African Wildlife Safari: Authentic Botswana Adventure
This African Wildlife Safari: Authentic Botswana Adventure was planned for a young couple who wanted to have an unforgettable summer vacation. They wanted an authentic, rugged safari experience in Botswana, so we sent them on this incredible journey to the Kwando Reserve and Central Kalahari so they could experience multiple camps and locations. .
Their African Wildlife Safari: Authentic Botswana Adventure began in the Kwando Reserve, right on the Kwando River. They spent two nights at Lagoon, which offered a secluded and immersive wildlife experience with luxurious accommodations on the riverbank. The camp is renowned for its excellent game viewing, including large elephant herds and predators like wild dogs, providing an unforgettable safari adventure.
Next they traveled to their next lodge on the reserve, Lebala. It sits on the floodplains of the Kwando River, and the special ecosystem is home to a wide variety of Africa’s plains game, such as zebra, wildebeest, impala, giraffe, and tsessebe. The wildlife also includes elephant, hippo, buffalo and the ever present predators of lion, cheetah and hyena. Lebala’s location away from the dense mopane woodland to the east of the Reserve facilitates the ease of traversing the concession looking for big game. The couple enjoyed looking for cheetah.
From there on their African Wildlife Safari: Authentic Botswana Adventure, they traveled to Splash located in the heart of the Okavango Delta. They spent their days exploring the Okavango Delta region on game drives, then relaxed in the evening with picnic-style meals in the open wilderness before settling into their walk-in tents. In their tented rooms, they experienced the thrill of hearing the African wildlife surrounding them—the calls of birds, the roar of lions in the distance, the wild laugh of a hyena.
Last on their African Wildlife Safari was the famous Central Kalahari. They spent 3 nights in the region. Their game viewing was spectacular, seeing desert-adapted species like oryx, springbok, and the elusive Kalahari lion. They also did some bush walks, and star gazing, getting a deep connection to the stark beauty of the desert landscape.
After two weeks of intimate wildlife encounters, their African Wildlife Safari: Authentic Botswana Adventure came to an end. They enjoyed one last game drive before being transferred to the airport and saying goodbye to stunning Botswana.
Accommodation
- 2 Nights Kwando Lagoon
- 2 Nights Kwando Lebala
- 3 Nights Kwando Splash Camp
- 3 Nights Tau Pan Camp
Transportation
- All scheduled bush flights in Botswana
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1
Welcome to Botswana! Your safari guide will welcome you on arrival at Maun Airport. Head to the Kwando Reserve. You will fly over the reserve, which is a diverse mix of lush wetlands, winding rivers, and open floodplains, creating a rich habitat for abundant wildlife. You will arrive in camp for a light lunch and your first game drive.
Kwando Lagoon
Day 2
You will spend your day in the reserve searching for wildlife like elephants, lions, and wild dogs. And then in the evening, enjoy a boat ride along the Kwando River to observe hippos, crocodiles, and birdlife while taking in the stunning scenery.
Kwando Lagoon
Day 3
Today you head to your next camp on the Kwando Reserve, Lebala. Here you will enjoy an intimate safari experience with spacious tents overlooking the expansive floodplains. Known for its exceptional predator sightings, the camp provides a serene yet exhilarating atmosphere for getting close encounters with wildlife in a remote setting.
Kwando Lebala
Day 4
This day you will be out in the area of the reserve close to camp. This region of the reserve is renowned for its focus on big game, particularly frequent sightings of wild dogs and lions, thanks to the wide open plains that encourage predator-prey interactions. You will do both day and night game drives, allowing for unique nocturnal wildlife experiences and a deeper exploration of the area’s diverse ecosystem.
Kwando Lebala
Day 5
And it is on to your next stop on your Botswana adventure. You will fly to the airstrip and be transferred to Splash in the Kwando Reserve. Splash offers a bit of a modern twist on safari, with modern, comfortable accommodations set around a waterhole that attracts a variety of wildlife. The camp’s prime location in the Okavango Delta provides unparalleled access to both land and water-based activities, making it ideal for those seeking diverse and immersive wildlife encounters.
Kwando Splash
Days 6-7
These days are yours to enjoy the area in the reserve around your lodge. The landscape surrounding Splash features a stunning mosaic of floodplains, lush lagoons, and open savannahs, providing breathtaking backdrops for every adventure. Activities include exciting game drives, mokoro excursions through the Okavango Delta’s waterways, and guided bush walks, offering a range of ways to explore the environment. The region is home to abundant wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, and rare species like sitatunga and red lechwe.
Kwando Splash
Day 8
Today you move onto your final destination on your Botswana adventure. Off to a completely different landscape, the Central Kalahari. Tau Pan is the first semi-permanent camp inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and offers truly incredible views from the elevated ridge of an ancient sand dune, an unusual experience in a land as flat as Botswana, and overlooks the famous Tau Pan – recognised for its stark beauty and remoteness.
Tau Pan Camp
Days 9 – 10
These are your days to enjoy the camp. Activities offered at Tau Pan are game drives, day trips to the well-known Deception Valley, Sunday, Piper and Passarge Pans, star gazing, and nature walks with Bushman trackers. ‘Tau’ which means lion in Setswana, is so named for the pride of iconic black-maned Kalahari lions who frequent the camp (with a particular preference for the family tent!). Species that can be found in the Kalahari include oryx, the desert-adapted springbok, jackals, the rare brown hyena, red-crested Korhaan and herds of wildebeest.
Tau Pan Camp
Day 11
Following breakfast and a short game drive, your safari will end and you’ll begin your journey home.
About this vacation
Cost Per Person
Does not include the cost of airfare
Based on
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