Being one of the most remote safari locations in Africa and with no fences in between, Botswana offers a pure adventure in the wild like no other on the continent.
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| Zebras at the Okavango Reserve |
With a staggering diversity of animal and bird life in different habitats, a family safari in Botswana offers the ultimate wildlife experience with unique animal encounters and visitor activities you can’t enjoy in any other location.
Booking
your Botswana safari
There are several options for booking a Botswana safaris, but families prefer to use a local tour operator, as they are best placed to provide a personalized safari experience.
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| Safari tour in Botswana |
A local operator will take care of all the logistics and planning from stay, guide, game rides, food and park fees, which are a godsend when travelling with kids in the wild. All you need to do is book your international flights.
Moreover, local agents don’t have to shell out huge markup costs which makes a family safari more affordable, considering the country is one of the most expensive safari destinations in Africa.
Best time
to visit
The dry season, between May and November, is the best time for families to visit Botswana. That said, the country is a year-round destination and you can benefit from discounts of up to 50% should you consider visiting outside of the peak season.
(Keep in mind that if you are travelling with children under 17 years of age, you will need to carry a certified copy of their birth certificates)
Botswana
family safari itinerary overview
This itinerary takes into consideration some of the best safari destinations and a few off-the-beaten-track spots and is ideal for both first-time visitors and return explorers.
Day One:
Maun
International flights to Botswana’s Maun airport arrive around midday, so it is best to check into your hotel and allow the family to relax or see what the city has to offer. Maun is the popular start and finish town for most safaris in Botswana.
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| African elephant up-close |
Your guide in Maun will discuss your safari Itinerary with you, plus the activities included and present the children with their personal young explorer kits.
Day Two: Maun to Moremi Game Reserve (4 hrs by road/35 minutes by flight) - 95 miles
Your highly anticipated safari will begin with a transfer to the Okavango Delta, the gateway to the sprawling Moremi Game Reserve, known for its high wildlife density and variety of species.
After arrival, enjoy lunch at your lodge followed by an afternoon game drive along tranquil waterways and grasslands. Expect to see elephants, lions and even leopards. Rhinos are limited to Chief’s Island for protection from poachers and can be seen only there.
Day
Three: Moremi Game Reserve
Enjoy an early morning game drive deep into the reserve with a local guide to explore the floodplains, forests and lagoons in search of a range of wildlife species. Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. Overnight at a lodge.
Head back into the bush late in the afternoon as this is the best time to spot the big cats on the prowl. You may choose a motorboat ride to spot storks, kingfishers and other birds. Return to your lodge by 630pm(closing time) for dinner. Overnight at a lodge.
Days Four & Five: Moremi to Khwai Community Area (4 hrs by road/20 minutes by flight)
After a final morning game drive in Moremi, you will travel by road to the Khwai Community Area located just outside the reserve. A hot lunch will await you on arrival at your chosen lodge.
In mid-afternoon you will venture for a game drive through this private concession where even night drives are permitted to search for Botswana’s nocturnal rarities like civet cat, genets and spring hares. Dinner back at the lodge to swap stories with the family about the day’s sightings. Overnight at Khwai Community Centre.
Your second day in Khwai will be another serious safari experience as there is a healthy population of leopards and a pride of lions, besides a pack of wild dogs.
After a few hours of exploration in different parts of Khwai, you will return to your lodge for lunch, take a shower and rest.
In the afternoon, you will set out on a safari on a moroko, the traditional canoe, to encounter wild animals from close quarters for a different type of safari experience.
On your second night drive, you will try to spot more nocturnal animals like pangolins, bush babies and the nightjar. Return to the lodge for dinner and another recap of the day's events with the family. Overnight at Khwai Community Area.
Day Six:
Fly to Kasane
After a delicious breakfast, pack your bags for a private scenic flight to Kasane. On arrival, transfer to a family-friendly comfortable lodge in Chobe National Park. Activities here can include fishing, sunset boat cruises and game drives.
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| Chobe National Park |
Days
Seven & Eight: Chobe National Park
The Chobe National Park offers an inclusive family safari option in an area that has some of the finest game viewing to be had.
Chobe is also known for its vast elephant herds and has an estimated population of 200,000 of these gentle giants, the largest anywhere in the world, apart from being a predator-rich habitat.
Activities in Chobe are usually focused on land and water based safaris, while fishing trips and a sundowner cruise can also be arranged with prior notice.
Day Nine:
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe-One hour
Kasane also happens to be the gateway to the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe for which you will need to do cross the border which is a straightforward experience.
After breakfast in your lodge in Kasane, you will drive for about ten minutes to reach the border. You can view the falls from the Zambian side as well, but for that you will need a special Kaza multiple ebtry permit. The falls are another ninety-minute drive from the border.
The Victoria Falls sit on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe and are a must-visit on any itinerary to Botswana. The best way to view the falls is from several angles, both from Zimbabwe and Zambia.
While the most scenic views are from the Zimbabwe side where you can see the famous sections like Rainbow Falls, Devil’s Cataract and the Horseshoe Falls.
If you cross the bridge over to Zambia, after clearing immigration, you can walk along Knife Edge Bridge to see the Eastern Cataract, which happens to be the deepest section of the falls. During the high water period between February and July, this section is particularly dramatic. Overnight at Victoria Falls Town.
Day Ten:
Fly back home
You can fly to your next destination from Victoria Falls or Livingstone airport or drive back across the border to Maun in Botswana. Safari ends.
