8 Best Places to Visit in Botswana on Safari

The Okavango Delta is a phenomenal natural wonder in the heart of the Kalahari Desert. Yet, instead of being desolate, it paints the Kalahari blue and green.

Tumbling down from the Angolan Highlands, the river swells and eventually floods, sprawling out into fingers. Myriad islands create spaces for predators and prey to roam, while it’s not unusual to find buffalo or elephant wallowing in the channels.

Combination stays of water and land camps or lodges add variety and excitement to a vacation in the Okavango Delta, while game-viewing activities shift from 4x4 open vehicles to walking excursions, tender boats, and mokoros, dug-out safari canoes. A visit to this rich destination is a must and the 10 Types of African Safaris: Different Ways to Experience a Safari can show you the possibilities for your Okavango Delta Safaris.

Why You Should Go: The Okavango Delta offers the chance to see wildlife in four ways. The delta is a phenomenal natural wonder.

Recommended Length of Stay: 3-5 Days

Best Time to Visit: The drier months of June, July, and August are prime times to be in the delta, with the channels flooded and perfect for water-based activities right up to October.

This famous reserve was named after Chief Moremi III and offers diversity at every turn. The Moremi covers almost half the area and is noted as a game reserve rather than a national park, a popular and famous protected area on the Botswana safari circuit.

Set within the Okavango Delta, Moremi is unique in that it has large coalitions of cheetahs and packs of African wild dogs. The area is bursting with birdlife, with some 500 species to discover, and the rich ecosystem supports vibrant plant life.

Animal sightings here are magical as the Moremi has diverse terrain and contrasting habitats that create an environment for abundant wildlife to exist and thrive. Learn more with What to Expect From a Day on Safari.

Why You Should Go: The Moremi is a protected game reserve that offers some of the best game viewings in Botswana. Wild dog sightings are a draw,

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Days

Best Time to Visit: From May through to September, the winter temperatures are mild and the air dry, perfect for a safari in this region.

Nestled between the Delta and the Chobe National Park, the Savuti region is rich in beauty and wildlife. The mysterious Savuti channel runs off the Chobe River, creating a small marsh, contrasting the dry mopane forest in which it lies.

Predators come from far and wide, with lion and hyena congregating in this rich part of the park. Birdlife is prolific, with summer migrants often seen lapping up the African sun.

The landscape is sandy and dusty, with once-thriving trees standing tall against the elements for a true Botswana safari treasure.

Why You Should Go: Experience great predator sightings and the famous Savuti marshes in the quiet heart of Chobe National Park. What you want to see can make a big difference in where you visit and you can find more ideas on How to Choose a Safari Destination for Your Trip.

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Days

Best Time to Visit: While it will be chilly at night, the ideal time to spend in this park is during the drier winter months of May through to August.

The Linyanti takes up a small area of the famous Chobe National Park. Its swamp creates a tranquil haven for animals large and small and the region is only accessible by light aircraft.

Water draws elephants, lions, and buck, with a large gathering imminent in the peak of the dry winter months. Forests, waterways, lagoons, and woodlands create a spectacle like no other, offering prime game-viewing opportunities.

The incredible birdlife is one of the main reasons for visiting the area. Game drives, safari walks, night drives, bird watching, and boating are some of the activities you can experience here. The diversity and abundance of wildlife, in addition to the safari styles, are only a few of the reasons to visit the country. However, you can find more ideas with our 7 Reasons You Should Choose Botswana for Your Safari.

Why You Should Go: Bird lovers should not miss the chance to visit the Linyanti. There is a great selection of ways to see wildlife.

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Days

Best Time to Visit: Noted as a year-round destination, the ideal time to witness good game viewing is from May to October, the drier months. To spot the great zebra migration, visit in the wet months of January and February.

The thickly forested Chobe park is Botswana’s first national park and one of the country’s most popular. It boasts rich biodiversity and is home to more elephants than anywhere on the planet.

The park is never quiet, as elephants rustle through the trees, lions laze under a random bush deep, and hippos’ deep calls echo off the water. Home to the Big Five, the abundance of animals is superb, with a plethora of bird species.

One perk of visiting Chobe is that game viewing can be done by 4x4 vehicle or from a boat on the Chobe River, from which you can watch animals such as buffalo, elephant, and crocodiles sunbathing or swimming off the river banks. Find more information about the diverse wildlife in Botswana and more with The Big Five, the Little Five, and How to See Them.

Why You Should Go: Elephants! The sheer numbers are astonishing. The option of game viewing from land and water offers different perspectives of this incredible safari experience, and birdlife is prolific.

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-3 Days

Best Time to Visit: Make the most of the dry months of May to September to witness game viewing at its best. October is still considered a good time. However, it is extremely hot at this time of year. The wetter months of January and February are fantastic for birdwatching.

The Makgadikgadi’s landscape is flat, vast, and scattered with acacia, mopane, and baobab trees.

A once thriving lake, the Nxai Pan area sees migratory herds and a bevy of predators. The rainy season sees the pans turn into a lake, with visits from migrant flamingos, pelicans, and storks. A highlight of the area is the zebra migration into the Nxai Pan between December and February.

In this majestic part of Botswana the sky is endless and the silence of the wild captivating. The isolated experience is humbling and the beauty quite different from other lush regions of the Botswana safari circuit.

Why You Should Go: Dynamic scenery with herds of animals and prolific birdlife. Zebra migration. Quad-biking safaris are also available here.

Recommended Length of Stay: 2 Days

Best Time to Visit: Animals tend to congregate around waterholes during the drier months of May to November. Birding here is at its peak in January and February.

Few safari destinations are as escapist as the Central Kalahari. Stretching across a considerable part of Botswana, the evocative landscape with big game dotted across the wilderness is an incredible sight.

River beds become dusty and sand dunes rise during the dry season, while rain brings the brief beauty of sprouting flowers, flourishing grass, and flowing rivers. Your safari is about seeking out the shriveling waterholes that sustain life in the desert, hundreds of mammals congregating around them.

The Kalahari Game Reserve is a hypnotic stop on the safari circuit. Combining the Central Kalahari Game Reserve with an Okavango Delta or Chobe safari creates a most diverse safari experience.

Why You Should Go: Meerkats call this region home. Delight in seeing them in the desert, while other animals gather in impressively large groups.

Recommended Length of Stay: 2 Days

Best Time to Visit: Unlike most other parks and safari regions in Botswana, the best time to witness wildlife migration and animal congregation is during the wet months of December to March. Find more information about visiting the diverse regions of the country with our information on the Best Time to Visit Botswana.

The Tuli Block comprises a series of private concessions, offering a remote safari in a secluded part of southeastern Botswana. It borders South Africa and Zimbabwe, and offers a broad mix of wildlife and an inspiring blend of safari activities.

You can take a walking safari and a game drive at night, as well as search for four of the Big Five or characters like brown hyena and cheetah.

With the Limpopo River twinkling beneath a series of rocky outcrops, the landscape transports you into prime African landscapes.

Why You Should Go: Great bird-watching location, many species of antelope, and large numbers of big game, including four of the Big Five.

Recommended Length of Stay: 2 Days

Best Time to Visit: The dry season of May to September sees many animals traveling far to drink from the rivers in the region.

Botswana embraces the natural beauty of its diverse landscape and breathtaking wildlife. With accessible luxury and remote exclusivity, the country offers unique safari experiences.

From mokoro rides down the Okavango Delta to wandering past baobab trees in the Nxai Pan, how you safari is only part of your Botswana experience. Get inspired with our Botswana Safari Guide and when you are ready to start planning your safari, contact one of our safari experts to find more ideas with our best Botswana Safari Tours & Vacations.