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Wildlife Encounters No Single Supplement

Botswana Explorer

Botswana

10 nights 4 Departures Available

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There really is a sense of African adventure on this enthralling expedition, which takes you off the beaten track to the Kalahari Desert camp of Nxai Pan, to the watery wilderness of isolated Pom Pom Island, and to the Big Five reserve of Moremi National Park

Overview

To create an authentic, ‘up-close’ experience of Botswana’s wildlife, this safari visits three reserves, each very different but all with a ‘life in the slow lane’ aura. Lauded as ‘the experience of a lifetime’, our first destination is the fly-in camp of Nxai Pan (pronounced Nai Pan). A desert in the dry season, it burgeons with greenery in the November-April rains, when animals come in their thousands in Southern Africa’s second-largest migration. Beside the salt pan, seven baobab trees stand as giant sentinels, immortalised in paintings by Thomas Baines, a member of Livingstone’s 1862 expedition. 160 years later, the ancient trees look unchanged, and are known as ‘Baines Baobabs’. From here, we fly to the wet and wonderful Okavango Delta, for land-based game drives, river cruises, and ‘mokoro’ canoe safaris. With its highest number of animals in May to October, when the delta is flooded by the Kavango River, Moremi National Park was created by local people to preserve the wildlife in their ancestral lands, and is now a birdlife paradise, and a Big Five and Big Cats reserve; while intimate Pom Pom Island, accessible only by air, accepts very few visitors, and has virtually none of the traffic or inevitable regulations of the large parks.

Highlights

  • Authentic wildlife experience
  • Nxai Pan’s huge elephant herds
  • The impressive Baines Baobabs
  • Okavango Delta’s wilderness
  • Traditional ‘mokoro’ canoe safari
  • Moremi NP, a ‘Big Five’ reserve
Botswana Explorer Map 2023

Itinerary

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Day 1 - Fly indirect to Maun

Fly overnight from London Heathrow, via Johannesburg, to Maun.

Day 2 - Fly to Nxai Pan for an afternoon game drive

On arrival, transfer to the light-aircraft flight (40mins) to Nxai Pan, the only airstrip on the pan, and the only permanent camp in the park. Three nights at Nxai Pan Camp, where all verandas face the waterhole. Afternoon game drive.
(L, D)

Day 3 - Enjoy a full day game drive and picnic lunch

A National Park since 1992, Nxai Pan’s 2,578sq.kms spread around one of the largest saltpans in Africa, and sit on the wildlife migration route between Hwange and the Okavango Delta. With acacia trees tempting giraffes to the area, the reserve is also a favoured spot for springboks and elephants, and is visited in the rainy season by large herds of zebra and antelope seeking the lush grass, and by their predators, lions, cheetahs and jackals. A full day game drive is punctuated by a picnic lunch in the shadow of the Baines Baobabs.
(B, L, D)

Day 4 - Walk with a bushman tracker before a game drive

A rewarding walk with one of the San bushman trackers provides a fascinating insight of the age-old customs, beliefs, and way of life of the original Kalahari dwellers, and of their survival knowledge as hunter gatherers, finding water sources, and identifying medicinal plants. Return to the camp for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive.
(B, L, D)

Day 5 - Enjoy a morning game drive before flying to the Okavango Delta

After a last morning game drive in the Nxai Pan reserve, fly to the Okavango Delta and enjoy a bird’s eye view of its vast, watery wilderness as you approach the landing at Moremi Crossing. This afternoon, game and birdlife viewing in Moremi National Park is by ‘mokoro’ traditional canoes, plying the delta’s clear water channels, cloaked with lilies, cutting through grassland and woodland, and punctuated with papyrus and palm islets (replaced by land-based safari if water levels are low). Two nights at the eco-conscious Moremi Crossing tented camp.
(B, L, D)

Day 6 - Explore Moremi National Park on a guided bush walk

After a guided bush walk this morning, your afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the camp’s pool, bar, unique setting, and glorious sunset skies.
(B, L, D)

Day 7 - Enjoy a morning game drive before flying to Pom Pom Island

A morning mokoro trip or game drive gives you a last look at the breathtaking beauty and diverse ecosystems of the Big Five reserve; before flying to Pom Pom Island, a private concession at the heart of Okavango Delta, where a sunset cruise sets the easy tempo. Three nights at the Pom Pom Island Camp, with verandas at each of the nine tents overlooking the water-lily lagoon (7 Nov 2025 & 27 Mar 2026 - Mma Dinare). 
(B, L, D)

Day 8 - Spend the day on game drives through the concession

A truly pristine wilderness, for an uncrowded, undiluted safari experience, Pom Pom Island’s permanent lagoon provides the habitats for hippos and brilliant birdlife, and wildlife sightings in the area can include lions and leopards, spotted hyenas, elephants, and giraffes. After morning and afternoon game drives, relax with a sundowner as you listen to the bush sounds and perhaps watch bushbucks grazing the grass and monkeys meeting in the trees.
(B, L, D)

Day 9 - Explore with a game drive or optional Delta tour

Enjoy a morning game drive or push the boat out (literally) with a spectacular optional tour over and in the Delta. Departing at dawn, this thrilling tour first takes to the air with a helicopter flight above the wilds of the Okavango (15minutes, each way), then returns to the serenity and sounds of nature on the water, for the gentle glide of a mokoro safari, where your guide propels the craft silently through the channels with a long ‘nkashi’ pole (£385, bookable locally). Afternoon game drive.
(B, L, D)

Day 10 - Enjoy a safari before flying to Maun for your flight home

After a morning wildlife-watching safari, fly to Maun for your overnight return flight.
(B)

Day 11 - Arrive home

Arrival at London Heathrow.

Day 1 - Fly indirect to Maun

Fly overnight from your chosen airport, via Johannesburg, to Maun.

Day 2 - Fly to Nxai Pan for an afternoon game drive

On arrival, transfer to the light-aircraft flight (40mins) to Nxai Pan, the only airstrip on the pan, and the only permanent camp in the park. Three nights at Nxai Pan Camp, where all verandas face the waterhole. Afternoon game drive.
(L, D)

Day 3 - Enjoy a full day game drive and picnic lunch

A National Park since 1992, Nxai Pan’s 2,578sq.kms spread around one of the largest saltpans in Africa, and sit on the wildlife migration route between Hwange and the Okavango Delta. With acacia trees tempting giraffes to the area, the reserve is also a favoured spot for springboks and elephants, and is visited in the rainy season by large herds of zebra and antelope seeking the lush grass, and by their predators, lions, cheetahs and jackals. A full day game drive is punctuated by a picnic lunch in the shadow of the Baines Baobabs.
(B, L, D)

Day 4 - Walk with a bushman tracker before a game drive

A rewarding walk with one of the San bushman trackers provides a fascinating insight of the age-old customs, beliefs, and way of life of the original Kalahari dwellers, and of their survival knowledge as hunter gatherers, finding water sources, and identifying medicinal plants. Return to the camp for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive.
(B, L, D)

Day 5 - Enjoy a morning game drive before flying to the Okavango Delta

After a last morning game drive in the Nxai Pan reserve, fly to the Okavango Delta and enjoy a bird’s eye view of its vast, watery wilderness as you approach the landing at Moremi Crossing. This afternoon, game and birdlife viewing in Moremi National Park is by ‘mokoro’ traditional canoes, plying the delta’s clear water channels, cloaked with lilies, cutting through grassland and woodland, and punctuated with papyrus and palm islets (replaced by land-based safari if water levels are low). Two nights at the eco-conscious Moremi Crossing tented camp.
(B, L, D)

Day 6 - Explore Moremi National Park on a guided bush walk

After a guided bush walk this morning, your afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the camp’s pool, bar, unique setting, and glorious sunset skies.
(B, L, D)

Day 7 - Enjoy a morning excursion before flying to Pom Pom Island

A morning mokoro trip or game drive gives you a last look at the breathtaking beauty and diverse ecosystems of the Big Five reserve; before flying to the Okavango Delta private Dinare wildlife concession, where clear water channels link blue lagoons, cloaked with lilies, cutting through grassland and woodland, and punctuated with papyrus and palm islets. Three nights at the Mma Dinare.
(B, L, D)

Day 8 - Spend the day on game drives through the concession

A truly pristine wilderness, for an uncrowded, undiluted safari experience, Pom Pom Island’s permanent lagoon provides the habitats for hippos and brilliant birdlife, and wildlife sightings in the area can include lions and leopards, spotted hyenas, elephants, and giraffes. After morning and afternoon game drives, relax with a sundowner as you listen to the bush sounds and perhaps watch bushbucks grazing the grass and monkeys meeting in the trees.
(B, L, D)

Day 9 - Explore with a game drive or optional Delta tour

Enjoy a morning game drive or push the boat out (literally) with a spectacular optional tour over and in the Delta. Departing at dawn, this thrilling tour first takes to the air with a helicopter flight above the wilds of the Okavango (15minutes, each way), then returns to the serenity and sounds of nature on the water, for the gentle glide of a mokoro safari, where your guide propels the craft silently through the channels with a long ‘nkashi’ pole (£385, bookable locally). Afternoon game drive.
(B, L, D)

Day 10 - Enjoy a safari before flying to Maun for your flight home

After a morning wildlife-watching safari, fly to Maun for your overnight return flight.
(B)

Day 11 - Arrive home

Arrival at home.

Notes:

Some travel is on unmade, bumpy roads and it is sometimes necessary to ‘climb’ into the safari vehicle.

A luggage allowance of 20kg per person in soft or small bags is applicable for internal flights.

Reviews

Accommodation

Here is a list of the accommodation you can stay in for this tour. Occasionally we use alternative hotels, or have a choice of hotels to choose from which will be detailed when booking.

Nxai Pan Camp, Nxai Pan National Park, Botswana, Exterior

Nxai Pan Camp - Nxai Pan National Park

This camp is located on the western edge of the fossil pan facing the open grasslands of the pan. The camp has a restaurant, bar and pool. The 9 rooms each have a verandah facing the permanent waterhole.

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Moremi Crossing Lodge, Okavango Delta, Bostwana, Exterior drone view over Okavango Delta

Moremi Crossing - Okavango Delta

An eco-friendly camp built on a palm fringed island surrounded by the Moremi's game-rich seasonal floodplains and overlooking Chief's Island. Guests have access to the elevated bar, lounge and dining room and swimming pool. 16 spacious tents on raised decks, each with their own veranda overlooking Chief's Island with en-suite bathrooms and outside private showers.

More
Pom Pom Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Lounge

Pom Pom Camp - Okavango Delta

Located on Pom Pom Island in a private concession in the heart of the Okavango Delta offering superb Okavango scenery and consistent game viewing all year round. The camp has a restaurant, bar, pool and 9 tents with verandas overlooking the lagoon.

More
Mma Dinare Lodge, Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana, Exterior drone over Game Reserve

Mma Dinare Lodge - Okavango Delta

Adjacent to Moremi Game reserve on south eastern side of the Delta, overlooking the Gomoti River Channel offering a classic safari experience within its own private wildlife area. Restaurant, bar, small pool, free laundry service. 8 stylish tents overlooking the river floodplains.

More

Optional Extras

Customize your tour by adding optional excursions or extend your journey with our curated add-on extensions.

Extension Options

Giraffes, Tau Pan Camp, Kalahari, Botswana

Enhance your safari experience at Tau Pan Camp, the first semi-permanent camp inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve with incredible views overlooking the beautiful Tau Pan. Kalahari species include oryx, desert-adapted springbok, jackals, hyena and wildebeest. Includes two activities per day and full board.

More

- Travel Guides -

You can find out more about the county on the travel guide.

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