Safari in Botswana

African safaris are usually considered to be the most life-changing experiences on any travel wish list and this safari in Bortswana is no exception. Explore the Okavango Delta on a luxury houseboat and then swap boutique for basic, camping out close to nature in Chobe National Park and the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana. Add to that a couple of nights in Zambia to see the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls and you have the perfect formula for a memorable (and affordable) holiday of a lifetime!

Although over two-thirds of the country is covered in desert, the remainder of Botswana is varied in its terrain with savannahs, grasslands and river flood plains providing home to a plethora of life. Botswana also features the Okavango Delta within its borders, the largest delta on Earth and the setting for this one-of-a-kind adventure. What’s more, the second half of you trip is spent in Chobe National Park which is home to the largest concentration of African elephants in the world. A curious point of note (and this isn’t a joke!) is that a pink elephant was discovered in the region by a tourist this year, one of only three ever recorded. The chances of you spotting one are slim, but surprises abound on this safari and as mother nature is providing the majority of the entertainment, no two trips are ever the same. Pink elephants aside, you can also hope to encounter springbok, wildebeest, zebra, rhinos, antelope, giraffe and hippos by the dozen as well as all the usual big cats you would expect to find on an African safari.

Over the course of two weeks, you will see the varied wildlife in Botswana, staying first on a luxury houseboat on the Okavango Delta Panhandle and then camping in the wilds of the Chobe National Park. The first three days of your safari in Botswana are spent based on a luxury houseboat in the Okavango Delta, with all the rooms looking out onto the water and beyond. The boat has it's own tender, so you will be able to head out for boat safaris looking for wildlife, enjoying relaxed picnic lunches on the riverbanks. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Unesco World Heritage Site at Tsoldilo Hills which is home to a fascinating collection of San Rock Art paintings. You will then transfer to Zambia, to stay near the impressive Victoria Falls for two days, where you are left to explore under your own steam, but a trip to the Falls is a must. From here, you transfer to Chobe National Park, Botswana's third largest game reserve, home to over 120,000 elephants. From now on, you will be in much simpler accommodation, camping, enjoying dinners by campfire. During the days here, your guides will take you on game drives in the Serondella and Savuti areas of the park. Your final destination of the trip is the Moremi Game Reserve on the east of the Okavango Delta, home to over 500 bird species. The reserve is only accessible by 4 wheel drive and here, again, accommodation will be in tents, with game drives during the day.

If you have any interest at all in African safaris, this tour will appeal if only for one reason - the price. In a world where you can easily blow multiple tens of thousands embarking on such a safari, this one is remarkably good value for money (especially given the standard of amenities and unrivalled nature of the accommodation.)

People interested in African safari can be approximately divided into two distinct groups - those who want to see it all whilst resting in the lap of luxury, and those who prefer to abandon mod-cons and rough it. This 13-day tour aims to cross the bridge of both, giving you a mixture of luxury and more basic accommodation.

At the time of writing there are no mandatory vaccinations or travel requirements for tourists visiting Botswana for less than a month, but a course of anti-malaria medication is recommended before travelling. As always, we cannot provide medical advice and suggest visiting your GP before your tour.