Botswana is Southern Africa’s premier wildlife destination, with its swathes of untouched wilderness and superb upmarket lodges and camps, offering low impact, eco-friendly tourism. Although the majority of accommodation is high end, there are some purse-friendly camps and self-drive options for those on smaller budgets. With beautiful, diverse habitats including forests, deltas, deserts, swamps, rivers and grasslands, Botswana is home to a large concentration of wildlife, best seen from dug-out canoes in the Okavango Delta and game drives in Chobe, Moremi and other parks.

Explore Safari Deals’ featured safari tours to find your next big adventure!

Botswana Safari Tour Packages:

2 Days Tanzania Safari Extension after Kilimanjaro Trek

Kilimanjaro Heroes Adventures
(0 reviews)

This 2 days camping safari is a perfect choice for travelers short on time, and those who have less time left after climbing Kilimanjaro. This safari starts and ends in Arusha town. With our experienced driver guides, it will be a trip of a lifetime!...

  • Country:
    Tanzania,
  • Safari Type:
    Big Five Safari, Guided Safari, Wildlife Safari
  • Tour Type:
    Guided, Large Group, Small Group
  • Safari Standard:
    Budget
  • Start/end:
    Start in Arusha, end in Arusha
  • Price Tag
    2 Days from
    $1040 p/p in USD
  • departures icon
    Departures: Year Round

Experience remote Nyerere National Park (formerly known as Selous Game Reserve) with return flights from Zanzibar on this short, private safari. Soak up the scenic views of rivers, lakes and wilderness together with wildlife and birds. In addition, learn...

  • Country:
    Tanzania,
  • Safari Type:
    Guided Safari, Wildlife Safari
  • Tour Type:
    Guided, Small Group
  • Safari Standard:
    Mid Range
  • Start/end:
    Start in Zanzibar, end in Zanzibar
  • Price Tag
    3 Days from
    $1150 p/p in USD
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    Departures: Year Round

This short safari takes you to the Masai Mara, Kenya's most famous national reserve, and Lake Nakuru - a spectacular experience you don't want to miss. The Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the best places in Africa for wildlife viewing all year round,...

  • Country:
    Kenya,
  • Safari Type:
    Big Five Safari, Guided Safari, Wildlife Safari
  • Tour Type:
    Guided
  • Safari Standard:
    Mid Range
  • Start/end:
    Start in Nairobi, end in Nairobi
  • Price Tag
    4 Days from
    $860 p/p in USD
  • departures icon
    Departures: Year Round

3-Day Savanna Experience

Incredible Africa Trails
(0 reviews)

This is a short Kenya safari taking you to one of the most iconic locations in Africa, the renowned Masai Mara National Reserve. This three-day safari is perfect if in need of a short escape or an African weekend getaway. The feature location is home...

  • Country:
    Kenya,
  • Safari Type:
    Big Five Safari, Guided Safari, Wildlife Safari
  • Tour Type:
    Guided
  • Safari Standard:
    Mid Range
  • Start/end:
    Start in Nairobi, end in Nairobi
  • Price Tag
    3 Days from
    $901 p/p in USD
  • departures icon
    Departures: Year Round

3-Day Gorilla Trekking at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Kitenji Uganda Tours and Safaris
(0 reviews)

The Eastern Gorilla is the largest living primate and a critically endangered species. At present, there are slightly over 1000 mountain Gorillas. Uganda has more than half of the world`s mountain gorillas. These are found on the Virunga Mountain slopes...

  • Country:
    Uganda,
  • Safari Type:
    Gorilla Safari, Guided Safari
  • Tour Type:
    Guided
  • Safari Standard:
    Mid Range
  • Start/end:
    Start in Kampala, end in Kampala
  • Price Tag
    3 Days from
    $2080 p/p in USD
  • departures icon
    Departures: Year Round

5-Day Okavango Delta Explorer (Moremi & Khwai)

Moonstroll Vantage Expeditions
(0 reviews)

Explore two of Botswana’s iconic wilderness areas on this 5–day safari. Moremi Game Reserve and Khwai Concession are wildlife-prolific and varied ecosystems made up of a patchwork of lagoons, shallow flooded pans, open grass plains and woodland forests....

  • Country:
    Botswana,
  • Safari Type:
    Birding Safari, Camping Safari, Family Safari, Guided Safari, Wildlife Safari
  • Tour Type:
    Guided, Small Group
  • Safari Standard:
    Camping, Mid Range
  • Start/end:
    Start in Maun, end in Maun
  • Price Tag
    5 Days from
    $1925 p/p in USD
  • departures icon
    Departures: Year Round

15 Days Uganda Safari Tour

African Sacred Ibis Adventures
(0 reviews)

This 15-day Uganda Safari Tour is an exceptional adventure that will take you to the most visited national parks in Uganda including Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi...

  • Country:
    Uganda,
  • Safari Type:
    Chimpanzee Safari, Gorilla Safari, Guided Safari, Wildlife Safari
  • Tour Type:
    Guided
  • Safari Standard:
    Mid Range
  • Start/end:
    Start in Entebbe, end in Entebbe
  • Price Tag
    15 Days from
    $5413 p/p in USD
  • departures icon
    Departures: Year Round

Major Botswana Safari Attractions

Botswana Safari Tour Highlights

  • Glide through the waterways of the Okavango Delta by mokoro canoe, the traditional way to travel through the delta to get a unique perspective of this beautiful region.
  • Explore the world’s largest salt pan, Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, usually flat and bare until the rains come when huge herds of antelope and zebra arrive.
  • Discover Chobe National Park’s huge herds of elephants and the largest number of lions in Botswana.
  • Search for the king of the desert, the impressive Kalahari lion, in the enormous Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
  • The verdant Okavango Delta
  • Explore Botswana wildlife safari with excellent wildlife viewing in the northern parks, Okavango Delta, Linyanti and Chobe
  • Beautiful and diverse scenery of dry desert, salt pans, savannah grasslands, and delta waterways
  • Safari holidays in Botswana also gives you the option of a boat trip on the Chobe River
  • Game drives in Chobe National Park searching for wildlife
  • Botswana safari vacations also comprise of top classes camps and lodges
  • Traveling to Botswana is safe, and there is political stability.
  • Some of the animals to see on a Botswana Safari are Kalahari elephant, African wild dog, impala, hippos, wildebeests, crocodiles, giraffes, primates, eland, lions, cheetah, leopards, etc.

Would you like to know more about Botswana:

Facts About Botswana Safari Tour

  • Around 84% of Botswana is covered by sand with the enormous Kalahari Desert covering a large portion of the country as well as parts of South Africa and Namibia.
  • Botswana is the world’s third-largest diamond producer.
  • Compared to other African countries, Botswana has the largest concentration of meerkats.
  • The Okavango Delta, one of the largest inland water systems in the world, brings annual floods and water to the desert land.

Botswana offers visitors a plethora of adventures. Learn more about planning one with Botswana’s detailed Travel Guide featuring wildlife reserves and parks.

Explore Safari Deals’ featured safari tours to find your next big adventure!

FAQ’s for Botswana Safari

  • For wildlife safaris, the best time to travel to Botswana is from May to October. These months mark the dry season, a time during which the chances of spotting animals are higher due to the diminishing vegetation, which makes it easier to spot animals that congregate around waterholes. These months are also the peak season, which means it can be more expensive in terms of park prices and accommodations.

    Compared to the dry season, the wet season, from November to March, may have fewer animal sightings, but even with the dense vegetation, visitors can spot plenty of animals. Furthermore, a safari trip during the off-season will be easier on the pocket and less crowded.

    For more information about the best time to travel to Botswana, check out our best time to visit Botswana guide.

  • Like the majority of safari destinations, Botswana is ideal for a family holiday. Some safari lodges and camps have a minimum age of 12 (or other) but there are plenty of great options available to families with younger children. There are many safari options put on for children such as tailored game drives and walks with fantastic guides as well as  other entertainment to keep the kids busy.

    Further Reading: 5 Amazing African Safari Destinations That Your Kids Will Love

  • English, a remnant of colonial rule, is the official language in Botswana, used for written communication and business dealings. Although it is known as the official language, it is only a first language for 2.8% of Botswana’s population. The most commonly spoken language in Botswana is Setswana, spoken by around 77.3% of locals, and one of the many Bantu languages spoken in Botswana.

  • Botswana’s official currency is Botswana Pula, which is accepted throughout the country. But US Dollars, UK pounds, Euros, and South African rands are also accepted at most shops and accommodations. Moreover, visitors can also use international credit cards at the majority of hotels in Botswana. And if you find yourself short on money, there are plenty of ATMs throughout Botswana.

    To make things a little simpler, we have shared a quick currency conversion (2021):

    CurrencyBotswana pula
    1 Pound Sterling15.13
    1 Euro13.06
    1 United States Dollar10.88
    1 Canadian Dollar8.86
    1 Australian Dollar8.43
  • A visitor will need a passport with at least 6-month validity and two blank pages. Not every visitor needs a visa to enter Botswana. To find out if you need a visa to visit Botswana, refer to the list of visa-exempt countries. Currently, foreign citizens have to apply for a Botswana visa at the Botswana Embassy in person or on arrival as there is no online mode to apply for a visa.

  • Travelling to and from the major safari destinations in Botswana such as Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, and Moremi Game Reserve, is by transfer vehicle and/or charter flights. Maun is the hub for many charter flights taking visitors into the Okavango Delta and other more remote areas. On a charter flight, the safari experience begins with amazing views of the wilderness and animals below you.

    • Okavango Delta:Not only is Okavango Delta one of Africa’s most renowned safari spots, but it is also a spectacular birding destination with the Okavango’s waterways a haven for water-dwelling birds. The delta is home to over 400 birds with frequent sightings of African fish eagle, African pygmy goose, African green pigeon, black-chested snake eagle Bateleur, hamerkop, martial eagle, and saddle-billed stork. The birding experience is enhanced by mokoro excursions, as they provide an opportunity to get close to elusive bird species quietly with no noise from a motor.
    • Chobe National Park: Chobe National Park is an excellent birding destination with more than 450 bird species. Birding enthusiasts can participate in a boat safari, getting close to the water-loving bird species. It is also home to few rare and endangered bird species such as gray crowned-crane, hooded vulture, and white-backed vulture. Moreover, Chobe also has 15 swallow species, 8 starling species, and 8 kingfisher species.
    • Central Kalahari and Khutse Game Reserves: Birds such as black-shouldered kite, black-chested snake eagle, and martian eagle are often seen flying over the central Kalahari Game Reserve and Khutse Game Reserve, which are part of the same ecosystems. Home to over 250 bird species, some of them a rare delight for birdwatchers.
    • The Nata Bird Sanctuary: This sanctuary dedicated to birds has provided a haven for around 165 bird species. Visitors can easily spot rare birds such as avocet, blacksmith lapwing, korhaans, cape teal, blue-billed teal, red-knobbed coot, and spoonbills. The sanctuary also has a large number of flamingos and pelicans.

    Botswana is one of Africa’s top-most bird-watching destinations. Some of the major parks and game reserves in Botswana have a large concentration of birdlife. Bokaa Dam, Kgoro Pan, Kasane region, Lake Ngami, Limpopo River, Moremi Gorge, Rysana Pan, Shakawe, and Savuti Marsh are few other popular birding destinations in Botswana.

    • Central Kalahari Game Reserve
    • Chobe National Park
    • Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
    • Linyanti Swamp
    • Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
    • Moremi Game Reserve
    • Nxai Pan National Park
    • Okavango Delta
Read more: Frequently Asked Questions on Botswana