Experience the best of Botswana on this budget-friendly Overland Camping Safari.
Starting at the legendary Victoria Falls, cross into Botswana and camp on the Chobe River near Kasane. Enjoy a game-viewing boat cruise in Chobe National Park. Then travel into the Kalahari Desert to Nata, in the vast Makgadigadi Pans, before heading to Maun and travelling to the Khwai River floodplain of the Okavango Delta. Explore the delta waterways in a traditional mokoro trip and take a full-day safari in search of wildlife in the beautiful Moremi Game Reserve in the heart of the Okavango Delta. On returning to Maun there is an option to take a scenic flight over the Okavango Delta to witness this natural marvel from above.
Immerse yourself in the abundant natural beauty and thriving life of Botswana on this overland camping tour.
During this trip, you are likely to come across activities that encourage tourists to participate in lion, elephant, or other wildlife interaction. This includes walking with lions, riding elephants and any other tourist operation putting travellers in close contact with animals that would normally live wild and separate from human contact.
We absolutely do not encourage or endorse this type of wildlife interaction operation. For more information on why this is not good for Africa's wild animals, please see our safari anti-bucket list post on the subject.
__large.jpg "Okavango Mokoro Excursion")
Our Botswana Explorer tour begins today in the bustling town of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, home to the majestic Victoria Falls. This spectacular natural wonder lies on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe and is just a 74-kilometer (46-mile) drive to the Botswana border.
Referred to as "Mosi-oa-Tunya" (the Smoke That Thunders) in the local Lozi language, Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in the world by volume, with a width of 1,708 meters (5,604 feet) and a height of 108 meters (355 feet). The sheer power and grandeur of this waterfall leave a lasting impression.
Tonight, we camp in pre-erected dome tents with camper beds at a Safari Camp located close to the falls. Today is free for you to explore this fascinating place as you wish. Beyond the natural wonders, Victoria Falls also serves as a hub for thrilling adventure activities, with everything from White-Water Rafting to bungee jumping and scenic helicopter or microlight flights on offer. You can view the game in nearby reserves, go cruising on the Zambezi River above the falls, or simply stroll around the village. There are craft markets to explore, and a delicious high tea is on offer at the Victoria Falls Hotel.
We have a leisurely start this morning, so you have a last opportunity to participate in the many optional activities on offer in Victoria Falls. After lunch, we board our overland safari vehicle, and travel the short distance to the border and cross into Botswana. We arrive at our lovely riverfront campsite by late afternoon.
After settling in, we set off on a game-viewing boat cruise on the Chobe River in the Chobe National Park. Weave through pods of wallowing hippos as our silent approach allows for close-up encounters with the diverse wildlife that inhabit the riverbanks of the Chobe National Park. Notably, the park is home to one of the largest elephant populations in Africa, which roam the park’s diverse landscapes, from lush grasslands to savanna woodlands, in close-knit family groups led by experienced matriarchs. They are often spotted along the riverbanks.
As our Botswana Overland CampingTour bids farewell to the meandering Chobe River and ventures southward into the heart of the Kalahari Desert, the lush greenery of the riverbanks gradually gives way to the Kalahari's signature landscape, a tapestry of arid plains and acacia woodlands.
Our destination is the vast Makgadikgadi Pans, a mesmerizing expanse of salt flats stretching as far as the eye can see. These ancient pans, once a vast inland sea, now lie dormant. During the rainy season, dry riverbeds fill with water providing a habitat for a variety of birds, including flamingos.
We stay at a desert campsite nearby that boasts a waterhole alongside, often visited by the free-roaming desert elephants. Relax on the deck and enjoy a serene sunset as you watch animals seek out the refreshment of the waterhole.
Day 4 sees us leaving the dust of the Kalahari Desert behind us and heading for the water wonderland of the magnificent Okavango Delta. As our journey skirts around the Makgadigadi Pans, we stop at a viewpoint to appreciate the surreal landscape. The shimmering surface of the pans reflects the ever-changing hues of the sky. There are many waterholes dotted around Makgadigadi and you may pass animals roaming the flats in search of water.
Our journey takes us to the vibrant town of Maun, the gateway for trips into the Okavango Delta. If time permits, you have the opportunity to take an optional scenic flight from Maun. Soar over the delta for an excellent perspective of this great natural wonder – a mighty river with no way out to the sea, emptying into a vast desert. The plentiful supply of water provides a lifeblood for an incredible diversity of plants and animals.
Later we are collected by smaller 4x4 safari vehicles for a two-day excursion into the heart of the Okavango Delta. You will need to pack a smaller overnight bag to take on this trip due to space constraints. The rest of your luggage can be safely stored on the overland truck which waits for us in Maun. We drive through delta backroads to the Khwai River floodplain in the northeastern part of the Okavango Delta. Here we will spend two nights camping at a safari camp with sweeping views of animals grazing on the floodplains.
After settling into camp, we head out to rendezvous with our local guides who will take us on a trip of the Okavango Delta waterways in traditional mokoro boats. Your guide will pole the boat through narrow reed-lined channels opening into lagoons dotted with water lilies. Sit back and watch this serene scene unfold. You will stop on one of the delta islands where your guide will lead you on a walk to look for tracks and learn more about life in this fascinating ecosystem. As the boat glides back to the Mokoro station, enjoy the spectacle of a sunset reflecting in the calm delta waters.
Day 5 of our budget Botswana Camping Safari is spent in Moremi Game Reserve, an area of approximately 5,000 square kilometres (1,900 square miles) in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Experience the raw beauty and diverse wildlife of the Delta as we explore the park's diverse landscapes, ranging from lush grasslands to dense woodlands to waterways, in search of the diverse wildlife, from majestic elephants, lions and cheetahs to elusive leopards perched high in the trees, or a herd of zebras or giraffe grazing peacefully on the plains.
Moremi is home to the Africa Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros), and some of the most endangered large mammals like cheetah, white rhinoceros, black rhinoceros, and African Wild Dog. Also keep a lookout for hyenas, warthogs, Chacma baboons, vervet monkeys, and various antelopes like impala, kudu, sable, tsessebe, and red lechwe, while hippos and crocodiles wallow in the waterways. Moremi is also home to nearly 500 species of birds, from water birds to migratory birds and forest dwellers.
We return to our camp on the Khwai River floodplains with plenty of tales to tell.
We make an early start this morning as we take a final drive through the Okavango Delta in our 4×4 safari vehicles, back to Maun where we will camp at a lovely riverside campsite.
On arrival in Maun, you have another opportunity to take an optional scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (time and weather permitting). The rest of the day is yours to relax at the lodge pool, and go on an optional cultural tour or optional guided river cruise.
After a hearty breakfast this morning, our Botswana Overland Tour comes to an end. You may wish to take an optional scenic flight over the Delta or continue your journey home.
We recommend booking your incoming and onward flights at least one day before and after this Botswana Explorer is scheduled. It is advisable to arrive the day before departure from Victoria Falls and fly out the day after the overland tour ends in Maun to allow for delays and changes, and to take advantage of the many activities on offer.
Simply ask your friendly travel advisor to add pre-tour and post-tour accommodation to your safari booking.
You can do this fun-packed Africa Lodge Overland Tour in the reverse order as the Botswana Explorer Maun to Vic Falls (Overland Camping Safari) if you prefer to start in Maun and end in Victoria Falls.
This Camping Overland Tour is also available as a Lodge Overland Tour – Botswana Explorer: Vic Falls to Maun (Lodge Overland Tour) which follows the same itinerary and accommodation is in comfortable lodges instead of camping.
For more details contact African Budget Safaris
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