Bountiful & Beautiful

Botswana

Africa’s most aspirational safari destination

Safe, peaceful & democratic, with a Smart Traveller green stamp of approval, Botswana stands as a pillar of the African community, leading the way with visionary politics, sustainability and conservation. These factors, combined with some of the most pristine wilderness and highest game densities in the world, make it the destination of choice for any aspirational safari-goer.

Botswana is a land of contrasts from the vast Kalahari Desert and salt pans of the Makgadikgadi to the rich oasis of the Okavango Delta. Their ethos towards ‘high cost – low impact’ tourism has pathed the way for a network of private concessions which are home to just a handful of small, intimate safari lodges. All this equates to fewer people in one of the best safari destinations in Africa and near total exclusivity.

Botswana’s diverse regions from desert to delta

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans & Kalahari

The Kalahari and the Makgadikgadi salt pans offer magnificent solitude, surreal lunar landscapes, desert adapted wildlife and some of Africa’s quirkiest tented camps. You can spend time with the San people - ‘the Bushmen of the Kalahari, witness the little-known migration of wildebeest and zebra, quad bike across the endless pans and meet habituated meerkats. Spending time in this arid landscape offers a complete contrast to Botswana’s other regions.

Okavango Delta

The Delta is a pristine paradise of channels, lagoons and islands. This is an area of outstanding natural beauty which teems with big game, rare species and dazzling birdlife. The Delta is home to some of the best private reserves, including the world-famous Moremi Game Reserve. This, coupled with some of the most luxurious safari lodges in Africa and a plethora of activities, makes the Okavango one of the most sought after wildlife areas on the continent.

Linyanti, Selinda & Kwando

Perhaps Botswana’s best kept secret are the private reserves of Linyanti, Selinda and Kwando. These reserves lie between Chobe and the Delta in the north of the country and although they can be visited year-round, they really come to life during the dry season when great concentrations of game congregate around the few remaining water sources. With only a small selection of high-class camps to choose from, it’s quiet, private and fabulously exclusive.

Chobe & Savuti

Chobe National Park is known for the enormous herds of elephant and buffalo which are attracted to the river, along with the predators that follow. Boat safaris on the Chobe River offer unique sightings and fantastic photographic opportunities. To the west, Savuti is fed by the mysterious Savuti channel which flows and dries with seemingly fickle irregularity. Animal behaviour is often unprecedented as a result – it was famously home to Attenborough’s fishing leopards.

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans & Kalahari

Okavango Delta

Linyanti, Selinda & Kwando

Chobe & Savuti

Unforgettable experiences in Botswana

Glide through the Delta in a mokoro

Join the herd on a horseback safari

Meet the meerkats

Race over the salt pans by quad bike

Fly camp under the stars of the Makgadikgadi

A selection of our favourite places to stay in Botswana

Duba Plains – Okavango Delta

A veritable Garden of Eden

Duba Plains Camp sits in the heart of the Okavango Delta amidst a matrix of palm-dotted islands, flood plains and woodland. Great Plains Conservation founders and National Geographic filmmakers, Dereck and Beverly Joubert, chose this spot as their home base and it is easy to see why - it is a veritable Garden of Eden. Read More

Little Vumbura – Okavango Delta

Island luxury in the Delta

Situated on a wooded island in a private concession of the Okavango Delta, Little Vumbura was designed to blend in with its surroundings. Boat safaris and mokoro expeditions are on order for the day as you navigate the teeming waters where wildlife viewing and birding is consistently good year round. Read More

San Camp – Makgadikgadi Pans

Salt pans chic

Stylishly eccentric, romantic and remote, and set amid the desert and moonscapes of the Makgadikgadi pans, the elegant white Ottoman style tents of San Camp overlook the ethereal vastness of the Kalahari Desert. Following a classic 1920s set up, its opulence is in striking contrast with the emptiness of the surrounding wilderness. Read More

Sable Alley and Skybeds – Okavango Delta

Sky high under the stars

On the fringes of the Okavango Delta, just a stone’s throw from the world-famous Moremi Game Reserve, Sable Alley is in an enviable location where the game comes to you. Tented suites provide comfort and luxury while three‐story raised 'skybed' platforms present the opportunity to spend a night under the stars. Read More

Camp Kalahari – Makgadikgadi Pans

Salt Pan Bush Luxury

Camp Kalahari lies nestled amongst the acacias on the edge of a vast salt pan, adjacent to the Makgadikgadi National Park. Operated by the same family for five generations, it offers a return to the traditional safari style of the original explorers, allowing guests to experience the Makgadikgadi in an affordable yet authentic way. Read More

Macatoo Camp – Okavango Delta

Splashing through the Delta on horseback

Macatoo Camp is a fabulous base for some of the best horseback safaris in the Okavango Delta. Qualified guides will share their intimate knowledge of the Delta using the horses to bring you closer to birds, game and nature. Ride alongside a galloping giraffe or splash with a herd of zebra through the sparkling floodplains. Read More

Linyanti Ebony Camp – Linyanti Reserve

Botswana's lush river systems

Linyanti Ebony has just four elegant tented rooms, all with stunning lagoon views. The Linyanti Swamps are the only source of water for miles around in the dry months creating superb wildlife viewing as the animals come down to drink. A wide range of land and water based activities are available year-round. Read More

Gomoti Plains – Okavango Delta

The beauty of silence

Situated on the edge of the Gomoti river system, Gomoti Plains Camp is a small, intimate camp where the wildlife action is prolific. Offering excellent game, beautiful scenery and more than a little adventure, Gomoti Plains offers an authentic bush experience whilst never compromising on style or comfort. Read More

More places to stay

Duba Plains – Okavango Delta

Little Vumbura – Okavango Delta

San Camp – Makgadikgadi Pans

Sable Alley and Skybeds – Okavango Delta

Camp Kalahari – Makgadikgadi Pans

Macatoo Camp – Okavango Delta

Linyanti Ebony Camp – Linyanti Reserve

Gomoti Plains – Okavango Delta

A collection of safaris in Botswana

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Wild Cat Conservation Safari

SET DEPARTURE | BOTSWANA WITH BEN BRITTON

Do you love wild cats? Do you want to help conserve their natural habitats, ensure sustainable populations, protect them from poaching and illegal trade, and maintain biodiversity? Then this safari is for you! Join Ben and Khalia Britton, dedicated conservationists and founders of the Wild Cat Conservation Centre in Australia, on this epic ten day big cat safari in Botswana. Not only will you have the most incredible wildlife sightings your participation on this safari will directly contribute to the ongoing conservation of wild cats in Africa!

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Letaka Safaris Northern Highlights

Set Departure | Botswana Mobile Camping Safari

A mobile safari with Letaka Safaris is reminiscent of the expeditions undertaken by the early explorers. Each safari is lead by a professional guide who is accompanied by a small convoy of camp staff and equipment necessary for a self contained journey through the wilderness. This allows you to access remote wilderness areas within Botswana's national parks and reserves, far beyond the reaches of a morning game drive out of a lodge.

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Botswana’s Beagle Expeditions

Mobile Safari | Exploratory in nature

Beagle Expeditions is a small, family run outfit offering exploratory style mobile safaris through the wildest reaches of Botswana. With an availability of only 100 days per year, their trips are exclusive and highly sought after. There are no set itineraries and the day’s activities are determined by weather, water, and wildlife movement - a rare way to travel in the modern world.

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Botswana’s Rivers, Desert & Delta

Itinerary Inspiration | Pristine Wilderness Contrasts

The very best of Botswana is encapsulated on this safari. As with all the wilderness areas you will immerse yourself in, your accommodation will be exclusive and exceptional. Diversity abounds with the rich variety of wildlife and birdlife, a multitude of landscapes and ways to explore them, along with the opportunity to spend time with the San people, the 'Bushmen of the Kalahari', making this one of the most rewarding safaris to Africa one could ask for.

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Okavango Horse Safaris

Set Departure | Botswana

Riding horses in Botswana's jewel of the Kalahari, the Okavango Delta, is an exhilarating experience not only because you are riding horses through Africa's wilderness but because of the wildlife that abounds. Okavango Horse Safaris are the leading riding outfitters in Botswana.

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African Horseback Safaris

Set Departure | Macatoo Okavango Delta

Riding with elephant, giraffe or zebra and splashing through the sparkling flood plains contribute to the ultimate African adventure. Qualified guides will share with you their intimate knowledge of the Okavango Delta - the largest inland delta in the world - using the horses to best effect to bring you closer to birds, game and nature.

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Ride Botswana

Set Departure | Makgadikgadi Pans on horseback

The remote and mysterious Makgadikgadi Pans of Botswana are a place to feel gloriously free and the most perfect ground for an exhilarating riding safari. Head out on horseback with the legendary David Foot to experience the Kalahari from the best seat in the house.

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Roger Dugmore Mobile Safari

Mobile Safari | Exploring Botswana's Wilderness

Roger Dugmore is one of the pioneers of African wilderness exploration, having guided safaris for over 30 years. His safaris offer the tradition of the original safari concept in authentic remote wilderness areas. Perfect for families or groups of friends, allow yourself to enjoy a genuine mobile safari that moves to where the wildlife action is and learn from his extensive knowledge of some of the most striking areas in Botswana. Bush camping at its best.

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Exellent and wonderful, reaching way above expectations.

Elizabeth Mackintosh

Julia you did a fantastic job - everything was first class. Well organised, efficient and stress free. We all agreed it was the best holiday we've ever had. Cant wait to travel with CSC again.

Milford family

We are so happy we put our trust in CSC, we had an amazing adventure and would recommend them to anyone.

Kim & Brad Balance

The trip exceeded my expectations and was the best family holiday I have ever had. Our children simply loved it and now I know more about African wildlife than they do about our own farm animals.

Rowntree family

Classic Safari are the people who genuinely know other culture and offer incredible insight to perfectly meet your expectations.

Melanie McMillan & Iain Jones

We loved it all. Our son wants to go back tomorrow. We would ALL go back again!

Laurence & Remi Cunningham

An amazing experience - the best family holiday we have ever had. We were extremely impressed by the meticulous attention to our itinerary. I can't speak highly enough of all the elements of this exciting journey!

Sheryl & Robert Taylor

Thank you for making our trip to Africa so spectacular. The attention to detail really made it special. It really was the trip of a lifetime.

Paul Cozzi

Very knowledgeable and patient. Our trip was all that we hoped for. Wonderful!

Jane & Robert Happell

Everything was perfect! Advice and information on destinations and activities hit everything I had hoped to experience. I contacted the Classic Safari Company upon recommendation and have now, in turn, recommended to others.

Tim Bradley

You can't improve on perfection. I had my best birthday and holiday with my family celebrating my 80th birthday in Africa. Everything that Julia organised was perfect and the whole trip was a highlight!

Buckingham Family

The trip of a lifetime, couldn't have dreamt of a better adventure if I tried.

Emma Jeffcoat

Absolutely everything was first class & so well organised.

Simon & Jackie Adams

Classic Safari Company has done it again! A unique experience that ticked all the boxes - wildlife, culture and dining experience. A dream come true!

Ros Wheeler

Their experience and knowledge of Africa is evident and we couldn't have been happier with the total package. This has given us a taste for Africa - now we are ready for more.

Andrew & Pip Stevens

If you want the most sensational experience in Africa let Julia and the staff at Classic Safari Co plan it for you! Their knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm for their job means your every wish will be fulfilled.

Miriam & Joseph Harrison

Classic Safari is the place to go to for "top end" adventure travel.

Ron & Alison Guthrie

Classic Safari Company were brilliant - 10/10

Di & Kingsley Yates

The Classic Safari Company is the best I have dealt with. Extremely knowledgeable & professional, friendly, patient & understanding of first timers to Africa.

Annette Whiley

It certainly was the best trip we have EVER had. The experiences were mind blowing. We want everyone we know to experience Africa - the animals, the people - magical.

Jo-anne & Dean Mifsud

Would do it all again and not change a moment. Best holiday ever!

The McGowan Tribe

An absolutely fantastic travel company - every one of the many trips they have organised for us over 22 years have been faultless and fabulous.

Judith & Roger Williams

Another wonderful safari by Classic this time to Botswana. Classic seriously live and breathe safaris.

Patricia Hood & Angela Groom

My visit to Botswana was unique - memorable - life-changing.

Jill Barker

Exceptionally enjoyable safari to Botswana. Well organised. Superb camps and abundant wildlife. I would certainly use The Classic Safari Company again and recommend you highly without hesitation!

Tak & Veronica Lee

Our trip to Botswana was out of this world. It was perfect in every regard and we can’t wait to go back. The CSC did wonderfully well. We are absolutely delighted with every aspect of the trip.

Tom & Julie Goudkamp

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