The Ultimate Adventure Through Wild Botswana

Yes, you can try to book last minute, but if you are requesting a spot less than 31 days in advance, the host will need to check accommodation availability before accepting your booking. The lodges we use on this trip are extremely popular and space is limited, so bookings requested less than 31 days prior to the trip can be hard to confirm. We therefore definitely recommend booking early to guarantee your spot on the trip.

Botswana’s tourism model has been a huge success in managing its vast wild spaces and large populations of free-roaming wildlife. The number of visitors is restricted, and the national parks and wildlife reserves – which cover a fifth of Botswana’s landmass – omit any fences or physical borders, so safaris here are a true experience of the wilderness. Government policy is focused on low-impact, high-value tourism; so while prices are often quite high compared to other parts of Africa, the income is critical to ongoing conservation efforts and local community empowerment. The tourism model is based around a ‘concession,’ where safari companies compete for leases to operate in the reserves, and must prove their commitment to environmental management and financial responsibility towards local communities in order to renew their leases. Large percentages of revenue are reinvested in communities and towards conservation programs, with rigorous rules in place, including laws protecting the employment of Botswanan citizens rather than outsourcing to other countries. Over 10% of the population of Botswana is employed in the tourism sector, ensuring sustainable livelihoods for whole communities and a large number of people.

In addition to the concession model and the positive benefits tourism brings to local communities, visiting Botswana can also massively help efforts to block hunting in the country. In 2019, Botswana lifted a five-year hunting ban, to the dismay of conservationists in Botswana and around the world. Simply put, the greater the income from Botswana’s famed and highly regarded tourism industry, the greater the pressure on the government to reinstate the ban in the near future.

Finally, this trip visits some key areas of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), where the borders of five African countries converge. The sheer scale of this vast international conservation project is difficult to comprehend and it encompasses a bewildering range of experiences, ranging from the mighty Victoria Falls to the lifeforce of the region, the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers.

This is an incredible trip for wildlife lovers! In particular, you will be visiting two of the great natural areas of Africa, the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park. The Okavango is one of the largest wetlands on the continent, making it a paradise to hundreds of species of birds such as cranes, storks, jacana, kingfishers, and many more. As a vast oasis north of the Kalahari, it is also home to much larger animals such as elephants, rhinos, lions, zebras, hippos, and crocodiles. In Chobe National Park you'll have further opportunities to see Africa's 'Big 5', among the abundant wildlife present such as buffalo, wildebeest, hyena, cheetah, and antelope.

When on safari game drives and boat rides you'll have expert guides to help you spot the wildlife and educate you on the environment they live in. In the Okavango Delta, you'll be piloted in mokoro canoes through the wetlands by local guides called 'polers' and wild camping on an island deep in the delta for a fully immersive experience. Remember, as a visitor into a natural environment with wild animals, you must follow your guide's instructions at all times for safety reasons.

Yes, there is a local payment of $50 USD per person to be paid to your guide toward the end of the trip, for the National Park entry fee at Victoria Falls.

Your visa for Zimbabwe can be paid for in cash locally at the border crossing from Botswana into Zimbabwe (approx $55 USD). Please check your passport's visa and entry requirements for all countries before you travel.

Your border fees between Namibia and Botswana and all your national park fees in Botswana are covered in the main trip price. Please also read the Food & Accommodation section regarding budgeting for any lunches and dinners that are not included in the itinerary.

Botswana's Pula can be purchased upon arrival, or withdrawn from local ATMs. In Botswana, many local purchases can be made by card. The commonly used currency in Zimbabwe is the US Dollar; it is recommended that you bring some USD in cash. Some activities and items can also be paid for with a card.

As a general rule: plan ahead before you travel, to avoid paying unnecessary currency charges and fees.

Your host will provide you with clean, safe drinking water from large containers, while the lodges, hotels, and campgrounds will also supply safe drinking water during your stays. Bring a refillable bottle, it will be used well.

No. You'll need to have a larger bag suitable for all your belongings which will be transported for you, and then a small daypack to carry personal items during each day of hiking.

As this trip starts in Maun and ends 930 miles away at Victoria Falls, you'll need to bring everything along with you. Your overland expedition vehicle has ample storage and your main luggage can be safely stored in there throughout the trip.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers review the practical information available on the UK Government’s FCDO website, where you can find up-to-date advice by searching for your destination(s).

If you are based in the United States, you can also check the latest travel advisories from the U.S. Department of State.

For customers joining from other international locations, we recommend checking the official travel advice issued by your country of residence, as guidance may vary.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates daily, so prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips typically consist of a mix of solo travelers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves, and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Botswana can be visited year-round, with some seasonal variations. The dry season runs between May and October during which you'll get warm, sunny days with temperatures ranging from 72-95°F and chilly nights. The time of year when the water levels in the Okavango Delta are at their highest is typically several months after the rains have finished (due to the slow water movement across the delta region), and changes each year depending on the climate.

The green season runs from November to April, with generally slightly lower temperatures and the occasional shower, giving the scenery an extra pop of lush foliage.