Some of Our Botswana Holiday Ideas

Need inspiration for your Botswana safari holiday? Discover our sample itinerary ideas, including a trip focusing on the country's communities and conservation to a luxury combination with Victoria Falls.

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Our expertise in Botswana

Louise Dean

I’d love to create your perfect destination experience to Botswana . Give me a call and I’ll share my first-hand expertise so you get the most from your trip.

Nikki
Travel Specialist

Nikki's review

Botswana is one of my favourite destinations! Its safari experience is personal, the quality of accommodation is excellent (ranging from five-star chic lodges to the more rustic three-star options), and the people are friendly and welcoming. The main safari regions are accessible via light aircraft flights. Plus, the camps offer land-based, water-based or a combination of activities ranging from 4×4 safaris to boat safaris, mokoro canoe safaris and walking safaris, making it a spectacular experience!

Nikki's Top Tips

  1. Enjoy a helicopter trip over the Okavango Delta for a totally different ‘game’ perspective!
  2. Fly into Maun and out of Kasane, so you can combine a visit to Botswana with an add-on to Victoria Falls
  3. Visit Botswana in its shoulder season (April—June & November) for cooler weather and lower rates!

Best Time To Visit Botswana

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Quick Country Facts

Time Zone:GMT +2 hours

Capital:Gaborone

Currency:Pula

Why visit Botswana?

Botswana is a top-rated wildlife destination and a well-known conservation success story. About a fifth of the land is covered by reserves, meaning it's one of Africa's largest remaining wilderness areas.

Lodge and safari operator sizes are limited to reduce their carbon footprint. They're under strict regulations regarding recycling, grey water and waste disposal, even down to the materials used to build lodges and the electricity that's used on a day-to-day basis.

Botswana offers many unique, awe-inspiring environments, which in turn offer diverse wildlife habitats. This makes it one of the best and most authentic safari destinations in Africa.

 

Louise Dean

Travel Specialist

I'm here to tailor-make your perfect holiday. Give me a call and I'll use my expertise to create your personalised experience.

At Rainbow, our Botswana holidays are all tailored to you. By giving us a call, we can chat about all your fantastic travel plans, from the safari lodges you'd like to stay at, to what wildlife you'll see on the game drives. Should you have any questions whatsoever, we'd be delighted to help answer them.

We can also suggest additional private experiences that may be suited to you and your lifestyle, such as (for example) a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River or a day trip to the UNESCO-listed Tsodilo Hills.

Here's a list of what's included and excluded in our Botswana safari holidays:

Price Includes

  • Return international flights as per the itinerary
  • All airport taxes and security charges
  • Accommodation and meals as listed
  • Transfers as indicated
  • Activities and excursions as specified
  • All entrance fees on sightseeing tours as listed

Price Excludes

  • Travel insurance
  • Any meals not specified in the itinerary
  • Gratuities
  • Optional excursions not included in your itinerary

Thanks to a diverse number of landscapes, you'll always feel like you're exploring somewhere new in Botswana – even though you never leave the country!

Number one on your list of Botswana safari areas should be the Okavango Delta, with its ever-changing lagoons and rivers. The best way to explore the wild and watery oasis is in a traditional dug-out canoe (mokoro), gliding through reed-lined channels past playful spotted-necked otters, vibrant malachite kingfishers and the vigilant African fish eagle. The seasonal waters have a dynamic effect on animals, which also includes elephants, hippos, buffalo, baboons, the endangered cheetahs and wild dogs. And to see the 'Big Five' in action, Moremi Game Reserve is a great choice.

Threading through the borders of Botswana and Namibia, the Chobe River in Chobe National Park is another vital water source and a haven for the country’s most exotic wildlife. Sitting on the banks of the river, the sprawling Chobe National Park is home to four distinct ecosystems and habitats, including baobab trees, acacia woodlands, verdant flood plains and thickets fringing the lake. These diverse lands attract an assortment of animals, from big cats to a catalogue of unusual antelope species.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, you also have the Kalahari Desert & Makgadikgadi Salt Pan Flats. The grasslands of the Kalahari and the lunar-like landscape of Makgadikgadi make a striking contrast with the verdant, game-rich Okavango and Chobe regions. You can explore the gentle valleys, sand dunes and pans of the Kalahari Desert, seeking out the famous Kalahari black-maned lion and much more. With wall-to-wall skies and never-ending views of stark, flat terrain stretching out in front of you, the Makgadikgadi salt pan is perfect if you're looking for an intrepid, off-the-beaten-track adventure.

Yes, a Botswana safari makes an excellent combination with other destinations.

A landlocked country in Southern Africa, Botswana is circled by some wonderful neighbours, including the stark Namibia, the diverse South Africa with its cosmopolitan capital (Cape Town), the wild Zambia and the magnificent Zimbabwe. A multi-centre holiday, for example, combining the great destinations of Botswana and Zambia, takes advantage of two exhilarating African countries in one fantastic holiday.

Just a short journey from Botswana, an excellent way to complete your holiday is to experience the colossal natural wonder of the Victoria Falls. Thundering down between the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe, you'll be treated to remarkable views of this iconic sight. Botswana and Victoria Falls make a classic pairing—the perfect combination of wildlife and natural wonder.

A Botswana safari or a combination of Botswana and Zambia is sure to be a marvellous holiday. Speak with one of our travel experts to devise a tailor-made itinerary that's right for you.

Botswana safaris are great for families. The country is safe to travel around and provides you with specifically designed accommodations, allowing the whole family to be under one roof. Many have amenities such as Wi-Fi, and the friendly local staff can cater to all your needs during your stay.

However, is the main draw of a family safari is being immersed in a watery wilderness, seeking out a herd of elephants or paying attention to the smaller creatures living among the papyrus. Plus, family holidays to Botswana can include a whole host of wildlife-based activities such as morning game drives with your own expert guide and vehicle, allowing you to experience all the highlights at a pace that suits you. As well as exploring the game reserves, this still gives some family time around the campfire.

Tell us your group size, date of departure, accommodation preferences and all the excursions you'd like to do, and we'll advise you on an itinerary that ensures everyone has a memorable adventure together.

See our family holidays to Botswana for more information.

Botswana Holiday types

Whether you want to explore the natural world with the whole family or encounter rare species with just a few other travellers, choose the tailor-made itinerary that’s right for you.

Why Choose Us?

Passionate travel experts

  • We've been leading wildlife travel since our first South Africa tours over 25 years ago
  • Our Travel Specialists have lived in their specialist area for years
  • We work with local guides to immerse you deeper in our diverse range of experiences

Personal & tailor-made

  • You'll speak to your own expert who'll share their first-hand knowledge
  • We'll make your itinerary seamless with 24/7 emergency contact available
  • Your Travel Specialist will listen to ensure you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife you love

Responsible by nature

  • We take care to actively contribute to the conservation of environments we visit
  • For select countries, we make a charitable donation on your behalf when you make your booking
  • We've partnered with conservation experts and NGOs to curate responsible tours
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