Botswana is by no means a cheap destination for families but it works brilliantly for those families wanting an entirely uncompromising safari experience with the highest degrees of exclusivity. The landscapes and wildlife of the Okavango Delta are second to none, Victoria Falls are the perfect combination of wow factor, pool side relaxation and play and the superb Camps in the Kalahari are utterly unique and wonderful.
Read more: Seasons : Typical Costs : Itineraries
Our itineraries are carefully designed by our experienced travel designers based on years of experience and customer feedback. For a custom itinerary tailored to you, please enquire giving as much detail as possible on your brief.
Lovely combination of safari in Botswana's Chobe National Park, the majestic Victoria Falls and cosmopolitan Cape Town.
Tailor-made Classic 11 days
Adults from $3,824 pp plus flights
'From Price' is the average per person price for ground arrangements for two people sharing.
Flights are typically an additional $1,779 per person economy class from London
Families from $3,214 pp plus flights
'From Price' is the average price per person for ground arrangements for a family of four (two adults + two children under 12).
Flights are typically an additional $1,779 per person economy class from London
7-day private mobile family safari in Northern Botswana. Excellent option for more adventurous families wanting to experience the wildlife of Botswana on more modest budget.
Tailor-made Adventure 10 days
Families from $3,430 pp plus flights
'From Price' is the average price per person for ground arrangements for a family of four (two adults + two children under 12).
Flights are typically an additional $1,318 per person economy class from London
This itinerary is specifically designed with the right camps for families, either particular programmes or activities that appeal to children.
Tailor-made Luxury 12 days
Families from $14,628 pp plus flights
'From Price' is the average price per person for ground arrangements for a family of four (two adults + two children under 12).
Flights are typically an additional $1,582 per person economy class from London
We know our onions. Our specialists have vast experience of their destinations.
Our prices are often better than booking direct. We'll match any quote from a UK or US Tour operator.
As a comprehensively bonded ATOL and ABTA tour operator with 24/7 emergency support we've got your back.
Okavango Delta
• 12 luxury tents with private plunge pools
• Stylishly comfortable lodge, numerous activities & discovery ambiance
• Spectacular vistas & stunning landscape
• Water-based camp with sense of exclusivity
• Fishing & excellent birding
Linyanti
- Stunning lagoon location
- Superb dry-season wildlife
- Boat cruises and fishing
Okavango Delta
- &Beyond Camp
- Luxury & Contemporary
- Private Concession
- Vehicle, Walking and night safari's
Linyanti
- Exclusive, luxury camp
- Water and land-based safari
- Maximum 8 guests
- Spectacular wildlife
Okavango Delta
- &Beyond Camp
- Land & Water based safari activities
- Contemporary & Luxurious
Okavango Delta
- Modern, elegant chalets
- Excellent staff and guides
- Abundant wildlife
- Bushways Safaris portfolio
Okavango Delta
- Luxurious accommodation
- Strong game, year round
- Prime position
- Private plunge pools
Hi Lisa,
The safari trip was excellent! The stay, the food and the people were all very nice. We were happy to have Ryan and Stanley as our game drive guides they brought us up close to the animals and Ryan gave very good information throughout.
Would definitely recommend to friends who are interested in safaris :)
Also, thanks much for your help, particularly keeping the room for my Brother and his wife they’ve enjoyed the safari very much too!
Best regards,
Woan Chyi
Woan Chyi L
reviewing Cape Town & Kruger Safari
on 16 October 2019
We had a fantastic time and all the arrangements worked perfectly.
We were very impressed with the quality and service levels of all 4 locations visited and it was truly a holiday of a lifetime.
Thank you to you and to Lisa for giving us this experience.
Particular highlights for us – really the whole experience, but of particular impact:
Breathtaking scenery at Cathedral Peak Hotel
Rhino Ridge game drives incredible, thanks to guide (we had their head guide, Hala, who’s knowledge, enthusiasm, kindness, interaction, ability to spot wildlife was out of this world)
Luxury of Rhino Ridge (shower, food, views, service)
Immersion in nature, torch lit meal on last night and beach trip at Kosi Forest Lodge
Level of service, quality of food throughout
Catherine F
reviewing South Africa Safari, Beach and Wetlands
on 04 September 2019
We had a fantastic time. Thank you and it went smoothly in the main except for British Airways!
The trip had the right degree of luxury and relaxation (for me) and adventure (all of us).
A few points:
Driving directions to Umlunghi Lodge were slightly wrong. The driving directions should read at the 4th roundabout take the first exit and turn right over the railway. We loved it there. Anton, Bianca and her son and Harriet were very informative and entertaining. The snake talk and handling, night walks and seeing scorpions and the walk in the bush and "bumping" into a giraffe were really special. The kayak trip to Makuzi pan that the lodge organised was good and Tomaz was very informative and kept a respectful distance from the hippos.3 nights was plenty.Rhino River Lodge game reserve was incredibly luxurious and we felt very looked after. The lion siting in camp the day we arrived sent an extra frisson of excitement down our spines. It was easy to forget there were predators that could attack us with all that luxury. The staff and guides (Karl) were knowledgeable and invested in their set up. We saw rhinos with baby, cheetahs with young, porcupine, Genet, wildebeast, Impala, Lion with young, buffalo, a puff adder, ostrich, zebra and giraffes. 4 nights was also plenty.
They all served great food but I felt Ghost Mountain Inn topped the lot. The variety was amazing. We arrived at 10.30 but could not get into our room until 2 ish. The service was not so personal I guess because it is larger (far more than 50 rooms). We had been a bit spoilt at Rhino River! My daughter and I had some treatments at the Spa and loved it. We also went on a large boat trip on Jonzi and had a closer encounter with a large bull hippo and also a hike up Ghost Mountain with Patrick who was very informative and passionate about his people and his country. Isaac the other guide there took us on the boat trip and pointed out the sugar cane harvest on the way. he was very informative also.Lastly, Lalaria Lodge was fabulous and we all piled into the surf of the Indian Ocean. There was hardly anyone on the beach. It was "too cold" according to the landlady. The view from her terrace was of the ocean and whales breaching in the distance. I could have sat there all day. She very kindly provided us with a Scrabble board of her own for us to play. We took a Microlight ride from Ballito over the coastline in the hope of seeing whales and dolphins but no luck. If we had stayed longer we might have gone on a boat trip from Durban. We had a meal at a restaurant called Mozambique which was great fun with vast portions, plenty of carbs and fresh seafood!
The value of the Rand to the Pound was excellent and therefore we felt that we got excellent value which also played a large part!
Katrina P
reviewing South Africa Bush & Beach Safari For Families
on 02 September 2019
Botswana works best in May - October, so combines perfectly with Western Hemisphere summer holidays and British May Half Term and October Half Term Holidays.
All the key areas work to some extent for families, Vic Falls is a fantastic relaxing base, Chobe is easy to reach from Vic Falls (keeping transport and cost down), the Delta offers a variety of activities and the diverse activities and cultural experience in the Kalahari works fantastically for families. So it becomes a question of where to draw the line.
We often combine Botswana with Cape Town in South Africa, there are good flight connections and the contrast of Cosmopolitan City & Coast in Cape Town works well with Botswana's wilderness.
Combining a Botswana safari with some beach time can be a challenge. The best option is combining with Mauritius, but this will require an overnight in Johannesburg. Therefore, if you just looking for a good quality safari and relaxing beach experience, with the minimum of transport hassle, then we would rather recommend Tanzania, Kenya or even KwaZulu Natal in South Africa simply because the beach is so much easier to access from the safari location.
Costs can vary massively depending on family size, the age of children, time of year, length of stay and the quality of the camps, but with Botswana, one thing is always for sure, it won't be cheap. As a very approximate guide, starting budgets (inclusive of international flights) are around £3,000/$4,500 per person* and staying at the best camps and combining three locations, budgets can easily reach £10,000/$15,000 per person*. So a typical family of 4 could end up spending between £12,000/$18,000 - £40,000/$60,000.
Whilst Botswana is expensive, remember that the cost of managing a vast reserve the size of a small country is shared over a very small number of guests each year and the level of service and guiding is second to none.
* Per person price is the average per person price across the family.
Botswana's key selling point is the opportunity to witness magnificent wildlife spectacles in rare exclusivity. With the exception of Chobe and some of the National Park areas, visitor numbers are very tightly controlled. Other areas in Africa can offer comparable wildlife experiences (Masai Mara, Serengeti etc.) and similarly lightly touristed wilderness (Laikipia, Selous etc.), but the combination of both is what marks Botswana out. This is also what makes it expensive, so if you find your budget is being stretched too far, then consider the following alternatives: