Botswana
Africa’s most aspirational safari destination
Safe, peaceful & democratic, with a Smart Traveller green stamp of approval, Botswana stands as a pillar of the African community, leading the way with visionary politics, sustainability and conservation. These factors, combined with some of the most pristine wilderness and highest game densities in the world, make it the destination of choice for any aspirational safari-goer.
Botswana is a land of contrasts from the vast Kalahari Desert and salt pans of the Makgadikgadi to the rich oasis of the Okavango Delta. Their ethos towards ‘high cost – low impact’ tourism has pathed the way for a network of private concessions which are home to just a handful of small, intimate safari lodges. All this equates to fewer people in one of the best safari destinations in Africa and near total exclusivity.
You Will Love
- Diverse wildlife and unparalleled wilderness
- Desert, delta and savanna
- Okavango delta oases
- Stark Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
- Exclusive and exceptional camps
Let us design your perfect itinerary.
Botswana’s diverse regions from desert to delta
Chobe & Savuti
Chobe National Park is known for the enormous herds of elephant and buffalo which are attracted to the river, along with the predators that follow. Boat safaris on the Chobe River offer unique sightings and fantastic photographic opportunities. To the west, Savuti is fed by the mysterious Savuti channel which flows and dries with seemingly fickle irregularity. Animal behaviour is often unprecedented as a result – it was famously home to Attenborough’s fishing leopards.
Linyanti, Selinda & Kwando
Perhaps Botswana’s best kept secret are the private reserves of Linyanti, Selinda and Kwando. These reserves lie between Chobe and the Delta in the north of the country and although they can be visited year-round, they really come to life during the dry season when great concentrations of game congregate around the few remaining water sources. With only a small selection of high-class camps to choose from, it’s quiet, private and fabulously exclusive.
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans & Kalahari
The Kalahari and the Makgadikgadi salt pans offer magnificent solitude, surreal lunar landscapes, desert adapted wildlife and some of Africa’s quirkiest tented camps. You can spend time with the San people - ‘the Bushmen of the Kalahari, witness the little-known migration of wildebeest and zebra, quad bike across the endless pans and meet habituated meerkats. Spending time in this arid landscape offers a complete contrast to Botswana’s other regions.
Okavango Delta
The Delta is a pristine paradise of channels, lagoons and islands. This is an area of outstanding natural beauty which teems with big game, rare species and dazzling birdlife. The Delta is home to some of the best private reserves, including the world-famous Moremi Game Reserve. This, coupled with some of the most luxurious safari lodges in Africa and a plethora of activities, makes the Okavango one of the most sought after wildlife areas on the continent.
Unforgettable experiences in Botswana
Meet the meerkats
Meet the meerkats
Spend time amongst Meerkats in Makgadikgadi Salt Pans as they scurry around you and perhaps even climb on top of your head to gain a better vantage point is a truly unique experience.
Join the herd on a horseback safari
Join the herd on a horseback safari
Whether you’re galloping across salt pans or splashing through the Okavango Delta, Botswana has abundant, knowledgeable guides; and well-schooled, responsive horses; making it a dream destination for any horse rider.
Glide through the Delta in a mokoro
Glide through the Delta in a mokoro
The Okavango Delta is the best place in the world to view wildlife from a mokoro. Glide silently through the water, notice the chirrup of frogs, hum of insects on the breeze and get astonishingly close to birds and wildlife.
Race over the salt pans by quad bike
Race over the salt pans by quad bike
Explore the remote, other worldly landscapes of the Makgadikgadi Pans which, with their open spaces and barren vistas, are perfect for a high-speed quad-bike adventure.
A selection of our favourite places to stay in Botswana
San Camp – Makgadikgadi Pans
Salt pans chic
Stylishly eccentric, romantic and remote, and set amid the desert and moonscapes of the Makgadikgadi pans, the elegant white Ottoman style tents of San Camp overlook the ethereal vastness of the Kalahari Desert. Following a classic 1920s set up, its opulence is in striking contrast with the emptiness of the surrounding wilderness.... Read More
Macatoo Camp – Okavango Delta
Splashing through the Delta on horseback
Macatoo Camp is a fabulous base for some of the best horseback safaris in the Okavango Delta. Qualified guides will share their intimate knowledge of the Delta using the horses to bring you closer to birds, game and nature. Ride alongside a galloping giraffe or splash with a herd of zebra through the sparkling floodplains.... Read More
Little Vumbura – Okavango Delta
Island luxury in the Delta
Situated on a wooded island in a private concession of the Okavango Delta, Little Vumbura was designed to blend in with its surroundings. Boat safaris and mokoro expeditions are on order for the day as you navigate the teeming waters where wildlife viewing and birding is consistently good year round.... Read More
Linyanti Ebony Camp – Linyanti Reserve
Botswana's lush river systems
Linyanti Ebony has just four elegant tented rooms, all with stunning lagoon views. The Linyanti Swamps are the only source of water for miles around in the dry months creating superb wildlife viewing as the animals come down to drink. A wide range of land and water based activities are available year-round.... Read More
Gomoti Plains – Okavango Delta
The beauty of silence
Situated on the edge of the Gomoti river system, Gomoti Plains Camp is a small, intimate camp where the wildlife action is prolific. Offering excellent game, beautiful scenery and more than a little adventure, Gomoti Plains offers an authentic bush experience whilst never compromising on style or comfort.... Read More
Duba Plains – Okavango Delta
A veritable Garden of Eden
Duba Plains Camp sits in the heart of the Okavango Delta amidst a matrix of palm-dotted islands, flood plains and woodland. Great Plains Conservation founders and National Geographic filmmakers, Dereck and Beverly Joubert, chose this spot as their home base and it is easy to see why - it is a veritable Garden of Eden.... Read More
Sable Alley & Skybeds – Okavango Delta
Sky high under the stars
On the fringes of the Okavango Delta, just a stone’s throw from the world-famous Moremi Game Reserve, Sable Alley is in an enviable location where the game comes to you. Tented suites provide comfort and luxury while three‐story raised 'skybed' platforms present the opportunity to spend a night under the stars.... Read More
Pom Pom – Okavango Delta
Private Island Escape
This camp is located on Pom Pom Island in a private concession in the heart of the Delta where visitor numbers are low, and the experience is wonderfully exclusive. In the company of a professional guide you will enjoy the sights and sounds of this unique habitat and learn about the waterways and wildlife.... Read More
Meno a Kwena – Makgadikgadi Pans
Adventure tented camp
Meno A Kwena is a campaign-style safari camp roosted on a rocky clifftop above the Boteti River in Botswana. It is a rustic camp with a relaxed atmosphere and warm welcome where the team's keen interest in the surrounding area and its wildlife really shines through, and will make your stay all the more memorable.... Read More
Mombo – Okavango Delta
A luxurious camp in the heart of the Delta
If you are looking for the ultimate ‘do before you die’ wildlife experience, look no further than Mombo Camp. The camp sits on Chief’s Island, which is higher than the surrounding Delta and remains dry through the annual flood. During this time it becomes a refuge for land mammals with unbelievable concentrations of wildlife.... Read More
Machaba Camp – Okavango Delta
the Okavango Delta's 'Tree of Life'
Machaba Camp is a traditional 1950's style camp nestling in the game-rich Khwai area which shares its westerly border with the Moremi Game Reserve on the eastern tongue of the Okavango Delta. Machaba is the local name for the Sycamore Fig Tree, the 'tree of life', and the wildlife these trees attract leads to a fantastic safari experience.... Read More
Jack’s Camp – Makgadikgadi Pans
Eccentric tented elegance
Jack’s Camp is located on a private concession amid the desert ecosystems and moon-like landscapes of Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana. Sited on the original spot chosen by Jack Bousfield in the 1960's, it has ten exquisite tents, a library and a giant canvas pavilion that houses its own Natural History Museum.... Read More
Camp Kalahari – Makgadikgadi Pans
Salt Pan Bush Luxury
Camp Kalahari lies nestled amongst the acacias on the edge of a vast salt pan, adjacent to the Makgadikgadi National Park. Operated by the same family for five generations, it offers a return to the traditional safari style of the original explorers, allowing guests to experience the Makgadikgadi in an affordable yet authentic way.... Read More
Jacana Camp – Okavango Delta
Classic island living
Jacana's remote location on a small island in what is rightly considered one of the most incredible wilderness sanctuaries in Africa allows for a truly spectacular safari experience. Large concentrations of game frequent the area and prolific birdlife can be enjoyed as you glide along the surrounding water channels in a mokoro.... Read More
DumaTau – Linyanti Reserve
Luxury in the Linyanti
In an area famed for its large herds of elephant, DumaTau camp lies on the banks of the Linyanti River's Osprey Lagoon, close to the source of the Savute Channel. Given its location you can expect incredible land and river experiences by day and night, all while accommodated in classic en suite tents overlooking the lagoon.... Read More
Linyanti Bush Camp – Linyanti Reserve
Exclusivity in the Linyanti
Linyanti Bush Camp is a small, intimate camp on the edge of the Linyanti marshes in a private reserve known as the 'Chobe Enclave'. Placed in one of Botswana’s finest wildlife viewing destinations and with just six exclusive luxury tents, Linyanti Bush camp blends the sophistication of modern day comfort with the call of the wild!... Read More
Zarafa Camp – Selinda Reserve
The best of luxury eco-villas
Zarafa is an exclusively intimate luxury camp that sits in an enviable location in the Selinda concession, adjacent to the Linyanti and on the western border of the Chobe National Park making it the perfect compliment to an Okavango visit. Stay in one of only four decadent tents and spend your days in search of a host of wildlife.... Read More
Selinda Explorers – Selinda Reserve
Time-old explorer tradition
Selinda Explorers is an intimate eight-person camp located on the private Selinda Reserve, a noteworthy gathering point for Botswana's famous wildlife. Its “wow” factor lies in its expeditionary style and experience, walking in the footsteps of Livingstone and Selous.... Read More
Jao Camp – Okavango Delta
Land & Water-Based Safari
In the heart of a private concession in Botswana, Jao Camp delivers on the true Okavango experience, offering land and water based activities owing to its close proximity to the panhandle in the Delta's northwest. Enjoy exploring game filled floodplains and savannah in one of the most picturesque concessions in the Delta.... Read More
Vumbura Plains – Okavango Delta
Luxury Delta eco-retreat
Open floodplains and dense woodland give array to fabulous birding opportunities along with spectacular wildlife viewing at Vumbura Plains Camp. Lion, hippo, wild dog, giraffe and more roam the environment with opportunities for additional game viewing straight from your room, or while meandering the property's wooden walkways.... Read More
Tuludi Camp – Khwai Concession
The essence of safari
Located in the private Khwai Concession, an area that covers 200,000 hectares of pristine wilderness and floodplains, sits stylish Tuludi Camp. The camp is perfectly positioned for exploring this wildlife rich haven and back at camp, your tents provide a welcome retreat where the strikingly beautiful landscape can be enjoyed.... Read More
Elephant Pan – Khwai Concession
Under elephants' feet
Elephant Pan sits in Botswana's Khwai Concession overlooking a watery lagoon where you can watch elephants making the most of the only permanent water source for miles around. There is an atmosphere of easy relaxation combined with an outstanding wildlife experience - the ground level hide is a photographer's paradise!... Read More
Muchenje Safari Lodge – Chobe National Park
The jewel of western Chobe
Situated on an escarpment, Muchenje Safari Lodge overlooks the Chobe River and Caprivi floodplain. From sweeping views and a unique and prolific wildlife experience, Muchenje has become famous for superb access to the wilderness of the Western Chobe and its huge population of wild animals and birds.... Read More
Kalahari Plains – Central Kalahari
Intimate desert wildlife camp
Kalahari Plains Camp lies in a remote part of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana, a place famed for its unique desert-adapted wildlife. The camp comprises ten en suite canvas units each with a sleep-out area from which to enjoy the night skies and the opportunity to interact with its native San Bushman.... Read More
Planet Baobab – Makgadikgadi Pans
Bang for your back in Botswana
Welcome to the baobab capital of the world. At Planet Baobab in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, you will be in the company of ancient giants where the average age of a tree is 4000 years old. Enjoy game drives onto the salt pans and ride quad bikes into nothingness to spend a night sleeping under the stars.... Read More
Sandibe – Okavango Delta
Blend seamlessly with organic surroundings
Tread in the footprints of elephants on ancient game paths, look out for hippo that inhabit the deeper Delta channels and lagoons and watch the honey badgers that can be seen in broad daylight. At Sandibe, you will not only witness wildlife interaction but be a part of it staying in architecture that has been inspired by local wildlife.... Read More
Xigera Camp – Okavango Delta
Jungle camp in the Delta
Xigera Camp is situated deep within the Delta surrounded by water and lush vegetation in a riverine forest on the aptly-named Paradise Island. The concession’s year-round water allows for the Delta’s most sublime experiences – poling on a mokoro and motorboat outings. Xigera Camp also offers some of the best birding in the Delta.... Read More
A collection of safaris in Botswana
Botswana: Northern Highlights
Set Departure | Botswana Mobile Camping Safari
A mobile safari is reminiscent of the expeditions undertaken by the early explorers. Each safari is lead by a professional guide who is accompanied by a small convoy of camp staff and the equipment necessary for a self-contained journey through the wilderness. This allows you to access remote wilderness areas within Botswana's national parks and reserves, far beyond the reaches of a morning game drive out of a lodge....Read More
Botswana: Privately Guided Safari
Mobile Safari | Exploratory in nature
Beagle Expeditions is a small, family run outfit offering exploratory style mobile safaris through the wildest reaches of Botswana. With an availability of only 100 days per year, their trips are exclusive and highly sought after. There are no set itineraries and the day’s activities are determined by weather, water, and wildlife movement - a rare way to travel in the modern world....Read More
Botswana: Horse Riding Safari Exploration
Set Departure | Makgadikgadi Pans on horseback
The remote and mysterious Makgadikgadi Pans of Botswana are a place to feel gloriously free and the most perfect ground for an exhilarating riding safari. Head out on horseback with the legendary David Foot to experience the Kalahari from the best seat in the house....Read More
African Horseback Safaris
Set Departure | Macatoo Okavango Delta
Riding with elephant, giraffe or zebra and splashing through the sparkling flood plains contribute to the ultimate African adventure. Qualified guides will share with you their intimate knowledge of the Okavango Delta - the largest inland delta in the world - using the horses to best effect to bring you closer to birds, game and nature....Read More
Okavango Horse Safaris
Set Departure | Botswana
Riding horses in Botswana's jewel of the Kalahari, the Okavango Delta, is an exhilarating experience not only because you are riding horses through Africa's wilderness but because of the wildlife that abounds. Okavango Horse Safaris are the leading riding outfitters in Botswana....Read More
Botswana’s Rivers, Desert & Delta
Itinerary Inspiration | Pristine Wilderness Contrasts
The very best of Botswana is encapsulated on this safari. As with all the wilderness areas you will immerse yourself in, your accommodation will be exclusive and exceptional. Diversity abounds with the rich variety of wildlife and birdlife, a multitude of landscapes and ways to explore them, along with the opportunity to spend time with the San people, the 'Bushmen of the Kalahari', making this one of the most rewarding safaris to Africa one could ask for....Read More
Botswana Mobile Exploration Safari
Mobile Safari | Exploring Botswana's Wilderness
Roger Dugmore is one of the pioneers of African wilderness exploration, having guided safaris for over 30 years. His safaris offer the tradition of the original safari concept in authentic remote wilderness areas. Perfect for families or groups of friends, allow yourself to enjoy a genuine mobile safari that moves to where the wildlife action is and learn from his extensive knowledge of some of the most striking areas in Botswana. Bush camping at its best....Read More
Another wonderful safari by Classic this time to Botswana. Classic seriously live and breathe safaris.
Patricia Hood & Angela Groom
My visit to Botswana was unique - memorable - life-changing.
Jill Barker
Exceptionally enjoyable safari to Botswana. Well organised. Superb camps and abundant wildlife. I would certainly use The Classic Safari Company again and recommend you highly without hesitation!
Tak & Veronica Lee
Our trip to Botswana was out of this world. It was perfect in every regard and we can’t wait to go back. The CSC did wonderfully well. We are absolutely delighted with every aspect of the trip.
Tom & Julie Goudkamp