13 Day Botswana Tented & Lodge Safari

Day 1: Johannesburg, South Africa

Upon arrival, you will be met and will be transferred to the Safari Club. The rest of the day is free for your enjoyment. Pre-departure takes place at 18h00, where you will meet your guide and the rest of your group.

Accommodation: Safari Club or similar
Facilities: Chalets with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool & bar
Meals are for your own account.

Day 2: Johannesburg – Marakele National Park, South Africa

We depart in the early morning from Johannesburg’s Safari Club on a journey that leads us through Pretoria, Thabazimbi and through the province of Limpopo to Marakele National Park where we will be surrounded by the Waterberg Mountains. Here you will have a chance to spot big game such as elephants, rhino and the big cats. The largest colony of the endangered Cape Vulture also reside here.

We will set off for a sunset game drive on the second day before settling back at camp for a meal cooked around an open fire and prepare to spend our first night in the wild.

Accommodation: Tlopi Tented Camp or similar
Facilities: Permanent tents with en-suite bathrooms
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Distance travelled: 290km

Day 3: Marakele National Park – Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Botswana

Today we make our way to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, a community-run wildlife project founded in 1992 to aid in protecting the endangered white rhino. It also aims to restore a region previously filled to the brim with wildlife to its former glory, as well as to provide economic benefits to the local community of Botswana through means of tourism and the sustainable use of natural resources. We make our way through the sanctuary during a game drive in the afternoon where we will seek out the illusive white rhino.

Accommodation: Serowe Hotel or similar
Facilities: Rooms with en-suites, swimming pool, bar and restaurant
Meals Included: Breakfast prepared by the guide
Lunch and Dinner at your own expense
Distance travelled: 380km

Day 4:  Khama Rhino Sanctuary – Planet Baobab, Botswana

Today we make our way to the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park in Botswana. Our experienced guide will lead us through the baobab groves explaining the local ecology, geology and the biology of these trees.

Accommodation: Planet Baobab or similar
Facilities: Bakalanga or Baobab huts with en-suites
Meals Included: Breakfast at Serowe Hotel
Lunch prepared by the guide
Dinner at Planet Baobab or similar

Day 5: Planet Baobab to Maun, Botswana

We travel to Maun today heading through the Nxai Pan on a game viewing excursion. The Nxai Pan is a fossil lake which is an extension of the Makgadikgadi Pans. The lake is covered with grasses and dotted with acacia trees which attracts various herbivores, which in return attracts carnivores. Our journey continues to Maun which is a San word and means ‘the place of short reeds’.

Accommodation: Thamalakane River Lodge or Babbler Chalet with en-suites, swimming pool, bar and restaurant
Meals Included: Breakfast at Planet Baobab or similar
Lunch: Prepared by the guide
Dinner: Own expense
Distance travelled: 215km

Day 6: Maun – Khwai River, Botswana

Following breakfast we are collected by our Botswana guides and embark on a brief drive to the mokoro station. From here we glide on mokoros (traditional dug-out canoes) through the dense plant life of the Okavango, spotting a massive range of birds and animals. Unlike other deltas, the Okavango runs into the Kalahari Desert and never reaches the coast. Following this incredible outing, we head to our camp which is located nearby to the renowned Khwai River. Once we’ve settled into camp, we have dinner and head off on a night game drive which provides us with an amazing opportunity to see some nocturnal animals. There is something special about night drives where the world is asleep, but the animals come to life as they hunt and forage in the darkness, comfortable in their environment.

Accommodation: Khwai Bedouin Bush Camp or similar
Facilities: Permanent tents with en-suites, dining and bar area, soalr powered (no electricity), bucket showers, soft pillows and duvets
Meals Included: Breakfast at the Lodge, Lunch, Dinner at Khwai Bedouin camp or similar
Distance travelled: 150km

Day 7: Kwhai River, Botswana

We spend today journeying through the Khwai region in our open 4×4 truck. We embark on both morning and afternoon game drives in the hopes of seeing a range of wildlife that dwell this area. Please keep in mind that the amount of game is seasonal so you will see different species in different areas. The best time of the year to go is in the dry season (August to November). You can expect longer hours of driving because your guide will need to find the water resources where the animals migrate to. The Summer season brings a great variety of birdlife and you can look out for sightings of wildfowl and raptors.

Accommodation: Khwai Bedouin Bush Camp or similar
Facilities: Permanent tents with en-suites
Meals Included: Breakfast at camp, Lunch pack, Dinner at camp
Distance travelled: 150km

Day 8: Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

Once we’ve explored the Khwai region we make our way into the renowned Moremi Game Reserve, revered as one of the most splendid and diverse reserves in all of Africa, with an extraordinary concentration of animals. The day is spent in the untouched nature of the Moremi Game Reserve which houses a massive range of plant and wildlife, making it a definite ‘must see’ in Botswana. It is comprised of around 20% of the Delta and a massive variety of habitats which include acacia forests, floodplains, reed beds, lagoons and dry savannah woodlands.

Accommodation: Khwai Bedouin Camp or similar
Facilities: Permanent tents with en-suites
Meals Included: Breakfast at camp, Lunch pack, Dinner at camp
Distance travelled: 120km

Days 9: Khwai River – Chobe National Park, Botswana

Leaving the Khwai River area early in the morning we pass through the National Parks of Moremi, Savuti and Chobe to Kasane on a game drive. We take shelter on the banks of the Chobe river in a lodge which is close to the mighty Zambezi River in Kazungula.

Accommodation: Chobe Safari Lodge or similar
Faciltities: Rooms with en-suites, swimming pool, bar and restaurant
Meals Included: Breakfast at camp, Lunch pack, Dinner at lodge
Distance travelled: 165km

Day 10: Chobe National Park, Botswana

Setting off early we make tracks into the Chobe National Park which has the largest concentration of elephants in Africa. A relaxing boat cruise will have you gliding down the river in the afternoon where you can spot hippos, crocodiles, elephants and many bird species. In the evening we will experience a breathtaking sunset that will bring the day to an end.

Accommodation: Chobe Safari Lodge or similar
Facilities: Rooms with en-suites, swimming pool, bar and restaurant
Meals included: Breakfast at lodge, Lunch at your own expense, Dinner at lodge
Distance travelled: 100km

Days 11 – 12: Chobe National Park – Victoria Falls, Botswana

We depart from Botswana today, and following a brief drive we make our way into Zimbabwe, home to one of the seven natural world wonders, the magnificent Victoria Falls. We observe the Falls on a guided tour through the Victoria Falls National Park. The remainder of the day and the next day are free to spend participating in one of the various exciting adventure activities available here, such as white water rafting and bungee jumping.

Accommodation: A’Zambezi River Lodge or similar
Facilities: Rooms with en-suites, swimming pool, bar and restaurant
Meals included: Day 11: Breakfast at lodge, Lunch, Dinner at your own expense; Day 12: Breakfast at lodge, Lunch at your own expense, Dinner at the boma

Day 13: End of Tour

Our incredible adventure comes to an end after breakfast. Airport transfers will be available on this day.

Meals Included: Breakfast at lodge

Please note that the daily departure times are a guideline only and are subject to change due to seasonal variations, as well as unforeseen circumstances. The final decision rests with your guide who will advise you at what time you will be departing each day.

Onward Travel Plans

Due to on the road variable beyond our control (such as border crossings, traffic, delays, etc) on the tours. The end time on the last day can’t be guaranteed and therefore we strongly recommend you stay the night and fly out the next day. Please consult with your booking consultant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Transport

You will be transferred from Gauteng to Maun in a closed vehicle. The rest of your journey will be in a fully equipped open sided Land Cruiser or another appropriate vehicle that is suited for good safari viewing. The off-road trailer is fitted with a field kitchen.

Travelling Times and Distances

Please be aware that travelling times will vary due to road conditions, border crossings, detours and weather conditions. African roads are quite different to your home country and it can take more time to travel just 100km. We encourage you to sit back and take in the beautiful scenery that surrounds you.

Accommodation

The accommodation is middle of the range African standard lodges. Some of these are in National Parks, on the banks of the river, or other places of interest. You will stay in a mix of lodges, chalets and tented camps. You can enjoy en-suites and the facilities in the accommodation such as the pool and bar areas.

Meals

Most breakfasts and dinners are included on the tour and can be enjoyed in the restaurants. On some nights the guide will prepare traditional African food. Please advise us beforehand regarding special dietary requirements.