Luxury safaris to Botswana
The Kalahari desert forms 82% of this unique land locked nation. Perhaps because of this Botswana, with Namibia, has remained one of the least spoiled countries on the continent. The jewel in the crown is the extraordinary Okavango Delta, a 7000 square mile complex of waterways and wetlands seasonally fed by runoff from rains in the Angolan mountains and forming one of the great ecological wonders of Africa. Apart from the Okavango Delta being an area of extreme beauty, it is incredible to visit during and after the floods. The floodplains are totally transformed: entirely under water during the floods (when mokoro or poled canoe travel comes into its own) then gradually drying out to plains. This has been magnificently captured by programmes such as David Attenborough's masterpiece, "Planet Earth".
Botswana also offers the equally vast salt pans at Makgadikgadi, once large lakes, and the swamps and floodplains of the Chobe River which are renowned for concentrations of elephant and hippo. Together they form an ecosystem unparalleled in Africa. Almost uniquely, this is a country which one can visit year round with each month bringing different and beautiful experiences. The Moremi Game Reserve has the most prolific wildlife including elephant, lion, leopard, wild dog and cheetah. The Okavango Delta is where our elephant back and walking with elephants occurs. Birdlife is spectacular and includes breeding colonies of herons, storks, pelicans and ibis. The rare Wattled Crane can sometimes be seen on the floodplains. The Linyanti region is equally spectacular. The Okavango "panhandle" in northern Botswana is glorious; traditionally an excellent area to fish for Tiger and bream and having probably the highest concentrations of evocative African Fisheagles. This is not a big game area but simply an area which is totally remote and unspoilt; no other lodges in close proximity and ideal for birdwatchers, fishermen, or those prepared to travel see a facet of Botswana which should not be missed!
Although we offer luxury safaris to Botswana, this is a big country and the "fly-in" template is the norm but, for something a little different to staying in one or more camps and simply game driving, we really recommend mixed walking and mokoro safaris. As always we use the highest quality of guiding for these and also for dedicated walking trails where one can sleep one night on a platform in a tree, so romantic with tea lights set around the platform! Or, perhaps, do a short mokoro trail from camp for two nights, sleeping out beneath the stars accompanied by your guide and poler, the equivalent of flycamping elsewhere. An excellent way to end a Botswana safari is to visit the magnificent Makgadikgadi salt pans. Once a large lake, these pans are now home to thousands of magnificent flamingos after the rains. Vast herds of plains game can also be found on the grasslands north and west of the pans and the zebra migration passes through twice yearly, it is totally different.
We offer a diversity of accommodation, from sophisticated design-led lodges, to traditional tented camps. The elephant back safaris involve staying at a beautiful, luxurious camp, complete with old fashioned copper bath, whilst the walking with elephant experiences can be arranged either from a small, luxury tented camp raised on a wooden walkway, or a more traditional styled tented camp. For families or groups, we would suggest a private, luxury tented mobile, perhaps interspersed with some super, small lodges which offer very different experiences and activities, and ending up with some luxury at the end. We offer superlative guiding whilst camp standards range from the utterly luxurious with candelabra, damask linen and cordon bleu chefs to a more basic mobile safari. A fantastic contrast is to end off, as suggested above, at one of the wonderful camps in the Kalahari. All have something to offer, at differing budgets. For couples or honeymooners, we can suggest some very special places! As well as fly-in safaris with game driving or mekoro-ing Botswana offers: Special Bushman Safaris, Walking Trails, Combination walking/mokoro safaris, Riding Safaris, Fishing, Designated Family Safaris with either a camp closed to your family, or a private vehicle and guide for your family throughout the safari, Elephant Back Safaris and walking with Elephant experiences. For details see above or our Special Interest or Riding Pages.
