Botswana: From Delta to Desert

Botswana: This unique 9 night itinerary allows you to enjoy the beauty of Botswana at exceptional value, with comfortable, characterful camps and excellent guiding. We’ve included a privately guided mokoro safari in the Okavango Delta, where you’ll glide through the waterlilly filled waterways in a traditional wooden canoe, followed by time in a concession outside the famed Moremi Game Reserve teeming with big five wildlife. In fabulous contrast finish in the Makgadigadi National Park, home to incredible salt pans, merekats and a mystical scenery found nowhere else on earth.


Price Includes:

  • 4 scheduled light aircraft transfers
  • 7 nights in tented safari camps with private facilities & 2 night in simple mobile camps
  • 9 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 9 dinners
  • Guided safari activities as above including game drives in shared 4x4 vehicles, bush walks & private mokoro safaris.
  • Conservations & park fees
  • All drinks (house wines, soft drinks, local beer and spirits, bottled water) at Meno a Kwena and Sango Safari Camp.


Departures: Daily in Season

Comment:
An extremely good value and varied trip, although be aware that some accommodation is simple with a back to basics approach. Activities in the Delta and in the Makgadigadi are seasonal and can change subject to water levels and rainfall.

Flights:
Based on return economy class flights with British Airways from London Heathrow to Johannesburg and between Johannesburg and Maun with Air Botswana. This will add 2 days onto your itinerary. UK Airport Passenger Duty and airport taxes are also included.

Tour Prices:
Due to price variations and seasonal supplements, we have provided a year round ‘From Price’ based on mid season rates. Seasonal surcharges for flights and accommodation will apply in high & peak season and an exact cost based on specific dates of travel can be provided upon request. Prices in Botswana increase by up to 40% in peak high season (July - August) so please be aware of this.

How to book your Private Journey

Botswana: From Delta to Desert

Botswana: From Delta to Desert

Day 1: Maun to Okavango Delta
Upon arrival in Maun you will be met by our local representative who will assist you to your aircraft for the 20 minute light aircraft flight, over the watery wilderness, landing at a tiny airstrip in the heart of the heart of the Okavango Delta. In the afternoon you will enjoy a private mokoro (dug out canoe) safari with your own professional guide, a man of the swamp, born and bred in the area. He has a traditional mokoro (dug-out canoe) in which he will take you to nearby islands, where you will walk to view game and the spectacular landscape that is the Okavango. (L,D)

Day 2: Okavango Delta Mokoro Trail
After breakfast your private mobile camping safari begins as you head out with your guide, equipped with all camping equipment and food. After finding a suitable spot to camp, you can assist your guide in setting up the camp, building a fire and preparing food - this is a muck in adventure and getting involved is all part of the fun of the trip. After lunch and time to relax under a palm tree, your guide will take you alone on a walking safari, or a mokoro excursion, through the crystal clear waterways that make up the Okavango. (B, L, D)

Day 3: Okavango Delta Mokoro Trail
Wake up to the beautiful sights and sounds of the Okavango; enjoy a morning walk in the Moremi Game Reserve, returning after three hours or so for a hearty breakfast. In the afternoon enjoy on another excursion by mokoro or on foot or the more energetic may prefer a longer walking safari taking a picnic breakfast or lunch with you - the choice is entirely yours. Dining by the light of hurricane lamps around the camp fire under the canopy of the African Sky completes your day. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Okavango Delta
After another early morning safari, you will return to the main camp by mokoro. In the afternoon you can relax or the nearby village. Your guide will be proud to show you his home and introduce you to his family, a unique and fun experience and a great way to learn more about the Delta and its people. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Okavango Delta - Moremi Game Reserve
Enjoy an early morning walking safari, after which breakfast is served. You will then depart by light aircraft flying over the Delta and landing on the edge of the Moremi Game Reserve. Your guide will meet you and you will have short game drive to your small tented camp in a concession bordering the Reserve. In the afternoon you will head out on an afternoon game drive within the concession. With a combination of permanent water, seasonal floodplains, open grasslands, riverine forests, and dry woodlands this incredibly rich habitat supports a diversity and abundance of mammals and birds rarely matched in Botswana. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Moremi
Day on safari. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Moremi - Makgadigadi
In the morning you have time for a final morning safari before returning to the airstrip for your light aircraft transfer south towards the Makgadigadi Pans National Park. Landing at the airstrip, you'll be transferred to your quirky tented safari camp with a stunning setting on the banks of the Boteti River. After a home cooked lunch you can spend time in the camps hippo hide where you can often see large herds of elephants and zebra bathing and drinking at the river's edge before taking an afternoon safari in the Makgadigadi National Park. (B,L,D)

Day 8: Makgadigadi Pans
Today you will depart early for your private excursion through the National Park to visit the wondrous Makgadigadi Salt Pans, a surreal experience of space only found in the Kalahari. The salt pans are only accessible in the dry season from June to October when you also have the opportunity of over-nighting on the pans under the stars before returning to camp the following day. A truly magical and surreal experience at no additional cost. At other times you can still enjoy the unique landscape by visiting Nxai Pan, with excellent wildlife particularly from November - May. As well as game viewing, you can see habituated merekats and visit Baines Baobabs, which forms a huge grove of massive trees - a spectacular sight to behold against a backdrop of saltpan and endless horizons. A full day from camp, you will take a picnic lunch and return to camp in the late afternoon. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Makgadigadi Pans
Stretch your legs with an early morning guided walk within the National Park. Crossing the river by canoe, your nature walk will be led by an unarmed guide and accompanied by a group of Naro Bushmen, with an emphasis on a walking experience as done by these rare and fascinating hunter gatherers. In the afternoon walk through Moreomaoto Village visiting the primary school and meeting the chief and community leaders and traditional healers, giving you a fascinating insight into local life. (B,L,D)

Day 10: Makgadigadi Pans - Maun
You will have time for a morning safari be it a game drive, a guided walk or even a river safari on board the camps floating hide. This mobile vessel offers exciting eye-level viewing opportunities from a safe and comfortable perspective. In the late morning, you will be transferred 2 hours to Maun Airport where your journey to Botswana will end. (B,L)

How to book your Private Journey

Botswana: From Delta to Desert

Without flights

DatesTypePrice Per PersonSingle Supplement 
1 Jan 12 - 30 Dec 12Adult Price From£2,375 Make an Enquiry

With flights from the UK

DatesTypePrice Per PersonSingle Supplement 
1 Jan 12 - 30 Dec 12Adult Price From£3,470 Make an Enquiry

* Please note the prices shown above are based on two persons sharing a twin or double room

Botswana: From Delta to Desert

Please select the regions you are interested in.

Meno A Kwena

Makgadikgadi Pans

This quirky camp is perched on the edge of the Boteti River bordering the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and offers...

View Details

Odd Balls

Okavango Delta

This 'back to basics' tented camp has an enviable location on the edge of Chief's Island, deep within the Okovanga...

View Details

Sango Safari Camp

Moremi Game Reserve

Sango Safari Camp is nestled in the shade of the trees overlooking the Khwai River. Situated on the outskirts of the...

View Details

How to book your Private Journey

WF Difference

Check out what makes us different from the rest

Read More…

WF Recommends

More useful information when travelling to:
Botswana

Flight Information

There are no direct flights to Maun, Botswana’s capital city, from the UK. The most common route is via Johannesburg with any of British Airways, Virgin or South African Airways which takes around 16 hours.

Useful Tips

• If visiting the Delta take plenty of mosquito repellent

• Travel to the Okavango in the season from December-March. It receives less than a third of the rain than the Kruger and it's nearly half price

• Don't forget your binoculars - the birding on the Delta is some of the finest in Africa

• See up to 25,000 Zebra migrate through the Makgadikgadi in November

• Be aware of the baggage restriction for aircraft transfers

When To Go

This is complicated as Botswana has a variable climate depending on where you are and weather patterns across Africa are becoming increasingly unpredictable. It is not uncommon to see downpours in the middle of deserts and damaging droughts when rains should be falling.

Generally speaking, the rains come between December and March, when the average daytime temperatures hover at about 30°c. Some days will be bright and sunny, some will have afternoon thunderstorms, and some will just be grey. The birding is particularly excellent.

April and May are generally lovely, with the sky clear and the landscape green. Night temperatures start to drop during these months. Places in and around the Okavango tend to have less extreme, more moderate temperatures than the drier areas of the Kalahari.

From June to August the night-time temperatures in desert areas can be close to freezing, but it warms up rapidly during the day, when the sky is usually clear and blue. It's now very much 'peak season' for most safari areas, particularly in the Okavango Delta which is in full flood from June - September.

This continues into September and October, when temperatures climb again, drying the landscapes and concentrating the game even more. This is the best time for big game safaris with wildlife congregating around the diminishing available water sources " although October can feel very hot, with maximum temperatures sometimes approaching 40°C.

November is difficult to predict, as it can sometimes be a continuation of October's heat, but sometimes it's cooled by the first rains.

Packing List

Below is a list of general items you might take with you on a Wild Frontiers trip to Botswana. With your booking confirmation you will receive a packing list specific to your tour, so please treat this as a general guideline only.

Luggage:
It is best to use a soft bag - rucksack/hold-all/duffel bag - so it can be transported and stored more easily.
On all our trips a small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions.

Clothing:
Please remember that with light aircraft and helicopter transfers there is a restriction of 12kg. Excess baggage can be left at our agent’s office in Maun. We find on it is easiest to use a soft bag - rucksack/hold-all/duffel bag - as it can be transported and stored more easily.

On all our trips a small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions.

Clothing:
In general you should bring clothes you feel comfortable with. However, all clothing should be neutral, khaki or bush coloured if game viewing.
Therefore as a guide we suggest a packing list like this:
• 4 x Light cotton shirts or T-shirts, short sleeved and long
• 3 x T-shirts
• 2 x Lightweight jumpers or sweatshirts
• A warm jacket
• Rainproof jacket
• 2 x Pairs of cotton trousers
• Sun hat
• Swim suit or trunks
• Shorts " for the midday break
• Pair of sandals, trainers or pumps

Equipment:
The following is useful extra equipment for your trip:
• Travel towel, travel soap and toiletries
• Torch (LED head-torch keeps your hands free)
• Pair of good quality sunglasses
• Plug adapter

Personal First Aid Kit:
While we do carry a large medical kit on all our group tours, we would advise that you take some of the basics with you. This should include:
• Any prescription medication required (please inform the tour leader at your pre-departure meeting about these)
• Antibacterial dry hand wash
• Painkillers: paracetamol & ibuprofen
• Rehydration salts (Gastrolyte)
• Malaria Tablets
• Travel motion-sickness tablets if required (e.g. natural ginger tablets)
• Diarrhoea remedies
• Antihistamines
• Cold/flu decongestants
• Mosquito Repellent
• Insect bite cream
• Laxatives
• Plasters/Bandage/Steri-Strips/Blister pads
• Sunscreen (30+ factor)
• Moisturiser/after sun cream/lip balm
• Contact lenses and solution if required
• Tweezers
(A kit with most of this in is available at www.nomadtravel.co.uk)

Optional Extras:
• Ear plugs (if sharing a room / camping)
• Alarm clock
• 3-4 plastic carrier bags are very useful for dirty washing, dirty shoes and rubbish
• Binoculars
• Small packs of tissues
• Money belt or secure pouch for money and passport etc.
• Eye patches if light affects your sleep
• Sewing kit/scissors
• Writing materials
• Spare batteries/camera memory cards
• Swiss Army knife
NB: If you wear glasses, it is advisable to bring a spare pair since opticians are rare. If you wear contact lenses you may find that climatic changes and dust can create visual irritation, therefore, it is advisable to bring a pair of glasses.

You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

Hand Luggage:
Although it is very rare that luggage goes missing on flights, it has been known to happen and so it’s a good idea to carry a spare top, toothbrush, wash kit, underwear and any other essentials in your hand luggage so that you can at least freshen up while waiting for your bags to catch you up. If you wear your sturdy shoes/boots it will also reduce weight in your luggage and keep them safe.

Practical Information

Time:
Botswana is 2hrs ahead of GMT.
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com

Food and Alcohol:
Most of the food in Botswana comes in the safari camps and is very similar to what you would eat in South Africa. They enjoy their meat, especially beef and goat, although vegetarians and those with other specific dietary needs can be catered for with advance notice. Millet and sorghum porridge are staples while other specialities include Morama (an underground tuber), Morogo (wild spinach), Kalahari truffle, all sorts of beans, and Mopane worms " grubs, which are served boiled, deep-fried or cooked.

Alcohol is available throughout the country.

Electricity:
Those bringing video & cameras that require battery chargers should also bring a two-pin, continental style adapter. In most hotels you can charge from the mains using a travel adaptor plug.

Money:
In Botswana the unit of currency is the Pula.
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com
A few points to help you plan:
• Payments are mainly made in cash.
• Increasingly more shops and hotels will accept credit card payments, though a cash advance is unlikely.
• You can easily exchange Euros, US Dollars and UK Sterling cash.
• ATM machines are available in the larger towns but best not to be relied upon.
• If using ATM machines, be sure to notify your bank before you travel.

Language & Religion:
The official language is English although Setswana is widely spoken across the country. Setswana has important prefixes which relate to various concepts. ‘Bo’ refers to the country and with the largest tribe in the country being the Tswana people the country name became Botswana. The people as a whole are Batswana, ‘Ba’ referring to the people.

70% of the country identifies them self with Christianity. There are a minority of Muslims in the country but about 20% of the population declare no religion.

Cultural Sensitivity:
At Wild Frontiers we are very aware of the ethical impact tourism can have on ancient cultures. We realise that taking a group of tourists through such a region can have a negative impact on the lives of those who live there and on all our tours we therefore go to great lengths to minimise the negative and accentuate the positive…after all, there are also many good things that the tourist can bring.

To help this process we ask that our clients do not hand out pens or sweets to children. As one sign in Egypt emphatically put it, ‘Please don't make beggars out of our children!' No matter how well intentioned, in our opinion the dolling out of free gifts fosters a ‘beggar mentality' that is ultimately extremely destructive to a society. In addition we do not condone giving out money to beggars or ‘students'.

However, we also realise that we are exceptionally privileged to be travelling in areas where most of the people have far less than us and that the desire to ‘help' can be very powerful. As a result we ask that you refer to your trip dossier for information on the Wild Frontiers Foundation which supports specific projects in the areas where we travel.

Photography:
Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission.

Also many countries have very strict rules about taking photos of army, police or any official personnel; restrictions apply at borders, bridges and any government building. Please exercise care in this regard as the penalty may be to have your film and/or camera confiscated.

Okavango Horse Safari

View All