13 Day Botswana Ultimate Wildlife Adventure (Mixed Accommodation)

Day 1

Maun – Nxai Pan National Park, Botswana

Your extraordinary journey begins with your arrival at Maun Airport. From here, you’ll immediately depart, heading in a south-easterly direction towards the combined Nxai Pan & Makgadikgadi National Parks. Depending on the weather conditions, your guide will lead you on a visit to the iconic Baines Baobabs on Kudiakam Pans, an integral part of the Makgadikgadi Pans. While Baines Baobabs might be inaccessible during heavy rains, rest assured that Nxai Pan remains reachable. This area truly comes alive in the rainy season, attracting large numbers of zebra as they gather for their annual migration.

Accommodation: Wild campsite in Nxai Pan.
Included Highlights: Arrival Transfer, Scenic drive into the Nxai Pan National Park

Day 2

Nxai Pan National Park, Botswana

Wake up to the sounds of the bush for an early morning game drive along Nxai Pan. The wildlife here is dynamic, changing with the availability of grass and water, but you can easily spot zebra, wildebeest, springbok, impala, giraffe, and ostrich. Keep your eyes peeled for all the major predators, and during the wet season, buffalo and elephant are also present. The waterhole is a hub of activity, especially for various birds of prey. You’ll return to camp for a delicious brunch around midmorning, with the afternoon dedicated to further game drives to the waterhole and enjoying sundowners from an attractive spot as the day ends.

Accommodation: Wild campsite in Nxai Pan.
Included Highlights: Sundowner, Morning & Afternoon game drives

Day 3

Nxai Pan National Park, Botswana

After breakfast, your game drive continues onto the Kgamma-kgamma pan, which forms the northern boundary of Nxai Pan National Park. This area is famed for hosting large volumes of zebra and other plains game during their migration, and you may also encounter bull elephants in small herds. Be aware that the terrain adjacent to the salt pans can be undulated and sometimes unreachable. In the afternoon, you’ll drive approximately 35km to revisit or discover the magnificent Baines Baobabs on Kudiakam Pan. On your return to Nxai Pan, another stop at the waterhole in search of predators awaits.

Accommodation: Wild campsite in Nxai Pan
Included Highlights: Kgamma-kgamma pan, Baines Baobabs on Kudiakam Pan, Nxai Pan waterhole, Game Drives

Day 4

Maun, Botswana

Today, you’ll bid farewell to Nxai Pan after breakfast, embarking on a game drive en-route back to the main road that leads to Maun. Your expert guide will drop you off at your comfortable Bed & Breakfast in Maun around lunchtime, allowing you to enjoy a relaxing afternoon at leisure.

Accommodation: Maun hotel

Day 5

Xakanaxa (Okavango Delta), Botswana

Start your day by either relaxing at your hotel or exploring the vibrant town of Maun. After lunch, a representative will pick you up and transfer you to Maun Airport for an exciting light aircraft flight to the world-renowned Moremi Game Reserve. Upon landing at the Xakanaxa airstrip, your guide will meet you. The rivers and floodplains of the Okavango Delta in Moremi are teeming with life, where herds of red lechwe, buffalo, and hippo are commonly seen. Midday often brings sightings of breeding herds of elephants coming to drink. Moremi is particularly celebrated for its healthy wild dog population, and lions, leopard, and cheetah are frequently sighted. You’ll arrive at your camp in the late afternoon, with time to settle into your tent and enjoy sundowners around the campfire before a delicious dinner in the dining tent.

Accommodation: Exclusive wild campsite in Xakanaxa
Included Highlights: Light aircraft flight to the Moremi Game Reserve, Scenic drive to the camp

Day 6

Xakanaxa (Okavango Delta), Botswana

Your day begins with early morning coffee or tea, followed by a full morning’s game drive to explore the rich biodiversity of Moremi. You’ll return to camp around 11:00 for a well-deserved delicious brunch, offering time to shower, rest, and relax. After afternoon tea, you’ll set off again for an afternoon game drive through Moremi’s intricate network of rivers and lagoons. A highlight of the day is a motorboat cruise on the Xaxanaka lagoon or Mboma waterways to visit the famous heronries of the eastern Okavango. The evening concludes back at camp, relaxing around the campfire before dinner.

Accommodation: Exclusive wilderness camp near Xakanaxa.
Included Highlights: Morning and Afternoon Game Drives in Moremi, Boat cruise on the Xakanaxa Lagoon or Mboma waterways

Day 7

Khwai River (Moremi Game Reserve), Botswana

After breakfast, you will leave Xakanaxa, embarking on an interesting riverine route through Moremi. Your journey culminates in setting up camp within sight of the picturesque Khwai River, near Moremi’s North Gate. This area offers a different perspective on the Delta’s diverse landscapes and wildlife.

Accommodation: Exclusive wild campsite in Khwai
Included Highlights: Game Drives between camps

Day 8

Khwai River (Moremi Game Reserve), Botswana

Spend your day with both early morning and afternoon game drives, thoroughly exploring the rich Khwai River area. This region is renowned for its diverse game, and you’ll have ample opportunities to spot a variety of species. Don’t miss the Dombo Hippo Pools, offering not only the chance to see plenty of hippo but also providing breathtaking sunsets. During the heat of the day, you’ll have leisure time to read, relax, and soak in the tranquil sounds of the wild, followed by afternoon tea before your sunset game drive.

Accommodation: Exclusive wild campsite in Khwai
Included Highlights: Morning and Afternoon Game Drives exploring the Khwai River, Sunset Game Drive

Day 9

Savuti, Botswana

Enjoy an early morning game drive for one last look at the captivating Khwai before returning to camp for breakfast. Today marks a significant shift as you leave Moremi, embarking on an interesting day’s drive northwards to Savuti. A stop en route will provide time for lunch. As you travel, you’ll pass over the Mababe depression, once a vast lake, a critical area during the summer months when approximately 20,000 zebras undertake their annual migration from Northern Chobe via Savuti and Mababe to the Makgadikgadi Pans. The Savuti channel and marsh, famously dry since 1980, incredibly received water again in 2009. The marsh is now partially covered, attracting large concentrations of game and birds, and it will be fascinating to observe how this water influences the famous Savuti bull elephant population.

Accommodation: Exclusive wild campsite in Savuti
Included Highlights: Morning Game Drive before heading to Savuti, Pass the mababe depression (key migration route)

Day 10

Savuti, Botswana

Your day in Savuti kicks off with an early morning drive dedicated to searching for the renowned Savuti predators. This area has been the backdrop for many of the most amazing wildlife documentaries filmed over the last 25 years, often highlighting the fierce competition between different predators. Savuti also features unique rocky outcrops, offering a chance to spot the agile Klipspringer antelope, and a small collection of Bushmen rock art, providing a glimpse into ancient cultures. The day includes both morning and afternoon game drives, with ample leisure time to relax during the midday heat.

Accommodation: Exclusive wilderness camp in Savuti.
Included Highlights: Morning and Afternoon Game Drives in Savuti

Day 11 - 12

Chobe National Park, Botswana

After breakfast, you will depart for the iconic Chobe River, a highlight of your safari. This region is incredibly famous for its breeding herds of elephant and massive herds of buffalo, which you are almost guaranteed to see in abundance. The Chobe riverfront is undeniably one of Southern Africa’s premier game viewing spots, where it’s possible to witness over a thousand elephants and buffalo in a single afternoon. Keep an eye out for shy antelope species like the Chobe bushbuck, Roan, and Sable antelope. A small population of Puku antelope, typically common on the floodplains of Zambia, can also be found here. For avid birdwatchers, Chobe is a paradise, with huge amounts of water birds congregating, especially during the summer months. On the afternoon of our second day in Chobe, a thrilling boating excursion on the Chobe River offers a unique perspective and new dimension to your game viewing experience.

Accommodation: Exclusive wilderness camp along Chobe floodplains.
Included Highlights: Chobe River Front Game Viewing, Boat Cruise on the Chobe River

Day 12

Kasane, Botswana

After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll pack up and slowly make your way out of Chobe National Park towards the town of Kasane. From here, it’s time to bid farewell to Botswana as you are transferred to Livingstone, the gateway to Victoria Falls. We will ensure you arrive at the airport in good time for your international flight. Please note that visa and departure taxes are for your own account.

Onward Travel Plans

Due to circumstances beyond our control while on tour (such as border crossings, traffic, breakdowns and delays, etc), the end time on the last day cannot be guaranteed. Therefore we strongly recommend you stay the night and fly out the next day. Please consult with your booking consultant.