Botswana
African Safaris - Botswana
Safaris in Africa are magical. Ask any one that has been on safari and they will smile and tell you spectacular stories. So, how do you know what destination to go to? What camps to stay in? The kind of lodging to choose? That’s the beauty of working with Travel Masters! You don’t have to know those things. We will help you determine the best experience for you. But, be assured, your first safari in Africa will not be your last! You will find opportunities to visit more countries and have more encounters with the people and the animals that make Africa so magical.
Botswana is so unique with a staggering diversity in terrain and an abundance of wildlife. The Okavango River feeds the largest inland delta on the planet, bringing ife to the arid sands of the Kalahari Desert. So, you will get both extremes – from arid desert to flowing rivers and all the glory that each has to offer. All of this water attracts a huge variety of game; impala, kudu, zebra, giraffe, massive herds of elephants, and cats like lion and leopard! Conservation has been a priority in the management of tourism so the only crowds you will see in Botswana are the crowds of animals!
12-DAY ITINERARY – Natural Habitat Secluded Botswana Safari
This is one of our favorite itineraries but it can also be customized! Group size is limited to 7 so everyone has a window seat! The lodging can vary from this itinerary but the camps are secluded on private reserves so you have less crowds and more animal encounters.
Day 1:
Livingstone, Zambia—Zambezi River Our Botswana trip begins just over the border in Livingstone, Zambia, where you're met on arrival and transferred to Toka Leya to spend the night. This luxury camp sits in a prime location overlooking the mighty Zambezi River upriver from Victoria Falls, surrounded by Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park’s name means “The Smoke that Thunders,” and it’s an apt moniker, as we see mist clouds rising off the falls from miles away. We’ll enjoy a classic sunset cruise before joining our Expedition Leader for a welcome dinner.
Day 2:
Victoria Falls / Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park—Rhino Tracking / Village Visit Our day begins with a visit to Victoria Falls, the world’s most astounding cararact, on a guided walking tour. The profuse spray has created a rain forest on the gorge rim, and a network of walkways offers varying viewpoints over falls that span more than a mile. Then, it’s off to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park where a wildlife drive offers our first sampler of the species diversity we may see during our safari. Our park adventure also includes our best chance to see a white rhinoceros. Accompanied by a local guide and park rangers tasked with guarding the park's rhinos around the clock, we trek on foot, learning how to read signs of the rhinos' presence and track their movements. With no predators in the park, we can also walk safely in search of zebra, giraffe, warthog, various antelope species, and other smaller mammals and birds. Elephants regularly cross the river, too, and we frequently see them wandering throughout the park. Later this afternoon we’ll visit a nearby village to learn about the traditions and daily life of the local people.
Days 3–5:
Chobe National Park, Botswana / Linyanti Private Reserve Traveling by road and ferry, we cross the Chobe River into Botswana’s Chobe National Park, famed for its vast elephant herds—a population that exceeds 70,000. On a private boat cruise down the river and its myriad channels, we sometimes see several hundred elephants in a single day. Waterbirds abound, including herons and storks, and hippos and crocodiles are on view along the muddy banks. Keep an eye out for egrets perched on the backs of elephants cooling off in the water.
This afternoon, we fly to Linyanti private reserve, some of Africa's most dramatic big-game country. Its tree-dotted plains are home to lion, leopard, spotted hyena and African wild dog, as well as enormous elephant herds. We'll expect to encounter wildlife in amazing proximity along the Linyanti River and surrounding environs. Spend time in a newly built hide that faces the Linyanti Channel, elevating us close to elephants, hippos and numerous birds. In the evenings, relax at our secluded camp, where well-appointed walk-in tents evoke an earlier romantic era of safari travel. Through the thorny acacia branches we see more stars than we ever dreamed of, scattered across an impossibly black sky.
This afternoon, we fly to Linyanti private reserve, some of Africa's most dramatic big-game country. Its tree-dotted plains are home to lion, leopard, spotted hyena and African wild dog, as well as enormous elephant herds. We'll expect to encounter wildlife in amazing proximity along the Linyanti River and surrounding environs. Spend time in a newly built hide that faces the Linyanti Channel, elevating us close to elephants, hippos and numerous birds. In the evenings, relax at our secluded camp, where well-appointed walk-in tents evoke an earlier romantic era of safari travel. Through the thorny acacia branches we see more stars than we ever dreamed of, scattered across an impossibly black sky.
Days 6–8:
Linyanti / Okavango Delta—Exploring the Flooded Marsh
After a final wildlife drive in the Linyanti wilderness, leave dry land behind as we transfer by light aircraft to the Okavango Delta. Earth’s largest inland water system, the delta’s headwaters lie in the western highlands of Angola and join with other rivers in Namibia and Botswana to meet the Kalahari Desert, where a green oasis sprawls amid the sands and dry savanna. With its vast network of waterways and wetlands, the Okavango is home to a profuse collection of wildlife and vegetation.
Jacana Camp is located in the delta’s watery heart, a maze of canals and lagoons that sustains a profusion of wildlife. We explore the constantly shifting marsh by mokoro, a traditional poled dugout canoe, offering a chance to observe wildlife at eye level in complete quiet. These wetlands and islands are home to many rare birds, and we may see wattled cranes, Pel’s fishing
owls, jacanas, rails, crakes and moorhens. Following the reed-fringed channels, we may also spy water-adapted antelope such as red lechwe browsing in the grasses. Depending on water levels and wildlife movements, we'll also hope to do a guided walk during our time at Jacana Camp, for an intimate perspective on the small wonders that also surround us.
After a final wildlife drive in the Linyanti wilderness, leave dry land behind as we transfer by light aircraft to the Okavango Delta. Earth’s largest inland water system, the delta’s headwaters lie in the western highlands of Angola and join with other rivers in Namibia and Botswana to meet the Kalahari Desert, where a green oasis sprawls amid the sands and dry savanna. With its vast network of waterways and wetlands, the Okavango is home to a profuse collection of wildlife and vegetation.
Jacana Camp is located in the delta’s watery heart, a maze of canals and lagoons that sustains a profusion of wildlife. We explore the constantly shifting marsh by mokoro, a traditional poled dugout canoe, offering a chance to observe wildlife at eye level in complete quiet. These wetlands and islands are home to many rare birds, and we may see wattled cranes, Pel’s fishing
owls, jacanas, rails, crakes and moorhens. Following the reed-fringed channels, we may also spy water-adapted antelope such as red lechwe browsing in the grasses. Depending on water levels and wildlife movements, we'll also hope to do a guided walk during our time at Jacana Camp, for an intimate perspective on the small wonders that also surround us.
Days 9–11:
Southeast Okavango—Santawani Private Concession This morning we fly by light aircraft to Gomoti Tented Camp in the heart of the Santawani Concession, a private reserve encompassing nearly 15,000 acres in the southeast corner of the Okavango Delta. While some areas of the delta are permanently flooded, other habitats create a mosaic of varied landscapes, including drier regions like the area that surrounds our camp. A mix of dense riverine woodland, open savanna and acacia scrub provide ample food for a large array of browsers and grazing species, as well as predators including cheetah, leopard, lion and rare wild dog. The Gomoti River is a year-round lifeline for animals, while inland waterholes also sustain them during the dry season. The diverse range of habitats makes the Gomoti region ideal for all-day excursions, including traditional 4x4 wildlife drives, picnic lunches and night drives in search of nocturnal species.
Day 12:
Maun / Depart Our Botswana safari comes to a close when we depart by air for Maun, where we connect with homeward flights or continue with trip extensions.
Prices, package inclusions and availability can change at any time. Please call our office for more details and current pricing.
Prices, package inclusions and availability can change at any time. Please call our office for more details and current pricing.
GOMOTI TENTED CAMP - BOTSWANA AFRICA
The camp has five walk-in, canvas tents which have all been designed in the style of the early explorers. Each is equipped with director chairs, bedside tables with reading lamps, canvas wardrobes, bathrobes, a comfortable bed and en suite bathroom. The main area is thatched, and lit by paraffin lanterns and a large camp fire, while the dining area is set under the starry African sky, providing a sense of wild camping.
Situated within a private reserve encompassing 15,000 acres, Gomoti Tented Camp boasts its remote setting and dense populations of wildlife. Enjoy a range of day and night safaris and bush walks in search of the Okavango’s iconic fauna, including wild dog, lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant and giraffe.
JACANA TENTED CAMP - BOTSWANA, AFRICA
Located on a beautiful island in the Jao Concession on the Moremi Game Reserve, Jacana is a typical Delta camp. Surrounded by seasonally-inundated floodplains and papyrus swamps, Jacana has five en-suite Meru-style tents, including a family tent, built on raised wooden decks to facilitate its panoramic views of the Okavango Delta. The main dining area is on an elevated platform nestled between two magnificent sycamore fig trees, surrounded by dense wild date palms, with a large viewing deck and open area to sit around the fire.
Jacana is dedicated to, and involved with, projects that support community upliftment – including hosting Children in the Wilderness camps since 2012, and partnering with the Tubu Joint Management Committee and the Pack for a Purpose initiative.
LINYANTI BUSH CAMP - BOTSWANA, AFRICA
Linyanti Tented Camp, booked solely for families and small groups, is the ideal location for those wishing to experience the wildlife-rich Linyanti Concession in privacy. Unrivalled in its remoteness and sense of space, the camp overlooks the iconic marsh and floodplain with its four large, airy and en-suite tents designed to recreate the style of the early explorers. Built on a slightly raised deck with impressive views, the main area of camp is the perfect place from which to watch the passing parade of wildlife and for convivial relaxation. Evenings are spent around the crackling fire under the stars or in the traditional boma.
Linyanti Tented Camp works closely with local government bodies to ensure the conservation of wildlife in the area through dedicated research focused on IUCN Red List species such as the African wild dog, elephant, lion and roan antelope.
