Botswana holds great allure for safari travelers. It is a landlocked country dominated by the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta, a geographical feature with a paradise-like feel, rich with wildlife. Botswana’s government has long supported low-density tourism, making for a more exclusive safari experience, one that lives up to the hype.
Most travelers visit the liquid paradise of the Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta in the world. In addition to sparkling lagoons and papyrus-lined channels, the Delta supports a wide diversity of species in various habitats including savanna game, along with wooded areas that are home to African wild dog and leopard. Depending on what area you choose to stay in, you might also see the Big 5.
The Delta is fed by the Okavango River and seasonally floods to create a huge, fan-shaped waterway. Activities change with water levels, and range from motorboat and canoe safaris to game walks, drives and horseback safaris. A helicopter flight is a fantastic way to get a sense of the vast wilderness.
Chobe National Park is incredibly biodiverse and is a great place to see wildlife in riverine or savanna environments. Chobe’s riverfront is the most frequently visited part of the park and for good reason. Huge elephant and Cape buffalo herds gather on the river’s edge to drink in the dry season, making for incredible game viewing. River cruises are another way to enjoy viewing the area’s abundant wildlife. You’ll get up close and personal with hippos, crocodiles, water birds, while also enjoying terrestrial species from a different vantage point.
So, what can you see in less than two weeks on a Botswana safari? We have ideas and inspiration for your customized Botswana adventure that include popular parks and conservation areas, unforgettable wildlife sightings and some of our most-loved accommodations.
You will be deep in the heart of Botswana’s premier wildlife areas on our 10-day Botswana Luxury Safari while staying in some of the country’s most sought-after camps and lodges. With the intimacy of the four-tent Zarafa Camp (just wait until you see your copper soaking tub in your tented suite!); access to Africa’s largest private collection of contemporary art and the chance to ‘sleep out’ in the Baobab Treehouse at Xigera Safari Lodge; along with the outstanding cuisine and pampering you’ll enjoy at the full service spa at Mombo Camp, your stays will be as memorable as your safari sightings. These properties are nestled among some of the best wildlife viewing in the whole country. Activities are diverse, giving you the chance to spend time on the water, land and on foot.
Our Botswana Highlights Safari is eight days of adventure in some of the richest wildlife viewing destinations on the continent. You will explore Chobe National Park, the Moremi Game Reserve and the Okavango Delta, where you will experience the amazing combination of land and water activities found only in Botswana. From the excitement of big game viewing to the tranquility of silently floating through the channels of the Delta, you’ll experience the best Botswana has to offer. Ghoha Hills Safari Lodge offers everything you need to explore Chobe National Park in comfort while maintaining a light environmental footprint. You’ll love Okuti’s stunning design, but it’s the Moremi Game Reserve’s wilderness and wildlife that will capture your heart. Your stay at Shinde in the heart of the Delta will be your last camp, and it will make it hard for you to leave! If you love to fish – be sure to do it here!
Another advantage of visiting Botswana is its proximity to Victoria Falls! Our Botswana and Victoria Falls Highlights Safari will let you explore the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls over 11 days. From the Delta’s spectacular wildlife and diverse activities to the chance to see the world’s largest remaining population of elephants and the spectacular Victoria Falls, you’ll enjoy unforgettable experiences on this safari. On this safari you will also revel in luxurious lodgings like Matetsi Victoria Falls, where you might not want to leave your expansive private suite and Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge, whose features like private plunge pools and cozy fireplaces will make you enjoy your time in camp all the more!
Other areas of Botswana are much less visited though no less spectacular. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is Africa at its most fascinating. An untouched wilderness that boasts few roads, facilities or infrastructure of any type, it offers fantastic seasonal game viewing, star gazing, nature walks, cultural interactions with the bushmen and more.
Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pans National Parks comprise a series of vast salt pans within a seemingly inhospitable landscape. Despite appearances, the area hosts a wide variety of wildlife including black-maned lions, brown hyena, meerkats and aardwolf. The area is also home to Africa’s second-largest seasonal wildebeest and zebra migration. During the dry season, crystal clear skies twinkle with millions of stars and the expanse of the pans is so vast, you can see the curvature of the earth. Game drives, visits with habituated meerkats, bush walks, ATV adventures and horseback riding provide visitors with many ways to enjoy the area.
Remember that when you work with AAC, we will collaborate with you to create a totally unique Botswana safari itinerary. Our sample itineraries are there to inspire you, but it is working with one of our Journey Specialists that will make your safari magical and tailored just to you.
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Photos courtesy of AAC Livingstone Club member Joe T., Xigera Safari Lodge, Muchenje Safari Lodge, Duba Plains Camp, Zarafa Camp, Shinde, Sandibe, AAC President Kent Redding, San Camp, Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp and AAC Marketing Director Beth McCabe