Wildlife and Wilderness – Best Botswana Safari Itinerary

Welcome to Botswana! On arrival at Maun Airport, you board a light aircraft with Mack Air for a scenic flight into the Central Kalahari, marking the beginning of the best Botswana safari itinerary.

From above, you gain your first impressions of the vast wilderness stretching endlessly below. At The Dune Camp, you settle into your remote desert retreat and enjoy the peace of this untouched landscape.

Depending on your arrival time you will head out on your first game drive in the Deception Valley Private Reserve. In the evening, gather for dinner and take in the silence of the Kalahari night — a fitting start to your safari adventure.

Wake up in the remote Kalahari and head out on another game drive. The vast grasslands and acacia woodlands are home to springbok, oryx and giraffe, while predators like lion and cheetah may be spotted in the distance.

After a midday rest back at camp, you set off on a guided San trail and nature walk with members of the local Naru tribe. Their deep knowledge of plants, tracks and traditions offers a fascinating perspective on this wild landscape. As evening falls, enjoy dinner and end the day with a night cap under the endless African sky. You will spend another night at The Dune Camp.

One more time you head out with your guide from the camp. The designated waterholes, hidden viewing hides, vegetated dunes, natural pans and an amazing valley of the surrounding game reserve, offer incredible game viewing opportunities.

Upon return to the camp, you will meet your private guide for the rest of your safari. Leaving the Deception valley behind you continue to the Boteti River. This area forms the natural boundary of Makgadikgadi National Park and is a magnet for wildlife in the dry season. At Boteti River Camp, you settle into your rustic but comfortable surroundings and enjoy the views over the river before dinner.

After breakfast, you set off on a game drive through Makgadikgadi National Park. The park’s wide open grasslands and rugged bush landscapes are home to large herds of zebra and wildebeest, as well as giraffe, elephant and an impressive variety of birdlife. With a bit of luck, you may also encounter predators such as lion, cheetah or hyena roaming the plains.

Later, continue your journey to the Greater Maun area, where Leopard Plains Lodge lies in a private setting on the edge of the bush. Here, you unwind after the drive, enjoy dinner and prepare for the exciting days ahead in the Khwai region.

Today you travel past Maun into the Khwai Community Concession, a wildlife-rich area bordering the Moremi Game Reserve. After checking into Khwai River View, you set out on a mokoro excursion, gliding quietly through the waterways in a traditional dugout canoe.

It’s a peaceful way to observe birdlife and perhaps encounter wildlife along the riverbanks and might very well become one of your most treasured memories of the best Botswana safari itinerary.

On return to terra firma, your guide will take you on a short game drive through the concession. As there are no fences between the reserves, the animals roam freely. Consequently, you can observe elephants, lions, buffalo, various antelope species, and, if you’re lucky, leopards near the rivers and cheetahs in the open savannah. As the sun sets, you return to camp for dinner, surrounded by the nocturnal sounds of the bush.

Wake early to begin another thrilling day on safari. Today’s destination is the famous Moremi Game Reserve. With the roof hatch raised and windows open, you traverse the reserve in search of wildlife. You may be rewarded with sightings of elephant, lion, leopard, and buffalo — along with countless other species.

Moremi and its neighbouring concessions form an immense ecosystem that shelters one of Africa’s most efficient predators: the African wild dog. Hunting in packs, these remarkable animals adapt their strategies to different prey, giving them a higher success rate than lions, leopards, or cheetahs.

Around midday, you pause at a picnic spot for lunch before continuing your exploration. By late afternoon, you return to Khwai River View, where a delightful dinner awaits and the sounds of the bush will lull you to sleep.

Your journey continues northwards into Chobe National Park, heading for the renowned Savuti region. The contrast of scenery is striking: After the gentle meadows of the Khwai Region, you now explore dry, almost desert-like savannah. The drive itself is a safari, with wildlife often encountered along the way. The Savuti Region is best-known for its high density of predators. Large prides of lions and hyena clans are preying on antelopes and other prey.

At Camp Savuti, you enjoy lunch before either heading out on a game drive in your tour vehicle or in an open safari vehicle with the lodge.

After an exciting game drive, you return to camp for dinner. You will spend the night in one of the tented chalets at Camp Savuti.

In the early morning, set off on another game drive through Savuti. Savuti gained recent fame through wildlife documentaries that focused on the area’s elephant-hunting lions. Keep your eyes peeled and maybe you spot one of these famous prides.

The extensive game drive takes your slowly north-eastwards towards Kasane, the gateway to riverfront of the Chobe National Park. Arriving at River View Lodge in the afternoon, you are welcomed into a tranquil setting along the river. Enjoy the views of the Chobe River before gathering for dinner, with anticipation of the next day’s explorations.

After breakfast, head out on a morning game drive in Chobe National Park, renowned for its vast herds of elephants and diverse birdlife. With your guide, you explore the riverfront where buffalo, antelope and predators may be seen. With plenty pictures on your camera, you head back to Kasane around lunch time. Enjoy a light lunch and take a breather, before another highlight awaits.

In the afternoon, you experience a boat cruise on the Chobe River. This classic safari activity offers wonderful photographic opportunities: elephants wading through the shallows, pods of hippos in the water and colourful birdlife along the banks. Return to the River View Lodge for dinner and a peaceful evening.

Today you bid farewell to your Botswana guide and cross the border into Zimbabwe. A transfer takes you to Victoria Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world.

After checking in at Insika Lodge, you join a tour with a local guide, where you experience the thunder and spray of “Mosi-oa-Tunya” — the Smoke that Thunders. Nearly two kilometres wide, the mighty Zambezi plunges into the gorge below, creating a spectacle of sound and mist.

Afterwards, you can stroll through the town of Victoria Falls or visit the large souvenir market for some last-minute souvenir shopping.

In the evening you can enjoy dinner at Insika Lodge or visit one of the local restaurants in town (at own expense).

After breakfast, a transfer takes you to Victoria Falls Airport for your onward journey. Depending on your flight schedule, there may be time to relax at the lodge or reflect on your safari experiences. With lasting memories and photographs of the best Botswana safari itinerary to treasure, it is time to say farewell to Africa — until your next adventure.