Journey Through Botswana

Excellent value for money this itinerary takes you from the world famous Victoria Falls through the main wildlife parks of Botswana including Choe, Moremi, Okavango and Makgadikgadi.

This trip is booked on a tailor made basis and could work in reverse if you prefer to start in Maun and end in the Falls.

Northern Botswana is a fantastic wildlife destination at any time of year. The Okavango is well known for it's watery habitats and swamps but there are also dry land areas inside the Okavango eco-system, such as Moremi Game Reserve which is an amazingly pretty area with lots of forests, plains and glades supporting a wealth of wildlife. Elephants area plentiful everywhere in this region, particularly numerous in the north around Chobe during August - October in the dry season. One of the highlights of the Chobe area is a river cruise - the sunsets here are stunning and the cruises allow you to get up close to elephants and other animals drinking and see amazing birdlife and lots of hippos.

The Moremi Game Reserve and Okavango Delta are wonderfully relaxing areas - most of this part of Botswana is uninhabited with many private concession areas meaning the wildlife is free to roam without human encroachment, you really do have a feeling of being in the wilderness here and the variety of wildlife is incredible.

Makgadikgadi Pans sits on the edge of the Kalahari, one of the worlds largest and most unusual desert areas. The pans in the wet season fill with water attracting migrant birds such as flamingos and in the dry season, they shrivel up to look more like the surface of the moon! This area is full of fossils embedded in the floor of the pans and dotted with huge bulbus Baobab trees. It is a fascinating area and a stark contrast to the lush vegetation of the Delta. In the dry season from April to December, Southern Africa's largest wildebeest and zebra migration arrives from the pans to drink from the exposed water table in the deeper sections of riverbed.

Any dates to suit - tailor made

Trip information

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Included

Accommodation, all meals, road and air transfers as per itinerary; activities (except optional activites at the falls); drinks at Kwara, Pom Pom and Meno A Kwena.

Not included

Drinks at Thorntree and Elephant Valley and premium imported wines, champagnes and spirits at other locations; international flights, visas, insurance, optional activities in Livingstone.

Is it for you?

An easy trip for anyone wanting to see the main parks of Botswana.

Best time

Any time. Wildebeest migration through the pans is April - December. Best time for elephants in Chobe is Aug - Oct. Falls are in full flood Feb - April.

Getting there

Flights to Livingstone or Maun are via Johannesburg, total 13 hours flying time. Prices from about £600 - £1000 UK - Botswana return, depending on time of year.

Weather and highlights

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- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
- Rain
- Rain
- Cloudy
- Sunny
- Sunny
- Sunny
- Sunny
- Sunny
- Sunny
- Sunny
- Rain
- Rain

Min Temp

- 19
- 19
- 18
- 15
- 10
- 0
- 0
- 0
- 14
- 19
- 19
- 19

Max Temp

- 33
- 33
- 31
- 31
- 28
- 25
- 25
- 29
- 32
- 40
- 35
- 32

Huge variety of scenery and wildlife
Excellent range of comfortable accommodation
Victoria Falls
Okavango Delta
Fossil sites and desert animals of the salt pans

Itinerary

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Duration: 10 nights

Day 1 You will be met on arrival in Livingstone airport and transfer to Thorntree River Lodge on the Zambezi. Relax at the pool or enjoy one of the various activities on offer (includes one free activity per day).

Day 2 At leisure, Thorntree. Visit the Falls or the town and museums or relax at the river.

Day 3 You will be transferred after breakfast by road into Botswana crossing the river at Kazangula. Your lodge is in the Kasane Forest Reserve adjacent to Chobe National Park in the Lesoma Valley and overlooks a busy waterhole. Game viewing in Chobe area. Two nights at Elephant Valley Lodge.

Day 4 Two game viewing activities including a cruise on the Chobe River in a spacious floating pontoon boat and watching wildlife in the park, this area is particularly good for elephants.

Day 5 After a morning game viewing activity you will be transferred by air from Kasane to Kwara Camp for two nights. This is a small camp in private concession in the Okavango Delta, bordering Moremi Game Reserve. Afternoon game viewing activity.

Day 6 Day to enjoy the wildlife of the area by vehicle or boat.

Day 7 After a morning game viewing activity you will be flown across the Okavango to Pom Pom Camp for two nights, a lovely camp in the heart of the 'wet' area of the Delta. This camp is on an island in a private concession area on the Xudum river system.

Day 8 Game viewing from Pom Pom by day and night drives, mokoro rides or walking.

Day 9 After a morning game viewing activity, you will be transferred to Maun by air and on to Meno A Kwena by road (about 1.5 hrs drive). This tented camp sits on a cliff over the dry Boteti River Bed and often has great wildlife sightings at it's waterhole. Game viewing from here in the Makgadikgadi pans and Nxai Pan parks include as well as stunning scenery, some desert animals such as Gemsbok, Ostrich and Meerkats.

Day 10 Day to enjoy the Kalahari / Pans area and the variety of geology, landscapes and animals this area has to offer.

Day 11 After a morning activity you will be transferred back by road to Maun for your onward flight home.

Pricing guidelines for Botswana

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We hope the following will give you a rough idea of costs. These are quoted per person based on twin share for two people, without international flights but including internal flights. We’ve used good standard accommodation throughout. There are nearly always ways to spend more money than we’ve suggested (!), but these prices show a good and realistic range for each type of trip.

International flights will add from about £700 to £1000 depending on the season and route (unless the airlines have special offers). Botswana combines well with Zambia and South Africa.

For a specific personal quote based on any tailor made itinerary you have in mind, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help you.

Example tripPrice per person
1 week small group mobile camping safariBetween £2000 and £2500
10 day tailor made safari in mid or high season in small, very good lodgesBetween £2500 and £5000
1 week ‘green season’ safariBetween £1300 and £2000

Botswana