Best of Botswana

Typical Itinerary

1. Day 1: Depart UK

2. Day 2: Arrive Maun & transfer to Moremi Game Reserve

   On arrival at Maun, you will be met by your guide and transferred by vehicle to Moremi Game Reserve.  The first three nights of the trip are spent in the Xakanaxa region, exploring the surounding wilderness on morning and afternoon safaris.

   Tents are ‘Sahara’ style, with a high roof and equipped with comfortable camp beds, bucket shower and long-drop bush toilet. The camping is 'fully-serviced' and you will not be expected to help with camp chores such as setting up tents, cooking and washing-up.

   Accommodation: Fully-serviced Mobile Camping, 9-nights

3. Days 3-4 : Vehicle safaris in Moremi Game Reserve

   We have two days to explore Moremi Game Reserve, located on the eastern edge of the Okavango Delta and one of the most beautiful and unspoiled reserves in Africa. We enjoy game drives after breakfast each day and returning to camp mid to late morning, where we have free time until the mid-afternoon, when we set out again on another wildlife drive.

   The reserve is home to a huge variety of wildlife and birdlife, and is one of the best places on the continent to see the endangered African wild dog. Xakanaxa is home to a resident herd of buffalo, which in turn attract prides of lion.

4. Days 5-7 : Vehicle safaris in Mababe Private Reserve

   After an early morning breakfast, you leave Moremi Game Reserve and take a leisurely safari, travelling north-east into the Mababe Private Reserve. During this action-filled full-day safari, we seek wildlife in a variety of landscapes and also enjoy a peaceful mokoro excursion in the calm back-waters of the Khwai and Mbudi channels. Hippo, elephant, buffalo, and herds of water loving lechwe will be regular features of the journey. We also pass through open plains where herds of zebra and impala are joined by the occasional sable or roan antelope. While along the river channel, huge crocodiles can be found, and the mopane woodland attracts numerous birds of prey. We arrive at our new camp in time for dinner and a night drive.

   We have three full days of exciting safaris in Mababe Private Reserve. The exact programme will be dictated by the latest sightings and local conditions, but we can explore wherever we wish and can expect to encounter an abundance of mammals and birds, both large and small. Mababe is a haven for a great range of charismatic mammals, and with the freedom to drive off-road we hope to find lion, leopard, spotted hyena, wild dog and maybe also honey badger, serval and African wildcat alongside impressive herds of buffalo, plentiful bull elephants and giraffes. There's also a thrilling range of nocturnal mammals, owls and nightjars that could be seen on night drives.

   In between the exciting mammals, a fantastic variety of birds can be enjoyed with wattled cranes, saddle-billed storks, slaty egrets, Pel’s fishing and Verreaux’s eagle owls, bat hawk, and martial, bateleur and Wahlberg’s eagles all on offer. 

5. Day 8: Drive to Savuti

   Today is a travel day, as you head further north, driving through a wide range of habitats including the enormous Madabe Depression. The route passes through excellent lion and cheetah country, with the chance of elephant sightings throughout the journey, as well as some of the more elusive antelope species such as roan.

6. Days 9-10 : Vehicle safaris in Chobe National Park

   One of Africa’s best wildlife-viewing areas, Chobe National Park boasts one of the continent’s highest remaining concentrations of wildlife. The location for many wildlife documentaries, the Savuti Marsh is home to particularly strong prides of lion (20-30 members) and hyena clans offer some fabulous wildlife viewing opportunities. It is also home to cheetah and occasionally wild dog.

7. Day 11: Drive through Chobe National Park to Kasane; afternoon boat trip on Chobe River

   Today, you travel north through Chobe National Park, driving through the stunted mopane scrub of the Goha clay basin, before entering the wonderful Zambezi teak woodlands of the Chobe Forest Reserve. Arriving in Kasane, enjoy a picnic lunch before taking to the water on an afternoon boat trip on the Chobe River. You overnight in a comfortable safari lodge beside the Chobe River, enjoying a delicious buffet meal on your final evening in Botswana.

   Accommodation: Kubu Lodge, 1-night 

8. Day 12: Morning at leisure; afternoon depart Kasane

   After a leisurely breakfast and a few hours to relax around the lodge, transfer to Kasane Airport for an afternoon flight back to the UK via Johannesburg.

9. Day 13: Arrive UK