Botswana

Botswana is the gold standard of African safari. While other countries have opened their parks to mass tourism, Botswana took the opposite approach: limit visitor numbers, charge premium prices, and invest the revenue in conservation. The result is a wildlife experience that is more exclusive, more intimate, and more pristine than almost anywhere else on the continent. You will share a game drive with four other guests instead of forty. You will glide through the Okavango Delta in a mokoro canoe with nothing but the sound of water and birdsong. And you will see concentrations of wildlife, from elephant herds in Chobe to lion prides in the Moremi, that rival the best in East Africa.

Where to Go

The Okavango Delta is the centerpiece of any Botswana trip and one of the most extraordinary ecosystems on Earth. A river flows into the Kalahari Desert and, instead of reaching the sea, fans out into a vast inland delta of channels, lagoons, and islands that flood seasonally, creating a paradise for wildlife. The safari experience here is unique: morning game drives through the bush, afternoon mokoro canoe rides through papyrus channels, and motorboat excursions to hippo and crocodile territory.

Chobe National Park in the north has the highest concentration of elephants in Africa. During the dry season, herds of hundreds gather along the Chobe River to drink and bathe, and boat safaris along the river provide front row seats. The park also has excellent lion, leopard, and wild dog sightings.

The Moremi Game Reserve, on the eastern edge of the Okavango Delta, combines the delta’s water environments with dry woodland savanna, creating one of the most diverse wildlife areas in southern Africa. All of the Big Five are present, plus wild dogs, cheetahs, and prolific birdlife.

The Makgadikgadi Pans are vast, flat salt flats that create a surreal, empty landscape. During the wet season (December through April), the pans attract zebra and wildebeest migrations as well as flamingos. During the dry season, the cracked white surface stretches to the horizon, and quad bike excursions and sleep outs under the stars are popular activities.

Where to Stay

andBeyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp is a luxury tented camp on a private island in the delta. Mombo Camp in the Moremi, operated by Wilderness Safaris, is often called the best safari camp in Africa, with phenomenal predator sightings and immaculate service. Belmond Eagle Island Lodge combines water based activities with five star luxury. In Chobe, Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero offers riverfront elegance with excellent elephant viewing.

Let Us Plan Your Botswana Safari

Botswana safaris require advance planning, with top lodges booking six to twelve months ahead for peak season. The logistics of light aircraft transfers between remote camps need coordination. We will match you with the right camps, the right combination of water and land safari, and build an itinerary that delivers the most exclusive wildlife experience in Africa.