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Botswana Travel Guide

Botswana Travel Guide

Planning a trip to Botswana? Botswana is one of the best countries in Africa for a wildlife safari. Here you will find the Okavango Delta, the largest elephant herds in Africa at Chobe, big cats in Moremi and the wide salt pans of the Makgadikgadi. We are a local Southern Africa team, and we plan each Botswana safari around you. You can fly between camps, join a mobile camping safari, or add Botswana to a Namibia or Victoria Falls trip.

Best: June to Oct Okavango Delta Great for fly-in safaris Low-volume tourism

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Botswana Travel guide

About Botswana

Botswana is a country in southern Africa, between Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Most of the country is the Kalahari, and the north has the Okavango Delta, the Chobe River and the Linyanti wetlands. Botswana keeps visitor numbers low and has many private concessions, so you share sightings with few other vehicles. The country is safe, calm and easy to travel in with a guide.

Most people stay for 7 to 12 days. A normal Botswana safari puts together the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve and the Chobe River, often with 2 nights at Victoria Falls. Many guests fly between camps in light aircraft. Others drive from Namibia through the Zambezi Region into Chobe.

Botswana travel essentials
Capital
Gaborone
Main language
English and Setswana
Money
Botswana Pula (BWP). US dollars are taken at most safari camps.
Best time to visit
June to October (the dry season, best for animals)
Visa
Many visitors, including from the UK, EU and USA, need no visa for up to 90 days. Others apply for an e-Visa.
Main airports
Maun (MUB) and Kasane (BBK) for safaris, Gaborone (GBE)
How long to stay
7 to 12 days
Malaria
The north, including the Okavango Delta and Chobe, has malaria. Ask your doctor about tablets.
Sample Botswana itineraries

Featured Botswana trips & itineraries

These are starting ideas, not fixed deals. We plan every trip around you. Prices are a guide, for each person sharing a room.

13 Days / 12 Nights Code: SA-BSA13

13-Day Southern Africa Safari: Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe

Windhoek • Okonjima • Etosha • Rundu • Divundu • Okavango Delta • Kwando • Chobe • Victoria Falls
From Per Person
9,440 USD
Details
16 Days / 15 Nights Code: SA-NVF16

16-Day Namibia to Victoria Falls Tour

Windhoek • Sossusvlei • Swakopmund • Erongo • Damaraland • Etosha • Kavango • Zambezi • Chobe • Victoria Falls
From Per Person
9,990 USD
Details
9 Days / 8 Nights Code: BW-BVF9

9-Day Botswana and Victoria Falls Safari

Victoria Falls • Chobe • Okavango Delta • Makgadikgadi • Maun
From Per Person
13,970 USD
Details
11 Days / 10 Nights Code: BW-BVF11

11-Day Botswana Safari with Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls • Chobe • Okavango Delta • Moremi • Makgadikgadi • Maun
From Per Person
11,440 USD
Details
Botswana Trip Highlights

Five reasons to visit Botswana

01
Mokoro canoe on a channel in the Okavango Delta
Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is one of the largest inland deltas in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each winter, floodwater from Angola spreads across the Kalahari and fills the channels. You glide between islands in a mokoro canoe and see elephants, hippos and red lechwe from the water.

MokoroUNESCOWater safari
02
Elephants drinking at the Chobe River
Chobe National Park

The largest elephant herds in Africa

Botswana has the largest elephant population in Africa, and the Chobe River is the best place to see them. In the dry season, large herds come down to drink and swim. A boat cruise on the river brings you close to elephants, hippos, crocodiles and many birds.

ElephantsBoat cruiseKasane
03
Leopard in a tree in Moremi Game Reserve
Moremi Game Reserve

Big cats and wild dogs

Moremi Game Reserve covers the east side of the Okavango Delta. It has lions, leopards and cheetahs, and it is one of the best places in Africa to see the African wild dog. Game drives here mix dry land and water channels in one day.

Wild dogsBig catsGame drives
04
Meerkats on the Makgadikgadi Pans
Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan

Salt pans and the zebra migration

The Makgadikgadi Pans are one of the largest salt pan systems in the world. In the green season, thousands of zebras cross the area in search of fresh grass. You can also sit close to a family of habituated meerkats.

Zebra migrationMeerkatsSalt pans
05
Black-maned lion in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The open Kalahari

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is one of the largest game reserves in the world. After the rains, oryx, springbok and black-maned lions gather on the old river valleys. You can also walk with San guides and learn how they find food and water in the desert.

KalahariSan cultureRemote
130,000+
Elephants, the most in Africa
2
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
52,800 km²
Central Kalahari Game Reserve
1,000th
UNESCO site: the Okavango Delta
Botswana Experiences

Top things to do in Botswana

From mokoro trips in the Delta to river cruises at Chobe, these are the things that make a Botswana safari special.

Mokoro trips in the Delta

Glide through the Okavango channels in a dugout canoe with a local poler.

Game drives in Moremi

Look for lions, leopards, wild dogs and buffalo on open safari vehicles.

Chobe River boat cruise

Watch elephants swim and drink from a boat on the Chobe River at sunset.

Scenic flights over the Delta

See the channels, islands and herds of the Okavango Delta from a light aircraft or helicopter.

Walking safaris

Track animals on foot with an armed guide in private concessions.

Meerkats and salt pans

Sit with habituated meerkats and watch the sunset over the Makgadikgadi Pans.

Botswana Highlights

Top things to see in Botswana

The wildlife and wild places that make Botswana one of the best safari countries in Africa.

Okavango Delta from the air

Okavango Delta

A huge wetland in the desert, full of islands, channels and wildlife.

Elephants at the Chobe River

Chobe elephants

Large herds of elephants at the Chobe River in the dry season.

African wild dogs in Moremi

African wild dogs

One of the rarest predators in Africa, often seen in Moremi and Linyanti.

Zebra migration in the Makgadikgadi

Zebra migration

Thousands of zebras on the move across the Makgadikgadi in the green season.

Lions at Savuti

Savuti

A dry area of Chobe known for lions, hyenas and big elephant bulls.

Rock paintings at Tsodilo Hills

Tsodilo Hills

A UNESCO site with more than 4,000 rock paintings in the far north-west.

Where to go in Botswana

Destinations in Botswana

These are the main areas and parks we plan trips around. Put a few together to see the best of the country.

Okavango Delta

Okavango Delta

The heart of a Botswana safari. Best explored by mokoro, boat and light aircraft.

Moremi Game Reserve

Moremi Game Reserve

The protected east side of the Delta, with big cats and wild dogs.

Chobe Riverfront

Chobe Riverfront

Close to Kasane and Victoria Falls. Famous for elephants and river cruises.

Savuti in Chobe National Park

Savuti

Open plains in the middle of Chobe National Park, known for predators.

Linyanti wetlands

Linyanti and Kwando

Private concessions on the Namibia border with few vehicles and good game.

Makgadikgadi Pans

Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan

Salt pans, baobab trees, meerkats and the green season zebra migration.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Central Kalahari

Wide open desert, black-maned lions and San culture.

Maun, gateway to the Okavango Delta

Maun

The gateway town to the Delta, where most fly-in safaris begin and end.

When to go

Best time to visit Botswana

You can visit Botswana at any time of year. The best time for game viewing is the dry season from June to October. The Okavango flood is high, the bush is thin and animals gather at the rivers. The green season from November to April is quieter, with lower prices, newborn animals, many birds and the zebra migration in the Makgadikgadi.

JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Best: dry, high flood, great for animals Good: in-between time of year Quiet: green season, fewer people, lower prices

These months are a guide only. Please check the weather when you book.

Ways to travel

Botswana holiday types

No matter how you like to travel, we can plan it. Here are some popular kinds of Botswana holiday and trip:

Botswana Fly-In Safaris

Botswana Fly-In Safaris

Fly between camps in light aircraft. You skip long drives and spend more time on game drives.

Botswana Luxury Safaris

Botswana Luxury Safaris

Stay in private concession camps with all meals, drinks and guided activities included.

Botswana Mobile Camping Safaris

Botswana Mobile Camping Safaris

Sleep in tents inside the parks with a guide and camp crew. A good way to see Botswana for less.

Botswana Self-Drive Safaris

Botswana Self-Drive Safaris

Drive a fully equipped 4x4 through Chobe and Moremi. We plan the route and book the campsites.

Botswana and Victoria Falls Honeymoons

Botswana and Victoria Falls Honeymoons

Combine a quiet Delta camp with a few nights at Victoria Falls.

Botswana Family Safaris

Botswana Family Safaris

Family-friendly camps and private vehicles. Some camps have age limits, so we choose the right ones for you.

Peace of mind

Why travellers trust us

Real local people

Named, qualified Namibian guides; not an anonymous call centre.

24/7 on-trip support

A real person on call throughout your journey, in your time zone.

No hidden costs

Every quote is itemised; the price we agree is the price you pay.

Secure & protected

Clear written terms and a transparent deposit and cancellation policy.

Simple & personal

How it works

What happens after you get in touch.

Step 1

Tell us your plans

Share your dates, interests and budget by form, phone or WhatsApp. There’s no cost and no obligation.

Step 2

We design your trip

Your travel designer builds a tailor-made route with hand-picked lodges and a clear, fully itemised quote, refined until it’s right.

Step 3

Travel with confidence

Book with written terms and 24/7 support, then explore with your dedicated Namibian guide while we handle the details.

Good to know

Botswana travel FAQs

Yes. Botswana is one of the most stable and peaceful countries in Africa. Crime is low in safari areas, and your guide and camp staff look after you the whole time.

Many visitors, including citizens of the UK, the EU, the USA, Canada and South Africa, can visit Botswana without a visa for up to 90 days. Other visitors apply for an e-Visa before they travel. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months. Rules change, so always check what you need for your own country before you book.

Plan for 7 to 12 days. This gives you 2 or 3 nights each in the Okavango Delta, Moremi or a private concession, and the Chobe River. Add 2 nights if you want to visit Victoria Falls.

June to October is the best time for game viewing. The Okavango flood is at its highest from about June to August. November to April is the green season, with lower prices, many birds and the zebra migration in the Makgadikgadi.

Botswana keeps visitor numbers low, so camps cost more than in many other countries. A mobile camping safari costs much less than a fly-in trip to private camps. Tell us your dates and budget, and we will send you a price made for your trip.

No. The north of Botswana, including the Okavango Delta, Moremi and Chobe, has malaria, mostly from November to April. Speak to your doctor about tablets before you travel.

Flying between camps saves time and gives you views of the Delta from the air. Driving costs less and works well for Chobe and the route from Namibia. We can plan either one, or a mix of both.

Yes. Botswana goes well with Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe or Zambia and with Namibia. Kasane in Botswana is about 80 km by road from Victoria Falls.

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