Botswana Safari

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4.8/5

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Botswana: Diverse, Authentic, Mesmerizing

Botswana, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, is known as the world’s largest producer of diamonds by value. So it only makes sense that a Botswana safari is just as precious as these little shiny stones. With several ecosystems in one place, the largest elephant population on earth and ancient cultures kept alive, the country truly knows how to excite. Find out what makes Botswana so special and why a safari here will be different from what you might think.

Quick facts about Botswana

Population: 2.7 million
Languages: English and Tswana
Capital: Gaborone
Currency: Pula
National Parks: 9 parks and 20+ game reserves and conservation areas
National Animal: Zebra

Authenticity at heart

From landscapes to cultures, from wildlife encounters to thrilling adventures: everything you see and do in Botswana feels authentic. This is the result of Botswana’s efforts to keep things the way they are. As a leader in sustainable safaris and tourism, numerous programs aim at preserving its natural gems and wildlife populations, leading to the fact that rare species can thrive here.

This also stretches to traditions going back centuries. To this day, the San uphold a cherished connection to the landscape through ancient tracking and survival skills… and welcome travelers to their world. In areas like Khwai, local communities manage the land, ensuring conservation stays tied to ancestral roots.

Get inspired

Explore Botswana’s hidden and less hidden secrets at your own pace. Get inspiried by these itineraries and mix and match to create your very own Botswana safari.

The Beauty of Botswana

“Kalahari, Kalahari roep my nou” – with these lyrics the South African singer-songwriter Appel expresses the longing for a place that holds a special spot in one’s heart. In this case, the endlessness and beauty of the famous Kalahari Desert. Once you’ve heard the sound of silence for yourself and have seen the red dunes and starry skies, you’ll know what he means.

But it’s not just the Kalahari that creates a magnetic attraction. With an unparalleled diversity of landscapes, the fenceless Khwai Community Concession or Moremi Game Reserve will captivate you as well. Just like the following places-to-see.

The Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is world-famous for a reason. With up to 15,000 km², it defies the dry season and turns into a lush, green paradise instead. The countless waterways create a welcome water source for 160 mammals and 530 bird species.

Makgadikgadi Pans

The Makgadikgadi Pans are salt pans that not only wow with their size (16,000 km²) but also with their silence. They even play tricks on your mind, blurring distances and making you believe to see the curvature of the earth.

Chobe National Park

Yes, Chobe catches its visitors with its 120,000 elephants. But it has so much more to offer. Four ecosystems, a blue river, 450 bird species and the stars of African wildlife are home here. During boat and walking safaris you can see them in their most natural state.

Stunning National Parks

From red dunes to emerald floodplains and blue rivers: Botswana’s national parks boast landscapes so beautiful, only nature can paint them.

View all parks See for yourself

Botswana’s Wildlife Wonders

Elephant Capital

Home to more than 120,000 elephants, Chobe truly lives up to this name. The gigantic herds of these gentle giants love to roam the plains, take a bath in the blue river or meet for a drink at sunset. Feel the goosebumps creeping up (and some tears of joy) when seeing all of this for yourself during a boat safari.

Water Wilderness

The Okavango Delta, the world’s largest inland delta, is a sanctuary for rare species like the sitatunga and the elusive Pel’s fishing owl. However, you can also find the VIPs of African wildlife here: the infamous Big Five, hippos, giraffes, zebras, various antelope species… you name them.

Winged Beauties

More than 600 bird species can be spotted in Botswana. From small and colorful like the lilac-breasted roller to big and beautiful-ish like the Marabou stork and the Kori bustard, the largest flying bird in Africa. Make sure to keep your eyes open and to bring a camera with a good zoom.

Meerkat family in Kgalagadi National Park, South Africa

Predator Paradise

Moremi Game Reserve lies within the delta and is famous for its high density of predators. It’s one of the best places in Africa to see the endangered African wild dog, plus plenty of lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Roaring fun guaranteed.

Desert Life

In the arid landscape, unique species like the black-maned lion or brown hyena have found their forever home. While animals like the gemsbok have evolved to thrive in the dusty dunes of Botswana, meerkats simply have a ball, playing and digging like there’s no tomorrow.

Zebra Migration

Often called Africa’s Secret Migration, it’s the longest land mammal migration on the continent. Around 30,000 zebras march roughly 500 kilometers between the Moremi Game Reserve and the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park as well as between the Chobe National Park and the yummy lands of the Nxai Pan National Park.

Our best lodges and hotels

No matter if luxurious lodge at the riverfront, a comfortable tent immersed in nature or something in between: find your dream accommodation and we’ll add it to your journey.

Why a safari with Africa Safari Trips?

After reading all this, you might say, “Well that’s all great, but why should we travel with you guys?” This is why!

🦁 We’re 100% specialized in Africa safaris.

🐘 We turn your wishes into your dream holiday, private safari jeep included.

🐃 Our safari guides are world-class.

🐆 The best experience meets the best price.

🦏 We’ve already fulfilled thousands of dreams – now we want to fulfill yours.

We would understand, though, if you still have some questions. Have a look at our FAQ and if you cannot find the answers, feel free to get in touch.

: It mainly depends on what you want to see. The country sees two distinct seasons and each holds its own wonders.

The dry season runs from May to October, with October being the hottest month of the year. Hence, it’s peak safari time. With water sources becoming scarce, many animals gather where water remains, for example at the Chobe River and the Khwai River. Due to the thin vegetation you can spot animals pretty easily and predators are never far away.

When the rest of the country dries out, the Okavango Delta flourishes thanks to floodwaters arriving from Angola. Enjoy abundant wildlife frolicking in the emerald green paradise and marvel at them during a mokoro excursion on the water.

The wet season from November to April paints a different picture: the rains turn the landscape green with spectacular skies. Animals are born, and migratory birds return to Botswana, turning the country into heaven for (hobby) ornithologists and photographers.

At this time, the Zebra Migration moves through Chobe. While the bush is thicker, the animals are a little harder to spot. But this also means fewer visitors and more Botswana for you.

The shoulder months April and November are a mix of both. You either experience the last rains or the end of the dry spell. In other words: fewer crowds, comfortable weather and a lot of wildlife at water sources.
: A safari in Botswana is truly unique: it’s more remote, more immersive and holds both small and big adventures. With floodplains, deserts, and everything in between, it’s home to an unparalleled ecosystem. And the rich wildlife knows exactly how to thrive in it. While enormous elephant herds, predators and all the stars of a typical safari roam the north of the country (Big Five included), the dunes of the south are home to those who have adapted to the harsh conditions like the gemsbok, meerkats or hyenas.

In general, Botswana is all about authenticity. It’s renowned for low-impact experiences, protecting its pristine wilderness, and its traditional values with indigenous communities like the Kwhai or the San.
: The star of the country is undoubtedly the Okavango Delta. It’s one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site and transforms the desert into a lush paradise with lagoons, channels, and floodplains. It’s home to any animal you’d expect from a classic safari, 530 bird species included.

The Chobe National Park has the largest elephant population in the world and is a highlight not to miss. Not only can you see four different ecosystems here, but also plenty of wildlife. Marvel at them all during various kinds of safaris, no matter if in a boat, on foot or in a classic 4×4.

The Makgadikgadi Pans seem like a different world. The former super-lake has turned into an endless salt crust. However, it’s not one single pan but a network of salt flats and grasslands spread across roughly 12,000 square kilometers.

Speaking of a different world, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in the Kalahari Desert fits that description, too. With its waving dunes, spectacular sunrises and sunsets and a starry sky that looks like AI (actually better), it’s a paradise for anyone seeking the unusual. Wildlife might be scarcer, but nothing beats a gemsbok posing for your pictures in the red dust of the desert.
: If you’re looking for a safari that feels like two different planets on one map, Botswana is your spot. Up north, at the Okavango Delta and in Chobe, watch out for lazy or angry hippos (one never knows), thousands of elephants, and of course the Big Five. Other highlights are the African wild dog, the sitatunga, hundreds of different birds, and of course the who’s who of African wildlife.

In the south, around the Kalahari and the Makgadikgadi Pans, wildlife is just as unique as the landscapes themselves. They set the scene for the massive Zebra Migration, black-maned lion and the striking gemsbok. The actual stars are much smaller though: it’s the hyper-alert meerkats. Watch these little fellas hunt, play and dig. And dig. And dig some more.
: Yes, Botswana is a safe travel destination. In fact, it’s widely regarded as one of Africa’s safest countries, with a solid tourism infrastructure, low levels of corruption and a strong democratic tradition.

As in any country in the world, there are some areas to better avoid, especially in big cities like Gaborone, Maun or Francistown. Best talk to your guide or travel consultant if you plan to go to any of these areas. Apart from that, simply stick to the safety rules you’d follow anywhere else in the world, and you’ll have an unforgettable time in Botswana.
: As with anything else in Botswana, the focus is on authenticity. Look forward to warm hospitality, local cuisine and details deeply rooted in local culture and history.

No matter if you prefer to stay in comfortable tents surrounded by the sound of nature, a cozy home away from home or a luxurious lodge, each accommodation has all the amenities you need and more.

During your entire trip you’ll enjoy full board. From continental breakfasts with seasonal fruits and freshly baked breads to buffet-style lunches and multi-course dinners, after exciting days filled with adventurous and unforgettable moments, the lodges make sure you’ll enjoy the culinary side of Botswana as well.

Activities

Adventures are around every corner. From relaxed to thrilling, from goosebump-creating to adrenaline-inducing: with these activities you can collect moving memories.