Sample Trip

Best of Botswana Safari Classic

“A 10-night lodge-based safari showcasing the best of all the highlights”
Budget level: High-End
Country
Botswana
When to Go
All year
Duration
10 Nights
Safari Type
Lodge and Canvas
Location
Makgadikgadi Pans, Northern Botswana, Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls
Kids Min Age
6

This Safari covers four Iconic locations – Victoria Falls, the Chobe river front, the Okavango Delta & finally the Makgadikgadi Pans! Perfect for couples or honeymooners!


Itinerary in Brief

2 Nights Ilala Lodge

2 Nights Chobe Elephant Camp

2 Nights Setari Camp

2 Nights Sable Alley

2 Nights Camp Kalahari

The Safari starts with 2 nights in the town of Victoria Falls, where you will be extremely well situated for access to the Falls themselves and other highlights in the region. This is a great, relaxed way to start a safari! From Victoria Falls, a short road transfer will take you across to Botswana and to your accommodation on the less-busy side of the Chobe National Park. Here you will spend 2 nights to explore the park on drives and be blown away by the amount of wildlife! You will then have another transfer to Kasane airport, from where you will have a charter flight into a remote concession of the Okavango Delta for another 2 nights. Explore this wetland paradise on a wide range of land and water-based activities (water levels permitting). The Okavango has high concentrations of wildlife and a large biodiversity, so it will definitely be the highlights! Then another charter takes you to a different section of the Okavango and another concession, for a further 2 nights of intense game viewing and diverse activities! Now it’s time for a big change in scenery as you leave the Okavango and charter fly to the Makgadikgadi Pans, another private concession sure to leave you speechless as you soak up the beautiful landscape and enjoy the company of the local habituated meerkats! On the final day, a vehicle transfer will take you Maun in-time for onward connections.

This 10-night Best of Botswana Safari truly showcases some of the most incredible safari highlights the country has to offer. It is best suited for high-end couples or small families seeking to experience a high quality and exclusive experience, taking advantage of private concessions. The accommodation of the tour can however, be adapted to suite different budgets and standard levels.

Detailed Itinerary

Night’s 1-2: Ilala Lodge

The Lodge is a family-run boutique hotel that offers luxury and comfort in the heart of Victoria Falls.  Nestled in attractive gardens, the well-appointed hotel is a mere eight-minute walk from Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Guests also have access to all the historical sites, restaurants and activities available in Victoria Falls, which is buzzing with a new lease on life!

The award-winning Palm Restaurant at Ilala Lodge is famous for its delicious gourmet cuisine and attracts guests worldwide. Diners can see the spray and hear the sounds of Victoria Falls, locally known as the ‘Smoke That Thunders’, while they enjoy the al-fresco dining under the starry African skies. Wild animals, such as warthog and impala, often graze on the hotel lawns and entertain guests during mealtime.

Night’s 3-4: Chobe Elephant Camp

Chobe Elephant Camp is located on a rocky ridge above the Chobe River, just west of the town of Kasane, Botswana. A stylishly simple bush camp with views over the floodplains, known for attracting large elephant herds. A farmstead feel in the African wilderness bringing guests back to nature without compromising comfort. One of the more affordable camps in the area.

A range of action packed activities are on offering including game drives into the Chobe National Park, guided bush walks, river cruise along the Chobe River (a must do!) as well as visiting the local Shibuya tribe and doing a village tour.

Night’s 5-6: Setari Camp

Setari Camp is Setswana for ‘Tree’ and has been lovingly designed to integrate the giant riverine forest and palms trees which dominate the island. Winding walkways, high above the ground, interlink the tents, dining/sitting room, pool and gym, creating a massive tree-house from which to marvel at the panoramic views over the crystal-clear channels and papyrus beds beyond.

Situated within a private concession of 120,000 acres of pristine watery wilderness, exclusivity and seclusion are guaranteed. Enjoy a pure Delta experience, inhabited by a myriad of birdlife and wildlife unique to this exceptional ecosystem.

Setari Camp accommodates 20 guests in 8 light, airy and spacious tents and 1 suite designed for families. The tents are elegantly furnished with comfort in mind and each have extra length beds, super-sized mosquito net, desk, sofa, fan, lights and handy plug points. The bathrooms are extremely spacious and enjoy a free-standing bath, separate shower and toilet and an outside shower-with-a-view. To make the most of the views, we have added private decks which each enjoy spectacular views over the Delta. The Family tent accommodates families of up to 4 in 2 adjoining tents, each with its own bathroom and outside shower. There is also large decked area for private dinners in between the family tents.

The camp also boasts a swimming pool, gym and large, airy dining and seating area all having spectacular views over the surrounding wilderness.

The area is a birder’s paradise, boasting a huge number of migrant birds, aquatic birds, raptors, a seasonal heronry and to top it all, the hauntingly beautiful Pel’s Fishing Owl. To add to this, the island is also home to the rare and regal Sitatunga antelope as well as bushbuck, a resident leopard, hippo, baboons and a lone hyena.

Wonder at the magical birds and wildlife from one of our specially modified game viewing boats or from a traditional mokoro (dug out canoe). They also offer bush walks on the neighbouring islands where we hope to take in the resident elephant or sitatunga.

Night's 7-8: Sable Alley

Formerly known as NG18, Khwai Private Reserve is 200,000 hectares of pristine wilderness. That’s three times the size of South Africa’s Sabi Sands – and 300 times more private! The reserve itself is within Botswana’s most talked about region, the Okavango Delta.

There’s no denying that Sable is spacious, sophisticated and really quite stylish. Each canvas-walled suite is huge 55 square metres, and comes complete with mini-indoor seating area, writing desk, double bed, and some seriously Afro-chic décor. Slide open the screen doors at the front for uninterrupted views of the lagoon, or take a seat on the veranda for a closer inspection. At the back, you’ll find two basins, and indoor shower and a flush loo. And if you fancy washing off the dust from the day in the great outdoors, no problem – there’s an outdoor shower with a view too.

Activites include: Morning, afternoon and evening game drives in the diverse landscapes of the 200,000 hectare Khwai Private Reserve. Pole through the tranquil waterways on a mokoro (dugout canoe) excursion or boat trip and marvel at the beauty of the area from a different perspective (water levels permitting). Lace up your boots and embark on a guided game walk along the banks of the Khwai River.

Night’s 9-10: Camp Kalahari

Camp Kalahari is located on Brown Hyaena Island, on the edge of the vast salt pans and sports 11 funky Meru tents which are perfect for families, groups and couples. It is an ideal base for discovering the charms of the desert and the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. All tents have en-suite bathrooms and open-air showers with plenty of hot and cold water available all through the day.

The main area includes a central library, living area and dining area. All being furnished with original African furniture and colonial antiques in keeping with an exploration theme. The camp, being so remote, is electricity free and camp is lit by paraffin lanterns at night, whilst camera batteries can be charged in the safari vehicles.

The activities on offer are sure the be the highlight of your stay. All year round you can have upclose encounters with habituated meerkats, join bushmen on walks through the desert, game drives & nights drives, two-hour horseback safaris. And during the dry season you have the option of quadbiking across the vast pans to the famous Kubu island!

When To Go

janfebmaraprmayjunjulaugsepoctnovdec
Makgadikgadi Pans GoodBestBestBestGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodBest
Northern Botswana GoodGoodBestBestBestGoodBestBestBestGoodGoodGood
Okavango Delta GoodGoodBestBestBestBestBestBestBestGoodGoodGood
Victoria Falls MixedMixedMixedGoodGoodBestBestBestBestBestGoodGood
Best = Best Good = Good Mixed = Mixed

Ready for an adventure? Lets Talk!

Contact SAFARI FRANK to get started on your safari of a lifetime!