The Ultimate Adventure Through Wild Botswana

This is an overland adventure, manageable by anyone with basic fitness levels. The bushwalking and the mokoro canoe trips in the Okavango Delta are the most strenuous activities, lasting several hours at a time but with plenty of stops to observe the wildlife. The camping in the delta is very basic, but the rest of the trip is a classic African overland experience, with facilities, light walks and a few hours hiking around Victoria Falls. In Chobe NP you can kick back, rest your legs and enjoy the game drives and river safaris.

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

Botswana’s tourism model has been a huge success in managing its vast wild spaces and huge populations of free roaming wildlife. The number of visitors are restricted and the national parks and wildlife reserves - which cover a 5th of Botswana’s landmass - omit any fences or physical borders, so safaris here are a true experience of the wilderness. Government policy is focussed 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 employment of Botswana 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 huge 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 5-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, rhino, lions, zebra, hippo and crocodiles. In Chobe NP you'll have further opportunity to see Africa's "Big 5", amongst 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.

'Overland adventures' are incredibly popular and very common in Africa, particularly the southern Africa countries; South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Southern Africa has a few major international arrival and departure points, namely Windhoek, Johannesburg and Cape Town, and Livingstone/Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia. This trip utilises Windhoek and Victoria Falls as your arrival and departure points, with Botswana conveniently sandwiched in the middle to make for an epic road trip in between the incredible locations that you'll be visiting.

Yes, there is a local payment of $50 USD per person to be paid to your guide towards 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 $55USD). 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 lunches and dinners not included in the itinerary.

Most places in Namibia will accept both the Namibian Dollar and the South African Rand. Money can be exchanged on arrival at the airport or withdrawn from ATMs during the trip. Botswana's Pula can be purchased on arrival, or withdrawn from local ATMs. In both Namibia and 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 on a card.

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

Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation to tip for good service. Your local guide will help with advice, however, we would suggest $5-$10 USD per person per day as an initial guideline. Of course, you are free to tip more or less, and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality - a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

Typically, people will tip the San Bushman guide, the Mokoro polers in the Okavango Delta, and the safari guides on the game drives and boat rides, as thanks for sharing their local knowledge and experience with the group.

We recommend checking out the country specific information <a href="https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/" target="_blank">here</a> and also talking to a travel nurse.

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.

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 22-35°C (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 odd shower, giving the scenery an extra pop of verdant foliage.

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

As this trip starts in Windhoek and ends 1500km 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.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that 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 (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

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

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers 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.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.