Wildlife of the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan National Park

Botswana Kalahari Safari: Zebra Migration

Botswana

10 Days

From $10,195

Overview

    Book Online Download Itinerary

    Call 1-800-368-2794 or contact us for any questions

    Overview

    Botswana's famed Kalahari Desert holds some of the largest natural salt pans on the planet—some so large they're even visible from space. Most of the year, the pans are a dry savanna studded with thorn trees. But for a few weeks following the rainy season, the entire landscape transforms into a sea of fresh-sprouted grass, acacia-dotted islands, and rain-fed waterholes. A host of wildlife is attracted to this seasonal feast, including thousands of zebra. The zebra walk more than 150 miles from the Chobe River to reach the Kalahari's Nxai Pans and Makgadikgadi Pans—making the longest documented land-mammal migration in southern Africa. We've crafted a WT-style mobile-camping safari to witness this epic migration and we'll also find the zebras' predators, including lion, hyena, and cheetah, and species not found elsewhere in Botswana, including springbok and gemsbok. We even have a special opportunity to see meerkats as they emerge from their burrows to scan the horizon and begin foraging for the day. Our private Hemingway-style mobile camps are set up for our groups alone, and we've included a night in a special “sleep-out” camp with open-air beds under the African sky (at night, the sky above is a symphony of stars!). Our camps provide solitude and comfort in the wild, great meals, and custom-built 4WD vehicles for exploration. Join us for a fascinating wildlife adventure!

    Arrive: Maun, Botswana

    Depart: Maun, Botswana

    Highlights

    • Look for migrating herds of zebra, see meerkats and other unusual wildlife
    • Explore on exciting game drives in custom-built 4WD vehicles—with guaranteed window seats
    • Stay in private mobile camps set up exclusively for our group
    • Spend a night in a special “sleep-out” camp with open-air beds under the stars
    • Extend your trip to Victoria Falls, one of the world's natural wonders

    Overview

      Book Online Download Itinerary

      Call 1-800-368-2794 or contact us for any questions

      Itinerary

      Download Itinerary Expand All Days

      After an overnight in a lodge near Maun, head to Nxai Pan National Park. Explore Nxai Pan by 4WD vehicle, searching for migrating zebra along with their attendant predators. Our mobile camps bring us wonderful comfort in the wild.

      A leisurely drive (which culminates in negotiating the ancient pan surface to access our campsite) brings us to a lunar landscape for an unforgettable adventure: a special “sleep-out” under a brilliant night sky in the desert (we have lightweight tents available in the very unlikely event of rain).

      On game drives and walking safaris from our final camp, we continue watching the zebra migration. We also search for lesser-known mammals such as meerkats and honey badgers. Several family groups of meerkats live near our camp and we should get good views of these fascinating creatures.

      Our last two nights are in a luxurious lodge in the western Makgadikgadi, where we can take a dip in the pool, watch wildlife from the deck, or look for wildlife at waterholes along the Boteti River. Depart via Maun on Day 10.

      Dates & Pricing

      Pricing below is per person and based on double occupancy. The earlier you book, the more choice you’ll have. WT also has the most generous cancellation and transfer policies in the industry—we make it easy if you change your mind. Have a small group of your own? Take over an existing date or choose your own. You’ll have your own private guide—and the adventure—all to yourselves!

      Payment & Cancel Schedule

      At time of reservation: $600
      90 days prior to departure: Balance

      Cancellation & Transfer Schedule

      Up to 91 days prior to departure: No Charge!
      61-90 days prior to departure: 25% of trip cost
      46-60 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost
      45 days or less: 100% of trip cost

      Included
      • Expert leadership of Wilderness Travel Trip Leaders and local guides
      • Accommodations based on double occupancy
      • All meals
      • All ground transportation and baggage handling from meeting until departure
      • All activities as indicated in Detailed Itinerary
      • Safari camp staff
      • Land and boat transportation, airport transfers as noted
      Not Included
      • Travel to and from the arrival and departure location as indicated in Detailed Itinerary
      • Additional hotel nights outside the trip's scheduled dates
      • Optional gratuities to Trip Leaders or staff
      • Emergency medical evacuation insurance
      • Other expenses of a personal nature (some alcoholic beverages, etc.)

      Accommodations

      Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.

      Grays Eden

      Maun, Botswana

      Day 1 (1 night)

      With its five villas and seven cottages set on property facing the Thamalakane River, Grays Eden is the perfect place to unwind (or acclimate) for your Botswana safari. Stylish guest rooms feature high ceilings and light-filled interiors with modern, minimalist design. Relax by the outdoor pool or indulge in a...
      With its five villas and seven cottages set on property facing the Thamalakane River, Grays Eden is the perfect place to unwind (or acclimate) for...

      Botswana Mobile Safari Camping

      Multiple Locations, Botswana

      Days 2-4 (3 nights)

      Our private safari camps, set up for our groups alone, put you in the prime spot for phenomenal game viewing and direct access to pristine sections of the parks. You'll camp in a wonderful variety of locations, all far from the lodges, and be surrounded by Botswana's most magnificent terrain...

      Our private safari camps, set up for our groups alone, put you in the prime spot for phenomenal game viewing and direct access to pristine...

      Makgadikgadi Sleep-Out Camp

      Day 5 (1 night)

      When was the last time you slept in a bed with a million stars overhead? Our special sleep-out camp features all the amenities of our regular mobile camps but instead of tents, we have comfortable outdoor beds under the stars. While there are no walls to your room, no animals...
      When was the last time you slept in a bed with a million stars overhead? Our special sleep-out camp features all the amenities of our...

      Botswana Mobile Safari Camping

      Multiple Locations, Botswana

      Days 6-7 (2 nights)

      Our private safari camps, set up for our groups alone, put you in the prime spot for phenomenal game viewing and direct access to pristine sections of the parks. You'll camp in a wonderful variety of locations, all far from the lodges, and be surrounded by Botswana's most magnificent terrain...

      Our private safari camps, set up for our groups alone, put you in the prime spot for phenomenal game viewing and direct access to pristine...

      Meno a Kwena Tented Camp

      Days 8-9 (2 nights)

      Meno a Kwena Tented Camp is perched on a rocky bluff above the Boteti River in Botswana, perfectly suited for visiting the Makgadikgadi Pans. There are nine spacious en suite Meru-style tents furnished with beds. In addition, there is a traditional fenced boma and a relaxing lounge area overlooking the...
      Meno a Kwena Tented Camp is perched on a rocky bluff above the Boteti River in Botswana, perfectly suited for visiting the Makgadikgadi Pans. There...

      Trip Leaders

      Wilderness Travel Trip Leaders have a passion and a joy for creating an unforgettable journey. We are extremely proud of them and the incredible travel experiences they make possible. For more information, including client comments about them and which specific trips they will be leading, please click on their profiles below.

      Anthony Monnaaletsatsi

      View Profile

      Daniel Sechi

      View Profile

      Ezekiel Ditshameko

      View Profile

      What the Trip is Like

      This trip is rated Level 2, Easy to Moderate. It is a vehicle-based camping safari, with five nights in our mobile private camps, one night in a simple lightweight sleep-out camp, and three nights in lodges. It will be enjoyed by anyone in reasonably good health. Although the trip is not rigorous, it does involve some long driving days over rough roads and game tracks. Any African safari is an adventure, and the traveler to Africa should bring along flexibility, a sense of humor, curiosity about new peoples and places, and an openness to the unexpected.
      Review Trip Level Details
      The great grass plains of the Makgadikgadi and the associated pan complexes of Sowa, Ntwetwe, and Nxai lie southeast of the Okavango Delta. Relics of one of the world’s largest super lakes, these pans dried up thousands of years ago as a result of tectonic activity in the Earth’s crust. The Makgadikgadi was formed some five million years ago and was once almost 100 feet deep covering an area of 8,600 square miles. As the water evaporated, huge glistening salt-encrusted pans remained which, in the heat of the day, are transformed into mirages.
      The best game viewing period is during the “dry” season, which runs from late March to October. Because of the minimal rainfall during this season, the bush turns golden brown and in many areas is beaten flat, so game viewing is easier and animals concentrate around major water sources. The Okavango Delta’s water level starts to rise during these months. October to April can be very hot, with most of the rainfall between December and February. This season characteristically has hot sunny days with afternoon thundershowers. This season is excellent for the viewing of newborn mammals, summer flowers, and the migration of rare birds. Predator viewing during this time remains quite good.
      Our mobile tented camping safaris in Botswana provide a true bush experience without sacrificing comfort. Our comfortable walk-in tents feature cozy beds, linens, tent lamps, and have en suite bathrooms with a toilet, mirror, sink, and hot water shower. Our crew sets up camp and prepares all meals. Delicious food is served in a comfortable dining tent. You’ll find camping delightful and very comfortable, and you will appreciate how close to nature you feel, away from the lights and distractions of the lodges. We spend one overnight (Day 5) in a simple lightweight sleep-out camp that allows us access to very remote areas. For this night, there are outdoor beds under the stars and a shared toilet tent.
      Our local chefs are trained in a wide range of culinary skills, including mastering the art of preparing three-course meals on an open fire and baking fresh bread every day using a traditional Dutch oven. If there is one thing we are sure of, it’s that you will never go hungry on our safari.
      We travel by Toyota 4WD Land Cruiser "go-anywhere" safari vehicles equipped with a refrigerator for cold drinks, AC power outlets for charging your devices, and a reference library on flora, fauna, and avifauna. The vehicles carry five trip members, with guaranteed window seating. During drives and walks, we can at times get quite close to wild animals. Being very quiet improves everybody's chances of observation. In the interest of safety, your Trip Leader explains limitations on movement while on game drives, in the safari vehicles, and around camp. Incidents with wild animals are extremely rare on safaris, but no trip can guarantee immunity from such incidents. Wilderness Travel is not to be held responsible for incidents involving the behavior of wildlife.

      Extend Your Trip

      Client Testimonials

      "Our Trip Leaders and crew provided all of the adventure and discovery one could hope for while treating us to first-class service and comfort and giving us a sense of absolute safety."

      Ellen B.

      St. Louis, MO

      "Feel I received more than I bargained for. A trip of a lifetime!"

      George R.

      Los Altos, CA

      "My 3rd trip with WT and I was once again extremely pleased. Needless to say lots of folks will hear about my adventure with WT."

      Susan C.

      Colorado Springs, CO

      "Our trip was absolutely fantastic! We were truly amazed by the sheer abundance and variety of wildlife we encountered, including a surprising number of different bird species. It exceeded our expectations. Camp was an incredible experience; we were so impressed by the wonderful staff and the food was absolutely top notch!"

      Susan C.

      Hillsborough,New Jersey

      "It was a great trip. The Trip Leader excellent in every way possible. His passion for the animals and the environment added so much to our appreciation."

      Susan M.

      Keswick, VA

      "Wow! I am so glad we decided on the Kalahari Explorer and mobile tent camping. I am NOT a camper, and truthfully, didn't realize exactly what it meant to be in a mobile tent camp. But I can honestly say I am so glad to have had this experience. I feel the richer for it."

      Vicky L.

      San Rafael, CA

      Book your trip today

      Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!

      Itinerary

      Submit the form below to download itinerary

      This field is hidden when viewing the form

      This field is hidden when viewing the form


      Trip Levels

      With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.