Gunn's Camp

Botswana Explorer: Chobe, Savute & Linyanti

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 1 more + 2 more

Explore the wildlife-rich and diverse landscapes of northern Botswana in this varied and exciting itinerary.

10 days

from £10,125 pp

including flights

Botswana Family Adventure

Family Safari + 1 more + 2 more

Enjoy the iconic wildlife of Botswana and create memories that last a lifetime on this family adventure.

11 days

from £10,045 pp

including flights

Luxury Botswana

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 1 more + 2 more

Experience the very best of Botswana's incredible wildlife and spectacular scenery with a splash of luxury.

13 days

from £16,110 pp

including flights

Wildlife & Nature Off-the-beaten-track + 3 more + 3 more

Namibia & Botswana Express: Caprivi & The Panhandle

Namibia, Botswana

Explore the spectacular scenery of Namibia and iconic wildlife of Botswana on this self-drive and safari adventure.

12 days

from £8,010 pp

including flights

Classic Botswana Safari

Classic Safari + 2 more + 3 more

Encounter Botswana's incredible wildlife on this unforgettable safari.

10 days

from £11,115 pp

including flights

Botswana Express

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 1 more + 2 more

Experience the magnificent Victoria Falls and encounter unforgettable wildlife in this express safari itinerary.

9 days

from £7,455 pp

including flights

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Botswana

Fishing (Okavango Delta)

An increasing number of Delta camps offer fishing excursions, usually combined with a relaxing boat cruise. Abundant species in the Okavango include catfish, tigerfish and bream, and it is almost certain that your camp will enforce a catch and release policy. It is the enjoyment of the endeavour and the beautiful habitat that is the focus though, rather than an intense expedition to catch as many fish as possible and feed the camp that night! Beginners are welcome to try their hand, and while longer expeditions can usually be tailored for keen anglers, the more dedicated fishing destinations of the Caprivi Strip and the Panhandle are probably more suitable for experts. High water levels are generally required and equipment provision can range from the rudimentary to the top of the range, but it will be more than adequate for a taster of fishing the waters of the Delta. Dedicated itineraries are available for serious fishermen, but as we are not experts we would generally recommend just trying a relaxing afternoon sampler session mingled amongst your other game viewing activities at one of the permanent camps.

Helicopter the Delta

Since most Delta concessions require you to fly-in by light aircraft, there is little doubt that you will get the chance to view this remarkable tableau of waterways, tree islands and expansive floodplains from the sky, with sensational panoramic vistas that you are unlikely to forget. For real airborne enthusiasts there is the chance to book a helicopter flight, which might last for longer than an inter-reserve transfer and will provide more scope for focusing on specific landscapes and wildlife. Your pilot can also swoop and soar to various altitudes throughout the flight, which is not possible in the same way on a light aircraft transfer that is merely intended to take passengers from A to B. The larger wildlife such as elephants, giraffe and hippo are certainly identifiable from the skies, even when travelling solo, while the large herds of buffalo, zebra and antelope take on a new grandeur from on high. Guests booking this experience will usually get around 45 minutes in the air, with &Beyond's Xudum and Xaranna camps among those that can offer this activity for guests.

Young Explorers

Many of Botswana's camps are making increasing efforts to cater for younger guests, but there is arguably nothing quite so family-friendly as Ker & Downey's Young Explorers programme. Families book exclusive use of a private camp, usually Footsteps Across the Delta, to engage with a programme of conventional game viewing and bush educational activities. The exclusive use of camp allows the guides and staff complete flexibility on activities, meal times and menus, which can be very helpful with the varying attention spans and tastes of younger guests! Activities usually involve game drives, mokoro excursions and fishing, but shorter walks can also be included, particularly with older children. The programme is currently overseen by Paul, one of our favourite guides in Africa (he is part guide, part comedian) and it is likely that he will do some of the guiding. Children learn about tracks, plants, scat and other micro elements of the bush, in addition to big game viewing, before the presentation of a certificate at the end of their stay. This outstanding programme is available only for groups of three to six, with rates depending on group size, but for families looking for a very private safari experience it tends to be worth every penny!

Walking Safaris (Okavango Delta)

Walking safaris are offered from virtually all of the camps within private Delta concessions, at least at times of the year when water levels are favourable. While some are necessarily relatively short strolls in areas close to camps largely encircled by water, others are exceptional. Botswana‚Äôs safari guides are renowned, and the walking safaris have a reputation arguably second only to Zambia‚Äôs. Walks will tend to be conducted with a specialist guide and an armed scout, walking at either side of a single-file train, should the close encounters with big game become a little too close for comfort! The best walks are a detailed, intimate exploration of the bush: the alarm calls of the various antelope as you approach; the scat and tracks of each animal, which you will be something of an expert in by the end of your stay; the unique smells that suddenly become prevalent as you cross a dry riverbed and encounter a potato bush or wild lavender; and the unmatched, goosebump inducing thrill of realising that you are suddenly close to elephant, lion or buffalo on foot, utterly reliant on the wits and expertise of others. One of the best walking options is Ker & Downey‚Äôs Footsteps programme, but there are many other camps or mobile programmes that can offer you genuine excitement on foot!

Boat Cruises (Okavango Delta)

A motorboat cruises in the deeper channels and on the rivers and tributaries of the Delta is a highly enjoyable activity, with higher game viewing potential than mokoro excursions and a more tranquil feel then game drives. Most of the Delta camps can offer these, particularly in the wetter concessions and during high water months. Late afternoon cruises can be particularly enjoyable, as you watch the sun set beautifully over the waters with a drink in hand before perhaps making your way back to camp via a night drive. Many camps now have impressive double decker boats, on which you can clamber up to the top deck to widen the views and feel the wind a little stronger in your hair, but the more traditional one-storey crafts are still effective in searching out the best wildlife and scenery spots. Animal encounters will always involve hippo, and you will almost certainly see crocodiles basking in the sun, water based antelope running through the shallower waters, and elephant and buffalo arriving to drink. The varied birdlife sightings from the water are extremely impressive, and it is not unheard of to see predators on the riverbank from a boat, although these are generally scared off by the engine noise. At its best, a serene and slow cruise through the expansive waters is a Delta experience not to be missed.