NEW TRIP
Botswana's UNESCO-listed Okavango Delta is renowned for its exceptional wildlife—and for the variety of game viewing experiences you can enjoy here. Our new safari has them all, from wildlife viewing by vehicle, on foot, and canoe to scenic flights by light aircraft and helicopter. Our accommodations are varied, too: five nights in beautifully situated lodges located at water's edge, and four nights in our private, lantern-lit Hemingway-style mobile camps where we savor wonderful comfort and the thrill of being out in the wilderness. At night, enjoy the crackling campfire with your safari team, gazing up to a canopy of sparkling stars and listening to the roars of the wild. This is pure safari magic, and we look forward to sharing it with you.
Arrive: Maun, Botswana
Depart: Kasane, Botswana
We explore by 4WD and boat in Moremi Game Reserve in the northeastern Delta, looking for tsessebe and Burchell’s zebra, along with ostrich and predators such as lion, wild dog, and spotted hyena. Our camp at Xakanaxa is in a beautiful setting of secret pools, tall forest, and open grasslands.
On Day 5 we take a scenic boat ride on the Maunachira River from the eastern to central section of the Delta, the perfect place to explore on foot and by motorboat and mokoro (dugout canoe). We float through a labyrinth of creeks and lagoons in search of crocodiles, hippos, swamp antelope, white-necked otters, and fantastic birdlife, with overnights at an atmospheric lodge overlooking Xugana Lagoon.
We take to the skies on a 20-minute helicopter flight from Xugana Lodge to Maxa Lodge for an unforgettable view of the Okavango Delta’s wild, sprawling expanse. While here, we’ll go on day and night game viewing excursions in these iconic Delta landscapes by 4WD vehicle, mokoro, and on foot. On Day 10, transfer to Kasane via a private charter flight and depart.
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
This trip is rated Level 2, Easy to Moderate. It is a vehicle-based camping safari, with four nights in our mobile private camp, and five nights in lodges. It will be enjoyed by anyone in reasonably good health. Although the trip is not rigorous, it does involve long, bumpy off-road game drives. Two of our transfers are in a small Robinson R44 helicopter. Any African safari is an adventure, and the traveler to Africa should bring along flexibility, a sense of humor, curiosity about new peoples and places, and an openness to the unexpected.
Our mobile tented camping safaris in Botswana provide a true bush experience without sacrificing comfort. Our comfortable walk-in tents feature cozy beds, linens, tent lamps, and have en suite bathrooms with a toilet, mirror, sink, and hot water shower. Our crew sets up camp and prepares all meals. Delicious food is served in a comfortable dining tent. You'll find camping delightful and very comfortable, and you will appreciate how close to nature you feel, away from the lights and distractions of the lodges.
We travel by Toyota 4WD Land Cruiser "go-anywhere" safari vehicles equipped with a refrigerator for cold drinks and a reference library on flora, fauna, and avifauna. They carry five trip members per vehicle, with guaranteed window seating.
During drives and walks, we can at times get quite close to wild animals. Being very quiet improves everybody's chances of observation. In the interest of safety, your Trip Leader explains limitations on movement while on game drives, in the safari vehicles, and around camp. Incidents with wild animals are extremely rare on safaris, but no trip can guarantee immunity from such incidents. Wilderness Travel is not to be held responsible for incidents involving the behavior of wildlife.
"This safari provided an exceptional opportunity to experience Botswana's remarkable natural beauty and diverse wildlife. Beyond the game viewing, the warmth and genuine hospitality of the local residents significantly enhanced our journey, creating meaningful cultural connections alongside the wildlife encounters. The combination of pristine wilderness areas, abundant animal sightings, and authentic interactions with Botswana people made this a truly memorable adventure."
Aimee B.
Los Altos, CA
"It was a fantastic trip, a lifetime dream come true. I am so glad we chose Botswana and Wilderness Travel. We could see other trucks and groups and it was always clear we had some of the best guides and best in the "bush" experiences. The camps were clearly traveled though at night by the animals and the sounds of hippos and lions and hyneas was a welcomed nightly chorus. You don't get that in lodges!"
Aimee S.
Lagunitas, CA
"We had a simply amazing experience, exceeding our already lofty expectations. Best travel experience I've ever had. As I sit here writing this, all I want to do is get on a plane back to Maun!"
Andrew P.
Belmont, CA
"Everything was fantastic. What great care the team took of us! Nothing went unnoticed, and the team members were skilled and kind and generous and they made us feel welcome."
Bonnie B.
Princeton, NJ
"The trip was amazing. It was everything I was hoping for and more. It was so great that we are already planning our next safari with WT. I'm not much of a camper, but WT made things so easy that 2 weeks of camping went by in a flash. I already miss the sights, sounds, and camaraderie of the trip! I loved traveling with the same staff the entire time, as we all got to know each other pretty well. All the staff were so incredibly welcoming and upbeat, kudos to all of them. "
Carol E.
Underwood, WA
"How do you improve on perfection?"
Chris L.
Daly City, CA
"The extended itinerary of the Okavango, combined with the tented camping and wildlife viewing, is what sold us on this trip. The level of camping was as expected, as this was our third tented safari in Africa. The crew does a really excellent job—the extra effort to set up a spike camp deep in the delta was amazing and much appreciated. Having Xugana Lodge in the middle of the trip was just right."
David N.
Albuquerque, NM
"This was the trip of a lifetime. Every day was an unparalleled adventure, expertly arranged and professionally guided. The Okavango Delta is an amazing miracle of water in an otherwise arid landscape—a true miracle of the natural world. We saw so many exquisite birds and hundreds of animals. The lodges and hotel were gorgeous and the mobile tent camping felt like a real safari. We traveled by 4-wheel-drive jeep, boats, and bush airplanes taking off from airstrips that were little more than a strip of grass traversed by impala and elephant. The people, the land, and the animals of Botswana came alive for us and will live in our memories and in our hearts for all our days."
Eva D.
Makawao, HI
"The combination of the venue, the wildlife, our leader guiding us through the adventure, and the superb support camp staff simply provided a perfect trip."
Hans L.
Plymouth, MN
"We had a fantastic trip. It was our first trip to Africa and when people ask what we saw in terms of wildlife, we tell them to ask us what we didn't see. The trip was so much more than we imagined."
Jim and Carol B.
Kensington, MD
"Our Botswana safari was beyond expectations. I was amazed by the sheer number of beasties we saw, not to mention how close we were able to get to them. Adam’s ability to track, spot, and identify were nonpareil. Also, his short history talks before the afternoon drives helped put today’s Botswana in perspective. And then there was the c(gl)amping. Adam’s camp crew made it a luxe experience. At 71, I want to have my cake and eat it too, and that’s what I got. I was ‘out there’ in comfort. The tent was spacious and well set up. The hot water bottle at the foot of my bed each night was a nice touch. I loved having a ‘just right’ coffee handed to me seconds after arriving at the fire in the morning. The food was good."
Michael K.
South Pasadena, CA
"Trip of a lifetime, with many memories. Our guides added a wonderful perspective of growing up in Africa, tribe life, customs, history."
Nancy K.
Granite Bay, CA
"This was our second WT safari and it did not disappoint. More than one hundred lions (including many adorable cubs), hundreds of elephants, leopards, a cheetah and her cubs, a herd of sable antelope, and, and, and.... Just WOW! The camp memories were amazing -- the lions roaring nearby at night while we (tried) to sleep, the elephant family trumpeting as they wandered just behind our tents during dinner, and the naughty baboons raiding the kitchen one afternoon. Tourists in fancy lodges would have miss all of this!"
Sally M.
Sunnyvale, CA
"The itinerary and pace of the trip was perfect. I saw more wildlife than I have seen on previous trips to Africa. Camp was charming and very comfortable with attentive and helpful staff. Kay, the cook, was amazing!"
Willma E.
Seattle, WA
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
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With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.