Wishlist
Bespoke Botswana & Vic Falls
A Place Like No Other
Botswana is a land of pristine wilderness and home to some of the finest wildlife experiences in the world. The ecosystems vary from the waterways of the Okavango Delta to the deserts of the Kalahari. The Moremi Game Reserve borders on the Okavango, but wildlife moves freely across the surrounding areas like Chobe.
Think of the Okavango Delta, Moremi, and surrounding concessions as one massive, unfenced wilderness system. While Moremi is in the Delta, other parks like Chobe are connected, making Botswana's northern wildlife areas a unified ecological zone, not isolated reserves.
When and where to visit on your Botswana safari can be daunting. The right combination of water and land camps are essential. Born Free knows Botswana and we will assist in recommending the right combination of camps and locations for your safari.
- Dry Camps are located on larger islands or the drier peripheries of the delta. Their focus is on traditional land-based game viewing activities in open vehicles and guided walking safaris, which are ideal for tracking big game.
- Mixed Camps provide a combination of both water and land activities, often adapting their offerings seasonally as water levels rise and fall, providing the ideal delta experience.
- Wet Camps are situated in areas that are primarily focused on water-based activities such as exploring the waterways. If you are primarily interested in big game, we do not recommend island camps or camps that only provide water-based viewing.
Botswana is renowned for being one of the world's most expensive safari destinations, and we are often asked why. Costs are driven by:
- Small exclusive properties: Standards of food and service extremely high. Limited number of guests.
- Logistics and Remoteness: Many premier camps are located deep within pristine wilderness expanses and require light aircraft flights between areas. All commodities are flown into camps.
- All-Inclusive Pricing: Most luxury Botswana safaris are sold as comprehensive, all-inclusive packages that cover internal flights, accommodation, meals, drinks, laundry and daily guided activities.
- Limited Season: Although some camps are open in green season, May to October is the prime travel time when there is abundant food and water attracting the migrating herds. This is when safari viewing is most productive and weather pleasant.
Tailor-Made Itinerary: Your research has led you to Born Free Safaris, now let our Specialists tailor your journey the way you want to experience it. Travel in the style that meets your comfort level, to the places that interest you the most at a pace that you'll enjoy. Each camp is carefully selected to give you a variety of safari experiences.
Our Botswana partner camps include:
- Platinum standards: Great Plains & African Bush Camps, Wilderness Camps
- Gold standards: Desert & Delta, Ker & Downey, &Beyond and Sanctuary Lodges.
- Mobile and Expedition camps are available on request.
Featured Inclusions: Flights between safari camps in Botswana, All Safari Activities, Non-premium liquor and laundry, Born Free Concierge Service, 24/7 Emergency US & Africa Contacts, Pre-Journey Briefing Booklet, Customized Backpack, Luggage tags, Personalized Bound Final Itinerary.
Full list of inclusions and tariff details will be sent upon inquiry.
Born Free Exclusive Option: All Safari Guide Gratuities can be included.
Is this your dream trip?
Botswana is a destination for the wildlife enthusiast. Days consist of various activities with game viewing being the main goal. It is not for the traveler who is interested in seeing villages and meeting the local people. It is a premium destination and more costly per diem than any other safari area. If you decide this is your dream safari and have a realistic budget–then the extraordinary await!
If Botswana is a must and you have a limited budget, we suggest staying more nights at fewer properties or one camp for three nights that offer water and land activities. It is also a fairly easy trip, with no long drives and an itinerary that is turn-key. When you are trying to keep the budget low--we urge you do not go to a camp that is only offers water and walking. They have low prices but are not the preferred location for predators, elephants, and larger species.
Tailor-Made Itinerary: All trips to Botswana can be custom-tailored to suit your vision. Travel in the style that meets your comfort level, to the places that interest you the most at a pace that you'll enjoy. Each camp is carefully selected to give you a balance of experiences and a variety of wildlife sightings. You can select your camp preferences, and we will custom design your trip. Botswana camp activities are organized by each property. This is an ideal trip for a solo traveler. Your research has led you to Born Free Safaris, now let our Specialists tailor your journey the way you want to experience it.
Highlights
- CHOICE OF PRIME GAME VIEWING AREAS & ACCOMMODATIONS
- OKAVANGO DELTA - a phenomenal wildlife region, it covers the heart of the country. Within its waterways are island camps, bordering reserves and private unfenced concessions where all of the "Big Five" can be found. Hippos and crocodiles cool themselves while herds of elephant and buffalo graze in the floodplains. Over 400 species of birds documented. It is a fabulous area for prides of lion. Game viewing is offered in some properties by boat or mokoro (canoes).
- THE CHOBE REGION - the largest area and closest to Victoria Falls, generally this area is fairly crowded with travelers and not that rich in predators. To really see the best of Chobe, it is imperative to fly further into the park and base your safari in the Savute region.
- SAVUTI (SAVUTE) REGION OF CHOBE – located on the south end of Chobe, this area is extremely game-rich and exceptional for predator sightings. Large prides of lion hunt on the grasslands, leopard and wild dog can be seen as well. The Savuti Channel waterways do ebb and flow. In 2019 the waters started to flow and dramatically transformed the area to marsh and a paradise for large herds of elephant and buffalo.
- MOREMI GAME RESERVE – located within the Okavango Delta, this is one of the most reliable game viewing areas in Botswana. On game drives you travel across wild open grasslands and into the lion and wild dog territories. Elephant gather on the riverbanks and leopards can be seen in the branches of the trees. Boating on the many waterways is a relaxing diversion from the game drives.
- KALAHARI, MAKGADIKGADI PANS & NXAI PAN PARK - an awe-inspiring area made up of open grassland punctuated by wooded valleys and moonscape salt pans. There are game drives and walks with the San Bushmen. Wildlife is seasonal.
- PRIVATE CONCESSIONS - exclusive, community leased areas that border the Okavango and Chobe. Wildlife travels freely between all areas. Each offers intimate, luxury experiences with limited visitors as well as varied activities other than game drive including walking, off-road drives and night drives that are not allowed in the public parklands. The habitats vary from wetlands, forests, plains and waterways. Examples include Linyanti, Selinda, Khwai and Kwando.
- Convenient Scenic Flights between remote wildlife areas included
- All Wildlife Viewing Activities included in Botswana
- Game drives in Open Vehicles
- Motorboat or Canoe in Water Access Camps
- Nature Walks as offered by Properties
- Victoria Falls - Zambezi Sundowner Cruise
- Laundry in Safari Camps
- Excellent Choice for the Solo Traveler
