Kalahari Desert, Okavango Delta & Savuti Lodge Safari…

Botswana Safari Highlights:

• Authentic cultural experience with the San people in the Kalahari Desert
• Guided bush walks on remote islands of the Okavango Delta
• Mokoro rides in the Okavango Delta with a private guide (when water levels permit)
• Game viewing in the famous Savuti Marsh of Chobe National Park

Days 1 to 3: Maun to Deception Valley Lodge - Central Kalahari Desert, Botswana

This budget Botswana Safari begins in Maun, where Delta Air meets you and flies you into the Kalahari Desert in a light aircraft. The 30-minute flight takes you to the private airstrip at Deception Valley Lodge, just north of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

From the airstrip, you are transferred to the 15,000-hectare private reserve that Deception Valley Lodge is located on. Here you can immerse yourself in the semi-arid bush environment, soaking up the quiet and space of the massive Kalahari Desert, watching beautiful sunsets, and admiring the star-studded skies at night.

• Flight from Maun to the Central Kalahari Desert with Delta Air
• Authentic Kalahari San bushmen experience
• Nature drives in a private wilderness area
• All meals and accommodation at Deception Valley Lodge

About Deception Valley Lodge, Kalahari Desert

The lodge is inside a private reserve on the northern boundary of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Deception Valley Lodge is a remote desert "oasis" with its own airstrip located 15 minutes from the lodge. This comfortable lodge overlooks a waterhole in the reserve and has a swimming pool. Up to 16 guests can stay at the lodge which features various lounge and dining areas and eight spacious suites. Each unit has a lounge area, bedroom, and en-suite bathroom with a feature bath and outdoor shower. Wireless internet is available via satellite.

Guests enjoy afternoon and night game drives in custom-built safari vehicles. The guides can drive off-road in the private reserve allowing them to track wildlife. The private reserve hosts Kalahari lions, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, kudus, and more. On night drives shy nocturnal species are spotted and during the day bird watching is also rewarding.

The lodge offers unique cultural encounters with the Naru-speaking San people (Kalahari bushmen) of the Kalahari, including nature walks. Guests can join the local San guides for nature walks, finding out how these hunter-gatherers have survived in the deserts of Southern Africa for thousands of years. The guides offer insight into the hunting and foraging techniques and survival skills of the remarkable San tribe, as well as their distinctive rituals, crafts, and culture. On the walks the Kalahari San people also point out the rich plant resources of this semi-desert habitat, explaining the culinary, ceremonial, and medicinal uses of the flora. On the walks, the guides also share their in-depth knowledge of the indigenous animals, reptiles, birds, and insects of the region.

Days 4 to 6: Kalahari to Oddballs’ Enclave - Okavango Delta, Botswana

On day four of our Botswana Safari, we have breakfast and take a Delta Air flight into the heart of the pristine Okavango Delta of Botswana. We head to our next destination, awed by the stunning aerial views of the waterways and wildlife below. The remote Oddballs' Enclave (named after its first-ever manager) is only accessible by air. This intimate camp is located on a secluded small island just off Chief's Island, which lies in the world-famous Moremi Game Reserve, known as a predator-viewing hotspot.

Your friendly, private guide meets you at the airstrip and remains your guide (shared between two guests) throughout your stay at Odballs' Enclave. The guides are local to the area and know the delta in minute detail, having grown up here, their passion is to delight guests with their knowledge. Your guide will take you on early morning and late afternoon walks and mokoro outings if there is enough water in the delta. The emphasis is on exploring nature up close on foot, slowing down, and taking in the details.

On your nature walks in the Okavango Delta, you can get really close to the flora, birds, and wildlife, from the biggest to the smallest. Your guide will do his utmost best to seek out special birds and animals for you to photograph, memories of a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Your guide is highly experienced and trained to keep you safe and informed on your walking safaris into the unspoiled bush. Sharing his in-depth knowledge your guide points out the fascinating insects, plants, animal tracks, and other signs of animal activity in the bush.

The bush walks surround you with the pure untouched beauty of the Okavango Delta and its wildlife. You may encounter elephants, buffaloes, lions, hippos, and crocodiles in the waters. Maybe you'll even glimpse the more elusive leopard and wild dog. Grazing in large numbers, plains species like buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and impala provide unforgettable sights. Walking in one of the wildest places left in Africa is a thrilling experience as big mammals roam freely here, including large predators.

If the water levels in the delta are high enough, we'll explore the intricate network of waterways and channels, tranquil lagoons, and reed-fringed islands of the Okavango Delta in traditional-style mokoro canoes. The mokoro safaris are usually undertaken early in the morning and late afternoon. On mokoro rides your guide stands in the stern of his old-school canoe, propelling two passengers slowly through the waters with a long pole. This is one of the best ways to explore the delta and encounter wildlife and birds, as you move slowly and quietly through the bush.

While in the delta, a picnic lunch from the camp can be arranged, allowing you to spend a whole day out in the Okavango Delta. In between excursions, you are free to relax on the viewing decks or cool den area and watch for animals and birds in the surrounding wetlands. Relax at the end of the day with sundowners on the deck and sit out under the stars around the fire at night, enjoying the peace and listening to the sounds of nature.

• Flight from the Kalahari into the Okavango Delta with Delta Air
• Guided walks on Chief's Island in Moremi Game Reserve
• Mokoro trips into the Okavango Delta (if the water levels permit)
• All meals and accommodation at Oddballs' Enclave

About Oddballs' Enclave, Okavango Delta

A small, intimate camp that can only be reached by plane, Oddballs' Enclave is an intimate getaway, consisting of five permanent tents and main guest areas with remarkable views. The well-appointed Meru-style canvas tents are set on raised wooden platforms with small deck areas where guests can sit back and enjoy being in nature. Each of these walk-in tents has a semi-detached bathroom of its own, fitted with a very private, open-air, bucket shower that has cold and hot water. The tents are furnished with either twin or double beds offering simplicity and comfort.

The remote Oddballs' Enclave has a beautiful setting - on a small island in the heart of the pristine Okavango Delta. This family-friendly tented camp is the perfect spot to get in touch with nature and unwind. Lounging on the decks, or around the campfire and in the open-sided lounge and dining areas, guests can see wildlife and birds in the grasslands and woods around the camp in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

Days 7 to 9: Oddballs’ Enclave to Ghoha Hills Camp - Chobe, Botswana

After breakfast in the Okavango Delta, we head northeast to the popular Savuti area in western Chobe National Park for our seventh day of safari in Botswana. We take a 40-minute drive from the Savuti airfield to Ghoha Hills Camp, stopping along the way to see wildlife.

Ghoha Hills Camp is situated on a hill overlooking Savuti Marsh's floodplains that draw large numbers of herbivores to the juicy grazing, with a host of predators behind them. With its large populations of big cats and other carnivores, Savuti in Chobe National Park is considered one of the best locations in Africa to view predators.

In open 4x4 vehicles, your guides take you on game drives in the early mornings and late afternoons, when you will likely spot a variety of animals and birds as you travel around the Savuti Marsh's edges. Your guide will fill you in on the local wildlife, birds, and natural ecosystems. We explore Pimple Hill, marvel at prehistoric rock paintings, and take a leg break beneath a grove of stately baobab trees.

During your downtime at Ghoha Hills Camp, you can read, swim in the pool, and take in the stunning views from Ghoha Hills while keeping an eye out for local wildlife and birds.

• Flight from Okavango Delta to Savuti by light aircraft
• Morning and afternoon game drives in Chobe National Park
• All meals and accommodation at Ghoha Hills Camp

About Ghoha Hills Camp, Chobe National Park

Eleven luxury tented rooms make up this small safari camp. With en-suite bathrooms and individual observation decks that provide a picturesque view of the Savuti floodplains, they are roomy and cosy. Tented cabins are spaced apart to form secluded retreats within the natural environment.

Several areas for dining, reading, and relaxing are arranged throughout the main camp to fully enjoy the view from Ghoha Hill over the Savuti plains, and the activity of animals coming to the waterhole at the base of the hill. There is a rock swimming pool and a spa offering a menu of indulgent treatments. There is also an option to book a helicopter ride for a fantastic aerial perspective. Ghoha Hills Camp is dedicated to using only solar energy for operation.

Situated in Savuti, in the western region of Chobe National Park, Ghoha Hills Camp is home to some of Africa's greatest concentrations of species. Many lions and endangered wild dogs have been sighted in this famously predator-rich region of Botswana. The best parts of this place are seeing wildlife and birds move freely from the camp and on open-air game drives, which are great for taking pictures and seeing wildlife. Situated in the heart of Savuti, just a 40-minute drive from the Savuti airstrip, this camp offers an authentic African safari experience.

Day 10: Ghoha Hills Camp to Maun, Botswana

On day ten of our Botswana safari, those up early can go on a dawn drive to the hide to spot wildlife and enjoy coffee. Then, head back to Ghoha Hills Camp for a sumptuous breakfast.

Then, it's time to pack up and bid the African wilderness farewell after breakfast. You are transferred to the airfield to take a light aircraft journey back to Maun, taking in breathtaking aerial views of northern Botswana.

In Maun, our memorable Kalahari, Okavango Delta & Savuti Lodge Safari in Botswana comes to a close.

• Morning hide drive in Chobe National Park
• Breakfast
• Flight from Savuti to Maun with Delta Air

Botswana Safari Note:

We only recommend booking this Botswana Safari for travel during the late fall, winter, and early spring seasons in Botswana. This is because the summer months are uncomfortably hot for walking safaris in the Okavango Delta and the water levels are not high enough for proper mokoro trips. We have therefore only listed the tour departure dates available within the date range we recommend.