Botswana safari tours allow visitors to discover the best parts a country has to offer, with the benefit of having an experienced safari guide, transportation provided, meals prepared and activities all planned out.
This allows guests to sit back and enjoy the wildlife-rich Botswana parks and reserves viewing including animals such as lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, African wild dogs and much more.
Below is a list of some of the best safari tours available in Botswana.
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Best Botswana safari tours
Tours can also be customized to suit the desires and needs of clients. The tours listed below can be adapted and interchanged with other tours also.
Safari tour prices in Botswana
The type of safari tour can have a significant impact on the tour cost. Our article on the price of a Botswana safari should help provide estimates on the cost of a safari trip.
Botswana and other safari destinations have a reputation for expensive, luxury travel, which can be the case. However, it is possible to go on a more budget friendly Botswana safari tour.
Below, we’ve detailed two safari tour examples with very different budgets.
The benefit of a Botswana safari tour is that many parks allow self-drive safaris.
Visitors therefore only have to pay for the rental of a car or 4×4 , without having to resort to the services of a driver or a ranger. To stay within budget, visitors should focus on visiting parks, rather than the more expensive game reserves.
Budget-friendly Botswana safari tour itinerary
For a budget-friendly safari tour in Botswana: 10-day self-drive tour itinerary with accommodation in campsites, visitors can expect:
- Day 1: Arrival to Kasane (BBK) and drive 3 miles to Chobe National Park
- Day 2: Safari at Chobe National Park
- Day 3: Safari by the Chobe River with its abundant wildlife and road trip to Savuti
- Day 4: Safari in Savuti
- Day 5: Safari in Savuti and road trip to Moremi Game Reserve
- Day 6: Safari in Moremi Game Reserve & Okavango Delta
- Day 7: Safari in Moremi Game Reserve & Okavango Delta
- Day 8: Safari in Okavango Delta
- Day 9: Safari in Okavango Delta
- Day 10: Return to Kasane and depart
For a more luxurious stay, travelers on a higher budget can take advantage of the tranquility of private reserves and accommodation in luxurious lodges as well as plane transfers.
Prices for the above trip can be estimated at $5,000 for 2 people, not including international flights and transfers.
Luxury Botswana safari tour itinerary
For a luxury tour: 10 day safari (flights and transfers included) with a visit to several Botswana parks and reserves, housed in luxury lodges.
- Day 1: Arrival to Kasane (BBK), pick-up by guided transport, transfer to Chobe National Park
- Day 2: Safari at Chobe Park and mokoro trip & breakfast/lunch/dinner/drinks every day
- Day 3: Safari in Chobe National Park and guided trip to Savuti
- Day 4: Safari experience in a hot-air balloon safari
- Day 5: Safari in Savuti and helicopter trip to Moremi Game Reserve
- Day 6: Plane transfer to safari in Moremi Game Reserve & Okavango Delta
- Day 7: Safari in Moremi Game Reserve & Okavango Delta
- Day 8: Safari in Okavango Delta and walking tour with bushmen
- Day 9: Safari in Okavango Delta and prepared dinner/cocktails
- Day 10: Plane transfer return to Kasane/Gaborone and depart
Prices for the above trip can start from $20,000 for 2 people, not including international flights.
This tour is aimed at the more luxury minded safari traveller, ready to experience the exquisite comforts of a Botswana lodge and tented camps, fine dining and premium service.
Tour options: Family tours, friends tours or individual tours
There are many elements and preferences which need to be considered when choosing a safari tour. Larger tour parties with kids may not be the preference of newlyweds on a honeymoon tour looking for a quieter, more tranquil vacation.
Botswana family safari tour with children
For family friendly safari tours in Botswana: 9-day combo tours across Botswana and Victoria Falls in Zambia can include:
- Day 1: Charter flight into Okavango Delta for 3 nights
- Day 2: Safari in Okavango Delta – Big 5, Boating trips and mokoro excursions
- Day 3: Safari in Okavango Delta – Big 5, Boating trips and mokoro excursions
- Day 4: Safari in Linyanti, new lodge – Game drives, nature walks and mokoro excursions
- Day 5: Safari in Linyanti, new lodge – Game drives, nature walks and mokoro excursions
- Day 6: Safari in Linyanti, new lodge – Game drives, nature walks and mokoro excursions
- Day 7: Explore Victoria Falls, Zambia
- Day 8: Explore Victoria Falls, Zambia
- Day 9: Return to Gaborone/Johannesburg and depart
This example tour combines 9 days of safaris and activities. Game drives can be long and taxing journeys for children hence the number of parks and reserves visited can be adapted.
Botswana safari tour for couples
- Day 1: Charter flight into Chobe Riverfront for 2 nights
- Day 2: Safari in Chobe Riverfront for 2 nights
- Day 3: Safari in Chobe National Park for 2 nights
- Day 4: Safari in Chobe National Park for 2 nights
- Day 5: Safari in Moremi Game Reserve for 2 nights
- Day 6: Safari in Moremi Game Reserve for 2 nights
- Day 7: Safari in Okavango Delta for 2 nights
- Day 8: Safari in Okavango Delta for 2 nights
- Day 9: Return to Gaborone/Johannesburg and depart
Organizing your safari tour in Botswana
There are multiple factors to consider when organising a safari tour.
Safari tour duration
Visitors will need to think about their budget and how much time they have when balancing the tour duration and number of parks to visit.
Safari tours can be tiring activities with early morning game drives from 5.30am to lunch-time and evening drives at 3.30pm. Visitors can get tired mid-afternoon on board bumpy 4 × 4 vehicles on difficult terrain in higher temperatures.
Visitors are recommended to take a minimum of 7 days to view 2-3 parks. Safari tours rarely go beyond 14 day trips without some moments of downtime for guests.
Activities
Botswana has a huge range of activities that visitors can also enjoy during their stay.
Walking safaris on foot are possible as well as by boat, canoe or helicopter. For hiking enthusiasts, Savuti and Moremi Game Reserves are a must.
Visitors can also go quad biking in the salt pans or horseback riding for a different perspective. Check out our article on the best things to do in Botswana which includes eco safari walks with local bushmen.
When to go
The best time to visit Botswana is during the dry season between May and October, when you can expect warm, sunny days (22°C-35°C). Understanding the seasonal differences is useful as this can impact safari prices and availability.
Budget
The elements that impact the price of a safari in Botswana include:
- Number of Parks visited
- Type of accommodation
- Number of travelers
- Number of transfers and means of transport
Other considerations
Housing
From camping to luxury lodges, there is something for all tastes and budgets in Botswana. The main parks offer a wide range of accommodation, visitors will have no problem finding what suits them best, inside or near the parks.
Food
Full board is common in the majority of lodges in Botswana. Visitors on self-drive safaris will need to avail of local supermarkets and restaurants. Carrying a small amount of Botswana currency, the Pula (BWP) is useful when paying for smaller food or ticket items.
Travel and transfers
Travellers can fly to Botswana via Maun (MAU), Gaborone (GAB) or Kasane (BBK) airports for visitors wondering how to get to Botswana and a Botswana visa and certain vaccinations may be required to enter.
Visitors will also need to consider if they want to book a tour with guides and all transport included or a self-drive safari.
To keep costs down, visitors are recommended to look for small-group tour packages and activities where costs can be divided by the number of travelers including chartered game viewing flights over the inland delta.
A trip made up of multiple safaris in different countries and locations appeals to many visitors looking to make the most of their African safari trip.
Such safari combinations can include:
- Victoria Falls tours and safaris
- Safari in Namibia and Botswana
- Zambia and Botswana safari
- Kalahari desert and South Africa safari
- Safari Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe
FAQs
Which Botswana safari tour is available over a 10-day period?
Day 1: Arrival to Kasane (BBK), pick-up by guided transport, transfer to Chobe National Park
Day 2: Safari at Chobe Park and mokoro trip & breakfast/lunch/dinner/drinks every day
Day 4: Safari in Savuti and hot-air balloon safari, helicopter trip to
Day 6: Plane transfer to safari in Moremi Game Reserve & Okavango Delta
Day 7: Safari in Moremi Game Reserve & Okavango Delta
Day 10: Plane transfer return to Kasane/Gaborone and depart
What is the best cheapest safari tour in Botswana?
A trip made up of multiple safari parks and reserves on a self-drive safari during the green season.