Botswana wildlife safaris

Although wildlife densities at Jack's Camp are generally low, visitors can get exceptionally close to habituated meerkats – which for many is one of the best safari experiences in Botswana. This, along with the zebra and wildebeest migration and glimpses of black-maned lion, brown hyena and other desert species, makes the wildlife here pretty special.

For a wildlife safari in Botswana, Camp Kalahari is pretty unusual. Visiting one of the families of habituated meerkats is an exceptional experience. Lion, brown hyena and other predators frequent this area, and during the rainy season, zebra can sometimes be seen here in their thousands, along with many wildebeest.

With access to both the Khwai Community Concession and Moremi Game Reserve, Khwai Tented Camp is arguably in one of Botswana's greatest wildlife areas (though it can get busy). Sightings are good year round, with lion, leopard and wild dog seen regularly, as well as elephant and many other species.

Lagoon Camp excels at sightings of the large predators, particularly wild dog, lion and cheetah, making it a good addition to a wildlife safari in Botswana. The best time for dogs is in June/July, the denning season, or within two or three months of that, when the pups are too young to move far.

Camp Xakanaxa is right in the middle of the Xakanaxa area of the Moremi Game Reserve, one of the best areas for wildlife safaris in Botswana. With excellent densities of animal and birdlife, the only drawback is that you are often likely to share game sightings with other vehicles.

Mokete offers some of the best wildlife safaris in Botswana during the dry season, with a huge focus on herds of buffalo that regularly exceed a thousand individuals, and the lion encounters that ensue. In the shoulder and green season, wildlife will be a little tricker to spot.

The Chitabe area is renowned for its wild dog population, which has formed the subject of a book by the camp’s owners. Also worth noting are regular sightings of lion, leopard and even the odd cheetah, along with tsessebe, blue wildebeest, giraffe, zebra, reedbuck and steenbok.

Little Vumbura offers some of the best wildlife safaris in Botswana. It's in one of the Okavango's prime game areas, with a real depth and range to the wildlife. In our last few visits here, we have had good sightings of lion, leopard, and wild dog – as well as sable antelope.

Savute Safari Lodge enjoys a prime location directly on the Savute Channel, which is absolutely pumping with elephant, giraffe, hyena and other game during the dry season – ideal for a wildlife safari in Botswana. Wildlife also concentrates at the camp’s two pumped waterholes.

The Chobe River is a magnet for elephant and buffalo during the dry season. From its location within Chobe National Park, Chobe Game Lodge offers the opportunity to steal a march on the crowds and to explore quiet sections of the river during a wildlife safari in Botswana.

Overlooking a waterhole in a private reserve, Skybeds is a superb place for a wildlife safari in Botswana. Watching wildlife from on high – even from your bed – or at eye-level from a sunken hide for a wholly different perspective makes this a special place to stay.

At the heart of a vast protected area, Mombo is one of the best areas for wildlife safaris in the Okavango Delta, and indeed in Africa. Its animal densities are high and its landscapes are very open, which provides for some world-class game viewing.

The Mombo area of Moremi is probably the best place for wildlife safaris in Botswana. It has excellent populations of the big predators, herds of buffalo and elephant, both white and black rhino, spotted hyena, and a very wide range of plains game.

Tubu Tree Camp offers the biggest diversity of game viewing within the Jao concession, with access to both land- and water-based activities. There are good numbers of elephant and other game on the island, plus hippo in the deeper channels nearby.

During the dry season, increasingly high densities of wildlife are drawn to the Chobe River's permanent waters, making Chobe Under Canvas a good choice for wildlife safaris in Botswana. By September/October the numbers of elephant are astounding.

Sandibe is situated in an excellent area for consistent big-game viewing. A variety of predators are regularly seen, alongside a good number of plains game. This is definitely a camp to consider for those wanting good year-round game viewing.

Situated in a reliably good concession on the south-eastern side of the Okavango Delta, Qorokwe is in one of Botswana’s great wildlife-viewing destinations, particularly in the dry season between July and October when the grasses are lower.

During the dry season, the Mopane Tongue area of the Moremi Game Reserve has some of the densest game viewing in Botswana that we have seen. Big cats, such as leopard and lion, are common, and elephant, hippo and giraffe are prolific.

If you're looking for a wildlife safari in Botswana that focuses on predators, look no further. Kwara Camp’s wildlife and environments are varied, with plenty of antelope and big mammals – as well as the big cats and wild dogs.

The Chitabe concession has regular lion and leopard sightings but reasonably constant wild dog sightings over the last few years have really been the highlight. There are also good levels of plains game here.

As part of a wildlife safari in Botswana, Mapula Lodge offers plenty of plains game, including zebra, buffalo, lechwe and giraffe, as well as elephant, and predators such as lion, leopard and wild dogs.

Duba Plains, historically famous for its lion and buffalo interaction, which can be very exciting to say the least! Staying a few nights here will give you the best chance of seeing this spectacle.

Located in a good game area that’s exceedingly wild, with wild dogs and other large predators known to hunt in the area and elephants congregating in large numbers during the dry season.

Renowned as one of Botswana's premier game-viewing destinations, Chief's Island boasts a wide variety of wildlife – including the country's few rhino (although these are rarely seen).

North Island Okavango is in an area is renowned for its predator interactions, especially wild dogs and leopard with very good general game viewing.

Intimate and elegant, Duba Explorers Camp promises a firm safari focus in a remote corner of the Okavango, led by a team who value the highest guiding and hosting standards.