Safaris in Botswana

Botswana is a wonderful destination all year round, and the best time to travel for you depends on what you want to do and which regions you would like to visit.

In general, the best time to travel to Botswana is from May to October (dry season), with mild temperatures and ideal conditions for wildlife viewing.

During the rainy season from November to April the country turns into a green oasis with spectacular landscapes and plenty of young animals.

As a general guide:

• Safari (Chobe, Moremi, Okavango Delta, Savuti, Central Kalahari): May to October (dry season, best wildlife viewing)
• Okavango Delta (water-based safaris, mokoro tours): June to August (flood season, best conditions for boat trips)
• Zebra migration (Makgadikgadi): December to March (green rainy season, large herds and plenty of young animals)
• Birdwatching: November to March (rainy season, many migratory birds and lush landscapes)
• Kalahari Desert & salt pans: December to April (green landscape, large herds of animals, pleasant temperatures)

We have put together a detailed overview of the best time to travel in Botswana for you in this blog.

Botswana is only suitable to a certain extent for a safari with children. The country combines adventure and relaxation like hardly any other. However, Botswana stands for exclusivity on safari, which makes a Botswana safari tour more expensive than in many other safari countries.

Above all, the diversity of the wildlife and plant life makes Botswana interesting for children. Particularly suitable are safaris in Chobe National Park (easy to reach, plenty of animals and boat trips) and the Okavango Delta (lots of exciting activities and wildlife experiences),

In general, you should bear in mind that game drives involve a lot of sitting and waiting, which can be tiring for younger children.

Find out in advance about the accommodation where you would like to stay, as some have a minimum age of 6 or 12 years.

Our experts are happy to advise you. With their expertise and the help of our local subsidiary, we will work out together whether a private Botswana safari is the right choice for your family. Get started here!

For a safari in Botswana, you should plan more time rather than too little. The long journey there and back and adjusting to the new surroundings can be very intense.

Botswana is a country of slow and intensive travel – the more time you have, the better. Besides, there is no guarantee that you will see the animals you want to see on every game drive.

It is therefore better to allow a few extra days, which also leave room for rest and recovery, so that you can enjoy the safari to the full. We recommend around 10 days of safari in Botswana.

As a rule of thumb:

• 5–7 days for a compact safari focusing on well-known Botswana safari highlights.
• 10–12 days for a well-balanced trip with a variety of landscapes and wildlife.
• 14–16+ days for an in-depth Botswana safari including remote areas.

Contact our Botswana experts to find out the right trip length for your dream trip.

We are happy to advise you, support you in booking your Botswana safari and, thanks to our local subsidiary, are glad to assist you with up-to-date expert knowledge.

The most common safaris in Botswana are private fly-in safaris. On private Botswana safaris, only you and your friends or family are on board as guests.

There are also comfort camping safaris for groups of up to 12 people, travelling in an open vehicle.

At Elefant-Tours, we are one of the few providers offering mini-group tours. Our local subsidiary makes this type of trip possible for groups of a maximum of seven guests plus guide in a Land Cruiser. A window seat is guaranteed on a trip like this. You can also choose this option as a private Botswana safari tour.

Our vehicles are enclosed, which makes overland drives more comfortable.

Which option you choose is a matter of personal preference and, of course, budget.

The meals during a safari in Botswana depend on the type of accommodation.

On a comfort camping safari, a professional cook will spoil you – perfect for anyone who wants simple but authentic food.

Mid-range accommodation usually offers full board with breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets. Here you can look forward to both regional specialities and international dishes.

In luxury accommodation, particular emphasis is placed on high-quality gourmet cuisine. Guests can enjoy exclusive menus made with fresh ingredients, accompanied by fine wines, cocktails and handmade desserts. Meals are often served in stylish outdoor areas with views of nature.

In general, Botswana is regarded as a country of upmarket safari accommodation. Privacy, exclusivity and outstanding service await you here.

If you are looking for a very authentic and more budget-friendly safari experience, mobile camps (comfort camping) are perfect. These camps are set up and taken down for you by a team, you are provided with three meals a day and you sleep on comfortable beds.

If you want a little more comfort but still want to experience the wilderness up close, you can stay in tented camps and safari lodges. These offer comfort while remaining close to nature.

Accommodation in the private concessions is especially exclusive, allowing tailor-made safaris with fewer visitors. Here you will be accommodated in luxury camps that often offer a pool, gourmet cuisine and fine wines. Some of them can only be reached by air.

A special feature of Botswana is the houseboats on the Chobe River and water lodges in the Okavango Delta, ideal for anyone looking for an extraordinary experience on the water – often combined with mokoro tours and boat safaris.

It is possible, but we would only recommend Botswana for experienced Africa self-drivers.

Exploring the country on your own in a rental car gives you the chance to visit Botswana's safari destinations at your own pace and independently of other travellers.

Self-drive tours are a very special experience, but in Botswana it is sometimes advisable to put yourself in the experienced hands of a guide, as some regions are not accessible to self-drivers.

Please note that off-road experience is absolutely essential for a self-drive tour in Botswana.

Many self-drive enthusiasts start their tour in Namibia, as this country is excellently suited to self-drivers. From there, you can drive across the border into Botswana. We are happy to advise you and help plan the right trip.

Together with our subsidiaries in Namibia and Botswana, we will put together the perfect safari for you.

The cost of a Botswana safari depends on which means of transport and which accommodation you choose, and whether you want to travel individually or in a group.

In general, Botswana is a rather higher-priced safari country, especially compared with other countries in southern Africa.

Botswana safari costs vary depending on the accommodation standard, means of transport and travel style – whether you opt for a guided safari, a mobile camping tour or a luxury trip will determine the price.

Budget safaris, where you stay in simple camps and travel in groups, are significantly cheaper than private Botswana safaris in luxury lodges and fly-in transfers.

The time of year also plays a role: during the high season (June to October) prices are higher, as this is the best time for wildlife viewing. In the low season (November to April) there are often more affordable offers.

Botswana offers a wide variety of ways to travel. Probably the most popular travel style is the fly-in safari, in which you are flown from lodge to lodge and can admire the beauty of the country from above.

It is also possible to explore Botswana overland. If you are adventurous and would like to explore the country on your own, you could, for example, opt for a self-drive tour. For this, however, you should bring plenty of off-road experience.

If you would rather sit back and be driven by experts, you can also join a guided road safari – at Elefant-Tours we are one of the few providers offering this. Our own local subsidiary provides customised 4×4 Toyota Land Cruisers in which you travel overland in comfort. We are happy to advise you to find the right option for you.