BOTSWANA   8 Days

This itinerary connects Zimbabwe’s thunderous Victoria Falls to the remote wilderness of Botswana.
About the size of France and economically robust, Botswana is a landlocked sanctuary dedicated to preserving its most pristine game areas.

In the northwest region lies the Okavango Delta and Moremi, a breathtaking sanctuary of winding waterways and lush floodplains. Within the Moremi Game Reserve, sapphire lagoons and emerald islands shelter the “Big Five“
and the rare African wild dog, creating a shimmering water-world teeming with life and striking scenery.

Chobe National Park, known as “The Elephant Highway,” hosts the world’s largest elephant concentrations.
Chobe offers a unique perspective on the wild. Swap the dusty trail for a riverboat to glide past massive herds and pods of hippos, experiencing Africa’s best—from the Kalahari’s golden grass to the river’s edge.

<The Photo Gallery can be found at the bottom of this page>

‍ ‍🇧🇼 Essential Tips:

• Travelwildnow.com strongly advises using a licensed tour operator for your safari. They make a custom plan
  and stay with you the whole trip.

• Look for trusted companies in well-known travel guides like Lonely Planet and Bradt Travel Guide.

• Visas: US and Canadian citizens do not need a visa for Botswana, but do require a visa for Zimbabwe (available online or upon arrival). Passports must be valid for 6+ months beyond your travel dates.

• Currency: The US dollar is accepted in both Botswana and Zimbabwe. It is recommended to bring US dollars on your trip. ⚠️ Note: ATMs are not reliable in Zimbabwe.

• Health: Check for vaccine and malaria recommendations well in advance. Drink bottled water.

• Travel adaptors used in Botswana and Zimbabwe: Type D and Type G.

• Keep your camera in a dust-free bag. Driving on unpaved roads brings in dust that can harm your camera.

• ⚠️ The One Booking Mistake That Destroys African Safari Plans

• You Pay for an Empty Luxury Lodge: Safari lodges are usually all-inclusive & can cost hundreds per night.

• The "Bush Taxi" Won't Wait: Bush planes fly only in daylight because remote dirt airstrips have no lights. If your international flight arrives late, the bush plane will leave without you.

• Stranded Without a Guide: Safari operators schedule pickups precisely. If you miss your arrival window, the guide can’t wait all day—they must go back to the lodge for other guests. Rescheduling a remote pickup is very hard because cell service is unreliable.

• The Domino Effect on Activities: Safaris center on fixed morning and evening game drives. Missing your connection often costs 24–48 hours, ruining the wildlife sightings you came for.

• The Reality: A missed connection can force your safari operator to redo your itinerary, often costing thousands in last‑minute charter flights and lost bookings.

DAY 1

• Arrive at Victoria Falls Airport, Zimbabwe, and transfer to your hotel.

  • A tour guide will meet you at arrivals and assist with the next steps. Tour operators handle all your accommodation needs.

• Most hotels in Victoria Falls are a short walk from the majestic Falls.
  The Victoria Falls Hotel and Ilala Lodge stand as the closest options.
  [See other hotel options in the area]

• Activity: If you have time, walk from your hotel to Victoria Falls for a quick view. It is a 10-minute walk from town. You will find an easily accessible 
  trail that runs along the Falls, no guide needed.

  • The trail is a paved 3 km (2-mile) path through a dense, misty rainforest.

  Overnight: Victoria Falls.

DAY 2 

• After breakfast, walk the flat trail at Victoria Falls with its 16 viewpoints. Plan for 2- 3 hours to experience the mist.

• Victoria Falls is located on the Zambezi River and is 1,708 meters wide and 108 meters high.

  • Sunlight changes the Falls' look throughout the day, creating many stunning views.

• The Falls are one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The others are the Great Barrier Reef, the Grand Canyon, Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), Paricutin volcano, the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro, and Mount Everest.

• Adventure activities in Victoria Falls include bungee jumping and white water rafting, which is considered the best in the world.

• For those who are daring, you can also take a 15-minute Microlight flight that circles around Victoria Falls.
  

  * * * * * * * * * * * * *

• Around midday, your guide will transfer you across the border into Kasane, Botswana. Travel time: 2.5 hrs.

  • The town of Kasane serves as the entry point to Chobe National Park. The town is a bustling transit hub. It is a convenient base just minutes away from the park gates.

• Botswana offers exceptional wildlife sightings thanks to unfenced ecosystems and low tourism to keep wildlife encounters private.

• Visit Chobe National Park, renowned for its game viewing and boat cruises.

  • ⭐️ Chobe boat cruises are a great way to see Botswana. You can witness large herds come to the river and islands to eat the sweet grass.

• Chobe is divided into four (4) distinct regions, each offering a unique wilderness experience. These regions are described below:

  • Savute is famous for its fascinating channel and for its resident lion and spotted hyena populations.

  • Linyati wetlands-With its papyrus-lined waterways, Linyati offers amazing birdwatching all year and is famous for large herds of elephants and wild dogs. It is one of Southern Africa's most beautiful and untouched wilderness areas, known for high-end luxury.

  • Nogatsaa-This area is remote and untouched, offering a genuine Botswana experience with hides overlooking grasslands, clay pans, and waterholes. It is hard to reach.

  • Map of the 4 regions.

  • Chobe Riverfront - this is the park’s easiest-to-reach area. It has the most wildlife and is the top safari spot for tour operators. The main entrance (Sedudu) is near Kasane. [map]

• Overnight: Chobe Park - Kasane region (3 nights)

  • Where to stay:

    • Chobe Game Lodge is the only permanent lodge inside the park and offers an ultimate safari experience. Premium Cost: Staying inside the park is significantly more expensive due to park fees and the luxury nature of the remote properties.

    • Outside the Park: The main entrance to Chobe from Kasane is Sedudu Gate, very close to town. From most hotels in town, it’s a 5–10 minute drive.

      • [Read more] on the many accommodation choices outside of the park.

DAYS 3 and 4

• Your journey continues with two (2) more days at Chobe National Park.

• Chobe is famous for large groups of elephants, hippos, and Cape buffalo that gather by the Chobe River during the dry season. Lions, antelopes, and many other animals live nearby in the forests and lagoons.

  • Visitors can enjoy full-day safaris, unique night game drives, and relaxing boat cruises along the Chobe River, all arranged by their tour operator.

  • Night game drives are only available if staying at private concessions outside the park boundaries.

  • Visit Chobe in the dry season (late June–early October). Short grass and animals crowding the river make wildlife
    easier to spot.

• Overnight: Chobe-Kasane region.

DAY 5

• Your next stop is Moremi Game Reserve.

  —Getting there: you board a small plane from Kasane to your specific camp's airstrip in the Moremi/Okavango region.

  —Flight time ~ 45 minutes. Arrive by lunchtime.

• The Moremi Reserve is the crown jewel of the Okavango Delta, and one of the world’s best wildlife reserves.

• The Okavango Delta hosts many animals, giving them lots of space to live naturally. In the dry season, it’s ideal
  for safaris and wildlife viewing. The delta is as large as Switzerland.

  • Best time to visit: dry season, June to early October.

• Throughout all the Parks, game drives are scheduled in the early morning, afternoon, and evening.

• Overnight: Moremi Reserve camp. (3 nights)

• [Where to stay]

  Many visitors ask what the difference is between a tented camp and a lodge. —A lodge has concrete structures and walls made of stone or wood.

  —A tented camp consists of large safari tents. Don’t think of the small tents you pitch in your backyard or on a campsite. These safari tents are spacious sleeping-living tents with en-suite bathrooms.

• View—a typical 4-star tent.

DAYS 6 and 7

• Moremi Game Reserve—experience the untamed beauty and breathtaking game drives.

• In the Moremi Reserve, visitors can enjoy great views of typical savanna wildlife, as well as birdwatching on the lagoons. There are also thickly wooded areas, which are home to leopards and the Cape Wild Dogs.

• Embark on an unforgettable Mekoro (dugout canoes) tour down the Khwai River. Skilled guides will take you through the shallow delta, where you can see hippos, elephants, and crocodiles up close.

• Overnight: Moremi Game Reserve camp.    

DAY 8

• End of the safari. Depart for Maun Airport for your return home.

  • Consider optional extensions to Namibia or Cape Town.

• Driving time:  

  Moremi Camp —-> Maun Airport: 4.5 - 5 hours by bumpy road, or a 35-minute flight on a small aircraft.

• Historical Weather Data.

• During the months of May through August, you will most likely experience good weather with pleasant average temperatures. Best time to visit.

• Most rainfall (rainy season) is seen in January, February, and November.

• The warmest month is October.

• The coolest and driest months are July and August. An excellent time for a safari adventure.

• Sunrise/Sunset times.