From the vast salt flats of the Makgadikgadi Pans to the Okavango Delta – the world’s largest inland delta – Botswana is a land of extraordinary diversity. Watch wild-roaming animals, including the Big Five, during a bespoke safari led by expert guides.
5 reasons to go on a Botswana safari in 2026-2027
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The Okavango Delta
Here, you can spot enormous families of elephants, lions swimming across water channels, and endangered species like wild dogs.
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Kalahari Desert
The Kalahari Desert is one of the world's largest sand basins. Unforgettable safari experiences here offer an immersive connection to this vast wilderness through luxury camps, horse riding and expert guiding.
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Tuli Block
No two days on safari are the same. You could be soaring over sun-baked plains in a helicopter one day and spotting lions in Tuli Block the next.
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Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
They’re roughly the size of Portugal and are among the largest salt flats in the world. You can explore this vast landscape on quad bikes and bushwalks.
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Chobe National Park
Botswana’s first and most biodiverse national park, Chobe is home to the highest elephant concentration in the world, as well as hippos, buffalo and lions.
Luxury safaris in Botswana
A Botswana safari encompasses iconic locations such as the Okavango Delta, Chobe, the Kalahari and the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans – each with its own unique draw, but with one thing in common – incredible numbers of wildlife. Across the country, get the chance to spot big cats, wild dogs, plains game, rare creatures and the world’s highest density of elephants. In each location, you can find a selection of luxury stays – from tented camps to bespoke lodges and exceptional retreats. Start planning your Botswana safari holiday.
Explore the Okavango Delta from above in a helicopter – complete with a champagne picnic – or choose a tranquil mokoro canoe ride through its waterways. Travel to Savute where you will find a mega-pride of lions, known to hunt elephants. For a unique adventure, join a horseback safari amidst the world’s second-largest zebra migration in the Makgadikgadi, or set out to discover habituated meerkat colonies and secluded islands dotted with ancient baobabs. Witness uninterrupted starry skies, big cats and unique desert-adapted wildlife in the expansive Kalahari.
If you look at Botswana on a map of Southern Africa, it shares borders with many other legendary safari destinations. Botswana and South Africa are connected by a border and this is covered largely by the Kalahari desert – flights between both make an excellent combination of a safari with a trip to Cape Town. Where Botswana and Zimbabwe meet is the quirky town of Kasane – the gateway to the breathtaking Victoria Falls. Namibia’s Zambezi Region snakes its way along this border, too – offering a grand tour of each country’s lush highlights.
Let us design your 2026-2027 Africa safari trip
Meet Alex
SENIOR AFRICA TRAVEL EXPERT
“Botswana offers a unique safari experience. One day you could be gently floating through the Okavango Delta in a mokoro canoe; the next, racing across
the lunar-like landscapes of the Makgadikgadi Pans on a quadbike”
Safari lodges
Take a look at our recommended camps and safari lodges in Botswana.
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Jao Camp
Jao Camp is one of the most luxurious safari camps in the Okavango Delta. Ideal for couples, it has romantic star beds, suites with plunge pools and private game drives.
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Wilderness Mombo Camp
Be part of pioneering conservation projects within a UNESCO-listed reserve with a stay at Mombo. Its luxury canvas suites have huge private decks overlooking the Okavango Delta.
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Zarafa Camp
Set within the Selinda Reserve, Zarafa Camp is a top location for viewing leopards and wild dogs. Its ultra-private Dhow Suite has two bedrooms, perfect for families.
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Jack’s Camp
Adventure meets old-world decadence at Jack’s Camp. Founded by explorer Jack Bousfield in the 1960s, this camp in the Makgadikgadi Pans has 10 opulent canvas-walled tents.
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andBeyond Nxabega Tented Camp
At Nxabega Tented Camp, you can feel the connection to nature. Stay in a luxury tented suite tucked in the shade of ebony trees on the edge of the Okavango Delta’s seasonal floodplains.
Best time to visit Botswana in 2026-2027
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The Dry Season
May to October
May to October offer a great time for spotting wildlife on safari, vegetation is low and wildlife congregate around limited water sources, the perfect conditions for game viewing. The Okavango Delta experiences its highest water levels during the early dry season with floodwaters typically arriving between May to July.
The Green Season
November to April
November marks the beginning of the Green Season as temperatures peak and sunny days are intertwined with sharp showers. Despite the possibility of rain, this is still a great time to go on safari as the bush is in bloom and is filled with a plethora of migratory bird species. The rains also trigger the zebra migration that fills the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans from December through to February. This is also a superb time to enjoy game viewing in the Kalahari. The rains continue through to March.
Botswana safari FAQs
Botswana’s currency is the Pula. It’s a closed currency, so it cannot be obtained outside the country. Your luxury safari will have been paid for before you arrive and most hotels and camps accept major bank cards. It’s a good idea to bring some US dollars in cash for tipping and other small expenses.
English and Tswana are the official languages in Botswana. Tswana is the language of the Setswana people, while English is used in written communication, hospitality and official business.
There are four main airports to consider when planning a safari holiday in Botswana, commonly reachable via a connecting flight from Johannesburg in South Africa. These airports are Maun and Kasane in Botswana, Livingstone in Zambia and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Onward travel to your safari lodge will either be a domestic flight or a private overland transfer.
We specialise in bespoke luxury safaris in Botswana. To make an enquiry or start planning your trip, send us an email, give us a call or chat with us directly in LiveChat. Visit our Contact page to find out more.
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