Botswana’s Wild Beauty – Private Botswana Safari Itinerary

Dumela – Welcome to Botswana! On arrival at Maun Airport, you will be met by your guide and transferred to Maun Waterfront Guesthouse. Here you can relax and unwind after your journey, settling into your comfortable room overlooking the water.

This peaceful start to your private Botswana safari itinerary allows you to adjust to the rhythms of Botswana before the adventures ahead. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, perhaps with a drink on the deck as the sun sets over the river. Before you head to dinner at one of the local restaurants (at own account), your guide will brief you about the upcoming safari. Overnight at Maun Waterfront Guesthouse.

After breakfast, you set off by road to the Okavango Panhandle, a tranquil part of the delta where papyrus-lined channels open into wide lagoons. Your lodge, Nguma Island Lodge, sits in a beautiful location right on the water’s edge.

This afternoon, you may choose to join an optional sundowner boat cruise, the perfect introduction to the birdlife and waterways of this unique ecosystem. As evening falls, settle into your tented accommodation and listen to the calls of hippos echoing across the channels.

Today you explore the waterways of the Okavango Panhandle by mokoro, the traditional dugout canoe. On a guided five-hour excursion, glide quietly through the reed-fringed channels where herons, kingfishers, and fish eagles thrive. Your poler will share insights into the delta’s ecology as you drift past lilies and dragonflies.

After lunch back at the lodge, the afternoon is free to relax — perhaps with a swim or simply taking in the serene river views. Dinner is served under the stars.

Today’s drive takes you to Tsodilo Hills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its remarkable rock art and spiritual significance. With a local guide, you will walk among the ancient paintings and learn about the San people who created them thousands of years ago.

Afterwards, you continue to Drotsky’s Cabins, a comfortable riverside lodge in Shakawe. Relax in your chalet as the river flows gently past — a fitting end to a day filled with history and natural beauty.

Today you will cross into Namibia’s Zambezi Region and enjoy a scenic drive through the lush landscapes of the previously known Caprivi Strip. Your destination is Namushasha River Lodge, set on the banks of the Kwando River. Hippos and crocodiles inhabit the waterways here, and the birdlife is outstanding.

After settling into your room and enjoying some time to relax, you have the option to join a sundowner boat cruise. Dinner is served at the lodge overlooking the water.

The day is dedicated to exploring Bwabwata and/or Mudumu National Parks. On game drives in these remote reserves, you may encounter elephants, buffalo, and a variety of antelope including sable and roan.

The parks are also known for their predator populations, with chances of spotting lion, leopard, or wild dog, which could be the highlight of your private Botswana safari itinerary. Between sightings, appreciate the unspoiled wilderness and quiet atmosphere.

After a picnic lunch in the bush, return to Namushasha River Lodge to relax before another dinner by the river.

Re-enter Botswana and travel to Kasane, a lively town at the edge of Chobe National Park. Your home for the next two nights is River View Lodge, a charming retreat along the Chobe River.

In the afternoon, set out on a boat cruise along the river — one of the most memorable ways to experience Chobe’s wildlife. Watch elephants drinking at the banks, hippos surfacing, and crocodiles basking in the sun. Just after sunset you will return to the lodge in time for dinner.

A full day of safari in Chobe National Park awaits. With your guide, set off in the morning for a game drive through areas known for large elephant herds, buffalo, and diverse birdlife.

Around midday, you will pause at a picnic site for lunch in the bush before continuing your exploration in the afternoon. The park’s riverside scenes are particularly rewarding, with the chance to see hippos wallowing and elephants crossing the shallows.

After a day full of exciting game viewing, you will return to River View Lodge for another delicious dinner and overnight on the banks of the mighty Chobe River.

The journey takes you through the Chobe Forest Reserve to the Savuti region, a legendary wildlife area within Chobe National Park. Savuti is famous for its predator action, and sightings of lions and hyenas are common here. Your destination is Camp Savuti, a small and comfortable lodge blending rustic charm with modern comforts.

After settling in, head out for a late-afternoon drive in an open safari vehicle of the lodge to experience the first encounters in this dramatic landscape, before returning for dinner under the African night sky.

This morning’s game drive takes you south through Mababe Gate into the Khwai region, on the edge of Moremi Game Reserve. Here woodlands, floodplains, and lagoons attract a rich variety of wildlife.

Your lodge, Khwai River View, offers an intimate riverside setting. After settling into your chalet, enjoy a late-afternoon game drive in the surrounding concession, where elephant, leopard, and painted dogs are often seen. Dinner is served in camp, with the sounds of the bush as your backdrop.

Embark on a full-day game drive into Moremi Game Reserve. Known for its remarkable diversity, Moremi offers opportunities to see the Big Five alongside countless bird species and smaller mammals. Your guide will choose routes according to recent sightings, maximising your chances of unforgettable encounters. Pause for a picnic lunch at one of the reserve’s designated sites, before continuing the adventure into the afternoon.

Return to Khwai River View for a final evening of stories and starlit African skies.

After breakfast, depart Khwai and drive back to Maun in time for your midday flight departure. Reflect on the extraordinary journey — from the mokoro rides of the Panhandle and ancient rock art at Tsodilo Hills to Chobe’s elephants, Savuti’s predators, and the rich game of Moremi.

Your guide will bid you farewell at the airport, leaving you with memories of Botswana’s wild beauty and the promise of adventures yet to come. But for now, this is the end of your private Botswana safari itinerary.