If South Africa is often the best introduction to safari, Botswana is where many people fall in love with it.

This is one of Africa's most exclusive safari destinations, famous for exceptional guiding, breathtaking landscapes and some of the most untouched wildlife experiences you'll find anywhere in the world.

A Botswana safari isn't about rushing from sighting to sighting. It's about smaller camps, fewer vehicles and spending time properly immersed in the African wilderness.

If you're completely new to safari, I'd recommend reading my Complete Beginner's Guide to Going on Safari first. Then come back here once you've decided Botswana might be the destination for you.

Why Choose Botswana for a Safari?

Botswana has built its reputation on quality rather than quantity.

Instead of large numbers of visitors, you'll find low-impact tourism designed to protect both the wildlife and the environment.

That means:

• Smaller, more exclusive camps
• Outstanding professional guides
• Exceptional wildlife viewing
• Fewer vehicles at sightings
• Incredible landscapes
• A wonderfully peaceful safari experience

If you're looking for a luxury African safari holiday, Botswana is one of the finest destinations on the continent.

The Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is Botswana's most famous safari destination and one of the best places for a water-based safari in Africa.

Every year, floodwaters arrive from Angola and spread across the Kalahari Desert, creating one of the world's largest inland deltas.

The result is an extraordinary mix of waterways, islands and floodplains teeming with wildlife.

Highlights

• Traditional mokoro (dugout canoe) safaris
• Boat safaris
• Walking safaris
• Superb birdlife
• Elephants, lions, leopards and hippos
• Some of Africa's finest luxury safari lodges

Exploring the Delta by mokoro is one of the most peaceful wildlife experiences you can have. You drift silently through the reeds while your guide points out everything from tiny frogs to elephants drinking on the shoreline.

Chobe National Park

If elephants are high on your wish list, Chobe National Park is hard to beat.

It's home to one of the largest elephant populations in Africa, and seeing huge herds gathering along the Chobe River at sunset is something you'll never forget.

Highlights

• Incredible elephant sightings
• River safaris
• Excellent predator viewing
• Sunset boat cruises
• Fantastic photography

The river safaris are particularly special, giving you a completely different perspective from a traditional game drive.

Moremi Game Reserve

Many safari enthusiasts consider Moremi Game Reserve to offer some of the best all-round wildlife viewing in Africa.

Because it combines waterways, woodland and open plains, you'll encounter an incredible variety of animals within a relatively small area. It's an excellent choice if you're hoping to maximise your chances of seeing the Big Five.

What Animals Can You See?

Botswana offers exceptional wildlife throughout the year.

Expect to see:

• Elephant
• Lion
• Leopard
• Buffalo
• Hippo
• Giraffe
• Zebra
• Wild dog
• Hyena
• Crocodile
• Hundreds of bird species

Botswana is particularly well known for African wild dogs, one of the continent's rarest predators.

Best Time for a Botswana Safari

The best time for a Botswana safari is generally June to October.

During the dry season, wildlife gathers around permanent water sources, making animals much easier to spot.

The floodwaters also transform the Okavango Delta into one of Africa's greatest wildlife spectacles.

If you'd like a month-by-month breakdown, read my Best Time to Go on Safari guide.

How Much Does a Botswana Safari Cost?

Botswana is one of Africa's most exclusive safari destinations, and prices reflect that.

As a rough guide for two adults travelling from the UK (5 night safari package including international flights and transfers):

Safari Style	Typical Price (Per Couple)
Luxury	£8,000–£12,000
Ultra-luxury	£12,000–£20,000+

Most Botswana safari holidays include:

• Accommodation
• Daily game drives
• Boat safaris (where applicable)
• Walking safaris
• Meals
• Park fees
• Internal flights between camps

For a more detailed breakdown, read my How Much Does an African Safari Cost? guide.

Fly-In Safaris

Most luxury Botswana safaris are fly-in itineraries.

Small aircraft connect remote camps across the Delta, dramatically reducing travelling time and allowing you to experience several different regions in one trip.

The flights themselves often become part of the adventure, offering spectacular views over the waterways below.

Can You Combine Botswana with Other Destinations?

Absolutely.

Popular combinations include:

• Victoria Falls
• Cape Town
• Namibia
• South Africa

Botswana also works brilliantly as part of a wider Southern Africa itinerary.

My Complete Luxury Safari Guide explores some of the best multi-centre safari combinations.

Is Botswana Right for Your First Safari?

It certainly can be.

If your priority is exclusivity, exceptional guiding and some of the best wildlife experiences in Africa, Botswana is hard to beat.

If you're looking for the best value or hoping to self-drive, South Africa may be a better starting point.

If you're still deciding, my Complete Beginner's Guide to Going on Safari will help you compare destinations and choose the right one for your trip.

My Personal Highlights from Botswana

Two moments from Botswana still spring to mind.

The first involved me leaving the shower block and being greeted by the back end of an elephant.

Not the romantic safari moment people usually imagine, admittedly.

He had wandered into camp to help himself to the fresh leaves from the trees, and I happened to be in exactly the wrong place at exactly the wrong time. Fortunately, he was far more interested in lunch than in me, so I made a very calm, very dignified retreat back to my luxury tent.

At least, that’s how I remember it.

The second was on a mokoro safari, gliding silently along the waterways of the Okavango Delta. There’s something wonderfully peaceful about exploring by traditional dugout canoe — no engine noise, no rush, just water, reeds and the occasional reminder that hippos are much larger when you’re at eye level.

Then a fish eagle dropped from the sky, hit the water, and rose again with a fish thrashing wildly in its talons.

Dinner was served.

Moments like that are why Botswana stays with you. If you’re considering a luxury Botswana safari, I’d be delighted to help design a tailor-made itinerary that brings together the right camps, guides and experiences for you.

Get in touch to start planning your journey today!

Continue Planning Your Safari

These guides will help you plan every part of your safari:

• Complete Beginner's Guide to Going on Safari– ideal if this is your first safari.
• Complete Luxury Safari Guide – compare Africa's best safari destinations and styles.
• Best Time to Go on Safari – month-by-month advice for choosing the right season.
• How Much Does an African Safari Cost? – realistic budgets, spending money and what's included.

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