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Botswana
Botswana
Botswana
Botswana
Botswana
Botswana
Botswana

The Okavango's waterways are often crystal clear; great for a tranquil mokoro trip.

The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans are the bed of an ancient lake

All of our fishing in the Okavango is done catch-and-release

Floating papyrus reed beds create a new experience for every boat trip

A leopard will exploit every possible advantage when hunting

Animals in Botswana's protected areas are generally relaxed around safari vehicles

The Gomoti River forms part of Moremi Game Reserve's southern boundary.

Botswana

Botswana safari

Home to the world’s greatest inland delta, Botswana protects one of the last great wildlife wildernesses on earth.

Botswana

It’s a wilderness that – along with the country’s permanent rivers – brings life and sanctuary to the countless animals and birds that thrive within its borders.

Fanning out across the Okavango Delta is a heady mix of private reserves, the broad reaches of the Linyanti River, the Moremi Game Reserve and the gorgeous Khwai River, along with the oft-overlooked Panhandle.

Those vast private reserves are the domain of top-class lodges, each offering an almost unparalleled level of exclusivity. With such exclusivity comes a smorgasbord of creature comforts, from hedonistic spas to five-star cuisine, and a whole range of land- and water-based safari activities.

At the heart of the Delta, the subtle beauty of Moremi incorporates floodplains, woodland and oft-shaded waterways, providing shelter for animals (the rhinos are back!) with attendant lodges and campsites for visitors.

More accessible for many is Chobe National Park, whose riverfront is a wildlife mecca. With a greater range of accommodation, it’s less exclusive than the Delta, but it’s also more affordable. Further south, in the park’s Savuti region where animals are dependent on seasonal flooding, every pan attracts its share of plains game – and attendant predators.

Drier still are the vast plains of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, whose sheer scale can be mesmerising. Here, where water is truly scarce, the handsome oryx ekes out a living, supported by a cast of meerkats, ground squirrels and the occasional black-maned lion.

Intrinsically linked to the land is the history of the San people, whose presence dates back thousands of years. Seek out their arrowheads on the Makgadikgadi Pans or marvel at their rock paintings in the Tsodilo Hills; each reinforces the bond between then and now.

Botswana: in depth report

Our top safaris in Botswana

Here are 28 great Botswana safaris to inspire you.


Map

Wild Dog Safari

13 days • 5 locations • 1 country
KASANE AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

An in-depth discovery of northern Botswana’s wilderness, from Chobe and the private Kwando Reserve to the Moremi and iconic Okavango Delta with a great variety of activities and wildlife.

Visiting Chobe, Moremi and 2 other areas

US$10,500 - US$18,330 per person

Read more about the Wild Dog Safari

Map

Porcupine Safari

11 days • 4 locations • 1 country
MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

Visit dramatically contrasting landscapes boasting a variety of species during this exploration of Botswana’s top-safari destinations. A combination of national parks and private reserves allows for a range of activities.

Visiting Chobe, Central Kalahari and 2 other areas

US$9,300 - US$14,450 per person

Read more about the Porcupine Safari

Map

Spring Hare Safari

9 days • 3 locations • 1 country
KASANE AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

An authentic and diverse safari to Botswana combining the Chobe Forest Reserve, Savuti Marshes and the Okavango Delta. Strong wildlife viewing, a variety of activities and excellent value camps.

Visiting Chobe, Okavango Delta

US$6,570 - US$11,430 per person

Read more about the Spring Hare Safari

Map

Large-spotted Genet Safari

9 days • 3 locations • 1 country
MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

A luxury safari exploring the Okavango Delta and Linyanti–Savuti, two of the best wildlife viewing areas in Botswana, staying at three top camps renowned for their guiding for a first-class experience.

Visiting Okavango Delta, Kwando-Linyanti

US$10,150 - US$20,540 per person

Read more about the Large-spotted Genet Safari

Map

Red Lechwe Safari

9 days • 3 locations • 1 country
MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

Superb guiding from three fabulous camps full of character in three contrasting areas for a fabulous safari to the Okavango Delta and Kalahari Desert.

Visiting Moremi, Okavango Delta and 1 other area

US$10,800 - US$25,210 per person

Read more about the Red Lechwe Safari

Map

Steenbok Safari

9 days • 3 locations • 1 country
MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

A classic Botswana safari exploring the Moremi, Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta. Excellent wildlife viewing and a variety of activities from three of our favourite traditional tented camps.

Visiting Chobe, Okavango Delta and 1 other area

US$6,720 - US$11,410 per person

Read more about the Steenbok Safari

Map

Pangolin Safari

8 days • 3 locations • 1 country
MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

Three relaxed, local feeling camps in pristine settings – the Kwando Reserve and Okavango Delta. Guided by a driver and tracker at each, this a great trip for spotting Botswana’s top predators.

Visiting Okavango Delta, Kwando-Linyanti

US$7,380 - US$13,710 per person

Read more about the Pangolin Safari

Map

Bushbuck Safari

8 days • 3 locations • 1 country
MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

Discover three of Botswana’s best game-viewing regions with stays in the private Linyanti, Chitabe and Vumbura reserves. Intimate, smart camps offer a range of activities by which to discover these stunningly varied habitats.

Visiting Okavango Delta, Kwando-Linyanti

US$12,250 - US$26,620 per person

Read more about the Bushbuck Safari

Map

Reedbuck Safari

8 days • 3 locations • 1 country
MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

Focussing on the Okavango Delta and combining the crème de la crème of Botswana’s camps – Zarafa, Vumbura Plains and Mombo – this is one of the finest safari experiences in Africa.

Visiting Moremi, Okavango Delta and 1 other area

US$16,840 - US$34,050 per person

Read more about the Reedbuck Safari

Map

Tsessebe Safari

7 days • 3 locations • 1 country
MAUN AIRPORT TO MAUN AIRPORT

Visit three sister-camps in and around Moremi Game Reserve during this thorough exploration of the Okavango Delta. A range of activities provide excellent opportunity to observe the local birdlife, mammals and fauna.

Visiting Okavango Delta, Moremi

US$5,400 - US$11,050 per person

Read more about the Tsessebe Safari

Inspire me

Need inspiration?

Let our trip chooser narrow down the options for you

Inspire me

Maps of Botswana

Explore the best areas for a safari in Botswana


Reference map

Our travellers' 10 most recent Botswana reviews

All are published in full; none have been edited.
Click the button below to browse all 1235 reviews.


99%
1235 reviews since August 2007
Excellent
1177
Good
47
Average
9
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Mr D from Surrey

Arrived 4 May 2023, 14 nights

"My May 2023 trip"

"Excellent. Super trip, extremely well organized …" Read Mr D’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Mr & Mrs H from Lisvane

Arrived 2 May 2023, 12 nights

" May 2023 - Central Kalahari and the Salt Pans"

"...we will remember the diverse topography and amazing landscapes. …" Read Mr & Mrs H’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

michael and susan from us

Arrived 21 Apr 2023, 17 nights

"My Apr 2023 trip"

"..the service and attention to detail is outstanding..We will always use them... …" Read michael and susan’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Mr D. from London

Arrived 15 Mar 2023, 13 nights

"My Mar 2023 trip"

"All the guides and trackers were cheerful motivated and knowledgable. …" Read Mr D.’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Party of 4 from Islington

Arrived 5 Apr 2023, 11 nights

"My Apr 2023 trip"

"...a wonderful time in Botswana and will have many happy memories of our trip. …" Read Party of 4’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Mrs P. from United Kingdom

Arrived 16 Mar 2023, 11 nights

"My Mar 2023 trip"

"We really liked the suggested itineraries on the Expert Africa website. …" Read Mrs P.’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

B & F from Hexham

Arrived 28 Feb 2023, 7 nights

"My Feb 2023 trip"

"The guides and trackers were excellent …" Read B & F’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Crooks from Bristol

Arrived 8 Feb 2023, 8 nights

"My Feb 2023 trip"

"wonderful experiences... spot on …" Read Crooks’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Mr D & Ms P from Dursley

Arrived 8 Feb 2023, 8 nights

"My Feb 2023 trip"

"There aren't enough superlative to describe the Okavango Delta …" Read Mr D & Ms P’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

Ms U from Idaho

Arrived 15 Jan 2023, 15 nights

"My Jan 2023 trip"

"might not be for everyone but worked perfectly for us …" Read Ms U’s full holiday review

Overall rating: Excellent

See all Botswana reviews

When to go to Botswana

Our month-by-month guide to the best time for visiting Botswana


Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Botswana in January

January is at the peak of Botswana’s rainy season. These rains are often in the evening and are short but heavy, with occasional thunderstorms. Temperatures will still be high but cooler than October–December. Animals are generally dispersed, and not easy to spot, with the best game viewing found in the north of Chief’s Island and on the eastern and southern sides of the Okavango Delta.

January is also one of the best months to see the zebra and wildebeest migration in the Makgadikgadi salt pans and at Nxai Pan. Migratory birds abound throughout northern Botswana, along with a large number of breeding flamingos in the flooded salt pans. Rates are generally relatively low, making this a good time to visit on a budget.

  • Temperatures are still warm, with occasional thunderstorms
  • The bush feels alive; birdlife is at its most spectacular
  • Big game is dispersed
  • Zebra & wildebeest migration at its height
  • Availability in lodges and camps is often very good

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in January

Botswana in February

The weather in February is very similar to January, with heavy rain most days – often towards evening – and temperatures on the high side, albeit cooling off from the rains and surface water. Across northern Botswana, the landscape feels green and alive; insects and smaller animals are more easily seen, and many birds and animals are raising their young. However, the rains have created pools and waterholes in the bush and thicker vegetation and tall grass makes it trickier to spot larger animals.

Further south, the game viewing is beginning to pick up in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Visitor numbers remain low, with attendant rates and availability in camps and lodges.

  • Temperatures still warm with occasional thunderstorms
  • Many animals with young; birdlife at its most spectacular
  • Big game is dispersed
  • Game viewing picking up in the Central Kalahari
  • Visitor numbers are low, so camp availability can be very good

Our view

This is not a great time to visit

Weather in February

Botswana in March

March usually sees Botswana’s main rains starting to tail off. Many days will be clear, with a strong sun raising temperatures. On some days clouds will build, and the late-afternoon may see a short thunderstorm. Across the country, the landscape is green and alive. Many birds and animals are finishing raising their young. Much of the migration is now moving north towards the Savute area or Chobe National Park, though thick vegetation still makes it trickier to spot even larger animals.

March is one of the best times to be in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, where many of the pans fill up and animals come to drink, closely followed by predators. With few visitors in most areas, rates may still be relatively low.

  • Variable weather: rains tailing off but still hot
  • Occasional small thunderstorms
  • Many animals finish raising their young; birdlife still spectacular
  • The best time to visit the Central Kalahari Game Reserve
  • Few tourists visit during March, so rates often low

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in March

Botswana in April

During April the rains have usually stopped, though there may be still be the odd late downpour. This results in clear skies and a lovely green, lush landscape. Night-time temperatures usually start to drop during April with this being most noticeable in the Central Kalahari and the Makgadikgadi areas. The Central Kalahari is really coming into its own at this point and from April through to May/June the Savute region is a particular favourite of ours, with good predator/prey interaction.

In much of northern Botswana, the camps are coming into their “shoulder” season, so rates are on the rise but still relatively low.

  • Evening temperatures cooling with just the odd shower
  • Northern Botswana is green and lush
  • Many animals still with young; good predator/prey interaction
  • Central Kalahari and Savute the best places for wildlife
  • A popular shoulder season time to book. Rates relatively low

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in April

Botswana in May

May is a very popular month to visit Botswana, often the last month of the “shoulder” season before camp rates hit their peak. While there is very little chance of rain, the annual floods from Angola are starting to make their way through the northern part of the Delta, and will eventually reach the majority of the Okavango late June.

With cooler temperatures morning and evening, predator activity tends to be higher, although tall grasses can still obstruct game viewing. With cool crisp evenings, and the game viewing really picking up, this is the favourite time to visit for many of our team – and camp bookings throughout Botswana are snapped up quickly.

  • Cool mornings and evenings with little chance of rain
  • Game viewing is beginning to pick up
  • Predator activity increasing, though grasses still quite high
  • Last month of “shoulder” season for most camps
  • Availability goes quickly throughout Botswana

Our view

A very good time to visit

Weather in May

Botswana in June

June is the real start of the dry season. Temperatures are still cool in the morning and evenings with night-time temperatures sometimes reaching freezing, rising to 25–30 degrees Celsius during the day, with blue skies. Along with this comes a certain clarity to the air, favourable for serious photographers. Surface water and waterholes begin to dry up during this period and many animals begin to congregate around the remaining areas with water.

Visibility is improving as the grass is beginning to die back, and game viewing is very good everywhere, with particular improvement in the Kwando–Linyanti areas. Not surprisingly, camp availability is becoming scarce and rates are high.

  • Warm, comfortable days; cold nights, morning & evenings
  • Air clarity favours serious photographers
  • Wildlife is gravitating to waterholes, making game-viewing productive
  • Grasses beginning to die back
  • Most camps are into peak season, with rates correspondingly high

Our view

Fantastic: the very best time to visit

Weather in June

Botswana in July

Evenings and mornings are still cool in July, and this combined with great game viewing makes it one of the most popular times to visit Botswana. Vegetation is really thinning out now making game easier to spot, with the few remaining waterholes attracting lots of wildlife. The north-eastern side of Chobe National Park, along the Chobe River, is also very rewarding, although this area can become very busy.

Game viewing is extremely good in the Khwai areas, too, but again, this is a public area and – unlike in the private concessions of the Delta – vehicle numbers can be high. Camps are now very much into the peak season, and tend to be full.

  • Comfortable days; cold nights, morning & evenings
  • Game viewing very good as vegetation dies back and waterholes dry out
  • Chobe Riverfront and Khwai areas become very busy
  • Private concessions helps to avoid potentially high vehicle numbers
  • Now very much into peak season

Our view

Fantastic: the very best time to visit

Weather in July

Botswana in August

August is a popular time to visit Botswana, coinciding with the European summer holidays, and camp availability is difficult. Temperatures are generally cool at night, and comfortable during the day, although towards the end of the month they can rise above 35 degrees Celsius (albeit with low humidity). Cloudless skies bring spectacular star-gazing. Wildlife has congregated around the few remaining water sources, and much of the vegetation has now died back, so wildlife viewing tends to be varied and rewarding, particularly in the Okavango Delta.

Depending on the rains in Angola this can also be one of the best times to see the delta floods at their peak.

  • Dry, warm days, with mainly cool nights
  • Cloudless skies with spectacular stars at night
  • A fantastic time for wildlife watching, particularly in the Okavango
  • Traditionally one of the best times to see the Delta in full flood
  • Peak season: so high rates and many lodges full

Our view

Fantastic: the very best time to visit

Weather in August

Botswana in September

September is another favourite month for some of our team members. Daytime temperatures are getting warmer, but nights remain cool. With the drier conditions, most of the greenery has faded from the landscape, and dust or even smoke create hazy conditions that aren’t great for photographers – though this does result in fantastic sunsets.

This is another extremely good month for game viewing, with large numbers of elephant and buffalo congregating in the Chobe region and migrant birds begin to return to Botswana. Rates remain high – and availability correspondingly low.

  • Warmer days and cool nights
  • One of the best months for wildlife viewing
  • Large congregations of elephant & buffalo in the Chobe region
  • Hazy conditions less good for photographers, but brilliant sunsets
  • High season rates; many lodges & camps are full

Our view

Fantastic: the very best time to visit

Weather in September

Botswana in October

October is the one of the hottest months of the year, and usually one of the driest. Towards the end of the month the chances of rain can increase, and along with this can come greater humidity. The air is usually dry and hazy, making photography more challenging, but the lack of water and vegetation result in very good big-game viewing.

Water levels are now much lower, so water-based activities such as boating, mokoro trips and fishing cease in many of the camps which are not on major tributaries.

  • Hot temperatures, with the chance of rain towards the end of the month
  • Great big-game viewing
  • Less opportunity for water activities in camps as floods recede
  • Hazy air not great for photographers
  • Final month of the peak season in camps

Our view

Fantastic: the very best time to visit

Weather in October

Botswana in November

November usually marks the end of the dry season in Botswana, when increasing temperatures drive a rise in humidity, sometimes culminating in the first rains. These are often short but very heavy showers in the late afternoon or during the night, and can be spectacular. The rains lower the temperatures slightly but bring a flush of green back into the dry landscapes. As waterholes in surrounding areas fill, wildlife will gradually begin to disperse as it is not restricted by the availability of water.

November is a great time for birdwatching, with the arrival of many migrant birds. The first couple of weeks are very popular with travellers looking for great game viewing at lower rates as Botswana enters the “shoulder” season.

  • Hot in the middle of the day; sometimes humid
  • Heavy showers increasingly likely as the month progresses
  • Wildlife watching still good, but less reliable once it rains
  • Migrant birds start to arrive
  • “Shoulder” season brings mid-range rates in camps

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in November

Botswana in December

The rains in Botswana have now started, bringing some respite to the high temperatures. Game viewing becomes harder as wildlife is more dispersed but great sightings can still be had in the right areas such as Khwai and the Kwara and Mombo concessions.

Areas such as the Makgadikgadi Pans change completely with the salt pans becoming covered in a shallow layer of water attracting large numbers of breeding flamingos. Low-season rates at many camps are a draw.

  • Temperatures starting to fall from the highs of October/November
  • Very high chance of rain, usually large heavy storms for short periods
  • Flamingos return to breed at the Makgadikgadi Pans
  • Wildlife more dispersed, so game viewing more challenging
  • Typically low-season rates in the camps

Our view

A good time to visit, with pros & cons

Weather in December

Botswana fact file

Useful information to help you prepare for your trip in Botswana


ABU CAMP in OKAVANGO DELTA

Botswana experiences

Our favourite excursions and activities in Botswana, great additions to your trip


Elephant Activity

Elephant Activity

Half day - mornings only

Any stay to Baines' Camp and Stanley's Camp is synonymous with the acclaimed elephant activity! Join experts Doug and Sandi Groves in a gentle, interactive experience walking with the two elephants Jabulani and Marula. This experience is a must for all lovers of elephants and wildlife!

More about Elephant Activity
93% (3 reviews)
Helicopter Flight - Botswana

Helicopter Flight - Botswana

Various: from 30 minutes to half a day.

Low-flying, agile and offering superb views, helicopters are an ideal way to move around the Okavango Delta.You can use them instead of fixed-wing inter-lodge transfers or as an addition to other wildlife watching activities, and of course, helicopters can hover to allow that perfect pic, whereas fixed-wings can’t.

More about Helicopter Flight
Ballooning in the Okavango Delta

Ballooning in the Okavango Delta

Half day - mornings only

Airborne over the Okavango Delta is always magical - not only for its beauty, but also for insights it gives you into the patterns of channels, lagoons and floodplains. Floating silently at dawn, watching the early sun light up the misty palms islands and spotting the animals as they wake up is particularly enchanting.

More about Okavango Ballooning

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