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The Ultimate Botswana Self-Drive Safari Itinerary: A Complete Travel Guide + Map

December 15, 2023

Paula Martinelli

If you are dreaming about an adventure trip to Botswana, and wondering how to go on safaris, you are in the right place! Going on a Botswana self-drive safari is the best way to discover the country! This is the Ultimate Botswana Self-Drive Safari Itinerary that will take you to the removed, isolated, and wild parts of the country…and the best way to experience Botswana’s landscape and wildlife are by road trip.

I combined my Namibia trip itinerary and Botswana self-drive safari itinerary, and I am here to share all I have learned and discovered along the way.

In this very detailed Botswana Self-Drive Safari 10-day itinerary, I covered the most important regions and safaris in Botswana, from Chobe National Park to the Okavango Delta.

During my 10-days in Botswana, I self-drove my 4×4 rental truck to the most amazing safaris in Botswana, I slept in the tent on top of the truck, cooked all my meals, took thousands of photos, and learned all about how to explore Botswana independently (not an easy task!).

Don’t travel to Botswana before you read these very important articles:

• 28 Things You Must know about Self-Drive and Camping in Botswana
• Ultimate Guide to the Best Safaris in Botswana
• Botswana Camping Safari

Botswana Self-Drive Safari itinerary Overview

10 days doing a self-drive safari in Botswana is an ideal amount of time to discover the best safaris in Botswana and to visit the most incredible areas in the country.

However, it is not easy to self-drive in Botswana because of the poor road conditions. Also, if you are short on time, you can spend less time and concentrate on the Chobe River Front safari, as it is very well located in the country. You can fly into Kasane Airport (BBK) and you can pick up your 4×4 rental car at the airport .

Check Expedia or Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Botswana and compare prices to get better deals. If you are looking for domestic flights to Kasane you can book them through Air Botswana .

Here is an overview of how to spend a perfect 10-day self-drive safari in Botswana:

Botswana Self drive Safari Map

Renting a Car for your Botswana Self Drive Safari

You will need to have a 4×4 vehicle to go on a self-drive safari in Botswana . It can be confusing renting a car in Botswana since there are different providers, offering different options.

First of all, you will need to decide if you will rent a 4X4 truck or a 4×4 truck with a tent on top (if you are planning to camp around the country).

I recommend booking your car way in advance , and you can quote below, to have access to cars from many major companies which you can compare the best prices and find the best deal for you.

You can save on your rental car when you book through this site . I use and recommend Discover Cars because it is the most reliable rental car source, and it allows you to compare the prices of different plac es.

10-Day Botswana Self Drive Safari Itinerary

Day 1 botswana self drive: arriving in botswana.

Let’s start day 1 of my 10-day Botswana self-drive safari itinerary. I had spent the previous 10 days self-driving in Namibia and it is a great itinerary to combine Namibia and Botswana. I crossed the border to Botswana on the ground at the Ngoma border crossing  in the Caprivi Strip.

I got my Botswana Visa at the border checkpoint. There was a line, and it took about 1-hour to get my visa and pass the inspection of my car and food. The procedure was easy and uncomplicated!

Even better, I had the chance to make new friends while I was in line. I met this very nice couple from Zambia that were traveling home. They asked if I could give them a ride to the Zambia border which was on my way to Botswana. 

DRIVING THE CAPRIVI STRIP

The driving from Namibia to Botswana on Caprivi is one straight line all the way to the border. You will pass many villages, plenty of cows and people walking on the side of the road.

I stopped along the road to donate all my food (meat, fruits, and vegetables) as we cannot enter Botswana with food.  It is a great opportunity to get to know some local people, and also, they will appreciate you sharing the food with them.

STOP AT KASANE FOR SUPPLIES

Next, I stopped in Kasane to refill my gas tanks (the truck had 2 gas tanks), got someand money from the ATM, bought food and water – This is the last opportunity to refill before you head to the National Parks.

BEST ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

CAMPING OPTION

Mwandi View is the place i stayed and recomend. They have areas for camping in your own tent, or you can rent one of their large tents, with private bathroom and a small kitchen. The views are incredible and you can see animals from the infinity pool. Restaurant with incredible food is avaialbe.

LODGE OPTION

The Residence Kazungula is a marvelous guest house located in Kasane, with free Wi-Fi, parking on-site, a complete kitchen, and a pool. They can also arrange a variety of activities including game drives, boat cruises, and day trips to Victoria Falls. 

ALL-INCLUSIVE OPTION

If you are looking for a great accommodation option, with all-inclusive, the Jacklberry Chobe is the best option. With drinks, meals, and 2 wildlife activities per day included, plus terrace and gorgeous views of the river

DAY 2 BOTSWANA SELF DRIVE SAFARI : Explore Chobe National Park

On day 2 of my Botswana self-drive itinerary, I spent 10-hours driving safari at Chobe National Park . 

SELF-DRIVE SAFARI AT CHOBE RIVERFRONT

Chobe is one of the best places for a safari on the Planet, and I really recommend spending at least 2 days here .

Even if I had done other safaris before, this is the most I have seen animals in one single day: hundreds of zebras, waterbok, giraffes, springboks, and of course elephants. 

The best spot to see the big cats, including lions is at the Ihaha Camp . I drove in the morning and afternoon but didn’t get lucky enough to see any.

SEE THE LARGEST HERD OF ELEPHANTS IN THE WORLD

At around 1:30 p.m. I stopped to see a herd of elephants at a waterhole close to the Elephant Grave when more elephants arrived from everywhere and I was surrounded by hundreds of elephants. This was the highlight moment of my trip to Chobe . 

Back to the Mwandi Camp to enjoy the sunset from the infinity pool, while watching some elephants at the waterhole, cook dinner, and crashed from this tiring day.

DAY 3 Botswana Itinerary: Self-Drive Safari at Chobe then Drive to Savuti

On my second and last day of self-drive safari at Chobe National Park , I started my day very early (5 a.m.) and enjoyed 5 hours of safari.

GO ON A RIVER CRUISE SAFARI AT CHOBE

Another specialty and a must-do are to go on a river-cruise safari .  This is a must-do activity at Chobe National park as you can see the wildlife from a boat is totally different experience than from a car. During the water safari, you have the chance to see hippos, crocodiles, and f you are lucky you can also see elephants swimming.

DRIVING OFF-ROAD TO SAVUTI

After lunch, I began my journey south through Chobe to my next destination: Savuti. There are no gas stations or stores until you exit Okavango Delta. Make sure you are full-on fuel, water, and food before leaving Chobe (Kasane town).

The driving to Savuti was very challenging (and scary) and it is not for the faint-hearted! I only recommend self-drive here if you are a very experienced driver and have some basic mechanical knowledge because things can, and will happen to the car.

The “road” is very isolated, and only a 4WD can drive here. The “roads” you will follow are nothing more than dirt roads and trails. At times you will follow some old tire tracks through grass fields, and other times you will be driving through deeply rutted sandy “roads”. You cannot drive on a rainy day (or wet season). I drove for 7-hours without seeing another car. I had 1 flat tire and had to change it on a very deep sandy road and got stuck on the sand a couple of times. The speed limit is around 15km/h and you will be driving very slowly on very bumpy roads.

TOP TIP: If you are going on a self-drive in Botswana, most of the driving will be off-road. I recommend carrying a backpack as it will protect your belongings on bumpy roads. Check here the Review on Top Backpacks on the market today.

ARRIVAL AT SAVUTI

Arrived at the remote Savuti Gate and I had to pay for my entry permit – it costs US$85 for 3 days of the game reserve. The only way to enter the Savuti Gate (and all other gates) is to have proof of camping reservations. 

I finally arrived at the Savuti Camp near dark, found my reserved camping spot, and cooked dinner. The camping staff came to warn me that it was life-threatening to be out of my tent at night because it is very common for hyenas and lions to visit the campsites at night.

I spent 2 nights at the Savuti Camp . All 14 campsites lie under shady trees while some have a view of the Savuti Channel. There is a large elephant-proof ablution with shared bathrooms and showers. The campsite is operated by SKL Camps.

If you are looking for a lodge at Savuti, Ghoha Hills Savuti has accommodations with free WiFi and free private parking for guests who drive. There’s a fully equipped private bathroom with a shower and free toiletries. The lodge offers a continental or buffet breakfast.

DAY 4 Botswana Itinerary: Self-drive Safari at Savuti

The Savuti is a region within the heart of the Chobe National Park that is secretly located. Savuti covers almost 5,000 square kilometers and includes the Savute Marsh and Channel, the Mababe Depression, and Magwikhwe Sand Ridge – each feature fashioned by the tectonic instability of the region.

It is the best place to spot big cats, including lions and leopards. It is also renowned for the masses of game, and it has its own unique scenery such as the Baobab Gallery trees and rock paintings. I recommend spending at least 2 days in Savuti. 

EXPLORE THE VAST WILDLIFE IN SAVUTI

Start your first day at Savuti doing what is the best thing to do, with a self-drive safari.

Start your day very early (before 7:00 a.m) as the chances to see active animals are higher. I started my first day seeing a lion eating his kill and it was a pretty amazing experience to just park my car very close, behind the bushes, and just observe, smell, and hear while he was enjoying his breakfast.

During my day of safari at Savuti , I saw many giraffes, springbok, and elephants. In the afternoon I visited the Baobab Trees and the rock painting.

I saw many bones of animals and mostly close to the campsite – which makes me think that predators hang out around campsites. At night I was visited by a very large hyena and I also could hear the lions roaring all night from a distance. Exciting!

VISIT THE ROCK PAINT AND BAOBAB TREES

Expend the afternoon exploring more of the Savuti beauty!

Savuti is not only about wildlife, here you can also find ancient art – search the rocks of the Gubatsa Hills for delicate, stylized paintings of buffalo, giraffes, the magical eland, and other animals. They were painted in natural ochres, blood, and possibly snake venom up to 1,500 years ago by the San people. They still shine despite being fully exposed to the elements.

Then, visit the incredible Baobab Trees. The baobab trees boast a circumference of around 7 meters (23 feet) and a height of around 5 meters (17 feet). Take some time out to reflect in the shade of the centuries-old trees, humbled by their large presence and the secrets that flow deep within their roots. Savuti is incredible!

DAY 5 Botswana Itinerary: Self-Drive Safari in Savuti, then Driving to Okavango Delta

Morning safari at savuti.

Early in the morning, I saw 2 lionesses with 9 cubs – 7 older and 2 younger. I heard from the locals that they live under the bush, and they were just enjoying the early morning sun. I parked my car, and took amazing pictures, and observed them for over 1-hour from a very close distance. They didn’t seem to be bothered by my presence. This was certainly one of the highlight moments of my trip to Botswana.

I saw many other animals during my second day of safari in Savuti, and even if I really wanted to see leopards, I had no luck seeing any. 

DRIVE TO OKAVANGO DELTA

After lunch, I started driving to the Okavango Delta and I drove all the way to the next camping site destination in Kawai . It was 3.5 hours of very bumpy and sandy road, and again, driving at a very low speed. 

Upon arrival at Khwai Gate you need to pay for the permit again;  remember to have cash with you as they don’t accept credit cards. 

The camping site is situated in an area called Dombo Hippo Pools, and guess what you can see a lot? You are right, hippos.

The Khwai Camping Site  is very basic. The camping site has a tree, running water, and a fire pit area, and a small ablution is available. The game views and bird watching in this area are superb. The campsite is operated by SKL Camps.

If you are looking for amazing luxury glamping in Botswana, O Bona Moremi Safari Lodge offers it all. All means, drinks, and laundry service are included plus all the game drivers and night drives.

VILLA OPTION

If you are looking for a great option, Khwai Villa provides accommodations with free private parking. All units come with a balcony with river views, a kitchenette with a fridge and an oven, and a private bathroom with a shower.

DAY 6 Botswana Self-Drive Safari: Okavango Delta Safari

Explore the khwai region.

The day of my self-drive safari in Botswana was exploring the Khwai region, part of the Okavango Delta. 

The Okavango Delta is like the crown jewel of safaris in Botswana , as this area is usually known for the abundance of water, stemming from the Okavango river – which starts in Angola – and is also dubbed “the river that never finds the sea”. Instead of ending in the ocean, the water seeps away into the Kalahari desert. 

I was up early and went on a long game drive to explore this region. There are large tracts of Mopane forest with pools and floodplains interspersed. I saw a lot of different animals including hippos, crocodiles, water buffalos, red lechwe, waterbucks, and blue wildebeest.

This area is challenging to drive, as there are deep mud pools on many of the trails and some wet areas that make it impossible to pass.

I spent 2 nights at the Xakanaka Campsite . This area offers many options for day trips, such as Khwai and Third Bridge. There are two boat stations close to the camping site. The camping area is very simple and is located by the water, that is the reason there are so many hippos on this campsite. An ablution (communal bathroom) is available. 

If you are looking for an all-inclusive lodge accommodation, the Khwai Experidtions Camp offers all meals, drinks, and game reserves. Located on a gorgeous facility with a patio with incredible views, including wild animals come to visit.

DAY 7 Botswana Self-Drive Safari: Okavango Delta Safari

I didn’t sleep very well, as the animals are very active at night around this area. I could hear lions and hippos, and I saw a couple of hyenas searching my campsite for food at night. The only thing the hyena found and decided to take with her was my sneakers…ha!

EXPLORE THE XAKANAKA REGION

After spending 2 nights at the Khwai Campsite, I moved on to another camping in the Okavango Delta, Xakanaka – so I could explore different areas.

The drive to Xakanaka took around 2-hours and it was also very challenging. The roads are rutted and winding. During the rains, it is almost impossible to drive, with some very deep waterholes on the road and the journey can take up to 4-hours.

The game reserve in this area is phenomenal – but a day doing a self-driving safari is exhausting – the vegetation is very dense and there are a lot of dead trees on the ground. Also, there are so many holes with water and mud, which makes the driving very challenging if you are trying to spot animals, take pictures, and drive. 

After a whole day of self-drive safari –  with a 1-hour break for a nap under a tree in the middle of the day – time to go back to the camp, cook dinner, and get some rest. 

While I was cooking, a hippo crossed right in front of me which left me speechless for a few minutes – “What was it? a hippo!?” Yes, it was a hippo!

DAY 8 Botswana Self-Drive Safari: Okavango Delta

Spend the morning driving at xakanaka.

\My day 8 of my self-drive safari in Botswana was spent driving around the Xakanaka area. 

Xakanaxa occupies a narrow strip of land surrounded by marshes and lagoons . At night you can easily hear the animals, especially elephants, or be serenaded by hippo grunts. 

This area is one of few offering a year-round land and water game-viewing experience, possible to explore by car or powerboats.

On a day of safari in this area , it is easy to spot a large variety of animals such as elephants, buffalo, hyena, giraffe, hippo, wildebeest, kudu, lechwe, and if you are lucky, lion and leopard, among many others.

DRIVE TO THE THIRD BRIDGE

After lunch, I head to my next camping destination, Third Bridge Campsite.

In a dry season, it is an easy drive but there was very deep sand after the 2nd bridge. Got to the camping, and this was my favorite campsite in Botswana because the location is absolutely gorgeous, just by the river and the wildlife is very abundant here. 

TOP TIP: Make sure you pack lots of water, as you will be very isolated in this part of Botswana. I thought I had enough water, but with the hit and humidity, I ran out of water 2 days earlier than I had planned and I had to boil water from the Okavango Delta to drink. It is smart to also pack some portable water filters.

I spent 2 nights at the Third Bridge Campsite . This campsite was my favorite during my self-drive in Botswana. It is an excellent choice as there are so many options for game drives and there is always animal activity in camp. There is a boat station at the camping site, making water activities extra options. Booking is through Xomae

DAY 9 Botswana Itinerary : Water Safari at Okavango Delta

1. morning safari at third bridge.

I spent the last day of my self-drive safari in Botswana doing the best thing you can do in Botswana: safari. The wildlife in this section of Okavango Delta is incredible for safari, and you feel all the time that you are truly amongst the wildlife.

At lunchtime, I was back at the campsite to skip the mid-day sun and cool down in the shade of the trees, while cooking lunch. When a herd of elephants had the same idea and I had to share my shade with them. It was a magical moment, and one of the highlights of my trip to Botswana. 

2. Water Safari at Okavango Delta

I took the afternoon to do a water safari and it was just incredible, I strongly recommend if you are visiting the Okavango Delta to go on water safari, as you will have a different view and will see so many different animals. I had the chance to visit the Hippo Pool, which is a lagoon with hundreds of hippos.

While on a water safari at Okavango Delta, it is the best option for bird-watching too. The tour took longer than planned – around 4 hours – because our boat broke and we had to ask for help.

In the evening, my campsite got visited by many hyenas and I spent my last night camping in Botswana and hearing the lions roaming. Absolutely fascinating!

DAY 10 Botswana Itineray: Return Back to Namibia

I woke up very early (as usual) and spent a few hours driving around on a self-drive safari before heading back to Namibia. 

I saw a large variety of animals just around the campsite, and I started to feel sad to leave Botswana. I certainly had one of the best trips of my life. Just being in the wild, surrounded by majestic animals, and enjoying the solitude of incredible nature. I truly recommend doing a self-drive safari in Botswana as once in a lifetime adventure. 

The drive back to Namibia was long but safe. The road conditions are mostly well-paved the whole way. 

I stopped for an overnight in Ghazni, as it was dark and it is not recommended to drive in the dark because of the wildlife on the roads. If you don’t have an extra day, I would recommend skipping the morning safari in Botswana and starting to head back to your departure destination. 

I spent another day and night in Namibia before I headed back home, as this was a great farewell from my amazing Africa trip! You can read here my full Namibia Itinerary if you are looking to combine your trip or continue your Africa Trip.

BONUS SECTION: The Unique Tourism in Botswana

Botswana has a very unique tourism industry, based on a sustainable tourism model. Botswana relies on a  low volume high revenue tourism strategy , and it serves as an example all over Africa and the Planet. In other words, it is not cheap to visit Botswana!

The business model in Botswana helps the local economy and assists with keeping balance in the fragile ecosystem and controlling the number of tourists. Higher prices help to support this sustainable system of tourism in Botswana.

TRAVEL BOTSWANA INDEPENDENTLY: If you choose to travel independently to Botswana, keep in mind that the planning will take time and (a lot of) patience. It took me about 3 months of hard work to plan my itinerary in Botswana, especially, to be able to book all the campsites. Communication with Botswana is challenging and it may take days, or even weeks to answer back to you. Plus, consider that you will be driving in very remote and isolated areas. You will need to have some basic mechanical skills (changing tires), and expertise in driving off-road (mud, deep sand, crossing water, etc.).

TAILOR-MADE TRIP IN BOTSWANA: A popular alternative to visiting Botswana is to hire an expert local company. They can incorporate any destination into your travels or even any animal species that you hope to see. You can create a bespoke itinerary, and design your ultimate safari to match your interest, budget, and travel dates. I highly recommend Wild Wonderful World , as they put together incredible itineraries, and part of the profits are used on amazing conservation efforts in Africa

I have great news for my readers, I used and I recommend Wild Wonderful World – I partnered with them to offer a discount to you! Just sign in below to receive a discount code directly in your email.

Botswana Self-Drive Safari | Trip Planning Resources

Planning a trip to botswana.

If you are going to travel to Botswana, pre-planning, researching, and understanding what you are looking for in a destination will help make your travels far more successful and safe. Here is some further information I think you might need to plan your Botswana self-drive safari itinerary.

For planning my trip to Botswana I used the Lonely Planet guidebook, which contains helpful information.

Best Time to Visit Botswana

The best time to visit Botswana is during the dry season between May and October when you can expect warm, sunny days (22°C-35°C) and chilly nights. This is also when the water levels in the Okavango Delta are at their highest, creating the waterways and channels Botswana is famed for.

The green season – from November to April –  is a great time to travel if you don’t mind the odd shower. Visitor numbers and prices are lower, the scenery pops with verdant foliage, and animals give birth to their young.

What to Pack for a self-drive safari in Botswana

You want to pack light….but at the same time, you will be so remote for many days that you will want to pack heavy. So, let me help you PACK SMART! 

• GPS and a good Botswana map . 
• Extra flashlights and batteries 
• A well-equipped First Aid kit (including a snake bite kit)
• Rehydration solution
• Satellite phone
• Inflatable LED Solar Lantern. 
• Bring a warm blanket for cold nights.
• Camera and safari lens
• Toilet paper
• light hiking pants
• long sleeves shirts
• good face cover
• polarized sunglasses
• Hand sanitizer
• LifeStraw Filtered Water Bottle and Emergency water supply
• External battery charger

PACK SMART ALERT!

If you are planning to carry a backpack for your trip to Botswana, I have compiled a very detailed review of the Best Backpacks for Travel in the market today – Also, I recommend bringing a waterproof jacket for your trip, check my complete review guide on the Top Jackets for Travel and pack smart!

Airports in Botswana

Botswana’s main airport is  Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE) , located 11km/7miles north of Gaborone, the capital.

If you are flying from South Africa, you can take a direct flight from OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) , Johannesburg, or Cape Town International Airport (CPT) .

It is also common to fly into Maun Airport (MUB) and  Kasana Airport (BBK) . When combining a safari in Botswana with a visit to Victoria Falls, it is common to fly into Maun and depart from  Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) in Zimbabwe or  Livingstone Airport (LVI) in Zambia.

Borders of Botswana

Botswana is bounded by  Namibia  to the west and north (the Caprivi Strip),  Zambia  and  Zimbabwe  to the northeast, and  South Africa  to the southeast and south. The Zambezi River border with Zambia is only several hundred yards long. The point at which the borders of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe meet in the middle of the river has never been precisely determined.

Price to Travel to Botswana

When you travel to Botswana you can easily spend 1,000 to 2,000 Dollars per day/ person. This kind of money will bring you to some of the most exclusive lodges, and to areas that aren’t accessible any other way, including private flights to the lodges. Of course, you can plan your self-drive safari in Botswana and save tons of money – which will force you to do a lot of planning yourself. 

Prices below are the average for 10-day for 2 people (it doesn’t include international flights):

Accommodation in Botswana

Keep in mind that booking wild campsites in Botswana is extremely challenging and requires lots of patience and persistence.

I have done all the work and wrote this very detailed guide for Camping in Botswana – with all the best options for accommodations.

The campsites in Botswana are run by different private operators, The gates and reception have booking agents, but I strongly advise you to reserve your accommodation before your trip to Botswana, as the number of campsites is limited. You will be turned away if no space is available, and you will have a long trip back to the nearest town.

Things in Botswana move much more slowly than I am used to. The booking in Botswana is a very manual process, still, carbon copy receipt based rather than Internet bookings. Please read everything you should know before you go camping in Botswana before you make any reservations. 

If you are planning to stay at lodges, Booking.com  is the best option as it is a reliable source and they have a 24-hour cancellation policy that I have used several times.

Renting a car in Botswana

You will need to have a 4×4 vehicle to go on a self-drive safari in Botswana , either if you decide to go with a tour operator, or if you decide to go on an independent adventure.

Request a quote and save on your rental car when you book through this site. I use and recommend Discover Cars because it is the most reliable rental car source, and it allows you to compare the prices of different places.

Self-driving in Botswana

Self-driving in Botswana can be a challenge depending on your level of experience but also depending on the season.

I recommend you rent a fully equipped 4×4 car, preferably with a GPS with camping sites and other important GPS coordinates pre-programmed. This will help guide you to stay on track and be able to orientate yourself, ensuring your drive will be a safe one for you and your close ones.

You can always ask one of our staff members for advice on what routes are recommended at the moment since this might change from one part of the year to another. Remember; in the African bush anything is possible so coming prepared and aware are factors that can help your drive be a successful one that will give you, your friends, and family memories for life.

Additional Tips for your Self-Drive Safari in Botswana

• Currency: The local currency in Botswana is Pula. They widely accepted South African Rand. You can use an ATM in one of the main towns. Always carry money with you, as most places do not accept credit cards.
• Fuel:  on long drives pick up fuel regularly in the major towns as there can be long distances between stations.
• Supplies:  Snacks and drinks are available at most of the fuel stops and the bigger towns had a well-stocked Spar Supermarket. 
• Maps/GPS: Download maps onto your phone which can be accessed offline. Also, keep a paper map in the glove box just in case!
• SIM cards:  it’s easy to pick up a pay-as-you-go SIM in the airports as well as in local mobile network stores.
• Internet: If you are planning to go on a mobile camp safari, note that you won’t have access to the internet. I spent 10 days in Botswana without internet access. 

Travel Insurance for your trip

I never leave my home without travel insurance which is designed to help cover your expenses if something goes wrong on your trip. Things can go wrong, and you don’t want to get stuck paying tons of money if you get sick or have an accident without travel insurance. 

World Nomads Travel Insurance  has been designed by travelers for travelers, to cover their trip essentials. Especially if you are like me, travel insurance is ideal for adventurous travelers. Travel smarter and safer – You can do your quick quote below and find out how little you can pay for the essential benefit of Travel Insurance for your next trip!

Botswana Self Drive Safari Conclusion

This is my very detailed Botswana Self Drive Safari Itinerary, and I hope this can help you to plan your Botswana Trip!

I have done other safaris in Africa before, but Botswana surpassed my high expectations. Nature, the diversity of wildlife, and the hospitality in Botswana made it an incredible trip.

Botswana is not a cheap destination to visit, therefore if you want to visit on a budget just like me, be prepared to have to start planning your trip well in advance in order to book your accommodation (good luck with that!), book your car and start to study the maps, since you will be driving on very remote and isolated areas. You need at least to feel somehow familiar with the region you will be driving. 

I truly recommend anyone to go on a trip to Botswana, and if you are convinced, continue reading as I prepared the whole BOTSWANA TRIP PLANNING section here for you!

Here is some further information I think you might need to plan your  trip:

• 21-Days Namibia and Botswana Self-Drive Road Trip Itinerary
• Namibia self-drive road trip Itinerary
• 28 Things you need to know before you go Camping in Botswana
• The Best Camping Safari in Botswana

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Plan your Trip

You can plan your trip with this easy guide and have access to the best services I recommend and you can get discounted prices.

Ultimate Botswana Camping Safari Guide (for Independent Travelers)

Namibia & Botswana Itinerary: Ultimate 3-Week road trip from the Dunes to Safaris

Camping in Botswana: 30 Things You Absolutely Need to Know!

28 thoughts on “the ultimate botswana self-drive safari itinerary: a complete travel guide + map”.

Such an amazing drive and so impressed you did a self drive! I visited here on tour and it was such an amazing country!!!

Wow! What an amazing experience! I totally would love to do this one day and I like how detailed your blog post is. Hoping to go in the near future. 🙂

This drive looks amazing! I’m always hearing that Botswana is one of the best places to experience Safari in Africa, moreso than the typical Kenya or Tanzania. I can’t wait to plan a visit! Thank you for sharing.

This is such a complete post with its itinerary and other details that nobody would want anything else! Thank you very much for this. It’s just a matter of time, and people would start traveling again. 🙂

This is so cool! Beautiful photos and Botswana sounds like a great experience for a self drive safari. Botswana just got a place on my list on where to take an safari in Africa.

What a great self drive adventure through Botswana and such a detailed post. BTW, I never look as lovely and glamorous as you when I have traveled through parts of Africa! 😉 I normally end up being covered in dust.

These pictures make me want to go on safari!!! I can’t believe you drove over that bridge. What an amazing adventure.

Absolutely stunning pictures and amazing itinerary. I can’t imagine how much work went into planning this trip but I’m sure it’s helping many others interested in taking a similar adventure in the future!

Wow! what a great and detailed post! Oh how I would love to visit Botswana and do a self-driving tour

HI Marika, I hope that one day you get to go on a self-drive in Botswana. It is so incredible and unique, a real adventure.

What nice feedback Michelle, thank you so much. Yes, it was a lot of work planning as I couldn’t find much information for an independent trip to Botswana and the booking process was a lot of planning and hard work to be able to schedule.

I know, right?! Ha… That bridge. Now looking at my pictures and remembering all the adventures I went through during this trip, is insane and I am so thankful I only had some minor problems with this trip.

I love it Alma…haha…believe me, I was so dirty on these pictures too. My hair is always braided for a reason, and my boots were so dirty and dusty at the end of the trip that I didn’t even want to pack them back in my backpack. I am so glad you enjoyed this post.

HI Cosette, thanks for reading and I am so glad you enjoyed this itinerary. I so hope you get to travel to Botswana, you will absolutely love it.

Thank you so much for your kind comment, I hope this itinerary helps a lot of people who dream about self-drive independent to Botswana. I cannot wait to be able to travel safely again.

Hi Jade, glad you enjoyed this post. Oh, Botswana is simply incredible for safari and you really feel that you are super isolated the whole time, only sharing the wild with the gorgeous animals. It is just an incredible feeling.

Thanks Taylor, glad you enjoyed it. I so hope you get to go to Botswana too.

The self-drive is not an easy task in Botswana, that is the reason I was honest to say that I don’t recommend it unless you have great off-road skills and some mechanical. I am sure you had an amazing time in Botswana, it is amazing, isn’t it!?

Que fotos mais maravilhosos, que lugar de tirar o folego, acredito ter sido uma experiência única. Parabéns, o blog está ótimo, a viagem super detalhada e muito descritiva. Obrigada por com partilhar…

Obrigada Patricia e fico feliz que gostou desse artigo.

Hey Paula, I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your adventure experience. I’m originally from Tanzania and now I live in New York now. I run a tour company here in the USA bringing American to Tanzania. Trying to expand my business to other parts of Africa and Botswana clicked my head from reading your self drive experience in Botswana!

Hello Protus, thanks for your comment and I am glad you found my article about Botswana. This place really holds a special place in my heart, and I cannot wait to go back to Africa. Tanzania is very high on my bucket list.

We are going in december and are very nervous about the road conditions between Kasane and Maun – would you be able to share some images of the worst parts you’ve crossed to give us an idea?

Hello – it will depend on the weather conditions, as you will be driving between towns and also, off-road. I got lucky because when I visited Botswana it was not raining and I could drive off-road to many “roads” where normally you cannot drive if it is raining. If you see my pictures, you will see a lot of deep sand where you can only drive if you have a 4×4 vehicle appropriate for off-road, but if you are driving during the rain, you will have to cross the same roads on the mud or even water ponds.

Thanks for all your research and your effort in documenting everything in detail! We have read everything and planned the entire self-drive safari according to your itinerary, only in reverse order (from Maun to Kasane). Do you have any tips on how to plan the individual days? How to explore a certain area around a camp? How to plan the boat trips? And do you still consider your itinerary perfect or would you have liked to stay longer or shorter in a particular camp/area?

Below is what we have booked for the fall:

Wednesday Maun Thursday South Gate Friday Third bridge (depending on availability) Saturday Third Bridge Sunday Xakanaka Monday Xakanaka Tuesday Khwai Wednesday Savuti Thursday Savuti Friday Mwandi Saturday sleep in Kasane, but explore Ihaha and Chobe river during the day

Hello Bastiaan – I am so glad to hear that my itinerary is helpful and you are using it to help to plan your trip. When I planned my trip to Botswana it took me around 3 months to put this itinerary together, as they are not a lot of information on the web, and there is no road to follow. Have you checked my other blogs about Botswana? I have great advice on how to explore each safari area, and also, how to plan your camping safari, in case you are camping along the way. Or if not, I also give great recommendations on places to stay. Check these other articles, and if you still have any questions, please let me know: https://www.paulapinstheplanet.com/botswana-safari-chobe-okavango-delta/ and this one should be good too https://www.paulapinstheplanet.com/botswana-camping-safari/

Hi Paula, I didn’t see your reply until now. Thanks for responding! We have read all your blogs on Botswana and have everything booked according to your itinerary (camps, vehicle, days at each location). Just one question we have is how to make the most of the day trips from the camps? Did you use local maps or did you randomly explore and hope to find good spots for game viewing?

Hello Batiann – That is so nice my blogs about Botswana helped you to plan your trip, it is not an easy task as it is remote and doesn’t have much information on Botswana on the web. Now, how you can make the most of your trips from the camps, buy a Lonely Planet book about Botswana (this is what I used and was very helpful) and I bought the maps at the entrance of the National Parks in Botswana where you can see main spots to visit and see wildlife. Other than that, just drive, drive, drive and you will see a lot anyways. It is very wild and the chances to see wildlife are high anyways.

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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

Book a Botswana safari

Botswana wildlife

Botswana Tourist Board

Bostwana guidebooks

Botswana safari highlights

Okavango delta botswana, fly-in safari.

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

Big five spotting

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

Leopard spotting in Moremi

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.

Flights To Botswana

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

Botswana Accommodation

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

Botswana Car Hire

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

Activities in Botswana

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

National parks in Botswana

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

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

Top Botswana national park picks

• Moremi Game Reserve

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.

Get Directions

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

Botswana safari resources

Botswana safari companies.

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

Botswana safari lodges

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

Search all Botswana accommodation

Read safari guides to all countries

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

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

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

Top countries for safaris

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

Safari basics

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

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

By Jane Broughton

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

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

Where to go on a Botswana safari

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

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

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

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

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

By Olivia Morelli

By Alexander Ron

By Charlotte Davey

When to go on a Botswana safari

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

Where to stay on a Botswana Safari

Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge, Chitabe Concession, Okavango Delta

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

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

Xigera Safari Lodge

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

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

Jack’s Camp, Makgadikgadi

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

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

Sable Alley

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

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

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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.

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.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

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.

Tsodilo Hills

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.

Northern Tuli Game Reserve

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.

Okavango Panhandle

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.

Nxai Pan National Park

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.

Kwando Reserve

Linyanti, kwando and selinda reserves.

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

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

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

Chitabe & Qorokwe concessions

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

Splash Camp

Rory Sheldon

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

Khama Rhino Sanctuary

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

See the baobabs of Kubu Island

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

Camp out in Khutse Game Reserve

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

Nata Bird Sanctuary

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

Planet Baobab

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

Savute Under Canvas

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

Botswana Camping Safaris

Into Botswana & Zimbabwe

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

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

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

The best times for safari in Botswana

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

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

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

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

Getting there & around

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

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

How a Botswana safari works

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

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

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

Safari in the Okavango Delta

About the author.

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

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Wanderlust Movement | A South Africa Travel Blog

The Perfect Self-Drive Botswana Itinerary for an Epic Safari Trip

September 12, 2019 by Lauren Melnick

Last Updated on March 5, 2024 by Lauren Melnick

When my friend Melanie told me about her plans to go to Botswana, my eyes lit up, my heart started pounding, and my hands got a wee bit sweaty.

I hadn’t been to Botswana since 2015 ( omg where has the time gone?! ) when I travelled overland from South Africa to the Vic Falls Carnival New Years Eve Festival .

But I had only had enough time in the country to see dusty roads and drive past small towns.

Since then, I’ve been daydreaming about exploring the Kalahari , going on game drives through Chobe National Park , driving through the Makgadikgadi Pans and spending a night in the Okavango Delta .

Suffice to say, it didn’t take much to get me to add my name to her road trip roster.

Before long, we had whipped up an epic week-long Botswana itinerary that included some of the country’s top safari destinations.

Here’s my 4×4 self-drive Botswana itinerary for an epic safari trip!

Table of Contents

Travel Tips for Your Botswana Itinerary

The best time to travel to botswana, tips for renting a 4×4 vehicle for botswana, what to pack for botswana, things to remember, where to stay in nxai pan national park, activities at nxai pan national park, day 5: one more game drive & drive to maun, day 6: go on an overnight mokoro safari, day 7: fly or drive back to south africa, activities in chobe national park, victoria falls.

Malaria: If you’re planning a holiday in Botswana during the wet season, it’s a good idea to speak to your local travel clinic about getting malaria pills. For safari trips in the dry season, the risk is much lower. But you’ll still need to cover up in the evenings and use mosquito repellent .

Plugs: I’m happy to report that all of the hotels (and Gabarone Airport) we stayed at in Botswana had South African plugs! If you’re visiting from Europe or America, the country also uses plug types D and G.

Wildlife Safety: Please, please, please DO NOT get out your car when you’re inside a national park. During our trip to Nxai Pan , we were watching two lions in the distance when another vehicle pulled up, and the passenger got out of his car to take photos of some elephants. Just because you can’t see a predator doesn’t mean there aren’t any around you.

Travel Insurance: While Botswana is the second safest country in Africa, you still need travel insurance. From protecting your camera gear (especially if you’re renting a decent lens) to cancelled flights, take out a policy with World Nomads . The company specialises in covering travellers for all kinds of adventure activities, and you can claim online from anywhere in the world.

World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Botswana is one of those destinations that has something special to offer no matter when you plan your safari.

If you want incredible wildlife sightings and to boost your chances of seeing the Big Cats, book your trip to Botswana for the dry season. From May to September, Botswana experiences hardly any rainfall, driving the animals to congregate around the dwindling water holes.

The famous Okavango Delta floods from June to October. If a mokoro safari on the delta is on your bucket list, this is the best time to go!

But if you want a wildly different experience, plan your Botswana road trip for the wet season (November to April). The dry, arid landscape is transformed into an emerald green wilderness.

The rains are usually short-lived, and you’ll get to see plenty of newborn animals and migratory birds!

Read More:  The Best Time to Visit Botswana: What You NEED to Know

You Need a High Clearance Vehicle: Botswana’s roads aren’t in the greatest condition for normal cars. Although it’s totally possible to plan a Botswana road trip without a 4×4 ! But if you want to explore Nxai Pan National Park and some of the other destinations on my Botswana itinerary, you’ll need a high clearance vehicle.

Choosing a Car Rental Company: If you’re travelling from South Africa , choose a rental company that will let you pick up your car in Johannesburg and drop it off at an airport in Botswana. This is useful if you want to save time by flying back home instead of driving.

Border Crossings: Use the Stockpoort port of entry to get into Botswana. It’s a super quiet border (the trucks can’t use it), and it took us less than 10-minutes to go through immigration on both sides.

Paperwork and Costs: When taking your vehicle over the border, you’ll need your registration paper and letter of insurance. You’ll also need to pay the border crossing fee in cash . We paid P216 (R291 / $19 USD).

Petrol: Petrol is cheaper in Botswana than in South Africa. If you want to save money, plan to fill up your tank once you cross the border.

Download the Tracks4Africa App: Tracks4Africa is a GPS map for Africa that works offline. It’s essential if you’re planning a road trip in Botswana. Even if you have a local sim card, you aren’t guaranteed signal.

Sunscreen: The sun is harsh in Botswana. You’re going to be spending a lot of time outside on safaris and driving. If you want to avoid that one arm sunburn and turning into a hot tamale, lather up on 30+SPF sunscreen that’s vegan and eco-friendly.

After Sun: If you’re one of those people that doesn’t think they need forgets about sunscreen or burns super easily, pack a bottle of After Sun to help you get through the pain.

Sunglasses: Protect your eyes from the sun’s rays. If you’re South African, I recommend checking out Escape Society’s range! Their glasses are affordable and polarised. My favourite pair is the Gold Vintage Round Lens . It comes with 100% UVA/UVB Protection and a microfibre pouch & cleaning cloth.

Broad Brimmed Hat: If you followed my South Africa road trip in June, you’d know that I bought a gorgeous hat only to have it snatched off my head at the Valley of Desolation (how fitting). Luckily, I found the SAME hat before my Botswana trip. I’m once again the proud owner of the Morgan Emthunzini Hat . It’s a bit of an investment, but the hat is UPF 50+ and is CANSA approved.

Camera: For my trip to Botswana, I shot all my photos on my Canon D700 with my Sigma Art 18-35mm lens and my kit 75-300 lens. If I could go back, I’d hire the Canon 100-400mm F4.5 for the trip. But I’m still stoked with how my photos came out. I only wish they were a bit sharper as I struggled with the lack of stabilisation.

Warm Jacket: You’ll need a warm jacket for morning and evening game drives. I always pack my parka jacket for safaris, and it hasn’t left me shivering in the cold yet!

Comfortable Shoes: For walking safaris in Botswana, you’ll need a pair of closed walking boots . For everything else, a pair of comfortable sandals will do the job.

Neutral Clothing: Think beige and khaki. You want to blend in seamlessly with the bush.

Read More:  The Ultimate Road Trip Essentials Packing List (+ Free Checklist!)

7-Day Self-Drive Botswana Itinerary

Day 1: Drive from Johannesburg to Nata Lodge

Alright, day one is all about setting 4 AM wake up calls and squinting while brushing your teeth because your eyes aren’t ready to start working so early.

The drive from Johannesburg to Nata Lodge is 10-hours. You’ll want to pack plenty of snacks and get the car ready to go by 5 AM. It’s the only way to avoid the hell that is Johannesburg rush-hour traffic.

Once you make it over the border, there’s a tar road all the way to Nata Lodge. The only snag? Botswana has a single lane highway.

Use the Stockpoort port of entry . Why? Trucks can’t use it because the bridge is only big enough for regular ‘ol cars. That means the entire border crossing process will only take a couple of minutes because no one else will be there. I’m serious. There was no one else when we arrived. We were stamped out of South Africa and into Botswana in under 15 minutes.

You can’t take fresh produce over the border. If you want to snack on fresh fruit, vegetables, meat or cheese, you’ll need to buy all that good stuff in Botswana. If border patrol inspects your car and finds your contraband, someone else is going to be enjoying your lunch.

You can only pay for your car in cash. The Botswana border had a card machine, but it wasn’t working. Don’t count on it working when you arrive. Come prepared with cash. There is a currency exchange office, but the rates won’t be great. Try to get some Pula before you arrive.

Day 2: Nata Bird Sanctuary and Salt Pans Safari

You might be wondering: “ Why should I stay at Nata Lodge? What’s so special about this place? Can’t I stay at a backpackers or another hotel? ”

You can, but you’ll be missing out on a pretty epic experience.

Nata Lodge is situated in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and is a short drive from the Nata Bird Sanctuary. Inside the sanctuary is a massive salt pan that fills up during the wet season and attracts THOUSANDS of flamingos and pelicans!

If you stay at the lodge, you only need to pay entrance to the bird sanctuary. The lodge also includes game drives to the salt pans if you don’t feel like driving yourself and want a knowledgable guide at your side.

Unfortunately, the salt pans were as dry as the Sahara desert during our trip to Botswana. There wasn’t a bird in sight, but we still had a great time exploring the sanctuary.

We saw herds of buffalo and ostrich grazing in the distance and stayed for the sunset. We cracked open a few bottles of beer, drove onto the salt pans (something that you can’t do in the wet season) and watched the sun go down over the plains.

12/10 would recommend!

Entrance Fee: P100 (R135 / $9 USD) for non-residents and P35 (R47 / $3 USD) per vehicle.

Read More:  Staying at Nata Lodge in Botswana

Day 3: Drive to Nxai Pan National Park & Planet Baobab

Start your day with Nata Lodge’s delicious buffet breakfast. You can choose from a continental that features pancakes, scones, fresh fruit, muesli, cereal and yoghurt or you can get a classic breakfast with eggs done in your style of choice.

There aren’t a ton of options for vegans at Nata Lodge. If you’re plant-based and planning a self-drive safari in Botswana, bring all the essentials like soya milk, instant oats and anything else you like that isn’t fresh fruit.

Once you’re done stuffing your face, pack up your 4×4 and start the 5-6 hour drive to Nxai Pan National Park!

The road is tar all the way to the park’s gate – but be warned traffic cops are aplenty. Botswana also has some fancy-schmancy speed radar device that tells the cops how fast you’re driving before they see your car.

And yes, we did get a fine.

Along the way, you can make a quick detour to Planet Baobab . It’s a camp that’s famous for its massive baobab trees and stopping here is the perfect excuse to load up on some caffeine!

If you’re wanting to do a Botswana safari on a budget, stay at Planet Baobab . It’s one of the most affordable camps in the area.

Entrance: Free! Mahala!

At the entrance of Nxai Pan National Park, you’ll need to lower your tyre pressure for the sandy roads. The park is only accessible with a 4×4, and the roads are super corrugated.

That being said, you don’t need to be a 4×4 expert to drive through the park. But once you start driving, you can’t stop until you get to the second gate.

If you do, you’re going to find yourself stuck.

Entrance Fee: P120 (R162 / $11 per day) per day for a non-resident (for up to date rates contact Kwando Safaris )

Read More: Botswana Bucket List: 10+ Best Things to do in Botswana

Livin’ in Luxury: For a safari lodge experience that you’ll be raving about for years, book at least two nights at Nxai Pan Camp (though I highly recommend three if you have the time and the budget). It’s one of the best lodges in Botswana !

Ballin’ on a Budget: Nxai Pan National Park has two camping options for adventurous travellers. The first is the main camping area that has running water and ablutions. The second is informal camping by Baines Baobabs. There is NO water here. You need to bring your own, but the epic views are worth roughing it for a day or two.

Read More:  Staying at Nxai Pan Camp in Botswana

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Day 4: Explore Baine’s Baobabs and Go on Safari

For our trip to Nxai Pan National Park, we were lucky enough to spend two days at Nxai Pan Camp .

And boy, oh boy, did the lodge exceed my gastronomy expectations.

As a vegan, I’m used to my catering options being slim pickings when I travel. That was so far from the case at Nxai Pan.

The on-site chef whipped up vegan-friendly treats for my high tea and delicious plant-based meals for my lunch and dinner. I didn’t have to dip into my snack reserves once!

Game Drives: During our stay, we went on a full-day guided game drive, one evening guided game drive and a self-drive when we left. The park is home to 4 of the Big 5, and we were lucky enough to see a small pride of lions!

Baines Baobabs: Nxai Pan Camp includes a day trip to the legendary Baines Baobabs as part of your stay. It’s one of the best places to visit in Botswana. The trees were immortalised in paintings by Baine during his expedition to Victoria Falls with David Livingstone. The area is also popular with the elusive Oryx.

Bushman Walk: One of our guides from Nxai Pan was Shoes, a San bushman. On our last morning at the camp, he took us on a short walk into the national park to show us how the San lived in the Central Kahalari. We learnt how to make fire with two sticks, how to set a trap for guinea fowl and the many uses of elephant dung.

The Pool: The pool at Nxai Pan Camp deserves a special mention because it’s a couple of meters away from a watering hole that’s a firm favourite with the local elephants. Every day, without fail, a massive herd would arrive to splash around. If you have the time in your itinerary, spend an extra day poolside and watch the wildlife wander past with a cocktail in hand.

Wake up slowly and enjoy your last breakfast at Nxai Pan Camp around the fire. If you’re not too keen for the bushman walk, you can swap it for another morning guided game drive before you leave.

The drive from the camp to the park exit will take about 2-hours. Take your time driving back through the park, and you might have some last-minute sightings.

We saw a small pride of lions and watched a herd of elephants running up to the watering hole!

Once you reach the tar road, it’s an easy 4-hour drive to Maun.

Where to Stay in Maun

Sitatunga Camp: Sitatunga Camp is a gorgeous rustic camp 13km outside of Maun. You can choose to stay at the campgrounds, tented camps or the chalets. There’s also a swimming pool and an on-site restaurant. We spent one night here before our Mokoro safari and stayed in a tented camp.

Old Bridge Backpackers: We spent the night at Old Bridge after our Mokoro safari in the Okavango Delta and loved it! There are hippos and crocodiles chilling in a pool of water right in front of the backpackers. The WiFi is decent, and the restaurant has quite a few vegan options on the menu. Plus, you can get a private room for only P200 (R270 / $18)!

I don’t know about you, but safaris turn me into a little kid. Few things excite me as much as seeing elephants, big cats and other wildlife I never see in my day-to-day life.

A mokoro safari in the Okavango Delta has been at the top of my Botswana bucket list for years.

I mean, it’s pure magic.

Located in the Kalahari Desert, it became the 1,000 UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 and is home to an abundance of wildlife.

The best part?

You get to experience it without noisy car engines. You’ll sail down the sparkling lagoons, watch hippos grunt in the distance and elephants graze only meters away from you.

It’s a unique safari experience that you’re not going to get anywhere else in the world, and it’s worth every. single. penny.

We booked our Okavango Delta Mokoro Safari with Delta Rain , and I could not recommend them enough. We stayed at their camp for one night, and the staff took us on a walking safari where we got to see a herd of seven giraffes up close!

Overnight Mokoro Safari Cost Uncatered: $230 (R3385)

Overnight Mokoro Safari Catered: $300 (R4416)

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And just like that, you’re at the end of my one week Botswana itinerary. It’s time to pretend your bags don’t weigh more than 20kg pack your bags for the airport. Maybe sit on your suitcase for a bit and try squash in all the souvenirs you’ve collected along the way.

If you want to save time, I recommend hiring a 4×4 from a rental company that’s going to let you pick up the car in South Africa and drop it off at an airport in Botswana.

This way, you can catch a flight back home instead of doubling back.

A word of caution for those that choose to fly like we did, book a morning flight. Do not choose the layover in Gabarone and fly in the afternoon.

Never in my life have I experienced such a turbulent flight because of the hot air pockets. I prayed so hard, you guys. So hard.

Additional Adventures for Your Botswana Itinerary

Chobe national park.

Want to visit one of the best wildlife destinations in the world? Continue your Botswana road trip with a stop at the iconic Chobe National Park.

You’ll need to drive back to Nata Lodge (a seven-hour drive from Maun) to travel up to Kasane – the gateway to Chobe. There is another option to cut across to Kasane from Maun, but the road isn’t in great condition, and it won’t save you any time.

Once you arrive, you can choose to camp inside the park, stay in one of the luxury lodges or spend the night on a houseboat.

• Self-drive and guided game drives • Photographic safaris • Boat cruises

If you want to avoid paying vehicle fees to enter Zambia and Zimbabwe, you can book a day-tour to Victoria Falls – one of the 7 Wonders of the World!

It’s an easy way to add The Smoke That Thunders to your Botswana itinerary!

Most tours include the transfer to and from Kasane, but you’ll still need to pay separately to go into the falls. While a day trip is a great option for travellers short on time, it’s worth crossing the border if you want to do more than one adventure activity .

Entrance Fees for Victoria Falls: $30 (R441.00)

Read More:  A Quick Guide to Victoria Falls: Everything You Need to Know

So, with this massive Botswana travel guide in tow, I hope you’re ready to tackle a Botswana self-drive itinerary. I hope this post gave you plenty of inspiration for what to do and where to stay in Botswana!

Got questions? Hit ya gurl up in the comments below!

Want more Botswana travel tips? Check out my other posts:

• The Best Time to Visit Botswana: What You NEED to Know
• The Ultimate Botswana Bucket List
• Staying at Nxai Pan Camp in Botswana
• Staying at Nata Lodge in Botswana
• A Quick Guide to Victoria Falls: Everything You Need to Know

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About Lauren Melnick

Lauren Melnick is the founder of Wanderlust Movement, Wander to Here and is a South Africa travel blogger. She's been travelling the world as a full-time freelance writer since 2016 and has visited over 40 countries.

When she isn't typing up a storm, you can find her conquering overnight hikes around the Western Cape, rock climbing, and hosting sold out group travel trips around South Africa, Namibia and Morocco.

Reader Interactions

May 26, 2020 at 1:54 pm

This information is lovely to read and very informative. any one would like to travel immediately when they read this. thank you

January 23, 2021 at 4:33 pm

I am definitely following this road trip of yours. Thank you for all the details and wonderful tips!!

January 29, 2021 at 2:18 pm

Hope you have an incredible time!

April 3, 2021 at 7:29 pm

Please give an estimate of the total cost of this trip excluding car rental and flight back to SA

April 3, 2021 at 7:35 pm

Hi! I did this trip in 2019, so prices won’t be the same. Your best bet is to contact the hotels and places you want to visit to get 2021 costs so your budget is as accurate as possible.

July 29, 2021 at 3:39 pm

Very informative article for all drivers. Thanks for the share.

February 1, 2022 at 10:56 am

Very useful info for all Self-Drivers thanks for share.

March 12, 2023 at 11:27 pm

Hi, Thanks for the info, everything seems really exciting!! I’ll be travelling with my sister in summer (we are 24 and 30). Is it safe ? Do you think there is a way to travel without a car but by bus (train?)…?

Do you think a 20days trip from Jobourg and back to Jobourg is recommended : – Mkgadikgadi – Victoria Falls – Chobe – Maun – (Central Kalahari)

Thanks a lot,

March 17, 2023 at 10:07 am

Safety is relative. Bad things happen everywhere in the world, so I can’t guarantee anything. But I’ve never felt unsafe in Botswana.

You could technically travel by bus, but you won’t be able to get anywhere beyond the major towns. For example, there are no buses to Mkgadikgadi. You’d likely only be able to get to Maun/Vic Falls. I’ve never used public transport in Botswana/Zimbabwe so I’m not sure on the routes and schedules.

I think 20-days for that is doable. You’ll just need to time it right and prepare yourself for long drives / checking conditions of the roads for the vehicle you’re using as well as the long waiting times at land border crossings.

March 19, 2023 at 12:23 pm

Thanks a lot again for your comment and infos. The best would be as you recommend to drop off the car on Botswana. Could you give me the name of the Company you found for that ? Thanks a lot !

January 31, 2024 at 2:33 am

Is this safe for single women. I’m travelling solo, really solo.

March 5, 2024 at 10:46 am

Botswana is one of the safest African countries, but as long as you have the skills to do everything yourself (like change a tyre etc.) you should be good. However, bad people are everywhere, so it’s always good to be cautious and practice common sense.

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Explore Botswana’s amazing destinations

There are few places in Africa that can match Botswana for ultimate exclusivity, pure luxury, abundant wildlife and diverse landscapes. Discover a world of diverse and stunning landscapes, from the sandy vastness of the Kalahari Desert to the watery paradise of the Okavango Delta.

Botswana is an incredible place for a safari and the intertwining waterways of the delta sustain a huge variety of flora and fauna, offering excellent game-viewing throughout the year. This maze of lagoons and small islands covers 15,000 sq kms and is a haven for birdlife (a favourite for birdwatchers) and other wildlife including hippo, crocodiles, elephant and rare antelope like lechwe and the shy sitatunga. Predators including leopard and lion also abound, whilst Botswana remains one of the best places in Africa to see African Wild Dog.

To the south, the Kalahari Desert and Makgadikgadi Pans compliment a safari in the delta. The desert landscapes are home to rare desert-adapted species including brown hyena and offer guests unique experiences such as quad biking, walking with the bushman and get up close to habituated meerkats.

In between the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park, the exclusive Selinda and Linyanti concessions harbour safari camps and lodges that

Selinda and Linyanti

The Kalahari is one of the planet’s last great wilderness areas and our carefully selected properties provide extraordinary insight into the

The Kalahari and Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

The Okavango Delta is one of the world's most incredible wildlife sanctuaries and our selection of exclusive camps and lodges here provide you

Okavango Delta, Moremi & Khwai

Chobe National Park is most famous for its elephants, whilst in the park’s arid west is the Savute, an extremely rich wildlife area. Opt for a

Chobe National Park and Savute

Talk to one of our africa experts, michael fitzgerald.

Senior Destination Specialist

Best Botswana Safaris

Below are some of the amazing Botswana holidays and experiences that we can custom design for you. All of our safaris and tours are tailor-made to suit your interests, budget and timeframe.

Beautiful Botswana

Discover Botswana's most beautiful wilderness areas and an abundance of incredible wildlife on this luxury 10 night safari.

Botswana and Victoria Falls Family Discovery

Discover the extraordinary wildlife of Botswana's Okavango Delta and be awed by Zambia's mighty Victoria Falls on this memorable safari designed for families with kids.

Botswana Northern Highlights

Discover northern Botswana's most beautiful wilderness areas and an abundance of incredible wildlife on this fully serviced camping safari.

Desert & Delta Safari Botswana

Discover epic wildlife in the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve and Savute with Desert & Delta Safaris, one of Botswana's most respected operators.

Exclusive Botswana

Take in the best of Botswana on this 12 day exclusive safari, travelling from the Makgadikgadi Pans through the Linyanti into the Okavango Delta.

Highlights of Botswana and Zambia

This trip combines Zambia's wild South Luangwa National Park and iconic Victoria Falls with Botswana's magnificent Okavango Delta and elephant-rich Chobe National Park.

Ker & Downey Botswana

Experience this authentic 7 day Okavango Delta safari with Ker & Downey Botswana, one of the country's most respected operators.

Magical Mashatu & Mala Mala

Combine two fantastic safari experiences on this exciting 8 day itinerary staying at Botswana's Mashatu, "Land of the Giants" and legendary Mala Mala in South Africa.

Sanctuary Retreats Botswana

Experience the country's epic wildernesses from Chobe National Park to the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve with Sanctuary Retreats Botswana.

Wilderness Safaris Classic Botswana

Uncover the diversity of Botswana, journeying from the watery Okavango Delta to the arid Central Kalahari, on this eye-opening 9 day luxury safari.

Wilderness Safaris Premier Botswana

Experience the beauty and diversity of Botswana's Okavango Delta whilst staying in some of the area's most spectacular luxury tented camps.

Luxury Accommodation in Botswana

Botswana is also renowned for its sophisticated and exclusive eco-lodges and camps, providing comfort and service in the heart of true wilderness. These intimate camps usually accommodate between just 12 and 20 guests, making a Botswana safari an authentic and personalised experience. Many of these luxury camps feature private plunge pools, massage parlours and even small gyms. Many camps also feature family friendly accommodation and engaging kids’ clubs making Botswana one of the best countries to visit as a family.

Duke’s Camp

Duke’s Camp brings the iconic 1940s campaign style of Jack’s Camp to the northern Okavango Delta

Chitabe Camp

On an island in the Okavango Delta’s unspoilt southeast, Chitabe Camp is well-known for its resident African wild dogs and leopards.

Jao Camp is a breathtakingly beautiful property in a remote sector of the Okavango Delta which offers a range of land and water-based activities.

Kings Pool Camp

Named after Scandinavian royalty, Kings Pool Camp sits by a lagoon in the elephant-rich Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, which borders Chobe National Park.

Jack’s Camp

Award-winning Jack’s Camp sits in the shade of palms amid a giant salt lake which dried up millennia ago, beside Botswana's otherworldly Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.

Vumbura Plains Camp

The ultra-luxurious Vumbura Plains Camp sits elevated upon a stunning floodplain in the north of the Okavango Delta where guests can enjoy both water and land-based activities.

Duba Explorers Camp

Secluded Duba Explorers Camp is set amid a classic Okavango Delta landscape in a vast private concession, assuring guests of very exclusive wildlife encounters.

On Chief’s Island in the world-renowned Moremi Game Reserve, superb Mombo Camp is right in the heart of big cat country.

Little Mombo Camp

Little Mombo Camp is linked to Mombo Camp by a walkway. With just 3 guest suites, it's a most intimate safari camp to watch nature’s dramas play out on the surrounding floodplains.

Xigera Safari Lodge

Botswana’s newest and most glamorous lodge, Xigera Safari Lodge is situated in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Okavango Delta and is a member of the acclaimed Red Carnation Hotel group

Savuti Camp

Set alongside the ephemeral Savute Channel, Savuti Camp is located in a privileged wildlife area, best known for its plentiful predators including lion and African wild dog.

The camp is located in the beautiful Khwai Private Reserve, a 2,000km² reserve filled with pristine wilderness and a fairy tale landscape of floodplains, emerald forests and a myriad of waterways.

Selinda Camp

Selinda Camp is located in the breathtakingly unspoilt Selinda Reserve, home to some of Africa’s largest herds of elephant and buffalo, as well as rare African wild dog.

Duba Plains Camp

Duba Plains Camp is an extravagant luxury safari camp set in a private concession in the Okavango Delta dubbed "Botswana's Masai Mara" for sheer density of wildlife.

North Island Okavango

With just 4 elegant and expansive suites, guests can be assured of a relaxing and unforgettable experience, in one of the world’s most beautiful locations – the Okavango Delta.

Find out more about our tailor made African safaris. Get in touch with one of our Destination Specialists.

Subscribe below to keep up to date, find out more about our tailor made african safaris, related stories, elephants of chobe national park, exploring botswana, mombo – okavango’s place of plenty, discovering the kalahari desert, when is the best time to visit botswana.

Botswana is very much a year-round destination. The contrasting landscapes during the dry season (May-Oct) and the wet season (December-March) offer a completely different perspective and there are plenty of reasons to travel at both these times. Below is a short summary of what to expect at different times of the year:

July - October

December - march, february - march.

Visitor numbers begin to increase during May and June but are not quite at its peak. Temperatures are still chilly in the morning and evening before rising to a pleasant 24-28 degrees in the early afternoon – perfect for a serviced, mobile camping trip. Game-viewing is generally very good with elephant sightings around the Chobe National Park a highlight.

The peak season for Botswana when the landscape is at its driest and game congregates around the remaining water sources. Peak season also coincides with summer holidays in the Northern Hemisphere which means availability is often extremely limited. If you are planning to travel over this time, we recommended booking 12 or even 18 months in advance.

A terrific month to travel (particularly early November) as prices are slightly lower, as are visitor numbers. Game viewing is still excellent and the first rains for the season come as a welcome relief for the wildlife. It is also fascinating to see the immediate change in the landscape when the first rains do arrive, as new grass grows and the wilderness starts to transform. Maximum daily temperatures are still high (around 35 degrees).

The wet season is in full swing by early December and this is the time of year when antelope start to give birth. It is season of plenty, when there is plentiful food, plenty of newborn antelope (that all birth at the same time to minimise the risk of losing young) and that means predators are on the on lookout. One of the key benefits over this period is that there are far fewer travellers, creating a more exclusive experience.

Another highlight that occurs, during February and early March is the zebra migration when thousands of zebras arrive in the Makgadikgadi and Naxi pans. During the wet season the pans are transformed from bone dry salt pans to shallow lakes and beautiful grassland. One of our favourite camps to visit during this time is Jack’s Camp a unique camp decorated in 1940’s campaign-style furniture.

A bit of a transition month between the seasons, April remains a relatively quiet month with most camps beginning to see a rise in the number of travellers.

Botswana FAQ

Can you see the big 5 in botswana.

Yes – however there is only a small population of rhino that were reintroduced into Botswana 20 years ago. The best location to see rhino is in Northern Botswana, in the Moremi Game Reserve .

Where can I see African Wild Dog?

Botswana is one of the best countries in Africa to see the increasingly endangered African Wild Dog. They can be seen in many of the reserves including the Moremi Game Reserve , Khwai Community Area and the Linyanti Concession.

Can I do canoe Safaris in Botswana?

Canoe, or mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) safaris , are one of Botswana’s specialties. Travelling down the waterways and lagoons of the Okavango Delta is a highlight for many visitors, giving guests a unique way of photographing wildlife and birdlife.

What is the best thing to do in Botswana?

Abundant wildlife including big cats, small, ultra-luxurious lodges and diverse landscapes make Botswana one of Africa’s premier safari destinations. Unique activities including exploring the waterways of the Okavango Delta by mokoro (dugout canoe), walking with bushmen in the Kalahari Desert, and exciting 4WD safaris are all possible.

What is the Climate in Botswana?

During the winter months of May-August days are dry and sunny with average temperatures of 25°C. Mornings and evenings can be very cold. Daily averages begin to rise in September and October towards 33-35°C. Temperatures from November-April can be very hot, reaching above 38°C. December to March is when Botswana receives most of its rain.

How do you get to Botswana?

Unfortunately, there are not many direct flights into Botswana. Most travellers fly into Johannesburg in South Africa, the major hub for Southern African Safaris. From there, there are regular flights between Johannesburg and Maun, the Okavango Deltas major access point.

What can I combine Botswana with?

A landlocked country, Botswana is surrounded by a number of other safari destinations. Botswana can easily be combined with Victoria Falls , the stunning sand dunes of Namibia , cosmopolitan Cape Town or even a beautiful beach resort in Mauritius or Mozambique .

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10 Reasons to go on Safari in Botswana

Oct 19, 2019 | Adventure Safari , Brave Africa Safari , Conservation , Most Popular Blogs

Before you decide where to go on your African safari, check out our ten reasons to go on safari in Botswana . We know you’ll love the Okavango Delta, Kalahari Desert, and Chobe National Park. Because if you’re looking for a safari that offers:

• 130,000 elephants
• Fewer crowds
• Conservation-focused tourism
• Incredible scenery
• 3,000 lions
• An adventurous experience
• Remote locations
• LGBTQ+ friendly policies
• Friendly people
• The best safari location in Africa

Look no further than Botswana! It’s truly a one-of-a-kind destination that everyone should experience.

1.    130,000 Elephants – The most of any African country

Botswana is known as “The Land of the Giants.” The country boasts 130,000 elephants , almost double the number of elephants you’ll find anywhere else in the world. This makes Botswana a haven and last refuge for these majestic creatures for the last 15 years.

What this means is that when you go on safari in Botswana, you’re almost guaranteed to see elephants every single day , multiple times a day. In fact, on our most recent trip out, we rarely had lunch without a few elephants stopping at a nearby watering hole to drink while we ate. Elephants roamed near our camp, came directly up to our safari car, and were almost everywhere we looked.

Botswana has the highest concentration of elephants by far.

2.    Fewer Crowds — The experience is focused on quality, not quantity

The last thing you want when you go on safari is to be surrounded by crowds of people. After all, you’re heading to Africa to see the wildlife, not more tourists.

Botswana is considered the “road less traveled.” Fewer people think about Botswana when they consider locations for their African safari, and so there are far fewer tourists. For example, in Kenya’s Masai Mara, there are 7,000 beds available for tourists. In Botswana’s Linyanti Reserve ( just outside of Savuti ), there are only 58 beds in the same size area.

Botswana also has legislation in place that limits the number of tourists that can be in any single area. You won’t find as many tourists on safari in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, or the Kalahari Desert, and the camps are kept small. Most camps, including Brave Africa, max out at six tents, 12 guests. We also max out our safari vehicles at just six guests, so that every row has only two people and no middle seat.

The idea of Botswana is to have fewer crowds and more animal encounters. And isn’t that what you want?

3.    Conservation Focused — Botswana is ranked #1 in the world for conservation

Botswana is considered one of the last sanctuaries in Africa with untouched wilderness, making it a haven for endangered species. More than 25% of Botswana’s land area has been set aside for parks and reserves, dedicated to protecting the stunning landscapes and wildlife.

In 2017, the Lonely Planet ranked Botswana the #1 country in the world for conservation , saying, “they keep visitor numbers deliberately lower than they could so that they can manage the environmental impact of wilderness tours.”

For example, let’s take a look at rhinos. In 2001, Botswana had no rhinos left, so the country passed serious legislation focused on combatting poachers and protecting wildlife. Poaching in Botswana was punishable by death for a few years, and they are the only country to deploy the national military to keep poachers out. Today, around 400 rhinos have been reintroduced to the Okavango Delta.

4.    Incredible Scenery — Varied and stunning landscapes in the Okavango Delta, Kalahari Desert, and Chobe

Botswana is home to some of the most pristine and stunning landscapes in all of Africa. You can find a little bit of everything in the country from dusty red deserts to lush swamplands, sweeping floodplains, expansive savannahs, and vibrant forests. Honestly, during one all-day game drive, you can travel through a complete range of raw, rugged, and stunning landscapes.

In particular, the magical Okavango Delta stands out as Botswana’s main draw. It’s 16,000- square kilometers of wilderness with some of the densest wildlife in the world. The area is considered one of the largest inland water systems on the planet and home to one of Africa’s most diverse and vibrant ecosystems .

It’s a dazzling area with an abundance of lions, wild dogs, leopards, hippos, elephants, giraffe, kudu, and more. Then, there’s the Kalahari Desert that extends 900,000 square kilometers and covers much of Botswana. A semi-desert, it offers vast tracts of land that are excellent for grazing after good rains. This area is home to black-manned lions, oryx gazelle, and the incredible flamingo migration in Makagadikgadi Pans.

5.    3,000 Lions — Second only to Tanzania in lion populations

Lions can also be found throughout Botswana. In fact, after Tanzania, Botswana claims the largest population of lions in Africa. They thrive throughout the Okavango Delta , Central Kalahari, and Savuti. Best yet, lions in Botswana have some unique distinctions.

The Kalahari Desert is the only place in the world where you can see black-manned lions . These lions are known for their massive size and beautiful manes. Beyond their stunning manes, they also tend to have higher levels of testosterone, a better chance of survival, and a healthier disposition.

Then, in Savuti, there’s a pride of lions known as elephant killers . This incredible pride has learned how to take down adult elephants. While it’s not something you particularly want to witness, it makes the Savuti lions stand out for their unique hunting habits.

6.    Adventurous Experience — Harkens back to the original safari experience

Since there are fewer tourists in Botswana, it creates a more intimate safari experience. It also translates into a much more adventurous safari that harkens back to the old days when Africa was relatively untouched by the rest of the world.

When you go on Safari in South Africa, Kenya, or Tanzania, you’ll notice that the animals tend to be very tame. Just search for videos on YouTube of cheetahs jumping on cars or a herd of zebra walking right near a car. There are so many tourists funneled through these destinations every year that the animals are desensitized. You might as well be at a zoo for all the attention the wildlife will pay to you.

That’s not the case in Botswana. Many animals in Botswana’s Okavango Delta and Kalahari Desert are still skittish around cars and people, which makes for a very different experience. It truly feels like you’re in the middle of the African Bush searching for incredible animals. Every day is an adventure, wondering what you’ll find and encounter. And because the animals are less used to humans, you always feel privileged when you have a fantastic sighting.

For example, we ran into a cheetah on our last time out that clearly did not recognize the sound of vehicles. As soon as it heard our engine, it took the cautious approach and disappeared. And while it was disappointing not to have more time with the cheetah, it was incredible to think that we may have been some of the first people to ever see him.

When you go on safari in Botswana, you feel more like an explorer, braving uncharted territory. And you feel grateful and proud of every perfect picture captured, and experience enjoyed.

7.    Remote Safari Destinations — Bush planes are required to go on safari in Botswana

Part of the adventure experience in Botswana is getting to your camp. While you’ll drive most places in South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania, Botswana requires bush planes. The Okavango Delta is massive and can swell to three times its permanent size in the rainy season. This means that driving to your remote camp isn’t feasible. Instead, you have to fly into dirt airstrips.

We think this remoteness is what makes Botswana so incredible. There are no roads near your camp, just dirt paths. A Botswana safari is truly an exclusive and immersive experience where it’s all about the wilderness.

8.    LGBTQ Friendly —Tolerance is promoted, and same-sex relationships are legal

This year, Botswana’s High Court unanimously voted to overturn laws that criminalize homosexuality. It was a momentous win for the LGBTQ+ community in Botswana and reflects the values of Botswana’s society.

During the ruling, Judge Michael Leburu admitted that the current laws were “discriminatory” to the LGBTQ community and violated Botswana’s constitution. He argued that overturning them was a matter of “protecting human rights.”

9. Friendly People —Botswanans are some of the nicest people you’ll meet

Botswana might be one of the least densely populated countries in the world, with a population of just over 2 million, but its people are the best. Botswanans are some of the friendliest and most accommodating people that you’ll meet. They take great pride in their country and in giving their best in everything they do.

You’ll be welcomed into Botswana with warm smiles and open hearts. Culturally, singing is incredibly important, so you’ll likely enjoy a song or two during your visit. You might even get to enjoy a few ululations on behalf of Botswanan women, as they show their excitement and happiness.

10. Best Safari Location — Botswana is regularly ranked as one of the best safari destinations

Chobe National Park is ranked as the #3 best safari destination in Africa by Fodors . It earns this prestigious title because of its incredibly dense game concentration. The area is “teeming with wildlife year-round,” Fodors writes. They also call Chobe a “stronghold of endangered species such as wild dog, cheetah, and brown hyena.” In particular, they recommend the Savuti Marsh , which we visit on our safaris.

CNN Travel recently put Botswana’s Kalahari Desert on its list of the eight best safari destinations in Africa . They write, “the Kalahari Desert represents Africa at its most brutally wild.” They highlight it as a “land of pure adventure” where you can gain insight into the diversity of Africa. They state, “there’s nothing better than a two-stop safari combining the shimmering pans of the Kalahari with Okavango wetland wilderness.”

Botswana also shows up on CNN Traveler’s “ Most Beautiful Countries in the World ” list. They talk about the Okavango Delta, calling it a “real-world Eden, where cheetahs, zebras, buffalo, and rhinos roam freely.”

According to Conde Nast Traveler, “ Your First Safari Should Be in Botswana .” The article talks about the country’s unique tourism model that focuses on fewer people, but high spenders, so the economy grows, and there’s as little impact on the environment as possible.

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There Are Important Differences in Botswana Safaris

• You Won't Find a Smaller Group—Just 7 or 8 Guests! The best African safari can't happen in crowded conditions. We take a maximum of just seven guests on regular departures—and eight guests on photo departures—divided into two vehicles for game drives, on photo departures. An exceptionally small group ensures a highly personalized safari experience, allowing us to stay at very small camps that offer truly intimate wildlife encounters. 
• A "Window" Seat for Every Guest Our private safari vehicles have open sides, with no glass to impede your view. Though vehicles have 10 cushioned passenger seats—one in front next to the driver, followed by three rows of three seats each—we limit our capacity to just seven travelers on wildlife drives ( and only four travelers per vehicle on photo departures ), ensuring clear viewing—no one stuck in a middle seat—maximum comfort, easy photography access and plenty of room for your gear. 
• The Optimal Botswana Safari Itinerary Our itineraries have been meticulously designed in conjunction with World Wildlife Fund to provide a secluded experience of Botswana's prolific wildlife, where animal numbers are highest and tourist crowds non-existent. We have years of experience running the best safaris in Botswana, and we continually tweak our itineraries to ensure that the experience we offer is second to none. 
• Stay in Seclusion on Private Reserves We stay on exclusive private reserves,  offering an isolated setting and activities off-limits in the national parks, such as night drives and guided walking excursions that allow a rare chance to explore the intricacies of the bush on foot. Our secluded camps in Linyanti and Moremi provide outstanding proximity to wildlife, with close-up photo opportunities and the chance to shoot at sunset when the light is best. In contrast, other groups that stay inside the national parks must be back at camp by sunset due to park regulations.
• Intimate Camps Facilitate Close-Up Wildlife Encounters Our very small luxury safari camps maximize quiet encounters with Botswana’s prolific wildlife at close range. With just four or five tents each, their discreet presence enhances the likelihood that wildlife will wander through camp. Individual verandas provide guests a private view on the African wild, with photography possibilities right out the door of your tent. And within the privately owned Santawani and Linyanti concessions, Gomoti Tented Camp and Linyanti Tented Camp are for our groups alone.
• Doors-Off Helicopter Flight on Photo Departures Anyone who's had an aerial view on an African safari will tell you there's nothing like photographing wildlife from on high. So we've included an exciting helicopter flight on our photo departures. Capture wildlife on the move as you soar over the Gomoti River, a year-round lifeline for animals, and the Okavango Delta—one of the richest wildlife enclaves in all of Africa. With the doors off, there's nothing to impede your view!
• Explore from Our New Electric Safari Vehicle From our private Gomoti Camp in the southern Okavango Delta, experience quiet game drives in our new fully electric safari vehicle. Operating from our off-grid camp and powered by the sun, this retrofitted Toyota Land Cruiser marks a new era in more sustainable safari transportation. 
• Air Transfers Maximize Your Time on Safari Light aircraft flights between safari locations, rather than long, dusty drives over rough dirt roads, allow us to spend more time scouting for wildlife on safari, instead of enduring uncomfortable conditions in transit.
• The World's Finest Naturalist Guides  Our guests enjoy the personalized service of some of the Africa's top naturalist guides—a Nat Hab hallmark. Your NHA Safari Expedition Leader accompanies your group from start to finish, ensuring a seamless experience. Rather than using less-qualified local camp guides at each location, you benefit from our Expedition Leaders' expertise—they are the most highly trained guides in Africa, averaging 15 years' experience, with additional resources provided by WWF’s top scientists. Our philosophy on this is simple: an African safari is only as good as the guide, so we must provide the very best! See Expedition Leader bios and traveler comments regarding the quality of our leaders.
• Our Quality-Value Guarantee Ensures Your Superior Botswana Safari With Natural Habitat Adventures, you receive our exclusive guarantee, which clearly states that we will meet the lofty expectations we set in our promotional materials. To our knowledge, this is the most ambitious guarantee made by any adventure travel company. Read our important promise.
• Feel Good About Your Carbon-Neutral Journey We care deeply about our planet, as we know you do. When you travel with us, the carbon emissions from your trip are 100% offset—including your round-trip flights from home. Natural Habitat Adventures has been the world’s first carbon-neutral travel company since 2007.

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Top 20 Best Botswana Safaris - Compare 278 Tours

7-Day Chobe NP, Okavango Delta & Victoria Falls Luxury

$4,995 to $7,810 pp (USD)

Botswana & Zimbabwe: Private tour Luxury Lodge & Tented Camp

You Visit: Victoria Falls (Start) , Chobe Riverfront (Chobe NP) , Okavango Delta, Maun (End)

4.9 /5  –  149 Reviews

3-Day Thrilling Vacation in Chobe National Park

$990 to $1,210 pp (USD)

Botswana: Private tour Mid-range Lodge

You Visit: Kasane (Start) , Chobe NP, Kasane (End)

5.0 /5  –  128 Reviews

6-Day Your Unforgettable Botswana Tour

$2,618 pp (USD)

Botswana: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle) Budget Camping

You Visit: Kasane (Start) , Chobe NP, Savuti (Chobe NP) , Moremi GR (Okavango Delta) , Maun (End)

Tony Mobile Safari   Tour operator has an office in Botswana

5.0 /5  –  82 Reviews

6-Day The Perfect Botswana Family Safari

$2,156 to $2,398 pp (USD)

You Visit: Maun (Start) , Okavango Delta, Makgadikgadi Pans NP, Maun (End)

5.0 /5  –  42 Reviews

9-Day Incredible Journey

$4,846 to $8,081 pp (USD)

Botswana: Private tour Luxury Lodge & Tented Camp

You Visit: Maun (Start) , Okavango Delta, Moremi GR (Okavango Delta) , Savuti (Chobe NP) , Maun (End)

Safari Online

5.0 /5  –  115 Reviews

6-Day Okavango Delta Experience (Fly-in Safari)

$3,460 to $6,040 pp (USD)

Botswana: Private tour Mid-range Tented Camp & Tented Bush Camp

You Visit: Maun (Start) , Okavango Delta, Maun (End)

Gondwana Tours & Safaris   Tour operator has an office in Botswana

5.0 /5  –  79 Reviews

4-Day Okavango Delta & Boteti River Tented Safari

$1,155 to $1,276 pp (USD)

Botswana: Shared tour (max 10 people per group) Luxury Lodge

You Visit: Maun (Start) , Moremi GR (Okavango Delta) , Okavango Delta, Maun (End)

The Mzansi Experience

4.7 /5  –  64 Reviews

7-Day Victoria Falls, Chobe Safari & Okavango Delta

$2,860 to $3,427 pp (USD)

You Visit: Victoria Falls (Start) , Chobe NP, Okavango Delta, Maun Airport (End)

Africa Incoming

4.7 /5  –  13 Reviews

3-Day Mokoro Overnight-Okavango Delta

$572 to $589 pp (USD)

Botswana: Shared tour (max 15 people per group) Budget Camping

Mosu Safari Tours   Tour operator has an office in Botswana

5.0 /5  –  31 Reviews

3-Day Camping Safari in Khwai Concession, Botswana

$1,271 pp (USD)

Botswana: Private tour Budget Camping

You Visit: Maun (Start) , Khwai Concession (Okavango Delta) , Maun (End)

Shipungo Safari & Tours   Tour operator has an office in Botswana

5.0 /5  –  55 Reviews

8-Day Okavango Delta, Chobe and Victoria Falls

$2,750 pp (USD)

Botswana & Zimbabwe: Shared tour (max 4 people per vehicle) Budget Camping & Hotel

You Visit: Maun (Start) , Moremi GR (Okavango Delta) , Khwai Concession (Okavango Delta) , Savuti (Chobe NP) , Chobe NP, Victoria Falls, Kasane (End)

Kalahari Marsh Safari Holidays   Tour operator has an office in Botswana

5.0 /5  –  37 Reviews

5-Day Botswana Tour

$1,788 pp (USD)

You Visit: Maun (Start) , Okavango Delta, Moremi GR (Okavango Delta) , Maun (End)

Walking Stick Travel & Tours   Tour operator has an office in Botswana

4.8 /5  –  74 Reviews

4-Day Chobe National Park Mid Range Tour

$1,645 pp (USD)

Botswana: Shared tour (max 9 people per vehicle) Mid-range Lodge

You Visit: Kasane (Start) , Chobe NP, Kasane Airport (End)

5.0 /5  –  18 Reviews

4-Day Savuti Expedition

$2,200 pp (USD)

You Visit: Kasane (Start) , Savuti (Chobe NP) , Kasane (End)

Enjanga Tours & Safaris   Tour operator has an office in Botswana

5.0 /5  –  10 Reviews

3-Day Chobe Wildlife Encounter

$605 pp (USD)

Botswana: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle) Mid-range Lodge

N'tee Safaris and Tours   Tour operator has an office in Botswana

4.9 /5  –  16 Reviews

3-Day Central Kalahari Classic

$1,133 pp (USD)

Botswana: Shared tour (max 16 people per vehicle) Mid-range Camping

You Visit: Maun (Start) , Central Kalahari GR, Maun (End)

Xaa Safaris   Tour operator has an office in Botswana

4.6 /5  –  19 Reviews

7-Day Chobe & Delta Fly-in

$4,080 pp (USD)

Botswana: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle) Luxury Lodge & Tented Camp

You Visit: Maun (Start) , Chobe NP, Okavango Delta, Maun (End)

4.7 /5  –  186 Reviews

9-Day Budget Camping Victoria Falls to Okavango Delta

$1,595 to $1,760 pp (USD)

Botswana & Zimbabwe: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle) Budget Camping & Lodge

You Visit: Victoria Falls (Start) , Chobe NP, Elephant Sands GR, Okavango Delta, Maun Airport (End)

Zambezi Expedition Travel and Tours

5.0 /5  –  88 Reviews

3-Day Boteti Tented Safari Lodge

$615 pp (USD)

Botswana: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle) Luxury Lodge

You Visit: Maun (Start) , Boteti River, Moremi GR (Okavango Delta) , Maun Airport (End)

MoAfrika Tours

4.9 /5  –  1234 Reviews

7-Day Botswana Classic Safari

$4,755 to $8,205 pp (USD)

Botswana: Private tour Luxury Tented Camp & Tented Bush Camp

You Visit: Maun (Start) , Khwai Concession (Okavango Delta) , Linyanti (Chobe NP) , Maun Airport (End)

Kingfisher Safaris

4.7 /5  –  51 Reviews

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This African Safari Takes You on a Land Adventure and a River Cruise—Here’s What It Was Like

A safari in northern botswana ends with three days of boating at sitatunga, a private island in the heart of the okavango delta. we meet crocodiles, elephants and some very angry hippos., michael verdon, michael verdon's most recent stories.

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I had a very different waterborne experience in Botswana , spending a week in three Great Plains Conservation camps—the last on Sitatunga Private Island, a recently opened retreat accessible only by boat or helicopter. The first two camps, Selinda and Duba Plains , are longstanding outposts for Great Plains, which owns 15 properties across Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Kenya.

The three camps are all “open,” meaning no fences, with the number of “tents” kept purposely small to deliver on that private experience. The word “tent” is a misnomer. The multi-room suites look rustic but are designer-caliber, with stylized mosquito nets around the king-sized beds (and air-conditioning coming from the headboards), living rooms with leather couches, stocked liquor cabinets and Nespresso machines.

Beside the wood-clad showers and his-and-hers sinks are full-sized copper bathtubs, a luxury you wouldn’t expect in a remote outback (the camps run on solar power.) On the outside deck are a plunge pool and Peloton bike. A professional Canon camera is provided to document the trip.

It’s common to see elephant herds, baboons with babies clinging to them and warthog broods (it was the November birthing season) ambling 15 feet in front of the screened bedroom windows.

There are myriad camps in this region, but Great Plains takes great pains to create a microcosm of this part of Africa, where your group feels like Karen Blixen seeing elephants, lions, and leopards for the first time. It’s a far cry from the traffic jams of tourist buses several of our group experienced on other safaris.

On our twice-daily, three-hour drives on the bumpy, dusty trails around Selinda and Duba Plains, we encountered no other groups or, really, any signs of civilization outside the camps.

I’d come expecting a Disney experience, where the animals appear on cue. Instead, we had to search for them, including an elusive leopard keeping a wary eye on a group of baboons and two young male lions trying to take over the local Tsaro pride by killing off the lead male. (We saw the two lounging around under a tree in the hot mid-day sun, while the pride was off in another corner of the reserve.)

The week quickly took on a pleasant cadence: Breakfast, in the Land Cruiser by 6:30 to beat the unseasonably brutal heat, four hours driving on the trail, lunch, siesta, and the second jeep tour, followed by sunset cocktails (usually in the bush) and dinner at the camp.

By the end of the fourth day, we’d seen 150 species of mammals and birds, an impressive bucket list for anyone who has never gone on safari. The three-hour drives covered a lot of territory—Duba Plains is 88,000 acres—and the animals generally stayed to themselves in their local habitats.

We had a Lion King moment at Duba, where a dozen species, from elephants to antelope herds to vervet monkeys to a lonesome old Cape Buffalo, grazed close to each other on a watery plain.

I’d assumed the animals were tame-ish since we could get relatively close. Owner, our guide, had a more realistic theory: “If you get out of the jeep, they’ll see you as a two-legged threat, and the situation will be very different.” In other words, dangerous. The rules mandated staying seated and quiet in the vehicle and never approaching the animals on the outskirts of camp.

The first four days were about the animals, but the last three focused on the water. We arrived to Sitatunga by helicopter, a trip highlight since the pilot took a circuitous route across the ever-changing landscape, giving us a chance to see what the Kalahari desert region looks like from the air.

The boats at Sitatunga were a welcome change from the vehicles, partly because the heat had broken, but mostly they provided a sense of freedom that the land-based safaris couldn’t.

The camp is located on a small lake connected to the Okavango River by narrow channels. We buzzed past monster crocodiles on sandbanks, African Fish Eagles flying overhead, enjoying the cooler air as the 22-foot aluminum boat made its own air conditioning at 30 mph.

As a boater, I loved it because there were no traces of the outside world at Sitatunga—smaller and newer than the other two camps—just a family of hippos in the lake, heads above the water but keeping a good distance in their corner. The water added a layer of serenity.

Great Plains’s founders Dereck and Beverly Joubert designed Sitatunga differently than their other camps. It is smaller and more exclusive than the others, with four suites for eight people, defined by a rustic Robinson Crusoe treehouse style.  

The Jouberts, longtime National Geographic Explorers at Large photographers and documentary filmmakers, are considered rock stars in the safari world. They’re known outside of Africa for their photography and films. But inside, they’ve established a long list of humanitarian and ecological initiatives that range from saving rhinos to creating all-female ranger groups in local communities that work on anti-poaching initiatives.

At Sitatunga, the couple wanted an indoors/outdoors feeling, designing the three A-framed suites (one is a double suite for families with an extended terrace) with large windows facing the lake, and a large dining/social hall with thatched roofs, and bamboo lampshades inspired by the woven-reed fishing baskets used by indigenous Bayei fishermen.

A life-sized wooden lion by a local artist is the centerpiece of the great hall, with a large wooden patio and deck out front to enjoy sunsets over the lake. The serene setting could’ve been out of the 1980’s movie On Golden Pond , except for the hippos in the lake.

Over the next few days, we did several trips up and down the Okavango, including a two-mile walking safari through a riverside reserve where we landed by boat. It felt so freeing to be on foot and not in a jeep. Wildlife was all around (though no big cats—a bonus for the slowest runner in our group) and the quiet landscape and immediacy of the animals made it a special experience.

The apex meal was Thanksgiving dinner, where Sitatunga chef Herold Gaosikelwe served 17 Pilgrim-worthy dishes, family style, on the big dining table. They ranged from parsnip-and-sage soup to roasted chicken with cranberry stuffing, roast potatoes with pine-nut butter, pumpkin pie with a side of chocolate coffee mousse. Chef Herold even made time to whip up a delicious gluten-free chocolate cake for someone in the group who was allergic to wheat.

The dinner was excellent, but the real showstopper was the staff—from maids to managers—who came together at the end to serenade us with Botswanan songs and dances. They weren’t professionals, but were doing their best to ensure we had a Thanksgiving we’d always remember.

Our group, consisting mostly of veteran travel writers, agreed the staff at all the camps were unusual, even among five-star resorts. Their warmth was genuine, the kind that can’t be faked, and they took pride in making sure the stay was a bucket-lister. The best example was when Lizzy Bayani, the manager who accompanied us, brought a hot-water foot bath by helicopter for one of our party whose ankles had swollen in the heat.

While the week had its oohs and ahs, and lots of laughs at meals, the climax came the day before departure. Our ride in the mokoros, the local version of a dugout canoe, was supposed to be the “relaxing” grand finale. But our first view was a bull elephant mounting a female—a sight so rare that, among the three guides, only the leader, Letty, had ever seen it.

Turns out he was right. The elephants eventually ambled away into the bush and then the guides pushed us, gondola-style, into knee-deep, three-foot-wide channels lined by Papyrus reeds. But when we emerged onto the river, we startled a bloat of hippos. With adults weighing as much as 4,000 pounds, hippos aren’t always the lumbering gentle giants in children’s books, especially when they feel threatened. Rather than waiting for trouble, the lead male goes on the attack.

It’s possible in the low canoes, the big bull mistook us for a crocodile. It didn’t matter. Just 20 yards away, it first made warning noises, opening its muscular jaws to a wide, head-crunching circumference, then disappeared under water, surfacing closer to us. It’s one thing to be in a powerboat where you can push the throttle and speed away. It’s another to be a sitting duck in three feet of water, with nothing but a guide pushing you with a pole.

That was the only time the trip could’ve gone sideways. It didn’t, but the hippo was so incensed it followed us up into the channel, as the guides fast-poled back to the jeeps. Nobody felt like a casual observer after that close encounter, and one of the group was so pumped with adrenaline she was trembling. Still, what a great “Out of Africa” way to end the week.

Looking back, doing the three camps, with Sitatunga at the end, made the most sense, since the first two provided intensive animal exposure, while the last was more about seeing the area by water.

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18. Luxury Okavango Safari - 3 Day

19. Moremi day trip

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Botswana Walking Safaris

Guided walking safaris in botswana | everything you need to know.

Guided Walking Safaris in Botswana are usually short walks in the mornings or more than three hours depending on the itinerary. Walking Safaris in Botswana will involve you tracking down wildlife that habitats within the different National parks especially the smaller ones that cannot easily be seen while on a game drive.

You cannot discover Botswana more thoroughly than by strolling all around the place. Tourists may easily stroll through the nation because of its relatively flat terrain, and Botswana walking safaris can range from one-day excursions to multi-day treks, depending on what you’re looking for. After tourists began to visit the continent and learned that walking around Africa provides you the chance to obtain a distinct perspective of what all the African countries have to offer, walking safaris in Africa became popular in the 1960s.

The majority of walking safaris in Botswana are done in groups, and these groups are always guided by knowledgeable tour operators who will take you all over the nation and even to remote areas. Although there are several locations from which you can embark on a walking safari while in the nation, national parks are where you should go for the greatest safari experiences. In spite of the fact that walking safaris are not as popular in Botswana as many tourists would want, a number of camps and tour companies have made every effort to enhance their offerings.

What you should be aware of before embarking on a walking safari in Botswana

There are a few things you should be aware of before going on a walking safari in Botswana, including the following:

• In Botswana, walking safaris are often conducted in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun’s heat is at its lowest.
• When taking a stroll through a national park, be sure to dress appropriately because wild animals typically see in black and white, so make an informed choice when selecting your attire.
• Not all of the country’s walking paths are well designated, so you’ll need to be prepared for all of them. To do this, you’ll need to wear sturdy hiking boots to prevent foot blisters.
• You should avoid wearing black and blue when choosing the colors of your clothing because these hues attract tsetse flies more than others.
• The only way you will survive attacks from the various creatures and be able to enjoy your walk worry-free is if you listen to your guides and do what they instruct you to do.
• Walking safaris in Botswana can be exhausting and time-consuming, so you should bring sun protection equipment like sunscreen.
• Make sure the animals don’t see you or smell you during these outings because the majority of them are quite suspicious of people and can attack when irritated. As an illustration, if you are walking through a park and come across an elephant, you need to watch out that it does not scent you with its husks because if it does, it will turn and go away.

While traveling across Botswana, you must go on a walking safari because the destinations are usually full of adventure. Some of the greatest spots to go on these walking safaris in Botswana include:

Walking safari in the Linyanti game reserve

Between the Okavango Delta and the Chobe National Park sits the Linyanti wildlife reserve. It is a privately owned reserve and one of many that permit walking safaris, most of which are planned by the numerous camps that are situated within the reserve. The dry season, which begins in May and ends in late October before the rainy season begins in November, is the ideal time for visitors to take a walking safari in the Linyanti Reserve . During your walk through Linyanti, you will be rewarded with the best views of animals passing by, birds flying around the reserve and it will also take you through the nearby villages where you will get to meet the different locals who will entertain you with the traditions and culture that they practice. The good thing about taking walks through the Linyanti reserve is that it is rarely crowded with tourists and this gives you ample time to actually enjoy the walk with your friends and loved ones.

Walking safari through the Okavango delta

A walking safari through the enormous Okavango delta will have you wishing there was more to see there. Because the delta frequently floods during the rainy season, making it exceedingly inaccessible, it is better to take Okavango delta treks during the dry season, which is from May to October. While on a safari in Botswana , you shouldn’t skip the exhilarating adventure of walking across the Okavango Delta under the leadership of a local tour guide who is familiar with all the paths surrounding the delta. A walking safari through the enormous Okavango delta will have you wishing there was more to see there. Because the delta frequently floods during the rainy season, making it exceedingly inaccessible, it is better to take Okavango delta treks during the dry season, which is from May to October. While on a safari in Botswana, you shouldn’t skip the exhilarating adventure of walking across the Okavango Delta under the leadership of a local tour guide who is familiar with all the paths surrounding the delta.

Walking safari through the Makgadikgadi

If you’re considering going on a safari walk in Botswana, the Makgadikgadi salt pans are also worthwhile to see. However, you should be aware that it can get rather hot there, so you should dress appropriately. Because it is too hot to walk through the salt pans between noon and three o’clock in the afternoon, safari excursions through the Makgadikgadi salt pans are only conducted in the early morning or late afternoon. Because of the oppressive heat, you should always carry plenty of water and wear appropriate clothing to avoid becoming perched. Nevertheless, despite the persistent heat and occasionally intolerable walking conditions, you will enjoy the zebra migration, which is thought to be the second greatest animal migration in Africa, as well as the countless birds and other animal species and, of course, the vast salt pans itself. All those who wish to thoroughly investigate it should go during the dry season because these are always submerged during the wet season.

The San Bushmen who live close to the salt pans will tell you all about their culture, demonstrate their hunting techniques, and help you find animals as you travel through the salt pans on the Makgadikgadi walking safari. This makes the experience more exciting. You can extend your Makgadikgadi walking safari by taking a stroll through the neighboring Nxai pans, but you should do so with the assistance of the tour guide to avoid getting lost. Zebras, impalas, hyenas, caterpillars, many bird species, small creatures like snails, and other smaller animals that cannot easily be seen during a game drive are some of the wildlife that you will observe while on your safari walk.

Although many of the national parks in Botswana have early morning bush walks, it is never safe to do so because of the enormous animals that frequently pass through them. In contrast, the parks indicated above have numerous camps that provide guided treks through them. However, it is advised to switch between camps when going on a walking safari around Botswana.

Even though there aren’t many locations in Botswana from which to enjoy a walking safari, they all have something impressive to offer, and as long as you stick to the walking routes your guides point out, you’ll be able to take in all the beautiful scenery the Okavango delta , the Makgadikgadi salt pans, and the Linyanti game reserve have to offer. You should contact the tour companies first if you are unsure of the best time to go on a walking safari because you do not want to go when the various locations are flooded or muddy.

Travel lightly with Kabira Safaris Africa . We’ve offset the main sources of carbon emissions from this trip on your behalf, including transport, accommodation & waste. Learn about our Responsible Travel Policy .

How to Plan Walking Safaris in Botswana

• Describe your dream Botswana walking safari.
• We get you in touch with our travel planning specialists who will help you plan your Botswana walking safari.
• We make adjustments where necessary.
• Book the itinerary/Journey when ready.

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