BEST OF BOTSWANA

13 Days & 12 Nights | Botswana

Okavango Delta, Linyanti Wildlife Reserve & Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

HIGHLIGHTS

GREAT FOR

Honeymooners – Once-in-a-lifetime splurge to start married life

Families – Exciting activities like interacting with meerkats

Photographers – Private vehicles for longer time at sightings

AVAILABLE ACTIVITIES

Game drives

Night drives

Nature walks

Boating

Seasonal catch-and-release fishing

Birding

Sundowners

Mokoro rides

Sleepout (extra cost)

Helicopter scenic flights (extra cost)

Animal interaction

Cultural tours

Horse riding (extra cost)

Quad biking

BEST TIME TO GO

High Season:  July to October

Green Season:  November to June

OVERVIEW

Deserts and deltas, woodlands and grasslands – this inspiring itinerary combines three of Botswana’s best wildlife areas with their most exceptional accommodation to create a high-end holiday that will leave an indelible impression. You fly between camps to maximise your time on the ground and in just under two weeks will visit the Okavango Delta, the Linyanti and the Makgadikgadi Pans.

Along the way you will be spoilt with excellent service, exquisite meals, wonderful wines and gorgeous interiors. The wildlife is generally prolific and the experienced guides have huge tracts of land in which to play – other vehicles at sightings are kept to a minimum. As a once-in-a-lifetime bucket-list trip with very special activities, this one ticks all the boxes.

THIS ITINERARY WAS DESIGNED BY JOANNE

I lived in Botswana’s safari capital – Maun – for seven years where I worked as everything from a camp manager to a travel agent. Being in the epicentre allowed me experience innumerable lodges first-hand and understand how the Okavango’s fluctuating levels affect your safari.

TRIP SUMMARY

DURATION

12 Nights / 13 Days

DESTINATIONS VISITED

Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, Botswana

Okavango Delta, Botswana

Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana

DAILY ITINERARY

Today it’s time to say goodbye to Maun and hello to the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, your first stop on this wildlife odyssey. Your light aircraft will touch down at Chobe Airstrip (the Linyanti borders Chobe National Park) where a guide from DumaTau will be waiting to introduce this hard-hitting safari area.

The trip to DumaTau Camp (named partially after the Linyanti’s famous prides of lion) is your first game drive so look out for the predators that make this area famous.

Why we love DumaTau Camp:

  • Feeling the strain leave in the Osprey Retreat Spa
  • Access to the Linyanti River and Savuti Channel
  • Eclectic mix of mosaics, local textiles and acacia wood
  • Passing siesta time at your private plunge pool

The flight schedule determines if you have another activity this morning before leaving DumaTau or if you enjoy a leisurely breakfast at camp. Whatever happens, you’ll soon be flying into Mombo Airstrip in the Okavango Delta and settling into Mombo Camp, one of Botswana’s most iconic lodges.

The landscape changes from woodland to water land: this is a great place to look out for leopard in the leadwood trees and listen out for the unmistakable call of African fish eagles.

Why we love Mombo Camp:

  • Deep Delta location on beautiful Chief’s Island
  • Soaking in the copper bathtub before bedtime
  • Looking for lifers in the mangosteen and fig forest
  • Working off the sundowner snacks in the gym!

After saying goodbye to the staff at Mombo, Xigera Airstrip will soon be coming into view. Again, your guide will be waiting to take you ‘home’ for three nights to Xigera Safari Lodge. This lodge underwent a revolutionary makeover and is unique in the annals of Botswana accommodation with eye-popping colours, zany prints and  custom-made furniture. No two rooms are the same here and the attention to detail is outstanding.

The game viewing also has the potential to be spectacular…!

Why we love Xigera Safari Lodge:

  • Original art and furniture from top African creators
  • Towering sleepout that echoes surrounding baobabs
  • Individually decorated suites with unique décor
  • Outstanding wine cellar and full room service

From delta to desert today as you fly to the Makgadikgadi Pans, an extraordinary landscape of flat salt pans, unexpected baobabs and solitary ilala palms. In summer, the rains transform the pans into a mini-wetland, lilies bloom and aquatic birds take up residence. Even more dazzling, zebra arrive in mega herds to drink and graze.

Jack’s Camp is ideally placed to take it all in. Its towering green tents shelter antiques and artefacts, a Persian tea room and your colossal suite.

Why we love Jack’s Camp:

  • The Makgadikgadi’s premier tented camp
  • Walking with curious meerkats as the sun rises
  • Heading out on quad bikes to explore the pans
  • Enormous tents with large rooms and plunge pools

Enjoy a last breakfast at Jack’s long communal dining table that heaves with polished silver under the swagged roof. As you fly to Maun, you can sort your photos and see that in nearly two weeks you’ve had extraordinary experiences: sleepouts under the Milky Way, being a lookout for a meerkat, walking with your guide in the bush or even mastering an ATV on the salt pans.

This is the ‘do-it-all’ itinerary for adventurous travellers who love to be on the go.

INCLUDED*

  • All activities specified
  • All transfers specified
  • All meals, drinks and sundowners specified
  • Laundry if specified

EXCLUDED*

  • International flights
  • Items from the safari shop
  • Pre- and post-itinerary accommodation
  • Visas
  • Travel insurance
  • Medical insurance, tests and vaccinations where stipulated
  • Tips / gratuities

* Subject to change. Your personal consultant will confirm all the details with you while helping you plan your safari to Africa so you have a full understanding of costs with no surprises.

PRICE IS IMPORTANT

This itinerary is here to inspire you and prices may change due to availability, season and the year that you plan to travel.

WHY BOOK WITH BIGGESTLEAF TRAVEL

  • We are passionate about what we sell

  • The most competitive and flexible rates

  • We offer personalised and customised experiences

  • We have consultants who are fluent in English, Portuguese and German

  • Our consultants specialise in different safari experiences
  • Founded in 2014 with years of experience in the travel industry
  • Our quick response and turnaround times

  • We are the trusted travel agent for clients of some of Africa’s sought-after photographic guides