Best Botswana Safari
Overview
Desert to delta: Botswana’s wild landscapes in one unforgettable journey
To those who want to get off the beaten track in Botswana, a dynamic experience awaits. This Best of Botswana LuxVenture® safari pushes the boundaries of traditional travel by taking you, quite literally, to new heights – showing intrepid travelers new experiences in some of the world’s most off-the-grid areas. Ignite the adventurer in you by taking to the skies for a helicopter flip over the Okavango Delta, game viewing by vehicle, foot, horseback, boat, mokoro, and quad-bike, and engaging meaningfully in cultural and conservation-minded initiatives. From learning survival skills with the San Bushman in the white-washed Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, to understanding how local employment initiatives can change lives and dining in the bush with semi-habituated elephants, this trip will become a memory to share for a lifetime.
Highlights
- Game drives
- Boat safari
- Walking safari
- Mokoro safari
Destinations
Botswana
Itinerary Overview
Experiences off the beaten track.
Crafted for the bold + discerning.
Itinerary Breakdown
Day 1
Day 1
Arrive
Kasane, Botswana
Check-in
Chobe Chilwero
Arrive in Kasane, where a Ker & Downey® Africa representative will be waiting to greet you and assist with the 10-minute private road transfer to Chobe Chilwero, where you will be spending the next three nights. Chobe Chilwero is conveniently set on the fringes of Chobe National Park – one of Botswana’s premier big game destinations and the elephant mecca of Africa. Overlooking the iconic Chobe River and surrounding floodplains, guests enjoy expansive views of the tawny landscape and the myriad animal species that flock to the water’s edge to drink. The property boasts refined amenities such as elegantly decorated and spacious rooms, gourmet dining, and a pool and spa. Take some time to settle in and relax from your trip before relishing in your first African sunset on a scenic sundowner cruise on the Chobe River. Glide down the gentle river to the tune of hippos grunting, gin and tonic in hand, as the sun slips below the horizon line. Enjoy a divine dinner back at the lodge before getting a good night’s rest to prepare for an early rise tomorrow.
Accommodation
Where you’ll stay:
Chobe Chilwero
Chobe Chilwero is conveniently set on the fringes of Chobe National Park. The property boasts excellent amenities such as elegantly decorated and spacious rooms, gourmet dining, and a pool and spa.
Itinerary Breakdown
Day 2
Day 2
Chobe National Park
Safari
Wake up with the sunrise while the grass is still dewy, the sky is a soft pastel hue, and the animals are their most active before the heat of the day. This is when your chances of a great game sighting are the best. After a morning cup of strong coffee, step into a 4×4 vehicle with an expert driver and guide who knows Chobe like the back of their hand. Hear the crunching of sand beneath the tires as you navigate the roads and trails of this extensive and historic park. Chobe sprawls across 11,700-square kilometers and, since its inception in 1967, has been a mainstay for avid safari-goers. While immense herds of elephants are the main attraction, other big game species and predators like lion and hyena are also commonplace. As the sun centers itself at midday, return to camp for lunch and some time to relax in the shade, read a book, or jump in the pool. In the afternoon, you will set out once more for a game drive in search of species you may have missed in the morning. Before night falls, return to Chobe Chilwero and enjoy a gourmet dinner.
Accommodation
Where you’ll stay:
Chobe Chilwero
Chobe Chilwero is conveniently set on the fringes of Chobe National Park. The property boasts fine amenities such as elegantly decorated and spacious rooms, gourmet dining, and a pool and spa.
Itinerary Breakdown
Day 3
Day 3
Chobe National Park
Boat safari
On your final day at Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero, participate in some of the other singular activities the lodge offers: visit the local community to immerse yourself in Botswanan culture and see the Dipetsana Bike Shop that employs five local women who are keen to explain to guests how this opportunity has impacted their lives. Get a new perspective on a Chobe National Park safari by game viewing by boat. A safari on the Chobe River comes with its perks; from the water, travelers see wildlife from an entirely new vantage point. As thirsty animals congregate by the river banks, they seem unfazed at the presence of the boat, and views are uninterrupted by vegetation or other vehicles. A boat safari provides extraordinary photographic opportunities and memorable game sightings. Return to the lodge in the evening to reflect on a fruitful safari experience in one of Africa’s most touted national parks as you indulge in one final dinner at Chobe Chilwero.
Accommodation
Where you’ll stay:
Chobe Chilwero
Chobe Chilwero is conveniently set on the fringes of Chobe National Park. The property boasts superb amenities such as elegantly decorated and spacious rooms, gourmet dining, and a pool and spa.
Itinerary Breakdown
Day 4
Day 4
Transfer to
Okavango Delta
Check-in
Stanley’s Camp
After breakfast at the lodge, pack up and check out for your road transfer back to Kasane. From here, take a charter flight to Stanley’s Camp, where you will spend the next 3 nights. Set in the Okavango Delta, Botswana’s most coveted wildlife zone, Stanley’s Camp offers a dynamic and unforgettable safari experience. The wood and canvas camp is shaded by enormous ebony and sausage trees, blending in seamlessly with the natural environment. In utter seclusion, this small traditional safari lodge sits on a 260,000-acre private concession bordering the Moremi Game Reserve. Once you’ve had a chance to settle in and relax, set off on an afternoon game drive in search of wildlife, including the many active hyena dens nearby. Return to camp in the evening to enjoy dinner under a star-lit sky while listening to the subtle chirp of nighttime frogs and insects, a welcome reminder of your separation from the stress of everyday life.
Accommodation
Where you’ll stay:
Stanley’s Camp
Set in the Okavango Delta, Stanley’s Camp is a wood and canvas camp, shaded by enormous ebony and sausage trees. This exclusive safari lodge sits on a private concession bordering the Moremi Game Reserve.
Itinerary Breakdown
Day 5
Day 5
Okavango Delta
Safari
Today is yours to explore Stanley’s Camp’s diverse offerings. Rise early to witness the animals emerge from the cover of bush and grasslands, silently picking their way through the tall grasses and floodplains. This morning, you’ll embark on a life-changing experience with semi-habituated orphaned elephants. Stanley’s Camp’s Living with the Elephants program allows guests to walk through the bush with these intelligent and emotional creatures, feeling their habitat from their perspective. Conclude the walk with lunch in their company as your guide educates you about elephant conservation in Botswana. In the afternoon, take the opportunity to explore the delta in perhaps the most authentic way possible – a mokoro safari, a traditional dug-out canoe propelled by a long stick. In a mokoro, one can glide effortlessly through the shallow riverine pathways of the delta, flanked by grasses on either side. Watch hippos laze in the cool waters, and spot water-adapted antelope such as red lechwe grazing in the distance.
Accommodation
Where you’ll stay:
Stanley’s Camp
Set in the Okavango Delta, Stanley’s Camp is a wood and canvas camp, shaded by enormous ebony and sausage trees. This exclusive safari lodge sits on a private concession bordering the Moremi Game Reserve.
Itinerary Breakdown
Day 6
Day 6
Okavango Delta
Safari
Another full day at Stanley’s Camp will bring even bolder adventures. Rise at dawn to take to the skies on a private helicopter trip and fly high above the delta. From this bird’s eye view, the delta’s endless floodplains unfurl beneath you, the twisting rivers catching the morning light and reflecting shades of blue and yellow. If you’re lucky, you will spot herds of elephants or buffalo from above. Awe-struck, return to camp for lunch and some time to relax. In the afternoon, don your hiking boots to navigate the bush on foot, led by a local guide whose ancestral knowledge is rooted in this very land. Examine the narratives of the bush, both large and small, to feel and understand the delta’s flora and fauna in new ways.
Accommodation
Where you’ll stay:
Stanley’s Camp
Set in the Okavango Delta, Stanley’s Camp is a wood and canvas camp, shaded by enormous ebony and sausage trees. This exclusive safari lodge sits on a private concession bordering the Moremi Game Reserve.
Itinerary Breakdown
Day 7
Day 7
Transfer to
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
Check-in
San Camp
Check out of Stanley’s Camp in time to board a light aircraft flight to Maun. From Maun, take another scenic flight to the local airstrip, where you will be met by a lodge representative and transferred to San Camp. The area is an immense semi-arid region stretching 930,000-square kilometers across Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. The simplistic and clean San Camp echoes the white soda and salt pans in its design. The surrounding landscape is dotted with waving palms, lawns of wild golden grass, and endless blue skies. San Camp brings about old-world elegance in its opulent furnishings. With 11 Meru-style canvas tents, it takes guests back to a long-gone era of intrepid exploration. Discover a host of extraordinary activities from ancient cultures, desert-adapted wildlife, and extraordinary adventure in the Kalahari.
Accommodation
Where you’ll stay:
San Camp
Located in the Kalahari Desert, San Camp’s opulent furnishings evoke old-world elegance, and the 11 Meru-style canvas tents transport guests to a long-gone era of intrepid exploration.
Itinerary Breakdown
Day 8
Day 8
Makgadigadi Salt Pans
Safari
Staying at San Camp, there are a range of activities available to you. Set off on game drives to investigate unique, desert-adapted wildlife different from that you saw in Chobe or the Delta. Impressive species like gemsbok call the salt pans home, thriving despite the dry conditions. Meerkats also thrive in the area, and guests are welcome to visit habituated meerkat families to learn about their sophisticated social dynamics. Two-hour horseback safaris allow you to explore new areas, off the beaten track and into the wilderness, getting closer to large herbivores than possible by vehicle. For those with a taste for adventure, quad-biking is also available. At night, settle around a fire for dinner and a nightcap as an orchestra of night noises provides a cheerful backdrop to the evening’s conversations.
Accommodation
Where you’ll stay:
San Camp
Located in the Kalahari Desert, San Camp’s opulent furnishings evoke old-world elegance, and the 11 Meru-style canvas tents transport guests to a long-gone era of intrepid exploration.
Itinerary Breakdown
Day 9
Day 9
Makgadigadi Salt Pans
Safari
Wake up to the sun peeking over the horizon line, illuminating the endless Makgadikgadi Pans. Before the day gets too hot, go for a morning game drive, meandering through the dusty roads of the Kalahari in search of wildlife. Return to a warm meal, tea, and coffee, and time to relax and appreciate your unique surroundings before a final afternoon of exploring. For the culturally inclined, walk with the San Bushman to learn how this ancient tribe has survived in these harsh conditions for ages, or discover archaeological gems found in the salt flats. This evening will bring about one of the most phenomenal experiences on this trip. At nightfall, venture back out onto the salt pans, setting up camp in this desolate expanse of salt and sand where there are some of the clearest skies on earth. Spend the night sleeping on the salt pans beneath the stars, immersed in absolute freedom.
Accommodation
Where you’ll stay:
Stanley’s Camp
Located in the Kalahari Desert, San Camp’s opulent furnishings evoke old-world elegance, and the 11 Meru-style canvas tents transport guests to a long-gone era of intrepid exploration.
Itinerary Breakdown
Day 10
Day 10
Departure
Transfer
Maun Airport
Today marks the end of your LuxVenture® Trip to Botswana. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the local airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Maun Airport. From Maun, catch your connecting departure flight home.
YOUR NEXT JOURNEY
Make this trip to Botswana itinerary yours
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FAQ
Best Botswana Safari
Our team of seasoned specialists share everything you need to know, from essential travel tips to thoughtful insights that ensure a seamless journey from start to finish.
/01
What can I expect on Ker & Downey® Africa’s best Botswana safari?
- Exceptional Wildlife Viewing: From the Big Five (lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo, rhino) to wild dogs, giraffes, zebras, and countless antelope species, Botswana is a haven for wildlife lovers. The country is especially famous for its large elephant populations and predator sightings.
- Diverse Landscapes: Explore a variety of ecosystems, from the lush wetlands of the Okavango Delta to the riverbanks of Chobe National Park and the arid beauty of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans.
- Water and Land Safaris: Enjoy traditional 4x4 game drives as well as unique mokoro (dugout canoe) safaris in the Okavango Delta, where you can glide silently past hippos, crocodiles, and vibrant birdlife.
- Stunning Sunsets and Stargazing: End your days with unforgettable sunsets over the delta and crystal-clear views of the night sky, often enjoyed by the campfire.
/02
Is Botswana a good place to go on a safari?
/03
What are the best Botswana safari destinations?
- Okavango Delta: One of Africa’s most extraordinary wilderness areas, a vast, pulsating wetland oasis that transforms with seasonal floodwaters. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the delta offers a rare blend of water and land-based safari experiences, from serene mokoro rides to game drives on island reserves.
- Moremi Wildlife Reserve: Located on the eastern fringes of the Okavango Delta, this is one of Africa’s most diverse and wildlife-rich protected areas. Combining permanent water channels with drier savannah and woodland habitats, Moremi offers a year-round safari experience teeming with elephants, lions, leopards, wild dogs, and abundant birdlife.
- Chobe National Park: Renowned for hosting one of the largest concentrations of elephants in Africa; over 120,000 roam its riverbanks and savannahs. The park is centered around the Chobe River, where dramatic wildlife scenes unfold daily.
- Linyanti Wetlands: Nestled in northern Botswana near the Namibia border, this remote region offers a secluded and pristine safari experience. Known for its large elephant and buffalo herds, Linyanti is also a haven for predators, including lions, leopards, and wild dogs.
- Kalahari Desert: Stretching across much of Botswana’s interior, the Kalahari offers a dramatically different safari experience of raw beauty, space, and serenity. Wildlife includes desert-adapted species such as springbok, oryx, and the elusive brown hyena, along with black-maned Kalahari lions.
/04
Green season vs dry season: When is the best time to visit Botswana?
However, the green season, from November to April, offers the opportunity to see newborn animals and is also an ideal time for birdwatching. No matter what time of the year you wish to visit Botswana, we can plan an extraordinary safari in one of Africa’s most beautiful destinations. Contact us today and let us plan the best Botswana safari experience, tailored to your precise requirements.
/05
What makes Botswana so unique for a first-time safari?
- Okavango Delta: A stunning wetland safari with boat and mokoro (canoe) rides.
- Chobe National Park: Home to Africa’s largest elephant herds.
- Private Concessions: Offer off-road, night drives, and fewer tourists.
- Diverse Experiences: Includes water safaris, walking safaris, and mobile camps.
- Conservation Focus: High-end, low-impact tourism protects nature.
- Safe and Stable: One of Africa’s safest and most eco-conscious countries.
/06
Can this itinerary be customized?
/07
What animals can I expect to see on a Botswana safari?
- The Big Five, including lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, and rhinos (mainly found in protected areas like the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve)
- Giraffes
- Zebras
- Wildebeests
- Cheetahs
- Hippos
- Crocodiles
- Various antelope species (such as impalas, lechwe, sable, and kudus)
- Wild Dogs (Botswana is one of the best places to spot this rare species)
- Various bird species (like fish eagles, herons, kingfishers, and the lilac-breasted roller)
/08
How much does a Botswana safari cost?
/09
How can I book a luxury Botswana safari?