Botswana Explorer Safari

On arrival in Maun, our Expedition Leader meets you at the airport before our overland transfer to the western edge of Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. Our classic tented safari camp overlooks the Boteti River in the Kalahari Desert—360,000 square miles of sandy, semi-arid savanna that sustains a proliferation of wildlife. Following afternoon tea, watch wildlife from a floating hide where we often view scores of elephants at close range. The river is a lifeline flowing through these parched environs, and it attracts Africa’s second-largest zebra and wildebeest migration. It's common to see lounging crocodiles—our camp's namesake. And we frequently see other animals stopping for a drink in front of camp, too, including oryx, springbok, Kalahari lion, cheetah, hyena, jackal and ostrich.

Explore the western sector of the national park by 4x4, where a multitude of game ranges across a landscape of scrub, palms, riverine trees and grassy plains. Within the Kalahari Desert, the immense reach of Makgadikgadi is traversed by zebra, giraffe, springbok, gemsbok, wildebeest and more. The animals make their way across the desolate expanse in search of water, arriving into the park's remote western reaches to congregate by the river. We also explore on foot with local San people, who reveal as much about their Indigenous culture as the native plants and wildlife we observe. At day’s end, return to camp for dinner under the stars, followed by time for sharing stories around the fire.

After a leisurely breakfast, we drive back to the airport in Maun, then fly by light aircraft to our private safari camp in the northern Okavango Delta. The delta has grown over millennia as millions of tons of sand were carried down the Okavango River from its source in Angola. The shimmering emerald landscape creates a verdant contrast with the surrounding desert as the river fans out over the Kalahari sands to create the world's largest inland delta—5,800 square miles of swampy marsh, clear channels, lagoons and islands. A planetary marvel, its meandering waterways are filled with hippo, crocodile, red lechwe, wattled cranes and more. In 2014, the Okavango Delta became the 1,000th destination to be officially inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. From our secluded bush camp base in the heart of this vast wilderness, we’re in prime position to encounter lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, hippo and much more.

Embrace the natural rhythms of the delta's varied habitats as we explore via 4x4 wildlife drives and, when water levels permit, excursions by boat and mokoro, the traditional poled canoe of the delta. Within this unspoiled watery expanse in the heart of Southern Africa's interior, surprise encounters with nature await at every turn. Wake to the call of an African fish eagle before setting off into a labyrinth of lush waterways fringed with palms and papyrus. Our guides have a deep, long-cultivated intimacy with this environment, and their ability to track and spot wildlife is second to none.

We set out to explore from our remote camp, which rests under a stand of large leadwood trees, surrounded by tawny grasslands interwoven with shimmering channels and lagoons, mopane woodlands and ilala palm islands. It's ideal for terrain for the Okavango's famous elephants, which are thrilling to see on land or in the water. The rich mosaic of habitats provides ample food for a large array of browsers and grazers, including African buffalo and the regal sable antelope. And where the prey go, predators follow: This corner of the Okavango has some of the highest concentrations of lions in the delta. It is also well known for a thriving population of endangered African wild dog, with a top denning area close to camp. We may also spot leopard, cheetah and hyena among the predators on patrol. Birdlife in the region is equally remarkable, with more than 350 recorded species, including the endangered wattled crane, Hottentot teal, carmine bee-eater and Pel’s fishing-owl.

Explore the diverse range of habitats on all-day excursions including traditional 4x4 game drives, picnic lunches in the bush, and night drives in search of nocturnal species. After the Milky Way emerges in the night sky, return to camp for dinner, and fall asleep to the sounds of the bush, with nothing but a layer of canvas between you and the African wild.

After a final morning at our secluded camp, fly to the private Khwai Concession. This massive wildlife sanctuary bordering the famous Moremi Game Reserve is a community-owned concession encompassing riverine woodlands, floodplains, mopane forest and open grasslands. The Khwai River is a lifeline for the region, and elephants abound. We're likely to see waterbuck, reedbuck and many antelope species, including the water-adapted red lechwe, along with lion, leopard and spotted hyena. Khwai's varied habitats also support the majestic sable antelope and packs of African wild dog. In addition, more than 450 bird species have been recorded in the area.

Private game reserves managed by local communities protect threatened species and keep wildlife corridors intact, opening our passage into an unbroken sanctuary of marshes, sand-covered plains, and acacia and mopane forest. Explore Khwai's vast territory on morning and afternoon wildlife drives, walking safaris and poled mokoro (when water levels permit). This serene time on the water gives local polers a chance to share theirdeep knowledge of this ecosystem and how it has sustained their peoplefor generations. Wildlife abounds, including elephant, buffalo, herds of plains game and countless bird species. Khwai's community-based concession has been a conservation triumph, bridging safari tourism with Khwai village life and enhancing economic stability for the local people.

Depending on the precise timing of our flight departure this morning, we will make a final quest for wildlife on the Khwai Reserve, or we'll look for animals around our tranquil camp. By late morning, we fly back to Maun by light aircraft to connect with onward flights.