4 past travellers tell their stories of Botswana

Even though the great Kalahari Desert covers about 70% of Botswana, the world’s 48th-largest country offers visitors remarkable safari experiences found nowhere else on Earth. Float silently across the serene waters of the Okavango Delta (Africa’s Garden of Eden) on a traditional mokoro or be among giants in Moremi Game Reserve.

Don’t just take it from us though, here are four past Go2Africa travellers sharing their stories and experiences of Botswana with itineraries we tailor-made for them:

1. Customised Family Safari in the Kalahari, Khwai River and Okavango Delta

‘Wow! What an awesome holiday in Botswana that you customised for our family. At first, I thought 8 days on safari with a 15-year-old boy would be challenging! Thanks to the Go2Africa team and the planning that goes into making your holiday packages, we had the best family holiday. From the first air transfer all the way to the last flight out from Maun, everything went so smoothly. Not once did we have to stress about any deadlines.

‘Our first 3 nights at Jack’s Camp in the Kalahari were out of this world. Greg, our guide, was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the landscape and the animals that frequent the desert. Jack’s staff went out of their way to ensure that we had every possible need taken care of. The food was spectacular… taking breakfast, lunch and dinner in the gorgeous tented dining room had the touch of a bygone era. Luxurious down duvets on the four-poster beds, as well as hot running water in our en suite tented bathroom. We were kept busy enough to never be bored but also had ample time to take in the scenery at the pool side, watching zebra lazily drink at the watering hole not too far away.

 

‘A walk with the local Bushmen was so moving – getting to know these incredibly humble people was an honour. My teenage children were equally touched. A very special experience.

 

‘Drinks on the salt pan at sunset, full moon over the pan into the evening was unforgettable. Tea at 4pm was a favourite time with special sweet treats every day. Another highlight was the meerkat experience.

 

‘Having a meerkat sit on our heads was certainly a memory we will treasure forever as a family.

 

‘Sad to say goodbye to Jack’s Camp, we flew into Khwai Private Game Reserve. Here we were met by our guide, Tony. After a very eventful game drive, we headed to Hyena Pan. Feeling very much in the wild, we finally drove up to the lightly lit Hyena Pan Camp where we were welcomed by OK with warm hand cloths and a refreshing drink. The rooms were luxurious and very comfortable. Food was homely and plenty of it. The next day we drove into the neighbouring concession where we had plentiful game viewing – hippos, elephants, wild dogs and spotted hyenas, to name a few. We drove up close to a young female leopard who seemed to be quite comfortable with our presence.

Tony shared everything he knew about the terrain with us. Back at Hyena Pan we took in the sunset while a few bull elephants came to drink at the watering hole only meters from our loungers.

 

‘The Sky Beds were a highlight here, we could never have found this anywhere else. Sleeping in the wild with the sound of wild dogs as we drifted to sleep, in Africa with the stars as our ceiling was magnificent. Luxury bedding and a private stilted room and bathroom was a perfect end to our stay at Khwai.

 

‘Air transfer taken care of by the lodge was seamless. A very scenic flight into the Okavango Delta was so beautiful. Upon arrival our guide, Pointer, was there to meet us. A short 15-minute drive to the camp was a pleasure. Pointer knew his stuff. We were offered an elegant brunch once we arrived at Seba Camp. I was so sad that this was our last 3 nights, but I was also happy that they would be spent at Seba Camp. The food at Seba was spectacular. The service was out of this world. All the staff were friendly and made sure we and the kids were very well taken care of. The tented rooms were so comfortable and hearing the buffalo feeding in the water at night was very exciting – warthogs walking through the camp while we walked along the wooden platform pathways was so exciting. Did I mention that the breakfast, lunch and dinners were out of this world? The chef deserves a Michelin star for cooking like that out in the bush.

 

‘Highlights were tracking a lioness; we did not quite see her catch her pray but we did hunt with her for an hour or so. A ride on the traditional mokoro on the waters of the Delta was very special. Pointer cleared the way and met us with drinks and snacks at sunset. This was another experience we will never forget.

 

‘Thank you Justin and thank you Go2Africa. We had the perfect holiday and felt very pampered and well looked after. Will definitely use your services next time.’

– Michelle Barrett, South Africa

Michelle’s 9-day itinerary overview

After arriving at Botswana’s Maun International Airport, the Barretts hopped on their first short-haul flight to the magical Makgadikgadi – one of the biggest salt flats on Earth. Makgadikgadi Pan is the only remnant of a pre-historic super lake larger than Switzerland. Their vacation kicked off at a unique camp that harks back to the early years of safari and that’s home to a family of habituated meerkats. Another short air transfer took the family to a private concession in the Khwai River area that borders the predator-rich Moremi Game Reserve. A final flight landed the Barretts in the pristine Okavango Delta where they topped off their vacation at a family-friendly safari camp that turns the Delta into an incredible classroom for guests of all ages.

Activities

• Interacting with meerkats at Jack’s Camp
• Guided walk in the Makgadikgadi with San Bushmen
• Game drives in Moremi, famous for predators like big cats and wild dogs
• Sleeping in Sky Beds at Hyena Pan – elevated platforms overlooking a waterhole
• Getting close to wildlife on mokoro rides along the waters of the Delta
• Game drives and walking safaris in the Delta with expert trackers and guides

Accommodation

3 nights at Jack’s Camp

3 nights at Hyena Pan Tented Camp

2 nights at Seba Camp

2. Amber and Her Mom Connect With Nature in Chobe, the Delta and Victoria Falls

‘At Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma we were fortunate to take a walk, with armed rangers, in the bush to see a white rhino mother and her calf.

‘One of my mom’s and my favourite memories of safari was at Sanctuary Stanley’s Camp, which is an unfenced property. At night, we had to be escorted between our tent and the main lodge for protection. You would see all sorts of animal tracks on your short walk.

 

‘When we arrived back to our tent one evening, we had hyena tracks on the deck. That night we were awoken to hyena laughing right outside our tent which was followed by a giraffe walking past our deck and then lion roaring.

 

‘‘We went on a half-day excursion with the Living With Elephants Foundation. We interacted with two orphaned elephants, Jabu and Morula. We hung out in the bush with them, we walked them by holding their trunks, they hugged us, and we had a bush picnic with them. We loved having bush breakfast with a pod of hippos on our last day on safari.’

– Amber Goodchild, USA

Something to note: Unfortunately, due to the passing of the Living with Elephants founder and carer Doug Groves, Sanctuary Baines’ Camp is no longer able to offer interactions with the habituated elephants.

Amber’s 8-day itinerary overview

Amber and Jolynn’s adventure started with three days at a luxurious ‘tree-fort’ safari lodge in Zambia just upstream from the iconic Victoria Falls. Amber and Jolynn were then transferred by road to spend three days at a splendid safari retreat on the banks of Botswana’s Chobe River. Their final four days were spent at a classic tented camp in a private concession overlooking the great floodplains of the Delta.

Activities

• Game drives and guided nature walks in Mosi-oa-Tunya
• Dining overlooking the Zambezi River and its resident hippo pods
• Sunset boat cruises on the Zambezi
• Game drives in Chobe National Park, home to about 70 000 elephants
• Interacting with orphaned elephants at the Living with Elephants Foundation
• Exploring the Delta’s waterways by mokoro

Accommodation

2 nights at Sussi & Chuma

2 nights at Chobe Chilwero

3 nights at Stanley’s

3. An Exclusive Safari in the Okavango Delta’s Private Concessions

‘I have travelled to Africa many times over the past years and Lauren is the exceptional agent that I call when planning a trip.

 

My favourite camps in northern Botswana are the Kwando camps where I know I will have outstanding accommodations and excellent guides.

 

I am a professional photographer and I know that with Lauren’s help and the great trackers and guides at Kwando, I will return from my trip with many great images.’

– Vicki Whitemich, USA

Vicki’s 8-day itinerary overview

After arriving at OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa, Vicki and Lois spent one night at City Lodge Hotel before catching a 2-hour flight to Maun in Botswana. Their safari began at an intimate tented camp in the northern Okavango’s superb private Kwara Concession, offering great access to the Delta’s permanent waterways and game-rich grasslands. A short air transfer touched them down in the Kwando Concession, Botswana’s biggest private wildlife reserve. They spent three nights at an exclusive tented camp on the banks of the Kwando River, enjoying personalised service and excellent game viewing.

Activities

• Game viewing in the private Kwara Concession, brimming with big cats
• Mokoro trips on the Delta’s waterways
• Boat cruises on Kwando Lagoon
• Game drives and guided walks in the exclusive Kwando Concession, famous for wild dog

Accommodation

1 night at City Lodge Hotel OR Tambo International Airport

3 nights at Kwara Camp

3 nights at Kwando Lagoon Camp

4. Family Vacation in Chobe, Okavango, Linyanti, Kruger and Vic Falls

‘The Victoria Falls Hotel’s food and service were very good but viewing the Falls was tricky due to high-water season. We recommend the “elephant experience” for anyone, especially with kids. Feeding and playing with the elephants was very memorable.

 

‘Chobe was worth visiting to see large groups of elephants playing in the river and watching baboons interacting in family groups.

 

‘Shinde was a good camp with excellent service, friendly staff and good meals. The only downside was very uncomfortable roads… but we took a boat ride which was better.

 

‘Lebala was also a nice camp with wonderful staff. Our guide, Rogers, was unbelievable. He took the time to educate us not just on the animals but the birdlife, plants and even the constellations after dark.

 

‘As our many friends have said, an African safari is the trip of a lifetime and we totally agree. We look forward to coming back in a couple of years.’

– Ed and Karen Keller, USA

Ed and Karen’s 17-day itinerary overview

After a week in South Africa, the Kellers flew to Livingstone to enjoy three days at the world’s biggest waterfall, Victoria Falls. A road transfer took them into Botswana for a wildlife safari in Chobe National Park, home to the biggest concentration of elephants in Africa. After three days, they boarded a short-haul flight into the heart of the beautiful Okavango Delta where they stayed at an intimate camp on the edge of the Shinde Lagoon. Another short air transfer landed them safely in the remote southern region of Linyanti’s Kwando Concession. Here they stayed at an authentic safari camp offering excellent sightings of elephant and predators like lion, wild dog, leopard and cheetah.

Activities

• Visiting the Victoria Falls
• Interacting with elephants at the Wild Horizons Elephant Sanctuary
• Incredible game viewing in Chobe, especially elephants
• Guided walks and boat excursions at Shinde Camp
• Game drives and guided walks at Kwando Lebala Camp

Accommodation

2 nights at Victoria Falls Hotel

2 nights at Chobe Game Lodge

2 nights at Shinde Camp

2 nights at Kwando Lebala Camp

1 night at City Lodge Hotel OR Tambo International Airport

Our Top Botswana Tours and Safaris

Need more inspiration for a vacation in Botswana? Have a look at our most popular itineraries – all completely flexible around your travel wishes.

Our Top Accommodation in Botswana

Whether you’re looking for luxurious tented camps with personalised service or an off-the-grid authentic experience with hot-bucket showers and no Internet connectivity, Botswana has it all. Here are some of our most popular accommodation options.

We’ve been tailor-making safaris for thousands of clients since 1998 and have developed our services on listening to each traveller’s needs. Our travel community’s constructive reviews help us to improve our business and to continue fulfilling our clients’ African holiday dreams. Click here if you’d like to read more short reviews from our past travellers on Feefo – the most trusted, independent online ratings and review platform.

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