Botswana

Botswana safaris offer dramatic extremes.  On the one hand, the lush landscapes of the Okavango Delta and the Linyanti and Chobe River systems, on the other, the beautiful other-worldly expanse of the Makgadikgadi Pans and the Kalahari Desert.  The variety of habitats makes for varied animal and birdlife as well as beautiful scenery.   Strict controls mean that Botswana safari camps and lodges are generally small, and due to the tricky logistics of operating in a delta or a desert, safaris in Botswana are seldom cheap.  There are however many excellent options to consider.  Top of the list in our opinion are some of Botswana's mobile safari camps, these come in a couple of basic shapes, both of which are aimed at giving you a private experience using private campsites in quiet remote locations.  We use luxury moble camps and light mobile camps to great effect here and this is certainly something to consider if you're looking for great value and a unique experience.

As well as safaris on land, Botswana safaris are of course also about getting on to the crystal clear waters of the delta for at least some of your time.  Botswana offers an unrivalled opportunity for game viewing by dugout canoe (mokoro), or nights spent out under the desert sky and everything in between.  Walking isnt allowed in any of Botswana national parks, however there are one or two places where you can walk and you can read more about those here

When planning a safari in Botswana, it is important to know where to go at different times of year.  Some of the best scenery is only accessibly in the dry season, and wildlife movements are also dictated by the ebb and flow of the water systems.  The animals of the Kalahari, for example, are best seen during the rainy season, while the Okavango comes to life between the dryer months of June and October.  Read our useful article for more details about when to visit Botswana.

To make your planning easier, we've put together a selection of some of our favourite experiences in Botswana.