Botswana
Africa’s Most Aspirational Safari Destination
Discovering Botswana | In Summary
- Botswana is Africa’s most aspirational safari destination, offering some of the continent’s highest wildlife densities across wildly contrasting landscapes — from the channels of the Okavango Delta to the moonscapes of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and the vast Central Kalahari.
- The country’s commitment to high-cost, low-impact tourism means small, exclusive camps in private concessions, fewer visitors, and a level of wilderness immersion that’s difficult to match elsewhere in Africa.
- Beyond classic game drives, a Botswana safari can include mokoro excursions through the Delta, horseback safaris across floodplains, quad biking over the salt pans, boat safaris on the Chobe River, and time spent with the San people of the Kalahari.
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.
You Will Love
- Diverse wildlife and unparalleled wilderness
- Desert, delta and savanna
- Okavango delta oases
- Stark Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
- Exclusive and exceptional camps
Let us design your perfect itinerary.
Botswana’s diverse regions from desert to delta
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.
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.
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.
Unforgettable experiences in Botswana
Meet the meerkats
Meet the meerkats
Spend time amongst Meerkats in Makgadikgadi Salt Pans as they scurry around you and perhaps even climb on top of your head to gain a better vantage point is a truly unique experience.
Join the herd on a horseback safari
Join the herd on a horseback safari
Whether you’re galloping across salt pans or splashing through the Okavango Delta, Botswana has abundant, knowledgeable guides; and well-schooled, responsive horses; making it a dream destination for any horse rider.
Glide through the Delta in a mokoro
Glide through the Delta in a mokoro
The Okavango Delta is the best place in the world to view wildlife from a mokoro. Glide silently through the water, notice the chirrup of frogs, hum of insects on the breeze and get astonishingly close to birds and wildlife.
Race over the salt pans by quad bike
Race over the salt pans by quad bike
Explore the remote, other worldly landscapes of the Makgadikgadi Pans which, with their open spaces and barren vistas, are perfect for a high-speed quad-bike adventure.
A selection of our favourite places to stay in Botswana
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
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
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
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
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
Sable Alley & 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
Pom Pom – Okavango Delta
Private Island Escape
This camp is located on Pom Pom Island in a private concession in the heart of the Delta where visitor numbers are low, and the experience is wonderfully exclusive. In the company of a professional guide you will enjoy the sights and sounds of this unique habitat and learn about the waterways and wildlife.... Read More
Meno a Kwena – Makgadikgadi Pans
Adventure tented camp
Meno A Kwena is a campaign-style safari camp roosted on a rocky clifftop above the Boteti River in Botswana. It is a rustic camp with a relaxed atmosphere and warm welcome where the team's keen interest in the surrounding area and its wildlife really shines through, and will make your stay all the more memorable.... Read More
Mombo – Okavango Delta
A luxurious camp in the heart of the Delta
If you are looking for the ultimate ‘do before you die’ wildlife experience, look no further than Mombo Camp. The camp sits on Chief’s Island, which is higher than the surrounding Delta and remains dry through the annual flood. During this time it becomes a refuge for land mammals with unbelievable concentrations of wildlife.... Read More
Machaba Camp – Okavango Delta
the Okavango Delta's 'Tree of Life'
Machaba Camp is a traditional 1950's style camp nestling in the game-rich Khwai area which shares its westerly border with the Moremi Game Reserve on the eastern tongue of the Okavango Delta. Machaba is the local name for the Sycamore Fig Tree, the 'tree of life', and the wildlife these trees attract leads to a fantastic safari experience.... Read More
Jack’s Camp – Makgadikgadi Pans
Eccentric tented elegance
Jack’s Camp is located on a private concession amid the desert ecosystems and moon-like landscapes of Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana. Sited on the original spot chosen by Jack Bousfield in the 1960's, it has ten exquisite tents, a library and a giant canvas pavilion that houses its own Natural History Museum.... 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
Jacana Camp – Okavango Delta
Classic island living
Jacana's remote location on a small island in what is rightly considered one of the most incredible wilderness sanctuaries in Africa allows for a truly spectacular safari experience. Large concentrations of game frequent the area and prolific birdlife can be enjoyed as you glide along the surrounding water channels in a mokoro.... Read More
DumaTau – Linyanti Reserve
Luxury in the Linyanti
In an area famed for its large herds of elephant, DumaTau camp lies on the banks of the Linyanti River's Osprey Lagoon, close to the source of the Savute Channel. Given its location you can expect incredible land and river experiences by day and night, all while accommodated in classic en suite tents overlooking the lagoon.... Read More
Linyanti Bush Camp – Linyanti Reserve
Exclusivity in the Linyanti
Linyanti Bush Camp is a small, intimate camp on the edge of the Linyanti marshes in a private reserve known as the 'Chobe Enclave'. Placed in one of Botswana’s finest wildlife viewing destinations and with just six exclusive luxury tents, Linyanti Bush camp blends the sophistication of modern day comfort with the call of the wild!... Read More
Zarafa Camp – Selinda Reserve
The best of luxury eco-villas
Zarafa is an exclusively intimate luxury camp that sits in an enviable location in the Selinda concession, adjacent to the Linyanti and on the western border of the Chobe National Park making it the perfect compliment to an Okavango visit. Stay in one of only four decadent tents and spend your days in search of a host of wildlife.... Read More
Selinda Explorers – Selinda Reserve
Time-old explorer tradition
Selinda Explorers is an intimate eight-person camp located on the private Selinda Reserve, a noteworthy gathering point for Botswana's famous wildlife. Its “wow” factor lies in its expeditionary style and experience, walking in the footsteps of Livingstone and Selous.... Read More
Jao Camp – Okavango Delta
Land & Water-Based Safari
In the heart of a private concession in Botswana, Jao Camp delivers on the true Okavango experience, offering land and water based activities owing to its close proximity to the panhandle in the Delta's northwest. Enjoy exploring game filled floodplains and savannah in one of the most picturesque concessions in the Delta.... Read More
Vumbura Plains – Okavango Delta
Luxury Delta eco-retreat
Open floodplains and dense woodland give array to fabulous birding opportunities along with spectacular wildlife viewing at Vumbura Plains Camp. Lion, hippo, wild dog, giraffe and more roam the environment with opportunities for additional game viewing straight from your room, or while meandering the property's wooden walkways.... Read More
Tuludi Camp – Khwai Concession
The essence of safari
Located in the private Khwai Concession, an area that covers 200,000 hectares of pristine wilderness and floodplains, sits stylish Tuludi Camp. The camp is perfectly positioned for exploring this wildlife rich haven and back at camp, your tents provide a welcome retreat where the strikingly beautiful landscape can be enjoyed.... Read More
Elephant Pan – Khwai Concession
Under elephants' feet
Elephant Pan sits in Botswana's Khwai Concession overlooking a watery lagoon where you can watch elephants making the most of the only permanent water source for miles around. There is an atmosphere of easy relaxation combined with an outstanding wildlife experience - the ground level hide is a photographer's paradise!... Read More
Muchenje Safari Lodge – Chobe National Park
The jewel of western Chobe
Perched high on an escarpment within the Chobe Forest Reserve, Muchenje Safari Lodge commands sweeping views over the Chobe River and its seasonal floodplains. Thatched private cottages give way to open decks where game grazes below, while days unfold between sunrise game drives through western Chobe and languid boat cruises on the river.... Read More
Kalahari Plains – Central Kalahari
Intimate desert wildlife camp
Kalahari Plains Camp lies in a remote part of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana, a place famed for its unique desert-adapted wildlife. The camp comprises ten en suite canvas units each with a sleep-out area from which to enjoy the night skies and the opportunity to interact with its native San Bushman.... Read More
Planet Baobab – Makgadikgadi Pans
Bang for your back in Botswana
Welcome to the baobab capital of the world. At Planet Baobab in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, you will be in the company of ancient giants where the average age of a tree is 4000 years old. Enjoy game drives onto the salt pans and ride quad bikes into nothingness to spend a night sleeping under the stars.... Read More
Sandibe – Okavango Delta
Blend seamlessly with organic surroundings
Tread in the footprints of elephants on ancient game paths, look out for hippo that inhabit the deeper Delta channels and lagoons and watch the honey badgers that can be seen in broad daylight. At Sandibe, you will not only witness wildlife interaction but be a part of it staying in architecture that has been inspired by local wildlife.... Read More
Xigera Camp – Okavango Delta
Jungle camp in the Delta
Set on a private concession within Botswana's Moremi Game Reserve, Xigera — pronounced 'kee-jera', after the pied kingfisher — immerses guests in one of Africa's great wildernesses. Mokoro glide through papyrus channels, game drives open onto sweeping floodplains, and the work of 80 celebrated African artists transforms the lodge into a living gallery.... Read More
A collection of safaris in Botswana
Botswana: Northern Highlights
Set Departure | Botswana Mobile Camping Safari
A mobile safari 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 the 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....Read More
Botswana: Privately Guided Safari
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....Read More
Botswana: Horse Riding Safari Exploration
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....Read More
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....Read More
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....Read More
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....Read More
Botswana Mobile Exploration 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....Read More
Botswana: Frequently Asked Questions
Botswana’s philosophy of high-cost, low-impact tourism sets it apart. Strict limits on visitor numbers, a network of private concessions, and an emphasis on exclusivity mean you spend your days in extraordinary wilderness with very few other travellers around. Add in the sheer diversity of landscapes — delta, desert, river systems, and salt pans — and it delivers an experience that’s hard to replicate anywhere else on the continent.
Botswana can be visited year-round, with the best time depending on which region and experience you’re after. The dry season from May to October is ideal for game viewing across most areas, as animals congregate around shrinking water sources. The Okavango Delta floods between June and August, transforming the landscape and making it spectacular for mokoro and boat safaris. The Makgadikgadi Pans see a wildebeest and zebra migration during the summer rains from November to April.
Botswana supports exceptional concentrations of elephant — Chobe National Park has one of the largest elephant populations in Africa. Lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, hippo, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, and a remarkable variety of birdlife are all regularly encountered. The Kalahari is home to desert-adapted species including brown hyena and aardwolf, while the Delta teems with rare water-associated birds and aquatic wildlife.
Each region offers a completely different experience. The Okavango Delta is the jewel — a World Heritage-listed inland delta alive with big game, rare species, and dazzling birdlife. Chobe is famous for its massive elephant herds and superb river safaris. The private reserves of Linyanti, Selinda, and Kwando offer seclusion and outstanding dry-season game viewing. The Makgadikgadi and Kalahari deliver solitude, surreal landscapes, meerkat encounters, and the chance to spend time with San Bushmen. Many visitors combine two or more regions on a single trip.
Activities vary by region. In the Okavango Delta, mokoro excursions and boat safaris are among the most memorable ways to explore. Horseback safaris are exceptional here and across the Makgadikgadi. Chobe is renowned for its boat safaris along the river. Guided bush walks, quad biking on the salt pans, nipght drives, and cultural encounters with San communities are available across different parts of the country.
Botswana’s ethos lends itself to small, intimate camps rather than large lodges. Options include permanent luxury tented camps such as Mombo and Duba Plains in the Okavango Delta, eccentrically styled desert camps like Jack’s Camp and San Camp on the Makgadikgadi, and private bush camps in remote concessions across Linyanti and the Kalahari. Mobile safari options, which move with the wildlife and seasons, are also available for those wanting a more exploratory experience.
Botswana: A Glossary of Terms
- Bai — A natural clearing or open area within a forested or bush environment where wildlife congregates, often around a mineral lick or water source. Common terminology in Central and West Africa but occasionally used in Botswana’s more densely vegetated areas.
- Concession — A privately leased wilderness area, typically managed by a single safari operator under licence from the government. Botswana’s network of private concessions keeps visitor numbers low and wildlife undisturbed, and they are fundamental to the country’s high-cost, low-impact model.
- Dry Season — The period from approximately May to October when rainfall is minimal, vegetation thins, and game concentrates around permanent water sources. Widely considered the best time for wildlife viewing across most of Botswana.
- Floodplains — Seasonally inundated grasslands that form when river or Delta waters overflow during the annual flood. In Botswana’s Okavango and Linyanti regions, floodplains support enormous concentrations of grazing wildlife and are critical habitats for waterbirds.
- Khwai Concession — A large community-managed wildlife area bordering the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta. Known for outstanding predator and elephant sightings, it encompasses over 200,000 hectares of pristine wilderness.
- Mokoro — A traditional dugout canoe, originally carved from a single tree trunk but now often made from fibreglass to reduce environmental impact. Poled silently through the shallow channels of the Okavango Delta, a mokoro excursion is one of Botswana’s most iconic safari experiences.
- Moremi Game Reserve — A national reserve within the Okavango Delta, widely regarded as one of Africa’s finest wildlife sanctuaries. It covers the eastern portion of the Delta and includes Chief’s Island, home to exceptional concentrations of big game.
- Pan — A flat, shallow depression that collects water during the rains and dries out to form a hard, often salt-encrusted surface in the dry season. The Makgadikgadi Pans are among the largest salt pan systems in the world.
- San People — The indigenous hunter-gatherer people of southern Africa, also known as Bushmen of the Kalahari. Botswana’s Kalahari is one of the best places to spend time with San communities and learn about their ancient tracking traditions, plant knowledge, and relationship with the land.
- Wild Dog — Also known as the African painted dog or Cape hunting dog, the wild dog is one of Africa’s most endangered predators. Botswana — particularly the Okavango and Linyanti regions — is one of the best places on the continent to encounter wild dog packs on a hunt.
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
