Botswana Safaris and Tours, Your Way
Are you hungry for adventure? Or does the idea of sundowners while watching a blazing sunset in a remote and pristine corner of Southern Africa appeal to you?
Either way, a trip to Botswana can’t fail to captivate and satisfy you. A private Botswana safari tour can offer both action-packed, rough-and-ready, and romantic, luxury African safari experiences across a variety of landscapes.
With almost 40% of Botswana reserved for national parks and eco-tourism, you’ll have a lot of choices when planning your private, tailor-made Botswana safari trip.
OUR TOP 4 REASONS TO VISIT BOTSWANA
From the water, watch crocodiles lurk, elephants swim and dunk each other playfully, and big cats come to drink.
Visiting three different areas would give you three completely different experiences.
Many have spent most of their lives tracking Botswana’s abundant wildlife, with many families passing it down the generations.
Sharp-eyed trackers look out for signs leading to rare sightings, while guides educate and entertain guests.
In Botswana, you will find a lot more! Enjoy the action of boat and mokoro canoe, helicopter, horse-back and even mountain bike safaris.
Meet bushman tribes, learn their traditions and even play their games.
You can even quad bike across the site of an ancient lake the size of Switzerland.
Where you choose to go while on tour in Botswana will depend on a lot of things, like:
The season or month of the year
Vacation
length
If it’s your 1st, 2nd or 3rd trip to Botswana
If you want to bring (or avoid) children
If you want to be active or just relax
What other African countries you want to include
A skilled African safari travel agent can help you plan based on these factors.
It wasn’t easy to choose our favourite places to visit in Botswana. The list above covers our list of the
five top destinations for first-time visitors, including national parks and main areas of interest.
These aren’t the only areas in Botswana we recommend visiting though! If you want advice on visiting other places to go
in Botswana, such as (but not limited to!) the Savuti Channel, Linyanti Marsh or Mashatu areas, or on how to combine a trip
to Botswana with other countries in Southern Africa, get in touch!
21 things to do in botswana
A safari itinerary isn’t made up of lodges and transfers alone! We’re guessing you didn’t fly all the way to Botswana just to sit around the pool sipping an icy drink, as blissful as that might sound.
Botswana is famous for its thriving wildlife and beautiful landscapes. The vast Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the largest inland deltas in the world, are teeming with wildlife and are considered a paradise for birdwatchers. It is one of the world’s top safari destinations with national parks like Chobe and Moremi providing exceptional game viewing opportunities.
Take a look at this list of activities below and let us know if you’d like to include these when planning your Botswana safari.
Our list is in no particular order. If you book with New African Safaris, we will handle it all for you and wrap it up into one all-inclusive price.
Botswana boasts abundant wildlife, from elephants, buffalo, and lions to elusive leopards and rhinos. Its diverse landscapes, from the Okavango Delta to the Kalahari, also support cheetahs, wild dogs, hippos, and more.
Botswana is a birdwatcher’s paradise, boasting over 616 species on the ‘BirdLife’ checklist. Highlights include wattled cranes, African fish eagles, Pel’s fishing owl, and the vibrant lilac-breasted roller. Specialist guides can lead you to top birding hotspots to ensure you don’t miss a thing.
Get up close and experience nature at its best. During high water levels, traditional dugout canoes are used to float up close to wildlife.
Come and ride along with an experienced, reputable guide and experience the bush from a unique and more intimate angle while covering more ground than a walking safari. Helicopter Rides - Consider a helicopter safari and fly in over animals roaming the savannah or view breathtaking landscapes from above.
Follow one of the largest migrations in Africa. Each year, thousands of zebras and wildebeest migrate 250 kms between the Okavango Delta and the Makgadikgadi Pan. Follow their journey as part of your tour.
Mobile camping in Botswana offers a thrilling, immersive way to experience the wild, allowing you to sleep under the stars in the heart of the bush. While it can be as luxurious as sleeping in a tent with proper beds or as budget-friendly as setting up your own camp, the key is the unique experience of being fully surrounded by nature.
Enjoy a personalised journey with an expert guide who tailors the experience based on the wildlife you've seen and hope to spot. Their insights deepen your understanding of the landscape, animals, and culture, making for a truly enriching adventure.
Engage your senses and become more attuned to your surroundings when you spot animals on foot. As you walk on the same paths animals use, you'll observe signs of wildlife, handle insects, and track footprints.
Enjoy a sundowner on the Chobe River and view spectacular sunsets and animals having a last drink for the day. Listen to the chorus of sounds as night creatures are coming to life.
A favourite for adults and children alike! The Makgadikgadi Pans are home to many meerkat colonies. Experience a close encounter as these comical little creatures are habituated to humans.
Botswana is home to many different bushmen tribes. Explore their ancient survival techniques in semi-arid regions, gaining insight into how they harmonize with nature and use limited resources sustainably.
Experience these majestic creatures and ensure a unique experience of connecting with elephants in a controlled and ethical way.
The Mashatu region of Botswana offers mountain biking safaris in the African Bush. It’s the perfect way to combine outdoor fitness with a sense of adventure and discovery.
Sleep in a bedroll in the vast, flat, desert-like salt flats at Makgadikgadi Pans or spend the night in a luxury sky suite – an elevated platform, while listening to the sounds of the nightlife.
Spot elusive nocturnal animals on the move such as leopard, brown and sotted hyena, aardwolf, porcupine, bush babies, genets and owls. This is a memorable experience for wildlife enthusiasts.
Canoeing through scenic waterways allow for a peaceful yet physically rewarding experience, while taking charge of your own paddling.
Botswana offers several child friendly lodges and activities, making it a fantastic family destination. Ensure you enquire about the exciting options available and suited to kids and ensure an unforgettable family trip.
The vast plains of the Makgadikgadi Pans are perfectly suited for quad biking in the dry season. Riding a quad through this otherworldly terrain offers a thrilling experience. Spot wildlife like meerkats, antelope, and even migrating flamingos.
Africa is a photographer’s paradise, offering abundant photographic opportunities. Several lodges offer specially equipped vehicles and hides to ensure the best photographic encounters and wildlife shots.
Botswana boasts abundant wildlife, from elephants, buffalo, and lions to elusive leopards and rhinos. Its diverse landscapes, from the Okavango Delta to the Kalahari, also support cheetahs, wild dogs, hippos, and more.
Botswana is a birdwatcher’s paradise, boasting over 616 species on the ‘BirdLife’ checklist. Highlights include wattled cranes, African fish eagles, Pel’s fishing owl, and the vibrant lilac-breasted roller. Specialist guides can lead you to top birding hotspots to ensure you don’t miss a thing.
Get up close and experience nature at its best. During high water levels, traditional dugout canoes are used to float up close to wildlife.
Come and ride along with an experienced, reputable guide and experience the bush from a unique and more intimate angle while covering more ground than a walking safari. Helicopter Rides - Consider a helicopter safari and fly in over animals roaming the savannah or view breathtaking landscapes from above.
Follow one of the largest migrations in Africa. Each year, thousands of zebras and wildebeest migrate 250 kms between the Okavango Delta and the Makgadikgadi Pan. Follow their journey as part of your tour.
Mobile camping in Botswana offers a thrilling, immersive way to experience the wild, allowing you to sleep under the stars in the heart of the bush. While it can be as luxurious as sleeping in a tent with proper beds or as budget-friendly as setting up your own camp, the key is the unique experience of being fully surrounded by nature.
Enjoy a personalised journey with an expert guide who tailors the experience based on the wildlife you've seen and hope to spot. Their insights deepen your understanding of the landscape, animals, and culture, making for a truly enriching adventure.
Engage your senses and become more attuned to your surroundings when you spot animals on foot. As you walk on the same paths animals use, you'll observe signs of wildlife, handle insects, and track footprints.
Enjoy a sundowner on the Chobe River and view spectacular sunsets and animals having a last drink for the day. Listen to the chorus of sounds as night creatures are coming to life.
A favourite for adults and children alike! The Makgadikgadi Pans are home to many meerkat colonies. Experience a close encounter as these comical little creatures are habituated to humans.
Botswana is home to many different bushmen tribes. Explore their ancient survival techniques in semi-arid regions, gaining insight into how they harmonize with nature and use limited resources sustainably.
Experience these majestic creatures and ensure a unique experience of connecting with elephants in a controlled and ethical way.
The Mashatu region of Botswana offers mountain biking safaris in the African Bush. It’s the perfect way to combine outdoor fitness with a sense of adventure and discovery.
Sleep in a bedroll in the vast, flat, desert-like salt flats at Makgadikgadi Pans or spend the night in a luxury sky suite – an elevated platform, while listening to the sounds of the nightlife.
Spot elusive nocturnal animals on the move such as leopard, brown and sotted hyena, aardwolf, porcupine, bush babies, genets and owls. This is a memorable experience for wildlife enthusiasts.
Canoeing through scenic waterways allow for a peaceful yet physically rewarding experience, while taking charge of your own paddling.
Botswana offers several child friendly lodges and activities, making it a fantastic family destination. Ensure you enquire about the exciting options available and suited to kids and ensure an unforgettable family trip.
The vast plains of the Makgadikgadi Pans are perfectly suited for quad biking in the dry season. Riding a quad through this otherworldly terrain offers a thrilling experience. Spot wildlife like meerkats, antelope, and even migrating flamingos.
Africa is a photographer’s paradise, offering abundant photographic opportunities. Several lodges offer specially equipped vehicles and hides to ensure the best photographic encounters and wildlife shots.
