Botswana Safari Highlights: Kalahari, Okavango Delta, and Linyanti Vacation

Discover the highlights of Botswana in luxurious style. Explore some of Africa’s most renowned wildlife viewing regions, walk with the San Bushmen, enjoy a canoe safari through the Okavango Delta, and much more!

We designed this Botswana Safari Highlights: Kalahari, Okavango Delta, and Linyanti Vacation for a retired couple traveling with their adult son. The parents had been to Africa once before, so they wanted to explore something different, but they still wanted that “wow” factor for the son’s first safari.

We landed on Botswana as the ideal destination for their trip. Excellent sightings of lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, giraffes, African wild dogs, and much more made for a memorable wildlife safari, while activities like a guided “Bushman Walk” and a sunset river cruise added an extra special touch for the return visitors.

They began their Botswana Safari Highlights: Kalahari, Okavango Delta, and Linyanti Vacation at Kalahari Plains Camp. They saw incredible wildlife, including the famous black-maned Kalahari lion, on their game drives, and they had the opportunity to connect with staff members who hail from the local San Bushmen clans.

Next, it was on to the world-famous Okavango Delta! They stayed at the luxurious Vumbura Plains North safari camp, where they enjoyed magnificent views over the lush plains teeming with wildlife. They enjoyed an iconic mokoro (canoe) safari, excursions to nearby islands, and a local village visit.

The last stop for their Botswana Safari Highlights: Kalahari, Okavango Delta, and Linyanti Vacation was Kings Pool Camp, located in the Linyanti region on the doorstep of Chobe National Park. Here, they had incredible elephant sightings, as well as a chance to cruise the Linyanti River at sunset on a colonial-style barge.

At last, it was time to say goodbye to Botswana’s stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife; they flew back to Maun airport to begin their journey home.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1
Welcome to Botswana! On this trip, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the country’s diverse highlights, starting with the Kalahari Plains. Upon arrival into Maun airport, enjoy a scheduled light aircraft flight to your accommodations at Kalahari Plains Camp.

Located in the remote north-eastern sector of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Kalahari Plains Camp offers a unique safari experience in this untouched desert biome. Sweeping views include a vast pan and striking landscape which reaches across extensive plains to far-flung horizons.
Kalahari Plains Camp

Day 2 – 3
Spend the next 2 days on safari at Kalahari Plains Camp. From the camp viewing decks, absorb the sense of open space and wonder at the untamed beauty of the skies. Cool off in the pool or relax around the campfire after dark. On exciting morning and afternoon game drives, search for the unique desert-adapted wildlife inhabitants, such as the famous black-maned Kalahari lion. You can also take a guided “Bushman Walk” with staff members who hail from the San Bushmen clans of the area. Gain fascinating insight into their traditional lifestyles on a short walk through the camp’s surroundings.
Kalahari Plains Camp

Day 4
Today, you’re off to the Okavango Delta, world-renowned for its breathtaking abundance of wildlife. Vumbura Plains North, your home for the next 3 nights, is located in a private concession within the Delta, nestled into a diverse landscape of permanent swamp, small palm islands, seasonal floodplains, and acacia woodlands. Sip fine wines around the fire-deck in the evenings, followed by dinners under star-studded skies.
Vumbura Plains North

Day 5 – 6
Explore the magic of the Okavango Delta on land- and water-based safaris. Mokoro (canoe) safaris are a highlight of this region. Float through the floodplains in your mokoro, see hippos wallowing in the water, watch large herds of elephants file past mere feet away, and keep an eye out for the colorful birdlife in the area. Travel to nearby islands for guided walking excursions. You’ll even have the chance to take a helicopter to visit a local village (additional cost).
Vumbura Plains North

Day 7
Your final stop is a luxurious camp located near Chobe National Park, which is famous for its enormous concentration of elephants! Overlooking the Kings Pool Lagoon and the life-giving waters of the Linyanti River, your fabulous camp provides an exclusive getaway in an area renowned for its game viewing. Your suite boasts a large bedroom area and lounge leading out onto a veranda with a private plunge pool and thatched sala from which to soak up the gorgeous views, and possibly even spot elephants crossing the channel! In the evenings, enjoy dinner under star-studded skies in the outdoor boma.
Kings Pool Camp

Day 8 – 9
Spend the next 2 days on safari in the Linyanti Concession bordering Chobe National Park and see how this magnificent region compares to the open plains of the Kalahari and the winding waterways of the Okavango Delta. Enjoy a sunset cruise of the Linyanti River to take in the scenery with cocktail in hand, as well as day and nighttime Big 5 game drives. We also recommend a guided walking safari to get a closer look at the local flora and fauna and gain a deep appreciation for your natural surroundings. Relax afterward with a rejuvenating massage at camp.
Kings Pool Camp

Day 10
It’s time to say goodbye to the natural bounty of Botswana. After a delicious breakfast, enjoy a scheduled light aircraft flight to Maun airport, where you will begin your journey home.

About this vacation
Cost Per Person

Based on
10 day stay
2 travelers

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