Okavango, Kwando, Kalahari & Chobe Safari Itinerary
Botswana's classic safari route in 9 days
Explore the magnificent landscapes of Botswana's wilderness on this classic itinerary to some of the country's top safari highlights. Immerse yourself in the serene waters of the Okavango Delta, traverse the expansive Kwando reserve and Kalahari Game Reserve, and witness the diverse wildlife in Chobe.
Two days are allocated to each location, although you can (and should, time permitting) extend your stay at any stop. Feeling adventurous? Consider staying longer in the Okavango Delta for an extended kayaking safari.
Key information
| Destinations | Okavango Delta, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Chobe National Park, Kwando Reserve |
|---|---|
| Activity | Safari, Luxury, Honeymoon, Family, Active, Walking, Overlanding, Nature & Wildlife, Photography, Birdwatching, National Parks |
| Physical Level | Easy |
 Season |
January - December |
Suggested itinerary
Arrival to Maun, transfer to the Okavango Delta
Day 1 in Maun
Arrive to the international airport in Maun and meet your representative in arrivals. From here you'll board your charter bush plane for the 20 minute flight to the Okavango Delta and your first safari camp.
On safari in the Okavango Delta
Day 2 in Okavango Delta
World-renowned as a mecca for wildlife, this year-round watery paradise is sustained by rainfall in the Angolan highlands which arrives in the form of an annual flood just as natural rain-filled pans are beginning to dry out. The 16,000 square-kilometre wilderness is divided into a number of fenceless private concessions which surround the publicly accessible Moremi Game Reserve and its neighbour, Khwai Community Concession. The game can move freely throughout (and even outside) the Okavango Delta.
In both Moremi Game Reserve and Khwai Community Concession, self-drives and mobile safari operators share the game drive networks with a handful of permanent camps, so you’ll encounter a few more vehicles, particularly in the peak season in Khwai. Walking safaris, off-road and night driving are prohibited in Moremi as it is a national park.
Almost all camps offer game drives, on which you can expect to see large herds of trampling elephant and buffalo mingling with legions of zebra, wildebeest and antelope. There are plenty of predators too – it is one of the best places in Africa to spot endangered wild dogs. The pools and channels are home to gargantuan crocodiles and chortling hippos, and keen birders can tick off some of the 460-plus avian species.
The most intimate and exclusive camps (which usually accommodate a maximum of 20 people) are in the private concessions, where the only traffic you are likely to encounter apart from your fellow guests will be of the four-legged variety. Here, unlike in the national parks and game reserves, you can also drive off-road and at night, making it easy to get as close as you want to the wildlife.
Explore Kwando Reserve
Day 3–4 in Kwando Reserve
Spanning over 2,300 square kilometres in Botswana's far north, the Kwando Reserve presents a vast, pristine, and lesser-visited wilderness.
The region is dominated by the Kwando River which nurtures a diverse landscape of wetlands, grasslands, mopane forests, and riverine woodlands. The river is flanked by lush vegetation, in which lurks the full cornucopia of aquatic species, including hippos and crocodiles.
This is an exceptional safari destination. The reserve is home to herds of elephant, buffalo, and zebra grazing in the open plains, while predators such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs roam the grasslands in search of prey.
The reserve is also a birdwatcher's paradise, with over 400 species of birds recorded in the area. Spot African fish eagles, kingfishers, and bee-eaters, as well as raptors such as martial eagles and bateleurs.
The cradle of humanity
Day 5–6 in Central Kalahari Game Reserve
At some 52,000 square kilometres, making this Africa’s second largest reserve, Central Kalahari feels as wild and unfathomably remote as it was 50 years ago.
There are just two lodges inside the park and a smattering of scattered campsites used by mobile safari operators and self-drives, meaning it often feels like you have the whole park to yourself.
The game-viewing is best just after the rains when herds of oryx and springbok congregate in lush fossilised river valleys, preyed on by huge black-maned lions, cheetah and leopard. Other resident desert specialists include bat-eared foxes and brown hyenas while raptors flock to the park during the rainy season. The mammal density and diversity is not quite a match for the northern parks making it less well-suited to first-time safari travellers but for the feel of a true African wilderness, CKGR is tough to beat.
Hugging the park’s northern boundary, the Hainaveld consists of a handful of compact, segregated, privately-owned reserves, which offer an alternative Kalahari wildlife experience. The denser habitat means the landscape is less scenic than inside the park, but pumped waterholes concentrate the game in the dry season. Several of the lodges employ local Kalahari bushmen with legendary tracking skills, who will also teach you about their way of life on a guided walk.
On the banks of the Chobe River
Day 7–8 in Chobe National Park
Nestled in Botswana’s north-eastern corner, Chobe National Park incorporates Chobe Riverfront (close to the Zimbabwe and Zambia borders), famous for its large elephant herds; and Savute (in the west), where a juxtaposition of contrasting habitats and handful of pumped waterholes sustain a melting pot of species.
The combination of larger hotel-style accommodation in Kasane and its proximity to Victoria Falls means the Chobe riverfront is Botswana’s busiest wildlife destination. Although crowds are not on the scale of some of the East African parks, the riverfront roads can get congested at times and game-viewing tends to be more productive by boat.
Savute has comparatively fewer vehicles, although it is also frequented by self-drive travellers and mobile safari operators.
Game-viewing on the permanent Chobe river is best during the dry season, when elephants and buffalo regularly swim across the broad waterway to feed on the lush islands – the sight of a herd of submerged elephants using their trunks as snorkels is unforgettable. The plentiful birdlife (including several near-endemic species) is also best appreciated from the river; predator sightings (particularly lion) are more common on land.
Game drives are the order of the day in Savute where wildlife-viewing is good year-round. In the dry season belligerent elephant bulls crowd the waterholes while migrating zebra herds arrive during the rains. Boasting healthy populations of lion, leopard, hyena and wild dog, it is also renowned for its predator interaction.
Return to Maun & departure
Day 9 in Maun
It's your final day in Botswana. After breakfast you'll be connected to the airport to make your flight back home.
Where to stay
Deluxe
Pom Pom Camp
Pom Pom camp is one of the best known and most idyllic camps in the Okavango. This camp has been setting precedents in Botswana for over 20 years. It is acclaimed for a very good reason. The lodge, which belongs to the Kwando Safaris portfolio, is luxurious, and the service is impeccable. The camp is situated on an island, to the west of the Moremi Game reserve at the head waters of the Xudum river.
The camp has 9 luxurious raised tents that are positioned comfortably in the shade of palms. Each tent has en-suite facilities and private viewing decks looking out over the surrounding areas.
The camp offers game drives within the heart of the Delta, and this ensures that guests see a lot more wildlife. The mokoro polers in the area are also well known, and viewing game from a traditional dugout canoe while staying at this lodge is a highly recommendable experience.
Classic
Chobe Safari Lodge
This lodge is situated in Kasane on the banks of the Chobe River and shares a border with Chobe National Park. Right on the doorstep is the meeting of four African countries: Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The lodge therefore offers an excellent getaway location to Chobe, Victoria Falls or Caprivi.
The close proximity to Victoria Falls International Airport, Livingstone International Airport and Kasane International Airport makes it easily accessible, with daily road transfers or charter flights connecting all these airports with the lodge. The lodge has been recently renovated; matching a magical lodge experience to the spectacular game viewing.
We are a member of HATAB which allows us to offer the best lodges in Botswana at the best prices.
Deluxe
Lagoon Camp
Beyond luxury, Lagoon Camp offers an authentic and unforgettable experience to its guests. It represents the beauty of Botswana and is undoubtedly one of the best lodges to be found anywhere in Africa.
The camp has eight luxurious tented rooms with private decks and lavish bathrooms that include both indoor and outdoor bathing facilities. The rooms are elegantly designed, fresh, and provide more luxuries than one might expect from a camp in the Delta.
The main thatched areas of the camp include a bar and a lounge, dining area, a curio shop and second-level library overlooking the river. The camp also has a plunge pool and outdoor deck.
This camp is a highly recommendable lodge option for romantic couples looking to escape and spend some quality time together.
Classic
Tau Pan
Tau Pan belongs to the Kwando Safaris portfolio and it is one of the prominent camps located within the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. This is a truly special camp with an incredible location on a ridge overlooking an iconic pan. The lodge is fabled in Botswana for the black maned lions that prowl across her stretches, and viewing these lions from the lodge is a breath taking experience. Tau actually means Lion in Setswana.
The camp includes open communal areas with bar, lounge, and restaurant as well as a fireplace close to the watering hole which is amazing for game viewing.
Activities offered at the lopdge are game drives, day trips to the well-known Deception Valley, Sunday, Piper and Passage Pans, star gazing, bush brunches on the Pan, and nature walks with Bushman trackers.
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