Botswana safari

Blessed with some of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth, Botswana is a landlocked country about the size of Texas, located in the heart of Southern Africa, sharing its borders with South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Key destinations include the Okavango Delta / Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe Game Reserve, Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. With a variety of national parks and game reserves, a heritage site of our oldest ancestors and a wealth of activities to choose from, Botswana is a destination ideal for game viewing, honeymooning, family trips, bird watching and so much more.

All Africa’s game and wildlife can be found in the Okavango Delta, along the majestic waterways of the Chobe, Kwando or Linyanti. Travel inland across the vast expanse of the Makgadikgadi Saltpans, to the largest game reserve in Southern Africa, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The Tuli Block boasts a unique and picturesque place unlike anywhere else in Botswana. World’s second largest zebra migration around Nxai Pan and Makgadikgadi.

Here are a few of the Northern Botswana highlights;

• Moremi Reserve is the best place to experience excellent views of savannah game and resulting predators, including big cats. There are also thickly wooded areas, which are home to the rare African wild dog and leopard. Excellent for walking, river and vehicle safaris
• The Okavango Delta is made up of a multitude of small island networks in between the floodplains and the channels. Because of the common occurrence of water, the vegetation is rich and diverse, which is a natural attraction to the multitude of wildlife (including high densities of predators such as Lion, Leopard, Spotted Hyena and Cheetah) and birdlife who make this fascinating area home. Excellent for river, walking and vehicle safaris
• The Chobe National Park is home to the largest concentration of African Elephant in the world and is famous for some of the best safari boat cruises. Ideal for viewing Cape buffalo, Elephant, Lion and Wild Dogs. Excellent for vehicle and river safaris
• Makgadikgadi Pans is home to the second largest zebra migration in the world, where over 25,000 zebras migrate to the Boteti River in the dry winter months from their summer grazing ground along the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans. Excellent for vehicle safaris and bird watching
• Central Kalahari – Nothing quite prepares you for the size of this reserve, nor its wild and mysterious beauty. Established as a sanctuary for the nomadic San Bushmen and now home to large herds of plains wildlife and accompanying predators. Excellent for walking and vehicle safaris

Experiences in Botswana;
• A mokoro safari is a definite ‘must do’ for all guests visiting the Okavango Delta – a dugout canoe poled along by your guide is a favourite method of exploring the waterways
• River Safari on the Chobe
• Traditional 4×4 game-viewing
• Walking safaris – the feeling of being on foot in Africa’s wilderness, exploring the flora and fauna, is a remarkable experience
• Horse Safaris
• Second largest zebra migration in the world takes place on the Makgadikgadi Pans
• Meet the King of the Desert; the huge Central Kalahari Game Reserve protects sparse populations of red hartebeest, wildebeest, oryx, ostrich, springbok, eland, hyena, and even wild dog. But the real star is the Kalahari lion
• The San people of the Kalahari are the oldest inhabitants of Southern Africa. They have eked out an existence in this vast, dry land for at least 20,000 years

• Luggage is restricted to 20 kg per person on Safari Air flights. This 20 kg includes both hand-luggage and travel luggage. Bags should be soft-sided, flexible bags. Bags with a solid frame, wheel frame and rigid pull-out handles do not constitute ‘soft bags’. Bags MUST be completely flexible to facilitate the packing within the ‘belly pod’ luggage compartment of the light inter-camp transfer aircraft. By not adhering to these luggage requirements, travellers may cause delays and incur additional costs to themselves. Please contact us should you have any questions
• Best time to go: June to August (Okavango, Moremi, Chobe)
• High Season: July to October (Will not feel too crowded, except for Chobe)
• Low Season: December to April (Some lodges and camps close)
• Best Weather: April and May (Moderate temperatures, little to no rainfall)
• Travel Insurance; whilst most packages include Medical Evacuation it is of paramount importance to ensure that you have adequate medical & travel insurance

What to Expect:

• The time difference is G.M.T plus 2 hours
• Flight time 13.5 hours via Johannesburg to Maun
• Health – Visitors need no special precautions for their stay, except anti-malarial treatments. It is highly recommended that you discuss your travel plans with your local GP
• Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted as payment methods

What to Bring;

• Valid passports with no less than six months validity and two blank pages
• Visas are not required for holders of UK passports. If travelling from anywhere other than the UK, please drop us an email
• Families travelling to Botswana and/or transiting through South Africa with children under the age of 18 or not with both parents are required to produce documentation on arrival. Please discuss with us.
• Electricity is supplied at 220/240v. Both square and round wall plugs are used Adaptors for your electrical devises i.e. mobiles and cameras are necessary
• T-shirts and shorts / Blouses with long sleeves (even in summer, they will protect you from the sun and from mosquitoes)
• Safari trousers or jeans for evenings, cooler days and walking at the water properties
• Fleece or sweater and a warm jacket for game drives (necessary, even in summer)
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sun block, lip balm, sunglasses, hat and insect repellent
• Binoculars / Camera (extra memory card & battery for avid photographers)
• Light, compact raincoat is a good idea for the summer
• Swimsuit
• In the winter months (May-August) bring beanie, gloves, scarf, warm jacket for the morning and evenings as it can get very cold
• Layers of clothing are most practical for the fluctuating day/night temperatures of Botswana. Dull and/or neutral colours are more suitable for safari; white is not practical. It is best to pack hardy, durable clothing
• All camps provide mosquito repellent creams