Botswana
Overview
From the crystal-clear waters of the Okavango Delta to the large elephant herds in the Chobe National Park and the unpredictable Savute Channel, which runs dry and floods seemingly at random–Botswana is blessed with some of Africa’s most beautiful reserves and an array of exceptional wildlife.
The Okavango Delta is a magical oasis–water in the desert is a truly spectacular sight. The wide, grassy floodplains are host to a magnificent range of wild animals, including the specially adapted sitatunga and red lechwe antelopes.
Chobe National Park in Botswana is famed for having Africa’s largest single concentration of elephant, while Moremi Game Reserve is renowned for its brilliant birdlife. Also, not to be missed is an exploration of the stark and dramatic landscapes of the Kalahari Desert and the iconic Makgadikgadi Salt Pans.
Top Attractions
look at our National Parks we visit in Botswana
KASANE THE TOURIST TOWN
Kasane is the gateway to the famous Chobe National Park. It was named after the common tree along the Chobe River known as Waterberry (syzygium cordatum). A tourist town which you can visit and enjoy the wildlife in the comfort of your place of stay or walking through the town. It is vital to note that during the day on your walk, you might share the same path with wild animals like Warthogs and during the night avoid walking out of your accommodation premises as you could possibly encounter some big wild animals like buffalos and Elephants might be using the same path. Kasane is an essential point of debarkation for the nearby Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Livingstone in Zambia and Namibia’s Caprivi Strip.
Nature Horizons Tours has its office right in the center of this tourist town. We offer Game Drives, Boat Cruises, Victoria Falls Day Trip, Village Tours, Snake Park Visits, Crocodile Farm Visits, and Fishing Excursions. We also offer other activities on request.
CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
It was first converted from community land to a Game Reserve in 1963 and later established as a National Park in 1968 which makes it to be the oldest National Park in Botswana. It covers approximately 11 700 square kilometers (4450 square miles). The park has four distinct geographical areas which are the Chobe River frontage including Serondela, the central area around Nogatsaa and Ngwezumba pans which attracts great concentrations of wildlife long into the dry season, Linyanti Swamps with its riverine marshes and papyrus birds and the Savuti area which includes the Mababe Depression. It is home to the largest African Elephant Population in the African continent. It is the host to hundreds of other different wild animal species and approximately 460 bird species which makes it a premier venue for bird lovers.
Chobe River Front
It is an area along the Chobe River in Chobe National Park famously known for its large herds of African Elephants as well as most other animals and Birds species. Because of its riverine forest and evergreen islands like Sedudu Island, it attracts hundreds or thousands of different animal and bird species during the dry season. It is here along the Chobe River Front where you can see the rare Puku Antelope which is only found in a few countries like Zambia and East Africa.
This is the place where you can see 4 different African countries from one point (Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) and there is a very new bridge which have being constructed between Botswana and Zambia to make it even more interesting because you can walk to the central part of the Bridge to have the best view of all the 4 different countries. This offers the best Sunset and Sunrise viewing point along the Chobe/Zambezi River.
This is where the famous Zambezi River meets the beautiful Chobe River which is said to be flowing in both directions because when the water is at its highest level in Zambezi it pushes into the Chobe river and when the water level goes down it floors back into Zambezi to the famous Victoria Falls then to the Indian Ocean.
When staying in Kasane town or camping along the Chobe River Front, you will have a chance to do a day trip. Visit one of the 7 wonders of the world in Zimbabwe OR Zambia; this is Victoria Falls, locally known as Mosi-oa-Tunya meaning the “Smoke that Thunders.”
Remember to book a unique Chobe Sunset Boat Cruise and here you will stand a chance to see the biggest land mammal swimming into the islands or across from Botswana to Namibia where the river forms a boundary between the two countries.
During the Boat Cruise in Chobe you would not miss the most visited Sedudu Island which nearly took Namibia and Botswana to war because both countries claimed the Island is on their side. The case ended up in the international court of justice which came to measure the depth of the Channels around the Island, only to find that the deepest channel was on the Namibian side which set the Island to be part of Botswana with the evidence of the Botswana National flag in the center of the Island for 24 hours.
Nature Horizons Tours also offers overnight camping inside the National Park along the Chobe River Front. You will have a chance to get up close and personal with nature as you will be seating around the Bush fire during the night and listening to all the different animal and bird calls after having your delicious fire-cooked meals while enjoying a glass of gin & tonic, or white or red wine.
LINYANTI SWAMPS
In the furthest corner of the Chobe National Park lies the forgotten paradise of Linyanti. Secluded and uncrowded, this short strip of swampy river frontage is reminiscent of the Okavango’s permanent waterways with papyrus-lined lagoons, reedbeds, and towering canopy trees. This is the area that hosts second Zebra migration between Savuti and Linyanti and the best place in Chobe to see the rare Pearl’s Fishing Owl for bird lovers. A place that will remind you of the Okavango Delta habitats because of the reliable water for animals it turns out to be one of the most attractive places to visit for game viewing.
SAVUTI (THE DRIER PART OF CHOBE NATIONAL PARK)
Savuti is the most remote and drier part of the Chobe National Park and is well known as the land of the Giants mainly because of the famous lion pride (The Mash Pride) which used to actively hunt Elephants, It is also known as the predator paradise because of the number of predators seen in the area including the elusive Cheetahs around the Savuti marsh and Mababe Depression.
The sleeping and unpredictable Savuti Channel is one of the main attractions for wildlife when it is flooding as it once took over 30 years without flooding. Because it is so dry the Wildlife Department has made some artificial water holes to keep all the animals within the area.
Most of the Game drives are done around the Savuti Marsh area and around all the different water holes where most of the animals are found because of the quality grazing opportunity which attracts most of the big cats or predators in general. It is the main route for the only Zebra and wildebeest migration in Botswana which is the longest migration in Africa in terms of distance covered.
There are a few famous rock outcrops, which includes the Bushman Painting Hills where you see some of the painting left by the Bushman formally known as San, Because of the hills in the area there are few Klipspringer Antelope around the Hills mainly the Bushman hill which has brought a debate on the Game rangers, Guides and all the Bush Lovers on how the Klipspringer found its way all the way from the nearest rock outcrop to Savuti through the thick Kalahari Sands as their hooves are specially designed to move on a rocky area than on sand.
Nature Horizons Tours offers an amazing camping choice in Savuti
KHWAI CONSERVATION AREA (OKAVANGO DELTA)
This is the area where the Okavango Delta joins the Desert of Chobe National Park/Savuti and the Mababe depression. An area known for its great Leopards, Lion, and the most endangered African wild dogs sightings as well as big numbers of other animals, birds, and beautiful landscape. Khwai River holds water for the whole year even in a very dry season, because of that, the Khwai area becomes a paradise for most of the animals and birds from most of the drier surrounding areas.
Khwai is a community-based wildlife area that is managed by the community people and the Botswana Government. It is one of the few areas in Botswana where you can do the night Game drives and Bush walks because it is not in the National Park or Game reserve. Khwai is between the best wildlife areas of the Moremi Game reserve, Chobe National Park, and the Mababe community wildlife area. Because of that unique location, Khwai becomes a favorite area for both wildlife activities and tourists.
There are different camping grounds in Khwai for the community and a few privately owned camping grounds. Nature Horizons Tours Travel & Tours Safaris conduct their mobile safaris through this area and one of our favorite camping grounds is called Magotho Camping sites in the Khwai community area which is 100% owned by the community. You also have a chance to do the optional Mokoro activity in Khwai to experience the local mode of transport in the Okavango Delta.
MOREMI GAME RESERVE (XAKANAXA, THIRD BRIDGE & XINI AREA) OKAVANGO DELTA
Moremi Game reserve is located in the heart of the Okavango Delta, named after Chief Moremi who stayed in this area with his tribe before it was declared a game reserve in 1963. It in-houses some historical and famous places like Chief’s Island and the most visited areas on our mobile routes like Xini, Xakanaxa, third bridge, Mboma, Shamahundo, Bodumatau, and Moremi-Khwai area.
With so many attractive areas to visit on our mobile route through Moremi Game Reserve, one will need a minimum of 6 days and we highly recommend 2 to 3 nights in each area mainly if you are a photographer. It is one of the few areas in which you can see Rhinos as they are slowly moving from Chiefs Island into the Xini area which makes this place to be one of the only places on our mobile route in Botswana where you can luckily see the Big 5.
In Xakanaxa or Third Bridge you will have an optional full day or a three-hour (3) Okavango Delta Boat Cruise, a very unique cruise on the river or main channels of the Okavango Delta. Here one can easily do 6 to 10 days of camping for the full Okavango Delta experience.
XAXABA ISLANDS (OKAVANGO DELTA): THE TRUE DELTA EXPERIENCE - 2 OR 3 NIGHTS OF LUXURY CAMPING
Xaxaba is located right on the edge of the famous Chiefs Island, which is part of the Moremi Game Reserve. Here you will get the true Okavango Delta experience, the landscape, the water lily smell, the beautiful natural colors around you, animals in the water, aquatic birds, aquatic animals, and aquatic plants. The beautiful termite mounds in the middle of the swamps, Hundreds of islands all around you, the people with their protected culture in Xaxaba Village, the peace of silence as you float above the water on your comfortable Mokoro ride and a nature walk through the dazzles of zebras can be the highlight.
We recommend going there when the water is high where you can take a beautiful long boat ride from Maun to Xaxaba camping grounds, the cruise will take 6 to 8 hours because you will be stopping to admire the beautiful landscape and animals which seems to be just waiting for you to take National Geographic-quality pictures. A journey of a giraffe wading through the beautiful floodplains of the mighty Okavango Delta, one of the few places in Africa where you will see a giraffe crossing the river. Elephants visiting your campsites will be a common sight, which means you will need to pay attention when walking around the campsite.
MAUN CITY: THE GATEWAY TO THE OKAVANGO DELTA
The name Maun is derived from the San/Bushmen word “MAUNG,” which means “the place of short reeds” and this metropolis is now spread out along the wide banks of the timeless Thamalakane River. Maun is the tourism capital of Botswana and the administrative center of Ngamiland. It is also the headquarters of countless safari companies and air charter operations whose signs and offices dot almost every intersection, particularly toward the new Maun International Airport.
Maun is well known to be the Okavango Delta City or Donkey City, a city which will give you both the city feeling and wild feeling as it is located just on the edge of the Okavango Delta with free wild animals movement in and out of the outskirts of the city. You can also do Mokoro in Maun and the surrounding areas.
Taking a 40-minute scenic flight above the Okavango Delta from Maun City can be a lifetime experience. Nature Horizons Tours Travel & Tour Safaris prefers to use the lodge accommodation here to break up the long camping trip before we drop our Guests to fly out or before we continue to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Nxai Pan National Park, or Makgadikgadi National Park.
Nature Horizons Tours Hide Inn Campsite and Office In Maun
Nature Horizons Tours Hide Inn Campsite and Office are located in Old Disaneng Riverfront Exit 4, a hidden paradise in Maun. We offer affordable tented accommodation, camping spots, all activities, and delicious meals on request. We also run our mobile camping trips from here as a perfect starting point for the international traveler hence Nature Horizons Tours have found it worth having an office and a campsite in this tourism capital.
CENTRAL KGALAHARI GAME RESERVE (CKGR)
This massive game reserve was established in 1961 and it covers 52 800 square kilometers (20 000 square miles), slightly smaller than the combined size of Holland and Belgium. It is the largest protected area and game reserve in Botswana. Because of its size, one can easily spend 8 to 10 days in CKGR moving from one area to another; in this case, having a better chance to see most of the desert animals including the elusive Cheetahs. One should note that visiting this massive reserve, it is very vital not to miss the most active wildlife areas like Deception Valley, Passarge Valley, Sunday Pan, Piper Pan, Letiahau, and Phokoje Pan.
MAKGADIKGADI PAN NATIONAL PARK (THE BOTETI AREA, SOWA PAN, AND NTWETWE PAN/LEKHUBU ISLAND)
Laying between the perennial waterways of the Okavango Delta to the northwest and arid Kalahari to the South are the legendary Makgadikgadi Pans, one of the largest salt complexes in the world. Some 12000 square kilometers in extent. It is Botswana’s best-kept secret and one of its fastest growing tourist areas. It is the main host for the only Zebra and Wildebeest migration in Botswana as well as the main breeding and feeding area for the Lesser and Greater Flamingo from places as far as East Africa and Namibia. One will have a chance to ride a Quad Bike across the salts pan as well as go out for an amazing Meerkat encounter. Nature Horizons Tours Travel & Tours Safaris offer comfortable affordable camping trips in all these areas, with the choice we can use permanent Lodges or Camps to make the trip more comfortable.
NXAI PAN NATIONAL PARK
It is known for the Baines Baobab trees, which are named after explorer, naturalist, and painter Thomas Baines, who painted them in 1862. Now they are a National Monument and are known as ‘SLEEPING SISTERS’ or ‘SEVEN SISTERS’, an amazing landscape of the Kudiakam pan with the giant Baobabs on its eastern margin. This is a must-visit area for campers or day trippers into the Nxai pan National Park. Because of the hot dry season during the summer, the wildlife department has made a water hole close to the wildlife camp in Nxai pan and it is also a must-visit area when camping here. This water hole attracts hundreds of desert animals, an area where one can just wait for hours and see all the different desert animals coming down for a drive. Nature Horizons Tours normally offer 2 to 3 nights in this area to cover the most attractive areas of the Nxai Pan National Park.
ELEPHANTS SANDS (The Elephants haven)
This elephant paradise is located 60 kilometers from Nata village toward Chobe on the boundary of the Chobe District. One of Nature Horizons Tours’ favorite camps that is ideal for enjoying the African giant in their natural habitat up close and personal as well as breaking the long trip to your next destination. Here we recommend just one night because you don’t do any other activities, you just watch Elephants coming and going from the camp’s water hole.
Welcome to Botswana.
For absolute luxury, incredible wildlife, and ultimate exclusivity, a Botswana holiday is your ideal destination. Renowned for its luxurious accommodations and exclusive wildlife access, it combines perfectly with other destinations on the continent such as Namibia or South Africa, or alternatively similarly high-profile beach getaways such as the Seychelles or the Maldives. These tours give you a starting point for what your holiday to Botswana could entail. Treat them as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you.
Our Most-Booked Tours in Botswana
100% Tailor Made
Your entire holiday is designed around your requirements. Explore your interests at your own speed. Select your preferred style of accommodation. Create the perfect trip with the help of our specialists.
Expert Knowledge
All our specialists have traveled extensively or lived in their designated regions. From the start of your trip to the end, you'll have the same specialist by your side, helping you make the most of your time and budget.
Best Guides
Often, the difference between a good trip and an outstanding one is your guide. All our guides are handpicked by us or our local partners. They’re the best of the best, and they strive to offer real insights into their countries, not just dates and names.
No Hidden Charges
All trips include park fees, transportation, accommodations, and food. There are no surprises or hidden charges. What you’re quoted is what you pay.
Botswana Tours and Safaris.
The Okavango Delta’s swirling waterways, dazzling salt pans in the Kalahari, elephant herds lining the riverbanks in Chobe National Park… On a tailor-made safari to Botswana with Nature Horizons, you’ll see the highlights—and much more—your way. We’ll design your ideal trip with you, paying close attention to your interests, your travel style and your budget. Our Botswana specialists know the country inside out and can lead you to experiences you won’t find in a guidebook.
Weave along reed-lined waterways in a traditional mokoro canoe for close views of malachite kingfishers, carmine bee-eaters and African fish eagles. Scour the bush for sightings of lion, leopard and cheetah on game drives through private concessions. Go quad-biking and watch meerkats in the arid Makgadikgadi Pans. Join expert guides on bush walks through Moremi Game Reserve, scanning the trees for rare Pel’s fishing owls.
Stay in intimate camps set in the remote wilderness.
Riverine forests echoing with baboon calls. The snorts of hippo bathing in nearby lagoons… What excites you? Travel at your own pace, in your own style, with the confidence that we’ll show you the best options, wherever you go.
