Kalahari/Moremi/Okavango Delta, 8 Days Botswana Itinerary

Summary
Tour Duration: 8 Days | Start: Botswana | End: Okavango Delta, Botswana

Experience the incredible variety of birds, animals, and scenery on this exciting Kalahari/Moremi/Okavango Delta, 8 Days Botswana safari Itinerary that spans the desert and delta biomes of Botswana. On the outskirts of Makgadigadi Pans National Park in Botswana, in the Kalahari Desert, is where the desert experience starts. The Meno a Kwena Lodge offers a unique vantage point over Botswana as it sits on the banks of the Boteti River. Visitors can enjoy year-round game viewing in this vital wildlife area, as well as boat tours of the river and opportunities to engage with traditional Kalahari people.

The next stop is a stark contrast: a plane ride to the outskirts of the Okavango Delta, the biggest freshwater delta in the world, and a particularly wildlife-rich area called the Khwai River. Rare animal sightings are common in this region, which is home to a wide variety of creatures because to its permanent water, open grasslands, and shaded woodland. By combining two Khwai camps, you may experience the environment from two different angles. The first one is located in a drier region and has more land-based activities, including the most amazing continuous show of elephants around camp. The second provides an authentic Delta adventure with both land and water-based pursuits.

The Kalahari/Moremi/Okavango Delta, 8 Days Botswana Itinerary is available year-round and offers different experiences depending on the season. It’s a perfect way to explore Botswana’s famous wildlife in a short and economical package. In your cozy tented rooms, which have private toilets, you may enjoy three-course meals. Because your safari lodge is located in a privately owned concession, you can also go on night drives and guided walks in addition to the standard morning and afternoon game drives.

Highlights & Activities

What’s on offer whilst on this itinerary?

  • Classic ‘desert and delta’ mix – great biodiversity and landscapes
  • Heavyweight game viewing: elephants, buffalo, big cats, hippos and hyenas
  • Great chances to see rarities like leopard, wild dog, roan antelope
  • Comfortable en suite accommodation throughout
  • Family-friendly camps and activities – suitable for older children
  • Secret Kalahari zebra migration (November to February)
  • Excellent bird watching all year round

Detailed Kalahari/Moremi/Okavango Delta Itinerary

Days 1-4: Experience the Makgadikgadi | 3 Nights Botswana


Boteti River – Makgadikgadi Pans National Park – a realistic perspective and lodges in the area.

A driver will be waiting to greet you when you land at Botswana’s Maun Airport and take you to your first safari location. Relax and take in the sights of rural Botswana as you go; you never know when you could see an elephant or giraffe. Meno a Kwena, your first lodging, is located in a community-owned conservation reserve that is adjacent to the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.

This is a great jumping off point for game drives into the park and the concession’s activities, such as cycling, guided walks with San Bushmen (the original inhabitants of southern Africa who lived as hunter-gatherers), and boat excursions to see wildlife. Upon returning to camp, you may relax in a floating hide while watching the sun go down or engaging in some catch-and-release fishing. On hot days, you can cool down in the pool. And in the evenings, you can look forward to a delicious dinner and exciting safari tales.

An eclectic combination of native African furniture and colonial antiques adorn the common areas, which include a central library and a living and dining area. The meals are served family style at the long table and are very simple with a touch of simplicity. On top of that, there are two lovely observation lounges where you can kick back and enjoy the breathtaking river views while watching the elephants bathe and drink from their perch.

Days 4-5: To the Woodlands and Wetlands of the Khwai | 2 Nights Okavango Delta, Botswana

After returning to Maun via a drive through rural Botswana, a small plane will take you to the Khwai Private Reserve and your new accommodation there, taking you over beautiful wetlands on the way. A private concession, Hyena Pan Tented Camp is located in the heart of the 200,000-hectare Khwai Private Reserve and provides an excellent safari experience at a very reasonable price. A small, cozy, and inviting immersive camp awaits you. The eight tents at Hyena Pan overlook a watery lagoon of the same name from their lofty position among a grove of cathedral mopane trees.

During the rainiest season, you can wake up to the sight of elephants grazing in the lily-filled pools below your tent, take a nap while listening to the snorts and splashes of herds, and go to sleep listening to the grazing of antelope outside your canvas walls. Herds of elephants visit the camp every season because of the constant supply of fresh water right outside the camp. Guests seeking luxurious amenities should go elsewhere; instead, they will find a secluded corner of big-game Africa where they can have genuine, personal, and unscripted interactions with the animals. Here, at Hyena Pan’s one-of-a-kind waterhole elephant hide, you’ll have an elephant experience like no other. Settle down in the open-air boma after a successful day of game viewing and listen to the sounds of the African bush as the fire crackles.

Days 6-7: The Waterways of Khwai Private Reserve | 2 Nights Okavango Delta, Botswana


Khwai Private Reserve, Sable Alley, Hyena Pan and Skybeds – Botswana.Natural Selection Travel

You will reach Little Sable, your last destination, after a morning game drive that passes through freshwater channels, mopane forests, and wetlands. Situated peacefully by a permanent water channel in the Khwai Private Reserve, Little Sable offers prime access to a breathtaking environment rich with wildlife and breathtaking scenery. The reserve borders the world-renowned Moremi Game Reserve.

Little Sable is in a secluded area, so your guide can take you on night drives and off-road excursions to get up close and personal with the animals. As a result, tracking and animal sightings become more thrilling. To further immerse yourself in the scenery, you can go on guided hikes or canoe excursions (when water levels permit). Keep an eye out for jacana birds, small painted reed frogs, elephants or hippos wading through the water, and beautiful water lilies on your mekoro or boat ride.

Day 8: The Journey Ends

After a brief flight from the Khwai Private Reserve Airstrip back to Maun Airport on day 8, it’s time to say goodbye to Botswana. As you go from Africa until we meet again, take a moment to reflect on all that you’ve experienced.

End of the Kalahari/Moremi/Okavango Delta, 8 Days Botswana Itinerary