Outstanding wildlife opportunities await on this Botswana safari tour, searching the Okavango Delta, Moremi, Mababe and Chobe National Park for big cats, wild dogs, elephants and more en route to Victoria Falls.
In the heart of Southern Africa lies landlocked Botswana, a country dominated by the Kalahari Desert and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, yet also home to the world’s largest inland delta, the Okavango. From this vast aqueous world, we journey north-east towards Victoria Falls, traversing private reserves and national parks whose savannahs teem with abundant wildlife. These golden grasslands are home to huge herds of elephant, plains game, predators, and other animals, all of which combine to ensure an excellent safari experience.
With frequent departures of this holiday on offer, the best time to visit is generally considered to be the dry season (May – October) when wildlife viewing is concentrated around remaining water sources. In November, there may be some life-sustaining rain, causing dormant plants and flowers to burst forth over the plains. Migrant birds usually arrive in October, taking off again (excuse the pun!) on their seasonal travels by April. Water levels in the Okavango fluctuate constantly, and the mighty Victoria Falls is absolutely thundering in April and May.
So why not join this small group adventure, exploring Botswana’s pristine wilderness with other like-minded travellers from around the world? Staying in intimate safari lodges and tented camps, game drives in a specially-adapted safari vehicle are enhanced by boat trips with even a sublime, traditional dug out canoe experience included. You can elevate your holiday further by arranging a helicopter ride or scenic flight locally. Surely there can be no greater way to appreciate the scenic glory, scale, and superb wildlife of Botswana and Zimbabwe than from above?
Typical Itinerary
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Day 1:
Depart the UK
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Day 2:
Arrive Maun
On arrival in Botswana, you're met and transferred to your overnight accommodation on the banks of the Thamalakane River. Relax after your journey, become accustomed to the sounds of the birds in the trees and later, get to know your two tour leaders (who are both qualified field guides) and fellow travellers during a welcome meeting and dinner.
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Days 3-4
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Safaris in Okavango Delta
Get your Botswana holiday underway with a day-long transfer north to the incredible
Okavango Delta. Feeding the delta is a water body known as the Panhandle and your small, intimate camp overlooks a lagoon filled to the brim with stunning bird life, amphibians, reptiles (including Nile crocodiles), and larger animals such as sitatunga, red lechwe, hippo and the occasional elephant. Drifting past tiny reed frogs, kingfishers, all manner of waders and water lilies strewn with iridescent dragon and damselflies in a mokoro, or traditional canoe, is a highlight during your stay here, as is a sunset boat cruise watching wildlife silhouetted against a background of intensifying colour as day gives way to night and attention is drawn to searching for owls and other nocturnal creatures around camp.
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Days 5-6
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Game drives in Moremi Game Reserve & Mababe Private Reserve
A full day’s travel north-east ends at Moremi Game Reserve, an area of outstanding beauty combining waterways in the west that give way to drier savannah in the east. Its grasslands are home to huge herds of antelope, which in turn, attract a very healthy predator population. Big cats ambush their prey using grass and woodland as cover, whilst African wild dogs run their prey to exhaustion. Other game can range from zebra to baboon and warthogs to mongoose. It goes without saying that the bird life will continue to be nothing short of sensational!
From the comfort of your tented camp on a private concession east of, and bordering, Moremi Game Reserve, explore this paradise and the banks of the Khwai River. After all, where there's water, there's often abundant wildlife!
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Days 7-8
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Safaris in Savuti
Journey east still, game viewing as you go, to reach your next destination, the superb wildlife area of
Savuti. Part of
Chobe National Park, the area is renowned for its predators, lions and spotted hyena especially, but cheetah and African wild dogs are also present. Lions here are particularly resourceful, having learnt to take down elephants, a remarkable feat. Once again, enjoy life under canvas, staying in a tented camp and showering under the stars!
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Days 9-10
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Game drives in Chobe National Park
Northbound now, head towards Kasane where you’re based in a stunning lodge overlooking the vibrant Chobe River. The wildlife experience here's extraordinary, the river being the lifeblood to many animals, elephants especially. Your penultimate Botswana activity is a morning game drive followed by a leisurely afternoon on the water cruising past buffalo, hippo, antelope, baboons and more. Birdlife is especially prolific and if you’re lucky, elephants may swim across to the opposite Namibian bank, using their trunks as snorkels.
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Day 11:
Visit Victoria Falls
Leaving Botswana behind you today, transfer across the border to
Victoria Falls. After checking in to your overnight accommodation, perhaps head into town to sample local wares and indulge in a little curio shopping, the markets here are very good. Then, re-join the group for a guided walking tour of the spectacular falls themselves. Tonight, reminisce over wonderful memories during a final group dinner.
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Day 12:
Depart Zimbabwe
As your adventure draws to a close, transfer to Victoria Falls Airport in order to commence your journey home.
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Day 13:
Arrive UK
