Botswana Safari Holidays

Botswana Safari at a glance

• Best time to travel: For prime game viewing, travel between June and October (dry season) when the Okavango Delta is in full flood. The November to April ‘green season’ offers lush landscapes, baby animals, spectacular birding, and better value rates.
• Key safari regions: Explore the iconic water channels of the Okavango Delta, the massive elephant herds of Chobe National Park, the predator-rich Moremi Game Reserve & Linyanti, or the stark, beautiful desert landscapes of the Makgadikgadi Pans and Central Kalahari.
• Typical duration: A minimum stay of 3 nights is recommended, though many visitors stay much longer to combine different ecosystems (e.g., water-based Delta camps and dry land Kalahari camps).
• Budget & Exclusivity: Botswana operates a strict "high-value, low-volume" tourism policy. Expect a premium, highly exclusive experience, with costs starting from £300 per person per night up to ten times that amount for top-tier luxury.
• Unique activities: Botswana is famous for water-based safaris—glide silently in a traditional mokoro canoe or take a motorboat trip. You can also enjoy walking safaris, helicopter flights over the Delta, and quad-biking or sleep-outs on the Makgadikgadi salt pans.
• Wildlife highlights: Expect exceptional diversity, from the Big Five and huge elephant herds in Chobe, to rare species like African wild dogs (Linyanti), desert-adapted animals (Kalahari), and habituated meerkats (Makgadikgadi).
• Accommodation styles: From ultra-luxurious permanent lodges (like Mombo or Zarafa) to seasonal tented camps, mobile camping safaris, sleep-out platforms, and even houseboats on the Chobe River.

Why choose a Botswana Safari?

Why go game-viewing on a safari in Botswana rather than elsewhere in Africa?

Botswana is famed for its vast areas of untouched wilderness, and exceptional wildlife density, which includes playing host to the celebrated Big Five - a collective group of animals consisting of elephant, lion, rhinoceros, buffalo and leopard, so named as they were considered the most difficult animals to hunt on foot by big-game hunters.

Whilst these two factors would normally be reason enough to visit, add in the purposeful aim of keeping visitor numbers low and you can see just why Botswana is such a special and unique safari destination.

There is a real focus by the authorities on quality over quantity which means that the country is one of Africa’s most exclusive safari destinations.

Botswana’s top safari destinations

Okavango Delta

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta in the world, fed by the waters descending from Angola, reaching their peak, paradoxically, in the middle of the dry season. The floodwaters transform the Delta from its dry, desert state (it lies in the heart of the Kalahari basin) to a beautiful oasis, supporting a remarkable variety of animal, bird and plant life and is home to Africa's most exclusive safari lodges.

The Delta is made up of the Moremi Game Reserve, the private concessions further West and The Panhandle, which is the main part of the Okavango River before the channels fan out. The game viewing here is truly outstanding, with lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and a huge variety of antelope and plains game species found year round. It is also a bird watchers paradise, with rare species such as the Pel's fishing owl often found close to specific camps. The plains game tends to give birth to their young during the rainy season, meaning large herds can be seen grazing, with the adults staying alert to the constant threat of predators who are never far away. However you choose to enjoy the Delta, by mokoro canoe, in game viewing vehicles or on foot, you will be assured of the most amazing safari experience you could wish for. Animals big and small are all around and the incredible guides really bring the magic of the whole area to life. An experience not to be missed.

The rainy season, running from November to April, sees a handful of camps close for a few weeks, but this is still a great time for a safari. Plains game gives birth to their young meaning the predators are never far away, and it is a spectacular time of year for birding as well. Even if you are travelling in the rainy season when water levels tend to be lower, there are still some safari camps in the heart of the Delta where you can enjoy water-based activities. During this season many Okavango Delta safari lodges offer reduced rates and it is still a wonderful time to be in the Delta, especially for birding enthusiasts. A six-night or more stay at a combination of Eagle Island Camp, Savute Elephant Camp and Khwai River Lodge will entitle you to a free 35-minute helicopter trip over the Delta.

Between June and October the rains recede, floodwaters arrive and the Delta transforms from its dry state to a huge floodplain, interspersed with islands and dry areas. Game viewing is at its best and you can enjoy a huge range of activities, although it can get very hot towards the end of the dry season.

The vastness of the Delta means that there are many different styles of Okavango Delta lodges to choose from, with them being loosely grouped as follows; "dry" camps tend to focus solely on game drives and walking, with "wet" camps further into the Delta offering activities such as mokoro canoe safaris, fishing, motorboat trips and guided walks. There are also "mixed" camps that offer a bit of both, but these do tend to be more seasonal and are dependent on water levels.

There is a multitude of activities and experiences available on an Okavango Delta safari:

• See the Lion and Buffalo interactions from Duba Plains, an extraordinary sight rarely seen anywhere else in Africa.
• Spend an afternoon in a mokoro canoe as your guide paddles you along the waterways searching for the rare fishing owl.
• At Abu Camp become part of their elephant herd as you walk through the bush with these immense creatures.
• Enjoy watching herds of antelope such as the red lechwe as they make their way through the floodwaters - a spectacular sight.
• Take a helicopter trip above the Delta, a wonderful chance to get a totally different perspective and see just how vast the network of channels and floodwaters is from the air.

The Delta also offers some fantastic mobile safari options where you can walk from camp to camp or even canoe, spending nights camped out on islands beneath the stars, an amazing way to enjoy your Botswana Okavango Delta safari.

Chobe National Park

Located in the North-Eastern corner of Botswana, and bordering Namibia, Chobe was proclaimed a national park in 1967 and is spread across 11,700 square kilometres of the Botswana countryside. The border town of Kasane is the main entry point, with road transfers taking visitors into the Chobe lodges and camps, and light aircraft flights to other areas such as the Okavango Delta. The Eastern part of the park tends to be busier with more safari lodges, but becomes more remote as you move further West.

The Northern boundary of the park is marked by the Chobe River, with the river flowing all year, meaning that in the dry season in particular the game viewing along the banks of the Chobe is superb.

Chobe National Park is the most biologically diverse park in the country, and a Chobe safari gives visitors the chance to see a truly impressive range of wildlife. It is renowned for its large herds of elephant (there are around 100,000 in the park in all), as well as having large herds of antelope and zebra and offers the chance for excellent sightings of lion and leopard. Game viewing activities are conducted in game viewing vehicles and on boat trips on the river, with extra excursions such as tiger fishing available, in season.

Chobe offers a fantastic variety of accommodation, from wonderfully luxurious lodges such as Sanctuary's Chobe Chilwero to more modest options such as Chobe Elephant Camp or Muchenje. For visitors looking for something a little different, The Zambezi Queen and the Chobe Princesses offer the chance to spend a few nights aboard a specially designed houseboat as it cruises the Chobe River.

Savuti

Covering an area that includes the Savuti Marsh, Savute Channel and Mababe Depression, this wilderness is found at the Western end of the Chobe Game Reserve, The Savute channel is one of the region’s most interesting features as it was dry for many years before it started flowing again in 2008. The result has been the migration of large herds of the game back to the region, making it one of the best areas to see a huge diversity of game in Botswana. The wide, open plains around the Savute Marsh also supports a wide variety of game and the skeletal trees also make for some stunning photographs, especially in the dry season.

The area is renowned for its sightings of:

• Lion and hyena, as well as supporting a large population of bull elephants.
• Cheetah, which can often be seen on the plains around the marshes.
• Leopard, common around the many rocky outcrops, as are the agile little klipspringer antelope.
• The zebra and wildebeest migration, the real drawcard of the area, less well known than that of East Africa, but no less spectacular.

The area offers a wonderful diversity of accommodation, with many operators offering mobile camping safaris whilst there is an abundance of fixed accommodation as well. Savute Under Canvas is always a popular option and Savute Elephant Camp is one of the most luxurious camps in all of Botswana, but can still offer good value for money in the wet season. Ghoha Hills is a real hit with clients as well, offering excellent game viewing and superb service when in camp. Savuti is also a great destination for families - lodges are set up with larger family tents and dedicated guides help to make the family experience as magical as possible.

Linyanti

The Linyanti region lies to the West of the Chobe National Park and is bordered to the North by the Linyanti River and Namibia's Caprivi Strip beyond that. It is connected to the world-famous Okavango Delta by the Selinda Spillway where some fantastic safari options are available as the concentration of predators is especially impressive.

The topography and habitats change rapidly as you move through the reserve, changing from open grasslands to riverine forest and mopane woodlands, making it a haven for a wide range of animals, with it being especially good for African wild dog sightings. As one moves East towards Chobe, there are a myriad of pools and river channels, ideal resting spots for hippo and crocodile.

The real beauty of the Linyanti is that it is made up of very few camps on large, private concessions, making for a wonderfully exclusive game viewing experience. Duma Tau and Savuti Camp are both very popular and offer excellent value for money in Green Season, whilst Zarafa and Kings Pool offer some of the best accommodation Botswana has to offer. For the more adventurous, Selinda Explorer Camp offers the chance to camp out on small islands and explore by canoe and on foot - a truly magical experience.

Moremi Game Reserve

The world-famous Moremi Game Reserve covers the Eastern and central parts of the Okavango Delta, and is regarded as one of the prime game viewing areas in the world. This iconic game reserve features lagoons and a host of different wildlife species and natural wonders, including the jewelled green acacia forests.

Moremi Game Reserve is made up of a number of distinct parts, including the Khwai River, Khwai Community area, Xakanaxa Lagoon, Third Bridge campsite and its jewel in the crown: Chief's Island, Taking its name from Chief Moremi III, a local leader who used the area as his royal hunting ground, it is one of the largest permanent dry areas in the Delta, making it a superb location for game viewing all year round, and arguably the most desirable place on the planet for a safari.

A visit to this awe-inspiring game reserve provides an unforgettable experience for all, thanks to its low density of camps and high density of animals, while also being home to some of Botswana's most unique game. The lush vegetation supports a huge variety of animal and birdlife, making the Moremi Game Reserve the place to be for the best big game viewing in Botswana. The number of lodges on the island is limited, too, providing an ultra-exclusive game viewing experience.

The Khwai River lies at the North-Eastern tip of this reserve and is a superb location for seeing the otherwise elusive leopard, as well as housing 500 species of bird. Additionally venture to the Xakanaxa Lagoon, where the desert meets the delta and where waterways are surrounded by dense mopane forest; offering an excellent birding location. With just three camps in the area, it offers a really intimate and exclusive safari experience.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Created in 1961 as a sanctuary for the Bushmen or San that traditionally live in the area, this is the second largest protected area in the world.

Their presence means that, in addition to their safari experience, visitors can enjoy interactions with the San, escorted by highly knowledgeable guides and can learn more about one of the last true hunter-gatherer people found anywhere on the planet.

The area is characterised by dense bush with Kalahari acacia trees and Kalahari apple-leaf, leading to huge open saltpans and grasslands dotted with sand dunes. The landscape is truly extraordinary, especially at sunrise and sunset as the flat topography makes for stunning sunscapes. A number of ancient riverbeds, full of fossils run through the reserve, with Deception Valley being the best known of these. Whilst this is an area where game viewing can be thoroughly enjoyed, you will not see the large herds of animals that one would traditionally associate with Botswana. Rather, you will enjoy an extraordinary diversity of animals which have adapted over the years to thrive in this harsh desert environment.

The number of lodges within the boundaries of the reserve is limited, with Kalahari Plains Camp and Tau Pan being the two that we would recommend.

The Central Kalahari is much under-visited for such a beautiful area and the diversity of game you see really surprises visitors. Ensure that you take one of the cultural excursions on offer to interact with the local San people, and learn about the way the animals that you see have adapted to life in this harsh environment, especially during the winter months when water is very scarce.

Horseback safaris are a wonderful way to enjoy the area and really add to the feeling of peace and tranquillity that the area is synonymous with.

Makgadikgadi Pans & Nxai Pan

To the South East of the Okavango Delta lie the Magkadigkadi and Nxai Pan region, a stark and beautiful part of Botswana, which changes dramatically between the rainy and dry seasons. With very few camps in the area, it is ideal for truly wild exploring and adventures outside of the normal safari activities one would associate with Botswana.

The Makgadikgadi salt pans cover 6,200 square miles of stark beauty and were once part of a lake larger than Switzerland, but which have now been reduced to a vast shimmering salt pan which supports very little life bar a few desert-adapted species and brown hyena that lurk around the fringes.

The result is that this is an ideal place for enjoying a multitude of activities during the dry season, including:

• Quad bike adventures, and trips to Kubu Island, only accessible by Quad Bike.
• Sleepouts in the pans under the stars.
• Guided walks and trips to interact with the San Bushmen, all in the company of an expert guide.
• Visiting the meerkats, whose semi-habituated colony can be visited in the mornings from a number of camps.

The rainy season transforms the pans and their surrounds, with grasses becoming lush and green, whilst the pans fill with water, leaving you with an idea of what the area looked like when it was a great lake. The zebra and wildebeest migration returns to the area and this is a spectacular sight, only trumped in size by East Africa's Great Migration.

Accommodation is limited to a small handful of luxury camps, of which the iconic Jack's Camp is the most famous, providing visitors with the most wonderful experience imaginable. More modest, but no less enjoyable options include Camp Kalahari and Nxai Pan camp, where guests get a fantastic feel for the region. Depending on the season, camps can also arrange for sleep-outs on the pans, a truly magical experience.

Safari experiences in Botswana

Botswana offers a range of safari experiences and activities that few other destinations can match. Traditional game drives in custom-built safari vehicles can be enjoyed both during the day and, excitingly, at night, with guided walking safaris through the African bush also available in some areas.

Botswana is also famed for its water-based safaris, whether that be on a boat trip along the numerous rivers, or in a unique mokoro canoe amongst the channels of Okavango Delta. Game-viewing by quad-bike or traditional bicycle is also available, or you can take to the skies to spot the wildlife from a hot air balloon, helicopter or light aircraft.

Safari accommodation

Although very much regarded as a premium safari destination, Botswana does have a wonderful selection of accommodation options to suit every budget and taste. There are traditional mid-range safari lodges, with air-conditioning, electricity & WiFi, as well as some of the most luxurious tented camps available anywhere - with rolltop bathtubs, wine cellars & Persian rugs. Amongst Botswana’s world-beating properties are Mombo Camp, Xigera Safari Lodge, Zarafa Camp, Duba Plains Camp and Jack’s Camp.

These permanent properties contrast with those that are mobile and which can be packed up, and moved to follow the animal action, leaving no trace behind.

Tented fly-camps also allow the safari aficionado to perhaps relive their childhood and really get back to nature. For something a little more luxurious and unique there is treehouse accommodation set amidst the bows of an ancient tree, or a sleep-out platform, where the beds are wheeled out under the night sky so that you can spend a night under the stars.

In Botswana, small safari camps are the norm, where location matters far more than size. Staying in a luxury lodge in a really remote area, and going on a Botswana safari are what safari dreams are made of. Whichever safari lodge, tented camp, or hotel you choose, and whatever your budget - be it luxury, mid-range or value, you can be guaranteed comfort, wonderful views and, with a great location, often right inside a National Park or Game Reserve, and access to some of Africa’s finest wildlife.

Best time for safari in Botswana

The rainy, or ‘green season’ runs from November to April and captivates visitors with spectacular wildflowers, dramatic thunderstorms and wonderfully photogenic sunsets. The plains game also gives birth to their young meaning the predators are never far away, and it is also a spectacular time of year for birding as well, providing visitors with a superb contrast to the dry season. These summer months bring warm, muggy days, often with spectacular thundershowers, with the game dispersed throughout the park owing to the abundance of water sources.

The months of April and May between the peak and rainier seasons are an excellent time for a Botswana safari. Game viewing is very good and it doesn't get overly hot or too busy.

Between June and October the rains recede, floodwaters arrive and the Okavango Delta transforms from its dry state to a huge floodplain, interspersed with islands and dry areas. Game viewing is at its best during this peak, dry season and you can enjoy a huge range of activities, although it can get very hot towards the end of this period. Water sources within the parks are more scarce meaning that there is great game viewing along the rivers and around the waterholes. September and October also see the return of migratory birds such as herons and storks.

The Okavango Delta is famed for its water levels and water-based activities, however, paradoxically, the water levels are inversely proportional to the rainfall in the Delta, as the floodwaters come from the far-off highlands of Angola. The rainy season, running from November to April, sees a handful of camps close for a few weeks, but this is still a great time for a safari.

Private safaris with expert guides

Maximise your Botswana safari by booking a private adventure with your own dedicated local guide. Africa Travel have decades of experience and contacts with the very best local guides and trusted operators, and all of the private guides we use are reviewed regularly. We only work with those we know and trust to deliver world-class safari experiences.

Having your very own expert private guide will allow your safari to be highly personalised, with a tailored itinerary and custom routes; wake when you wish, depart when you want, go where you like, and stay out on safari for as long as you please.

Your dedicated guide will know the terrain, eco-system, customs and wildlife, and can make such a difference to a safari experience. They will know where to look and when, and will customise a guests’ safari itinerary to maximise their game-viewing opportunities. With your own private local guide you will be able to access private concession areas, where the low vehicle density will mean high animal density and superb game viewing experiences !

A small group size will also ensure that your safari will be as intimate and as private as possible - with just your party and no one else on your game drives.

Botswana safari costs & budget ranges

Many years ago Botswana opted to adopt a high-value, low-volume tourism policy, with the result that the destination has become renowned for its luxury safari camps and lodges, offering privacy and exclusivity.

Many safari lodges and camps are either seasonal or only accessible by air which impacts on their costs, and influences their offerings. The value of such exclusivity and the ongoing conservation work implemented by a large number of safari properties mean that Botswana should be considered a premium safari destination.

How much you spend on your Botswana safari is dependent upon many factors – what time of year are you travelling, how long do you want to be on safari for, which parks would you like to visit, how luxurious do you like things to be, and would you prefer to have your own guide or vehicle? However much you spend though, nothing will really beat a Botswana safari, and booking with Africa Travel will ensure transparency with no hidden costs.

Plan your Botswana Safari

To plan and book your safari in Botswana, talk to a specialist at Africa Travel and get your quote today. With almost 40 years’ experience in creating tailor-made safaris and holidays to Africa and Botswana, there is no one more qualified to organise an unforgettable trip to Africa than Africa Travel.

We are able to advise on the finest wildlife destinations in Botswana to visit and the best time of year to travel, and we have the widest range of safari accommodation to suit all budgets and costs. All of our staff have travelled extensively and you can trust that our personal recommendations will create a personalised itinerary tailor-made specifically for you and deliver the Botswana safari that you have always dreamed of. Whether you want to go on safari in the Moremi Reserve, explore the Chobe river in the Chobe National Park, take a mokoro in the Okavango Delta, go quad-biking in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans or pop across the border to view the Victoria Falls, to book speak to one of our experts on +44 (0) 20 7843 3500 or email info@africatravel.co.uk

We also have a host of insider tips which will make your Botswana safari even more remarkable – for example book at least 9 months in advance if you want to stay at the famous Mombo Camp, luggage is strictly limited on light aircraft transfers but excess luggage can be stored in Maun if you advise us in advance, avoid the day-tripping crowds in Chobe by staying at Muchenje Safari Lodge, those on a budget should consider travelling in the better value Green Season between January and March, and make sure a mokoro excursion is part of your trip – it is the ultimate experience on any Botswana holiday.

FAQ

Is Botswana good for safari?

Yes, yes and yes. Botswana is an incredible safari destination which offers such a variety of game viewing experiences.

Why are safaris in Botswana so expensive?

The remoteness and expense of accessing many safari properties in Botswana, combined with high conservation levies and fees, means that Botswana operates a low-volume, high-value tourism model. These factors mean that it plays host to some of the most expensive safari lodges in Africa, but the quality of service, standards and game-viewing are all exceptionally high, and the resultant safari costs justified.

What is the best safari in Botswana?

The answer depends on so many factors – when you wish to travel, for how long, where, how much you are able to spend – but whatever you choose, be assured your Botswana safari will be unforgettable

How many days do you need for a Botswana safari?

However long you can spare, or afford. At Africa Travel we would always recommend a minimum stay on safari of at least 3 nights, but we have had requests for guests to stay for weeks on safari.

How much does a Botswana safari cost?

A safari in Botswana can cost anything from £300 per person per night, right up-to ten times this amount – it all really depends in what style and level of comfort you would like your safari to be.

When is the best time to visit Botswana for safari?

Botswana can be visited year-round, but for prime game-viewing, travel between May and October when the Okavango Delta is in full flood.

What animals can you see in Botswana?

In a single word – everything! You can expect to see a very wide range of animals – from the Big Five (elephant, lion, rhinoceros, buffalo and leopard), and well-known animals such as elephants, rhinos & giraffes, and lesser-known oryx, ostrich & wild dog. A Botswana safari offers everything from aardvarks to zebras.

Is the Okavango Delta worth it?

Of course. This unique wildlife environment, the largest inland delta in the world, is created by waters descending from Angola,  and offers experiences like nowhere else. Where else can you just lie back and be punted   silently through the waters, gliding along with only birdsong for company.

Can you do a private safari in Botswana?

Absolutely – Botswana has some of the finest private safari guides anywhere in Africa, and being on a private safari means that you can set your agenda - go when you want, where you like, and stay out on safari for as long as you please.

Is Botswana better than Kenya or Tanzania for safari?

An impossible one to answer. Each has their own magnificent attractions – whether it be the open plains of the Masai Mara or the Serengeti, or the unique waterways of the Okavango Delta, so why not contact Africa Travel and let them personalise a safari itinerary which combines all three destinations.

Are Botswana safaris suitable for first-time travellers?

Of course. Botswana caters for all safari-lovers, from the wildlife aficionado and keen birder, right through to the first-time safari virgin.

What makes a Botswana safari one of the most exclusive in Africa?

The low-impact tourism model means that Botswana is never going to become a mass tourism destination, over-run with visitors. The remote locations and commitment to conservation issues mean that operating costs for safari operators and lodge owners are high, but the safari rewards for the visitor are even higher – the private game concessions have a limited number of safari vehicles permitted, there is a strong emphasis on guiding quality and conservation, and the combination of land and water safaris is superb.