THE 10 BEST Okavango Delta Tours & Excursions

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okavango delta safari tour

1. 1 Day Okavango Delta Mokoro/Canoe Daytrip

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2. Moremi Full Day Trip In The World Renowned Moremi Game Reserve

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3. 13 Day WILDERNESS TRAIL: Best Of Northern Botswana -WildCamping + Victoria Falls

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4. 11Day WILDERNESS TRAIL:Okavango,Moremi&Chobe -WildCamping Safari +Victoria Falls

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5. 11 Days and 10 Nights Private Northern Explorer Tour

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6. 1 Day Moremi Game Drive Safari, guided

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7. 12 Days Mobile Camping Safari-From Maun to Chobe National Park

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8. 7 Nights / 8 Days Delta Miracle Trip

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9. 2 nights 3 days Overnight Mokoro Trail Okavango delta

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10. 6 Nights 7 days Zebra Trail Moremi

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11. 1 Day Okavango Delta Safari

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12. The Best of Botswana & Vic Falls - By Walking Stick Safaris

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13. 11 Days Safari Tour In Botswana

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14. Moremi One Day Game Drive Safari

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15. Moremi day trip

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16. 9 Day Best Of Northern Botswana & Victoria Falls - Mix of WildCamping & Lodges

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17. 3-Day Moremi Game Reserve- by Walking Stick Safaris

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18. 8 Day Okavango Safari - Wilderness Trail (Inner Delta & Moremi)

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19. 3 Day Wilderness Trail: Moremi, Khwai & East Okavango Delta - WildCamping Safari

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20. 11 Days Botswana's Great Safari Experience

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21. Moremi Hippo Mobile tented safari

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22. 14 Days Mobile Camping Safari:Maun, Central Kalahari -Moremi Game Reserve- Chobe

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23. Outdoor Luxury Safari Experience

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24. 2 Day Wilderness Trail: Okavango Delta and Moremi - Camping Safari

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25. Okavango delta - Chobe Adventure 7 Nights/8 Days

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26. 3 Days Okavango Delta

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27. 3 Day Moremi Safari

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28. Authentic Safari

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29. 2 Day Mokoro Camping Safari - Boro Island Adventure

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30. 4 Days Okavango Delta Experience

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  • 1 Day Okavango Delta Mokoro/Canoe Daytrip
  • 3 Days Okavango Delta
  • Moremi Game Reserve Day Trip
  • Moremi Full Day Trip In The World Renowned Moremi Game Reserve
  • Moremi day trip

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okavango delta safari tour

  • Okavango Delta Safari

The ultimate guide to your next Okavango Delta Safari

Get to know okavango delta.

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By Antoinette Booyse

Safari Travel Planner

The seasonal flooding of the Okavango River spills across the parched Kalahari landscape, producing a gigantic inland sea that is peppered with lush islands and brimming with wildlife

Each year, during Botswana’s long dry season, the Okavango River floodwaters arrive from the Angolan highlands and push the permanent Okavango Delta outwards into its seasonal floodplains.

The result is an enormous sprawling inland delta that is characterised by a mosaic of islands, shallow channels and fluctuating wetlands. Wildlife abounds in this verdant landscape. Aside from the Big Five – all of which occur here –visitors also stand an excellent chance of seeing African wild dogs, especially in the drier northern and eastern regions of the delta.

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Why Okavango Delta?

  • Boasting some of the best wildlife viewing to be found anywhere in Africa
  • Home to the Big Five as well as African wild dogs and a rich birdlife
  • Scenically spectacular terrain (best appreciated from the air)
  • The water element allows for boat cruises and mokoro [dugout canoe] safaris to explore the delta from a different perspective

Where to go in Okavango Delta

  • Chiefs Island in Okavango Delta
  • Maun in Okavango Delta
  • Moremi Game Reserve in Okavango Delta
  • Northern Okavango Delta
  • Okavango Delta Panhandle
  • Southern Okavango Delta
  • Western Okavango Delta

Region Explained

Chief’s Island was once the private hunting ground of the local Chief Moremi, but was incorporated into the wider Moremi Game Reserve in 1976. Roughly 60km long and 10km wide, the island is only accessible by boat or, more usually, by light aircraft, to one of the very few high-end luxury lodges and mobile camps that operate on the island itself. Day boat trips and overnight boat safaris can also be arranged from Maun, but in general the island sees very low visitor numbers and is certainly Botswana’s most exclusive wildlife destination.

Chief's Island is a playground for wildlife - from bird species to predators

Rhino in the wild: Besides the small Khama Rhino Sanctuary in western Botswana, Chief’s Island is the only place in the country where you have a good chance of seeing rhino in the wild. Once common across Botswana they were completely wiped out by poaching, but were successfully reintroduced to central Moremi in the early 2000s.

Exclusive game viewing: Moremi is arguably Botswana’s best wildlife-viewing region, and Chief’s Island is undoubtedly the reserve’s most game-rich and exclusive area. It’s the only place in Botswana which supports all of the Big Five and excellent predator sightings are virtually guaranteed.

A leopard lounges lazily on a log in Chief's Camp

Practical Advice

Chief’s Island’s two main lodges are among the most luxurious in Africa, offering all-inclusive, fly-in safaris, usually transferring through Maun. Day or overnight boat trips from Maun are the more affordable option, but however you visit you’ll need to book well in advance. The island can be visited at any time of year, but May to August sees extensive flooding in some areas. This can be a wonderful time to visit Chief’s Island, but the focus shifts to boat and mokoro excursions instead of game vehicles and walking safaris.

Try a mokoro boat ride for an alternative look at Chief's Island

On the south-eastern edge of the Okavango Delta, straddling the banks of the Thamalakane River, the bustling frontier town of Maun serves as the gateway to northern Botswana. If you’re on a fly-in safari, you’ll likely not leave the airport, instead making a quick change of planes before winging off into the central Delta. Those arriving by vehicle, however, usually stay a night or two, replenishing supplies, making repairs, getting laundry done and so on. Maun has large shopping centres, garages, banks, bars and camping supply stores, serving not just the steady stream of 4×4 visitors, but the hundreds of lodges, hotels, campsites and safari tour operators that ply their trade in the region.

On the south-eastern edge of the Okavango Delta, straddling the banks of the Thamalakane River, the bustling frontier town of Maun serves as the gateway to northern Botswana Credit: Ride Botswana

Flights over the Delta: The Okavango Delta is spectacular from above, and a flight over the Delta is highly recommended. A number of companies offer light aircraft and helicopter tours – with minimum flight time of 45 minutes. As is takes some minutes to get over the Delta properly, booking at least an hour is a good idea. Helicopters are more expensive, but the visibility – and photo opportunities – are much better.

Gunns Camp overlooks the legendary Moremi Game Reserve.

Mokoro trips: Mekoro (plural) are the Delta’s traditional dugout canoes and multi-day excursions can be arranged from Maun. If the water is high enough you’ll start with a speedboat transfer from Maun itself, otherwise a vehicle will drive you north of town to the launch site. Once into the Delta, local guides will pole you along, stopping at deserted, wild islands for a few unforgettable nights under the stars. Day trips can also be arranged, but it’s usually more practical to stick to the Thamalakane River – most river lodges have small motorboats for birding and sunset cruises.

Maun is a great place to head it you’re travelling solo – everyone passes through the town on their way north or south. It’s much more affordable booking group activities into the Delta and in Maun you’ll be able to join bigger tours and meet new people. All of Botswana’s major campsite and tour operators have offices in Maun and although it’s always a good idea to book in advance, last minute itinerary changes can be made in Maun in person (which is often much easier than by email or over the phone!). There’s not much safari-related that you can’t get done in Maun, from buying a new tent or camping chair to welding or major mechanical repairs. It’s also the last place to get fuel before the long drive north to Kasane.

Moremi Game Reserve covers the central and eastern edges of the Okavango Delta and is one of Botswana’s most famous parks. In the central region, dominated by Chief’s Island, a couple of beautiful luxury lodges provide fly-in safaris to one of the most pristine wildlife havens in the world. East of Chief’s Island, a roughly triangular wedge incorporates expansive mopani and riverine hardwood forests, open swamp grasslands, reed beds and waterways. This wedge of land provides the only public vehicle access into the Delta, with four main camping areas and a handful of private campsites and lodges.

This wedge of land provides the only public vehicle access into the Delta, with four main camping areas and a handful of private campsites and lodges.

Fantastic fauna and flora: Moremi is arguably Botswana’s best wildlife region, with permanent water that attracts big game year-round. Over 1000 species of plants grow along the waterways and in the surrounding plains, which in turn are home to over 400 species of birds. All of Africa’s iconic megafauna can be found here, although rhino are concentrated on Chief’s Island where they can be more easily monitored and protected from poaching.

An Oxpecker sits atop a kudu

Boat trips into the Delta: Boat excursions can be arranged from the two main waterway campsites, Third Bridge and Xakanaxa, and there’s also a small boat station on the Mboma peninsular near Third Bridge. Both motorboat and mokoro trips are available – do both if you can, they’re equally special for different reasons. While mekoro are silent and peaceful (and with a knowledgeable guide a great way to learn about the waterways’ small plants and animals), the faster boats will get you out into the more distant lagoons, with the chance of seeing big game and large nesting bird colonies from the water.

Most visitors to Moremi’s eastern section arrive in their own 4×4 – and soon realised that the park’s roads are something of a challenge. In the dry season (roughly April to November), thick sand can make the going very slow, especially between Third Bridge and Xakanaxa. In July and August, however, is the Delta itself is at its fullest and roads along the waterways can flood completely. Once the rains begin in November/December many tracks clog up with mud. Some 4×4 experience is certainly a good idea and travelling in convoy is also highly recommended. Note that there’s no fuel at all between Maun and Kasane, and no shops either (although there’s a new small camp shop at Third Bridge). You need to be completely self-sufficient when visiting Moremi, and that includes your own supply of fresh drinking water. None of the public campsites are fenced and visitors are expected to be careful of wild animals at all times, and never to leave their campsite after dark.

Boat trips along the river are a favourite past time in Botswana

Outside of Moremi Game Reserve the Okavango Delta is divided into a number of unfenced concession areas, each managed by a local community or private safari operator. In north-western Botswana, the concessions are designated ‘NG’ – an acronym for the broader municipal area, known as Ngamiland. Along the Delta’s northern edge, you’ll find NG12, NG18, NG19, NG20, NG21, NG22 and NG23, each with their own lodges and tented camps, and offering a range of activities depending on their specific location, access to water, etc. NG19 is the most easterly and covered separately as the Khwai Community Concession – the rest run westwards, all the way to the Panhandle. On the whole, the concessions closer to the Panhandle receive more flood water and so have more opportunities for boat safaris, but each camp is uniquely situated, with those further back from the main channels focussing on walking safaris and game drives instead. This area offers some of the best wildlife viewing in the Delta, with more variety and greater numbers than in the south and west.

Outside of Moremi Game Reserve the Okavango Delta is divided into a number of unfenced concession areas, each managed by a local community or private safari operator. In north-western Botswana, the concessions are designated NG

Walking safaris: The Okavango Delta is not especially well-known for walking safaris, but good walking conditions are possible, particularly in the Delta’s northern concessions. Here you’ll find a beautiful mix of lush floodplains and open woodland, and plenty of plains game as you explore back from the waterways.

Get up close and personal on a walking safari

Boat safaris: Most camps in the northern concessions have good access to deep water, with fantastic opportunities to discover the Delta by motorboat. Mokoro (canoe) safaris are also usually possible, but motorboats allow quick access to a number of wonderful open lagoons. The north’s reed beds, twisting channels and scattered palm tree islands offer some of the most spectacular landscapes anywhere in the Delta.

Boat safaris allow quick access to a number of wonderful open lagoons

All the camps and lodges in the Delta’s northern concessions are extremely luxurious, with high season rates usually in excess of $1000 a person a night. Discounts of up to 50% are standard during the low season (December to March), but although there can still be some very fine days, rain and overcast conditions are the norm. Each camp offers its own specialist activities according to its location so be sure to check what’s available before you make your pick. May to August is the peak flood season and the best time to visit if you want to explore the Delta by boat. And April and May are best for photography, when the atmosphere is clearer after the end of the summer rains.

The Okavango Delta is fed by the Okavango River, which flows southeast from Angola, through Namibia’s Zambezi Region, and enters Botswana at the small border village of Mohembo. Here it spreads out into a strip roughly 11km wide, a thick green mass of twisting channels, dense papyrus and reed beds. This long, green ‘Panhandle’ continues for roughly 100km before fanning out into the Okavango Delta proper. Along its western edge you’ll find a number of self-drive safari and fishing camps and the area is, on the whole, much more low key and affordable than elsewhere in the Delta. Although there’s excellent fishing, good birding and plenty of crocs and hippos, the Panhandle is not known for big game and traditional wildlife safaris are not an option. However, unique to the area, are a selection of fully-crewed houseboats, ideal for larger groups looking to kick back on the water.

Fishing: Angling is undoubtedly the Panhandle’s biggest attraction and there’s good fishing to be had throughout the year. Catfish and bream are common in the area, but tigerfish are the main prize, especially between August and November. Tigers up to 10kg have been caught in the northern channels and just about every lodge and camp offers guided fishing trips to find them.

Cat fish are common during August-November, but Tiger fish are the main prize

The annual catfish run: This part of the Okavango sees the annual catfish run when thousands of predatory catfish, some up to 1.5m in length, swarm up the channels as the water levels start to drop (roughly August to November). As they go they hunt smaller fish and are in turn hunted by birds and tigerfish – an incredible feeding frenzy that’s a sight to behold!

Unlike much of the Delta, the Panhandle is easily accessible, with a generally good, although in places badly potholed, tarmac road running along its western edge. Reaching some of the camps and lodges will still require a 4×4, however, as many of the access tracks are either extremely sandy or seasonally waterlogged. The eastern edge of the Panhandle is high-clearance only, with a single sandy track running south from Mohembo to Seronga. If you’re visiting the region a detour to the nearby Tsodilo Hills is recommended. It’s one of the world’s oldest inhabited sites, with archaeological evidence dating back 60,000 years.

Tsodilo Hills is one of the world’s oldest inhabited sites, with archaeological evidence dating back 60,000 years.

The southern Delta can be divided into six main concessions, three smaller regions to the north and three larger areas further south. To the north, NG27A, NG27B and NG31 are so far north they’re practically central, sitting just off Chief’s Island along Moremi Game Reserve’s fenced southern border. When the floodwaters arrive much of this area is underwater and the lodges and camps here are especially well known for their mokoro safaris. Beautiful riverine forest characterises the region, including giant water berry, fever berry, fig, sausage and baobab trees. Further south, the three larger concessions are NG29, NG30 and NG32. Although their northern sections can see good floodwaters, these sprawling reserves are on the whole far drier and the camps specialise in game drives and horseback safaris.

Mokoro rides are a highlight in the southern concessions of the Okavango Delta

Horseback safaris: A multi-day horseback safari is a wonderful experience and a great way to get up close to plains game ‘on their terms’. For the most part wild antelope don’t see horses (and their riders) as a threat and it’s often possible to get much closer than on foot. Only very experienced riders are allowed, however, and you’ll need to be comfortable galloping out of any trouble!

Horseback safaris are a truly unique experience that offers a unique viewpoint of the wildlife

Mokoro trips: The Delta’s southern regions are best known for mokoro safaris, especially the three smaller concessions just south of Chief’s Island. Day trips are often combined with short island walks and while wildlife tends to be elusive in these wetter areas, the birdlife is excellent and the soft reflections and stunning, riverine landscapes make for some spectacular photo opportunities.

The annual flood usually arrives in April/May, rising first in the northwest, and lingering longest in the southeast. April to November is the best time to visit the area when the skies are clear and the floodwaters optimal for mokoro safaris. Although most of the southern lodges are extremely luxurious and exclusive, unlike the north there’s also a handful of more affordable mid-range camps. Significant discounts are available during the wet summer months (up to 50% off from December to March), but rain and overcast conditions are common during this period and despite the excellent birdlife it can be a bit miserable in a waterlogged mokoro.

Along the western edge of the Okavango, just below the Panhandle, the deep-water channels and surrounding floodplains are some of the most beautiful to be found anywhere in the Delta. Three main concession areas cover this stunning region and there are only a handful of exclusive camps and lodges. Concession NG24 is the most northerly and currently has no safari operation at all, while NG25 has half a dozen luxury camps and NG26, the most southerly, a couple more. Although the wildlife is not as diverse as in the concessions further east and north, elephant and lion are fairly common, as well as other smaller predators and antelope, including lechwe and sitatunga which are regularly seen. This is also an excellent area for water birds, and in the southwest, slightly back from the waterways, horseback safaris are also possible.

Along the western edge of the Okavango, just below the Panhandle, the deep-water channels and surrounding floodplains are some of the most beautiful.

Water-based activities: The more northerly camps have excellent access to the deep-water channels and motorboat and mokoro excursions are the norm. Boat-based bird-watching is popular and ‘catch and release’ fishing trips can also be arranged – look out for the annual catfish run which occurs between August and November.

Tiger fishing is excellent between August and November

Walking with elephants: Until recently elephant-backed safaris were still possible in this part of the Delta, but these have been phased out in favour of bush walks alongside the elephants and interacting with them from the ground.

The floodwaters arrive earlier here than further east in the Delta, and tend to subside earlier too so timing is important. April to November is broadly the best period to visit, but come later in the season (from September, when the water levels are lower) for horseback safaris and general wildlife viewing. That said, the camps and lodges nearer the Panhandle have good water access and offer water-based activities year-round. A few are among the most luxurious in the Okavango, but there are one or two midrange options as well and, as is common practice throughout the Delta, there are substantial discounts during the rainy summer months (January to March).

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When is the best month to travel to okavango delta.

  • Okavango Delta in January

January is the Okavango Delta’s wettest month, with regular spectacular thunderstorms that usually arrive in the late afternoon. Mornings in January often begin bright and clear, turn suddenly violent and then clear again overnight. It’s rare in the Okavango to see consecutive days of persistent rain, but in January and February there’s always that chance. In general, however, you can expect brief, heavy downpours with a few days of partly-cloudy weather mixed in between. The northern concessions and Panhandle tend to see the biggest storms, but it’s impossible to be precise except to say that some rain will fall. Daytime temperatures in January average over 30°C (86°F), and can climb above 36°C (97°F) when the sun comes out. Night-time minimums are seldom below 20°C (68°F) and humidity is high all across the Delta.

Xaranna in Okavango Delta is located in the heart of the bush

Best Regions in January

Although the rains are at their peak, the Delta floodwaters have yet to arrive and January sees some of the lowest water levels across the Okavango. Motorboat and, especially, mokoro trips may not be possible in certain areas and only lodges with deep-water access are able to offer water-based activities. In fact, most Okavango Delta lodges used to close completely during January, but many now stay open year-round, offering motorboat transfers to the deeper channels or more traditional land-based activities such as walking safaris and game drives. Driving, however, can be difficult at this time of year as the heavy rains turn the dirt tracks to mud. Moremi Game Reserve is especially notorious and although off-roading in the mud can be fun, some experience is required and it’s essential to travel with more than one vehicle.

Highlights: Because of the rain, January is seldom recommended as the best month in the Okavango, but nevertheless it is a beautiful time to visit. The birdlife is excellent and the Delta comes alive with their song – it seems there’s always something calling out, throughout the day and deep into the night. As so few people visit during January the camps and lodges also tend to be very quiet. Guests are treated to an even more intimate experience than usual, with the added benefit of significant discounts – as much as 50% off the standard rates.

Disadvantages: The major disadvantage in January is the rain. Some rain will almost certainly fall, but if you get unlucky a whole week may be drowned out. January is also not the best time for water-based activities – not just because of the weather, but for the low water levels too. If you visit in January, then keep your expectations realistic. If you go for the overall ambiance you won’t be disappointed.

  • Okavango Delta in February

February is another wet month in the Okavango Delta, but like January, the rain and clouds are usually interspersed with a few fine, bright days. These summer months are always highly unpredictable however – there may be sunshine for over a week and then four or five days straight of cloud and afternoon storms. A thunderstorm over the Delta is one of Southern Africa’s most awe-inspiring sights: incredible towering clouds and sudden jagged lightning; reflections bouncing off the water towards the wild, distant horizon. It’s almost worth the risk of a rained-out safari, which is always a possibility, even though persistent rain is unusual. When the clouds do clear, the temperature can easily hit 36°C (97°F), though it’s typically closer to 30°C (86°F), and around 20°C (68°F) at night.

An aerial view of the Okavango Delta

Where to Go

In Moremi Game Reserve, and all around the Delta, the frequent heavy downpours take their toll on the dirt roads. February is perhaps the muddiest month in Moremi and you’ll need two or more vehicles in case one gets stuck. If the rains have come early, the Panhandle may already be filling as the first surge of floodwater pours down from Angola. The rest of the Okavango will still be very low, however, and water-based activities may not yet be available further east. Lodges on the deeper channels – in the central Delta and northwest – can be great for birding at this time of year. Many species will be in their breeding plumage and the reed beds and vegetation in general is at its verdant best.

Travel Tips

Highlights: February is not known as a great time to see predators, but just because it’s raining they don’t disappear. The thicker vegetation tends to make animals harder to spot, but when you do see them the lush bush and stormy backdrops can make for some wonderful and unusual photographs. Like January, February is usually fairly quiet in terms of visitors, despite many lodges offering up to 50% off their usual rates.

Disadvantages: Although the vegetation is at its greenest and most beautiful, the birdlife at its best, and the herbivores well-grazed and in excellent condition, the risk of rain still keeps many people away. With water levels still at their lowest across most of the Okavango, water-based activities are also not always possible and the dirt roads everywhere are at their muddiest at this time of year.

  • Okavango Delta in March

March is a transition period in the Okavango Delta and although it can still see some heavy rain, the change in seasons is usually apparent by the end of the month. This is most obvious in the gradual drop in night-time temperatures, down to 15°C (59°F) on the coldest mornings. Daily highs, however, are slower to move – 30°C (86°F) to 35°C (95°F) remains the norm until well into April. Although the chance of rain is still high, the risk of consecutive overcast days is much lower than in January and February. It’s still a risky period to visit the Okavango, but as the humidity drops so does the threat of a rained-out safari and late March can see some of the year’s clearest, most pleasant nights around the campfire.

A Wild dog stares intently at potential prey

By March, the floodwaters are usually in full flow down the Panhandle and it’s not a great time for fishing while the channels are turbulent and muddy. Further south and east the flood can take another month to reach the central Delta, but the lodges in the northwest can be excellent at this time of year. Exploring the northwest Delta by motorboat or mokoro is wonderful in any season, but March can be particularly special. It’s the last month before many migrant birds return north, the vegetation is lush and green, and the channels are slowly rising and changing with the coming of the flood. Across the rest of the Okavango, conditions are rather more hit and miss. Water-based activities will still be hampered by low water levels further east, but the increasingly sunny days and clear, rain-washed atmosphere produces some beautiful landscapes, dotted with well-fed, healthy animals.

Highlights: Although there’ll still be some rain, the weather in March can be gorgeous. And with many lodges still offering up to 50% off, it’s not a bad time to take a gamble. Those who do visit in March will find the Delta lush and vibrant, full of migrant birds and fat antelope, under steadily clearing, deep blue skies.

Disadvantages: March is the last month until November that sees significant rain, and water-based activities in the eastern Delta won’t be at their best until the flood arrives in May/June. Driving off road remains a challenge until the rains abate in April, and the roads through Moremi are still little more than a succession of muddy pools.

  • Okavango Delta in April

Throughout April the autumn gradually sets in, and cooler, drier weather steadily creeps across the Delta. As with March it’s the nights that cool more rapidly than the days. The coldest evenings can drop to around 12°C (54°F), but daytime highs are usually still over 30°C (86°F). Although the first few weeks of April may see some scattered showers, clearer skies are more and more common and the clouds all but vanish by the end of the month. April is a wonderful time to be in the Okavango Delta, with moderate to warm temperatures, little chance of rain, and the opportunity to see the flood work its magic as the waters fan out into the central and northern regions.

April is a beautiful month to be anywhere in the Okavango, with fresh, rain-washed skies dotted here and there with fluffy clouds. It’s a magnificent time to be out on the water, and motorboat and mokoro trips are at their best in the north and west. It will take another month or two before the waters filter east, but lodges on the deeper channels should have good boating conditions. In the Panhandle, anglers can start casting for bream (tilapia), but the best fishing is usually later in the year. April marks the start of the antelope breeding season and the shallow floodplains on the Delta’s fringes come alive with competing males. Across the Okavango all life seems to thrive, with tall, green grass and fruit-laden trees as far as the eye can see.

Highlights: April is a magnificent month for photography and an idyllic time for mokoro trips under crisp, white clouds. The Okavango is glorious as the floodwaters rise, full of life and energy before the dry season begins.

Disadvantages: The eastern concessions still have low water in April and water-based activities may be limited away from the deep channels. In Moremi the roads usually dry out quite quickly, but it can still be very muddy at the beginning of the month. On the whole, there are few disadvantages of visiting the Okavango in April, although predator sightings tend to be better later in the year once the vegetation thins out.

  • Okavango Delta in May

As May unfolds, the Okavango Delta gets cooler and the bright, cloudless days begin to dip below 30°C (86°F). Along the rapidly filling waterways the nights tend to be milder, but on the open plains away from the channels it may drop as low as 5°C (50°F). It’s safe to say that no rain ever falls in May and you’ll seldom see more than the odd wisp of cloud. The deep blue sky remains crisp and clear, not yet as dusty as it can get later in the year.

A lioness and her cub are seldom parted

As surface water evaporates on the surrounding Kalahari plains, more and more animals are drawn to the Okavango’s rising floodwaters. This is especially true along the Delta’s northern concessions which attract elephant and plains game from the increasingly dry Chobe and Linyanti regions. If your primary goal is wildlife – especially lion and other predators – then the northern concessions and Khwai region are a good choice this early in the season, as is Chief’s Island which has excellent game year-round. In general, however, May is prime time across the Okavango, an excellent mix of rising water levels and drying grasslands, when the wildlife gathers along the Delta’s deepening pools, and there’s still plenty to eat around the floodplains. By late May the elevated water levels allow extensive motorboat and mokoro activities and the early mornings aren’t yet as cold as they can get in June and July.

Highlights: Those who visit the Okavango Delta regularly often cite May as their favourite month. It’s true that predator sightings are not as prolific as later in the season (September and October are usually best), but May brings its own rewards. Moderate temperatures, clear blue skies, rising floodwaters and an abundance of well-fed, healthy herbivores all combine to make the Okavango particularly special in May.

Disadvantages: If you’re desperate to see predators, then your chances are slightly better later in the year, when the vegetation is drier and thinner and the animals easier to spot. That said, most lodges and camps have very experienced trackers and guides and although wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, they’re usually able to find animals for their guests in just about any season.

  • Okavango Delta in June

June is mid-winter in the Okavango Delta and one of the coldest, driest months of the year. Daily average temperatures are around 25°C (77°F), although some hot days will still get up to 30°C (86°F). It’s the nights, however, that can get particularly cold – close to freezing at times, but more usually around 5°C (41°F). Early morning excursions can be very chilly in the wind, especially on motorboats and open game drive vehicles. June marks the start of the hard, dry winter season – after two months without rain, the Kalahari vegetation is thinning fast. There’s more pressure on the animals as they cluster closer to the waterways, which are now nearing maximum levels as the flood moves further east.

The Kalahari vegetation starts thinning out this time of the year

Best Regions

The Delta’s south-eastern fringes are the last to see floodwaters, but by the middle of June they have usually arrived. By now there’s good, deep water across the Okavango, a magnet for wildlife from all over the Kalahari. It’s hard to single out any one region in June – it’s a very special time to be anywhere on the Delta. Those looking for predators and large plains game should perhaps still head to the northern concessions, but wildlife concentrations are increasing everywhere. The central Delta is always excellent, but with the floodwaters now at their highest, mokoro and motorboat excursions can depart directly from many of the lodges, which raised up on stilts seem to hover magically over the water.

Highlights: By June the thinning vegetation makes predator spotting easier and all manner of activities are possible across the Delta. June is an excellent time to visit the Okavango, especially if you want to try a mix of water and land-based activities.

Disadvantages: June is a popular month in the Okavango Delta and you’ll need to book your safari fairly far in advance. Most lodges and camps are small and intimate, however, and are spaced well enough apart that it never feels crowded.

  • Okavango Delta in July

July is the coldest month in the Okavango Delta, with daytime highs around 25°C (77°F). Although the days are mild, the nights cool quickly, dropping close to freezing on a few mornings each year. By now the annual flood has percolated across the Delta, and water levels usually reach their peak around the end of the month. Even lodges quite far from the main central channels can now offer mokoro trips through the submerged floodplains. July is another clear, dry month in the northern Kalahari, the third straight month without a drop of rain. The Delta is therefore an increasingly important source of water and attracts thousands of animals from the surrounding plains.

The African wild dogs are highly endangered species, with fewer than 5000 left in the wild

The Okavango’s peak season begins in July and there’s no one region that stands out from another. Water-based activities are possible nearly everywhere and the thinning vegetation makes wildlife spotting ever easier. Along the Delta’s northern fringe, elephant and buffalo gather in numbers, but large herds can also be found to the east and south. If this is your first and perhaps only visit to the Okavango, then July and August are perhaps the best months to arrive. Although September and October are arguably even better for game viewing, July’s high floodwaters are particularly special and the surrounding forests and grasslands still retain some of their summer green.

Highlights: July to October is a good time to see African wild dogs, especially in the northern concessions and along the Khwai River. Now is the time to see the Delta at its fullest as it spills its main channels into the Kalahari sand.

Disadvantages: July to October is the Delta’s busiest period and the camps and lodges charge peak season rates. Mornings in the Delta can get very chilly in July so be sure to pack warm clothes for early morning boat trips and game drives.

  • Okavango Delta in August

Temperatures climb steadily through August and daytime highs once again top 30°C (86°F). At the beginning of the month the mornings can still be close to freezing, but lows of 10°C (50°F) are more common as September approaches. By August no rain has fallen in the northern Kalahari for at least four months and the only fresh grazing is along the Delta’s flooded waterways. Predator and prey alike are forced to gather along the fringes and wildlife viewing is excellent all over the Okavango.

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August is an ideal month to be anywhere on the Delta, so pick your region based on what you’d most like to see or do. In the Panhandle and western concessions, the floodwaters begin their slow withdrawal, sparking the annual catfish run and heralding the start of prime tigerfish angling season. Along the northern Okavango, the game viewing is excellent as large numbers of herbivores gather along the waterways. Predators, especially lion, leopard and African wild dog are regularly sighted during this period. In Moremi Game Reserve, the wildlife viewing is also superb and boating trips are at their best with the high floodwaters. These have now reached as far southeast as Maun, allowing motorboat excursions up the Thamalakane River and into the Delta. In the southern concessions, horseback safaris are ideal in August, while the weather is still relatively cool and the vegetation thin and easier to negotiate.

Highlights: August is known as a great month for wildlife and the game viewing only improves as the dry season continues. Like July, August is ideal for first-time visitors, when both water and land-based activities are possible nearly everywhere. Keen birders should head to Moremi’s Gcodikwe Lagoon as thousands of herons, storks and egrets arrive and start building their nests. And, even if you’re not interested in fishing, the catfish run is impressive – a roiling feeding frenzy that whips up the main channels and attracts a number of opportunistic predators and fishing birds.

Disadvantages: The only disadvantage of visiting the Okavango in August is that it’s peak season and the camps and lodges charge their highest rates. It’s also one of the most popular times to visit the Delta and bookings need to be made far in advance.

  • Okavango Delta in September

The long, dry winter continues into September and by now there’s been no rain for about five straight months. The Okavango Delta is now an essential source of grazing and water, and as the annual flood gradually recedes, the pressure builds and competition increases along its drying waterways. Both night and daytime temperatures rapidly increase, averaging 15°C (59°F) to 35°C (95°F), with some hot days up to 40°C (104°F). The shallow pools and floodplains evaporate quickly in the heat and the surrounding vegetation thins out even further, with the only strips of greenery sitting tight against the channels.

Hippos wading in the water are a common sight

The floodwaters recede in the northern and western regions first, triggering the annual catfish run which starts in the Panhandle and spreads southeast. It’s a wild feeding frenzy that’s a sight to behold and well worth a visit even if you’re not interested in fishing. For those who are keen anglers it’s an ideal time for tigerfish and many come to the Panhandle specifically for this reason. Elsewhere in the Delta, September is one of the best months for wildlife viewing and a good time for walks in the northern concessions and horseback safaris in the south. As the month progresses, the ebbing flood can have an impact on mokoro trips. The southwestern regions tend to dry up first so head north and east for the best conditions.

Highlights: As the shallower waterways slowly dry up, they strand thousands of fish in ever decreasing pools. These attract hundreds of storks, herons and birds of prey, who squabble among themselves over the easy meal. September and October are traditionally the best months for predators, which are much easier to spot through the now very dry vegetation. Both predators and prey congregate on the channels, the only source of water for miles in any direction.

Disadvantages: September is still peak season, which means peak rates across the Okavango, and bookings need to be secured up to a year in advance. It also gets quite hot and dusty by the end of the month and boating and mokoro safaris may not be optimal along the Delta’s fringes.

  • Okavango Delta in October

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October is an excellent month for fishing along the Panhandle, especially for tigerfish as they hunt the deeper channels. Along the Delta’s northern waterways, and especially around Khwai, the waters tend to linger longer, attracting thousands of thirsty elephants. Wildlife viewing is at its best in October and it’s the perfect time of the year for spotting predators all over the Delta. For water-based activities, however, conditions vary from year to year, depending on the strength and timing of the floods. On the whole the eastern and north-eastern Delta tends to have good deep water throughout October and the heron rookeries of Gcodikwe Lagoon are teeming with birdlife. That said, any lodge or camp that lies near the deeper channels will offer boating activities even if a vehicle transfer is required.

Highlights: Predator spotting is undoubtedly the main highlight in October and the birdlife is also excellent around the deeper lagoons. Hot, exciting wildlife-filled days become long, warm nights, chatting around the campfire. Visit in October for the best chance of unforgettable encounters, and plenty of stores to tell when you get back home.

Disadvantages: Although October is perhaps the best month for wildlife (and especially predators), the receding flood waters do change the Delta’s ambiance. Many lodges will now be quite far back from the water, and miss that special magic that comes with floating above the flood.

  • Okavango Delta in November

Early November is usually hot and stifling as the Okavango holds its breath for the coming of the rains. The exact start date varies considerably from year to year, but when the clouds do break the relief is palpable. Although daily highs of over 40°C (104°F) are the norm at the beginning of the month, the temperature gradually drops as the rains become more frequent. Localised showers evolve quickly into massive afternoon storms, with thunder and lightning flashing across the Delta.

The zebra migration begins when the rains fall - usually around Nov-Dec

It’s impossible to say where the rains will fall first, or whether they’ll even arrive at all. Some years some areas may not see significant rainfall until December and until that happens game viewing continues to be excellent. The Khwai River, in the northeast, has good water year-round, and wildlife, especially elephants, tend to congregate along its banks late into the dry season. Chief’s Island has permanent game and good, deep-water access as well, as does the rest of the central Delta and the north-western concessions. When the rains do arrive, the pressure is released and the animals start to move back into the surrounding bush. November is an interesting time to be anywhere in the Delta as the animals and plants begin to recover from more than half a year without rainfall.

Highlights: Once the rains arrive, the antelope birthing season begins, and all over the Delta there are new signs of life. Many lodges and camps offer shoulder season prices, and it’s an excellent time to get a good deal before the rainy season starts in earnest in December.

Disadvantages: November is an unpredictable month weather-wise and if the rains arrive early your safari may be washed out. The wildlife may also begin to disperse, although sightings – especially of newborns – are usually still very good until the end of the month.

  • Okavango Delta in December

December marks the start of the rainy season proper. It’s the second wettest month of the year and afternoon thunderstorms become increasingly regular and violent. As the rains intensify the dusty atmosphere clears and between the storms the skies are bright and fresh. The usual pattern is a few days of cloud and rain, followed by another few days of hot, sunny weather. This builds and builds until the next storm breaks and as the month progresses the gaps between storms lessen. It’s unusual to have more than two or three days without sunshine, but if two storm systems run into each other there may be persistent cloud cover for over week. When the sun does come out, temperatures can rise to 40°C (104°F), although the rains cool things somewhat and the December average across the Delta is around 33°C (91°F).

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As the rains fill the Kalahari’s seasonal pans and pools, the herbivores begin to disperse from the Delta. With surface water now more readily available they can roam further afield in search of fresh grazing. New buds and shoots are appearing everywhere and the riverine forests and surrounding plains teem with life. Although still a good time of year for game viewing, the early rainy season is not ideal for motorboat and mokoro trips. You may get lucky with a few bright days, but it could just as likely be overcast and raining, and the Okavango water levels are also very low. The central, northern and north-western lodges will have the best access to deep water, but if you’re especially interested in water-based activities, it’s best to visit the Okavango between May and August.

Highlights: December is all about the rejuvenation of the bush, a brief, stormy springtime after months of heat and dust. All around the Delta, and across the Kalahari, new grass is sprouting and young lambs and calves take their first tentative steps. December also means low season rates and it’s a great time for discounts while the game viewing is still good.

Disadvantages: There’s always the risk of heavy rain in December and if you’re unlucky you may not see much sunshine at all. Though wildlife viewing is usually still good until the vegetation thickens in January, it’s still not at the same level as September/October. December is also not the best time for mokoro and motorboat trips, with low water levels all across the Delta.

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Free safari planning advice from destination experts

Faqs about okavango delta.

  • Electricity in Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and in most of the continent is 220/240 volts.
  • Most safari lodges and camps are not connected to an electrical supply. Solar lighting (backed up by batteries) is common, with many lodges having a generator, which runs part of the day (morning and late evening when guests are out on their activities).
  • Lanterns also provide light at night. In many camps running on solar power, you will not be able to use a hairdryer.
  • Southern Africa is a hot wildlife destination. There is a world of luxury bush camps, lodges and Eco-friendly tourist establishments in the heart of wildlife heaven.

See Okavango Delta in Your Comfort

  • Affordable Okavango Delta Safari
  • Okavango Delta Luxury Safari
  • Okavango Delta on a Budget

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Between the self-drive camping and ultra-luxury lodges, there are two main routes for a more affordable Okavango holiday. The first is to find a ‘mobile safari’ operator – a mid-range adventure package that suits your budget. ‘Mobile safaris’ are essentially organised, guided camping trips and range from group budget ‘pitch your own tent’ tours all the way up to full service luxury. Somewhere in the middle you’ll find an affordable, comfortable option, usually heading into Moremi Game Reserve and sometimes, Chief’s Island. Often the tours involve mekoro or perhaps some walking, and a willingness for adventure is generally required. The other main option is to seek out a mid-range tented camp; there are a handful of these scattered throughout the Delta. Most, however, lie on the Delta’s forested fringes, while the central Okavango lodges tend to be more exclusive.

Mobile safaris can be land or water-based, however, multi day mokoro trips are one of the Delta’s top attractions. Although boats and mekoro aren’t the best for spotting wildlife, exploring the Okavango’s stunning waterways is a unique experience that you’ll never forget. Depending on the tour you may camp wild on small islands or sleep more comfortably in fixed, pre-made tents. It’s often also possible to explore some areas on foot, so there’s the chance to combine a mokoro adventure with a short walking safari too. For boating and mokoro safaris it’s important to visit during flood season, which runs, more or less, from mid-April to late August. Camps and lodges that are able to offer boat excursions from their doorsteps tend to be more high-end and set their rates accordingly.

Most lodges and mobile safaris are quoted as all-inclusive packages, with mid-range options ranging from around $300 to $600 a day. Be sure to check what is and isn’t included – flight transfers and ‘extra’ activities can very quickly drive up the cost. Note that off season rates are usually much lower than normal, with both mid and high-end lodges knocking as much 50% off. January to March are considered the main low season months, so visit during this period for the best discounts and deals. The downside, of course, is the real threat of rain, and the low flood levels which hamper water-based activities. For the best balance between good weather and lower prices, try the late April to May shoulder season for mokoro safaris, and November to early December for wildlife viewing.

With beautiful lakes, lush woodland, wide savannahs, great fauna, and over 400 bird species, the Okavango Delta is a 360° panoramic Garden of Eden.

All of the accommodations on an Okavango Delta Luxury Safari are intimate and personal; all you have to do is relax and go with the flow. Botswana is the gold standard in Southern Africa for low-density, low-impact tourism, and luxury hotels which are among the greatest in the world.

Okavango Delta Luxury Safarienter image description here

Situated in some of the Okavango Delta’s most remote, secluded regions they often seem to grow organically, directly from the earth.

Elephant spotted around luxury Okavango Delta lodge

Many Okavango Delta luxury lodges employ lumber and other natural materials to blend in as much as possible, and many adopt ecological construction and management approaches.

Mokoro rides on a luxury Okavango Delta Safari

You may gaze out into broad, open, game-rich grasslands or perch high on stilts over an endless, lapping lagoon, depending on the luxury Okavango Delta lodge and the time of year.

What to expect on a Luxury Okavango Delta Safari

Every aspect of a luxury Okavango Delta safari is spectacular in its own right. From the moment you land over the beautiful, elephant-dotted floodplain, to the luxury lodge’s magnificent tented accommodations, the calm mokoro journeys, and the meals, everything is perfect.

Zebras crossing the Okavango Delta

Days are spent touring the Okavango Delta, which is commonly done by Mokoro rides , which adds a unique twist. On your luxury safari, the lodges come alive at night with the soothing light of glowing lanterns for an evening of great dining under the African stars. Okavango Delta luxury lodges are famed for their outstanding service, with private guides and tailor-made activities as standard more suited to wildlife viewing.

Travel tips for a luxury Okavango Delta Safari

The majority of Okavango’s luxury safari camps are small and intimate, which means that space is limited and that the most popular sites fill up quickly.

If you plan on visiting the Okavango Delta during peak season (June to October), book at least a year ahead of time.

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If you’re undecided about where to spend your Okavango Delta luxury safari, consider splitting your stay between two camps – perhaps three or four days near deep water for motorboat and mokoro tours, and another few days in a dry location for game drives.

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Most of the lodges in the Okavango Delta fall somewhere between mid-range and ultra-high-end luxury. It’s a deliberate strategy by the Botswanan authorities to maximise conservation revenue while keeping visitor numbers low. It’s easy to be cynical about this kind of approach, but funds do seem to go where they’re needed and local communities get to see the value of their resource. The results have been impressive, with very low poaching levels and issues around human-wildlife conflict are far more manageable than in other parts of the continent. All this is to say that a safari to the Okavango is not cheap, but there is some comfort knowing that funds are being used wisely. And while the central Delta is largely off limits to budget travellers, there are still wonderful, affordable campsites in Moremi Game Reserve, along the Khwai River and the Panhandle.

If you don’t have a 4×4 then hiring can be expensive, but it’s often still the most affordable route if you can share with a few people. For solos, a budget group tour is another reasonable option and these can be booked with a reputable company in advance, or head to Maun, and play it by ear. Maun has a couple of low-key camps and a backpackers, a good place to meet fellow travellers and make plans together. Even the tightest budget should find space for a flight over the Delta and these are much more affordable if you can find other people to share costs.

Holiday Styles and Options in Okavango Delta

  • Okavango Delta Honeymoon

The Okavango Delta is probably the world’s premier safari destination for honeymoon couples, with stunningly designed, intimate lodges and some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa.

Okavango delta lodges have a reputation for exceptional, personal service and many cater specifically for romantic holidays and honeymoons. Here you’ll find tented suites like villas, with sparkling plunge pools, outdoor showers and candle-lit baths.

And at night, raised walkways lined with warm, glowing lamps as you make your way down to dinner under the stars. Not all Okavango camps offer the same level of luxury, but standards are high just about everywhere you look. The focus is firmly on small-scale, personal experiences. Quality not quantity is the emphasis here for your Okavango Delta honeymoon.

Intimate is the operative word when it comes to romance in the African bush

There’s no one region that’s especially good for an Okavango Delta honeymoon, it’ll depend entirely on your budget and what you want to do.

There are beautiful, intimate camps and lodges scattered throughout the Okavango, but keep in mind that local conditions vary widely and the same camp can be very different at different times of year. Arrive from late April to the end of August and you’ll find the Delta flooded and green.

Many camps and lodges will be surrounded by open water, perched high on wooden stilts over an endless magical lagoon. But a few months later and the same area may be dry and bare, great for game viewing and a more traditional safari, but very different from earlier in the year.

That said, many lodges will offer a range of activities regardless of the season, even if transfers or other arrangements may need to be made. Make sure you’re aware of what’s available when you visit. You may need to pick your season carefully to fit your preferred activities in for your Okavango Delta honeymoon.

Mokoro excursions are one of Okavango’s most special experiences and they can be incredibly romantic, especially with a private guide. When the floodwaters are high enough it may be possible to start right from camp – a real sense of exploration for more adventurous couples.

Many central Okavango lodges can only be reached by air and just flying in to camp is an adventure in itself. Longer sightseeing flights can also be arranged – in light aircraft, helicopters or hot-air balloons. But perhaps the most romantic experience is just to be in the Delta together. A honeymoon safari to the Okavango is the holiday of a lifetime and one neither of you will ever forget.

One of many camps in the Okavango Delta

The Okavango’s top lodges are all excellent for an Okavango Delta honeymoon, but if you prefer a holiday without children then look out for those with strict minimum age rules. There are a number of camps that don’t allow kids under 12 so there’s plenty of choice if you prefer adults only.

That said, most camps are well-designed and well-spaced out, and some have the added feature of private sundecks and plunge pools. April and May tend to have good weather, while being less busy, although early April may still see some late rainy season showers. Late May into June/July is also the best time for mokoro trips, although the Okavango’s camps and lodges do get busier as the flood season progresses.

Imagine a vast wilderness of reeds and channels, of towering jackleberry and giant sausage trees. A place where bulrushes hide huge herds of buffalo, where elephants wallow and lions roam. This is the oasis of the Okavango Delta, the jewel in Botswana’s magnificent crown. A wildlife wonderland, it’s been called the last Eden of Africa – both a tribute to its splendour, and an indictment on the decline elsewhere. Its maze of swamps and lagoons form a unique refuge for vulnerable species, with hidden regions so remote that even the acutely threatened rhino can thrive. In the Okavango, you’ll find one of the richest and most bio diverse ecosystems on the continent, a conservation success story and arguably the best wildlife destination in the world…

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2014, the Okavango Delta is recognised for its unique annual flood. 11 trillion litres of water pour south down the Okavango River each year, a deluge from Angola that never reaches the sea. Instead it spreads southeast into the Kalahari interior saturating some 20,000km2 of sand. This is the last vestige of what was once an enormous inland lake, which over millennia has dried and gradually retreated, until only the immense Makgadikgadi Salt Pans remain. The Okavango’s waters may no longer feed a lake, but they’re still critical to wildlife across the region. Central Botswana is the heart of the Kalahari, a semi-arid desert that sees very little rain. What makes the Delta particularly special is that its flooding coincides with the bone-dry winter months. As the summer rains fade in March and April, the waters begin their surge down the north-western ‘Panhandle’. As they hit the Delta, they gently fan out, and can take up to four months to percolate south to Maun. This seasonal flow provides a year-round source of water, a life-bringing reservoir for thousands of species of animals and plants.

The Okavango Delta is one of the world’s best wildlife regions, not just for its great game viewing, but as a general triumph in conservation. Much of its success is down to tireless, careful management and an overriding conviction that successes must be shared. Botswana has long operated a low-density tourism model, allowing a limited number of camps and lodges who then operate at a premium. This can quickly ramp up the cost of a safari to Botswana, but local communities are included and significant revenue is shared. In the Delta, you’ll find some of the world’s wildest and most spectacular game lodges and although prices can be high, it is the price of success. When you visit the Delta, the surrounding communities see value, which keeps poaching low and general encroachment at a minimum.

There are also ways to see the Delta which don’t involve luxury lodges – from houseboats on the Panhandle to Moremi and Khwai’s simple campsites. But wherever you go, park fees and tourism levies ensure that when you touch one of the world’s last great wilderness areas you know that in some small way you’re helping it survive.

Who is Travelling to Okavango Delta with you?

  • Family Safari in the Okavango Delta
  • Solo Travel in Okavango Delta

An African safari is an unforgettable experience for kids, but long transfers and hours in the car can be a real challenge, especially for younger children. One solution is to pick a single camp or more manageable area and avoid daily travel as much as possible. In the Okavango Delta, this approach is ideal because there’s such a high concentration of wildlife and activities in such a small area. From a lodge in the Okavango you can arrange boat rides and mokoro trips, as well as game drives and bush walks with specially trained guides. There’s a minimum age limit for all safari activities in the Delta, and although it varies from lodge to lodge, it’s usually set between eight and 12. A handful of lodges also offer camp-based activities for kids, such as basic bush craft, animal identification and fishing.

Families are bound to enjoy travelling to the Okavango Delta

In the past the Okavango has been a difficult place for families, but more and more lodges are now welcoming children. You’ll now find family-friendly lodges scattered throughout the Delta, although facilities vary considerably so it’s worth looking around. Some camps have been exceptionally well setup for kids, with private suites and family units, set to one side with their own lounge and play areas. Others simply have larger family-sized tents or interconnecting tents/rooms that can be booked as a unit so the whole family can sleep together. Additional perks may include specially trained guides for children, separate dining areas and staggered meal times – note, however, that child-minding services are rarely available and very few lodges cater for infants and very young children.

Child-friendly safari activities depend on the lodge and the time of year. Well-equipped lodges can offer an incredible experience and the chance not just to see wild animals in their natural habitat, but to learn about their behaviour and the general environment as well. That said, there’s little point visiting during the peak floods if the lodge has an age limit on boat trips, for example. And families with children younger than eight (sometimes seven or nine) need to be especially aware of any restrictions. Between eight and 12, various junior safari options are more readily available, including motorboat trips, bush craft and basic animal tracking, fishing and game drives. Some camps and lodges have stricter policies than others and a few will assess kids on a case by case basis rather than apply blanket age restrictions to all. Above 12 years old the Delta opens up completely, although this also often means being charged a full adult rate.

An African sunset is hard to beat

Age limits and child policies vary from lodge to lodge so be sure to check all the details very carefully before you book. Most lodges will insist that kids under eight years old have private game vehicles and guides, which is a great way for younger children to get the most out of the experience, but may also incur significant extra costs. For slightly older kids, mobile camps can be an exciting option. The outdoor camping element is always a thrill and there’s less chance of boredom as you move to a new campsite each night. On the whole it’s a good idea to bring everything you need with you, including bird and animal identification books and any other entertainment – such as board games – to keep them occupied between activities. Malaria is also an issue in northern Botswana and although many lodges are so remote that the risk is minimal, you will likely still need to transit through potentially infected areas. Some antimalarial medication is not suitable for young children so be sure to consult your doctor before you travel. Finally, local law now requires all parents travelling through South Africa and Botswana to carry an unabridged birth certificate for each of their children. The certificate must state the names of both parents and if one parent is absent you must also have an affidavit from them granting consent. The measures are in place to prevent child trafficking in Southern Africa and without the correct documents you will be denied travel.

Age limits and child policies vary from lodge to lodge so be sure to check all the details very carefully before you book.

Solo travel is unusual in the Okavango Delta, largely because experiences like this beg to be shared. Solo 4×4’ing also carries some risk, especially in the wet summer season from December to March. That said, there’s no reason not to explore the Delta on your own. Most lodges are more than happy to welcome solo guests. During the shoulder and off-seasons you may have the entire camp to yourself and it’s often possible to get a private, dedicated guide and customise your experience as much as you like. This presents some wonderful opportunities for photographers, and also for keen ornithologists in search of specific birds.

African fish eagle

The Okavango Delta’s lodges are generally small, intimate affairs, and many offer communal dining and shared campfires in the evenings. There’s usually the chance to meet fellow travellers over dinner, but in many cases activities are organised privately per booking. This is obviously ideal if you’re after peace and solitude, but if you’d like to meet and travel with other people then your best option is to head for Maun. In Maun, you’ll find a vibrant nightlife in the handful of campsite bars and pubs. Here you’ll be able to join group game drives and mokoro tours and split the costs on otherwise fairly pricey sightseeing flights over the Delta.

Boat safaris are common in the Okavango Delta

Having your own private guide is an incredible experience, especially out on the waterways in a motorboat or mokoro. The opportunities for photography are unmatched when travelling solo and keen birders and anglers can also request specialist guides. Generally speaking if you arrive alone at a lodge, you’ll quickly be made to feel completely at home. The lodges in Okavango specialise in a bespoke, personal service and will tailor activities to the interests of their guests.

Most Okavango lodges charge a single supplement of at least 20% but this can go up to as much as 50% during peak season. Shoulder season (April/May and November/December) is far more affordable for solo travellers and those looking for solitude will also find the camps much quieter during these periods. Be sure to let your lodge know if you have any special interests, such as birding or fishing, and they’ll usually be able to pair you up with a specialist guide. If you’re on a tighter budget and looking to share costs, then head to one of the busier campsites or laid-back safari lodges in Maun. Here you’ll usually be able to join group activities, including mokoro safaris into the Delta, and sightseeing flights and game drives are much more affordable when shared. If you’re planning to drive alone in this region, then a word of caution before you set out. You should have some prior 4×4 experience and be carrying a satellite phone. Moremi Game Reserve is the only part of the Delta open to self-drive vehicles and although it’s quite close to Maun and not especially remote, it’s easy to get stranded there at any time of year.

A lion eyes his prospective prey

What You Need To Know

  • Wildlife in Okavango Delta
  • Why Should you Come Back to Okavango Delta?
  • Khwai Community Concessions

Official counts vary, but it’s generally thought that the Okavango Delta supports at least 2000 major species. Over half of these are plants, from giant hardwoods to waterlilies, with huge reed beds and grasslands and thick riverine forests. In the midst of the Delta you’ll find wild date and fan palms, clustering on low islands between the fig and waterberry trees. Take a look at a satellite image and you’ll see just what an anomaly this is – a lush hand of vegetation reaching south into the sand.

Okavango Delta supports at least 2000 species flora and fauna

Up close in the channels, beneath the waving papyrus, painted reed frogs can be seen clinging to the stems. Around 30 amphibians have been recorded in the Delta plus 60-odd reptiles and around 70 species of fish. In fact, many visitors come especially for the fishing and ‘catch and release’ fishing lodges are popular along the Panhandle. The ferocious-looking tigerfish is the most sought after prize, plus bream and huge catfish, up to a metre-and-a-half in length.

The Okavango Delta never drains completely and the best way to experience it is by boat. Whether you’re fishing or not, a boat excursion is essential, either by flat bottomed motorboat or local dugout canoe. Called ‘mekoro’, these canoes are polled through the narrow waterways – an ideal way to discover the Delta’s 400-plus species of birds. Expert guides will skirt around the pods of hippos, as you silently soak in one of the world’s last great open-air aviaries.

Up close in the channels, beneath the waving papyrus, painted reed frogs can be seen clinging to the stems.

On the islands and floodplains Africa’s iconic megafauna awaits – over a third of the continent’s elephants move through the Delta each year. All of the Big Five are found here in good numbers, including black and white rhino which have been recently reintroduced. While predator sightings are never guaranteed, there are few places left where so many come together. Lion, leopard and cheetah are relatively common, as well as wild dog, hyena, jackal and the smaller wild cats. These prey on the many thousands of herbivores who are drawn to the Delta’s water and abundant food. The rare sitatunga and red lechwe are both adapted to the swamplands and you’ll also find the stunning roan and sable antelope with their scimitar-curved horns.

In the Delta, you’ll find some of the world’s wildest and most spectacular game lodges and although prices can be high, it is the price of success.

Barely touching the Delta’s north-eastern edge, the Khwai Community Concession runs along the Khwai River, just beyond Moremi Game Reserve’s North Gate. This small concession (number NG19) is owned and run by the community in nearby Khwai Village. About half a dozen midrange to luxury lodges operate here, as well as a couple of very basic campsites, all along the north bank of the narrow Khwai River. The river itself very rarely runs dry and is a magnet for game passing between Moremi and Chobe National Park to the north. It’s a beautiful, low key area that has the advantage of being easily accessible by 4×4 from Maun and also makes an excellent stopover between Moremi and Chobe.

About half a dozen midrange to luxury lodges operate here, as well as a couple of very basic campsites, all along the north bank of the narrow Khwai River.

Excellent wildlife, especially close elephant encounters: The Okavango Delta is well-known for its phenomenal wildlife, largely because of its abundant water. The Khwai River is the nearest source for thousands of animals that forage and hunt in the mopani forests between Moremi and Chobe. As such, the river attracts plentiful wildlife, especially in the dry winter months when hot, thirsty elephants gather along its banks.

Rhino along the banks of the Khwai River

Cultural village tours: Tours of Khwai Village can also be arranged with the community directly or through one of the lodges that operate along the river. They’re a great way to see first-hand how the concessions benefit the community and speak to villagers about their traditional way of life.

The Khwai region can be reached in a few hours’ drive from Maun, but you’ll need a 4×4 to negotiate some thick sand and a few water crossings. Alternatively, there’s a small airstrip which serves the lodges along the river. The village itself has a small shop, but supplies are very limited – perhaps no more than a few cool drinks and some crisps. If you’re not staying in a lodge, you’ll need to take everything with you; note that the two community campsites don’t have ablutions.

Elephant are abundant throughout Botswana

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A safari guide rowing a boat through a swamp at sunset in Okavango Delta, Botswana

Okavango Delta Safari Tours & Vacations

  • Destinations
  • Okavango Delta Safari Tours & Holidays

Heed the call of the wild in the Okavango Delta

Welcome to the world’s largest inland delta. Made up of maze-like waterways, flooded grasslands and lily pad-covered lagoons, the Okavango is a haven for wildlife . In fact, it boasts some of the best game viewing in Africa . One of the best ways to spot some of the local wildlife residents is aboard a traditional dugout canoe with a local poler. Keep an eye out for giraffes munching on vegetation, elephants splashing around in the shallows or even a pod of hippos hanging out in the plains. The fun doesn't stop when the sun sets—fall asleep to the croaks, rattles and chirps of African critters at a campsite nestled deep in the wilderness.

Our Okavango Delta safaris

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okavango delta safari tour

Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

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Okavango Delta safari highlights

Travelers cruising through the Okavango Delta on a traditional mokoro

Marvel at the delta on a mokoro

Hop aboard a mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) to cruise the Okavango Delta's lush wetlands with an expert local poler. As you paddle through the snaking waterways (read: hippo highways), keep your eyes peeled – and have your camera ready – for elephants, antelope, rhinos and warthogs among other large game. This incredible ecosystem is also home to many smaller critters, including exotic birds and frogs.

A group of travelers sat around a campfire in the Okavango Delta bush

Camp on a remote island

It's not every day you can camp on a remote island in one of the world's best game parks. There might not be electricity or running water, but this doesn't matter when you have front-row seats to the Okavango sunset and the ambient sounds of the African bush to sing you to sleep – wait, is that grunting noise a hippo or your fellow camper snoring?! If camping's not your thing, you might like to  stay on a houseboat .

A group of travelers on a morning bush walk with a local guide in the the Okavango Delta

Discover the wonders of sunrise

The early bird catches the worm – or in this case, elephants and maybe Cape buffalo! Wake up before the crack of dawn for a sunrise walk on one of the many Islands in the Delta Panhandle. Listen to the birds chirp as the sun gradually peeks over the plains, watch wildebeests grazing on the grass and keep a lookout for lion paw prints in the dirt. How's  that  for a wake-up call?

A hippo submerged in the flood plains in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

Say hey to a hippo

Grab a sundowner and get ready to get up close (but not personal) to one of the largest land mammals on the planet. Weighing in at 4400 lbs, seeing a pod of hippos may, quite literally, take your breath away. They spend most of their days bathing in the water and come out when the sun sets to graze on the vegetation in the flood plains. You'll probably hear their loud honking noises before you see them.

Okavango Delta tour reviews

Okavango delta faqs, do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join a okavango delta safari.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises). However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 policy

When's the best time to go on safari in the Okavango Delta?

The Okavango Delta is a year-round safari destination, but the best game viewing is generally considered to be from May to September during the dry winter months. It's usually easier to spot animals as vegetation is thinner. The wet season sees thicker vegetation and animals dispersing across the park, however, there's still a high concentration of wildlife. If you like birds, the wet season is a birdwatcher's paradise.

Am I guaranteed to see animals?

We can’t guarantee you’ll spot the Big 5, but you’d have to be profoundly unlucky to see no animals at all. On our Okovango safaris, you’ll have front-row seats to some of the best game viewing in the world. This protected reserve is filled with a huge variety of species and your expert driver and local leader will be on hand to point you in the right direction (literally).

What are the "Big Five"?

The “Big 5” used to refer to the five big game animals that were the most difficult to hunt. Now that most shooting is done on a camera, the Big 5 are the most exciting animals to spot while on safari: the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo.

What should I pack for an Okavango Delta safari?

Loose, light layers in neutral colors are the best attire for a safari (dark colors will get hot in the sun and can attract the Tsetse fly). You’ll also want a sun hat, some good walking shoes, a camera, sunscreen and bug spray. For more details, check out our  ultimate Africa packing guide . 

What type of food will be served on safari?

It depends on the trip style you've chosen. On our Basix trips, you’ll have a cook traveling with you who'll whip up a variety of local and Western-style dishes. Along your route, your cook will stop to purchase fresh, locally sourced food for your meals. You can expect a variety of things for breakfast like fruit, eggs, toast and cereal; lunch is often sandwiches and salads; and dinner is usually a hearty meal like pasta, curry or a BBQ.

On our Original and Comfort trips there'll be more meals at camps and lodges along the way. One thing's for sure: you definitely won't be going hungry on safari!

What are the toilets and showers like on safari?

Most of the permanent tented camps will have private bathrooms with flushing toilets and showers with warm water.

Many of the campsites we stay at have communal facilities with flushing toilets and showers with warm water. However, in some of the more remote areas, there may only be basic facilities (toilets and cold running water).

Will I be able to use my cell phone on safari?

Some of our hotels and campsites will have Wi-Fi, however, internet and phone access may be limited in more remote areas. But you won’t think twice about emails and social media when you’re watching a pride of lions prowl through long grass or enjoying a drink around the campfire with your group.

Are Intrepid's Okavango Delta safaris accessible for travelers with disabilities?

We are committed to making travel accessible to everyone, so we will work with you to assess whether you will be able to complete an existing itinerary, or whether we will be able to make reasonable adjustments to meet your needs before you book. Please see our  accessible travel page  for more information. 

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Okavango Delta

okavango delta safari tour

Sub regions inside

Broader region.

Wilderness Vumbura Plains

The Okavango Delta is an iconic safari destination in northern Botswana that boasts the largest inland river delta in the world. Encompassing a maze of sparkling lagoons, meandering channels and islands teeming with wildlife; the Okavango Delta is best explored by mokoro (traditional dugout canoe), by boat, on foot, and on game drives. The Moremi Game Reserve occupies the east and central areas of the region and offers sanctuary to over 500 species of birds along with a high concentration of plains game that attracts a number of predators. It is quite common to see lion, leopard, hyena, wild dogs, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, wildebeest, and various antelope.

The Okavango Delta is an exclusive safari destination offering luxury and tented accommodation options and an unforgettable safari experience all year round.

The cooler, drier winter months from May to October are excellent for game-viewing as herds of animals flock to decreasing water sources and the vegetation thins out. Days are warm; nights can be cold, especially in the desert. This is also the period when floodwaters reach the Delta making for excellent water-based activities such as boating and mokoro rides.

The hot, wet summer months from November to March are good for bird watching when migrants abound. Although game viewing is more challenging, these months draw fewer crowds and have plenty to offer. Many reserves are at their most beautiful, as the vegetation is lush and green, providing an ideal background for wildlife photography. This is also the animals’ calving season, so it’s perfect for seeing gamboling babies.

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  • The Okavango
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Begin Your Journey

A selection of safaris showcasing the best of the Okavango Delta. These itineraries are intended to guide and inspire you and can be amended to suit your preferences. Please contact us for a tailormade itinerary. Some itineraries combine the Okavango with some of the other spectacular destinations surrounding it.

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okavango delta safari tour

Exploring Beautiful Botswana with Sir Alexander McCall Smith

Experience the best of beautiful Botswana with Sir Alexander McCall Smith on this wonderful itinerary which combines cultural and conservation experiences with a superb safari to the Okavango Delta. Accompanied by the author of the famous No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency books, Sir Alexander McCall Smith, this tour offers fans of the books a chance to experience the charms and beautiful of this extraordinary country for themselves. This small group tour brings together like-minded travellers and fans of the books from all over the world on a meaningful journey through northern Botswana. At the heart of the tour is a six-night luxury safari visiting two stunning camps in the Okavango Delta, each set within pristine, wildlife rich and exclusive areas. The itinerary has been specially crafted to include a wonderful range of special and authentic experiences showcasing traditional Botswana culture – bringing to life much the real world which forms the backdrop to The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency books.

The Okavango Delta consists of the Moremi Game Reserve and Concessions

Six Night Okavango Safari

Experience the best of the Okavango with both land and water activities offered from three prime locations. Explore the best of the Okavango as you visit three luxury tented camps set in prime locations in the Moremi, east and west Okavango. All camps offer year round land and water activities offering a complete Okavango safari experience. A superb year round safari itinerary.

Quenching their thirst Zebra congregate at the waters edge of the Boteti River

Six Night Desert and Delta Safari

Experience the contrasting wilds of Botswana with this wonderful Desert and Delta itinerary. Enjoy a wonderfully varied itinerary with 4 nights comprising of 2 camps in the lush Okavango Delta and 2 nights in the desert sands of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. With both Okavango camps offering year round land and water activities a complete Okavango safari experience is guaranteed. A superb year round safari itinerary.

Jao's swimming pool silhouetted in the afternoon sun

The Best of Botswana Safari

A flagship Botswana itinerary featuring some of the most beautiful and luxurious camps Africa, set in prime locations. Explore the remote wilds of the Linyanti, the game rich plains of Chief’s Island and the beautiful Okavango waterways of Jao. Outstanding safari experiences take place in some of the most sought after and exclusive locations in the country through a variety of land and water activities. A top notch and spoiling safari for the bucket list, best enjoyed in high season with the arrival of the flood waters.

a night at Khwai Skybeds

Okavango Skies

The Okavango is fabulous from the ground- but even more beautiful from above. This itinerary features a few extra special activities alongside a traditional Okavango safari – a scenic helicopter ride whizzing along the waterways, a peaceful balloon trip over the wetlands and a night below the stars on a private starbed. A perfect blend of adventure and luxury without compromising on your safari experience. A complete range of land and water activities combine to ensure a fantastic all round Okavango safari – ideal for romantic holidays and intrepid travellers who are looking for something different.

okavango delta safari tour

Christmas Safari

Experience the best of the Okavango as you visit two luxury tented camps set in prime locations in east and west Okavango. Both camps offer year round land and water activities offering a complete Okavango safari experience, perfect for the Christmas season. Small and friendly camps with superb guides and a full range of activities make this the perfect itinerary for family holidays in the festive season. With a private vehicle offered complimentary for all groups of four or more this is perfect for families.

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One week Classic Wilderness Safari

A powerful combination of luxury Okavango camps come together to create a superb 7 night itinerary, one of our most popular. Importantly, this itinerary delivers great game viewing and both land and water activities all year round. Following a triangular route through the south, east and west Okavango the magnificent diversity of the delta is experienced. Wonderfully varied game viewing and activities keep every day fresh and exciting. These are some of Botswana’s most popular camps, a winning combination offering a diverse range of habitats and wildlife encounters. Ballooning and Helicopter rides can be included too.

okavango delta safari tour

7 Night Fly Me Around Botswana

This week long ‘Fly Me Around Botswana’ is a fantastic itinerary combining the &Beyond properties in the Okavango, one of the leading luxury safari operators. It offers reduced rates by combining their top luxury camps and delivers an impressive and spoiling safari experience. Staying at three stylish camps - Xaranna, Nxabega and Sandibe – each set in different environments, offering a myriad of wildlife spectacles. Game viewing is good year round at these camps, water activities are seasonal. These camps have some of the highest levels of guiding and guest service in Botswana, with superb dining too.

Mopiri Camp offers an affordable Okavango delta safari

Affordable Okavango Delta Safari

This six-night safari combines a true water camp in the permanent Delta with a classic land camp for fantastic game viewing for a truly affordable Okavango Delta safari. This is a year round safari offering the full spectrum of land and water-based activities in comfortable camps. An optional night under the stars with your very own fly camp is available for the more adventurous travellers.

okavango delta safari tour

Classic East West Okavango Safari

A classic six night Okavango safari, split equally between private concessions on the east and west of the Okavango delivering a fantastic all round safari experience. A full range of land and water activities from beautiful and diverse habitats keeps the safari experience interesting, fresh and exciting every day. Pom Pom Camp and Splash Camp complement each other very well and both have a strong focus on tracking big game- all game drives feature both a tracker and guide. With permanent waters and good resident game this is a solid itinerary option for any time of year.

Photographic safari in BOtswana

Botswana Photographic Safari with James Gifford

Join professional wildlife photographer James Gifford on a superb 9 night Botswana photographic safari through the best of the Okavango and Chobe. An itinerary specially designed for keen photographers looking to take their skills to the next level – whether you’re starting out with your first DSLR or an experienced photographer. The camps have been selected for their prime locations, specially equipped vehicles and great safari guides to ensure the best possible photo opportunities. You’ll experience the best of Botswana from every angle - open 4x4 vehicles, motor boat and helicopter – with James on hand to share his knowledge gained over 15 years in the field. What better classroom than the African wilderness to practice your photographic skills?

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Off the Beaten Track Luxury Mobile Safari

A luxurious mobile safari without compromising on adventure or authentic experiences. Set on a stunning private concession in the Okavango Delta, this is one of the few mobile outfits able to offer a private and flexible safari experience away from the crowded national parks. With your own private camp and guide the days are tailored to suit your personal interests- with a mix of game drives, walking, boating and mokoro adventures. One night is spent fly camping on a palm island guaranteed to leave you with memories for life. Perfect for families and friends travelling together.

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8 Night Ultimate Family Safari

Set the rhythm for your perfect family safari with a dedicated private guide and private activities on this fantastic itinerary through Northern Botswana. This eight-night itinerary explores the Moremi Game Reserve, the permanent Okavango Delta, Savute and the Chobe riverfront. A comprehensive tour of the richest wildlife areas of Northern Botswana, with excellent game viewing in pristine areas and a range of both water and land activities guaranteed year round. Flexible meal times and a family safari specialist in camp will ensure you maximize your safari time. An excellent itinerary at any time of year. Min age is 6 years. Easily adapted to your preferences.

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Luxury Vintage Safari

A luxury safari through the same magnificent landscapes which have formed the backdrop to some of Botswana’s best Nat Geo documentaries. Staying in the luxury vintage style camps created by their filmmaker owners, this is a truly remarkable safari. The Selinda Reserve and Duba concession have featured some of the most dramatic wildlife encounters in Botswana – beautifully captured in a number of award winning documentaries. Staying in premier camps in prime locations, this safari offers the chance to explore these exclusive and game rich lands and a chance to create and capture your own memories.

Evening meal prepared under the vast Botswana sky

A Desert and Delta Honeymoon Safari

A safari specifically designed for honeymooners looking for those extra special and romantic experiences – and excellent value too. A classic northern Botswana safari forms the basis of this itinerary – exploring Botswana’s most famous and game rich areas of Chobe, Moremi, the Okavango and the Makgadikgadi. The experience is enhanced with special touches along the way- helicopter tours, honeymoon suites, private champagne cruises along the Chobe River, romantic private dinners and even a traditional Setswana blessing!

Guest tent with a view at Duba Explorers Camp

Okavango Explorers Safari

An iconic Okavango safari for any time of year. Combine the permanent deep waters of the Okavango with the explosive game viewing of the famous Duba concession for a perfectly balanced itinerary. At Duba Explorers, in the northern Okavango, you will explore the same game rich lands featured in some of Nat Geo’s most dramatic wildlife films. Plains game abound and predator numbers are impressive. At Setari Camp you will enjoy a quintessential Okavango water safari – where stunning landscapes are the backdrop to a slower and more peaceful safari experience. These are intimate, tasteful luxury camps with plenty of character and activities on offer.

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Family Adventure Safari in the Okavango & Kalahari

This is an action - packed safari especially designed to capture the imagination of young families and engage youngsters in educational and fun activities in a wilderness setting. Private activities ensure a unique and flexible experience. Without compromising the game viewing experience, extra activities are included for those with more energy to burn using simple and wholesome safari -themed activities with specially trained guides. This itinerary captures the true spirit of adventure of safari and allows families to discover the wonders of the Okavango and Kalahari together. Make the most of quad biking across the salt pans, meeting meerkats and educational walks with bushman in the Kalahari. The Okavango invited you to discover the joy of tracking animals and poling a mokoro – Botswana is the perfect natural playground.

Boat safari departs camp with Endeavour Safaris guests onboard

Trans-Okavango Boating Safari

An expedition for intrepid travellers, this trans Okavango boating safari explores the Okavango from north to south. Camping on remote islands, days are spent exploring the waterways and lagoons by boat and the islands on foot. Your camp moves with you, this is a simple authentic camping experience, in the style of the original safaris. A unique safari experience, best suited to well seasoned safari goers or adventurous travellers. These private expeditions only run when water levels permit, usually May-August. Can be tailored on request for shorter trips.

okavango delta safari tour

Wonders of the Okavango

Discover the wonders of the Okavango as you visit the north and eastern sections of the Delta in this wonderful safari. Four nights are split between two beautiful luxury camps set in game rich private reserves – away from the crowds but in the midst of the Okavango’s abundant wildlife. A classic itinerary with lovely game viewing enjoyed through a variety of activities. Some of the Okavango’s most beautiful scenery forms the backdrop to this safari and the camps complement each other extremely well. For those interested in travelling in the dry season hot air ballooning is available too.

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Four Night Classic Wilderness Safari

A complete Okavango Delta experience visiting two excellent private concessions. This is a fantastic four night safari at any time of year. Combining two of the most sought after camps in the Okavango this itinerary offers superb land and water activities staying at Little Vumbura Camp and Chitabe Camp, a winning combination offering a diverse range of habitats and wildlife encounters.

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Ultimate Botswana Honeymoon Safari

This itinerary is packed with all the key honeymoon safari ingredients – intimate camps, exclusive locations, spoiling luxury and once in a life time experiences. And a top safari experience with great game viewing too of course. The best of Botswana’s incredibly beautiful and diverse safari destinations are wrapped up in this 7 night itinerary. A complete desert and delta experience. Visit the striking Makgadikgadi pans and world famous Jack’s Camp, the epitome of a luxury vintage safari. Track the Kalahari lion, meet meerkats, quad bike, horse ride, walk with the bushmen and sleep beneath the stars for truly unique safari experience. The lush Okavango Delta offers abundant game and exciting land and water safari activities- Tuludi Camp is one of the most stylish and luxurious camps in the Okavango. A night under the stars completes the experience.

Savute Elephant Lodge has a water hole perfectly positioned just in front of the lodge making for some great armchair safari experiences

The Grand Tour – Botswana, Cape Town and Victoria Falls

A twelve night tour of the region combining a Botswana safari with an add on trip to Cape Town and Victoria Falls, staying in beautiful five star accommodation throughout. This comprehensive itinerary combines a 7 night luxury safari in the Okavango and Chobe, with a visit to Cape Town and Victoria Falls at the beginning or end of the safari, easily adapted to your suit your preferences. Showcasing the best of the region and staying in some of the most iconic properties in Africa, this is a great itinerary for those looking for a classical and elegant tour experience.

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Botswana Explorers Safari

Picture perfect landscapes, fantastic game viewing and quintessential water safari activities all come together in this excellent itinerary. Staying in intimate, authentic and charming camps and enjoying a host of activities, this itinerary offers a beautifully balanced safari experience. Over 8 nights you explore three different areas, the exclusive Selinda Private Reserve, the famous Duba private concession and the deep waters of the Okavango. The incredible game viewing of the Selinda and Duba reserves has featured in a number of Nat Geo documentaries and these camps were created by their filmmakers. The safari ends at on an idyllic little island deep in the Delta, a chance to slow the safari down and enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of the Okavango.

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Classic 4 night Okavango Safari

A perfectly balanced itinerary exploring the best of the west and east Okavango. Visiting two luxury tented camps set on excellent private concessions with abundant game and a full range of activities. Both areas have permanent water channels ensuring both land and water activities are available year round for a complete Okavango safari experience. This itinerary covers a diverse range of habitats and wildlife encounters. Authentic luxury camps with a maximum of four people per vehicle ensure an exclusive safari experience. A superb year round safari itinerary.

The bird life is prolific in the wilderness areas explored by Letaka

Eleven Night Northern Wings Birding Safari

The best Safari experience that northern Botswana has to offer with excellent wildlife viewing and birding. This specialist birding safari allows you to discover northern Botswana’s phenomenal birdlife. Operated by the leaders in scheduled departure mobile safaris, Letaka Safaris, this safari combines comfortable accommodation with the company’s experienced and highly regarded guides.

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Great Rivers Safari

Explore two of Botswana’s greatest river systems, the Linyanti and Okavango Delta, on this week long safari. A classic Okavango safari is combined with a visit to the remote and wild northern reaches of Botswana. This lesser known area is a pristine wilderness, home to immense elephant and buffalo herds and impressive predators numbers. Visiting three camps over the week, each set on game rich private concessions, this itinerary offers a superb tour of Botswana’s amazing river systems and the beautiful and game rich habitats surrounding them with land and water activities.

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Affordable Botswana Safari

A fantastic and affordable Botswana safari itinerary packed with special experiences and great game viewing. The Okavango and Makgadikgadi come together to offer a wonderfully varied and interesting safari. Staying at rustic but charming camps with great guides, this itinerary showcases the incredible diversity of Botswana’s landscapes. Visiting the dynamic Boteti river area and Makgadikgadi National Park offers diverse game viewing and the chance to enjoy a fascinating walk with San Bushman. In dry season you can sleep out on the salt pans beneath dazzling skies. Moving to the Okavango, explore the beautiful Khwai private reserve, enjoying photo hides, game drives, walks and mokoro rides. A great value safari.

The scenic Little Vumbura Camp is located on an island and surrounded by water

Okavango Wilderness Short Safari

One of the Okavango Delta’s best and most popular camps is the basis of this short safari. With a prime location on a small island in a game rich private concession, Little Vumbura is a superb choice for those short on time looking for a quintessential Okavango experience. With year round water safari activities as well as excellent game drive opportunities, this is a fantastic choice at any time of year. A classic luxury tented camp with a down to earth and friendly atmosphere, you will immediately feel at home in this delightful gem of a camp.

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6 night Luxury Botswana Tour

A luxurious six night safari tour of Botswana, exploring the Okavango and Chobe National Park staying in beautiful five star accommodation throughout. This is a great itinerary for those looking for a classical safari tour, with all the creature comforts of a modern safari. Uniquely, air-conditioning is available throughout and a supremely comfortable stay is guaranteed. Visiting three distinct areas, the eastern Okavango, the southern Okavango and Savute, Chobe- a full variety of environments delivers great game viewing and a full range of activities.

Shinde camp game viewing reveals a coveted leopard sighting

Best Short Okavango Safari

Experience the best of the Okavango with both land and water activities guaranteed year round at Shinde Camp. Set in a game rich private concession in the east of the Okavango, with permanent waters and wide open plains, Shinde delivers a fantastic safari experience at any time of year. A luxurious tented camp delivering a traditional safari experience at excellent value, this is a great camp. Only 4 people per vehicle ensures this is an exclusive safari experience. A great choice for those short on time.

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Ultimate Wilderness Safari in Botswana

Explore Botswana from some of the most luxurious and exclusive camps in Africa. This 9 night itinerary offers incredible game viewing and features some of Botswana's most beautiful and luxurious safari camps. A full variety of land and water activities will ensure a varied and interesting safari experience. Extensions to the Kalahari, Cape Town and even Victoria Falls can also be arranged.

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Wheelchair Accessible Safari – Private Mobile Safari

A private mobile safari through the best areas of Northern Botswana for travellers with mobility difficulties and disabilities. Exploring the east and west Okavango as well as Chobe, this safari offers some of the best game viewing in Botswana. Operated by Endeavour Safaris, the pioneers of this specialist service in Botswana, safaris are conducted in custom built vehicles with excellent and experienced guides. Carefully designed camp facilities ensure a practical and comfortable safari experience for all guests. Starting in Maun and ending in Kasane, this itinerary offers the option to add in a stop at Chobe Game Lodge or in Victoria Falls.

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Northern Highlights

An authentic mobile safari through Botswana’s most famous parks with a superb safari outfit. Visiting the Okavango (east and west Moremi) and the Savuti region of the Chobe National Park, this safari follows a classic route, offering fantastic game viewing year round. For those looking for a pure safari experience and raw wilderness, a mobile safari offers the chance to safari in the style of the original pioneering explorers. Guiding is top notch, the camps are comfortable and the groups small. A great option for adventurous travellers. Extensions and variations available too.

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Pangolin Photographic Hosted Tour

A brilliant safari for keen photographers, this is a hosted group tour run by Pangolin Safaris who have led the way in photographic group tours in Botswana. Novice or Pro photographers are welcome, and cameras and memory cards can even be provided free of charge. This superb safari features 3 nights cruising the Chobe riverfront in an exclusive houseboat, 3 nights in an authentic bush camp in a prime game viewing areas of the Okavango and finally 3 nights in a luxury camp in the Kalahari. With a maximum of 8 guests and a specialist photographic host for guidance, this an intimate and exclusive safari not to be missed.

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Miracle Rivers

Safari like the original pioneering explorers through the beating heart of the Okavango – the Moremi Game Reserve. This authentic mobile safari visits the west and east Moremi, the beating heart of the Okavango with superb game viewing. Mobile safaris are ideal for adventurous travellers looking for a pure safari experience and raw wilderness. Guiding is top notch, the camps are comfortable and the groups small ensuring a personalised safari experience. A great option for adventurous travellers - couples, friends and solo travellers. Extensions and variations available too. Min age 12 years, but private safaris available.

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Accessible Wheelchair-Friendly Safari – Group Tour

A safari to the Okavango Delta is not out of reach for people with mobility issues and disabilities. This scheduled group tour has been created in the spirit of inclusivity – to ensure the wonders of a Botswana safari are open to all, and at an affordable rate. Explore the Okavango and Chobe with Endeavour Safaris who have pioneered this specialist service in Botswana, with custom- built vehicles and other facilities ensuring a safe and comfortable safari experience for their guests.

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Best Value Northern Botswana and Victoria Falls

This definitive Botswana safari and Victoria Falls itinerary offers superb value, and a fantastic safari experience at any time of year. Starting at a charming boutique hotel in Victoria Falls this itinerary then moves through Botswana’s most famous safari destinations- Chobe National Park, Savute, Moremi, the Okavango and Makgadikgadi National Park. A comprehensive tour of the richest game areas of northern Botswana with excellent game viewing and a range of both water and land activities guaranteed year round. Game drives, boating, mokoro, walking, bushman walks and even a complimentary helicopter flight all come together to deliver a brilliant Botswana experience.

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Expert Botswana

Explore the Okavango and beyond – visit the Kalahari and Linyanti-wilderness areas in this comprehensive itinerary. Botswana’s landscapes are fantastically diverse and home to a myriad of wildlife offering a comprehensive game viewing experience. To fully appreciate the wonder of the Okavango one should also visit the Kalahari desert into which it flows. The Kwando-Linyanti is the other great river system in Botswana, a vast pristine wilderness with high concentrations of game. Animals are abundant and predators roam all these areas in good numbers. Safari purists will appreciate the focus on the safari experience rather than the luxurious trappings. Game drives feature trackers as well as guides, increasing the chances of those rare sightings. Explore Botswana away from the crowds with this excellent itinerary.

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Starbed Safari

A classic six night Okavango safari with a dazzling and romantic twist- sleep beneath the stars on private stardecks to the sounds of the African bushveld. A perfect blend of adventure and luxury without compromising on your safari experience. Visit two traditional luxury camps in the Okavango, each with a one night sleep out option - offering the best of both worlds. This is no rough and ready experience – high treehouse style structures complete with four poster beds on the open top deck and bathrooms below ensure comfort is never compromised. A complete range of land and water activities combined to ensure a fantastic all round Okavango safari – deal for romantic holidays and intrepid travellers.

Sundowners at dusk on Machaba - Gomoti Safari

Wild Wonders of Botswana

A good value and classic Botswana safari combining the best of Chobe and the Okavango Delta. Staying in small independent camps with excellent locations and a full variety of activities, this is a brilliant itinerary to immerse yourself into at any time of the year. Beginning in a quiet corner of Chobe with magnificent views of the floodplains this safari continues on to the Okavango Delta with guests staying in two different camps bordering the Moremi Game Reserve offering a varied and comprehensive Okavango safari experience. The camps are very elegant but retain an authentic sense of the traditional safari.

Guests enjoy idyllic ventures onto Delta waters with Bushways safaris mokoro excursions

Classic Northern Botswana Mobile Safari – Northbound

A great value classic mobile safari through the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park. Explore the ecologically diverse Moremi Game Reserve and Khwai, rich in wildlife and big game, continuing on to the ferocious lands of Savute and ending on the majestic Chobe floodplains - home of the largest population of African Elephant in Africa, the Chobe National Park. This is a fully serviced camping adventure, with no guest participation, ensuring all time is spent enjoying your safari. This itinerary starts in Maun and ends in Kasane, making a post-safari extension to Victoria Falls a convenient optional add-on.

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Ultimate Family Safari in Botswana

Set the rhythm for your perfect Botswana family safari with a dedicated private guide and private activities on this classic Botswana safari through Northern Botswana. This eight-night itinerary explores the Moremi Game Reserve, the permanent Okavango Delta, Savute and the Chobe riverfront. A comprehensive tour of the richest areas of Northern Botswana, with excellent game viewing in pristine areas and a range of both water and land activities guaranteed year round. Flexible meal times and a family safari specialist in camp will ensure you maximise your safari time. An excellent itinerary for those looking for a Botswana family safari at any time of year.

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Short Luxurious Okavango Safari

For those looking for a short but stylish Okavango safari, we suggest the exclusive and chic Vumbura Plains Camp. With a stunning location on a beautiful and game rich private concession in the eastern Okavango, Vumbura Plains is a superb choice for a short but complete Okavango experience. With year round water, excellent resident game and impressive predator numbers this is a fantastic choice for a complete Okavango safari at any time of year. The excellent game viewing is matched by the wonderful in-camp experience – this may be a short safari but it will be a memorable one.

okavango delta safari tour

Four Night Okavango Delta Safari

This is an excellent value safari for those wishing to explore the Okavango Delta with guaranteed water and land activities year round. Experience two distinct areas in the Okavango Delta, the Moremi Game Reserve and the permanent delta. Camp Moremi and Camp Okavango were some of the first camps sited in the Okavango, set in prime locations. Camp Moremi delivers big game viewing while Camp Okavango offers quintessential water safari activities. A classic safari combination.

Magnificent elephant encounter on safari with David Foot Safaris

Authentic Walking Safari

The original safari was the walking safari, and this itinerary takes you back to how all it all began. A brilliant 3 night walking adventure with David Food Safaris in the southern Okavango. This is an adventure for safari purists and adventurous travellers looking for an authentic experience. Discover the Okavango on foot, with an excellent and highly experienced guide, simple but comfortable camps and pristine wilderness far from the crowds. A great introduction to the Okavango, and excellent value. Easily combined with a permanent camp to extend your safari experience.

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Four Night Value Safari

This good value safari allows guests to experience the big game of the Okavango Delta at Mma Dinare Camp in the south of the Okavango as well as the unique aquatic nature of the delta at Gunn’s Camp. Both camps are very well located on private concessions and complement each other very well in their different environments and activities offered. Staying in simple but comfortable camps with a focus on the safari experience, this is a great four night itinerary.

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Family Adventure Safari and Victoria Falls

A wonderful family safari exploring the wilds of northern Botswana, ending in a beautiful luxury safari lodge near Victoria Falls. This itinerary combines three great family friendly lodges which offer a host of activities with a child friendly focus to keep youngsters engaged. Each of the lodges are well located on private concessions, in game rich areas of the Okavango Delta and Chobe. A full range of safari activities hosted by specialist guides keeps the days fresh and exciting. Ending on the banks of the Zambezi River in a luxury safari lodge completes the adventure – with rhino tracking on foot and visits to Victoria Falls. A magical family adventure.

okavango delta safari tour

One Week Okavango Horse Safari

Gallop alongside giraffe on the plains and canter through crystal waters on this fantastic five night riding safari. Join the expert team at African Horse Safaris in the beautiful western Okavango for five magical days of riding in game rich wilderness. A full range of activities are also offered from this wonderful little camp ensuring any non-riding companions can enjoy a classic Okavango safari at the same time. And for adventurous souls, there is the chance to sleep beneath the stars in a romantic treehouse.

okavango delta safari tour

Wild Dog Safari

Combine a classic Okavango safari with a visit to the wild, remote and game rich northern frontier of Botswana -the Linyanti-Kwando region. Offering pristine wilderness and phenomenal game viewing in some of the largest private reserves in southern African this is a truly exclusive safari. Safari purists will appreciate the focus on the safari experience rather than the luxurious trappings. Game drives feature trackers as well as guides, increasing the chances of those rare sightings. Visiting three camps over the week each set in beautiful and game rich environments and a great range of land and water activities- this is a classic Botswana itinerary. Predators abound in these areas- including the rare African Wild Dog.

okavango delta safari tour

Three Night Riding Safari

A short but action packed riding safari from one of the leading Okavango specialists in a stunning corner of the delta. This itinerary is perfect for those constrained by time or budget but eager to experience the unique thrill of riding in the Okavango. A full range of activities are also offered from this wonderful little camp ensuring any non-riding companions can enjoy a classic Okavango safari at the same time.

The elephant interaction is a highlight on every visitor to Sanctuary Baines Camp

6 night Luxury Elephant Safari

Incredible game viewing from the world famous Chief’s Island combines with a once in a life time experience walking with elephants in this 6 night luxury safari. Begin in the stunning southern reaches of the Okavango and take the opportunity to sleep below the stars and enjoy close encounters with rescued elephants. Moving to the beating heart of the Okavango, Chief’s Island in the Moremi Game Reserve boasts some of the finest game viewing in the region. Good resident game and impressive predator numbers deliver a year round exciting safari experience. Tall palm trees, open plains and glistening waterways are the backdrop to this great safari. Smart and sophisticated accommodation with plenty of comfort awaits.

okavango delta safari tour

Walk the Okavango Delta

Safari like the early pioneers- on foot. A private mobile walking safari captures the spirit of the original safari like nothing else. This superb week long safari explores three different sites in the Okavango, offering a wonderfully varied and authentic safari experience accompanied by a top guide. Walk Botswana Safaris ethos is ‘a good guide makes a good safari’ and anyone who has been on safari will agree. Walking is the focus but for a comprehensive Okavango experience 4x4 game drives, boating and canoeing is also offered. Camps are offered in various levels of luxury to suit your budget.

okavango delta safari tour

Classic Okavango Horse Safari

This is the definitive Okavango horse safari itinerary, where it all began. This safari experience is overseen by the pioneering team behind Okavango Horse Safaris in the stunning western corner of the Okavango. Days are spent exploring this beautiful and lively area on horseback with a number of other activities offered for a complete Okavango safari experience. Safari means journey, and this is a true safari in every sense. Riding between their two camps captures the explorers’ spirit of the safari and allows guests to discover the deeper areas of the concession. Full day rides with picnic lunches in the bush and siestas below the canopy of the trees are highlights of this superb trip.

okavango delta safari tour

Six Night Okavango and Kalahari Safari

Experience the striking contrast of the harsh Kalahari and lush Okavango in this powerful combination of three luxury tented camps. Perfectly located in private concessions in the Kalahari, West and East Okavango, this is an exclusive safari experience. The Okavango camps are set near permanent water channels ensuring year round water activities. The Kalahari showcases desert adapted species not seen in the Okavango. A fantastic year round safari showcasing the amazing diversity of Botswana with a stunning range of activities.

okavango delta safari tour

Bushways Leopard Safari

An excellent value- for- money adventurous semi-participation safari through the Kalahari, Okavango Delta, Chobe and Victoria Falls. Ideal for intrepid travellers searching for an affordable group tour through the highlights of the region. Mobile safaris offer the most authentic safari experience, the chance to explore the wilderness as the original safari pioneers once did. A rustic safari experience packed with adventure and satisfying activities. Experiences include bushman walks, game drives, mokoro excursions and a visit to the iconic Victoria Falls.

okavango delta safari tour

9 night Luxury Elephant Safari

This itinerary offers a luxurious 9 night immersion into the wilderness sanctuaries of the Okavango and Chobe National Park, including a once in a lifetime experience walking with elephants. With three nights in Chobe and six nights in the Okavango this itinerary offers superb game viewing and a fantastic range of safari activities and experiences. Six nights in the Okavango are split between the beautiful plains of the southern Delta and the world famous Chief’s Island in the heart of the Okavango. Staying in some of Botswana’s most luxurious lodges ensures this is an incredibly comfortable and spoiling adventure.

okavango delta safari tour

Great Explorers Safari

A classic Botswana safari for those explorers drawn to the romantic vintage style of the original safari pioneers. Selinda Explorers and Duba Explorers are charming camps where the luxury is understated, the settings beautiful, the game viewing excellent and the guiding top notch. These camps have a perfect sense of place. Set in the same stunning landscapes which have formed the backdrop to some of Botswana’s best Nat Geo documentaries, these camps were created by their filmmaker owners. The Selinda Reserve and Duba concession have featured some of the most dramatic wildlife encounters in Botswana –safari offers the chance to explore these exclusive and game rich lands and live your own Nat Geo adventure.

okavango delta safari tour

Kweene Trails Expedition and Walking Safari

A safari for adventurous travellers whose idea of luxury is an authentic expedition with a top guide in a remote and pristine corner of the Okavango, far from the crowds. A private camp with your own guide, vehicle and safari team. This is one of the few mobile safaris to operate on a private concession, offering a truly off beat and exclusive experience. Privately guided and personally designed for each group- this four night safari explores the untouched wilderness of the Abu concession on foot with one of Africa’s finest guides. Walking is at the heart of this itinerary – you will walk to your new camp on the third day - though 4x4 game drives and mokoro will be included for a more complete Okavango experience.

okavango delta safari tour

Footsteps Across the Delta – Walking Safari

It’s all in the name – Footsteps Across the Delta, the only permanent camp dedicated to walking safaris in the Okavango. This itinerary sees you exploring a beautiful and game lively private concession in the eastern Okavango on foot. Staying in an authentic bush camp with a down to earth and friendly atmosphere this is a return to the safaris of old. The occasional game drive and mokoro trip is offered to complete your Okavango experience. One for the more adventurous traveller and safari purists – this is one of the most authentic and economical safaris in the Okavango.

okavango delta safari tour

Nine Night Okavango and Kalahari Safari

Experience the striking contrast of the harsh Kalahari and lush Okavango in this powerful combination of three luxury tented camps. Perfectly located in private concessions in the Kalahari, West and East Okavango, this is an exclusive safari experience. The Okavango camps are set near permanent water channels ensuring year round water activities. The Kalahari showcases desert adapted species not seen in the Okavango. A fantastic year round safari showcasing the amazing diversity of Botswana.

okavango delta safari tour

Best of the Okavango – Walking Safari

The ultimate walking safari itinerary for adventurous travelers and safari purists looking for an authentic walking experience in the Okavango. Combining the two best walking outfits operating on private concessions in the Okavango – Footsteps in the east and Beagle Expeditions in the west. This itinerary delivers a fantastic week - long Delta adventure. Beginning at a small three tent camp and ending with your own private mobile camp accessed only by helicopter, this is truly off the beaten track. Superb guiding is at the heart of this itinerary – taking your safari experience to the next level.

okavango delta safari tour

Young Explorers Safari

The Young Explorers safari is designed to offer families the opportunity to discover the wonders of the African wilderness – together, exclusively. Each family has the use of a private three-bedded camp, a professional guide, personal chef, waiter, housekeeper and dedicated Mokoro guides. It literally allows guests to explore the bush at their leisure, while never losing sight of the fact that being in the wilderness is also about having fun! Set on one of the best private concessions in the Okavango with excellent game viewing, families follow a special programme designed to educate children about the Okavango with fun interactive bush skills like tracking and making bows and arrows. One of the best family safari experiences in Africa.

okavango delta safari tour

Ultimate Riding Safari Adventure in the Okavango

The ultimate riding adventure for the most intrepid travellers – this ten day itinerary expands on the classic one week itinerary with a night fly camping deep into the wilds of the concession. Moving between two permanent camps and fly camping, this itinerary truly captures the pioneering spirit of safari. Operated by the experienced Okavango Horse Safaris team, in the stunning western Okavango, days are spent exploring this beautiful and lively area on horseback with a number of other activities offered for a complete Okavango safari experience.

okavango delta safari tour

Five Night Riding Safari

Selinda Camp at sunset

Ultimate Luxury Family Safari

An incredibly exclusive and luxurious family safari for those inspired by the dramatic National Geographic films of Botswana. Staying in sophisticated two bedroom suites complete with private guide, chef and host – privacy and flexibility is at the heart of this itinerary. This safari explores the same magnificent landscapes which have formed the backdrop to some of Nat Geo best wildlife documentaries, staying in luxury vintage style camps created by their filmmaker owners. Staying in premier camps in prime locations, this safari offers the chance to explore these exclusive and game rich lands and a chance to create and capture your own special family memories for life.

Riders stop at a sighting of an elephant while on an outride in the Delta

Classic Five Night Okavango Horse Safari

A fantastic five night riding adventure through the magnificent landscapes of the western Okavango Delta. This itinerary was created by the pioneers of riding safaris in the Okavango and their expert team lead you on these magical days spent galloping through savannah plains and swimming the crystal waters of the Okavango. Explore deeper into this beautiful area as you ride between their two camps. Three nights are spent in the main camp and two nights in the smaller tree-house style sister camp. On these full day rides you will enjoy picnic lunches in the wilderness and shaded siestas in the bush on your journey en-route. A full range of other safari activities complete the experience including game drives and boating.

okavango delta safari tour

Safari like a Guide – Bush Skills Course

A fantastic one week bush skills course set in the Okavango Delta, delivered by the African Guide Academy who train most of the safari guides in the Okavango. This short course has been specially designed for adventurous travellers keen to have a deeper understanding of the wilderness both in theory and practise. Ideal for intrepid and curious travellers who are more interested in understanding the wilderness than the luxurious and accommodation, and a great introduction for self-drivers. Lectures take place on 4x4 game drives, walking, mokoro, boating and in camp.

Kanana camp as viewed from across the water

Classic 5 night Okavango Safari

A wonderful Okavango safari with 2 nights in the west and 3 nights in the east, ensuring a wonderfully varied and well-rounded safari experience. Visit two luxury tented camps set on top private concessions with abundant game and a complete range of activities. Both areas have permanent water channels ensuring both land and water activities are available year round for a complete Okavango safari experience. This itinerary covers a diverse range of habitats and wildlife encounters. Authentic luxury camps with a maximum of four people per vehicle ensure an exclusive safari experience. A superb year round safari itinerary.

Experience the Okavango Delta

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Elephant in the Okavango Delta

Botswana's Okavango Delta & Victoria Falls safari

10 days from $11,985pp

  • The Okavango Delta
  • Day-to-day Itinerary
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Tour highlights

Enjoy the incredible diversity of birdlife in the Okavango Delta.

Search for big cats and large herds of elephants.

Take a night drive in the Khwai Concession to spot the nocturnal wildlife.

Visit the stunning Victoria Falls.

Explore hidden waterways by mokoro canoe.

Price includes:

  • In-destination transfers
  • Activities and excursions as detailed
  • All accommodations
  • 24-hour support while you travel

Itinerary idea in detail

Ask us if you would also like us to arrange your international flights at our preferred rates.

On arrival at Maun Airport, you will be met and assisted with your bags across the tarmac to your light aircraft, which will fly you across the delta to the private Khwai Concession. You should arrive in time to enjoy an afternoon or evening wildlife viewing activity.

Elephants at a waterhole

You can enjoy various activities at Sango, including morning and afternoon safaris, guided bush walks and traditional mokoro excursions. Two safari activities are available each day — one in the early morning and the second in the late afternoon. After your morning safari excursion, you will return to the lodge for a filling breakfast. Enjoy resting and watching the wildlife around the camp in the heat of the day before heading out on a second safari in the late afternoon. As the sun sets, you'll also get a chance to see some nocturnal animals on your drive before returning to camp.

Okavango Delta, Botswana

Enjoy another full day of activities from Sango Safari Camp. Experience being polled along the channels of the delta on a traditional mokoro as well as morning and afternoon safari in the adjacent Moremi Wildlife Reserve or throughout the Khwai Concession.

Little bee-eater in the Khwai Concession

After your morning game excursion, you will take a short scenic flight to Gunn's Concession, where you will spend the next three nights. When you arrive you will have time to enjoy some lunch and get settled into your room before heading out on an afternoon safari.

Nile crocodile

Enjoy morning and afternoon safari, motorboat excursions, mokoro canoe trips and nature walks on Chief's Island, all in the company of your expert guide.

Mokoro in the Okavango Delta

Another full day of activities awaits you. Whilst there is plenty of large wildlife in the area, it's well worth taking the opportunity to notice the smaller things whilst enjoying the wetland style of safari. Animal tracks, plant life, smaller creatures and insects are all things that can all too easily be overlooked when on safari.

Gunn's Concession, Botswana

After a leisurely breakfast, you will take your final light aircraft flight to Kasane. On arrival, you will be transferred across the Zambezi River into Zambia and to Waterberry Lodge. You'll have the next three nights here to explore the incredible falls, and to make the most of this wonderful location on the beautiful Zambezi River.

The thundering water of Victoria Falls

Spend the day enjoying activities from Waterberry Lodge. Included in the price of your stay are guided trips to Victoria Falls, trips to markets and museums, morning and afternoon safari in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, morning and sunset boat cruises, guided canoe trips, fishing trips and picnics on an island in the river.

Hippo, Zambia

Today you can enjoy more of the activities from Waterberry.

Sunset on the Zambezi River

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Livingstone Airport for your onward travel arrangements.

The Victoria Falls

Accommodation options

While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodations, Audley trips are 100% tailor-made, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.

Sango Safari Camp, Khwai

Sango Safari Camp

Plenty of space for all the family at Sable Alley

Sable Alley

Wake with the sun after a night in the Skybeds, Khwai

Khwai Tented Camp

View more accommodations in khwai concession.

Dining area at Moremi Crossing

Moremi Crossing

Delta Camp, Gunn's Concession

Oddballs Enclave

Gunn's Camp, Gunn's Concession

Gunn's Bush Camp

View more accommodations in gunn's concession.

Waterberry Zambezi Lodge, Livingstone & The Victoria Falls

Waterberry Zambezi Lodge

Royal Chundu River Lodge, Livingstone & The Victoria Falls

Royal Chundu River Lodge

Avani Suite Bedroom

Avani Victoria Falls Resort

Toka Leya, Livingstone & The Victoria Falls

View more accommodations in Victoria Falls

  • Khwai Concession
  • Gunn's Concession
  • Victoria Falls

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Safari Ventures

Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls Luxury Tour

See the wonders of the world okavango delta and victoria falls luxury.

  • Information
  • Dates & Prices
  • Similar Tours
  • Additional Info

What's included

  • All accommodation and meals as specified
  • Daily scheduled shared safari activities with our highly qualified guides
  • Emergency medical evacuation insurance
  • Refreshments while on game viewing drives
  • Transfers to and from mentioned camps
  • Drinks and dining rooms tips, porterage, personal travel and baggage insurance
  • Heritage Fee when doing a Tour of the Falls
  • International flights
  • Medical, evacuation or travel insurance
  • Storage or transport of excess luggage
  • Telephone bill, laundry and any items of a personal nature
  • Visa arrangements

Tour Highlights:

  • 5- Star, Luxury accommodations
  • Scenic flights to destinations
  • Big 5 game-viewing
  • Safari game-viewing in Okavango Delta , Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe River and Livingstone
  • Land, water and walking safaris
  • Bush dinners
  • Serene Mokoro Canoe excursions (subject to water levels)
  • Night game-viewing drives
  • Sundowner cruise on the Chobe River and Zambezi River
  • Tour of the Victoria Falls
  • Village tour in Livingstone
  • Living with Elephant activity at Sanctuary Stanley’s Camp
  • Helicopter flight, bungee jumping, micro lighting over the Victoria Falls ( More info )
  • Swimming at the Devil’s Pool
  • Rafting on Zambezi River

Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls Luxury

Okavango Delta

Situated in the northwestern corner of Botswana, the Okavango Delta is a World Heritage Site as it is the largest inland delta in the world. The magnificent Okavango River sprawls out over the dry sands of the Kalahari Desert forming this flourishing waterlogged oasis featuring countless meandering waterways and crystal clear lagoons studded with water lilies, as well as fertile floodplains and reeded islands inhabited with abundant wildlife. The Okavango Delta stretches over 15000 square kilometres. Visitors can enjoy a number of wonderful activities such as game viewing, fishing, bird watching or taking an authentic guided Mokoro excursion through this wetland paradise in a traditional dugout canoe. Commonly spotted animals include: lion, rhino, leopard, giraffe, hippos, elephants, crocodiles and countless species of bird.

Moremi Game Reserve

Situated in the east of the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve ranks as one of the most beautiful reserves in Africa. It covers more than 4871 square kilometres of pristine wilderness, and the varied terrain includes savannah, winding waterways, and dense forest. This diverse ecosystem supports an incredibly wide spectrum of wildlife, ranging from large herds of buffalo, wildebeest and zebra, to the rare sitatunga and lechwe antelope, lion, cheetah and packs of wild dog in the open grasslands. The birdlife is prolific and includes most of the 550 bird species recorded on Botswana’s national bird list. A range of luxury lodges in the reserve offers visitors the perfect base to experience this corner of paradise.

Chobe River Front

The Chobe River forms the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park, renowned for its diverse and abundant game viewing opportunities. This section of the park is best known for its dense concentration of wildlife including elephant and hippo populations, but the waters attract all manner of game including large herds of buffalo and the lions that prey on them. A visit to this area guarantees close encounters with an array of African wildlife. Visitors can look forward to some exciting activities such as: driving along the game-dotted river banks in a 4WD; cruising along the river in a motorboat, spotting rare birdlife and for a unique, luxury safari experience, hire a houseboat.

Livingstone (Victoria Falls)

Located a few kilometres from the Zambezi River in southwestern Zambia, the bustling town of Livingstone is famous as the home of the magnificent Victoria Falls. One of the original natural wonders of the world, the World Heritage Site is known locally as ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. This spectacle is accessible from both Zambia and Zimbabwe and is an ideal place to combine game viewing and water sports. There is excellent fishing, a terrifying bungee jump and arguably the best commercial whitewater rafting in the world. Visitors can hike around the falls or try ziplining or the bridge swing. Those seeking more leisurely activities can take sunset cruises along the river, with champagne and snacks included, meander through the vibrant local Livingstone Market, or discover the region’s history and archeology at the Livingstone Museum.

  • On arrival at Maun Airport, our representative will meet and assist you to your onward flight on a Mack Air shared light aircraft charter flight to Stanley's Camp.
  • The flying is approximately 15 minutes. On arrival at the airstrip a representative will meet and transfer you to the camp. Sanctuary Stanley's is situated in a 260,000-acre private concession, thus affording guests absolute exclusivity.
  • Guest accommodation consists of eight classic styled safari tents. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the game viewing activities.
  • A completely unique Stanley's feature is an educational experience with a group of semi-habituated African elephants and a highly recommended activity at an additional cost.
  • Other activities available include serene mokoro canoe excursions(subject to water levels), exclusive bush dinners, and game drives in customized, open 4 x 4 vehicles - including the rare opportunity of night drives.
  • Overnight at Sanctuary Stanley's Camp
  • The day is at leisure.
  • Sanctuary Stanley's Camp offers some of the best game viewing in the Okavango, including the rare and elusive wild dog.
  • A completely unique Sanctuary Stanley's feature is an educational experience with a group of semi-habituated African elephants and a highly recommended activity at an additional cost.
  • Other activities available include serene mokoro canoe excursions (subject to water levels), exclusive bush dinners, and game drives in customized, open 4 x 4 vehicles - including the rare opportunity of night drives.
  • As Stanley's Camp is in a private concession, guests also have the exclusive option of walking safaris with an armed professional guide.
  • Enjoy a morning game viewing activity followed by breakfast.
  • A camp representative will transfer you to the airstrip.
  • Depart on a Mack Air shared light aircraft charter flight to Chief's Camp.
  • The flying time to Sanctuary Chief's is approximately 15 minutes.
  • On arrival at the airstrip a representative will meet and transfer you to Sanctuary Chief's Camp.
  • Sanctuary Chief's Camp is a luxury bush camp situated on Chief's Island in the exclusive Mombo Concession of the Moremi Game Reserve.
  • This region is known as the "predator capital" of Africa and is considered to have the finest game viewing in Botswana including the Big Five.
  • Guest accommodation comprises of twelve secluded, permanent luxury bush pavilions.
  • The afternoon is at leisure.
  • Activities available include game drives and seasonal mokoro excursions (subject to water levels).
  • Overnight at Sanctuary Chief's Camp
  • The day is at leisure to enjoy the game viewing activities on offer.
  • The game viewing opportunities around Sanctuary Chief's Camp are awe-inspiring. Elephant, wild dog, cheetah and leopard can all be spotted close to camp and the area also boasts over 500 species of bird.
  • Mokoros, local dugout canoes, are ideal for getting close to the bush in the company of a highly trained local guide.
  • Each June the whole area around the camp floods and turns the Okavango Delta into a labyrinth of lily-filled lagoons and streams where hippos fight for bathing rights and crocodiles wait for unwary antelope to linger too long over a drink.
  • Poling through the byways created by the floodwaters is a magical experience that allows guests to get very close to the biggest of game and to see the world from a totally different angle - looking up onto the banks rather than down onto them.
  • The day begins with a morning game viewing activity followed by breakfast.
  • Depart on a Mack Air shared light aircraft charter flight to Kasane.
  • The flying time to Kasane is approximately 1 hour 20 minutes. On arrival at Kasane Airport a lodge representative will meet and transfer you to the lodge.
  • Deep in the heart of the Botswana wilderness lies Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero Lodge.
  • Relax in luxurious thatched cottages, with modern freestanding baths, indoor and outdoor showers, terrace and private garden with hammock overlooking the magnificent Chobe River.
  • The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the game viewing activities on offer which include game drives in the National Park and sundowner cruise on the Chobe River.
  • Overnight at Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero Lodge
  • Today is at leisure to explore the area.
  • Thrilling guided game drives in open-sided 4X4 vehicles bring you to the heart of Africa's largest concentration of elephants, as well as hippos, buffalos, antelope, lions and other creatures that gather on the banks of the Chobe River.
  • Or spot wildlife from the water, joining one of the acclaimed guides on a water safari on specially adapted motorboats.
  • A morning game viewing activity is followed by breakfast.
  • You will be transferred to the border for your onward transfer to Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma which is just a short drive away from the world-famous Victoria Falls.
  • The lodge itself is an exclusive haven in the heart of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park which, in addition to the mighty roar of the Victoria Falls, also boasts a wide variety of game as well as countless opportunities for adventure. Built on two levels on a dramatic bend in the Zambezi, the main lodge is perched in giant ebony trees.
  • Guests can relax in the swimming pool, or enjoy a drink in the elevated bar.
  • The twelve air-conditioned tree houses are connected by wooden walkways and all enjoy superb views over the river.
  • In addition, there are two private houses available.
  • Each has two bedrooms, a dining area and deck with plunge pools, as well as a private chef and house staff.
  • Overnight at Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma 
  • The day is at leisure to enjoy some of the many activities offered which include a Tour of the Falls, sundowner cruise on the Zambezi, walking safaris, game drives in the National Park and a Village Tour.
  • Livingstone is also known as the adventure capital of Africa offering a variety of adrenalin activities. Imagine taking on the mighty Zambezi River on a white water rafting trip. Did you know the rapids on the Zambezi are officially defined as "Grade 5”?
  • The Flight of Angels offers an amazing opportunity to experience a flight in a helicopter and an unrivalled and superior view of the majestic Victoria Falls.
  • Other adventure activities include bungee jumping, micro lighting over the Victoria Falls and swimming at the Devil's Pool.
  • These activities are an optional extra and can be booked at the lodge.

End of Itinerary

  • The morning is at leisure to enjoy the activities on offer and afterwards please meet the lodge representative in the reception area of the lodge for your transfer to Livingstone Airport.
  • Your transfer times will be advised to you by the lodge managers.

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Victoria Falls and Chobe Fly-In Tour

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okavango delta safari tour

Okavango Delta

A poler poling two guests along in a mokoro through the reeds on the Okavango River.

The quintessential delta experience : game drives in open safari vehicles and gliding in silence through the waterways on an African-style gondola carved from a single tree.

Access into the Okavango Delta is difficult, getting around is difficult, carting supplies in and waste out is difficult. These are all good things for this vast wildlife wilderness is utterly picturesque and devoid of human influence .

If constant close-ups of elephant, buffalo, lion, giraffe, hyena, jackal and plenty of large and small antelope start to grow old, there's always the chance encounter with cheetah, leopard, wild dog, and red lechwe to spice things up.

Birds rightly favour the delta's abundance of supply and the delta favours an abundance of birds. Distinct riverine and woodland habitats attract a wider diversity of birds and some of the rarities you might see include Pel's fishing owls, narina trogons, white-backed night herons, African skimmers, bat hawks, wood owls and carmine bee-eaters.

Moremi Game Reserve , Chiefs Island the Moremi Tongue cover most of the delta and protect most of the wildlife. Safaris in the Okavango can be entirely on water, entirely on land or a combination of both . July to September is high water season in the delta and this period coincides with the Botswana dry season, making for the best game viewing and the best scenery.

Talk to your Travel Expert about your land- and water-based Okavango Safari - we know where to go and when to go for the best of both worlds.

The Formation of the Okavango Delta

A kink in the Kavango River, rising several thousand km away in the Angolan highlands, diverts the river from its natural course towards the Indian Ocean via the Zambezi into the flat sand basin of the Kalahari in Botswana.

Here the river fans out into a palm-shaped network of river scouts that year after year seek a path to the sea. Not to be, as the Kalahari snuffs out their attempts as the water drains into the earth to form the world's largest inland delta spanning 15,000 sq km at its peak.

The Kavango River takes several months to reach its destination and when rivulets begin to fill the the seasonal channels, Botswana's wildlife is on full water rations. Trekking for many days, elephant, buffalo and large herds of plains game leave their rapidly drying hinterlands and head for the communal wetlands in the dry winter months from July to September.

High water is a time of plenty for the herbivores in the delta but their concentrations make for easy pickings. High water is also a time of plenty for the predators, who previously ranged far and wide during the wet season in search of their dispersed quarry.

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Adventure for two on The banks of Zambezi

okavango delta safari tour

OKAVANGO DELTA

Okavango delta safaris.

The Okavango Delta is a mesmerizing oasis nestled within the heart of Botswana, Africa. Often referred to as « the jewel of the Kalahari, » this extraordinary natural wonder is one of the largest and most unique inland deltas in the world. Fed by the waters of the Okavango River, the delta transforms the arid landscape into a lush and vibrant paradise.

The delta’s remarkable formation is a result of seasonal floods originating from the Angolan highlands. These floodwaters journey down to the flat and sandy terrain of the delta, creating a vast network of channels, lagoons, and islands. This ever-changing hydrological cycle shapes the delta’s ecosystem, supporting an incredible diversity of flora and fauna.

The Okavango Delta is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists alike. Its pristine wetlands and diverse habitats shelter a remarkable array of species, including elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, crocodiles, and hippos, among many others. Birdlife is equally impressive, with over 400 species calling the delta home, including various herons, storks, eagles, and the distinctive African fish eagle.

For travelers, the Okavango Delta offers unparalleled safari experiences. Exploring the delta by traditional mokoro (dugout canoe) provides an intimate encounter with the waterways and an opportunity to witness wildlife up close. Land-based safaris, both on foot and in open safari vehicles, offer the chance to observe animals in their natural habitat and to connect with the intricate web of life that thrives in this remarkable ecosystem.

The Okavango Delta’s pristine beauty, unique wildlife, and rich cultural heritage have led to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its delicate balance between nature and human activity showcases the importance of sustainable tourism and conservation efforts. The delta not only invites exploration and adventure but also fosters a deep appreciation for the harmony between humanity and the natural world.

OKAVANGO DELTA

The Okavango Delta offers a range of captivating destinations to explore. Here are some must-visit places within this remarkable ecosystem:

1. Moremi Game Reserve : This pristine reserve is known for its exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities. It encompasses a variety of habitats, from floodplains to forests, and offers sightings of lions, leopards, elephants, and rare antelope species.

2. Chief’s Island : The largest island in the delta, Chief’s Island hosts a rich diversity of wildlife. It’s a prime spot for guided walking safaris and game drives, allowing you to get close to animals in their natural habitat.

3.  Xigera Concession : This area is renowned for its water-based activities. Explore the water channels by mokoro and spot aquatic wildlife such as hippos and crocodiles. Birdwatching enthusiasts will also be delighted by the abundance of species.

4.  Khwai Concession : Located on the eastern border of Moremi, Khwai offers a mix of water and land-based experiences. It’s an excellent place to witness the interaction between predators and prey.

5.  Okavango Panhandle : This northern region provides a different perspective of the delta, with broader channels and fertile fishing grounds. You can engage in fishing excursions and experience the livelihood of local communities.

6.  Dubare and Vumbura Concessions : These areas offer a balanced blend of land and water activities. From game drives to boating trips, you can encounter diverse wildlife and immerse yourself in the delta’s unique landscapes.

7.  Okavango Delta Camps : Various luxury camps dot the delta, each offering a distinct experience. These camps provide guided safaris, boat cruises, and exceptional hospitality, ensuring a memorable stay in the heart of the wilderness.

8.  Wildlife Encounters : Whether by mokoro, boat, or on foot, the Okavango Delta allows you to see animals up close. From elephants wading through water to colorful birdlife, every moment is an opportunity to connect with nature.

9.  Sunsets and Stargazing : The delta’s open skies create breathtaking sunsets and unparalleled stargazing. Enjoy these natural spectacles from the comfort of your camp or during a serene evening boat cruise.

10. Cultural Experiences : Engage with local communities to gain insights into their traditional way of life. Visiting a village can offer a deeper understanding of the coexistence between humans and nature in the delta.

These destinations showcase the Okavango Delta’s unique combination of water and land ecosystems, offering a chance to immerse yourself in its extraordinary beauty and wildlife.

Mosu Safari Tours

An Unforgettable Safari in Botswana

  • Mokoro Trail Okavango Delta
  • Safari Packages

Mokoro Trail Okavango Delta -- BWDAY02

Exploring the waterways in a traditional dugout canoe (mokoro) is highly recommended and a truly unique experience. Gliding silently through clear waters that have been purified by the water lilies, reeds, papyrus and kalahari sand that gives guests an unparalleled perspective of the abundant wonders.

okavango delta safari tour

  • Detail Itinerary
  • Okavango Delta / Nature walk
  • Mokoro excursion
  • Bird watching
  • Entrance fees to the Okavango delta
  • Transport in 4X4WD game viewing vehicles Mokoro activities
  • Nature walk on the island
  • Pooler’s & guide fee
  • Transport to & from mokoro station
  • Food as per itinerary (Cooked lunch)
  • Bottle Mineral water (2 per person)
  • Soft drinks per (2 per person)
  • Air charters and airport taxes
  • Travel insurance
  • Staff gratuities (at client discretion) $10 per person per day
  • Game/scenic flights over the delta
  • Scenic helicopter
  • Boat cruise

A comfortable non participation safari for only a day. Mosu Safari Tours will provide Mokoro chairs, plates & cooler box with ice.

Experience the vast Wilderness of the Okavango Delta

Okavango Delta - One of the largest Inland water systems in the world, the Okavango Delta covers an approximate area of 16 000 square km of the Kalahari. The Kavango river rises in the Angloa’s highlands and flows though Namibia before flooding onto the soft sands of the Kalahari creating the inland delta. The flood waters of Angola take approximately 3 months to reach the borders of Botswana and may only reach the southern end of the Delta in June. This creates a unique source of water in this region during the dry season. As the surrounding game reserves are drying out the Okavango’s waters are rising attracting wildlife which remains in the area from May to October.

One of the best experiences in the Okavango Delta is to be poled along the reed lined channels in a Mokoro (dugout canoe). The water flows inland and southeast into Botswana where it fans out to form this paradise of swamps, reed, beds, flood plains, and island and long stretches of cool, clear water.

Mokoro trips have become the popular way for travelers to experience the tranquility of the Okavango Delta. A trip by ‘Mokoro’ either a traditional/fiberglass dugout canoe is central for the tourists to experience in the delta. The mokoro was introduced by the Bayei people in the 18 th century.

okavango delta safari tour

MOKORO FULL DAY TRIP

Our driver will pick you up where you will be accommodated at 07:30 am and transfer you to Mokoro Station. Arrive at Boro mokoro station at 08:15am on an open 4WD Safari Vehicle en route to the Delta where you will meet your local mokoro poler for a peaceful and relaxing mokoro journey taking in the sights and sounds of the Okavango Delta.

This activity is conducted by local mokoro community guide. Mokoro meaning (the traditional Aquatic mode of transport, dugout canoe) who will take you through the water channels listening to bird’s calls. Bird life is quite spectacular; Hippos and crocodiles are also a usual sight. It takes about 2 hours to reach the island. Roughly you will arrive at the Island between 10 and 11 am depending on what you saw on the way. When you arrive you take a quick rest and stretch your legs and then you take a nature walk on the Island where you will see some animals, for example Zebras, Elephant, Buffalos, Impalas, Giraffes and many more depending on the day. At times we encounter lions. Guides are very brilliant they will explain lot of things to you about the animals and the entire environment. We then have a stopover for lunch. After eating you learn how to Pooler the mokoro. From there we Poole back to the mokoro station where we find our vehicle waiting for us. We drive back to Maun where we arrive between 16.00pm and 17.00pm   

Featured Safari packages

okavango delta safari tour

Okavango Delta fly in safaris

You can’t quite appreciate the Okavango Delta until you’ve flown over it and witnessed it for yourself, but it is special, very special. Fly into the famous Delta by light aircraft, where wide grasslands, streams, and plentiful animals await. 

Spend as many days as you like in a huge safari camp with amazing scenery, in which the afternoons are spent seeing this incredible area from the skies above, a unique and rewarding experience or combined with a ground trip by mokoro canoe, boat, or foot.

Table of Contents

The best Okavango Delta fly in safari tours

Price of an okavango delta fly in safari.

Fly-in excursions cost about $4,500 per person. For camping, visitors can expect to pay US$1,000 a person for a 7-day communal tour, and up to US$3,000 per individual for a mid-range personal tour.

The pricing of a safari in Okavango Delta is determined by a variety of variables. Joining a group camping excursion is the most cost-effective alternative. These can be a great deal of fun, but there is wonderful lodging available, and staying at safari lodges is also part of the experience. 

There are resorts in various pricing ranges that provide various degrees of luxury and convenience. The most common type of accommodation is mid-range lodging at reasonable pricing.

Tour breakdown for a typical Okavango Delta fly in safari

Safari tour highlights.

  • Seasonal flooding in the Okavango floodplains
  • Big 5 and Okavango animals have adapted to their wetland surroundings
  • Incredible salt around plant roots with barren white spots in the center of some delta islands
  • Chief’s Island, the biggest island inside the delta, originally a private hunting place for the island’s chief
  • Soaring across settlements allows you to go great distances in a short amount of time
  • A fantastic blend of attractions for both first-time and repeat travelers to Okavango Delta
  • Luxury safari camps are located on vast private concessions
  • Option to explore the Okavango by traditional canoe (mokoro)

Tour inclusions

The following details typical tour inclusions and exclusions on the best Okavango Delta fly in safari packages:

Okavango Delta fly-in safari essentials and information

Must do on an okavango delta fly in safari.

Picture soaring across the Okavango Delta on vacation, from one isolated wilderness site to another, and being greeted at little airfields with the Big 5 animals, zebras and hippos in sight, without waiting in line or undergoing any airport procedures. 

Upon being welcomed by your guide, you will immediately board your uncovered safari truck for a wildlife drive on your journey to your luxury tented camp. Get to experience the attractions of Botswana, and maybe even Victoria Falls on a single vacation without having to deal with time-consuming travel logistics, rough roads, or tiresome transfers. 

That is exactly what a fly-in safari in Okavango entails, all round convenience, incredible landscape and wildlife viewings and with the option of add-on activities including mokoro canoe trips and walking safaris. 

If that’s not enough for you, why not combine your Okavango flying safari with a trip to the stunning Chobe NP where you’ll find large animal concentrations, big cats, lion prides and Africa’s largest elephant population at 50,000 or the stunning Makgadikgadi Pans , unique due to its landscape rather than its wildlife. 

Animals viewed on an Okavango Delta fly-in safari?

The terrain of Okavango Delta is just as appealing as the species, and it’s much more stunning from above, but don’t forget your binoculars, as there’s an astounding diversity of wildlife concealed in these arid plains.

A plethora of wildlife congregates around the waterholes, and game drives give several views of lions, wildebeest, giraffe, and zebra from among numerous plains animals. Meanwhile, the game reserves are home to large numbers of elephants, leopards and rhinos.

Also keep a look outside for springbok and oryx, as well as rarer wildlife like the aardwolf. Buffalo, eland, gazelles, impala, and waterbuck were also discovered. Visitors will undoubtedly enjoy viewing these majestic animals in their natural surroundings.

Factors to consider when booking a fly-in safari?

The first things to think about are your finances and the length of time you have allocated for your vacation. Fly-in safaris are ideal for time-pressed vacationers.

It’s also worth considering whether you would like to see more of a region than simply the specific places into which you’ll be traveling. Traveling from region to region provides a more in-depth understanding of a nation, its people, and history than soaring over it. 

This is especially true in Okavango Delta, with its magnificent landscape, superb roads, and active local culture as you fly by. If you are prone to travel sickness or are a fearful flier, a fly-in safari may not be the best option for you.

Aircraft used on an Okavango Delta fly-in safari?

The Cessna 210, a highly engineered small airplane with a single engine, is the most preferred for charter flights. It has a great reputation and is a six-seater that can accommodate up to four individuals. Perfect for beautiful flights.

The Baron is a slightly bigger and faster aircraft that is similarly flown by a single pilot but it has two engines. It can accommodate up to five persons.

A Cessna 404 can carry up to eight people. It is the Cessna 210’s elder sibling, with twin engines and two pilots. Ideal for bigger parties that want to fly in the same plane. More room and comfort. 

The Cessna Caravan is a superb aircraft that accommodates up to 12 people and one pilot. The ‘4×4’ of small planes, capable of operating from rough airstrips, has a high-winged single turbine aircraft that is great for picturesque aerial photography.

Luggage restrictions on a fly-in safari?

On bush flights, luggage capacity might be quite restricted. The Cessna 206, for example, has just a tiny space under the seats, and bags are frequently squeezed in to fit within. As a general rule, soft duffle bags are preferable over hard-framed suitcases with wheels. 

Some providers set quite strict weight limitations and will count your hand bags and even coats in the total. Most employers allow roughly 15kg per person as a general rule. Don’t be startled if an airline inquires about your own weight. 

This is frequently done in order to securely balance the smaller aircraft. If you have too much luggage, you may be able to pay for a cargo ticket on safari routes.

What is the average cost for an Okavango Delta fly-in safari?

The average cost for an Okavango Delta fly-in safari is $2,500 – $4,000 per person for fly-in excursions whilst accommodation and activity add-ons can add to this price. 

What are the advantages of an Okavango Delta fly-in safari?

The main advantage of an Okavango Delta fly-in safari includes saving a lot of time by avoiding long, bumpy road journeys. You’ll also see another side of this incredible landscape and wildlife which you wouldn’t otherwise see from the ground and enjoy the thrills of descending over the vast savannah.

Are Okavango Delta fly-in safaris safe?

Okavango Delta fly-in safaris are indeed very safe with private charter aircraft well maintained and piloted by professionals with years of flying experience and safety training. Each aircraft typically carries up to 12 individuals whilst larger planes seat 35 – 50 passengers.

Home / Tours / By Country / Namibia Tours / Namibia and Botswana Safari – 12 Day

Namibia and Botswana Safari – 12 Day

Tour Map

  • Tour Details

  • What You'll Experience
  • Etosha National Park
  • Moremi National Park
  • Khwai Conservation Area
  • Okavango Delta
  • Chobe National Park
  • Victoria Falls

View Inclusions →

View Activities →

View Itinerary →

  • Why You'll Love this Tour

Pressed for time? Think of this short and sweet tour as your safari adventure trailer. On the road from Namibia to Botswana you’ll have a front row seat to all of Southern Africa’s bucket list experiences . From capturing a snapshot of the elusive big five in Etosha to hearing ancient stories told by Southern Africa’s first people - this is an authentic African adventure and you’re at the heart of it.    

Currency conversion estimated. Base currency is South African Rand (ZAR)

R 39,400

+ Single Supplement Optional 1100

Dates tour length: 12 days.

Currency estimated. Base currency is South African Rand (ZAR)

  • Meals - 11 Breakfasts, 11 Lunches, 10 Dinners
  • Accommodation
  • Registered guides
  • Filtered Water
  • Transport per itinerary
  • Entrance Fees to National Parks
  • Seal Colony at Cape Cross, Petrified Forest, Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings
  • Etosha Afternoon game drive in the vehicle, Full day and Afternoon Game Drive
  • Kavango Morning Boat Cruise
  • Sunset Mokoro Excursion
  • Full Day Game Drive Moremi Game Reserve
  • Morning Pans excursion
  • Chobe National Park Boat Cruise
  • International Airfares
  • Travel insurance ( Get Adventure Travel Insurance )
  • Personal spending money
  • Border taxes
  • Vaccinations
  • Personal taxes (including departure and border taxes)
  • All optional activities
  • Unscheduled or optional national / game parks and other activities
  • Sleeping bag if needed
  • Restaurant meals (other than those listed)
  • All drinks -  Soft Drinks, Bottled Water
  • Other items of a personal nature

Expert Advice and Guidance

African Overland Tours Consultants Are Here to Help You Plan Your Adventure

  • We'll give you first-hand knowledgeable advice about this tour.
  • We'll answer any of your questions and guide you every step of the way.

Some of the activities you can take part in on this tour.

Included in the Tour Price

Other activities.

  • Okavango Delta scenic flight
  • Victoria Falls National Park Entry, Zambezi Sunset Cruise, Bungee Jump, Helicopter Flights, White Water Rafting

This itinerary has been written with the Activity Package items included. If you wish to participate in all the activities listed, you will need to purchase the Activity Package.

Swakopmund – Khorixas, Namibia

A trip north will take us further into the desert, where hot desert sands meet the cold waves of the Atlantic Ocean. After arriving at Wlotskabaken, we will stop for a photo opportunity before proceeding to the Lichen Fields where your guide will provide a brief description of the Lichen Colonies. After visiting the Seal Colony at Cape Cross, which is known as the largest in the world with over 200,000 Cape Fur Seals, we will proceed to the famous Seal Colony at Cape York. The Cape Cross monument was erected by explorer Diego Cao in honour of the then king of Portugal, the first European explorer to set foot on the coast of Namibia in 1486. There may be times when the Cape Cross Colony is inaccessible, so we will not be able to see the seals.).

Continuing on, the road takes us to the Khorixas area with a local guide, where we will see Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings and the Petrified Forest. The Khoi San have inhabited this area for more than 6000 years.  Shamanism was practiced at this site by these inhabitants. The process resulted in the creation of more than 2500 rock paintings.  A large concentration of rock petroglyphs can be found at this site.  As part of the tour, we will also visit the Petrified Forest, a national monument that contains fossilized tree trunks dating back to prehistoric times. It was created by the washing down of great tree trunks in a river and their subsequent deposit in alluvial sands during prehistoric times.

Accommodation : Camp: Brandberg White Lady Facilities : Shared Ablutions Please visit the website of the accommodation provider for a full list of the facilities offered. Route : Swakopmund to Brandberg (via Cape Cross) Meals: Lunch, Dinner Included Highlight : Seal Colony at Cape Cross, Petrified Forest, Twyfelfontein Rock Engravings

Khorixas – Etosha National Park, Namibia

One of Africa’s finest game parks, Etosha is home to vast salt pans, savannas, and woodlands. One of the largest parks in Southern Africa, it occupies an area of 18 000 square kilometers. Our afternoon will be spent exploring Etosha in the truck, which means “great white area” in the Etosha language.

Accommodation : Camp NWR: Okuakuejo or Etosha Village  Facilities : Shared Ablutions Please visit the website of the accommodation provider for a full list of the facilities offered Route : Khorixas to Etosha National Park Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Included   Highlight : Afternoon game drive in the vehicle

Etosha National Park, Namibia

As we continue our exploration of Etosha on our second day, we have a full day available to us. During a safari, there is never a dull moment, and the suspense before that special sighting is what motivates us to remain alert and alert.  In search of the abundant wildlife in Etosha Pan, we explore its edges.

Accommodation : Camp: Okaukuejo OR Etosha Village Facilities : Shared Ablutions Please visit the website of the accommodation provider for a full list of the facilities offered Route : Etosha National Park Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Included Highlight : Full Day Game drive in truck

The third day of our trip to Etosha will be a leisurely one for you. Spend some time at the waterhole watching the animals arrive for their morning drink of water or climb the Okaukuejo tower to watch the sun rise.  In the afternoon, we depart for our next Etosha camp – Namutoni, and enjoy a game drive on the way there.

Accommodation : Camp: NWR: Namutoni or Halali Facilities : Shared Ablutions Please visit the website of the accommodation provider for a full list of the facilities offered. Route : Etosha National Park (Okaukuejo rest camp to Namutoni rest camp) Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Included Highlight : Afternoon Game Drive

Etosha National Park –  Divundu, Namibia

Our overnight stop in Divundu will take us away from the white sands of Etosha and towards the Kavango River.

Accommodation : Camp: Mahangu or Shametu River Lodge  Facilities : Shared Ablutions Please visit the website of the accommodation provider for a full list of the facilities offered Route : Etosha National Park to Divundu Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Divundu – Maun, Namibia

A leisurely boat cruise on the beautiful Kavango River is enjoyed prior to departing for Maun.  Our next stop is Botswana, where we will head towards Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta.  During our overnight stay in Maun, we prepare for our next adventure – a visit to the Okavango Delta.

Accommodation : Camp: Sedia or Island Safari Lodge Facilities : Shared Ablutions Please visit the website of the accommodation provider for a full list of the facilities offered. Route : Divundu to Maun Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Included   Highlight : Morning Boat Cruise Border Post:  Namibia: Mohembo Tel:, Open: 07h00-24h00, Botswana: Mohembo, Tel:, Open: 07h00-24h00

Khwai Conservation Area – Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

During the next two nights, you will be separated from your truck, so it is imperative that you pack/gather your personal belongings for our departure from Maun.  We recommend that you pack lightly and take only what you will need for the next two nights. Our journey today takes us to the Okavango Delta. A scenic flight over the Delta will be available as an optional activity for early risers (weather permitting). The Khwai Conservation Area will be visited after you have taken your optional flight from Maun. Smaller safari-type vehicles will be used to transport you to the area following your flight.  During our afternoon mokoro excursion into the Okavango Delta, our guide will prepare us for what to expect.

The Moremi Game Reserve is the setting for our full day game drive today, as we strive to track the animals roaming the plains. In our 4×4 vehicles, we will traverse some bumpy roads in this wilderness area. Our goal is to see as many species of fauna and flora as possible by providing habitats including wetland, open water, grasslands, and Savannah woodland. The night will be spent at Khwai sharing and comparing all the wonderful sightings we witnessed on safari.

Accommodation:  Camp: Khwai Tented Camp (no website available) Facilities : Shared Ablutions Route : Maun to Khwai Conservation area to Moremi Game Reserve Meals : Breakfast x2, Lunch x2, Dinner x2 Included Highlight: Sunset Mokoro Excursion, Full Day Game Drive Moremi Game Reserve Optional Activity:  Okavango Delta scenic flight

Khwai to Nata, Botswana

We travel through the Botswanan salt pans on our way from Khwai to Nata today. Once you have packed up camp and started driving the open 4×4 safari vehicles, you will meet the overland truck in Maun at first light.  Botswana’s stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage are revealed as one drives from Maun to Nata along the scenic route. Before reaching your overnight destination in Nata, keep your eyes peeled as there is always the possibility of encountering wildlife.

Accommodation : Camp: Nata Lodge  Facilities : Shared Ablutions Please visit the website of the accommodation provider for a full list of the facilities offered Route : Khwai Conservation Area to Nata (long day) Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Nata to Kasane – Chobe National Park, Botswana

We enjoy a guided drive around the Nata pans this morning, where thousands of water birds breed, including pelicans and flamingos. After the guided excursion we then make our way to Kasane to our camp situated on the banks of the Chobe River. Our afternoon is spent exploring the Chobe National Park. We are treated to a relaxing sunset river cruise on the Chobe River (situated within the National Park) when we will be able to spot plenty of beautiful animals on the riverbanks, such as hippo, buffalo and elephants. We end the evening with a delicious meal around a fire.

Accommodation : Camp: Thebe River Safaris Facilities : Shared Ablutions Please visit the website of the accommodation provider for a full list of the facilities offered Route : Nata to Kasane Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Included Highlight: Morning Pans excursion, Chobe National Park Boat Cruise

Day 11 - 12

Victoria falls, zimbabwe.

In the morning, we cross the border into Zimbabwe and travel the short distance to Victoria Falls with the memories of our wildlife encounters firmly etched in our minds. During your visit to Victoria Falls today, you will have the opportunity to experience the spectacular Waterfalls, known locally as Mosi-oa Tunya (the smoke that thunders). While much of today is dedicated to viewing the mighty Zambezi River as it drops into the Batoka Gorge below, the bustling adventure town of Victoria Falls also offers a range of optional activities for those wanting a dose of adrenaline in the afternoon. Additionally, craft markets and coffee shops are available for those seeking a more relaxed travel experience.

This morning, your tour comes to an end. With so many activities available in Victoria Falls, you can choose what adventure suits your style best. Enjoy the many attractions Victoria Falls has to offer on this day, whether you are rafting the Zambezi River or flying over the Falls.

Accommodation : Two Per Room: Shearwater Explorers Village  Facilities : En-suite facilities Please visit the website of the accommodation provider for a full list of the facilities offered. Route : Kasane to Victoria Falls Meals:  Breakfast x2, Lunch Optional Activities : Victoria Falls National Park Entry, Zambezi Sunset Cruise, Bungee Jump, Helicopter Flights, White Water Rafting Border Post: Botswana: Kazangula Road, Tel: +267 62 50320 / Open: 06h00-20h00, Zimbabwe: Kzangula Road, Open: 06h00-20h00

Onward Travel Plans

Due to circumstances beyond our control while on tour (such as border crossings, traffic, breakdowns and delays, etc), the end time on the last day cannot be guaranteed. Therefore we strongly recommend you stay the night and fly out the next day. Please consult with your booking consultant.

  • Pre Departure

Important Touring Tips:

  • The itinerary is a guide ONLY and is subject to change
  • There is a mix of different nationalities, ages and cultures on every tour
  • Space in the truck is limited – PLEASE DON’T BRING TOO MUCH LUGGAGE!
  • The tours are high adventure tours, so don’t expect European Coach tours or lodge safaris
  • The tours are often created in a circular route i.e. where one tour ends, another begins
  • The rate is the same throughout the year
  • Should you be travelling to Kenya. The Kenya government has instituted a Zero Tolerance on usage of All Plastic Bags. On the spot fines (400 USD) are being issued.

What are adventure tours?

These are adventure tours perfect for people who enjoy camping and the outdoors. You get to experience the “real Africa” by camping out at night, sitting around the campfire, taking in beautiful scenery, visiting local shops and getting to know the locals.v

What is a typical day?

A typical day on either your camping or accommodated Africa overland tour starts with an early morning wake-up call and a cup of tea or coffee followed by breakfast. Campers pack-up their campsite while comfort travellers check-out of their accommodation and hit the road.

We set off to our next destination travelling through a vast variety of landscapes, making our own new memories with new friends. Each day in Africa offers a new experience from an early morning sunrise hike, quad biking, sky dive or guided nature walk. The options are endless!

We have shorter travel days arriving at our campsite by midday or early afternoon, to enjoy lunch before joining our afternoon activity or simply enjoying a relaxed afternoon at your own pace.

On our longer travel days an early start ensures an earlier arrival at our campsite. We stop off at scenic spots to stretch our legs and take in the scenery, before lunch is enjoyed at a shady spot en-route. A mid- to-late afternoon arrival at our campsite allows us to set up camp, enjoy a beautiful sunset and end the day sitting around the campfire, under the stars.

Our best advice: expect the unexpected as this is Africa! We travel mainly on gravel roads and poorly kept tarmac roads – both setting the pace at which we travel. We do our best to arrive at our next destination, safety is our number one priority and while our overland vehicles are comfortable and spacious, they are not sports cars!

What type of vehicles do we use?

  • A custom-built, comfortable, safe and self-sufficient Africa overland truck to withstand the rugged African terrain.
  • Various vehicles are used on varying tours, with each offering comfortable seats with ample leg room.
  • Each vehicle has large glass windows for uninterrupted views and perfect for game drives.
  • Smaller 4×4 land cruiser type vehicles are used for game viewing in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, due to the roads being tougher and too narrow for the overland trucks.
  • Each overland vehicle includes a passenger safe to safely keep money + passports + flight tickets + credit cards. The keys are kept with your Tour Leader who will advise of safety requirements in place concerning the safe.Who is suited to go on an adventure tour?
  • Almost anyone can go on an adventure.

Some level of fitness is required due to accessing the vehicle and spending long days on bumpy roads (can take it out of you).EAST AFRICA TOURS require a more adventurous, fearless attitude and are suited to a younger traveller. If you are planning to trek with the Mountain Gorillas or climbing Mount Killi you will need to have a higher fitness level.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON A CAMPING OR ACCOMMODATED TOUR

Camping tours:.

A camping safari is for travellers who want a hands-on experience of Mother Nature. The guide(s) will do most of the work, but you will be required to assist with various tasks such as preparing the food, washing up, cleaning out the truck and setting up the campsite and your tent. If you dream of a lifetime African adventure, embark on a journey with us sleeping under the stars while listening to the sounds of wildlife in the distance.

We offer camping safaris suited to travellers who may prefer to travel in a younger group (aged 18 to 39). Or, you can choose a mixed age group (18 to 60). A camping safari must not be underestimated and will require active participation which means good health and a fair degree of fitness. We have a tour to suit what you have in mind, so please do not hesitate to enquire with us.

During an African camping safari you will stay in large two-man dome canvas tents which are spacious enough for two adults and your luggage. Or, you can opt to have your own tent by including the single supplement (valid on select camping tours).

Your tents are put up and taken down easily – your Tour Leader will show you exactly how to do this and help out when you are unsure. All tents are well-ventilated by means of a tent-door and window, covered with mosquito net. They also include a fly-sheet for the rain.

Most camping safaris include a sleeping mat (please do check with us upon enquiry). You need to bring your own sleeping bag, pillow and towel . All meals are prepared at the truck and you will be required to assist with the preparation.

The African campsites are basic and comfortable and you will be able to upgrade your accommodation at most of the places, but this is subject to availability. Most have warm showers and flushing ablutions, while others may have natural ablutions. Some places visited are bush camps where there are no facilities.

Accommodated Tours:

Accommodated safaris are ideal for travellers who prefer to experience African wildlife and adventure with extra comforts. You are surrounded by vast landscapes and wildlife, curiously roaming at your door-step. It is comfort, without the price tag!

Our accommodated safaris make use of a combination of lodges, hostels, bungalows, chalets, permanent safari camps, hotels and traditional huts. Our properties are ideally located at each destination for an authentic experience with incredible views.

We book Twin rooms if you are travelling with a partner or friend and Single rooms for single travellers (including single supplement). Most of the time we stay in 1-3 star properties with en-suite bathrooms in Southern Africa. In Eastern Africa we offer a combination of en-suite and shared bathrooms. In the case of shared bathrooms, you will be sharing with friends on your tour. Please bring your own towels as these are not always provided.

Select accommodated safaris include a camp assistant to help out with the smaller aspects of your vacation.

The standard of the properties varies along the trip. The Southern Africa properties are much more established than the East Africa accommodation. They vary from basic (but comfortable) to lovely properties. Due to the remote nature of the trips, accommodation choices are limited.

Distances and Road Conditions:

Our tours cover long distances so you can see significant amounts of Africa this means that there will be long days spent on the road often with nothing to look at except vast open plains. You can spend between 350km and 650km a day in the truck so it is important to be prepared.

What will you eat on safari?

Our Africa overland vehicles are fully stocked with dry goods at the start of each tour. We buy fresh produce (fruit and vegetables) almost daily to ensure fresh, good quality and tasty meals. Over the summer months fresh produce is not always available due to the heat and humidity, especially in East Africa and Mozambique – so we may have to skip tomatoes from lunch or opt for rice instead of potatoes at dinner.

Each Africa overland camping and accommodated tour include meals as per the itinerary. Often, we may only include breakfast and lunch, allowing you to enjoy dinner at a local market or restaurant. Drinks such as tea, coffee and fruit juice is included with every meal, but exclude bottle water, beer, soft drinks, alcohol etc. – these can be bought en-route or at your campsite bar.

We do cater for most dietary requirements (allergies, vegetarian, lactose-intolerant). Other requirements (gluten-free) may be more challenging on remote routes (i.e. East Africa) where starch is a stable-food in Africa. Please do speak to us about your dietary requirements and we will advise according to your trip. You will be amazed by the variety of tasty meals prepared on an open-fire!

Almost all your meals are pre-prepared over an open campfire or on the gas stove in your overland vehicle. All cooking equipment such as pots, pans, cutlery and crockery is included for you. Excellent hygiene standards are maintained at all times preparing food and washing up of kitchen equipment. Your guides will provide you with a separate washing up basin to wash hands in warm soapy water before and after each meal.

Our camping tours are limited participation tours, whereby we ask you to help out with daily chores (putting up / taking down tents) and help out your guides at meal times (rinsing, chopping vegetables).

So what are the meals like on tour? We have included a few meal options as a guideline:

Tea/coffee and juice + cereals + bread/toast + fruit. Take 2 fruits and keep one for a mid-morning snack. An occasional cooked breakfast (bacon, pancakes, eggs) is made when you have more time to allow for this (normally when you spend 2 nights at the same destination).

Juice + bread + cheese + cold meats + salads + fruit (make a sandwich for a mid-afternoon snack) Juice + fresh rolls + green salad (or rice salad or pasta salad) + fruit.

Tea/coffee and juice + chicken curry + rice, grilled or roast chicken + salad + garlic roll, grilled chicken + vegetables + salad, fish braai + salad, steak + veggies, pasta, stir-fry + rice, casserole, braai (barbeque) + salads + jacket potatoes, soup + fresh rolls.

Tea, coffee and cordial drinks are supplied with meals but other cooldrinks and alcohol can be purchased along the way.

What about children on tour?

  • Due to the nature of overland tours the minimum age limit is 18. Younger travellers (10 to 17) travelling with a parent(s) will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the tour, time of travel and tour availability. We do have select tours offering Family Departures, suited for children aged 10 to 17.
  • Privately arranged charter tours’ age limits will be assessed based on the route and type of tour you choose.
  • Please bear in mind that the Gorilla Trekking tours have a minimum age limit of 16 years.

Packing for your tour:

Packing sensibly is essential for your Africa Overland trip. One backpack and one daypack are needed and these can weigh no more than 25kg. A duffel bag is preferable as it will fit into the lockers on the truck, but you can also take a backpack with a compact, flexible, soft shell (without a hard frame). Please do not take suitcases. The airlines implement a 20kg per person limit on international flights for your luggage (your main bag) and a further 5 kg for carry-on luggage (your day bag). A good idea is to include a spare bag for curios that you may purchase, but don’t forget to include this in your weight for your trip home. A moneybelt is a useful item for keeping your money safe and hidden.

Take along comfortable, casual and semi-casual “wash & wear” clothes. Cotton is a good material for when it is hot, and fleece for when it gets cold. Pack clothes that don’t crease easily as the laundry facilities are limited. Find clothes that can be mixed and matched easily and are colour co-ordinated. A great item of clothing is zip-off pants. These double-up as shorts or trousers and are useful for when the weather changes. Reversible clothes are also very convenient and will help to reduce space in your bag.

Locker Sizes:

Overland Truck Locker Size

  • 3-4 short sleeved shirts or T-shirts
  • 2 pairs of trousers or 1 pair and 1 skirt – try not to pack jeans as they take a long time to dry
  • Warm sweater or fleece top
  • 1-2 pairs of shorts
  • Tracksuit pants
  • Light sweater or sweatshirt (can also be used as an additional pillow)
  • Warm fleece top
  • Underwear and socks
  • Hat/peak cap/bandana
  • Water/wind-proof jacket
  • Boots or sturdy trainers
  • Beach towel and/or sarong
  • Sandals or thongs (need to be waterproof if you want to go white-water rafting)

Toiletries:

  • Personal toiletries
  • No electric shavers
  • Hand sanitiser/wipes (waterless sanitisers are convenient)
  • Baby wipes/wet wipes
  • Moisturiser
  • Travel pillow
  • Spare pillowcase
  • Sleeping Bag
  • Fleece blanket

Medication/first aid kit:

  • Prescription medication
  • Anti-histamine cream or tablets
  • Antiseptic cream
  • Sunscreen (high factor) and lip balm
  • Water purifying tablets
  • Pain killers
  • Diarrhoea medication
  • Dehydration salts
  • Elastoplasts/band aids
  • Insect repellent (Malaria is a big problem in Africa, so the more protection the better)
  • Sterile dressings
  • Water bottle
  • Book (you can swap with the rest of the group)
  • Extra memory/film for your camera (remember to set at the highest resolution as you might want to enlarge the pictures)
  • Zip-lock bags (medium sized for cameras, snacks, trash etc.)
  • Extra batteries
  • Travel power strip ( a compact three-plug unit that includes two USB connections. With just one wall plug you can charge five gadgets) Buy on Amazon and will help to reduce space in your bag.
  • Biodegradable laundry detergent
  • Vaccination certificates for some areas
  • Small scrubbing brush
  • A padlock for your luggage locker in the truck
  • The power plugs in SA have 3 round pins. East Africa has British power plugs.
  • There will be washing facilities at most campsites which you can make use of.
  • Please remember to bring some environmentally friendly washing
  • We suggest you take along crease-free clothing as the facilities available for ironing are limited

Safety on Game Drives:

  • When on safari be as quiet as possible at all times and don’t make any sudden movements, this will ensure you don’t disturb the animals and get the most out of your game drive.
  • Do not jump off the truck at any time.

Accommodation (Pre Tour):

  • It is highly recommended to arrive a day before your tour starts so that you do not miss out on the pre departure meetings as it covers important information you need to know for your trip.
  • It is strongly advised that you arrive a day before the tour starts.
  • We do advise letting us know as soon as possible in order for us to make the best hotel reservation for you.
  • Post accommodation can be very easily arranged.

Personal Health:

  • Ensure that the guides know of your medical conditions!!!
  • Let them know how you are feeling.
  • AIDS is an enormous problem in Africa so please be careful and practical, condoms are cheap and freely available.
  • A First Aid Kit is available on the truck for any emergencies.

Vaccinations:

  • Please ensure you seek medical advice from your travel doctor before visiting Africa.
  • You should consult your travel doctor or travel clinic for the latest requirements for Hepatitis A (Havrax), Yellow Fever, Tetanus Booster Shot, Rabies
  • If you are entering a Yellow Fever infected area, you will be required to have a vaccination which can be done at Travel Clinics.
  • Obtain an international Certificate of Vaccination with a valid stamp.
  • Yellow Fever – Valid for 10 years and mandatory for most African countries. It is compulsory to produce a yellow fever certificate when entering Kenya, Zanzibar and Malawi and for taking part in the Gorilla Trek. Failure to present this may result in entry being refused.
  • We also recommend that you ask your doctor about: Typhoid, Tetanus, Hepatitis, Meningitis, Polio, Hepatitis A&B, Cholera
  • Tents have mosquito nets in the vents and it is not generally necessary to bring a separate mosquito net unless you plan to sleep outside, under the stars(in which case you are recommended to bring one)
  • Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes and is more prevalent in areas where there are high concentrations.
  • Malaria is a serious problem in Africa, but if you are cautious and use mosquito repellent and take your malaria tablets you will be safe.

Main points to keep in mind about malaria: o Cover your skin with long shirts, pants and socks as most mosquito bites occur below the knee. o Make sure your mosquito net is tightly closed and doesn’t have any holes in it. o Use an effective prophylactic and speak to your doctor about options for anti-malarial tablets o Always cover yourself with mosquito repellent, especially at sunset. o Please know that malaria cannot be cured!

  • Dehydration is a common ailment on tour.
  • You should be drinking a minimum of 2 litres of water per day
  • It is preferable to drinking bottled water to avoid diarrhoea, but your guide will advise you as to whether you can drink the water or not.

How others can reach you:

  • The easiest option to keep in touch with your loved ones at home is to buy a SIM card of the respective country you are travelling in.

Photography:

  • You are not permitted to take photographs at the border crossing, government buildings and military institutions.
  • No photographs of the army, police are allowed.
  • Some tribes do not allow their pictures to be taken so please ask your guides before photographing whether it is permissible or not.
  • A fee may have to be paid for photographing the local people.

Crew and Guides

Your tour crew are people with a heart of gold and love living in Africa! With an in-depth knowledge of the local culture, history and wildlife, your crew are committed to ensuring a memorable African overland tour, 24/7.

  • Most overland tours include two crew members (Driver and Tour Leader) working as a team managing tour finances, planning activities, preparing meals and ensure you safely experience Africa.
  • Our larger group overland tours (maximum 26 to 30) include a third crew member (Camp Assistant or Cook or Translator – tour depending).
  • A pre-departure meeting is held the day before your tour, where tour crew will brief you on the nature of your tour and what to expect. At this point they would also collect any local payments needed for your tour.
  • We have select shorter small group tours including one crew member, responsible for driving and tour management. It is perfect for an exclusive, personalised African experience.

The Guides:

  • All overland guides and crew undergo extensive training courses, lectures and field instruction on an on-going basis. Specialised guides are contracted for special interest tours (including school and University group tours) or language tours (Spanish and German) or private overland tours (on request).
  • Although overland guides are trained and qualified, remember they are still human. The nature of their work and duration of overland tours, places an enormous demand on them and can be taxing at times. Please treat them with respect and enjoy getting to know them. They are great people!

Climate and Weather Conditions:

  • The weather in Africa can be unpredictable and extreme so be prepared for this.
  • You can find out the type of weather to expect on your tour from your consultant.
  • Always wear sunscreen from October to April.
  • Temperatures can drop to below zero from June to September.
  • It does rain in Africa!

Street Vendors:

  • Like with any 3rd world country you will encounter informal vendors offering you better rates than the banks. We suggest you don’t work with them for security reasons.
  • Please do not display your foreign currency in public.
  • A valid passport is required for all international travel.
  • Having all the necessary documentation for your trip is your own responsibility therefore you need to find out by your travel agent what the essential documents for the trip are in order to avoid any complications on tour.
  • Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after returning from your trip.
  • In certain cases foreign passport holders require entry, re-entry or departure permits and/or visas to enter a country.
  • Have enough pages for all visas, at least 2 pages free for every country visiting – the Border Security is strict with this rule
  • A copy of your passport should be given to your guides for safety reasons.
  • Must be valid for 6 months after the date of departure from Africa.
  • Avoid using more than one passport to avoid visa payments when travelling
  • Please note that visas are the responsibility of the traveller and African Overland Tours will not be held responsible for the traveller being denied entry should they not be in the possession of the relevant visas.
  • Ensure you have a valid onward/return ticket to leave the country when the tour ends, otherwise you need sufficient funds in your bank account.
  • Visiting the Okavango Delta, you may need a double entry visa for Namibia and or Botswana
  • Botswana Tourism Levy: As of 1 June 2017, Botswana has implemented a tourism levy of US$ 30 per person to be paid in US Dollars cash once you enter.

Medical Insurance:

  • Compulsory! No one will be allowed on a trip if you don’t have this. It is for your safety should anything happen while on tour (especially when in a remote location).

Travel Insurance:

  • It is compulsory to have comprehensive adventure travel insurance, on all overland tours. We require your travel insurance details upon booking your vacation, to include on the passenger list.
  • Most travel insurance policies do not include cover for adrenaline sports and adventure activities. These include white-water rafting, sky diving and bungee jumping. So double check your policy inclusions.
  • WorldNomads Insurance offer adventure travel insurance and, most importantly, cancellation insurance. We strongly recommend your travel insurance includes cancellation and curtailment insurance. The majority of tour departures are guaranteed (confirmed to depart) but in the unlikely event of a tour departure being cancelled, you would be protected.
  • In the case of credit card insurance, we recommend you check the fine print to ensure you have adequate cover as credit card companies offer a standard option. Sometimes, just for a simple problem, you may have to be airlifted to South Africa as many public hospitals in Africa are below western standards.
  • If you choose to use your credit card insurance, you will need to call your bank to obtain your policy details. This is how: • Phone your bank • Give them your Bank Card Number • They will ask you to verify your account • Then you need to ask for the insurance company name • Then you need to ask for the policy number • Remember to keep the telephone number you dialled

Single Supplements:

A single supplement is an additional charge you will pay for your own room. Single supplements are optional on camping tours, but compulsory on accommodated tours if you are a single traveller. Single supplements do not cover Activity Packages.

Optional Activities:

Optional activities are not included in the tour price because not everybody wishes to do them. Sometimes the activities are not available due to time, season or weather conditions

What is a Local Payment?

  • A number of adventure overland tours are made up of a Tour Price + Local Payment.
  • The Tour Price is pre-paid to secure your tour seat and include operational costs associated with each tour, such as; guide salaries, fuel, vehicle servicing, maintenance, road tolls and taxes.
  • The Local Payment is a portion of your overall tour cost paid on the morning of tour departure, in either US Dollars cash or ZA Rand cash (tour depending). It includes “on tour” expenses which cannot ordinarily be pre-paid such as: food, camping, national park entry, included activities.

Activity Package:

  • A selection of tours are made up of a Tour Price + Optional Activity Package.
  • The Tour Price is pre-paid to secure your tour seat and include operational costs associated with each tour, such as; food, camping (or accommodation), national park fees, guide salaries, fuel, vehicle servicing, maintenance, road tolls and taxes.
  • The Optional Activity Package combine the popular activities available on the tour, giving you the option to pre-pay this package (and so carry less cash while travelling) or; you can pay it on the morning of departure to your Tour Guide in ZA Rand cash.
  • Activity packages are optional 98% of the time and covers what we consider to be ‘essential activities’ on the tours.
  • It is more convenient to pay these upon your arrival or on the first day of the tour.
  • If you do not pre-book a particular activity it may not be available and you may be disappointed.

Money Matters:

  • Your spending money, visas and optional activities needs to consist of a combination of Cash and Traveller Cheques in the currency quoted (tour specific). Credit cards are only accepted at some places (mostly larger cities) and throughout South Africa.
  • Visas are not accepted in East Africa.
  • In Southern and East Africa, additional credit card surcharges from 5% to 8% may be charged when using your card. It is best to use it only in case of emergency.
  • US Dollars, GB Sterling, Euro and select international currencies are used within Africa, with US Dollar being the most popular. You will find food, taxi, accommodation and optional activity prices are all quoted in US Dollars.
  • US Dollars cash notes must be issued POST 2005. No notes pre-dated are accepted due to fraudulent notes rife in East Africa. You can pre-order US Cash notes from your local bank or foreign exchange office prior to arriving in Africa.
  • It is best to bring a combination of larger denominations (USD100 and USD50) to pay for your Local Payment and smaller denominations (USD50, UDS20, USD 10 and USD5) for spending money, visas and optional activities.
  • ATMs are found throughout South Africa and other major towns and cities through Africa. However, you may not have access to an ATM for a few days, or they may be out of order. Please note that when drawing money from a local ATM, you will receive local currency. In Zimbabwe the ATM’s limit the amount of USD that can be withdrawn (it ranges from 50 USD – 200 USD a day).
  • ZAR is mostly used in South Africa and Namibia. We recommend USD for Botswana, Mozambique, Livingstone and Victoria Falls area.

Credit Cards:

  • Most of the major Southern and East African cities do have credit card facilities available however they may charge you a surcharge to use the facility.
  • Visa and Mastercard are the two most widely used accepted credit cards in Africa, while diners or American Express may not always be accepted

Banking facilities:

  • There are full banking facilities in the major towns based on weekly business hours. Here you can change money and withdraw cash from a credit card. Visa and Master Card are preferential, as other cards may not be widely accepted.
  • It is recommended to tip for various activities on tour – we suggest a tip of 1-3 euro (or whichever local currency is acceptable) per client, per half day activity.
  • Tipping your tour leader is also highly recommended as he / she works really hard to ensure you have the best experience on your tour. A tip of 2 – 5 Euros per client per day is a reasonable fair.
  • The amounts quoted above are only guidelines for the clients.

Departure Tax:

  • Various countries require you to pay an Airport Departure Tax (Zimbabwe is one) when departing on an international flight.
  • Varies from US$10 – US$60 depending on the departure time
  • The truck has a safe for passports, money, credit cards and flight tickets only!
  • Keep your cameras, cell phones, iPad’s and other digital equipment close to you at all times (preferably in your day pack) as the operator will not be held responsible for anything that goes missing.
  • Leave your valuables at home!
  • Be vigilant and cautious at all times.
  • Always walk in a group, especially at night.
  • It is advisable to have travel insurance for your personal items.

Quality and Protection:

  • We are proudly bonded SATSA members. Our membership number is 1712.
  • We are also insured by SATIB.
  • SATSA is the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association and offers protection to international travellers against the possible loss of deposits (or monies paid) to a SATSA member (tour operator, car rental company, accommodation provider etc.), in case of liquidation. It is underwritten by Lombard Insurance and Lloyds of London.
  • SATSA is the driving force behind improving standards of tourism in South Africa, as offered by its various members (tour operators, car rental companies, accommodation provider etc.).
  • “Should a SATSA member who is a South African tourism business operation, run into financial problems, the bonding scheme allows the client to claim back their deposit without having to prove in a court or to the liquidator whom or what was paid, but simply to produce the relevant documentation to SATSA.” – Michael Tatalias, CEO SATSA.
  • Satsa Bonding Offers financial protection on all monies paid.

Quick Checklist

  • Make sure your vaccination requirements have been done at least 4 weeks prior to your tour
  • Remember to make sure your VISA is valid for you to go on tour
  • Remember to reconfirm your flights. Airlines vary in their requirements but we suggest you reconfirm 48 – 72 hours before your departure homebound
  • Remember to take your passport, vaccination certificate and flight tickets with you ( a photocopy of these is a good idea)
  • Remember to take a copy of your insurance policy with you
  • Remember to take your travel voucher to give to your crew at your pre-departure meeting
  • Remember to take your Adventure Pass in US $ cash (unless pre-paid)

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  • This African Safari Takes You on a Land Adventure and a River Cruise—Here’s What It Was Like

A safari in northern Botswana ends with three days of boating at Sitatunga, a private island in the heart of the Okavango Delta. We meet crocodiles, elephants and some very angry hippos.

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Great Plains Conservation Safari

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I had a very different waterborne experience in Botswana , spending a week in three Great Plains Conservation camps—the last on Sitatunga Private Island, a recently opened retreat accessible only by boat or helicopter. The first two camps, Selinda and Duba Plains , are longstanding outposts for Great Plains, which owns 15 properties across Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Kenya.

Great Plains Conservation Sitatunga Island in Botswana

The three camps are all “open,” meaning no fences, with the number of “tents” kept purposely small to deliver on that private experience. The word “tent” is a misnomer. The multi-room suites look rustic but are designer-caliber, with stylized mosquito nets around the king-sized beds (and air-conditioning coming from the headboards), living rooms with leather couches, stocked liquor cabinets and Nespresso machines.

Beside the wood-clad showers and his-and-hers sinks are full-sized copper bathtubs, a luxury you wouldn’t expect in a remote outback (the camps run on solar power.) On the outside deck are a plunge pool and Peloton bike. A professional Canon camera is provided to document the trip.

It’s common to see elephant herds, baboons with babies clinging to them and warthog broods (it was the November birthing season) ambling 15 feet in front of the screened bedroom windows.

Great Plains Conservation Safari

There are myriad camps in this region, but Great Plains takes great pains to create a microcosm of this part of Africa, where your group feels like Karen Blixen seeing elephants, lions, and leopards for the first time. It’s a far cry from the traffic jams of tourist buses several of our group experienced on other safaris.

On our twice-daily, three-hour drives on the bumpy, dusty trails around Selinda and Duba Plains, we encountered no other groups or, really, any signs of civilization outside the camps.

Great Plains Conservation Safari Botswana.

I’d come expecting a Disney experience, where the animals appear on cue. Instead, we had to search for them, including an elusive leopard keeping a wary eye on a group of baboons and two young male lions trying to take over the local Tsaro pride by killing off the lead male. (We saw the two lounging around under a tree in the hot mid-day sun, while the pride was off in another corner of the reserve.)

The week quickly took on a pleasant cadence: Breakfast, in the Land Cruiser by 6:30 to beat the unseasonably brutal heat, four hours driving on the trail, lunch, siesta, and the second jeep tour, followed by sunset cocktails (usually in the bush) and dinner at the camp.

Great Plains Conservation Safari Sitatunga Island, Botswana

By the end of the fourth day, we’d seen 150 species of mammals and birds, an impressive bucket list for anyone who has never gone on safari. The three-hour drives covered a lot of territory—Duba Plains is 88,000 acres—and the animals generally stayed to themselves in their local habitats.

We had a Lion King moment at Duba, where a dozen species, from elephants to antelope herds to vervet monkeys to a lonesome old Cape Buffalo, grazed close to each other on a watery plain.

I’d assumed the animals were tame-ish since we could get relatively close. Owner, our guide, had a more realistic theory: “If you get out of the jeep, they’ll see you as a two-legged threat, and the situation will be very different.” In other words, dangerous. The rules mandated staying seated and quiet in the vehicle and never approaching the animals on the outskirts of camp.

The first four days were about the animals, but the last three focused on the water. We arrived to Sitatunga by helicopter, a trip highlight since the pilot took a circuitous route across the ever-changing landscape, giving us a chance to see what the Kalahari desert region looks like from the air.

Great Plains Conservation Safari in Botswana.

The boats at Sitatunga were a welcome change from the vehicles, partly because the heat had broken, but mostly they provided a sense of freedom that the land-based safaris couldn’t.

The camp is located on a small lake connected to the Okavango River by narrow channels. We buzzed past monster crocodiles on sandbanks, African Fish Eagles flying overhead, enjoying the cooler air as the 22-foot aluminum boat made its own air conditioning at 30 mph.

As a boater, I loved it because there were no traces of the outside world at Sitatunga—smaller and newer than the other two camps—just a family of hippos in the lake, heads above the water but keeping a good distance in their corner. The water added a layer of serenity.

Great Plains Conservation Sitatunga Private Island

Great Plains’s founders Dereck and Beverly Joubert designed Sitatunga differently than their other camps. It is smaller and more exclusive than the others, with four suites for eight people, defined by a rustic Robinson Crusoe treehouse style.  

The Jouberts, longtime National Geographic Explorers at Large photographers and documentary filmmakers, are considered rock stars in the safari world. They’re known outside of Africa for their photography and films. But inside, they’ve established a long list of humanitarian and ecological initiatives that range from saving rhinos to creating all-female ranger groups in local communities that work on anti-poaching initiatives.

Great Plains Conservation Safari Sitatunga Island, Botswana

At Sitatunga, the couple wanted an indoors/outdoors feeling, designing the three A-framed suites (one is a double suite for families with an extended terrace) with large windows facing the lake, and a large dining/social hall with thatched roofs, and bamboo lampshades inspired by the woven-reed fishing baskets used by indigenous Bayei fishermen.

A life-sized wooden lion by a local artist is the centerpiece of the great hall, with a large wooden patio and deck out front to enjoy sunsets over the lake. The serene setting could’ve been out of the 1980’s movie On Golden Pond , except for the hippos in the lake.

Over the next few days, we did several trips up and down the Okavango, including a two-mile walking safari through a riverside reserve where we landed by boat. It felt so freeing to be on foot and not in a jeep. Wildlife was all around (though no big cats—a bonus for the slowest runner in our group) and the quiet landscape and immediacy of the animals made it a special experience.

Great Plains Conservation Safari Sitatunga Island, Botswana, Meals

The apex meal was Thanksgiving dinner, where Sitatunga chef Herold Gaosikelwe served 17 Pilgrim-worthy dishes, family style, on the big dining table. They ranged from parsnip-and-sage soup to roasted chicken with cranberry stuffing, roast potatoes with pine-nut butter, pumpkin pie with a side of chocolate coffee mousse. Chef Herold even made time to whip up a delicious gluten-free chocolate cake for someone in the group who was allergic to wheat.

Great Plains Conservation Safari Sitatunga Island, Botswana,

The dinner was excellent, but the real showstopper was the staff—from maids to managers—who came together at the end to serenade us with Botswanan songs and dances. They weren’t professionals, but were doing their best to ensure we had a Thanksgiving we’d always remember.

Our group, consisting mostly of veteran travel writers, agreed the staff at all the camps were unusual, even among five-star resorts. Their warmth was genuine, the kind that can’t be faked, and they took pride in making sure the stay was a bucket-lister. The best example was when Lizzy Bayani, the manager who accompanied us, brought a hot-water foot bath by helicopter for one of our party whose ankles had swollen in the heat.

While the week had its oohs and ahs, and lots of laughs at meals, the climax came the day before departure. Our ride in the mokoros, the local version of a dugout canoe, was supposed to be the “relaxing” grand finale. But our first view was a bull elephant mounting a female—a sight so rare that, among the three guides, only the leader, Letty, had ever seen it.

Sitatunga Private Island, Great Plains Conservation safari Botswana.

Turns out he was right. The elephants eventually ambled away into the bush and then the guides pushed us, gondola-style, into knee-deep, three-foot-wide channels lined by Papyrus reeds. But when we emerged onto the river, we startled a bloat of hippos. With adults weighing as much as 4,000 pounds, hippos aren’t always the lumbering gentle giants in children’s books, especially when they feel threatened. Rather than waiting for trouble, the lead male goes on the attack.

It’s possible in the low canoes, the big bull mistook us for a crocodile. It didn’t matter. Just 20 yards away, it first made warning noises, opening its muscular jaws to a wide, head-crunching circumference, then disappeared under water, surfacing closer to us. It’s one thing to be in a powerboat where you can push the throttle and speed away. It’s another to be a sitting duck in three feet of water, with nothing but a guide pushing you with a pole.

Great Plains Conservation Safari in Botswana.

That was the only time the trip could’ve gone sideways. It didn’t, but the hippo was so incensed it followed us up into the channel, as the guides fast-poled back to the jeeps. Nobody felt like a casual observer after that close encounter, and one of the group was so pumped with adrenaline she was trembling. Still, what a great “Out of Africa” way to end the week.

Looking back, doing the three camps, with Sitatunga at the end, made the most sense, since the first two provided intensive animal exposure, while the last was more about seeing the area by water.

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Skytheme Safaris

3-Day Okavango Delta(Fully Catered Mokoro Excursion )

okavango delta safari tour

5.0 /5 – 3 Reviews

$660 pp (USD)

Your request will be sent directly to the operator

If preferred, you can contact the operator directly

Enjoy this 3-day camping safari that will take you on amazing mokoro excursions and walks along the Okavango Delta waterways. This is the ideal opportunity to spot a variety of birds and animal species including crocodile, hippopotamus, Red lechwe, elephant, zebra, impala and more. You will see the vast open spaces densely covered with vegetation, grass, shrubs and palm trees forming most of the Islands.

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Tour Features

Budget camping.

This is a budget camping tour.

Shared tour

On this shared tour, you will join a group of other travelers. Max 12 people per group.

Can start any day

If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.

Cannot be customized

The contents of this tour cannot be changed.

Not for single travelers

Single travelers cannot join this group tour and it requires a minimum of 2 people to run.

Minimum age of 13 years

The minimum age for this tour is 13 years.

Activities & Transportation

Accommodation & meals.

  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
  • Day Accommodation Meals
  • 1-2 Budget camping Inside Okavango Delta – Day 1: Lunch & Dinner Included – Day 2: All Meals Included Day 1: Lunch & Dinner Included Day 2: All Meals Included
  • 3 End of tour (No accommodation) – Breakfast Included Breakfast Included

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  • We advise requesting quotes from 3 operators ( Learn why )
  • Requests are sent directly to the tour operator
  • If preferred, you can contact the tour operator directly

Best price guarantee

  • This tour is offered by Skytheme Safaris , not SafariBookings.
  • This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
  • This group tour requires a minimum of 2 people to run.
  • The exact order, contents and rates of this tour is subject to availability.
  • What is included in this tour

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Customer Reviews

United States

SkyTheme and Liberty went above and beyond all expectations

My brother and I went on a 6 night camping tour through Botswana. The tour far exceeded our expectations and we saw all of the animals we set out to see. By the end of the first day we had seen everything. Liberty (our guide) was able to...

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  2. Botswana Exploration Tour (Okavango Delta)

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  3. Okavango Delta safari in Botswana

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  4. Okavango Delta Safari in Botswana

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  5. The Okavango: why you need a safari in Botswana's delta

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  6. Okavango Delta Safaris

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COMMENTS

  1. 211 Okavango Delta Safari Tours (Offered by 47 Tour Operators)

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  2. THE 10 BEST Okavango Delta Tours & Excursions (from $153)

    30. 4 Days Okavango Delta Experience. 1. Multi-day Tours. 2 days. 3 nights 4 days luxury mobile camping in Okavango Delta where you be to see the big and small game,cats.lots of birds and…. Free cancellation. from. $1,520. per adult.

  3. 36 Best Okavango Delta Tours for 2024/2025

    Unlike other safari destinations, the Okavango Delta safari tours offer a completely different experience, allowing visitors to explore the vast wilderness and experience African wildlife in its natural habitat. About Okavango Delta tours. The Okavango Delta is located in Botswana, Southern Africa, and is the largest inland delta in the world.

  4. Okavango Delta Safaris & Vacations

    These recommended tours for Okavango Delta can be tailor-made to match your budget. 10 DAYS Grand Tour of Southern Africa ... Every aspect of a luxury Okavango Delta safari is spectacular in its own right. From the moment you land over the beautiful, elephant-dotted floodplain, to the luxury lodge's magnificent tented accommodations, the calm ...

  5. Okavango Delta Safari Tours & Vacations

    Okavango Delta Safari Tours & Holidays; Heed the call of the wild in the Okavango Delta. Welcome to the world's largest inland delta. Made up of maze-like waterways, flooded grasslands and lily pad-covered lagoons, the Okavango is a haven for wildlife. In fact, it boasts some of the best game viewing in Africa. One of the best ways to spot ...

  6. 10 Best Okavango Delta Safari Tours

    Footsteps Across the Delta, an intimate tented camp (only accommodates six guests) Guided walks in the Shinde Concession - home to wild dog, lion and leopard. Tailored, child-friendly safari activities. Interactions with habituated elephants at the Wild Horizons Elephant Sanctuary. Tour of Victoria Falls, the world's biggest waterfall.

  7. Okavango Delta Safaris

    The Okavango Delta is an exclusive safari destination offering luxury and tented accommodation options and an unforgettable safari experience all year round. When. The cooler, drier winter months from May to October are excellent for game-viewing as herds of animals flock to decreasing water sources and the vegetation thins out. Days are warm ...

  8. Botswana: Okavango Delta Safari

    Undiscovered Okavango Delta Safari is rated 1, easy, on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most strenuous). Our primary activities require little aerobic fitness, but some agility for getting in and out of vehicles and mokoro canoes, and walking through uneven terrain.

  9. Find A Safari

    Accessible Wheelchair-Friendly Safari - Group Tour. A safari to the Okavango Delta is not out of reach for people with mobility issues and disabilities. This scheduled group tour has been created in the spirit of inclusivity - to ensure the wonders of a Botswana safari are open to all, and at an affordable rate.

  10. Botswana's Okavango Delta & Victoria Falls safari

    Included in the price of your stay are guided trips to Victoria Falls, trips to markets and museums, morning and afternoon safari in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, morning and sunset boat cruises, guided canoe trips, fishing trips and picnics on an island in the river. Victoria Falls. Stay at Waterberry Zambezi Lodge. slide 3 of 3.

  11. Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls Luxury Tour

    Tour Highlights: 5- Star, Luxury accommodations. Scenic flights to destinations. Big 5 game-viewing. Safari game-viewing in Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe River and Livingstone. Land, water and walking safaris. Bush dinners. Serene Mokoro Canoe excursions (subject to water levels) Night game-viewing drives.

  12. Classic Tented Boat Safaris in the Okavango Delta

    The best way to experience the Okavango Delta, Botswana's spectacular wetland wilderness, is by boat. Okavango River Safaris traverses the length of the Okavango Delta in comfortable custom-designed game viewing boats. Our privately guided boat safaris in the Okavango Delta are a nostalgic but classic way of exploring Africa's wilderness where our team set up comfortable luxury tented ...

  13. View All Okavango Delta Safari

    Okavango Delta Tours allow you to experience one of the world's last untamed wildernesses.Originating in the Angolan highlands, this water mass spans 16,000km² of elaborate channels and islands. The middle of the Okavango Delta is protected by the Moremi Wildlife Reserve and serves as a placid sanctuary for wildlife.. Revel in sights of extensive elephant populations and gaze at cheetah ...

  14. Okavango Delta

    The quintessential delta experience: game drives in open safari vehicles and gliding in silence through the waterways on an African-style gondola carved from a single tree.. Access into the Okavango Delta is difficult, getting around is difficult, carting supplies in and waste out is difficult. These are all good things for this vast wildlife wilderness is utterly picturesque and devoid of ...

  15. Victoria Falls, Chobe & Okavango Delta Safari

    Overview. This compact and action-filled tour takes you to three of Southern Africa's top destinations - Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta - with two nights spent at each. Accommodation is luxurious throughout and you can expect personalised service and an exclusive, crowd-free safari experience.

  16. OKAVANGO DELTA

    The Okavango Delta is a mesmerizing oasis nestled within the heart of Botswana, Africa. Often referred to as "the jewel of the Kalahari," this extraordinary ... Maiko safaris And All a leading bilingual tour operator, covering the best safari and accommodation experience in Namibia. Contactez nous. Phone : +264(0)61304228. Mobile : +2648163266654.

  17. Mokoro Trail Okavango Delta

    Mokoro Trail Okavango Delta -- BWDAY02. Exploring the waterways in a traditional dugout canoe (mokoro) is highly recommended and a truly unique experience. Gliding silently through clear waters that have been purified by the water lilies, reeds, papyrus and kalahari sand that gives guests an unparalleled perspective of the abundant wonders.

  18. Okavango Delta Fly In Safaris

    Fly-in excursions cost about $4,500 per person. For camping, visitors can expect to pay US$1,000 a person for a 7-day communal tour, and up to US$3,000 per individual for a mid-range personal tour. The pricing of a safari in Okavango Delta is determined by a variety of variables. Joining a group camping excursion is the most cost-effective ...

  19. Namibia & Botswana Safari

    Divundu - Maun, Namibia. A leisurely boat cruise on the beautiful Kavango River is enjoyed prior to departing for Maun. Our next stop is Botswana, where we will head towards Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. During our overnight stay in Maun, we prepare for our next adventure - a visit to the Okavango Delta.

  20. Reservation for Touring Botswana

    3rd of March 2024 - Reservation and Booking Page - Encounter Lion and Wild Dogs among other wildlife in Moremi before heading deeper into the Okavango Delta and finally Chobe River on your Botswana safari tour

  21. Great Plains's African Safari Takes You on a Land and River Adventure

    A safari in northern Botswana ends with three days of boating at Sitatunga, a private island in the heart of the Okavango Delta. We meet crocodiles, elephants and some very angry hippos.

  22. Botswana Safari: 3-Day Okavango Delta(Fully Catered Mokoro Excursion )

    Enjoy this 3-day camping safari that will take you on amazing mokoro excursions and walks along the Okavango Delta waterways. This is the ideal opportunity to spot a variety of birds and animal species including crocodile, hippopotamus, Red lechwe, elephant, zebra, impala and more.

  23. How This Travel Pioneer Plans To Create The Ultimate Botswana Safari

    A good example is Desert & Delta's Camp Moremi in the Okavango Delta. Its 12 tented rooms are built on stilts and connected by boardwalks. Its 12 tented rooms are built on stilts and connected ...