Botswana Wildlife Safari

Botswana’s diverse ecosystems are astounding, from magnificent Chobe National Park, sheltering the world’s largest herds of elephants, to the wildlife paradise of the Okavango Delta, an exquisite wetland surrounded by the great Kalahari thirstlands. We offer four different Botswana safaris, including seasonal expeditions to amazing places such as Deception Valley of Cry of the Kalahari fame. We relish immense gamelands on classic mobile camping safaris that put us in the heart of the African wilderness without sacrificing amenities: our private campsites provide superb meals and tents with beds and en suite bathrooms. We track game by 4WD vehicle, by riverboat, and—a Botswana specialty—by mokoro (dugout canoe), all in a breathtaking mix of Botswana’s most beautiful habitats, from salt pans to savannas.

Days 1-3
Moremi / Xakanaxa / Private Camp

In exceptionally beautiful Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta, our private camp is at Xakanaxa. We explore by 4WD vehicle and by boat, looking for tsessebe, Burchell’s zebra, ostrich, and predators such as lion, wild dog, and spotted hyena. The enchanting sound of bell frogs will serenade us to sleep.

Days 4-5
Okavango Delta / Xugana Lodge

The 800-mile-long Okavango is “the river that never finds the sea,” disappearing into a remarkable maze of lagoons, channels, and islands to create the Okavango Delta. We boat through gentle waterways to Xugana Lodge, enjoying a quintessential Delta setting on the best permanent water site in this region. Our mokoro explorations take us in search of amazing birdlife and animals such as lechwe, bushbuck, and perhaps even sitatunga (a semi-aquatic antelope). Xugana Lodge accommodates just 16 guests in large reed-and-thatch chalets.

Days 6-7
Moremi / Khwai River / Private Camp

We fly by charter to Moremi Game Reserve for wildlife exploration by 4WD vehicle along the lovely Khwai River floodplain, home to elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, and wild dogs, along with exceptional populations of wildfowl and raptors. Our camp is on the Khwai River, a northern tributary of the Okavango.

Days 8-11
Chobe National Park / Private Camps

Wildlife experiences at Chobe are spectacular and unforgettable, with golden-red sunsets along the Chobe River, massed herds of elephant in the thick acacia, the sounds of water buffalo herds on open green plains, and the cry of the majestic African fish eagle piercing the air. Chobe is a legendary elephant refuge, with by far the largest single concentration of elephants in Africa. From our private camp, we explore the Serondella area, with its famed elephant herds, and Savuti, one of the best places to see lion, leopard, and other predators and their prey.

Days 12-13
Victoria Falls

We stay at Zambia’s Royal Livingstone Hotel in close proximity to this world-famous cataract. Depart on Day 13, or join our Cape Town Extension.

Cape Town Extension
Pre-trip or Post-trip (4 days / 3 nights)

Visit the Cape of Good Hope, where the African continent ends; Table Mountain, one of the most spectacular urban geographic features in the world; the famed botanical gardens at Kirstenbosch, and Stellenbosch and Franschhoek wine country. Overnights at the 4-star Commodore Hotel or upgrade to the elegant 5-star Cape Grace.

Please call us or download the Full Trip Brochure for more information about our extensions