts of colour.

Pictured: the thatched sitting room at Duba Expedition Camp

There is a relaxed, artisanal atmosphere to Little Tubu. Run entirely on solar power, it feels more like remote bush home than lodge; my tent has a ceiling fan, but no air-conditioning, and a rustic, outdoor shower (from which I spy a bushbuck grazing happily below me). At night, glass jars containing mini solar lamps light the walkways. The dining room table is fashioned out of a thick slab of felled sausage tree. Meals have a traditional home-spun feel, too. On my final night I eat slow-cooked pumpkin, bream fillets and a beef stew heated on steel pots over a fire pit, shooting stars darting in the vast skies above.

My long-anticipated visit to Dereck Joubert's Duba Plains Camp, did not, at least initially, go as planned. My stay was due to coincide with the release of a white rhino on the 31,000-hectare concession, part of Rhinos Without Borders, a campaign led by the Jouberts' Great Plains Conservation company to translocate 100 endangered rhino from South Africa to Botswana. Twenty-five have already been moved, but the Duba delivery was cancelled when word got out of a poacher's camp in the Caprivi Strip, 130km north in Namibia .

Pictured: interiors at &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

Botswana takes its conservation and anti-poaching seriously. Safaris long ago surpassed cattle ranching as the country's second biggest earner (after diamonds), and 40 per cent of the population in the wildlife-rich north is employed in the trade. Animals are the diamonds up here. The president, Ian Khama, in the same progressive tradition as his father Seretse, banned commercial hunting in 2014, and was a driving force behind the delta's UNESCO World Heritage listing.

We fly low over an oxbow river, skimming strangler fig trees and scattering giraffes. Hippos and crocs wallow in the mud

Great Plains has three camps in Kenya and six in Botswana, five of which are in (or on the edge of) the Selinda Reserve, in the country's north-east. Duba, however, is the flagship. In 2000, the Jouberts built a home here on the banks of a papyrus marsh (where they still live), then erected a separate six-tent camp after founding Great Plains. In 2016 they began a complete rebuild of that lodge and a new seven-tent camp set in a forest area overlooking marshland opened in March 2017. In addition, there's the fresh and contemporary Duba Expedition Camp: six sleek explorer-style tents of light canvas on raised decks, all set around an open-sided canvas dining marquee, with glorious views of a floodplain. Great Plains tends to attract fans of the Jouberts' films, and all their camps, including Duba Expedition, come with 400mm Canon cameras and heavy-duty Swarovski Optik binoculars for guests to use. It's the same hi-tech equipment Dereck and Beverly work with.

Of course, the great attraction of Duba Plains is what brought the Jouberts here in the first place: those animals captured so powerfully in Relentless Enemies . The film documents how the Tsaro lion pride, stranded on Duba, developed a taste for the buffalo they share the island with. The buffalo in turn learn to fight back. In one incredible scene the lions swim into the onrushing delta waters to take down their bovine prey. All the while the Tsaro numbers diminish, as the far bigger buffalo become expert at repelling the lions.

Pictured: the dining space at Belmond Eagle Island Lodge

At last I am close to the battlefield captured so memorably by Joubert. Led by my guide, Kops, I cross a makeshift wooden bridge over the reed marsh (I can see the Jouberts' rustic home on the edge of the tree line) and then, rather like crossing a border into another world, the landscape opens up into a vast floodplain. It reminds me of Kenya's Masai Mara during the rains: lush green grass stretching to the horizon, broken only by watering holes and giant termite mounds. We find the descendants of the famous Tsaro pride lazing against one of those mounds, the male alone, several females and eight cubs nearby. There are buffalo too, but they respectfully keep their distance, as do vast herds of lechwe.

The following morning, we run into two young lions from the same pride ambling down a rutted road. A minute later, a warthog crosses their path. On such chance meetings hangs life or death. The lions crouch, then spring. That little pig has no chance. Within seconds, the cats are crunching through its bones.

Pictured: a copper dugout canoe at &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

It's a 30-minute flight south from Duba Plains and then a half-hour drive to &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge , through lush grassland and finally a forest of wild palms and tall figs. And there it is, a domed building of overlapping white cedar shale rising out of a clearing like the shell of a giant pangolin.

A symphony of wood, two-and-half storeys high, with giant arched beams of laminated pine holding up the dome, its front and sides are entirely open to a marshy everglade too thick with reeds to make out the river running through it. Café tables of bleached pine dot the lower-floor restaurant; upstairs there's a loft-like mezzanine bar, its swooping counter carved into the shape of a vintage ocean liner. My first thought is, this would be a great concert venue; my second is to order an espresso.

Pictured: a bedroom at Little Tubu Camp

The 12 rooms, identical pangolin-shaped pods, are built on raised platforms, like most places in the delta. But, unlike most places, my raised box bed (with remote-control mosquito netting) faces sliding doors that open onto a private deck with a plunge pool overlooking the reeds. But the star of the show is the indoor shower, a conical tower built in the shape of a termite mound with a shower head the size of a satellite dish.

This is safari lodge as design hotel: urbane, fashion forward, relentlessly contemporary. Aside from the design, the ethos is reflected in the organic, seasonal menu: lavish breakfasts of fresh fruit, waffles and artisanal coffee; build-your-own pizzas and deconstructed salads (beetroot, goat's cheese, rocket) for lunch; and fresh-baked red velvet cakes and pastries for afternoon tea. Dinners of springbok tenderloin and rosemary rack of lamb are served in an open-air boma, the area lit not by traditional lanterns but giant LED balls suspended from the trees.

Pictured: a hanging chair at &Beyond Sandibe

Now here's the thing: I'm an African and I'm supposed to scoff at such opulence. This is not a real safari! There are animals out there! Why are people checking emails?!

But the truth is, I love it. Instead of going on the requisite twice-daily game drives I read on the daybed by my plunge pool, cool down in that conical shower, mainline coffee in the restaurant, and email and Facetime with friends back home. And I'm filled with wonder at it all. Here, in tiny land-locked Botswana, on the edge of a vast African wetland that 50 years ago was cut off from the outside world, I'm immersed in state-of-the-art luxury and design. Hat's off to the little country that could.

The Explorations Company offers a nine-night trip to Botswana and the Okavanga Delta from £9,500 per person (based on two sharing). These Botswana safari holidays include two nights at &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge, two nights at Little Tubu camp in the northern Delta region, two nights at Belmond Eagle Island Camp and three nights at Duba Plains Camp, which adjoins the Moremi Game Reserve. The price includes accommodation on a fully inclusive basis, all activities in the camps and internal flights. Not included are international flights to Maun, Botswana, visas and travel insurance. South African Airways and Emirates both fly direct from London to Maun, Botswana.

This feature first appeared in Condé Nast Traveller June 2017

Keep scrolling to see more pictures of the best safari camps in Botswana

Like this? Now read:

Ngorongoro, Tanzania - a guide to the best safaris, camps and lodges

The best hotels in Namibia

Bar stools at &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

The dining table at &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

Interior details at &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

Pans in the kitchen at &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge

New cement domes at Belmond Eagle Island lodge

Design detail at Belmond Eagle Island lodge

Earthenware at Belmond Eagle Island lodge

Exterior details at Belmond Eagle Island lodge

Inside Belmond Eagle Island lodge

One of the sofas at Belmond Eagle Island lodge

A chair in the bar at Belmond Eagle Island lodge

A cake at Belmond Eagle Island lodge

Pelicans flying over the Okavango Delta

Jao’s lodge at night

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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.

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Explore & Travel Africa

7-Day Luxury Okavango Delta Safari

5.0 /5 – 34 Reviews

This fantastic safari takes you into the heart of Botswana's Okavango Delta. Visit the Khwai wildlife area, situated along the beautiful Khwai River & the southern Okavango Delta, offering a unique blend of diverse ecosystems. Glide through the waterways on Mokoros, enjoy thrilling game drives & bush walks, taking in the vibrant scenery and wildlife that thrive in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The camps are new and modern havens in the wilds, both with gorgeous views.

Tour Features

Luxury tour.

This luxury tour uses tented camps.

Private tour

This tour will be organized exclusively for you. However, wildlife viewing activities are run by the lodges/camps and will be shared with others.

Can start any day

If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.

Can be customized

You can request changes to this tour.

Not for solo travelers

Solo travelers cannot book this private tour.

Minimum age of 12 years

The minimum age for this tour is 12 years.

Activities & Transportation

Accommodation & meals.

• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
• Day Accommodation Meals

• 7 End of tour (No accommodation) – Breakfast Included Breakfast Included

Best price guarantee

Your request will be sent directly to the operator

If preferred, you can contact the operator directly

• This tour is offered by Explore & Travel Africa , not SafariBookings.
• This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
• If you request changes to this tour, the advertised rates will likely change.
• Rates include a fixed budget for flights during this tour. If flights cost more, your quote will reflect this.
• The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.
• If an accommodation is fully booked, the operator will suggest a comparable alternative.
• This tour is subject to the terms & conditions of Explore & Travel Africa.

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Comparable tours.

4-Day Chobe Safari at Chobe Safari Lodge

$1,280 pp (USD)

9-Day Okavango to Chobe Private Guided Camping Safari

$3,295 pp (USD)

7-Day Botswana Low-Key Fly-in Safari

$3,550 to $3,820 pp (USD)

• 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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Botswana Safari Tours & Vacations

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• 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

Okavango Experience

10 days from 1647.

Tour through Johannesburg, Maun, Chobe National Park, the Okavango Delta and Victoria...

Explore Southern Africa

18 days from 3249.

Spend some time exploring Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe with included safari...

Cape Town to Vic Falls

22 days from 2750.

Spend three weeks exploring South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, from Cape...

Botswana Highlights

9 days from 2518.

Discover the culture, wildlife and waterways of Botswana on this upgraded adventure...

Experience Southern Africa

16 days from 4235.

Visit Africa and travel through southern Africa's beautiful regions. Visit South Africa...

Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

Botswana Adventure

10 days from 4544.

Visit Africa and travel through Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe on a tour from Windhoek...

Highlights of Botswana safari tours

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.

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.

Read more about Botswana

Voyage et safari Botswana

• Circuits en petit groupe
• Voyages sur mesure

Réveillez l'aventurier qui sommeille en vous en partant pour un voyage au Botswana ! Retrouvez-vous au cœur de la savane, seul au monde à prendre votre petit-déjeuner au cœur des parcs nationaux et réserves dans un camp de toile ou dans un camp exclusif. Admirez le soleil qui se lève sur un éléphant solitaire ou un groupe d'antilopes qui passent tout près de vous. Puis partez explorer en 4x4 les parcs les plus sauvages du pays, comme Chobe ou ceux de la réserve de Morémi, pour y observer les fameux Big 5 et la savane environnante. Voguez en petit bateau sur les multiples bras du delta de l' Okavango , avant de dormir sur une île perdue, nichée en son cœur. Vos nuits seront bercés par le bruit des animaux nocturnes qui partent chasser à la fraîche. Vos guides locaux et francophones partageront avec vous leurs connaissances pointues sur la faune et la nature environnante. Et au retour de ce safari au Botswana avec une bonne dose d’aventure, la savane n'aura plus de secret pour vous ! Grrrrr !

29 voyages d'aventure au Botswana

Votre aventure idéale au Botswana

Ils y sont allés , ils nous en parlent

Rien de tel que les avis de nos clients pour vous éclairer dans votre choix… et nous aider à améliorer nos voyages !

CATHERINE, Partie le 04/11/2023 Très satisfait

Très beau voyage. Magnifique parcours au travers des Parcs et Réserves du Botswana. Le camping dans ces lieux sauvages permet d'être au coeur de la vie animalière et d'observer des animaux en grand nombre et au plus près. Paysages très variés allant du bush désertique aux forêts luxuriantes en...(...)

ANITA, Partie le 29/10/2023 Très satisfait

nous avons été très satisfait de notre voyage en Namibie - le chauffeur et la cuisinière ont été supers et avec beaucoup d'aide. nous les en remercions. Notre guide a été parfait les explications super et très enrichissant sur le pays - la géographie - le mode de vie VOYAGE INOUBLIABLE

Céline, Esther, Domi, Partie le 28/10/2023 satisfait

Beau voyage où nous avons pu voir un nombre important d'animaux. Pour ceux qui ont envie d'observer toute cette faune, ce voyage est donc conseillé. Le guide Marc et le staff ont été de qualité, Marc et le chauffeur Maripe connaissent très bien l'environnement et la faune. Nous avons appris plein...(...)

Marie, Partie le 01/10/2023 Très satisfait

" A la fin de la journée, vos chaussures doivent être poussiéreuses, vos cheveux en bataille, et vos yeux remplis d'étoiles" Traduction approximative d'un texte vu au camp de Madisa, et qui résume parfaitement ce voyage en Namibie. Des paysages incroyables et variés, beaucoup d'animaux, des...(...)

Patou69, Parti le 28/09/2023 Très satisfait

Voyage extraordinaire, dans des lieux magnifiques, immergé dans la nature à l'état sauvage; un vrai retour aux sources. Programme en général bien équilibré, avec des distances raisonnables qui permettent de profiter des paysages, de patienter pour voir arriver les animaux, et qui permet de prendre...(...)

vpe, Parti le 09/09/2023 Très satisfait

tres beau voyage avec une excellente logistique et quelle chance d'avoir vu tous ces animaux

• &BEYOND LODGES
• South Africa
• Flying solo
• With my partner
• With my family
• Adventurous

Responsible Travel

• Private Travel
• Slow Travel
• TRAVEL TRADE PORTAL
• MANAGE YOUR TRAVEL BOARD

Choose your immersive safari experience

• Indian Ocean Islands
• South America
• Central Kalahari Game Reserve
• Chobe National Park
• Makgadikgadi Pans
• Mashatu Game Reserve
• Moremi Game Reserve
• Nxai Pan National Park
• Okavango Delta

ICONIC SIGHTINGS | PLACES TO VISIT | TRAVEL THAT SAVES | BEST TIME TO GO | MUST-TRY EXPERIENCES | IMPACTFUL CONSERVATION | THINGS TO KNOW

Why travel to see the world, when you can immerse yourself in it?

Botswana is not for the average traveller. A land of breathtaking contrasts, from the vast salt pans of the Makgadikgadi , to the sandy plains of the Kalahari , to the lush oasis of the Okavango Delta , Botswana is for the traveller who chooses to disconnect to reconnect, with themselves and the natural world, captivated by an African safari like no other. Sure, the usual luxury suspects are to be expected, but that’s what we call luxurious authenticity, forged in genuine warmth, unspoilt wonderments, and rare, crafted moments. So, if you’re the kind of traveller that seeks to glimpse the safari world as it should be, enchanting your soul as you go, then Botswana is for you.

Begin by unpacking our eclectic mix of Botswana experiences , ‘when to go’ calendar , recommended places to stay , adventurous itineraries , and other must-know tips and tricks . Our expert Africa team of travel specialists and guides, plus our 24/5 Global Concierge service, will no doubt ensure your Botswana journey is as special as the traveller you are.

Places to visit

Uncover botswana’s unrivalled destinations.

From immense elephant herds splashing in the cool waters of the Chobe River to an annual zebra migration meandering through the Linyanti and Savute regions. From untouched San Bushman rock paintings in the Tsodilo Hills to the stark and dramatic landscapes of the Kalahari Desert. From the magnificent range of specially adapted wild animals, including the sitatunga and red lechwe antelopes, found only in the Okavango Delta to Moremi Game Reserve’s renowned and brilliant birdlife. Botswana truly boasts some of Africa’s most varied and wild spaces, just waiting to be explored.

Beyond first impressions, experience lasting ones

Explore Botswana sightings

Our guides and guests’ best safari moments, take a listen.

&Beyond Regional Guide Trainer for Botswana, Dux Mareja chats about the beautiful land of Botswana, touching on the country’s main safari regions and what makes it such a unique destination to visit.

Our favourite offers to get you excited

Created especially for you, our wide range of offers allow you to tailormake your ideal African safari journey, just the way you want it. Alternatively, speak to one of our expert Travel Specialists who are able to recommend the best offer that suits your travel needs.

When should I visit Botswana?

Celebrated as one of the most exclusive and wilderness-rich year-round African safari destinations, Botswana boasts endless areas of protected natural terrains, untouched landscapes and diverse wildlife, seemingly tailormade for the most discerning traveller.

Must-try experiences

Create more than utterly unforgettable memories.

If you belong to that rare breed of traveller that’s looking beyond the latest hotspot for an extraordinary sincere and handcrafted experience, one that brings you as close as possible to the land, wildlife and people at hand – you’ve come to the right place. Think guided bushman nature walks following along the paths animals roam free, habitual meerkats keenly observing the dessert from atop your head, and scenic helicopter flights rewarding unreal aerial views of the Okavango Delta’s most remote and inaccessible spaces.

Immersive adventures that engage all your senses

Slow life right down and encounter the bush from an entire new perception, one that highlights the small miracles, from smelling and tasting wild medicinal herbs to listening the alarm call of the grey go-away bird to observing herds of red lechwa antelope drinking from the very water you are gliding through. Follow waterways that were once taken by river Bushman and BaYei people centuries ago or tread mindfully in the tracks of the Okavango Delta’s most celebrated wildlife.

Adrenaline-seeking ventures, beyond the classic safari

More often than not awarding travellers with the rare opportunity to uncover the untamed landscape with very few others, Botswana offers more than your usual safari experience, but rather one that is intimate, remote and exclusive. Promising up-close views of unique wildlife and vegetation, take to the roads, rivers or skies, reveling in the semi-aquatic antelope, intricate network of winding channels, impressive Tiger fish fishing excursions and scenic flights uncovering far-flung inaccessible spaces.

Travel itineraries that give more than they take

What better way to uncover the magic of Botswana than through one of our incredible journeys ideal for solo travellers, small groups and families. Alternatively chat to our expert team of travel specialists and guides to curate your own Botswana adventure focused on your special interests and needs.

We’ve been featured…

TAILORMAKE YOUR STAY

Talk to one of our travel specialists to tailormake you stay to any of our destinations

Impactful conservation

Explore responsible travel with us.

Wherever we go, we believe in creating meaningful connections with a light footprint. It’s choices like these that set us apart, allowing us to go beyond the expected, caring for the land, people and wildlife. When you choose to travel to Botswana with us, you’re choosing to travel with difference, aligning to our core ethos to leave our world a better place.

Skipper Mareja, Regional Human Resources Manager for &Beyond Botswana, talks about his experiences in tourism, from managing lodges in the Okavango Delta to making a difference in the lives of local communities. Listen to find out more about the many challenges faced by the communities living on the outskirts of one of the world’s best-known natural wonderlands as well as discover some of the incredible community-led projects being put into place to assist them.

Impact Review: Botswana

We have over 30 years of experience in caring for the land, wildlife and people of africa, and making a real and meaningful difference to the continent’s people and wild places., things to know, everything you need to make your travel dreams a reality.

We love helping to make sure your travel dreams come true. In fact, it’s our top priority. With you every step of the way, our expert Africa travel specialists will undoubtedly put your travel mind at ease providing you with all the support you need to plan your unforgettable Botswana journey.

What should I expect on a Botswana safari?

With its remote wildlife areas and vast stretches of sparsely populated land, a Botswana safari tour is a very different experience than a safari elsewhere in Africa.

Frequently asked questions

Why travel with &beyond.

We have been making a difference for 30 years thanks to you, our guests!

In our hands

You will have access to our unique Global Concierge service 24/7 while travelling

Travel Experts

Our Travel Specialists never send a guest anywhere they haven’t been themselves

Finest Guides

Finest interpretive experience from our incredible private and specialist guides

Explore Botswana with us

From exceptional offers to not-to-be missed tours and experiences, here are our favourite reasons to explore Botswana

Leaving our world a better place for years

Discover the impact legacy that your travel with &beyond is driving. just as the un’s sustainable development goals have been a touchstone for our vision 2020 group-operation sustainability audits, so they continue to guide and underpin our ambitiously scaled vision 2030 goals., we're sorry but this site doesn't work properly without javascript enabled., please enable it to continue., privacy overview.

Discover Africa

Heed the call of the wild on an exclusive Botswana safari. Explore astonishing landscapes in the pristine wilderness areas of the Okavango Delta, and game-rich Linyanti and Mababe.

A WILDERNESS HAVEN

Explore a Botswana safari

Astonishing Wildlife & Landscapes.

A safari in Botswana will see you journey to one of the world’s most astounding wildlife destinations. Meet Botswana’s warm people and delight in the thrill of exploring vast landscapes. Glide across the magical waters of the Okavango Delta or gather around a campfire telling stories old and new. At night, listen to a chorus of frogs and other performers. An African sky, exploding with stars.

A truly authentic safari destination

A wilderness safe haven, Botswana has become a modern-day ark for Africa’s threatened species. Conservation is taken seriously here – and we are proud to be leading the way in our efforts to protect these wild areas. Home to a number of the world's most endangered species and the largest elephant population in the world.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Botswana at a glance

Going off the beaten track when on safari comes with questions. When is the best season to view wildlife in Botswana? How cold does it get at night and what languages are spoken? To help you prepare for your holiday, we have put together a few key facts to encourage your adventurous spirit.

Botswana key facts

Unrivalled for its wildlife, Botswana is home to some of Africa’s most luxurious safari camps. Privacy and wilderness are synonymous here. With a population of roughly 2 million, 40% of its land is dedicated to parks and wildlife. The two largest rivers, the Okavango and the Chobe, attract diverse wildlife all year round.

POPULATION SIZE

2.5 Million

Botswana Pula (BWP)

GEOGRAPHICAL SIZE

581,730 km²

BEST TIME TO GO

All year round

Wetlands & rivers

Okavango Delta and Linyanti region. A water oasis.

Dry woodlands

Okavango Delta and Linyanti region.

Kalahari Desert. Golden dunes, shrubs and acacias.

Botswana is home to the largest population on the continent. About 130,000.

African wild dog

One of the most successful mammalian predators in the world. And the most endangered.

Stealthy, solitary, and shy, a leopard sighting is a highlight on any Botswana safari.

Pel's fishing owl

Best found in the dense riverine forests of the permanent water areas of the Delta and Linyanti.

Botswana weather

There is no bad time to go on safari in Botswana. Its climatic pattern is typical of Southern Africa. Humidity won’t trouble you in Botswana, but temperatures vary from day to night. Winter is a dry period that starts off cool and gets quite hot towards the end of the season. June to August are colder months. Summer is wet and hot, with rainfall in January and February.

May to October

SUMMER SEASON

November to April

Botswana experiences

BOTSWANA JOURNEYS

Ready to take a life-changing Botswana tour?

Our custom-designed journeys across Botswana offer you a taste of the thrilling experiences that await. Filled with intimate encounters, dramatic landscapes and luxury safari lodges in pristine areas. Our industry-leading guides are passionate storytellers who look forward to sharing their love of Botswana’s wild with you.

Explore regions & camps in Botswana

Situated in central Southern Africa, Botswana lies 950 m above sea level and more than 600 km from the nearest coast. We operate 20 camps in Botswana’s three most remote regions – the Okavango Delta, Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, and Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Private and luxurious. No comfort has been spared. No detail overlooked.

What currency is used in Botswana?

The official currency used in Botswana is the Pula. USD, Euros, UK Pounds and South African Rands are also accepted. Major international credit cards are accepted at most hotels and there are also ATMs available throughout Botswana, dispensing local currency.

What time zone is Botswana in?

Botswana shares the same time zone as the rest of Southern Africa, which is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) +2 hours, in the Central Africa Time Zone (CAT).

Can I use my credit cards in Botswana?

MasterCard and Visa (both with raised credit card numbers so that an imprint may be taken) are usually accepted throughout Botswana, including Wilderness camps. American Express is accepted in some instances. However, Diners Club is not accepted.

Please note that debit cards are not accepted as a form of payment at our camps/lodges.

What power sockets do they use in Botswana?

220V multi-plug adaptor points are provided in our rooms which can be used to charge batteries, mobile devices and sleep apnoea machines. We also supply universal charging points in our safari camps. It is advisable to bring an additional adaptor as a back-up for any other hotels or properties you may be travelling to.

What do I pack for a holiday in Botswana?

Because of the size of our aircraft, we can only accommodate soft bags, weighing up to 20kg (44lbs.) Pack a maximum of 3 or 4 days' worth of clothes, as our camps offer a free laundry service. White and solid bright stand out in the wild, so choose fewer items, in softer shades of khaki, brown or grey. Flies are attracted to dark blues and black colours. Depending on the season, please bring warmer clothes for the evenings and early morning game drives. 

Where is Botswana located?

Botswana is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It’s bordered by South Africa to the south and east, Namibia to the west and Zimbabwe to the east.

What is Botswana known for?

Botswana is home to the world's largest concentration of African elephants and other iconic African wildlife. The beautiful Okavango Delta, the vast Kalahari Desert and the game-rich Linyanti. As well as warm, wonderful people and thrilling adventures by vehicle, air and on foot. All combine to make Botswana an unforgettable holiday.

What language do they speak in Botswana?

Setswana is the main local language, but English is widely spoken, especially in all Wilderness camps.

Do I need a visa to travel to Botswana?

Botswana currently offers visa-free travel to all countries for stays up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date you expect to leave Botswana.

Vaccinations

What is the covid protocol for travelling to botswana.

We address all concerns surrounding COVID in line with the latest recommendations from the World Health Organization and other leading authorities. Please speak to your Travel Designer for the latest travel advisory updates, to ensure that you are prepared for all COVID travel requirements in Botswana before your departure.

Do I need a yellow fever vaccination to go to Botswana?

If you are travelling to Botswana from areas infected with yellow fever, you must have a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. We advise our guests to also have an updated TPD (tetanus, polio, diphtheria) vaccine and a hepatitis A vaccine. 

Do I need to take malaria tablets when visiting Botswana?

Depending on where you travel in Botswana, you may require malaria medication. Please consult your GP or travel consultant before departure.

Botswana featured stories

Let’s plan your next journey

When we say we’re there every step of the way, we mean it, literally. From planning the perfect circuit, to private inter-camp transfers on Wilderness Air, and easing you through Customs. We’re with you on the ground, at your side, 24-7, from start to finish. Ready to take the road less travelled? Contact our Travel Designers to plan an unforgettable journey.

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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

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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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BOTSWANA SAFARI HOLIDAYS

Journey into the wild heart of africa on our expert-led botswana safaris, where wildlife thrives & unforgettable adventures await, about botswana.

At Wildfoot Travel we’re renowned for delivering the most unique wildlife adventure experiences on offer, and a Botswana safari will take you to one of the most exciting destinations in Africa. This magnificent country is filled with stunning scenery and bountiful opportunities for extraordinary encounters with a vast range of species. Our Botswana safari itineraries have been hand crafted by experts who have been there themselves, so they’re familiar with the very best opportunities to see the most diverse array of birds and mammals. We’ll take you to some of the most outstanding wilderness areas on the African continent so you can discover just how unique and fascinating the landscape and wildlife of this region really is. With 38 percent of its total land area devoted to national parks, reserves and wildlife management areas with animals roaming wild and free, travelling through many parts of the country affords the feeling of moving through an immense safari park. You’ll walk along ancient bushman paths, canoe silently through the vast wetlands, encounter an incredible number of bird and mammal species, and stargaze into clear African skies at night. It’s not hard to understand why we call this a complete wildlife adventure. As on all our Wildfoot holidays, guiding expertise is exceptionally high, as is the customer service at each lodge. This country is a leader in Eco-tourism and is committed to building small lodges with sustainability, conservation and responsible tourism in mind. Hunting is against the law, and the army is used to provide complete protection for the animals against poaching. No matter what your budget, there is a standard of accommodation to suit your pocket here, with everything from budget-style right up to high-end luxury lodges. When you’re ready to begin planning your holiday, have a look through our itineraries for inspiration and get in contact with our wonderful experts. Creating your perfect holiday is so much easier when you speak to someone who has actually visited the destination themselves. Our friendly, knowledgeable team members are at your disposal and love speaking about their experiences. Their genuine passion shines through and they’ll be able to help you create the perfect holiday that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

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Let us help you plan your own inspiring and authentic botswana safari.

Wildfoot Travel puts one of the most complete wildlife adventures on the planet within your reach on an action packed and truly memorable Botswana safari. We help you understand your options and create that trip of a lifetime that checks all your boxes!

Helping you build your perfect holiday

Mobile camping.

Sleeping under canvas in the African bush is an experience like no other on a Botswana safari. With varying sizes of tents and facilities available for our clients, we’ll help you enjoy camping as a truly immersive way to make a meaningful connection with this magical environment.

Luxury Authentic Lodges

We offer a wonderful choice of exclusive and award-winning luxury lodges for your accommodation in some of the most beautiful places in the country. All our lodges are of incredible standard and are situated in outstanding locations, but what makes them truly memorable is the warmth and natural friendliness of the locals who look after you, and the amazing guides who accompany you as you discover the landscape, animals and hospitality of Africa in the most authentic way.

Photography

Even the most amateur photography enthusiast will find endless opportunities in the amazing locations you’ll visit on a Botswana safari. Our small group photo workshops take you into the diverse landscape with an expert photography guide, who will help you gain the skills to capture incredible images of the abundant wildlife population.

Okavango Delta from the Air

Seeing the magnificent environment of the Okavango Delta from the air is an experience that will take your breath away. This scenic flight over the icredible wetland landscape reveals the magnitude and remoteness of the stunning region. Observing zebra, hippos, buffalo, wildebeest and impala from a thrilling height is something you’ll never forget.

Getting Around

Renowned as the ultimate wildlife destination in Africa, our Botswana safari itineraries can take you to some incredibly diverse regions to see a wealth of species. We can introduce you to places like the Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe National Park, Savute, Linyanti, the outstanding Okavango Delta, Makgadikgadi Pans, Nxa i Pan National Park and the Kalahari region.

Too much to choose from? This is where we come in

Take advantage of our vast experience, passion and expertise to help you hand craft the perfect Botswana adventure for you.

Mike lives and breathes adventure travel and has a wealth of experience in some of the most exciting and inspirational destinations in the world. His expertise and first-hand experience afford him the skills to help build holidays to remember.

As Senior Travel Expert, Simon has an absolute wealth of experience in adventure travel in some of the most fascinating places in the world. With in-depth knowledge and fantastic organizational skills, Simon’s first-hand experience and genuine passion drive him to work to create your perfect itinerary.

Amy’s abiding love of adventure travel has taken her to some of the most incredible wildlife-rich places on Earth. Her vast experience and genuine desire to share her knowledge makes her an outstanding and invaluable person to help you organise your wildlife adventure trip.

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Botswana - Namibie , Victoria Falls - Botswana - Namibie : trésors et secrets d'Afrique Australe

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• Beyond Boundaries: Crafting Your Safari Saga with Desert and Delta Safaris in Botswana

14 November 2023

To guide you through the orchestration of your dream safari, we present a step-by-step guide that transforms the planning process into an adventure in itself—an exploration of your aspirations and an anticipation of the unexpected moments awaiting you.

Step 1: Define Your Safari Goals

Imagine standing amidst Botswana’s diverse landscapes, surrounded by wildlife in their natural habitat. The first brushstroke of your safari canvas begins with defining your goals and expectations. What creatures stir your soul? Are you drawn to the art of birdwatching or the capture of a perfect photograph? Envision your ideal safari experience and let it guide your choices.

Step 2: Choose Your Safari Package

Desert and Delta Safaris unveils a tapestry of safari packages, each offering a unique narrative. Delve into the options, exploring the locations, activities, and durations, to find the package that harmonises with your safari dreams.

Step 3: Determine the Best Time to Visit

Botswana, a land of contrasting seasons, invites you to choose the backdrop for your safari. Whether the dry canvas of May to October, painted with wildlife congregations around water sources, or the lush hues of November to April, decorated with migratory birds, select the season that resonates with your safari vision.

Step 4: Plan Your Itinerary

Craft your safari symphony by working with Desert and Delta Safaris to plan an itinerary that unfolds like a well-composed melody. Allocate your days wisely, allowing each camp or lodge to add a unique note to your wildlife encounters. Opt for diversity, exploring different ecosystems and locations to create a safari opus.

Step 5: Book Your Safari

Reach out to Desert and Delta Safaris to book the chosen melody of your adventure. Inquire about any harmonies of special offers, promotions, or group discounts that might enrich your safari experience.

Step 6: Organize Travel Documents and Health Preparations

Ensure your passport sings in harmony with your travel plans, and check the chords of visa requirements for Botswana. Harmonize with your healthcare provider for vaccinations or medications, creating a health prelude to your safari symphony.

Step 7: Pack Smart

Compose a packing list, blending practicality with style. Adorn yourself with lightweight, neutral-colored clothing, harmonize with the sun through adequate protection, and equip yourself with the lenses of a photographer’s eye.

Step 8: Prepare for Wildlife Encounters

Study the verses of wildlife behavior, familiarizing yourself with the characters you may encounter. Let the knowledge enhance your safari narrative, turning each encounter into a stanza of wonder.

Step 9: Travel Insurance

Secure a safety net by considering comprehensive travel insurance—an insurance policy that not only covers cancellations and medical emergencies but also protects the instruments of your safari symphony.

Step 10: Enjoy Your Safari

Arrive in Botswana as the overture of your safari saga begins. Immerse yourself in the symphony of nature, conducted by the experienced hands of Desert and Delta Safaris. Cherish each movement of the adventure, savoring the crescendos of wildlife viewing, photography, and immersive experiences.

Step 11: Document Your Journey

Capture the melodies of your safari through the lens, pen, or keyboard. Each photo, journal entry, or blog post becomes a note in the symphony of your journey.

Step 12: Reflect and Share

As the final chords of your safari resonate, reflect on the harmonies of your experiences. Share the stories, photos, and emotions with friends, family, and fellow travelers, creating echoes that linger long after your return.

Planning your dream safari with Desert and Delta Safaris is a composition of excitement, anticipation, and discovery. This step-by-step guide transforms the process into an artistic endeavor, allowing you to orchestrate an unforgettable symphony of experiences in the heart of Botswana’s untamed wilderness.

Your dream itinerary awaits—let the adventure begin by booking now or visiting our itineraries .

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• Score 4.8/5

"Kilimanjaro + Safari

Our experience with Fair Voyage was nothing short of AMAZING! My family (including my spouse and 11 and 13-year-old boys) LOVED the Lemosho route to the summit of Kilimanjaro! The guides (Francis and Juma) and porters were supportive and kind. The kids enjoyed the monkeys at the beginning of the route and at Big Tree Camp. Being above the clouds on most of the trail felt heavenly! The tents and food were fantastic. We also learned Swahili from our guides. Our post-Kilimanjaro Safari was just as incredible. Our guide Laurent was perfect in every way! He was a fantastic cultural and animal guide – he told the best stories about wildlife. Plus, he was hilarious! Our safari lodge was out-of-this-world and we enjoyed every minute. Be sure to ask for your travel packing list soon after you make your reservations with Fair Voyage to make to process easier. Everything with this company went smoothly. This was such a relief since our family is new to international travel. Bon Voyage!"

"Everest Base Camp Trek

What a fabulous experience hiking to Everest Base Camp. Tulsi was extremely helpful and very responsive to all the questions we had before we left. From the moment we arrived, we were taken care of. The cultural tour was amazing in Kathmandu and drivers were available whenever we needed to go anywhere. The morning we flew in Lukla to begin our trek we met Bhim our guide and Nagindra our porter. They were absolutely fantastic and everyone hiking to EBC must request them. The weather was incredible and the support we had during the tough climbs were great. The entire trip couldn't have been better and we were so happy to have all the details taken care of and all we had to do was hike and enjoy. When we returned to Kathmandu, Tulsi came to our hotel to meet us personally."

"Egypt History Cairo – Luxor – Aswan

I'd like to thank you for an amazing trip and experience. To summarise the feeling at the end of it: we are looking forward to coming back, because we will. Egypt has a special place in our heart and we hope we left nothing but positive marks too. The organisation and the efficiency from Mohamed and his team have been top level and the overall program has been running smoothly from beginning to end. The journey development ran according to plan, without any inconvenient surprises. So if I were to keep it simple, I would just say everything was perfect and I would totally recommend this trip to any of my friends and family - which I will do!"

"Gorillas, Kilimanjaro, Safari

Our trip was a little complicated with three activities, some parts booked by us, and others booked by Fair Voyage. I thought about the possibilities that anything could go wrong at any number of points. Despite all this, everything was -- and I hate to use this word -- PERFECT! Everything was well-organised, drivers showed up on time, food in the meals that were included was delicious and filling, the gorillas were easily reached and didn't mind spending time with us, our guides on Kilimanjaro were beyond phenomenal, we had a seamless transition from Kili to the Serengeti ...where we hoped that in three days we *might* see the wildebeest crossing the Mara River when in fact we saw them crossing multiple times... I could go on and on! These are the big items, but the smaller details were also well-thought-out: our porters gave us filling snacks on Kili, we had high-quality tents and sleeping bags, the safari tent was marvellous, and the bed there was THE MOST COMFORTABLE ON THE PLANET!"

"Safari + Zanzibar

In spite of never having met physically with any Fair Voyage employee, all interaction felt very personal and tailored to our specific needs and requests. We didn't have a clear view of what we exactly were looking for initially but were very well guided and advised by the team. Working with Fair Voyage felt right at all times - such that we even referred the agency to a friend for a project of his own even before we embarked on our trip. Having returned from our Tanzania trip today, our feeling and trust for the Fair Voyage team has proven to have been right. We were rewarded with a fantastic journey and stay in Africa that felt special, "nichey" and good at all times. "

"Our experience with Fair Voyage was nothing short of AMAZING! My family (including my spouse and 11 and 13-year-old boys) LOVED the Lemosho route to the summit of Kilimanjaro! The guides (Francis and Juma) and porters were supportive and kind. The kids enjoyed the monkeys at the beginning of the route and at Big Tree Camp. Being above the clouds on most of the trail felt heavenly! The tents and food were fantastic. We also learned Swahili from our guides. Our post-Kilimanjaro Safari was just as incredible. Our guide Laurent was perfect in every way! He was a fantastic cultural and animal guide – he told the best stories about wildlife. Plus, he was hilarious! Our safari lodge was out-of-this-world and we enjoyed every minute. Be sure to ask for your travel packing list soon after you make your reservations with Fair Voyage to make to process easier. Everything with this company went smoothly. This was such a relief since our family is new to international travel. Bon Voyage!

"What a fabulous experience hiking to Everest Base Camp. Tulsi was extremely helpful and very responsive to all the questions we had before we left. From the moment we arrived, we were taken care of. The cultural tour was amazing in Kathmandu and drivers were available whenever we needed to go anywhere. The morning we flew in Lukla to begin our trek we met Bhim our guide and Nagindra our porter. They were absolutely fantastic and everyone hiking to EBC must request them. The weather was incredible and the support we had during the tough climbs were great. The entire trip couldn't have been better and we were so happy to have all the details taken care of and all we had to do was hike and enjoy. When we returned to Kathmandu, Tulsi came to our hotel to meet us personally.

"I'd like to thank you for an amazing trip and experience. To summarise the feeling at the end of it: we are looking forward to coming back, because we will. Egypt has a special place in our heart and we hope we left nothing but positive marks too. The organisation and the efficiency from Mohamed and his team have been top level and the overall program has been running smoothly from beginning to end. The journey development ran according to plan, without any inconvenient surprises. So if I were to keep it simple, I would just say everything was perfect and I would totally recommend this trip to any of my friends and family - which I will do!

"Our trip was a little complicated with three activities, some parts booked by us, and others booked by Fair Voyage. I thought about the possibilities that anything could go wrong at any number of points. Despite all this, everything was -- and I hate to use this word -- PERFECT! Everything was well-organised, drivers showed up on time, food in the meals that were included was delicious and filling, the gorillas were easily reached and didn't mind spending time with us, our guides on Kilimanjaro were beyond phenomenal, we had a seamless transition from Kili to the Serengeti ...where we hoped that in three days we *might* see the wildebeest crossing the Mara River when in fact we saw them crossing multiple times... I could go on and on! These are the big items, but the smaller details were also well-thought-out: our porters gave us filling snacks on Kili, we had high-quality tents and sleeping bags, the safari tent was marvellous, and the bed there was THE MOST COMFORTABLE ON THE PLANET!

"In spite of never having met physically with any Fair Voyage employee, all interaction felt very personal and tailored to our specific needs and requests. We didn't have a clear view of what we exactly were looking for initially but were very well guided and advised by the team. Working with Fair Voyage felt right at all times - such that we even referred the agency to a friend for a project of his own even before we embarked on our trip. Having returned from our Tanzania trip today, our feeling and trust for the Fair Voyage team has proven to have been right. We were rewarded with a fantastic journey and stay in Africa that felt special, "nichey" and good at all times.

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Botswana Balloon Safari

The adventure begins before dawn with the journey through the bush to the launch site of your hot-air balloon. The chilly early morning start is more than made up for in the chatter of dawn and chance to spot rarely-seen nocturnal animals along the way.

Having watched the delicate inflation operation, you’ll take to the vast skies of Botswana in time for sunrise, when light dances across this watery world and its largest animals begin to stir. Silently drifting across flooded landscapes, the experience is never the same twice and never anything but extraordinary. At times you’ll brush the leaves of the tallest trees while at others you’ll rise to a height of 1000 ft, unraveling the entire region in a way impossible from the ground.

With the light changing by the minute, look out for the gently-moving silhouette of solitary elephant or, if your lucky, small herds of lechwe and sitatunga as African fish eagles challenge the balloon for dominances of the skies. Finally touching down wherever the wind has taken you, there will be time to celebrate your successful flight with a glass of champagne.

Botswana Balloon Safari Photo Gallery

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