explore botswana wildlife safari

Wildlife & Safari

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Botswana Family Safari

• Discover Africa with your family
• Visit a local Botswana school
• Search for elephants on the Chobe
• Experience the Okavango Delta

Best of Botswana

• See wildlife gather at Chobe river
• Enjoy wildlife in Moremi Reserve
• Safari though Chobe National Park

Luxury Fly-in Okavango Delta Safari

• Explore the Gomoti River system
• Encounter wildlife in Khwai
• Stay in the heart of the Okavango
• Save time & fly into safari lodges

Luxury Chobe National Park

• Watch wildlife at the Chobe River
• Cruise the Chobe River
• Chobe National Park
• Watch wildlife gather at the river
• Take daily game drives

Luxury Botswana Safari

• Visit Victoria Falls
• Drive through Linyanti Concession
• Mokoro on the Okavango Delta
• Observe wildlife

Rivers & Rails of Africa

• Enjoy a cable car up Table Mountain
• Discover local vineyards
• Visit Kasenu Village
• Safari through Chobe National Park

Wildlife and the Falls

• Observe African wildlife
• Be immersed in African local life
• Tour Victoria Falls
• Explore Johannesburg

Kaza Undercover

• Experience Okavango Delta
• Visit Nxamaseri Island Lodge
• Visit Hwange National Park
• Explore Livingstone and Kafue
• Safari quest in Lower Zambezi
• Stars of South Africa
• Tour famous wineries
• Take a cable car ride
• Drive through Chobe National Park
• Experience the local culture

Southern Africa: Travel to the Ends of the Earth with Extended Stay at The Cape of Good Hope

• Join a guided tour of Robben Island
• Explore the Chobe National Park
• Tour the falls in Zimbabwe
• Visit Impalila's local school

Discover Africa

• Encounter African penguins up close
• Explore wildlife-rich Chobe Park
• Boat safari, bird watch, or fish
• Learn about Victoria Falls

Chobe National Park & Kuzuma Forest Reserve

• View herds of elephants
• Unlimited game viewing
• Chobe River Safari Cruise

Victoria Falls & Chobe National Park

• View the iconic Victoria Falls
• Explore Victoria Falls
• Enjoy multiple game drives
• Visit a local village

Southern Africa: Travel to the Ends of the Earth

• Hike to Victoria Falls
• Look for wildlife
• Discover Impalila Island
• Visit Chobe National Park
• Learn about the region´s legends
• Explore Chobe National Park
• Tour Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
• Golden Trails of Africa
• Take a safari in search of wildlife
• Explore the Serengeti

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Botswana Wildlife Safari

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• Fully Guided

Traveled in September 2023

Animals You Might See

• Explore Botswana's finest game reserves
• Spend the night in the heart of the Okavango Delta
• Witness great herds of elephants, lions and antelopes
• Bask in the out-of-this-world spectacle of Victoria Falls
• Introduction
• Day 1 Join Tour in Victoria Falls
• Day 2 Travel into Botswana, camping near Chobe National Park
• Day 3 Full day game viewing in Chobe National Park
• Day 4 Drive to Nxai Pan
• Day 5 Full day in search of wildlife in Nxai salt pans
• Day 6 Drive to Moremi Game Reserve, wild camping and game drives
• Day 7 Game drives in Moremi in search of Africa's unique wildlife
• Day 8 Full day of game drives in Moremi Game Reserve
• Day 9 Morning game drive in Moremi Game Reserve, afternoon in Maun
• Day 10 Drive to our houseboat on the Okavango river
• Day 11 Visit to Tsodilo Hills; home to thousands of bushman rock paintings. Afternoon wildlife viewing on the Okavango river.
• Day 12 Transit driving day via the Caprivi strip (Namibia), back to Victoria Falls
• Day 13 Witness the wonders of Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River. Free afternoon with a choice of optional activities
• Day 14 Tour ends in Victoria Falls

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What's Included

• Accommodation
• Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

Batonka Guest Lodge

HATAB Camp Chobe River

HATAB Moremi Game Reserve Camps

Thamo Telele

Okavango Spirit House Boat

Customer Photos

Operated by

Number of tours

16 to 85 years old

Response time

within 1 day

Response rate

Explore is a global adventure travel company with 42 years’ experience in providing exciting and authentic travel experiences. With over 350 trips in around 100 countries, Explore’s expertly crafted itineraries combined with award-winning tour leaders, small group sizes and a commitment to...

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Cancellation policy.

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Customer Reviews

• Overall Rating Excellent 4.5
• Itinerary Excellent 4.6
• Guide Excellent 4.9
• Transport Excellent 4.2
• Accommodation Excellent 4.2
• Food Excellent 4.7
• Tour Operator Explore! 4.5
• Most Recent
• Most Popular
• Highest First
• Lowest First

• A Libby · 25th April 2023 Obviously seeing all the animals and birds which was the reason for booking this trip. The Victoria Falls zipline was also a highlight. Trip date: April 2023 Review collected by Explore!
• A Trevor · 28th April 2023 Victoria falls and leopards Trip date: April 2023 Review collected by Explore!
• A Alison · 8th May 2023 All I wanted to see was an elephant! We saw hundreds. Seeing lion cubs with their mother, leopard (twice) Cheetahs. Victoria Falls spectacular. Too many others to mention Trip date: April 2023 Review collected by Explore!
• A Mike · 10th May 2023 Victoria Falls from Zimbabwe. Fantastic close up wildlife. Brilliant Guide and Houseboat / Camp crew. Trip date: April 2023 Review collected by Explore!
• A Karen · 13th May 2023 The greatest highlight of our trip was to have Solomon guide for us, because of him, we saw so many different and Wonderfull animals ! Trip date: April 2023 Review collected by Explore!
• A PeterVernon · 28th May 2023 Wildlife, brilliant guide (Jo) and wonderful fellow travellers Trip date: May 2023 Review collected by Explore!
• A Jean · 5th June 2023 The highlights were seeing all the animals we did see - sadly no rhinoceros or cheetah - feeling privileged to be in their space, the visit to Victoria Falls and stopover and the scenic flight at the end over parts of the Okavango delta. Trip date: May 2023 Review collected by Explore!
• A Cathy · 11th June 2023 Seeing the animals up close and in their natural habitat, of course. Hearing hippo and lion make noise near our tents at night. Trip date: May 2023 Review collected by Explore!
• A Elinor · 25th June 2023 This was our special retirement trip and it lived up to our expectations. The highlights included having an amazing, knowledgeable and experienced guide, Bibi. Wonderful small boat trips from our houseboat to see numerous beautiful birds and a pod of... Show more Trip date: June 2023 Review collected by Explore!

Dates & Availability

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Take advantage of our 0% interest instalment plan on selected departures. Learn More

• Upcoming departures
• September 2024
• October 2024
• Thursday 19 Sep, 2024 Wednesday 2 Oct, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin Share €4,313 See Similar Tours For These Dates
• Saturday 26 Oct, 2024 Friday 8 Nov, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin Share €4,523 Only Pay 10% Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
• 1 Other Unavailable Departure

What our customers ask about this tour

Transportation includes shared safari vehicles and mini buses for different parts of the journey.

There is no upper age limit; however, physical ability and mobility are important factors.

Yes, extra nights can be arranged based on availability at the chosen accommodation.

It’s recommended to avoid drinking tap water; bottled water is a safer option.

Payments can be made via bank transfer or credit card as per the instructions provided.

Camping accommodations are set up with private bathrooms and comfortable bedding.

Dietary requirements can be accommodated, though meal options may be limited.

We suggest carrying soft luggage with a limit of about 20KG.

Meals vary, but they do cater for special dietary requirements upon request.

Group sizes differ, but you can expect a comfortable travel experience with enough room.

Good to Know

• Currencies P Pula Botswana $ Namibia Dollar Namibia $ US Dollar

As a traveller from USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand you will need an adaptor for types D, M, G. As a traveller from England you will need an adaptor for types D, M. As a traveller from South Africa you will need an adaptor for type G.

• These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
• Typhoid - Recommended for Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
• Hepatitis A - Recommended for Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
• Tuberculosis - Recommended for Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Ideally 3 months before travel.
• Hepatitis B - Recommended for Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Ideally 2 months before travel.
• Rabies - Recommended for Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Ideally 1 month before travel.
• Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission for Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Ideally 10 days before travel.
• Cholera - Recommended for Namibia and Zimbabwe. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
• Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
• Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
• For any tour departing before 24th October 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 24th October 2024, a minimum payment of 10% is required to confirm your booking with Explore!. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 75 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
• Some departure dates and prices may vary and Explore! will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
• The following cards are accepted for "Explore!" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
• Your money is safe with TourRadar, as we only pay the tour operator after your tour has departed.
• TourRadar is an authorised Agent of Explore!. Please familiarise yourself with the Explore! payment, cancellation and refund conditions .
• Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
• Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Upgraded - Botswana Wildlife Safari

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A safari through Botswana and Zimbabwe, exploring Chobe National Park, visiting the thundering Victoria Falls and sleeping aboard a houseboat in the vast Okavango Delta Panhandle. Spend time searching for wildlife including elephant, hippos and lion within remote wilderness.

• Premium Lodges - The finest game viewing from comfortable hand-picked lodges
• Okavango Delta Panhandle - Explore the most prolific inland delta of Africa
• Chobe National Park - Discover the stunning wildlife, including some of Africa's largest elephants herds.
• Upgraded Range - Immerse yourself in picturesque Botswana with our hand-picked selection of Premium hotels

Included meals

Breakfast: 11

Explore Tour Leader

Accommodation

2 nights comfortable boat

2 nights premium hotel

5 nights premium lodge

2 nights premium tented camp

Group Size:

Trip maximum 12

Itineraries on some departure dates may differ, please select the itinerary that you wish to explore.

Our tour starts today in Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. The rural village has rapidly developed into Botswana's 'tourism capital' and is a great jumping-off point for exploring Botswana's reserves.

Our lodge tonight is the magnificent Thamo Telele, set amongst a lush forest of leadwood and acacia trees, around 25 minutes outside of Maun. Each luxury safari-style tent is on a raised wooden platform with hardwood floors and an en-suite bathroom, all have outdoor showers and nature as the backdrop. The stylish canvas tents are fully equipped with twin beds, which can be converted into doubles, and air conditioning above the bed. There's also a swimming pool and a central main lounge and bar area, where you'll find comfy couches and locally designed wall art. It's a truly exceptional property.

For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the lodge reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting followed by dinner served under the stars around 7pm.

There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Maun at any time. A transfer from Maun Airport (MUB) to Thamo Telele is included on all trips in our Upgraded range regardless of your arrival day, provided we receive your flight details no later than 10 days prior to departure. Maun airport is around a 30-minute drive from our hotel. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up

Accommodation:

Thamo Telele (or similar)

Grade: Premium Hotel

Single room available

Swimming pool available, meals provided: dinner.

We'll travel to Mogogelo Camp as a group in our 4WD vehicle. Our base for the next two nights, this majestic camp is located in a private concession bordering the Moremi Game Reserve.

During our safaris, we'll travel in a customised, open-sided land cruisers. The land cruiser is ideal for game viewing but can be a bit breezy, so ensure you bring some layers.

Your tour leader will provide blankets to make the journeys as comfortable as possible. The roads through Botswana can vary in quality, so travel days can be slow and bumpy but the scenery more than makes up for it.

This evening we will experience an exclusive desert dinner and toast our first real day of game viewing.

Mogogelo Camp (or similar)

Grade: Premium Tented Camp

Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

We'll enjoy two game drives today. Setting off for our morning drive at first light, we'll get the chance to experience one of Africa's unspoiled wonderlands with the opportunity to spot hippos, crocodiles and a great variety of birds, as well as the elusive sitatunga antelope.

This place is also an ornithologist's paradise with fish eagles, kingfishers, herons, storks, egrets, weavers and bee-eaters all seen regularly.

Returning for brunch, we'll spend the hottest part of the day at leisure at our camp with the chance for a siesta, a dip in the pool or birdwatching.

We'll head out again around 4pm for our afternoon drive.

This morning, we'll take a slow drive out of the concession but before fully leaving the park making the most of the cooler and calm morning revisiting some of the best wildlife spotting areas Moremi has to offer to ensure we are making the most of being in this incredible location.

We expect to arrive at Thamo Telele around noon, just in time for lunch

The afternoon is free for you to explore the lodge and its wild surroundings on self-guided walking trails. Alternatively, you can relax by the swimming pool. There is also the option to book a giraffe experience. One of the most fascinating things about the lodge is its resident herd of more than 20 giraffes, which you can observe while on activities in the reserve and most enthralling get up close and personal to in the evening while they feed at the waterhole. There are naturalists on hand, who will be able to tell you all about these fascinating animals. See the \ Budgeting and packing\ section of the trip notes for more details.

Departing after breakfast, we'll drive up the west side of the Okavango Delta panhandle to Shakawe, where we'll leave our vehicle behind and board a motor launch to our houseboat. On arrival, we'll meet our friendly crew who will be our hosts for the next two nights. After settling in, lunch is served in the top-floor dining room, with panoramic windows offering a backdrop of the Okavango River basin.

The accommodation is comfortable, with eight en-suite bedrooms. Each room has glass sliding doors that look out onto the wilderness of the remote panhandle area and there are seating areas for watching the sunset up on deck. The boat will be for our exclusive use during our stay.

Due to seasonal variations in the level and strength of the river, the houseboat itself might only be able to access limited parts of the river for much of the year. During these times, we'll explore the river on smaller launches.

We'll take a leisurely afternoon launch in the hope of cruising past submerging pods of hippos and crocodiles basking in the shallows and on the riverbanks.

Okavango Spirit House Boat (or similar)

Grade: Comfortable Boat

Today, we'll visit the intriguing and sacred World Heritage Site of Tsodilo Hills. The San Bushmen community believe the hills are the site of the first creation and painted an astonishing 4,000 rock paintings across 350 sites marking the area's significance. Here, four impressive rocks jut out of the expanse of the surrounding land, and it is believed by the San Bushmen that the largest of the rocks is the 'man', the second largest the 'woman', and the smallest the 'child'. The fourth rock, which stands apart from the others, is said to be the male's first wife. Some of the paintings are thought to be over 24,000 years old, and as well as the chance to see ancient rock paintings, the hills offer vast views across the countryside below.

An expert local guide will accompany us around the site, interpreting the carvings. The tour lasts around two hours, walking along a flat well-graded path. It's possible to opt out at any stage and return to the shade of the small museum located at the entrance of the site, before returning to the houseboat for lunch and a relaxing evening.

We'll have an early start this morning as we set out to Chobe National Park. Today's total journey time is eight to nine hours (depending on time spent at the border crossings) including comfort breaks and a lunch break.

The drive takes us north to Namibia's Caprivi Strip, before heading to the riverside town of Kasane, in Botswana. The Caprivi Region has a colourful and interesting history, playing a central part in the Berlin Conference of 1890. Named after German Chancellor General Count Georg Leo von Caprivi di Caprara di Montecuccoli, the strip was once administered by the British before it was swapped for Zanzibar with the Germans at a time of great European political manoeuvring.

We'll arrive in Kasane in the late-afternoon, just in time for a refreshing sundowner at our lodge on the banks of the Chobe River.

A major draw of Chobe is its elephant population - it's considered to be the largest surviving continuous elephant population in Africa and is currently estimated at 120,000 strong. The population covers most of northern Botswana, plus north-western Zimbabwe, and has been built up since the early 1900s

Kubu Lodge (or similar)

Grade: Premium Lodge

Meals Provided: Breakfast & Lunch

We'll make the most of our time in Chobe National Park and have two game drives today - one in the morning and a second in the afternoon.

We hope to have the chance to spot huge trumpeting herds of elephants around the southern bank of the Chobe River, where we can also find Chobe Bushbuck and Puku Antelope.

Other mammals to be seen are buffalos, kudus, elands, waterbucks, sables and roan antelopes, zebras, lions, leopards, impalas and reedbucks. In the river are hippos and crocodiles and the waters teem with bream, barbel and tiger fish (freshwater barracuda). Our tour leader will decide on the exact running times of the day, and lunch arrangements, depending on the weather conditions and the season to give us the best viewing opportunities.

For those who wish, there is an optional afternoon boat cruise along the Chobe River, where you have a fair chance to see lions, elephants, leopards and wild dogs from the unique viewpoint of a boat. Please see the Budgeting and Packing section of the trip notes for prices

Meals Provided: Breakfast

Today, we'll continue with our morning and afternoon game drives in Chobe National Park. The northern Chobe area of Serondela is the heart of the elephant country. Up to 35,000 elephants live here, the largest number in any African park.

The sheer variety of animals in abundance, makes this region a must-see for any wildlife enthusiast. We hope to watch huge herds in and around the great Chobe River, which also teems with hippos and crocodiles

This morning, we'll leave Botswana and cross the border into Zimbabwe, heading to the town of Victoria Falls. Often referred to as the adventure capital of Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls is a pleasant town with a variety of land, air and water-based activities on offer in the surrounding area. Close to our lodge is one of the natural wonders of the world, the town's namesake - Victoria Falls.

This afternoon, we'll visit the falls from the Zimbabwean side of the river where the Zambezi River plummets over a sheer cliff wall spanning more than 1,676 meters and dropping approximately 100 metres into the abyss below. The natives named the waterfall, Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning 'the smoke that thunders' because of the plumes of water vapour that rise like smoke into the sky above the falls, accompanied by the deafening roar. In the late afternoon we'll board our boat and soak up the evening atmosphere on our exclusive sunset river cruise. Sit back and relax while sipping a cold drink and enjoying a few quiet hours along the mighty Zambezi River.

For the next two nights, we'll be staying at either the Batonka Guest Lodge or Pioneer Lodge. The two are sister properties located just over 1 kilometre from each other and are almost identical. Both are set in beautiful, landscaped gardens, feature a swimming pool, spacious rooms, an expansive terrace where breakfast is served, a bar and a stylish lounge and dining room which are both extremely comfortable

Batonka Guest Lodge (or similar)

Today is free to spend as you wish.

If you haven't had your fill of wildlife, there's the opportunity to book a two-hour game drive in Zambezi National Park in search of the Big 5. Alternatively, there is the option to take a scenic flight over the falls or go white-water rafting in the Zambezi.

All activities can be booked at your guesthouse directly and full prices are available in the \ Budgeting and packing\ section of the trip notes

Our tour ends this morning after breakfast. Depending on the schedule of your departing flight, you might like to spend a few hours exploring the town independently.

There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Victoria Falls at any time.

If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our guesthouse.

A transfer to Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) from Batonka Guest Lodge is included on all trips in our Upgraded range regardless of your departure day, provided we receive your flight details no later than 10 days prior to your tour departing. The airport is around a 30-minute drive from our hotel.

Upgraded Accommodation

About our accommodation, a selection of our accommodation, trip information.

Botswana's regional characteristics, from fertile areas in the east to waterless desert in the centre and south, and a vast delta in the north-west, make for extremes of temperatures and highly variable rainfall. Seasonal weather patterns can be unpredictable.

Time difference to GMT

3 Pin Round

Christians. Anglicans, Methodists

English, Setswana

With a staggering 300 days of sunshine each year, Namibia is a year-round destination, although some may prefer to avoid the heat of high summer. The cold Benguela current keeps the Atlantic coast of the Namib Desert cool and rain-free for most of the year, with a thick coastal fog that lends a mysterious edge to the area. January and February are the hottest months, when daytime temperatures in the heart of the Namib can exceed 40°C (104°F), but nights are usually cool. Winter nights can be fairly cold, but days are generally warm and pleasant.

English, Afrikaans, German

Zimbabwe has a moderate climate, in the summer months (November to April) you can expect highs of 30 C° and lows of 20 C°. The wet season is from November to May when the days are typically dry and sunny with afternoon/evening thunderstorms. The best time for game viewing is September to October when days are dry and the temperatures are still relatively cool.

2 Pin Round

Optional activities The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these tour notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations. Please note: These activities are booked and paid for locally and do not form part of your Explore holiday contract.

Maun Day 4 (Thamo Telele): Get up close and personal with the lodge's resident herd of 20 giraffe while they feed at the waterhole. There are naturalists on hand, who will be able to tell you all about these fascinating animals. Learn each giraffes Setswana name, and how to identify them by their unique spots. There are identification books in the main lodge and at the waterhole so that you can work out who's who. Put on your walking shoes or jump on a horse and come and hang with the giraffe. This is a very special experience and one that Thamo Telele are particularly excited about! Pre booked (guaranteed) USD$140 per person Special rate - subject to availability on the day USD$50 per person Horse riding US$44 per person Kasane Day 8: Boat safari on Chobe River US$ 55pp Victoria Falls Day 11: Whitewater rafting half day low water US$ 126 per person. Strict minimum age of 15 years applies. Transfers to/from your hotel are included. Half day includes lunch and soft drinks. Rafting up to grade 5. Rafting note: River conditions are determined by seasonally predictable fluctuations in water levels. Low water season generally runs from August to January each year - this is when the Zambezi is at its very wildest. High water is from about February to July and there can be a closed season between March and June depending on the seasons rains. Please note the minimum age for rafting is 15 years old. Day 11: Upper Zambezi canoeing US$ 150 per person. Minimum age of 12 years old applies Day 11: Fishing expedition. US$ 130 (3 hours), US$160 (full day) Day 10 or 11: Sunset Zambezi River cruise US $85 (plus US $10 park fee) per person. Wild Horizons Dinner Cruise US $100 (plus US $10 park fee) per person, sunset cruise US $60 (plus US $10 park fee). Day 10 or 11: Victoria Falls helicopter ride 15mins US $175 per person (plus US $6 aviation fee, $20 park fee) Victoria Falls helicopter ride 22mins US $260 per person (plus US $6 aviation fee, $20 park fee) Day 11: Zambezi National Park Game Drive US$ 71 (plus US $10 park fee) per person. Please note prices are subject to change. Prices acurate as of June 2024

Clothing should be lightweight. However, a wind/waterproof jacket and warm fleeces or sweaters are essential, as nights and early morning game drives can be very cold. Scarfs are useful too. Brightly coloured and white clothing is not suitable for game viewing. Take a smart/casual outfit for evening meals/drinks in the safari lodges. Don't forget your swimwear.

Lightweight trail boots or robust trainers with good traction soles and sandals.

Luggage: On tour

Limit is one barrel bagoft holdall (suitcases are not permitted due to transport restrictions) per person and a reasonable amount of photographic equipment. A daysac is essential for everyday use.

Bring a water bottle, torch, sunhat, sunglasses, insect repellent and sunscreen. Binoculars are essential for game viewing and a 300mm lens is recommended for photography. Mosquito nets are provided in lodge rooms, so there is no need to take your own.

Food and drink The costs for meals may vary depending upon location, type of restaurant and number of courses eaten and so the prices given are an average guide. Local restaurants located off the beaten track may be less expensive, whereas an upmarket restaurant located in the centre of a major city may charge more.

Foreign exchange, transport information, accommodation notes.

During this tour, we stay at premium hotels, lodges and fixed permanent camps, with two nights on a comfortable houseboat on the delta. In Maun, we'll stay on a private 250-hectare game reserve located around 30 minutes outside of town. The magnificent Thamo Telele is set amongst a lush forest of old growth leadwood and acacia trees, each luxury safari-style tent is on raised wooden platforms with hardwood floors and en-suite bathrooms, all with private outdoor showers with nature as the backdrop. The stylish canvas tents all have twin beds, which can be converted into doubles, and air conditioning above the bed. There is a swimming pool and a central main lounge and bar area, where you'll find comfy couches and locally inspired wall art. Our base in Moremi on a private reserve, offering a classic Botswana premium safari camp experience. Each spacious safari tent is raised on a wooden deck, has an en-suite bathroom and features a private deck with views of the waterhole and the Okavango Delta wildlife that frequents the area in front of camp. The lodge has a swimming pool, a bar, a central dining area and a fire pit under the night sky, which we can retire to after dinner as a blaze of stars emerge. On the Okavango Panhandle, we spend two nights on a houseboat, for our exclusive use. The boat has a lower deck with compact, en-suite cabins and an upper deck with a open dining area with panoramic windows offering magnificent views of the delta. There is an open seating area at the rear of the boat, the perfect spot to sit at the end of the day and watch the sun set. In Kasane we'll stay at a property overlooking the Chobe river, an ideal base from which to explore Chobe National Park. Our premium lodge features landscaped gardens, a swimming pool and well appointed homely bedrooms. Victoria Falls is our final stop, we'll stay at either Batonka Guest Lodge or Pioneer Lodge. The two are sister properties located just over 1km from each other and are almost identical. Both are set in beautiful landscaped gardens, feature a swimming pool, spacious rooms positioned around the gardens, an expansive terrace where breakfast is taken, a bar and a stylish lounge and dining room which are both extremely comfortable. They are both exclusively reserved for residents which ensures the upmost privacy.

Food and drink

Dietary requirements: Most restaurants and hotels in Botswana do not have a wide selection of vegan and vegetarian choices. There is usually a choice of salads and one main vegetarian and/or vegan main dish on the menus, but choice will be limited especially in more remote locations. If you have specific dietary requirements we do recommend for you to bring some food with you. Can you drink the water? The  water quality is poor and therefore it is recommended to avoid drinking tap water during your trip.   

It’s very important that you let us know of any dietary requirements at least 60 days prior to the departure of your trip because your Leader will pre-plan menus and shop for the majority of the food prior to departure. In Namibia there is very limited availability for specialist food products along the way and leaders will need to pre-advise accommodations of any specific requirements so they can ensure they have options. Please note, without prior notice or if your requirements change while on the trip Explore cannot guarantee all requirements will be catered for.

If you have a specialist diet, including but not limited to vegan, gluten free, lactose intolerant and/or coeliac, we strongly recommend you bring some snacks with you as options will be limited, particularly in rural parts of Namibia where specialist food products in supermarkets are very limited and restaurants will often have one or two alternative options on their menus. With prior notice our leaders will always ensure there is a meal for you, however, we must stress we cannot guarantee variety or choice.

  Can you drink the water?  It is generally possible to drink the local tap water, therefore to reduce the need for single-use plastic bottles we recommend you bring a refillable water bottle with you. Your leader will advise you on refill points each day. 

Dietary requirements: Most restaurants and hotels in Zimbabwe do not have a wide selection of vegan and vegetarian choices. There is usually a choice of salads and one main vegetarian and/or vegan main dish on the menus, but choice will be limited especially in more remote locations. If you have specific dietary requirements we do recommend for you to bring some food with you. Can you drink the water?  The water quality is poor and therefore it is recommended to avoid drinking tap water during your trip.   

Government Travel Safety Advice

Under 18 immigration guidance.

Please note that some countries require proof of parental consent when travelling overseas with under 18s. Please check requirements with the relevant embassy or consular office well in advance of travel if this applies to your party.

Price Guarantee

Once your booking has been confirmed we guarantee the price will not increase, whatever the circumstances. However, please note that if you voluntarily make any changes to your booking including changing your trip or departure date, any additional costs or charges incurred will not be covered. Before booking please ensure you have read our important tour pricing information. Booking Conditions  

Visa and Passport Information

Travelling with Minors via South Africa (including transits) and entry into Botswana and Namibia Regulations affecting all children aged under 18 years that are travelling to, from or via South Africa have been updated (Nov19). The law states that visa exempt children travelling for tourism purposes with one or both parents and/or an adult who is not a biological parent require to present a valid passport for each child on arrival. We strongly recommend you to refer to the South African House website for full information and to travel with a copy of these requirements. Please refer to the FCO website for information on travelling with minors to Botswana: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/botswana/entry-requirements Please refer to the FCO website for information on travelling with minors to Namibia: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/namibia/entry-requirements Botswana: Visas are not required by UK, Australian, New Zealand, US and Canadian citizens. All passports must have at least 6 months validity remaining from date of entry into Botswana. Namibia: Visas are not required by UK, Australian, New Zealand, US and Canadian citizens. Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office. UK passport holders will need a minimum of 1 blank page in your passport for your permission to stay stamp acquired on arrival. Other nationalities should consult their embassy or consular office. Zimbabwe: Visas are required for UK, Australian, New Zealand, US and Canadian citizens. British citizens can obtain these on arrival (USD55), all other nationalities should consult their consulate. All passports must have at least 6 months validity remaining on entry and also have two consecutive blank pages in their passports which lie side by side when the passport is open (i.e. a left and a right hand page). Please refer to the Zimbabwe Department of Immigration website for visa on arrival fees and E-visa applications: https://www.evisa.gov.zw/home When travelling via South Africa a machine readable passport is required. Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office. South Africa: Visas are not required by UK, Australian, US and Canadian citizens. New Zealand passport holders do require a visa. If you are transiting you may need a transit visa, Please consult your airline to determine if you will need to pass through South African immigration to transit for your onward flight and your local consulate for full visa information. Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office for visa and/or transit visa information. All visitors should ensure their passport is machine readable and has two blank pages when entering and leaving South Africa. The South African Immigration officials will not allow child/ infant pages to be used for this purpose and visitors without the stipulated blank pages will be denied entry. All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related questions with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.

If you do require assistance in obtaining a visa then you may be able to apply through Explore's recommended visa service in the UK, Travcour. See www.travcour.com to download the relevant visa application for your trip, if applicable (UK citizens only), along with details of how to apply for your visa through Travcour. The Team at Travcour will be happy to answer specific questions relating to visa applications, please call them directly on 0208 5431846 . It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of a full passport, with the correct validity for your chosen destination.  

Booking conditions

Minimum age restrictions, your safety and enjoyment on tour, your tour leader, find out more about trip transfer terms and conditions before you book. booking a land only package with explore.

Customers who have chosen to book on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements of our tour, please ensure that you have checked your tour specific ‘Joining Instructions’ prior to booking your own travel arrangements. Your joining instructions can be found below in the dates and prices information.  You may also be eligible for the Free Explore Transfer.

Joining Tour Abroad

Customers booked on the ‘Land Only’ arrangements will receive a Free Transfer, provided you arrive and depart on the tour only itinerary start and end dates. The complimentary transfers will be arranged from the Explore designated airport or train station to your trips joining point, and then back from the ending point to the designated airport or train station. Generally the airport or station that Explore have selected will be the one that is closest to the town or city where the trip starts, or the one nearest to the joining point. It will be either an airport or train station but not both. The exception to this rule is customers who are booked on a tour where the joining and ending point is at the designated airport or train station.  

Free transfers are not available for Polar customers.

If you are not eligible for the Free Transfer then you will need to make your own way through to the joining and ending point. On a majority of our tours Explore will be able to provide a private transfer at an additional cost. Please ask for a quote at the time of booking.   For more information regarding the Explore Free Transfer click here

It is a condition of booking with Explore that you have adequate valid travel insurance. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate travel insurance and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the tour, including all optional activities. Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your home country. Please ensure your policy includes medical emergency helicopter evacuation in the event of illness or injury and covers the entire duration of your holiday. If you are trekking at altitude please ensure that there is no upper altitude limit which may limit or exclude cover for your trip. The cost of many of our Polar Voyages will exceed the capped amount covered by standard insurance premiums and you will be required to pay an additional premium to cover the full value of your trip. Please ensure that you are covered for the full amount of your holiday cost, as insufficient cover could invalidate a claim under the policy. Medical and repatriation insurance cover is not mandatory for UK residents who are travelling on trips within the United Kingdom. Read more information about what travel insurance is required.

Flight information

Flight information.

You are able to book this tour on a 'land only' basis or as a ‘flight inclusive’ package. Your flight inclusive package will be fully protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ATOL protection scheme.

Booking a flight inclusive package with Explore

We have a good selection of flights not only from London but from many regional airports around the UK allowing us to compare fares between scheduled carriers as well as low cost and charter airlines. Our dedicated flights team will match the best flight options to your arrival and departure airport.

On our website we display the price of the tour only. Please call us or select the flight option during the online checkout to receive a quote for a flight inclusive package. To avoid paying supplements or to secure your preferred flight option, we recommend booking as early as possible, especially for peak travel dates.

Ability to swim

An ability to swim is essential for your safe enjoyment of the water based activities on this trip. If you wish to participate in these activities then we insist that you are able to swim.

Vaccinations

We do recommend protection against malaria, hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid and polio. Consult your travel clinic for latest advice on different prophylaxis available against malaria. Travellers may wish to immunize themselves against meningitis. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at Explore Travel Health and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling. Immigration/Borders in Botswana are requesting a Yellow Fever certificate if you have previously travelled within/via an endemic country. Please note that any travellers who have visited Ebola affected countries during the last 30 days will be denied entry into Botswana. These countries are: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Liberia

Nothing compulsory, but we do recommend protection against malaria, hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid and polio. Please note that all travellers aged over 9 months old that have travelled from or have transitted via a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission, will need to present a Yellow Fever certificate at immigration/borders in Namibia for inspection. Consult your travel clinic for latest advice on different prophylaxis available against malaria. Travellers may wish to immunise themselves against meningitis. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at Explore Travel Health and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.

Please note that all travellers aged over 9 months old that have travelled from or have transited via a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission, will need to present a Yellow Fever certificate at immigration/borders in Zimbabwe for inspection. We recommend protection against hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid. Consult your travel clinic for latest advice on different prophylaxis available against malaria. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at Explore Travel Health and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.

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Botswana Wildlife Safari

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Botswana safari tours

It really is a zoo out there

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

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

Get a firsthand glance at one of the largest salt pans in the world in what used to be Lake Makgadikgadi. The Makgadikgadi Pans are a beautiful mixture of baobab trees, salt flats and grassy plains, best explored in a 4WD. However, if the scenery alone doesn't tempt you, you may be swayed by its residents. Arguably the cutest animal on safari, the meerkat is native to the Ntwetwe salt pan and is often huddled in mobs by the dunes. You'll also be among some of the world's largest animals such as elephants and giraffes.

The Boteti River is a must for die-hard zebra lovers as over 25,000 zebras migrate here from the neighboring game park. Since the Boteti River is the only permanent water source in the area, it attracts many animal species to its shores. It doesn’t matter whether you’re more interested in the prey or the predators, you’ll likely see them all. Find leafy-green eaters such as giraffes, springboks and oryx enjoying the lush vegetation and the toothy species, namely the lions, cheetahs and wild dogs, lurking hungrily nearby.

While not quite as fanciful as their mythical cousins (the unicorn), rhinoceros sightings are almost as rare these days due to their near-extinct status. Luckily, places like the Khama Rhino Sanctuary (KRS) have homed and rehabilitated black and white rhinos since 1992. The sanctuary aims to reintroduce as many rhinos as possible into the wild through a successful breeding program and anti-poaching patrols.

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When is the best time to visit Botswana?

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

Do I need a visa to travel to Botswana?

Australia: No visa required Belgium: No visa required Canada: No visa required Germany: No visa required Ireland: Yes - visa required Netherlands: No visa required New Zealand: No visa required South Africa: No visa required Switzerland: No visa required United Kingdom: No visa required USA: No visa required

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

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

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

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

This page is for general information only and may be subject to change. It is your responsibility to obtain relevant visa and travel information required for entry, departure and travel to each country or region you visit on your trip. You should confirm these with the relevant embassies and/or consulates. 

Last updated: 04/12/2023

What is ATM access like in Botswana?

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

Are Intrepid trips accessible for travelers with disabilities?

We are committed to making travel widely  accessible , regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations. 

We are always happy to talk to travelers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

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Luxury Experiences in Botswana

Embark on a journey of opulence amidst the untamed beauty of Botswana, where luxury seamlessly merges with nature’s grandeur. Delve into the heart of the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, aboard a private mokoro, navigating through winding waterways teeming with wildlife. Experience the thrill of encountering majestic elephants, graceful giraffes, and elusive big cats on exclusive game drives through the pristine wilderness of Chobe National Park. Indulge in lavish accommodations, from intimate tented camps nestled under the starlit African sky to luxurious lodges overlooking sweeping savannah vistas. Elevate your senses with gourmet dining experiences, savoring delectable African-inspired cuisine crafted from the freshest local ingredients. Whether you yearn for serene relaxation or adrenaline-fueled adventures, Botswana offers an unparalleled blend of luxury and wilderness, promising memories to last a lifetime.

Experience the epitome of luxury in Botswana’s most exclusive destinations, each offering a unique glimpse into the country’s rich tapestry of natural wonders. Explore the iconic Moremi Game Reserve, renowned for its abundant wildlife and diverse ecosystems, where luxury safari lodges provide an oasis of comfort amidst the rugged wilderness. Discover the remote beauty of the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, where intimate camps offer unrivaled access to pristine landscapes and thrilling game viewing opportunities. Unwind in the lap of luxury along the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, where opulent safari lodges offer breathtaking views of cascading waterfalls and roaming herds of elephants. From the enchanting Okavango Delta to the majestic Victoria Falls, Botswana beckons with a wealth of luxurious destinations waiting to be explored.

Popular Luxury Destinations in Botswana

Luxury destinations, luxurious experiences in botswana.

Indulge in a myriad of luxurious experiences that redefine the art of travel in Botswana. Immerse yourself in the timeless romance of a candlelit bush dinner under the vast African sky, serenaded by the sounds of the wilderness. Embark on a scenic helicopter flight over the Okavango Delta, marveling at its labyrinthine channels and flourishing floodplains from a bird’s-eye perspective. Unwind with a rejuvenating spa treatment amidst the tranquil surrounds of your luxury safari lodge, pampering your senses after exhilarating game drives and bush walks. Engage in cultural encounters with local communities, gaining insights into age-old traditions and customs passed down through generations. From hot air balloon safaris to sunset cruises along the Chobe River, Botswana offers a treasure trove of luxurious experiences guaranteed to enchant and inspire discerning travelers.

When you book with us, you will receive

Exclusive Perks, Offers, and Benefits

Preferred rates and availability.

At Forest Travel, we are proud members of Virtuoso, which allows us to provide you with unique access to select properties and resorts. We offer specially negotiated rates and availability for a memorable travel experience.

Room upgrade upon arrival, subject to availability

At Forest Travel Luxury Agency, enjoy a complimentary room upgrade upon arrival, enhancing your stay with added comfort and elegance, subject to availability. Additionally, benefit from early check-in and late checkout, along with complimentary Wi-Fi to stay connected effortlessly.

Value-added amenities (minimum of $100 value)

Forest Travel offers luxury packages that elevate your travel experience with a minimum of $100 in value-added amenities. Enjoy personalized welcome gifts, complimentary spa treatments, gourmet dining, and private guided tours, all designed to ensure your adventure is unforgettable.

Daily breakfast for two

Enjoy a complimentary breakfast for two, providing you the opportunity to relish exquisite morning meals together at some of the most distinctive restaurants that only a distinguished Virtuoso member like Forest Travel can offer.

Your next Adventure Begins Now

We believe that the essence of exceptional travel experiences lies not just in what we offer, but in the exquisite and authentic way we curate our journeys, drawing from our own wanderlust and firsthand exploration of the world.

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ORGANIZED SELF-DRIVE SAFARIS TO BOTSWANA

Experience the ultimate self-drive safari in botswana.

Botswana is wild! Therefore, good preparation and some advance planning are essential. Go on an unforgettable adventure with our self-drive safari packages in Botswana, where the wild beauty of Africa meets the thrill of exploration.

We will arrange your accommodations, whether you prefer the comfort of lodges and guesthouses, the rustic charm of campsites, or a mix of both. Explore Botswana offers organized self-drive holidays, allowing you to go on a safari adventure in a fully equipped 4×4 rental vehicle of your choice.

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NATIONAL PARKS

Length: 14 Days (customizable)

Price from: €1.079,- EUR

Length: 20 Days (customizable)

Price from: €1.779,- EUR

Length: 21 Days (customizable)

Price from: €1.162,- EUR

Unforgettable Self-Drive Safari to Botswana

Take the wheel of your preferred fully equipped 4×4 rental car. Imagine navigating through diverse landscapes, from the lush wetlands of the Okavango Delta to the arid expanses of the Kalahari Desert, all at your own pace. With our expertly curated routes, you’ll discover hidden gems, encounter majestic wildlife, and immerse yourself in the raw, untamed splendor of Botswana.

Uncover the hidden gems of Botswana

Our Botswana Self-Drive itineraries offer the perfect blend of freedom and comfort, allowing you to design your own custom safari while benefiting from our insider knowledge and support. Explore Botswana will always make sure that you will experience the safari of your dreams!

Botswana self-drive Inspiration

Discover the authentic atmosphere of Botswana and get inspired for your own self-drive adventure by watching our captivating videos. This way, you’ll get a good sense of our adventurous journeys to Botswana!

Organised 4×4 Self-Drive Holidays in Botswana

Namibia 4×4 Car Hire

Organised 4×4 Self-Drive Holidays in Namibia

Botswana Travel Advice

Every traveller has their own preferences. Do you need assistance in planning your self-drive trip to Botswana? Our experienced tour consultants are ready to assist you! Together we fully customize the tour to your personal preferences, wishes and budget. We can assist you in many different ways. Our team of friendly and service-oriented Tour Consultants is available in Europe and Africa to assist you in creating a personalized proposal for your tailor-made trip to Botswana and to answer all your questions you might have.

Exploring the Wild Heart of Africa: A Self-Drive Safari in Botswana

Discover spectacular botswana.

We guarantee that all our vehicles are in excellent condition and well serviced.

What is included:

Accommodation (hotels, guesthouses, lodges or campsites)

Unlimited kilometres

Complete camping equipment (camping trip)

Car insurance with standard excess

Third party insurance

Most accommodations are booked with breakfast and camping is self-catering

Personal travel App for cell phone

24-hours emergency service

Tips and route information

Airport/hotel transfers

What is not included:

International Flights

Park fees, entrance fees to museums

Personal expenses

Additional activities and excursions, e.g. game drives, boat trips, etc.

Meals (unless indicated as included)

Travel and cancellation insurance

Why Explore Botswana?

Years of experience.

Begin your customized safari journey with Explore Botswana, the expert for unique adventures to Botswana. Our extensive knowledge, commitment to customer satisfaction, and flexibility make us stand out. We tailor our services to match your preferences, ensuring an exceptional safari experience to Botswana. Our delighted customers attest to the remarkable trips we provide. Trust Explore Botswana to be your guide for an unforgettable safari in Botswana. Together, we’ll create memories that last a lifetime!

Ultimate Self-Drive Safari to Botswana

Our service.

Our thoughtful team of knowledgeable Botswana experts are here to take care of every need, from the second you contact us to when you return home.

Efficient & friendly service

Our team of friendly and service-minded Tour Consultants is available in Europe and Africa to assist you making a personalized tailor-made travel proposal and to answer all questions you might have. You can reach us by phone, e-mail and chat. We can set-up a (digital) meeting to discuss all your wishes and preferences. Feel free to contact us anytime!

Qualified staff with local knowledge

When you travel into amazing, wild and exhilarating Africa, there is one thing you must surely have properly arranged beforehand. A safari holiday requires back-up of a local expert who has inherent knowledge of the local African situation. This can either be our local support office in case of self-drive or your personal guide in case of a private guide safari trip.

Sustainable mindset

We understand that our activities have a positive, but can also have a negative, impact on the surroundings; positive by creating (local) employment and social development, but we also realize that our tourists might have another impact on the environment. We attach great importance to reducing the pressure that tourism exerts on the natural and social living environment of our travel destinations, and we see it as our corporate responsibility, and are committed to, constantly improve in the field of responsible, and maintaining sustainable travel.

24-hours support

We are close by while you are traveling and always reachable. Should you feel uncertain along the way or hit a “bump along the road” you can easily contact us, and we will gladly assist you to make your trip and stay in Botswana as enjoyable as possible with little or no interruptions.

Book With Confidence

Reliable and trustworthiness.

We are, amongst others, proud member of the ATTA (African Tour Operator Association), the ANVR (Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators) and SGR (Dutch guarantee fund for prepaid travel money). This means we offer reliability and security towards our clients, as we work according to the ANVR travel and booking conditions, agreed with the European Consumers Association. The SGR label also provides financial certainty in case of possible bankruptcy.

Self-Drive Safari to Botswana with your own vehicle for the ultimate Adventure!

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Botswana Safari Holiday

A Botswana safari offers incredible natural beauty, superb accommodations, and some of the best wildlife viewing on the continent. From the watery channels of the Okavango Delta  to the arid  Kalahari , Botswana’s unspoiled environments create the perfect backdrop for an unparalleled Botswana safari experience.

In the Okavango Delta, visitors can explore a unique ecosystem of lush landscapes and clear waterways, home to elephants, lions, hippos, and many bird species. This UNESCO World Heritage Site offers immersive wildlife experiences through mokoro rides and guided walking safaris.

The Kalahari Desert provides a starkly beautiful adventure with vast open spaces and resilient wildlife like black-maned Kalahari lions, meerkats, and gemsbok. The desert’s unique landscapes and ancient baobab trees offer tranquility and a sense of timelessness.

As one of Africa’s premier destinations, Botswana follows a high-value, low-volume tourism model, preserving natural habitats and ensuring an exclusive, authentic Botswana safari experience. Though considered expensive, Botswana safaris offer unmatched exclusivity, comfort, and uncrowded game viewing. Luxury lodges and tented camps provide exceptional service and amenities, blending seamlessly with the natural surroundings.

Most Popular

Botswana safari regions.

We focus on the seven main safari regions of Botswana, ensuring a complete and diverse wildlife experience. Given the extensive offerings, it is unlikely you will be able to thoroughly explore all these Botswana safari regions unless you have significant time. We can help highlight the best regions to maximize your Botswana safari adventure.

Okavango Delta

The kalahari & kgalagadi transfrontier park, savuti and linyanti, chobe national park, nata, nxai pan and makgadikgadi park, our recommended, botswana tours.

Botswana safaris and tours take a great amount of expert planning due to their remote and isolated destinations. Distances can be vast, and travel can be tricky. Fortunately, we’ve compiled a list of experiences and tours for your approval; expect a great combination of luxury, adventure, and sights unseen.

Classic Victoria Falls & Botswana Safari

• From USD 5,980 Per Person Sharing

Luxury Botswana & Cape Town By Belmond

• From USD 8336 Per Person Sharing

The 9-Day Classic Botswana Safari

• From USD 8400 Per Person Sharing

What to Experience

On a botswana safari.

Botswana invites you to immerse yourself in the heart of Africa’s wilderness. With diverse landscapes and abundant wildlife, Botswana offers experiences that will captivate your soul.

Whispers of the Watery Wilderness

Step aboard a traditional mokoro canoe and embark on a mesmerizing journey through the Okavango Delta's crystal-clear waterways. Navigate emerald channels teeming with life, spot hippos basking in the sun, and witness vibrant birds painting the sky with color. Become one with the delta's gentle rhythm and discover its hidden treasures.

Where water whispers adventure.

Immerse yourself in a chorus of vibrant songs and dazzling plumage. With over 930 diverse bird species calling Botswana home, birding enthusiasts can unleash their inner explorer. From shimmering sunbirds flitting amongst wildflowers to majestic eagles soaring on thermal currents, each sighting sparks wonder.

Uncage your wings of wonder.

Escape the city lights and immerse yourself in the vast, unspoiled canvas of Botswana's night sky. Witness a celestial masterpiece of twinkling stars, distant galaxies, and mesmerizing constellations, far from any light pollution. This is an experience that will leave you humbled and awestruck by the universe's boundless wonder.

Gaze into the infinite depths of night.

Connect with the San People

Delve into the timeless traditions of the San people, the original inhabitants of the Kalahari Desert. Learn about their profound connection to the land, their remarkable tracking skills, and their captivating storytelling traditions shared around a crackling fire under a starlit sky. Gain a deeper understanding of this ancient culture and its enduring wisdom.

Unearth stories with ancient wisdom

Victoria Falls

Feel the spray kiss your face and the earth tremble beneath your feet as you stand in awe of Victoria Falls, the world's largest waterfall. Hike along its cascading torrents, embark on a thrilling helicopter flight for breathtaking panoramas, or take a white-water rafting adventure for an adrenaline rush. This is a spectacle that will leave you forever mesmerized.

Feel the pulse of the planet.

For Botswana

Read full review, in our blog, guidebook to a botswana safari with african bush camps , guidebook to 5 recommended sustainable hotels and lodges in southern africa, 2024 travel trends, a journey through botswana and zimbabwe with hideaways africa, types of safaris, exploring botswana with safari365, how do i prepare for an african safari, africa beach holiday, what are the different types of vehicle on an african safari,  beyond safari : the onward journey, water-based safaris in botswana, with confidence, trusted local expertise, ongoing 24/7 support, financial security, sustainable travel and giving back, enquire about, your african safari.

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Botswana Wildlife

A guide to the animals of botswana.

Blessed with some of the greatest natural spectacles on the planet, Botswana wildlife is some of the most varied and accessible in Africa, making it a premier safari destination. There are most elephants in Botswana than any other country, big cats roam free and there’s everything from the endangered African wild dog to aquatic antelopes and rhinos, along with abundant birdlife.

This is also the land of the Okavango Delta and the Kalahari Desert – two of the most iconic African landscapes found anywhere on the continent.

Botswana’s best national parks for wildlife are:

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Polar opposite of the Okavango Delta, the parched Kalahari is epic in scale. One of the largest deserts in the world , yet a surprisingly good place to see some of Botswana’s most elusive wildlife. Desert adapted animals here include lions and hyenas, along with all of the shy five animals – aardvark, aardwolf, bat-eared fox, meerkat, and porcupine.

Chobe National Park

Hands down one of Africa’s best wildlife destinations, which at times can be overwhelming. If you’re after big cat viewing the Savuti area of Chobe is the place to go, whilst some of Africa’s largest elephants are found around the Chobe Riverfront area.

Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

The return of the Boteti River in recent years has multiplied the amount of wildlife found in this park. Dry season (May to October) brings one of Africa’s greatest animal migrations featuring wildebeests, zebras, and their attendant predators.

Moremi Game Reserve

Home to some of the densest wildlife concentrations on the continent in a range of habitats including woodland, savanna, and wetlands. With the reintroduction of the rhino, Moremi is now a big five reserve, and has the largest population of red lechwe in Africa, along with a healthy African wild dog population.

With this breadth and variety in mind we’ve put together a selection of the most iconic animals in Botswana to spot:

15 Iconic Animals of Botswana:

A pair of lions – the ultimate African safari animals

Leaping in at first place is the lion, also known as the king of the jungle. Lions are the largest and most sociable of Africa’s cats . At up to 225 kg, the lion  ( Panthera leo ) really is the king of all savanna animals (not jungle!).

These big cats live in prides of up to 40 lions, and it’s the lionesses who do all the hunting, usually sharing their catches with the males of a pride. Lions are very territorial, and the females generally spend most of their lives within their home ranges.

When you hear them roaring during the night, or the day, you’ll be amazed at how loud and powerful they actually are – don’t worry about not hearing the lions snarls or roars, as they can be heard from up to 8 kilometers away. It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see lions hunting, or lion cubs playing with each other (but watch out for those man-eating lions !).

African Elephant

An African elephant – one of the iconic African animals

The African elephant ( Loxodonta africana ) is the largest land mammal and heaviest land animal in the world , weighing up to 6 tonnes. You will be stunned by the sheer size and presence of these creatures, not only on the first time you see one, but each and every time. The good news is, they’re fairly easy to spot!

Elephants play a vital role in the survival of other species by digging waterholes in dry riverbeds, spreading seeds through theirs faecal matter, and creating natural fire breaks in the landscape with their trails, and they do all this on only 2 hours sleep in a 24 hour period!

Rhinocerous

The most elusive of the big five animals?

Rhinos are something you just need to see in real life to understand how impressive they really are.

Once widespread through sub-Saharan Africa, the rhino has been hunted to the brink of extinction, and is probably the hardest of the big five animals to spot in the wild. There are two species of rhinoceros in Africa – the black rhino ( Diceros bicornis ) and the white rhino ( Ceratotherium simum ).

Whilst white rhinos have made a comeback through conservation efforts across the continent, black rhinos are still very much one of Africa’s most endangered animals , and hardest safari animals to spot. The fundamental differences between the white and black rhino are not color, but rather size, temperament, food preference, and mouth shape.

Cape Buffalo

Cape buffalo – the grumpiest of all safari animals!

Weighing in at not too far short of a ton, the African buffalo ( Syncerus caffer ) has a reputation for being bad-tempered and dangerous. Whilst solitary buffaloes can be unpredictable (and dangerous, hence their inclusion in the big five animals), they are usually a docile beast when in a herd… aside from their tendency to stampede en masse when alarmed.

Not sure about the differences between a bison and buffalo ?

A beautiful leopard doing what it does best… lounging in a tree

The elusive leopard is one of the shyest and least sociable animals in Africa (though not one of the ‘shy five’ ), but are still opportunistic hunters and are highly adaptable. Watching a leopard carry its prey up a tree is a fantastic sight and one of the best African safari sightings you could hope for.

Slightly smaller than their lion cousins, leopards ( Panthera pardus ) are less rare than you might think, but rely on camouflage and being active at night to stay hidden.

Leopards are solitary, independent creatures, and rarely seen together except during mating, or a mother with cubs. As such they are totally self-reliant, and expert hunters – sometimes killing prey up to twice their size. During the daytime they often lounge around in trees and come to the ground after dark to hunt, taking their prey up into a tree to eat at their leisure.

Red lechwe in the Okavango Delta wetlands

The red lechwe is a medium-sized antelope, closely related to the Waterbuck. It’s adapted to marshlands and swampy territories where they browse on aquatic and semi-aquatic grasses.

These antelope are named after the reddish-brown colour on their upperparts, and have distinctly elongated hooves – an adaptation to the soggy substrate of their preferred habitats.

Spotted Hyena

A cute hyena strolling…

There are four species in the hyena family , varying in size and shape.

Hyenas are unique and vital components of most African ecosystems, both taking advantage of other animals’ kills for easy meals and hunting themselves. The size of a hyena kill or scavenge is generally determined by the size of the hyena’s clan, which can run to dozens. They often hide extra food in watering holes, since nothing is wasted. Hyenas eat every part of an animal, including bones and hooves.

A hippo – one of Africa’s most dangerous animals

Spending most of their days keeping cool in the water or mud, hippos are semi-aquatic safari animals. They resemble large pigs but are in fact related to the whale species, and despite their large, cumbersome appearance can easily outrun a human, and are known as one of Africa’s most dangerous animals .

Zebras at a waterhole

Zebra are perhaps the most stylish of African animals, with their characteristically stunning coats of black and white stripes. These distant relatives of the horse are a frequent sight on any African safari and consist of three different species.

There are many theories about why zebras have stripes , and it seems that perhaps the most likely answer is that the stripes function as a way to deter biting insects like tsetse flies and mosquitos.

Plains zebras play a particularly interesting role in the ecosystem, as they are pioneer gazers, nibbling and feeding on the top-most layer of grass, thereby opening up the grassland for more specialized grazers looking for the short grasses tucked below.

Giraffe mother with two young

Perhaps the ultimate icon of the African savanna , the giraffe is an unmistakable land mammal known for their long necks and spotted coat (and super-weird giraffe tongue !). They were known by Arab prophets as the ‘queen of the beasts’ because of their delicate features and graceful poise.

With nine subspecies sharing its distinctive characteristics, this African safari animal is the tallest in the world by some way, and amongst the heaviest and largest animals anywhere . The giraffe’s coat is characterized by dark blotches on lighter hair. With age, male giraffes may become darker, and while calves inherit spot patterns from their mothers, each giraffe has a unique coat pattern that sets it apart.

Giraffes have a sharp sense of hearing and smell, another defense against predators, while it can close its nostrils during sandstorms and against ants.

An adult aardvark in the grass

Aardvarks live throughout Africa, south of the Sahara. Their name comes from South Africa’s Afrikaans language and means ‘earth pig’. Being nocturnal, they spend the hot African afternoons resting in their cool underground burrows, and night time foraging in grasslands and forests for termites.

The elusive aardwolf

Aardwolves  are nocturnal, solitary foragers, only coming together to mate and rear young. . The name Aardwolf means ‘earth wolf’ in Afrikaans and stems from its supposed dog-like features and its diet of termites which it digs for in the ground and in the termite mounds.

Bat-eared Fox

Can you see how it got its name?

As the name indicates, this fox has unusually enormous ears in proportion to its head, like those of many bats. Their bodies are generally yellow-brown with a pale throat and under parts. Bat-eared foxes are primarily found in East and Southern Africa where there are short-grass plains and plenty of termites and beetles.

The  meerkat, or suricate , is a small carnivoran in the  mongoose family . It is the only member of the genus Suricata. Meerkats are predominantly  desert animals  and live in all parts of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, in much of the Namib Desert in Namibia and southwestern Angola, and in South Africa.

African Wild Dog

Wild dog with bloody face

The African wild dog is one of the most successful hunters on the African plains, and are highly social and  intelligent animals . These characteristics have made the painted wolf be arguably the most successful hunter on Africa’s dangerous plains.

So there you have our take on the 14 most iconic species of Botswana wildlife you could expect to see when on safari in Botswana . What do you think – any controversial picks… or Botswana wildlife that are missing from the list? Let us know in the comments section below!

If you’re looking for more in-depth information on any of these – or other – African animals, you can check out our animal lists or animal comparisons .

you did a good job on this is really nice. you should do more like this.

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 wildlife safaris

Best wildlife safaris in botswana.

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

Slaty Egret Safari

4 days • 2 locations MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

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

Chitabe Camp

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

Little Vumbura

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

Pangolin Safari

8 days • 3 locations MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

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

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

Lagoon Camp

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

African Jacana Safari

7 days • 3 locations MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

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

Camp Kalahari

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

Khwai Lediba

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

Bushbuck Safari

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

Chitabe Lediba

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

Wild Dog Safari

13 days • 5 locations KASANE AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

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

Savute Safari Lodge

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

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

Wattled Crane Safari

5 days • 2 locations MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

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

Kudu Safari

7 days • 2 locations MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

US$8,470 - US$22,560 per person

Sandibe Safari Lodge

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

Spotted-necked Otter Safari

6 days • 2 locations MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

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

Tubu Tree Camp

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

Honey Badger Safari

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

Mopane Squirrel Safari

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

Best camps & lodges for Wildlife safaris in Botswana

Jack's Camp

Although wildlife densities at Jack's Camp are generally low, visitors can get exceptionally close to habituated meerkats – which for many is one of the best safari experiences in Botswana. This, along with the zebra and wildebeest migration and glimpses of black-maned lion, brown hyena and other desert species, makes the wildlife here pretty special.

Chobe Game Lodge

The Chobe River is a magnet for elephant and buffalo during the dry season. From its location within Chobe National Park, Chobe Game Lodge offers the opportunity to steal a march on the crowds and to explore quiet sections of the river during a wildlife safari in Botswana.

Overlooking a waterhole in a private reserve, Skybeds is a superb place for a wildlife safari in Botswana. Watching wildlife from on high – even from your bed – or at eye-level from a sunken hide for a wholly different perspective makes this a special place to stay.

Edo's Camp is one of the only places in Botswana where you can see rhino at an economical price. The conservancy is home to 6 white rhino and the population is growing. The rhino can be seen whilst on a 4WD safari drive or tracked on foot during a guided walk.

Little Mombo

The Mombo area of Moremi is probably the best place for wildlife safaris in Botswana. It has excellent populations of the big predators, herds of buffalo and elephant, both white and black rhino, plenty of spotted hyena, and a very wide range of plains game.

At the heart of a vast protected area, Mombo is one of the very best areas for wildlife safaris in the Okavango Delta, and indeed in Africa. Its animal densities are high and its landscapes are very open, which provides for some world-class game viewing.

Chobe Under Canvas

During the dry season, increasingly high densities of wildlife are drawn to the Chobe River's permanent waters, making Chobe Under Canvas a good choice for wildlife safaris in Botswana. By September/October the numbers of elephant are astounding.

Qorokwe Camp

Situated in a reliably good concession on the south-eastern side of the Okavango Delta, Qorokwe is in one of Botswana’s great wildlife-viewing destinations, particularly in the dry season between July and October when the grasses are lower.

During the dry season, the Mopane Tongue area of the Moremi Game Reserve has some of the densest game viewing in Botswana that we have seen. Big cats, such as leopard and lion, are common, and elephant, hippo and giraffe are prolific.

Mapula Lodge

As part of a wildlife safari in Botswana, Mapula Lodge offers plenty of plains game, including zebra, buffalo, lechwe and giraffe, as well as elephant, and predators such as lion, leopard and wild dogs.

Duba Plains Camp

Duba Plains, historically famous for its lion and buffalo interaction, which can be very exciting to say the least! Staying a few nights here will give you the best chance of seeing this spectacle.

Okavango Explorers

Located in a good game area that’s exceedingly wild, with wild dogs and other large predators known to hunt in the area and elephants congregating in large numbers during the dry season.

Chief's Camp

Renowned as one of Botswana's premier game-viewing destinations, Chief's Island boasts a wide variety of wildlife – including the country's few rhino (although these are rarely seen).

North Island Okavango

North Island Okavango is in an area is renowned for its predator interactions, especially wild dogs and leopard with very good general game viewing.

Abu Camp is renowned for its Abu elephant herd, which used to be an habituated herd but now mingles with other wild elephants.

Duba Explorers Camp

Intimate and elegant, Duba Explorers Camp promises a firm safari focus in a remote corner of the Okavango, led by a team who value the highest guiding and hosting standards.

Best camps & lodges for Wildlife safaris in Africa

Wildlife safaris elsewhere in Africa

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

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

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

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

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

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

South Africa

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

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

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

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

Where to see wildlife species in Botswana

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

Panthera leo

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

81% SUCCESS

3,160 sightings from 3,911 observations

Where to see lion in Botswana

Panthera pardus

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

47% SUCCESS

2,022 sightings from 4,339 observations

Where to see leopard in Botswana

Acinonyx jubatus

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

33% SUCCESS

1,088 sightings from 3,318 observations

Where to see cheetah in Botswana

Lycaon pictus

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

31% SUCCESS

913 sightings from 2,901 observations

Where to see wild dog in Botswana

Spotted Hyena

Crocuta crocuta

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

55% SUCCESS

2,258 sightings from 4,134 observations

Where to see spotted hyena in Botswana

Brown Hyena

Parahyaena brunnea

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

16% SUCCESS

252 sightings from 1,599 observations

Where to see brown hyena in Botswana

Suricata suricatta

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

21% SUCCESS

92 sightings from 435 observations

Where to see meerkat in Botswana

Loxodonta africana

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

91% SUCCESS

3,800 sightings from 4,188 observations

Where to see elephant in Botswana

Syncerus caffer

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

83% SUCCESS

2,674 sightings from 3,238 observations

Where to see buffalo in Botswana

Giraffa camelopardalis

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

86% SUCCESS

3,655 sightings from 4,263 observations

Where to see giraffe in Botswana

Hippopotamus amphibius

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

89% SUCCESS

2,779 sightings from 3,114 observations

Where to see hippo in Botswana

Black Rhino

Diceros bicornis

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

30% SUCCESS

641 sightings from 2,130 observations

Where to see black rhino in Botswana

White Rhino

Ceratotherium simum

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

43% SUCCESS

515 sightings from 1,188 observations

Where to see white rhino in Botswana

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

69% SUCCESS

1,378 sightings from 1,990 observations

Where to see oryx in Botswana

Taurotragus oryx

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

49% SUCCESS

1,507 sightings from 3,101 observations

Where to see eland in Botswana

Roan antelope

Hippotragus equinus

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

23% SUCCESS

502 sightings from 2,138 observations

Where to see roan antelope in Botswana

Sable antelope

Hippotragus niger

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

22% SUCCESS

481 sightings from 2,139 observations

Where to see sable antelope in Botswana

Tragelaphus spekii

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

18% SUCCESS

65 sightings from 353 observations

Where to see sitatunga in Botswana

Connochaetes sp.

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

67% SUCCESS

2,584 sightings from 3,841 observations

Where to see wildebeest in Botswana

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

84% SUCCESS

3,995 sightings from 4,762 observations

Where to see zebra in Botswana

Smutsia sp.

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

57 sightings from 3,485 observations

Where to see pangolin in Botswana

Orycteropus afer

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

73 sightings from 3,464 observations

Where to see aardvark in Botswana

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Botswana Safaris

Africa’s ultimate safari destination.

Experience Botswana as few travelers do, on a mobile camping safari—a true immersion in the untamed beauty of Africa. Designed to bring you away from the crowds and close to wildlife, our journeys explore the game-rich savannas of Chobe and Moremi on exhilarating game drives and by private boat, and head out on exciting bush walks and mokoro canoe excursions in the Okavango Delta. At journey’s end, experience one of the natural wonders of the world—Victoria Falls!

All Trips to Botswana

Small Group Adventure

Botswana Wildlife Safari

Botswana, Zimbabwe

From $9,895

Botswana: Okavango Explorer

From $11,395

Ultimate Namibia and Botswana

Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia

From $12,995

Great Elephant Migration Safari

From $9,295

Botswana Kalahari Safari: Zebra Migration

From $9,495

Private Journey

Botswana and Victoria Falls Private Safari

From $8,495

South Africa, Victoria Falls, and Botswana Private Safari

Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa

From $8,595

What Makes Our Botswana Safaris Special?

• Explore Africa the way few travelers ever do with  private mobile camps and boutique lodges  that get you close to the wildlife and away from the crowds.
• Expert  naturalist guides lead your entire safari  (no handing you off from lodge to lodge); and a staff-to-guest ratio of 1:1 in camp.
• Epic game viewing and great variety:  4WD vehicle, bush walks, private riverboat, canoe, and scenic charter flights.
• Custom-built 4WD safari vehicles  with guaranteed window seats and roof hatches with 360-degree views.
• Experience  Botswana’s phenomenal landscapes:  the Okavango Delta, a World Heritage Site, exquisite Moremi Game Reserve, and Chobe National Park, with its massive herds of elephant.
• We offer  a Botswana safari for every season,  from our classic 11-day journey that includes Victoria Falls to our 14-day in-depth adventures in the Okavango Delta or the Kalahari Desert.

Everything You Need to Know

There is no wrong time to go on safari in Botswana, however, it is generally accepted that the best game viewing period is from late March to October. Because of the minimal rainfall during this season, the bush turns golden brown and in many areas is beaten flat, so game viewing is easier and animals concentrate around major water sources.

There is simply no experience that compares to a mobile safari. A world apart from lodge-based, our mobile camps immerse you deep in Botswana’s most magnificent and wildlife-rich terrain in absolute comfort.

• Spacious tents are equipped with comfortable beds (no cots!), and en suite private bathrooms with washbasins and hot showers.
• A private guide, chef, camp manager, tent steward, and camp team stay with you throughout your mobile safari. Our staff-to-guest ratio is 1:1 for the highest quality of service.
• Thrilling game viewing: our mobile camps have you out in the heart of the parks and close to the wildlife—no long drives back and forth on dusty lodge roads.

With its wide-open, sparsely populated countryside, Botswana has set aside more land for national parks and game reserves than any other country in Africa. It is a landlocked nation covering an area slightly smaller than the state of Texas. In essence, Botswana is a sandy plateau situated at an average elevation of 3,000-3,500 feet above sea level. Its most dominant geological feature is the Kalahari Desert, which covers roughly 80% of the country. At the northern edge of this arid area lies the Okavango Delta—the “Jewel of the Kalahari”—where the Okavango River is tamed by the semi-desert and spills over an area the size of Switzerland, and then disappears into the sand, never reaching the ocean to the south. It is the largest inland delta in the world. With its permanent supply of water, the Okavango Delta supports what is probably the most diverse profusion of plant and animal life in Southern Africa.

Setswana is the main language in Botswana, understood by about 90% of the people. Although you can manage well without knowing any of the language, it is always fun (and appreciated) when you try to use a few words.

Hello (to man/woman) —  Dumela mma/rra Hello (to a group) —  Dumelang Goodbye (person leaving) —  Tsamayo sentle Goodbye (person staying) —  Sala sentle Please —  Tsweetswee Thank you —  Kea itumela Yes/No —  Ee/Nnyaa Excuse me —  Intshwarele OK/No problem —  Go siame How are you? (morning) —  A o tsogile? How are you? (evening) —  O tlhotse jang? My name is… —  Leina la me ke… I’m from…. —  Ke tswa kwa… Come in! —  Tsena!

The earliest recorded inhabitants of Botswana were the Basarwa, sometimes called Bushmen, although their proper name is San, meaning “people.”” Only about 3,000 full-blooded Basarwa still follow their traditional way of life, hunting and gathering in the harsh northern Kalahari. There are nearly 50,000 other Basarwas in Botswana and neighboring countries who have adapted more modern-day lifestyles. The migration of Bantu-speaking peoples from the north came later, and they brought their cattle herds with them.

In 1817, the English missionary Robert Moffat arrived and established a mission station at Kuruman. He set the Setswana language into written form and translated the bible into Setswana. The Boers swept through the land in 1835 and acquired vast tracts of land regardless of prior claims or inhabitants. In 1841, Dr. Livingstone befriended Robert Moffat and married his daughter Mary at Kuruman. Livingstone’s earlier explorations had brought him through Kolobeng to Lake Ngami in the Maun area (he was the first European to see the lake) and on to the Chobe River, the Zambezi, and Victoria Falls. After 1860, the Boers, Germans, and British carved up large tracts of land among themselves.

The British Government made Bechuanaland (Botswana) a British Protectorate in 1885. Cecil Rhodes tried to take over with his British South Africa Company in 1894, but failed. British Rule lasted 70 years. The 1960s saw the formation of the first political parties in Bechuanaland. In 1963, constitutional talks began and the machinery for self-rule and the establishment of the new capital city, Gaborone, was started. The first general elections were held in 1965 and independence was declared on September 30, 1966. Today, Botswana has one of the fastest growing economies in the African continent. The long tradition of kgotla (tribal assembly where there is freedom of speech and debate) has translated easily into a multi-party parliamentary democracy.

Experience Botswana

Extend Your Trip

Okavango Delta Safari Extension

From $4,795

REVIEWS FROM OUR CLIENTS

An extraordinary trip. The tent camping experience and the lodges were outstanding. The assurance that we were truly experiencing the world as the animals (and birds) do made it an intensely rewarding experience.

The small number of participants with Wilderness Travel makes a much more intimate interaction with the areas visited. It was wonderful being in a small group of ten. Our guide’s ability to spot things in the bush was pretty incredible—he found leopards for us (with their kills), lions we would never have seen, and every bird everywhere. Great personality, too!

We were very excited to be going on safari and all of our expectations were met and exceeded. This was the adventure of a lifetime! Top quality in every way.

The entire trip was first class. The service from the trip team was outstanding. I felt like I was at a five-star hotel rather than out in the African Bush.

The itinerary and pace of the trip was perfect. I saw more wildlife than I have seen on previous trips to Africa. Camp was charming and very comfortable with attentive and helpful staff. Kay, the cook, was amazing!

Great schedule with a focus on seeing every inch of the territory, animals, birds, learning about the terrain and the history of Botswana. A wonderful, well-run operation and very well planned and executed.

This was one of our best trips ever. We are still on a high a month after the trip, having had wonderful guides, camp crew, and co-travelers. It was the right mix of comfort and authentic experience and we saw so much more than anticipated.

This trip truly exceeded our expectations and made it the trip of a lifetime. We saw far more wildlife, up front and personal, beyond our imagination.

Talk to an Expert

Our Africa Specialists know every detail about our Botswana safaris. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!

Unforgettable adventures throughout Botswana

We create private bespoke safaris just for you. Curated by Kane Motswana, Botswana’s most famous bushman. 

As seen on Channel

Kane motswana is one of botswana's most famous guides & bushmen., explore botswana with us.

“I remember being carried on my mother’s back as my San Bushman clan moved settlements and while the adults hunted with bows’ arrows and spears. I even remember my mother chasing lions off a kill with me on her back”.

We are a mobile safari company operating mobile tented safaris in Botswana’s prime destinations. We offer exhilarating and adventurous safari experiences. Our professional and highly experienced guides will guide you through Botswana giving you the safari of a lifetime.

San & Nature is a 100% citizen-owned Botswana safari company, operating from Maun, in Botswana. Founded by Kane Motswana, a bushman born and raised in the bush, one of Botswana’s most experienced guides, who has led safaris for Botswana’s most prestigious safari camp operators.

Watch Kane on "Walking with Elephants"

We tailor make your safari.

We create private bespoke safaris just for you, and also operate   distinctive mobile expedition itineraries such as the Bird Safari, Predator Trail Safari, Green Season Photo Safari and  Walk Botswana itinerary, below. 

The only way to get started is by contacting us for more information. 

Predator Trail Safari

Green season photo safari, wild walks safari, bird tour safari.

Client Reviews

Kane is an award winning photographer.

Kane Motswana won the Botswana Photographer of the year competition. Take a look at some of his shots here. 

Explore With Us

San & Nature’s aim is to provide unique safari experiences, connecting you with the wild. They make you understand how the ecosystem works and draw you to the “fun” part of the safari. We bring you to basic safaris with “luxury” experiences; this is what our aim is. Our focus is to provide unforgettable adventures to all our guests and create memorable safaris. The world-class safari guides we have to make these adventures real.

Copyright © 2024 | San & Nature | Built by Musko.io

• Wildlife Tours

Botswana Wildlife Safari

14 Days Starting and ending in Victoria Falls

Visiting: Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana

Tour operator:

Guide type:.

Fully Guided

Group size:

Physical rating:, special diets catered:.

Vegetarians, Vegans

Tour operated in:

Trip styles:.

Safari Tours

Eco Conscious , Photography , Wildlife Tours

Activities:

4WD , Walking

NB: Prices correct on 10-Aug-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour overview.

A trip through Botswana's remote wilderness to track Africa's greatest animals, stay on a houseboat on the delta, sleep under canvas in the bush and visit the Smoke that Thunders - Victoria Falls. Game Viewing - Explore Botswana's finest game reserves of Chobe and Moremi during six days of safari Okavango Delta Panhandle - Search for water-dwelling wildlife and exotic birds in the remote area of the delta, staying in our exclusive refurbished houseboat Chobe National Park - A remarkable wildlife sanctuary, world famous for its huge elephant population

Journey through the vast swamplands of the Okavango Delta by houseboat

Get excited about seven days of game-viewing in Chobe, Moremi and across the Okavango Delta

Be amazed by the breathtaking Victoria Falls, one of the natural wonders of the World

Not what you're looking for?

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Day 1: Join Tour In Victoria Falls

Accommodation: lodge, accommodation name: batonka guest lodge.

Arrive in Victoria Falls. Often referred to as the adventure capital of Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls offers a variety of land, air and water-based activities in the surrounding area. For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Victoria Falls at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Victoria Falls Airport (airport code VFA), which is 20km, around 25 minutes' drive from the hotel. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. We will be staying at either the Batonka Guest Lodge or Pioneer Lodge. The two are sister properties located just over 1km from each other and are almost identical. Both are set in beautiful landscaped gardens, feature a swimming pool, spacious rooms, an expansive terrace where breakfast is taken, a bar and a stylish lounge and dining room which are both extremely comfortable. They are both exclusively reserved for residents which ensures the upmost privacy. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose from a host of adventurous activities including whitewater rafting, canoeing and cruises on the Zambezi River. Full details are listed in the 'budgeting and packing' section.

Day 2: Travel Into Botswana, Camping In Chobe National Park

Accommodation: camp, accommodation name: hatab camp chobe river, meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Leaving our guesthouse this morning, it's a short hour long drive to the Kazungula land border crossing between Zimbabwe and Botswana. Once border formalities are completed, we continue to our camp site located on the banks of the Chobe River. This afternoon we head out for our first safari on a late afternoon game drive. Chobe is the heart of elephant country and is home to approximately 120,000 of the giant creatures. During the safaris we will travel in customised, open-sided land-cruisers for game viewings. The Landcruisers are ideal for game viewing opportunities but can be a bit brisk and windy during the longer travel days, so ensure you bring some layers for travel days. The roads through Botswana can vary in quality, so travel days can be slow and bumpy but the scenery and wildlife more than makes up for this. For departures until July 2024, we will be wild camping in dome tents in one of Chobe's national parks campsites for two nights. From July 2024 it is our intention to move to a permanent campsite at the point where Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana meet.

Day 3: Full Day Game Viewing In Chobe National Park

We'll maximise our time today to ensure we make the most of game drive opportunities. We head out in the morning and again in the afternoon, for the chance to spot huge trumpeting herds of elephants around the southern bank of the Chobe River, where we can also find Chobe Bushbuck and Puku Antelope. Other mammals to be seen are buffalo, kudu, eland, waterbuck, sable and roan antelope, zebra, lion, leopard, impala and reedbuck. In the river are hippo and crocodile and the waters teem with bream, barbel and tiger fish (freshwater barracuda). Our tour leader will decide on the exact running times of the day, and lunch arrangements, depending on the weather conditions and the season to ensure the best viewing. For those that wish to there is an optional afternoon boat cruise along the Chobe River, perhaps the last river where one has a fair chance to see lion, elephant, leopard or wild dog from the unique viewpoint of a boat. See the budgeting section for prices.

Day 4: Drive To Nxai Pan

Accommodation name: nxai pan, meals included: breakfast, lunch.

Depart our Chobe River camp early, driving south through forest reserves via Nata to Nxai Pans. The salt pans, which combine Nxai National Park with the adjacent Makgadikgadi salt pans, are the remnants of a once massive inland lake. Today they offer spectacular scenery and endless horizons with wide open grasslands. In season a large variety water birds nest here. The pans offer a contrasting experience to both Chobe and Moremi, with open grassland dotted with acacia and baobab trees and the opportunity to witness unforgettable sunsets. In the evening sit around the fire and witness the magnificent clear night skies. Safari wild camping We use 3 x 3 meter dome type tents with private en-suite facilities added to the back of the tent. They are big enough so that someone can stand inside. These tents are made from durable rip-stop canvas and have sewn-in groundsheets. They come equipped with sturdy camp beds, mattresses, fitted sheets, pillow, pillowcases and duvets. Other equipment used on safari are camping basins, washstands, hot water bucket showers and water-based toilets. Safari style fold-up chairs and large tables are provided (all meals eaten from the table). Our great back-up staff does all the cooking, cleaning and setting-up and breaking camp, so the difficult aspect of camping is taken away. This setup allows us to get as close to nature, wilderness, plants and animals as possible.

Day 5: Full Day In Search Of Wildlife In Nxai Salt Pans

Meals included: breakfast.

The Pans have changed little in thousands of years and offer a place to totally lose oneself in limitless wilderness. Today, it's a vast, salt pan desert of shimmering sand, open grasslands and surreal landscapes so vast you can see the curvature of the earth. It's a harsh and sparse landscape, but one that's beautiful in its desolation. Here, perhaps more than anywhere else in the world, you'll be struck by a feeling of utter, marvellous, isolation. We will head out for morning and afternoon game drives in search desert adapted species including the black maned Kalahari lion, oryx, elephant and cheetah.

Day 6: Drive To Moremi Game Reserve, Wild Camping And Game Drives

Accommodation name: hatab moremi game reserve camps.

Today we take a drive out of Nxai and journey on further west into the frontier town of Maun and further to Xakanaxa (pronounced ka-ka-ni-ka) or Khwai which is an integral part of the eastern waters of the Okavango Delta. The area is encompassed by Moremi Game Reserve and boasts some of the best game viewing in Africa. The game reserve has areas of dry lands rising between vast wetlands, crystal clear water channels on the edges of mopane and apple-leaf woodlands. Game viewing takes place alongside waterways and floodplains. Species such as giraffe, zebra and wildebeest are but a few that occur here, along with an astonishing variety of birds. For the next three nights we will be camping in Moremi where the waters feed an abundance of flora and fauna, including the frequently-visiting wild dog. Hippos are often heard by night too.

Day 7: Game Drives In Moremi In Search Of Africa's Unique Wildlife

We will enjoy two game drives today. Setting off for our morning game drive at first light (when predator activity is most expected), we get the chance to experience one of Africa's most natural and unspoiled wonderlands in the park with hippo, crocodile and a great variety of birds all seen in the delta, as well as the elusive sitatunga antelope. This place is also an ornithologist's paradise with fish eagle, kingfisher, heron, stork, egret, weaver and bee-eater all regularly seen. We make our way to the banks and floodplains of the north eastern section of the Okavango Delta this morning. Returning for brunch as the day starts to heats up, the hottest part of the day is spent at leisure at our campsite, a chance of a siesta, relax reading a book or birdwatching. Our afternoon activity departs after tea, usually around 4pm, returning in the early evening. Game drives and activities vary from one day to the next, depending on sightings and animal activities, generally we drive quite far and slowly to absolutely maximize game-viewing potential, all expertly guided by our highly experienced tour leader.

Day 8: Full Day Of Game Drives In Moremi Game Reserve

The mighty Okavango is the third largest river in southern Africa. The delta area covers 16,000 square kilometres and is made up of crystal clear channels, countless fleeting lakes and ever-changing islands. The waters flows down in a south-easterly direction from the Angolan highlands, over 1000 kilometres away, taking up to six months to reach the delta area which floods on a annual cycle. Remaining in the Moremi Game Reserve, today we drive further into the delta area. This exceptional geography and topography attracts amazing wildlife to the waterways and we'll begin game viewing on our arrival. Your guide will generally spend maximum time on game drives, depending on what is seen, trying to cover as wide an area as possible. The result of this is that you will have the best chance of seeing a variety of wildlife.

Day 9: Morning Game Drive In Moremi Game Reserve, Afternoon In Maun

Accommodation name: thamo telele, meals included: breakfast, dinner.

This morning we take a slow drive out of Moremi, looking out for wildlife along the way and should arrive at Thamo Telele around lunch time. The magnificent Thamo Telele is set amongst a lush forest of old growth leadwood and acacia trees, around 25 minutes outside of Maun, each luxury safari-style tent is on raised wooden platforms with hardwood floors and en-suite bathrooms, all with outdoor showers and nature as the back drop. The stylish canvas tents all have twin beds, which can be converted into doubles, and air conditioning above the bed. There is a swimming pool and central main lounge and bar area, where you'll find comfy couches and locally designed wall art. Its a truly exceptional property. The afternoon is free for you to explore the lodge and its wild surroundings on self-guided walking trails. Alternatively relax by the swimming pool. There is also the option to book a giraffe experience. One of the most fascinating things about the lodge is its resident herd of 20 giraffe, which you can observe while on activities in the reserve and most enthralling get up close and personal to in the evening while they feed at the waterhole. There are naturalists on hand, who will be able to tell you all about these fascinating animals. See the budgeting section for more details. Dinner is included tonight at the lodge.

Day 10: Drive To Our Houseboat On The Okavango River

Accommodation name: okavango spirit house boat.

Departing after breakfast, we drive up the west side of the Okavango delta panhandle to Shakawe, where we leave our vehicle behind and board a motor launch to our houseboat. On arrival, meet our friendly crew who will be our hosts for the next two nights. After settling in, lunch is served in the top floor dining room, with panoramic windows offering a backdrop of the Okavango river basin. The accommodation is comfortable, with eight bedrooms with en-suite facilities. Each room has glass doors sliding open on to the wilderness of the remote panhandle area, while on the deck above are seating areas from which to enjoy the sunsets and listen to the birds. The boat will be for our exclusive use during our stay. Due to seasonal variations in the level and strength of the river, the houseboat itself might only be able to access limited parts of the river for much of the year, whilst we explore the river on smaller launches. However, the amount of water that falls in the catchment area can be highly variable and occasionally, conditions may allow the houseboat itself to cruise in other areas of the delta. The next couple of days are spent enjoying this spectacular setting. During our time on the river, there is a possibility of seeing a variety of wildlife. We will take an afternoon leisurely launch, we may cruise past submerging pods of hippos, while crocodiles bask in the shallows and on the riverbanks, returning to the houseboat for dinner.

Day 11: Visit To Tsodilo Hills; Home To Thousands Of Bushman Rock Paintings. Afternoon Wildlife Viewing On The Okavango River.

This morning there is the opportunity to visit the intriguing and sacred World Heritage Site of the Tsodilo Hills. The San Bushmen community believe the hills are the site of the first creation and they painted an astonishing 4000 rock paintings across 350 sites marking the area's significance. Here, four impressive rocks jut out of the expanse of the surrounding land, and it is believed by the San Bushmen that the largest of the rocks is the 'man', the second largest the 'woman', and the smallest the 'child'. The fourth rock, which stands apart from the others, is said to be the male's first wife. Some of the paintings are thought to be over 24,000 years old, and as well as the chance to see ancient rock paintings, the hills offer vast views across the countryside below. A expert local guide will accompany us around the site, interpreting a selection of the paintings. The walking tour lasts around two hours, walking along a flat well graded path. It's possible to opt out at any stage and return to the shade of the small museum located at the entrance of the site. After a late lunch back on board the houseboat, we head out for further wildlife viewing on board our launch. For those that wish to have more time on the houseboat we will offer a morning launch as an alternative to visiting Tsodilo Hills.

Day 12: Transit Driving Day Via The Caprivi Strip (Namibia), Back To Victoria Falls

This morning will be a early start to ensure enough daylight hours for the very long journey to Victoria Falls. Today's total journey time is approximately eleven hours depending on time spent at the border crossings, and will of course include comfort breaks and a lunch break. The drive takes us through north to Namibia's Caprivi Strip, before heading to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. The Caprivi Region has a colourful and interesting history, playing a central part in the Berlin Conference of 1890. Named after German Chancellor General Count Georg Leo von Caprivi di Caprara di Montecuccoli, the strip was once administered by the British before it was swapped for Zanzibar with the Germans at a time of great European political manoeuvring. A late afternoon arrival to Victoria Falls provides just enough time for a refreshing sundowner at our lodge accommodation.

Day 13: Witness The Wonders Of Victoria Falls On The Zambezi River. Free Afternoon With A Choice Of Optional Activities

Often referred to as the adventure capital of Zimbabwe, Victoria falls is most famous as being home to one of the natural wonders of the world Victoria Falls. This morning we'll visit the falls from the Zimbabwean side of the river where the Zambezi River plummets over a sheer cliff wall spanning more than 1676 meters and dropping approximately 100 metres into the abyss below. The natives named the waterfall, Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning 'the smoke that thunders' because of the plumes of water vapour that rise like smoke into the sky above the falls, accompanied by the deafening roar. After our guided tour you can take your time to further explore the network of paths and enclaves around the falls. This afternoon is free to relax, or you may choose to book a two hour game drive in Zambezi National Park in search of the big five. Alternatively, there is the option to take a scenic helicopter flight over the falls or go white water rafting in the Zambezi. All activities can be booked at your lodge directly and full prices are available in the budgeting section of the trip notes.

Day 14: Tour Ends In Victoria Falls

Our tour ends in Victoria Falls after breakfast. Depending on the schedule of your departing flight, you may choose to spend a few hours exploring the town independently. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Victoria Falls at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our guesthouse. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Victoria Falls airport (airport code VFA), which is 20km, 20 minutes from the hotel.

What's Included

Meals Breakfast: 14 Lunch: 11 Dinner: 10

Accommodation

Game Drives on Safari

Airport Transfers at Destination

What's Not Included

Country Entry Visas

Tipping and Gratuities

Why Book this Tour

This is a great tour for wildlife enthusiasts, as you will visit some of the best game viewing parks in all of Africa. You will stay in lodges, hotel, houseboat and campsites; this means you get a great diverse experience of Botswana. Our campsites enable us to explore Moremi and Savuti in depth, an opportunity that is normally restricted to luxury itineraries due to the demand for the Okavango Delta.

Breakfasts: 13 Lunches: 9 Dinners: 8

Check out our Q&As

What is the maximum group size.

The maximum group size is 12 peoples.

Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?

Are airport transfers included in this tour.

All customers that travel on an Explore group trip will be provided with a complimentary transfer, provided they arrive and depart into the designated airport or train station on the trip start and end dates. This is a great way to start your travels, offering you that little extra peace of mind and comfort.

Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

Are children permitted to take part in the tour, are the local guides on the tour english speaking, i'm going on a walking/cycling trip-do i need to train.

It will depend on the grade and how fit you already are. Check the trip page for details of the walking or cycling grade and how far you’ll be walking/cycling each day. For moderate or challenging trips in particular we’d recommend doing some walks or cycles before you leave to build up your fitness and prepare you for the distances being covered.

Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

We have a wide range of ages nationalities on our small group trips and they come from all walks of life.

Should I get travel insurance?

Yes–it is a condition of booking that you are fully insured when travelling with us

How long has the tour company been trading?

At Explore, we're the experts in adventure travel. Our small group adventure holidays have been running since 1981. Today, Explore is one of the most trusted travel companies in the UK with over 500 trips to more than 120 countries.

Can I join the tour once it has departed?

Yes, but there are no concessions for doing so, and we must have a record in your booking advising as such before the trip departs.

Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?

Being a responsible company is a large statement, something that has to be entwined within the very fibre of a company. Discover the charities and partnerships we support as part of this at https://www.explore.co.uk/about/sustainability/charities-and-partners

What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

We want to be as clear as and as honest as possible about what happens if you decide to that you no longer wish to travel on your trip. Our booking conditions have details of the costs you’ll incur when you cancel-these charges depend on how long it is before your planned departure.

What is the accommodation like?

We choose comfortable accommodation in the best locations possible. We opt for small, local and family-run accommodation where we can, as opposed to large chain hotels. We typically use hotels that are the equivalent of European 3-star, and you’ll usually have an en suite room. Occasionally, where we want to get off the beaten trail we may stay in more basic accommodation.

What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

Sustainability is embedded within the fibre of Explore, it emanates from the inside out. But as we enter a new decade it is clearer than ever that our world needs help, and Explore has created a sustainability strategy based on the 2015 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

What policies are in place for Covid-19?

Our flexible booking and safety policies mean you're protected before and during your travels with us. Receive a full refund if your trip is cancelled, transfer your trip free of charge up to 10 days before departure minus any irrocoverable costs.

Do I need to be very fit to book with you?

All our trips require some level of active participation. This could be on a cultural trip, trek, safari, expedition or voyage. It is in the interests of all members of the group that everyone should be capable of fully participating in the activities of their chosen trip.

What documents will I receive before I travel?

Final documents will include a comprehensive trip itinerary, climate and country information, budgeting and packing advice visa and passport information and details on optional activities available.

Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

Yes on most of our trips. Most trips are based on customers sharing twin-bedded rooms. If you book a group trip as an individual, you will share a room with someone of the same sex. However, on many trips we offer the opportunity to pay a supplement to pre-book a single room, known as our single room option. On some trips a single room will be provided every night, on others it will be provided o

Do we have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel

It’s now a condition of booking a trip with us that customers should have one of the following before they travel - — Be vaccinated against COVID, having received the full recommended course, and allowing enough time for immunity to take effect. Full vaccination includes any booster required to keep the vaccine valid. — Have taken a negative test (rapid antigen or PCR) within 72hrs of departure.

Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

Explore will only offer hotels that have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with local government guidelines. We will ensure these measures include; enhanced room cleaning, ventilation, social distancing, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in public areas, food safety, staff re-training and minimising contact within the properties.

Reviews from travellers on this tour

I'll admit that I went on this trip with a little apprehension, but the overall experience by far exceeded my expectation, to the point that in the end I was very sad to have to come back home! I was fortunate in that also the group of people that were on the trip with us were very likeable, which made the whole trip all the more enjoyable. Probably one of the best holidays I've ever done in my life.

Surpassed our expectations!! We didn't expect to see so much wildlife - and, sometimes, so close!

An extremely well executed trip by all concerned.

This was overall a very enjoyable holiday.

Wow! what a trip.

I had a ball on this trip I personally wouldn't change anything, maybe I'd add couple of more days camping this was the highlight of the adventure

Brilliant trip, thank you!

We were lucky to see an abundance of wildlife and be up close to it which was amazing. An extremely enjoyable adventure and holiday.

This was our firs Explore holiday - will definitely use you again,

More information is required about clothing suitable for the extremely dusty and cold driving. It is a fantastic trip and I feel I’ve had a really authentic safari experience,. The wild camping was an unique experience. A really memorable trip

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What are travellers saying about tourhub.

Excellent tour company with quick service and support. We loved that there is 100% refund if you had to change anything as long as your within certain time limits. A very professional company with a huge selection of different tours and several dates to choose from.

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I love that each destination and hotel accommodation is listed. Makes planning or even deciding to take the trip so much easier. Each time I emailed a question, I got a response right away. So far, I'm very impressed and looking forward to the trip that we booked for next year.

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Explore! allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 70 days before the start of the tour.

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Explore! requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.

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We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of explore! charges.

Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

At 13 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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9 African safari destinations for wildlife and thrills

From flooded okavango lagoons to rolling serengeti savannahs, go wild for our can’t miss safari spots.

There’s something inherently magical about a safari in Africa . Endless rolling plains filled to the brim with wildebeest, zebra, and antelope, sunsets watching elephants spray each other at waterholes, and the ghoulish laugh of hyenas at night — it’s truly the adventure of a lifetime. But where to go and how to actually see these safari destinations (especially if you’re on a budget)? That’s the age-old question.

Where’s best to go on safari in Africa?

If you're 40+ and still game for a basic budget-friendly camping safari, look no further than our new ‘Classic’ African overland tours bringing a beloved grassroots adventure to a fully expanded age group! You can camp out in destinations like Uganda and South Africa with like-minded travellers while tracking mountain gorillas through mist-shrouded forests or searching for the elusive ‘big five’ across open savannahs.

Even better, you’ll see it all from our fully refurbished fleet of ‘Lando’ overland adventure vehicles — they’re purple, kitted up with fresh gear, and soon to be your new best friend. But with so many countries to choose from, where do you begin? Fear not, as we’re here to help you narrow it down with nine safari destinations waiting for you to roll up.

South Africa

There are countless reasons to see South Africa — including glugging wine in Stellenbosch’s vineyards, hanging out with pint-sized penguins on Boulders Beach, and hiking up mighty Table Mountain.

But arguably this destination’s biggest draw lies in its natural beauty, covering everything from the dramatic rock formations of the Cederberg Wilderness Area to Orange River — South Africa’s longest river. Let’s also not forget its world-class national parks and game reserves, where you can spot the cast of The Lion King in close proximity. Don’t miss a visit to Kruger, the country’s largest wildlife reserve and home to over 150 species of mammals and 500 species of birds.

See South Africa for yourself on: Cape Town to Johannesburg Overland Safari

Now if there’s anywhere on Earth that you’d describe as ‘otherworldly’, it’s most likely Namibia. Home to the world’s oldest desert, The Namib, towering sand dunes, and the largest canyon in Africa, Fish River Canyon — it’s certainly got a flair for the dramatic — and that’s without even mentioning the wildlife-rich salt pans of Etosha National Park.

Beyond the larger land animals you’d expect, Namibia is also known for sightings of lesser-known predators like bat-eared foxes and the tank-like honey badgers — an animal which even lions are known to fear. There are also less than two million people here, mostly based in the capital Windhoek, so chances are you’ll have it largely to yourself.

See Namibia for yourself on: Namibia to Cape Town Overland Safari

It’s easy to see why Botswana is considered one of the best safari destinations in Africa, as it’s home to one of the most impressive wildlife events in the world. When the Okavango Delta floods, it transforms the bone-dry Kalahari into a lush green, lagoon-filled paradise.

During the floods, animals arrive in the thousands from leviathans like elephants and hippos to flocks of pink flamingos and a deafening chorus of bullfrogs. There’s so much to see that it can be hard to know where to look. One thing you can’t miss though are the vast herds of zebra, wildebeest, and buffalo flocking together in one large mass — followed of course by lions, spotted hyenas, and fearsome Nile crocodiles.

See Botswana for yourself on: Victoria Falls to Windhoek Overland Safari

Given its much-publicized history, Zimbabwe doesn’t often top the list of the most-visited African safari destinations. It’s a real shame as there’s a ton to see and do in this friendly country. Perhaps the biggest draw is the mighty Victoria Falls — a thunderous waterfall measuring over 1,700m (5,577 ft) in length.

Forming a natural border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, it’s one of the world’s seven natural wonders and holds the title as the ‘world’s largest sheet of falling water’. There are plenty of activities — from spotting elephants, opting to hurl yourself off a bridge attached to a bungee cord, or hovering over the rising mists in a helicopter.

See Zimbabwe for yourself on: Namibia to Victoria Falls Overland Safari

Lying just over the bridge from Zimbabwe lies Zambia, popular with both adventure-seekers and nature lovers alike. Boasting some of the best national parks in Africa — South Luangwa we’re looking at you — it’s home to countless impressive natural wonders.

Aside from Victoria Falls — otherwise known as the ‘smoke that thunders’ — there’s the Grade V rapids of the Zambezi beloved by adrenaline junkies wanting to test their mettle. Then there’s the aforementioned South Luangwa — which spans over 9,000km (5,592 mi) in the far eastern reaches of the country. A visit here is a must — dramatic scenery, night drives, seasonal walking tours, and one of the best chances to spot elusive leopards.

See Zambia for yourself on: Zimbabwe to Kenya Overland Safari

Nicknamed the ‘warm heart of Africa’, it’s hard not to fall in love with Malawi. The people are some of the friendliest you’ll find, and the scenery is some of the most dramatic on the continent. The jewel in its crown is arguably Lake Malawi, billed as the ‘Lake of Stars’, that’s dotted with sandy beaches, secluded coves, and tree-covered islets.

It’s an ideal spot to relax and crack an ice-cold Castel beer in between cooling dips or scenic beach walks. If you’re looking for a bit more adventure, the freshwater diving is world famous and there are cracking spots to fish. Just keep looking up though, as you’re likely being circled by hungry fish eagles looking to try their luck!

See Malawi for yourself on: Kenya to Zimbabwe Overland Safari

When it comes to the best safari destinations in Africa, surely Tanzania nears the top. There are 22 different national parks covering 15% of the country, from the well-known Serengeti to the off-the-beaten-track Selous. Add in the kaleidoscopic coral reefs and white sand beaches of Zanzibar to the impressive backdrop of Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, and you can see why people flock here in droves.

While every nook and cranny is well worth a visit, we'd single out the neighbouring safari destinations of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. The former is famed for the ‘Great Wildlife Migration’ — where over two million wildebeests, zebras, and antelope cross into Kenya’s Maasai Mara and back, chased by predators snapping at their hooves. UNESCO-listed Ngorongoro on the other hand is known for having one of the highest wildlife population densities on earth, where you can spot cheetahs, secretary birds, elephants, and spotted hyenas.

See Tanzania for yourself on: Serengeti & Zanzibar Overland Safari

The penultimate safari destination we hit up on our overland Africa tours, Kenya is truly a wildlife-lover’s dream. It’s often considered as the birthplace of the safari, with world-class parks like the Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru drawing people in from all over the globe.

The Mara is all about the drama. Think herds of wildebeest being chased by lions, cheetahs, crocodiles and more in such numbers that it’s hard to imagine. On the other hand, Lake Nakuru is all about the scenery. Set on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, it’s framed by picturesque ridges and acacia woodlands and is home to leopards, elephant herds, and excellent bird watching. There’s more to Kenya though than just safaris — think Indian Ocean beaches lapped by azure waters, tea plantations galore, and one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Africa.

See Kenya for yourself on: Nairobi to Kampala Overland Safari

Our final safari destination, Uganda goes way beyond just spotting the ‘big five’. Home to some of the world’s most endearing creatures — the majestic mountain gorilla, chimpanzees, and golden monkeys — it’s the place to get up close and personal with some of our closest relatives.

But if spotting these rare creatures doesn’t quite cut it, there are scenic lakes, Africa’s tallest mountain range, thunderous waterfalls, and some of the best whitewater rafting anywhere in the world. Not to mention the lively capital Kampala, with its buzzy bars and restaurants, a long and intriguing history, and vistas of the shimmering Lake Victoria.

See Uganda for yourself on: Gorillas of Uganda Overland Safari

When’s the best time to go on safari in Africa?

This is tricky to answer as some national parks — Kruger comes to mind — are bigger than New Jersey, so it really depends on your location. However, we recommend heading to Kenya and Tanzania during the ‘Great Wildlife Migration’ running from late June and early July through to late September and early October.

Similarly, South Africa, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe experience their dry season from May to October, when wildlife flocks to waterholes so it’s your best chance to see the ‘big five’ and other wildlife species.

For gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, try going during June to August and December to February to avoid excessive rainfall. April should definitely be avoided.

What wildlife can I see in Africa?

Africa is famous for its ‘big five’ — lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino — but it doesn’t stop there. Uganda, the ‘Pearl of Africa’, plays host to half of the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas, as well as chimpanzees and colobus monkeys.

Depending on where you are, hippos, buffalo, and packs of rare African wild dogs (also known as painted wolves) can be seen. Plus, you’re more than likely to spot herds of impala, wary to avoid spotted hyena, cheetahs, and opportunistic black-backed jackals, as well as troops of baboons, giraffes, elephants, meerkats, and warthogs. The latter two will likely not be singing ‘Hakuna Matata’. Sorry to disappoint!

When it comes to birds, then the statuesque ostrich, marabou stork, or snake-eating secretary bird reign supreme. However, ‘twitchers’ may spot African sacred ibis, lilac-breasted rollers, and malachite kingfishers too.

What do I need to pack for an African safari?

While you may be tempted to channel Meryl Streep in Out of Africa — and by all means, go ahead — you don’t need to dress to the nines on safari. Bear in mind that while the sun blazes during the day, temperatures often plummet at night in the savannah — sometimes to freezing. The key here is layers, layers, layers along with sunscreen, bug spray, and long pants.

Avoid camouflage patterns as they’re banned in many African countries and skip dark colours that attract the tsetse fly whose bite is painful and potentially dangerous. Bring a cap or hat to avoid the heat of the African sun and a scarf to keep the dust out of your mouth. And don’t forget your sunnies — if only to look cool as a cucumber in your pics!

Getting there

Ready to set off in our shiny new ‘Landos’ to see these safari destinations in the flesh? Our new overland tours let rugged adventurers camp their way around Africa . It’s no longer just for the 18-to-Thirtysomethings set (we heard you loud and clear!) so we’ll see you out on the savannah soon. Rwooooarrrrr!

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What it's like to go on a bushwalk in the Kalahari desert

A bushwalk with Ju/’Hoansi-San guides adds a fascinating dimension to a safari in Namibia’s northern wilderness.

On an African safari, it’s good to adjust your viewpoint from time to time. As your impressions shift, the experience deepens. Wildlife-watching from the deck of a lodge or the back of a safari vehicle can be exciting and inspiring, but that’s nothing compared to the thrill of taking the front seat or, even better, exploring a nature reserve on foot. At ground level, sounds and smells seem amplified: the crunch of sand or twigs underfoot, the tang of hot dust, the sweet whiff of wild herbs in the air.

Ready to summon a rush of raw emotions? Try doing what I’m doing: hunkering down in the tawny grass for a lion’s-eye view of things. It’s highly unlikely that we’ll be surprised by a big cat here in northeast Namibia’s Nyae Nyae Conservancy — counting both guides and guests, there are well over a dozen people on my morning bushwalk, and there’s safety in numbers. But there are definitely predators in this stretch of the Kalahari Desert, somewhere, and there’s every chance that we’ll spot their tracks.

We’ve sunk down on our haunches for an impromptu lesson in fire-starting. Our guides are a party of Ju/’Hoansi-San (the /’ denotes one of the 48 different click sounds in their dialect). Dressed for the occasion in traditional antelope skins and beads, they’re showing me some of the old ways.

Prompted by a dignified elder, /Kaece, and his wife, //‡Oro, the lesson unfolds. It starts, swiftly and simply, with friction. “Speed and steadiness is important, and strong hands,” says /Kaece via Tsamkgao !I/ae, my Ju/’Hoan interpreter.

Using rapid palm movements to rotate a vertical stick in a notch in a second stick that’s laid horizontally, /Kaece generates enough heat to create curls of smoke in a bird’s nest-like bundle of dry grass beneath. Cupping the grass, he blows softly, jerking his head away with a grin when the first flames leap out. “If you think that looks easy, give it a try,” says Tsamkgao. I quickly discover it’s not easy at all.

With hands smarting from the effort, I rise to my feet, feeling slightly giddy. A shimmer of heat haze blurs the horizon. We press on, /Kaece and his extended family leading me along sandy paths trodden by many generations of antelopes. Pausing every so often at a low tree or shrub, they show me which leaves can be chewed or crushed and used as a stomach medicine, antiseptic or stimulant. Next, they demonstrate which tubers, when hacked open, deliver precious drops of water — a crucial resource in this endless-seeming swathe of arid scrubland, devoid of rivers or waterholes. In the Ju/’Hoansi’s gentle company, this sun-baked landscape seems bountiful and positively hospitable, but I’m fully aware that if they left me here alone, I wouldn’t stand a chance.

Southern Africa’s San, who sometimes call themselves Bushmen, have always considered themselves the oldest people on Earth. Genetic research suggests that for most of the past 150,000 years, they were the world’s largest ethnic group. In recent centuries, however, they have dwindled to around a hundred thousand, with the Ju/’Hoansi a minority within this population: it’s thought that just a few thousand Ju/’Hoan speakers remain.

In the early 20th century, the Ju/’Hoansi were still living a nomadic life, hunting and gathering in the wildlife-rich region that later became Etosha National Park. Etosha was recognised as an official reserve in 1907, and within 50 years, the pre-independence apartheid government had driven the nomads out of their traditional hunting grounds or n!ore, the Ju/’hoansi word for ‘the place to which you belong’. Banned from Etosha, they were pushed east into an isolated, arid and hostile block of the Kalahari that the government called Bushmanland, adjoining the border with Botswana. Most settled in or around the ragged village of Tjum!kui (or Tsumkwe), around 300 miles from Etosha. Forced to abandon their hunter-gatherer lifestyle, the Ju/’Hoansi struggled to adjust. Their culture of equality and tolerance was not suited to a system in which the best way to get their voices heard was to appoint leaders and committees, and they have been marginalised ever since.

Ecotourism projects like my bushwalk offer glimmers of hope, however. Run by the Ju/’Hoansi on their own terms, they generate funds for the communities, while protecting nature and keeping ancestral skills alive. The Ju/’Hoansi’s understanding of native botany has created other opportunities, too: a root called devil’s claw, for example, is in international demand as an anti-inflammatory treatment for rheumatism and arthritis.

“Whether it’s for tourists or for medicine, it’s our knowledge of plants in the bush that pays for modern essentials like transport and schooling,” says Tsamkgao. “If things were different and we didn’t need money, we could survive by foraging and hunting for just a couple of hours a day, leaving more time for socialising or making art. It’s hard to imagine a healthier lifestyle.”

Related Topics

• INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
• ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION

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