One of the best ways to discover Botswana is by vehicle.
Whether you choose to explore independently on classic routes or venture off-road with a guide, certain things remain constant in both experiences.
From your initial enquiry to your return home, our Travel Experts offer personalised support, organise your vehicle and accommodation, and provide expert advice.
You will drive the best vehicle for your planned route, and our in-country team is always available, ready to assist throughout your journey.
Each tour is created by regional specialists, combining famous highlights with secret locations to ensure an experience akin to travelling with a local.
One thing is sure: all our self-drive tours deliver a seamless experience and an unforgettable adventure.
What’s the difference between a Classic Self-Drive Tour and a Guided Self-Drive Tour?
What is a classic self-drive tour?
On a Classic Self-Drive Tour, you collect your rental 4×4 and begin your independent journey.
During your tour, you’ll drive into vast wilderness where wildlife is found in famous parks.
You’ll travel on both gravel and paved roads. Driving in Botswana does require attention, and you should be a confident and experienced driver. However, off-road travel isn’t required, as even most parks have well-maintained gravel roads.
By day, enjoy the thrill of exploring breathtaking landscapes and visiting some of Africa’s best national parks, where elephants, lions, and buffalo roam.
Evenings can be spent relaxing in comfort in welcoming lodges and tented camps. Some of which overlook waterholes, giving you another chance to spot your favourite animal or bird.
While guidebooks can be useful companions on a classic self-drive tour for understanding what you see and do, they can’t substitute the experience of travelling with a local guide.
That’s why you can join guided activities organised by your accommodation. These include mokoro safaris in the Delta, game drives in Moremi, or boat safaris on the Chobe River.
What is a guided self-drive tour?
A Guided Self-Drive Tour is a very different style of adventure.
Remote tracks replace paved roads, and your fully equipped 4×4 serves as both your vehicle and accommodation.
Tours are scheduled as small group departures at certain dates of the year, but with limited places, booking early is essential. Private tours can be booked on request, which offer flexible dates.
Travelling in a small convoy led by expert guides, you’ll explore wilderness regions, some accessible only with special permits. You drive yourself in a rented 4×4, while your guide leads the way in their separate vehicle.
Your guide will share insights on wildlife behaviour, navigation, and off-road driving, while the support team manages meals and camp logistics.
Driving distances are considerable, including challenging off-road sections, and this part of our guided tours should not be overlooked.
Unlike a classic self-drive tour, you’ll spend nearly every minute in the outdoors. These experiences give you a chance to disconnect from your busy life and connect with nature.
What to see and where to stay on our self-drive tours in Botswana
For Classic Self-Drive Tours, we offer several options to explore Botswana.
Depending on the tour, you can experience the legendary Okavango Delta, enjoy wildlife from a new perspective on a boat safari on the Chobe River, encounter Kalahari wildlife, and watch the cascading waters of Victoria Falls.
Optional activities include scenic flights over the Okavango Delta, sunset riverboat cruises, guided bush walks, and cultural encounters with local communities.
These classic tours commence in Windhoek, Namibia, and conclude at Victoria Falls. Don’t worry, border crossings are straightforward, and further details are given below.
For Guided Self-Drive Tours, you can select from a range of tours within Botswana or routes that extend into neighbouring countries.
Whether journeying across the Central Kalahari’s endless horizons or navigating the wildlife corridors between Moremi, Khwai, and Savuti, you’ll discover regions few travellers ever get to experience.
Our Uncharted Trails of Botswana – 4×4 Offroad Safari is a popular 15-day tour that takes you on an unforgettable circuit of Botswana. You’ll explore the Old Hunters Road, the expansive Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans, and the incredible wildlife of Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park.
Cross-border self-drive tours: Namibia, Botswana, South Africa & Zambia
We coordinate cross-border journeys across southern Africa, linking Botswana with Namibia, Zambia, or South Africa.
With sister companies in Namibia and South Africa, we ensure efficient logistics, dependable vehicles, and expert local support.
For Classic Self-Drive travellers, two standout itineraries starting from Namibia are worth considering.
Highlights Windhoek to Victoria Falls tour takes you to the dunes of Sossuvlei in the Namib Desert, then through northern Namibia, visiting the wildlife-abundant Etosha National Park and the Zambezi region. Once in Botswana, you’ll visit Chobe National Park before concluding spectacularly at Victoria Falls.
Highlights of Namibia and Botswana tour lets you see the best of both countries. You will explore the Kalahari and Namib Deserts, visit Etosha National Park, and traverse the Caprivi Strip. Highlights upon entering Botswana include visiting Chobe National Park, boarding a flight to the Okavango Delta, and ending at Victoria Falls.
For Guided Self-Drive travellers, you have three cross-border tours to choose from.
The Windhoek to Chobe – Scenic Wonders tour takes you deep into the wilderness, driving through the Kalahari Desert into Botswana – a vast, uninhabited area. If you love wildlife, the next section will not disappoint. Continue through the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Moremi Game Reserve, the Savuti Region, and Chobe National Park, to finish in Kasane.
The Liuwa and Kafue – Untamed Wilderness tour takes you on a wild adventure from northern Botswana through remote Zambia to finish in the capital, Lusaka. Highlights include Chobe National Park, Sioma Falls, Liuwa Plains National Park, Kafue National Park, and Blue Lagoon National Park.
Zambia’s Flying & Wading Marvels – Bat Migration Safari tour is a nice add-on to any Botswana experience. We can arrange a flight to Zambia to visit Kasanka National Park, Mutinondo Wilderness and Bangweulu Swamps. Choose this tour from October to December to see the Kasanka Bat Migration, the largest mammal migration in the world.
Who should go on a self-drive tour in Botswana
Our two self-drive tour types suit different travellers.
Classic Self-Drive Tours are perfect for those who value independence but want professionally organised logistics and comfortable accommodation at each stop.
They are ideal for people who are comfortable with long days of driving across diverse road conditions and who may not have mechanical skills beyond changing a tyre.
If concerns about possible vehicle issues on the route worry you, don’t be. Our local team is always ready to assist if an unlikely problem arises.
So, if driving long distances independently through Botswana’s vast wilderness areas without sacrificing comfort sounds appealing, then a classic self-drive tour is for you.
In comparison, Guided Self-Drive Tours appeal to more adventurous travellers who enjoy camping and are eager to experience Botswana’s wilder side behind the wheel of a 4×4.
All ages and experience levels are welcome. Our guides provide expert off-road instruction, while our team handles camp setup and meals so that you can focus on the adventure.
So, if remote campsites, off-road driving, wildlife encounters, and evenings around the campfire excite you, a guided self-drive tour is your ideal experience.
Ready to plan your Botswana self-drive journey? Contact our Travel Experts to choose the perfect tour.
