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14-Day Botswana Safari Tours

If you’ve been dreaming of a safari in Africa, you should definitely consider Botswana. The vast open spaces, ranging from lush waterways to ragged mountains to sandy deserts, are the perfect settings to become absorbed in the drama of its animal world. And to witness all this without tourist crowds is a real privilege. Botswana does exclusivity at its best. There are no queues here, and lodges are mostly intimate and personable. Botswana doesn’t come cheaply, but it is hard to beat when it comes to quality in the safari industry.

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1-7 of 7 14-day itineraries, trips, holidays, packages & vacations to Botswana

7 Questions About 14-Day Botswana Safaris

 
 

7 Questions About 14-Day Botswana Safaris

Answered by Ariadne van Zandbergen

What can I expect from a 2-week Botswana safari?

“Whether you’re looking for a 2-week safari within Botswana or a tour of the region, you’re in for a treat. Botswana specializes in low-impact tourism. You won’t feel crowded here. Visitor numbers are deliberately kept low to ensure a special wilderness experience wherever you go. The country’s top destinations, including the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park, offer superb wildlife viewing in breathtaking environments. You’ll spend some time tracking the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino) and other iconic animals in open safari vehicles, but don’t miss out on other activities while on safari in Botswana. The country is known for excellent guiding, and walking safaris are usually a big hit. In some cases you might be out looking for all the small stuff easily overlooked when in a moving vehicle, but don’t be surprised if you come across big animals too. Your experienced guide will keep you safe during such thrilling encounters. And then you’ll also spend some time on the water. Boat trips on the Chobe River are very popular in the Dry season when you’re likely to see big herds of elephants coming to drink. Silently sliding in a mokoro (wooden dugout canoe) through the waterways of the Delta is a whole different water experience. There is no better way to feel part of nature.”

1

Where should I go on a 14-day Botswana safari?

“There is plenty to explore in Botswana, but there are some not-to-be-missed highlights that feature on most 2-week Botswana itineraries. Most popular is the Okavango Delta, best explored by mokoro. For more intensive wildlife viewing you need to go to Moremi Game Reserve. This Big Five territory offers exciting close-up viewing of a huge variety of animals, including endangered species such as wild dogs. Another top destination is Chobe NP. The river is a magnet for thirsty animals in the Dry season, and afternoon boat trips are highly rewarding. This is easily combined with a trip to Victoria Falls (Vic Falls) in Zimbabwe or Zambia. Visit the Central Kalahari Game Reserve for a real desert experience. In some of the lodges in and surrounding the reserve, you may have a chance to interact with some of the world’s last-remaining hunter-gatherers, the San. Getting an insight into the survival skills of these extraordinary people is a humbling experience. Also recommended is a visit to the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans. This desolate place transforms in the Wet season when thousands of hoofed animals, especially zebras, migrate to the area.”

2

What kind of tours are available for a 14-day Botswana safari?

“There is a variety of Botswana tours available. On the budget end are camping group safaris. Some of them use overland trucks, and guests might have to help with chores, such as cooking or setting up tents. For more comfort, you can book a mid-range safari. There is usually a choice of group or private safaris in this category. Group safaris are more cost-efficient, but you’ll have a bit more flexibility when booking a private safari. Accommodation can be a mix of tented camps, lodges, hotels and B&Bs. You might cover quite a lot of distance when booking a trip visiting several countries in the region over 2 weeks. Alternatively, you can spend your time in a few carefully chosen destinations in Botswana alone. Parks such as Chobe and the Okavango are well suited to in-depth exploration and you can stay in several areas of the parks for a different experience. There are plenty of high-end tours available in Botswana. These are usually fly-in tours where you hop by small aircraft between parks and reserves. You’ll be met at the airstrips and transferred to your luxury lodge or tented camp.”

3

Should I choose a fly-in or road safari?

“When booking a Botswana tour, you have a choice between road and fly-in safaris. Which you should choose depends on your personal preferences. A 14-day Botswana road safari is a great adventure. By driving between destinations, you get to see some of the countryside away from the parks and reserves. You’ll pass villages and people going about their daily chores. Depending on the program, you need to be prepared for a fair amount of travel on bumpy roads though. As Botswana is mostly a high-end destination, fly-in safaris are very popular. Many upmarket lodges are hard or even impossible to get to by road. The only way in and out is by small aircraft. Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta, is the country’s biggest hub for charter flights. Visitors are shuttled between lodges by small aircraft (mostly six to 12 seaters). This obviously comes at a price. But if you can afford it, this is an incredible way to see what Botswana has to offer. Even if you can’t afford a full fly-in safari, you can consider combining a road safari with a stay in one of the Okavango’s remote fly-in lodges.”

4

What is the best time of the year for a Botswana trip?

“Overall, the best time of the year for a Botswana safari is during the dry winter months from May to September. These months are best for wildlife viewing and they tend to be most comfortable too. Note though, that September warms up quickly and October can be oppressively hot. One of Botswana’s most popular destinations, Chobe NP, is particularly seasonal. The river attracts lots of animals when water has become scarce in the bush. It just gets better and better as the Dry season progresses, with huge herds of elephants being a permanent feature on the riverfront. The Okavango is also best during these months. Due to the time it takes for water to reach the Delta, the water levels are actually highest in the Dry season, which makes July to October ideal for mokoro trips.”

5

How much will this safari cost?

“A 14-day budget safari in Botswana starts at around US$2,400 per person. Mid-range 2-week tours are around US$4,000 per person, but luxury tours are priced higher. There are many variables that determine the price of 14-day safari packages in Botswana. First of all there is the price difference between a group safari, where some of the costs are shared, and a private safari. To keep down costs, a camping safari is an adventurous option, but you’ll get more comfort on a mid-range lodge safari. High-end lodge safaris are usually fly-in packages using luxury camps at remote locations inside the parks.”

6

What should I include in a 2-week Namibia, Botswana and Victoria Falls tour?

“A great itinerary for a 2-week safari takes in highlights in three countries. It starts in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. From there you can work your way north through Sossusvlei, Swakopmund and Etosha. You’ll continue east to Chobe in Botswana and you’ll end at Vic Falls in Zimbabwe. While Botswana has a lot to offer on its own, a tour to the region, such as the one outlined above, covering highlights in several countries, is a very popular holiday. If you book a fly-in safari, the options are endless. A good network of scheduled and charter flights connects all the obvious places of interest. You’ll have to do a bit more planning for a road safari.”

7

Botswana Reviews

4.8/5 387 Reviews
Expert
Brian Jackman  –  
United Kingdom UK

Brian is an award winning travel writer, author of safari books and regular contributor to magazines such as BBC Wildlife and Travel Africa.

A dream of water in a thirsty land
5/5

In a troubled world there is nowhere safer than this most politically stable of African countries. The people are welcoming. English is widely spoken and when it comes to wildlife viewing Botswana is sensational. That’s because its policy...

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Expert
Heather Richardson  –  
South Africa ZA

Heather is a British travel / conservation journalist, and has written for publications and broadcasters such as the BBC, Departures, the Telegraph and the Sunday Times.

Delta safaris and silence on the salt flats
5/5

The only thing to fault about Botswana as a safari destination is the price – it’s expensive. That’s part of the country’s high cost, low volume tourism strategy that favours small camps with high price points to keep reserves and...

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Rachel Hannan  –  
United Kingdom UK
Reviewed: Dec 6, 2024
Africa's Jewel in the Crown
5/5

My friend and I had the most wonderful fully-serviced camping safari experience in Botswana with Mosu Safari Tours of Maun, organised by the amazing Kemy. It's incredibly special to go to sleep in a tent in the bush listening to the sounds...

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Ken Simonetti  –  
Switzerland CH
Reviewed: Nov 29, 2024
Botswana not only has a lot to offer in Nature but also the people are extremely friendly!
5/5

Because I only went to Botswana for Safari and didn‘t visit any cities, I can unfortunately only write what I saw during the Safari. Not only the Nature is the nature astonishing, but also the people I met were all welcoming and this was...

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Lesley  –  
United Kingdom UK
Reviewed: Nov 26, 2024
Elephant heaven!
4/5

Our one day safari into Botswana was dealt with efficiently and quickly at the border. Our day was split between river and land. Both were enjoyable and fun. However, we were disappointed not to have seen any big cats, mainly seeing...

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Kathryn  –  
United Kingdom UK
Reviewed: Nov 23, 2024
Our favourite place we've ever been
5/5

We did a two centre Botswana trip as part of our honeymoon, with 3 days in Chobe and 3 days in the Okavango Delta. Both camps were incredible and we saw and did so much on our safaris. The delta in particular is one of those pinch me...

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