Mapula Lodge

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

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

Classic Botswana Safari

Classic Safari + 2 more + 3 more

Encounter Botswana's incredible wildlife on this unforgettable safari.

10 days

from £11,115 pp

Botswana Mobile Safari

Safari Wildlife & Nature + 1 more + 2 more

Discover the spectacular scenery and diverse wildlife of Botswana on a mobile safari adventure.

12 days

from £8,520 pp

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

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

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Botswana

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.

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!

Game Drives (Okavango Delta)

While many people's Delta dream consists of lush waterways lapping peacefully against a mokoro as it weaves between hippo pods, game drives still represent the best possible chance of getting close to the Okavango's huge range of animals. Extended game drives with top guides are almost always included in your Delta safari in the private concessions. It's usually an early start for breakfast before setting off on a drive as the sun slowly rises: a cool but utterly enchanting time to be on the road, as the bush slowly wakes up and wildlife emerges to face the day. There are frequent stops to view animals, learn about the flora and fauna from your guide, take photographs and enjoy refreshments. Many of the Delta's most exclusive camps boast a network of routes that you will have entirely to yourself. Unlike the Moremi Reserve, there are few restrictions on off-road driving and night activities. The animals you will see can depend on the concession, but it is worth remembering that Botswana has a wildlife diversity to match anything in Africa, with lion, cheetah, leopard, wild dog, elephant, buffalo and abundant birdlife all present in the Delta.

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!