Botswana
Botswana is one of the most unspoiled safari destinations in Africa. Here you can live the original safari and wildlife experience as its first explorers first did. Botswana has some very special natural highlights such as the Okavango Delta, known as the pearl of the Kalahari. There are also some exceptional parks like Makgadikgadi with its large open salt pans, the Central Kalahari Desert and the dense river areas of Linyanti, Kwando and Chobe.
Botswana focuses on high-end tourism, which makes it one of the last unspoiled safari destinations in Africa.
Highlights of Botswana are sailing in the Okavango Delta and from spotting the wildlife from small boats. In addition, day and night game drives at the vast and remote Makgadakgadi salt pans are experiences that you will cherish for the rest of your life. Apart from this Botswana has beautiful and unique lodges and camps.
Going on safari in Botswana is a unique experience. Wild Times specialty is organizing tailor-made safaris. Guided by your ideas and preferences we create an itinerary that suits you and your travel companions best! To give you an idea of the possibilities you will find some example safaris below, though it goes without saying that organizing tailor-made safaris is what we do best. Call us for advice or request a safari proposal here.
Unique safaris in Botswana
€ 11,264 An impressive journey awaits you in which safari (bush) and beach are perfectly combined. Discover the untouched nature of Botswana, South Africa and Mozambique in in a 14-day tour full of activities. From walking Safaris through the ancient landscape of our beautiful Central Tuli Game reserve and bush diners along the Limpopo river at Koro River Camp or Koro Island Camp to the Big 5 at Kruger National Park. | |
€ 3,180 Botswana obviously has on the most unique ecosystmes in the world in the Okavango Delta, but the vast and fascinatin deserts also tell a beautiful story. The Nxai Pan and the Boteti river harbour one of the main best secrets! | |
€ 4,733 This short safari will take you to the Okavango Delta and the Linyanti region in Botswana. The focus will be on safaris by boat and by mokoro (dug out canoe) in the Delta and on elephants in the Linyanti. | |
€ 4,838 This safari in Botswana combines the swamp area of the Okavango Delta and the vast Nxai Pan salt pans. There is a variety of activities: game walks, game drives and boat safaris on the river that give you the chance to spot wildlife from a very close distance. |
Highlights
Botswana has a huge variety of different wildlife parks and reserves, every park with a different set of eco systems and wildlife. There is variety of parks explained below. Please let us know where your interests lie and we will make a safari program fitted to your wishes and interest. We know how to build the perfect safari.
Victoria Falls The Victoria Falls is one of the world’s most beautiful and romantic places. This protected World Heritage site is one of the few waterfalls in the world where one can see close to 550 million liters of water coming down from such a close range. Due to the force of the water that flows down the spray of water reaches an incredible height of 30 km.
Technically the falls are situated at the borders of Zimbabwe and Zambia, but they are often combined with a safari in Botswana. | |
Tuli Block Spread along approximately eighty thousand hectares, is a long and thin fringe of land demarcating Botswana’s south-eastern border from South Africa, called the Tuli Block. The Eastern side has been declared as the Northern Tuli Game Reserve while the rest of the vast area contains a lot of privately owned game farms.
You can combine Tuli Block on a South African self-drive itinerary very well, from Johannesburg it is about 6,5 hours drive. | |
Savuti National Park In the southern part of Chobe National Park lies the Savuti region, known for its lions and hyenas. On the border of Namibia lies the Linyati region best known for its large elephants population that come together in the winter months in this area. The area is known to have many excellent cat sightings! So if you are particularly eager to spot lions and leopards, come to the Savuti or Linyanti! | |
Okavango Delta The Okavango Delta is one of the world’s largest inland deltas situated in the middle of the largest stretch of continuous sand in the world – the Kalahari basin. This oasis in the middle of the desert is a rich yet fragile ecosystem, providing a life source for an incredible variety of wildlife. A wealth of species have adapted to the contrasting conditions created by living in the harsh Kalahari desert which is transformed annually with the arrival of the delta flood waters originating in Angola. | |
Nxai Pan National Park Although Nxai Pan was also once part of the great super lake, it is quite different in character to the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. It consists of a series of grass covered fossil pans dotted with islands of umbrella acacia, supporting a good variety and density of game and birdlife. This is one of the few places that springbok and impala cohabit. In the drier months, the desert landscape is dry and harsh. Game viewing at the waterhole is excellent where you may observe lion, cheetah, spotted and brown hyena, zebra, giraffe, kudu, and hartebeest, bat eared fox, jackal and sometimes wild dog and elephant. | |
Makgadikgadi The network of salt pans found in Botswana’s eastern regions are a striking physical feature and some of the largest of their kind in the world. The pans, huge, flat expanses of hot, sun-blasted terrain and fringed by vegetated islands and peninsulas, were once part of a great super lake that covered much of northern Botswana. | |
Linyanti The Linyanti area lies to the north-east of the Okavango Delta were the Kwando and Linyanti rivers meet at right angles, forming a swamp area within this triangle. The area’s relative remoteness makes it a favoured safari destination. The wildlife in the Linyanti is spectacular and the region is famous for its enormous herds of elephant and buffalo which move down to the Linyanti area at the start of the winter months and only move back inland once the summer rains arrive in November. | |
Chobe National Park The Chobe River Front is a remarkable wildlife area due to the permanent water source of the Chobe River. However its accessibility from Kasane and neighbouring towns of Victoria Falls and Livingstone has created quite a busy tourist area with larger hotels and lodges than you find in the more remote Okavango Delta and Savuti/Linyanti areas. The spectacle of all the animals coming to drink and frolic at the water’s edge is one to behold, particularly in the dry season (May – Oct) when water is scarce away from the river. |
Activities
There are many many options to chose from for your safari, let us help you make the right decisions so that you will have the ultimate safari. We know the small scale unique camps that you will love. And we offer activities which make your safari even more special.
Combine the below activities with your safari!
A safari in Botswana is something unforgettable and quite an adventure, but the view over vast plains and wildlife from the air in a helicopter is truly unique. Seeing the wildlife from a helicopter at a great height while hovering in the air is breathtaking. | |
Take A Walk On The Wild Side – by doing a safari on foot, also known as a game walk. A game walk safari is a very special way to experience the African nature and its wildlife. During a game walk safari in Botswana you get within touching distance of the wild life, while under protection of armed and experienced rangers. | |
Horse riding in Botswana? This is a very special experience. Wild Times has a number of highly professional partners who offer horse riding safaris in Botswana. You travel by horse through the national parks and stay in specially designed camps. The nice thing is that during your horse riding safari in Botswana the horses do not scare the wild, so you can come very close to the wild and in the meantime you will not encounter any other human being,a unique safari experience in Botswana. | |
Night game drives in Botswana provide for some of the most dramatic and unusual sightings, this is an activity that you will remember for the rest of your life! A night game drive in Botswana is a time when our ancient fears rise to the surface, a time when our DNA shudders to the thought of when we were part of the natural world and were considered easy prey, but today we can experience the dramas of the night from the safety of a safari vehicle. | |
A honeymoon in Botswana is without a doubt one of the best experiences you and your love can hope for. It is hard to get any more romantic than this: luxury and boutique camps in the African wilderness, a special bush dinner or a warm bath under the African sky. Lots of privacy and an safari experience that you two will never forget! |
Hotel & Lodges
Authentic, small scale camps, lodges and hotels. That is who we are. An amazing safari starts with a correct build up of your safari, which means the right choice of parks, lodges and camps. Wild Times uses small scale, authentic and off the beaten track camps and lodges. We know the camps that we are offering and are able to offer you the best ones in every budget.
Have a look at some of the lodges and camps that we have on offer!
Zambezi National Park | Waterberry Lodge Waterberry Lodge is situated on the banks of the Zambezi River about 22 km from Livingstone, towards Kazungula. The main double-storey lodge area overlooks the Zambezi River and the game park beyond. Upstairs the main lounge is open to the high thatch with plenty of seating and boasts a well-stocked bar and magnificent views. Meals are served in the dining area or alfresco on the sun terrace that overlooks the river. | |
Victoria Falls | Victoria Falls Hotel Established in 1904, the Victoria Falls Hotel is set in the Victoria Falls National Park with a private path to the Victoria Falls. Overlooking the Victoria Falls Bridge and gorge, it is one of the most famous hotels in Africa and is renowned for its elegance and charm. | |
Okavango Delta | Little Kwara Camp Little Kwara Camp is situated within the Kwara private reserve which shares a common boundary with Moremi Game Reserve. The camp has a picturesque setting overlooking the permanent waters of the Okavango Delta. Little Kwara Camp is completely separate from Kwara Camp, although it is only a five-minute drive away. It has only four tents and therefore offers an intimate wilderness experience. The large and stylishly furnished tented rooms with big shaded verandas are raised onto individual wooden platforms and each room has an en suite bathroom, partly-covered outside shower and separate toilet. | |
Okavango Delta | Kwara Camp Kwara Camp is situated on a private concession on the edge of the permanent waters of the world renowned Okavango Delta in Botswana, which shares a common boundary with Moremi Game Reserve. The area offers a combination of permanent water, seasonal floodplains and pans, open grasslands as well as extensive dry bush and scrub which creates a great game viewing destination throughout the year. | |
Makgadikgadi | Nxai Pan Camp Nxai Pan Camp lies hidden at the border of the Makgadikgadi Pans, offering a unique safari experience. The camp consists of eight spacious safari tents with ensuite bathrooms, harmoniously situated within the natural surroundings. The camp features a beautiful deck with stunning views, a swimming pool, an extensive library, and a small souvenir shop.
The surrounding area of Nxai Pan Camp is rich in wildlife, with abundant zebra, springbok, and other plains game, which attract predators. There are good chances to spot leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and jackals.
Guests can participate in several activities to experience nature up close. Game drives are offered in open 4x4 safari vehicles, providing an excellent opportunity to observe wildlife. Additionally, guests can embark on safari walks guided by experienced guides. For water enthusiasts, boat safaris are available, and guided cycling tours are also an option.
Nxai Pan Camp offers an amazing array of activities in this pristine part of nature in Botswana. | |
Linyanti | Lagoon Camp Lagoon Camp is situated in the Kwando Reserve, a huge private reserve covering 2,300km². Most of its western side is dense mopane forest but along the Kwando River is a band of lush riverine forest, interspersed with open plains. The area attracts superb big game, especially during Botswana’s dry season when elephants seem to be everywhere. | |
Chobe National Park | Pride of the Zambezi The Pride of The Zambezi is a luxury houseboat situated on the Namibian side of the Chobe River, accessible via Kasane. The houseboat accommodates a maximum of 12 guests in comfortable en-suite cabins. The crew of five includes a captain, chef and 3 fully trained guides who will be at your service every second of the day. | |
Chobe National Park | Chobe Elephant Camp Located high on the edge of a rocky ridge overlooking the famous Chobe River is the newly developed Chobe Elephant Camp. This uniquely designed lodge has been built to take advantage of the incredible views overlooking the sweeping floodplains while offering a comfortable refuge from the harsh African conditions. |
Best time to travel
You can travel to Botswana all year. In February it is the dry season, perfect for birders as everything is green after the rains.
October through to December is an excellent time to go on safari in Botswana, it will be quite hot, the game moves towards to the waters. This makes spotting wildlife relatively easy in these months.
Between July and Septembermer is also a good period to travel, as the waters in the Delta rise to the maximum, which provides for excellent circumstances to do water activities. Temperatures are quite tolerable too. Lots of waterholes are dry in this time of year, drawing animals to them.
The months of April to June are relatively quiet. Temperatures are very pleasant and there are many young animals. Very nice time to travel to Botswana indeed.
Overview of the average temperatures and rain in Botswana: