Botswana Highlights

7 Days

Overview

This tour covers all the highlights of Botswana with classic safaris in two renowned game reserves and an adventure in the Okavango Delta. Botswana is one of the last remaining true wilderness areas in Africa with 35% of the country being dedicated to conservation. You’ll start your trip in Chobe National Park, home to 70,000 elephants – the highest concentration in Africa. From there you’ll navigate the channels of the Okavango Delta in a traditional mokoro before ending off with an exclusive big game safari in Moremi Game Reserve. You’ll be flown between safari lodges in classic Out of Africa style.

Your Botswana Highlights itinerary can start or finish in Maun or Kasane, can operate in either direction and can be extended or shortened depending on your preferences.

You'll depart from Kasane by light aircraft transfer to the Savute region of the Chobe National Park. Your home for the next two nights is the elegant Savute Safari Lodge, comprised of eleven thatched chalets clustered around a shaded viewing deck. The deck and al fresco dining area overlook the Savute channel which is jam-packed with wildlife and notable for its resident bull elephants.

Covering almost 12 000km² Chobe National Park in the north of Botswana is the third largest national park in the country. It has one of the largest concentrations of game in Africa and is especially well known for its impressive elephant population; possibly the largest concentration on the continent with an estimated 70 000 animals. The Savute Marsh region in the west of Chobe covers 10 800km². A relic of a large inland lake, the marsh is now fed by the erratic Savuti channel and is home to a wide range of game including lion, hippo, crocodile, elephant and many bird species.

Another light aircraft transfer will take you into the heart of the Okavango Delta, soaking up spectacular views of the landscape en route. The Okavango is the only inland delta in the world, a unique system of waterways comprised of sparkling lagoons, meandering channels and overgrown islands, all in the centre of a desert bowl known as the Kalahari Basin.

A traditional dug-out canoe called the mokoro is the best way to navigate the twisting channels of the Delta. A skilled boatman uses a long pole to propel the boat quietly through shallow water, allowing you to pass close by the animals with minimal disturbance. Your guide will point out wildlife that is unique to this region as you explore by canoe, river boat or on foot. The Delta is affected by flood waters which begin in January and peak in May, bringing the water levels to their maximum by June or July. The dry season (May to October) is the best time to visit for wildlife encounters.

Your next destination is Moremi Game Reserve which you will reach via another light aircraft transfer. You'll spend two nights at a camp on the edge of the Xakanaxa (pronounced Ka-ka-na-ka) Lagoon. Moremi has one of the most diverse habitats and animal populations in Botswana, so your game viewing activities by either river powerboat or in open 4x4 vehicles (sometimes both), are guaranteed to be thrilling and varied. Moremi was the first African reserve established by the local people in 1963. The catalyst was the fast depletion of wildlife, prompting the Batawana people of Ngamiland to act in an attempt to protect the remaining animals. Today the reserve remains of great environmental, conservation and scientific importance.

After a final day on safari, ending off with one last game drive and a big bush breakfast, it is time to bid farewell to special Botswana. One final light aircraft transfer will take you to Kasane or Maun for your onward journey home.

Destinations

Go to Top