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Observe the gentle rhinoceros on a wildlife safari - Wild Botswana, South Africa
Observe the gentle rhinoceros on a wildlife safari
Wildlife viewing in Chobe River - Wild Botswana, South Africa
Wildlife viewing in Chobe River  | Peter Walton
Victoria Falls at high water - Wild Botswana, South Africa
Victoria Falls at high water
Local transport on the Okavango River - Wild Botswana, South Africa
Local transport on the Okavango River  | Peter Walton
The stunning wildlife rolling around the Okavango River - Wild Botswana, South Africa
The stunning wildlife rolling around the Okavango River  | Peter Walton
Okavango Delta walking safari, group crossing grassland in golden light - Wild Botswana, South Africa
Okavango Delta walking safari, group crossing grassland in golden light
Catching a hippo yawning on a game reserve - Wild Botswana, South Africa
Catching a hippo yawning on a game reserve

Wild Botswana

A comprehensive Botswana safari combining mokoro journeys, classic game drives and Victoria Falls

South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe
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 3 reviews

14 Days from

$ 

Trip Code: WBE
View dates to Book
Essential Information
Duration
  • 14 Days
Activities
  • 4WD Wildlife Safari
  • African Bush Walking Safaris
  • Mokoro Canoeing
  • Sunset River Cruising
Accommodation
  • 13 nights in comfortable guest houses, chalets lodges or permanent tented camps.
Meals
  • 7 Dinners
  • 11 Lunches
  • 13 Breakfasts
Difficulty Grading  
2 / 10

Adventure touring

Carbon Footprint  

53kg of CO2-e PP per day

(684kg of CO2-e PP entire trip)

Trip highlights

  • Visit Khama Rhino Sanctuary and support rhino conservation
  • Spend four days exploring wildlife-rich Moremi Game Reserve by open 4WD
  • Explore the Okavango Delta by traditional mokoro and guided bush walks
  • Cruise the Chobe River at sunset as elephant herds gather along the banks
  • Discover the vast Makgadikgadi salt pan
  • Experience Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River

Overview

Wild Botswana is a classic overland safari designed to showcase the country’s most celebrated wilderness regions in one rewarding journey.

Travelling from Johannesburg into Botswana, the adventure begins at Khama Rhino Sanctuary, a community-run conservation project protecting white rhino. From here we journey north to Maun, gateway to the Okavango Delta. In the Delta, we exchange vehicles for traditional mokoro canoes and glide quietly through reed-lined channels to a tented island camp. Bush walks and time on the water offer a different perspective on Botswana’s wildlife.

Four full days are dedicated to game viewing in Moremi Game Reserve, widely regarded as some of the finest safari terrain in Africa. Exploring by open 4WD, we traverse floodplains, lagoons and woodland in search of lion, elephant, buffalo and hippo.

The journey continues to the shimmering Makgadikgadi Pans before reaching Chobe National Park, where a river cruise at sunset reveals one of Africa’s largest concentrations of elephant. The safari concludes at Victoria Falls, where the Zambezi plunges dramatically into the Batoka Gorge.

Itinerary

Expand all | Collapse all

Departing Johannesburg at 06:30am we head north into Botswana and the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. The Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust is a community based wildlife project established in 1992 to assist in saving the vanishing rhino, restore an area formerly teeming with wildlife to its previous natural state and provide economic benefits to the local Botswana community through tourism and the sustainable use of natural resources. This reserve, situated on the Kalahari sandveld, has several natural waterholes and provides prime habitat for white rhino, zebra and wildebeest. Overnight basic chalet with shared bathroom. Drive: 620km/8hrs, plus time for border crossing & lunch.

Meals: L,D

We drive through the Kalahari to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Since Maun’s founding in 1915 as the capital of the Batawana people, it has had a reputation as a hard living Wild West town helping the local cattle ranching and safari operations. The name Maun is derived from the San word ‘maung’, which translates ‘the place of short reeds’. Overnight lodge with dinner at own expense. Optional scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (own expense). Drive: 550km/ 7hrs

Meals: B,L

We drive into the Okavango Delta to the launch station, where we board traditional mokoros and travel through reed-lined channels to our tented camp in the heart of the Delta. From camp, we explore on guided bush walks and by mokoro, discovering the Delta’s wildlife, birdlife, fauna and flora with our local guides. Red lechwe, buffalo, elephant and colourful kingfishers are among the wildlife we may encounter. We spend two nights at a simple tented camp in the heart of the Okavango Delta, immersed in the wilderness of this remarkable wetland. Drive: 50 km / 31 mi, approx. 2 hrs by 4WD into the Delta on day 3 and return on day 4.

Meals: B,L,D

We take an open 4WD into Moremi Game Reserve for fantastic game viewing. Chief’s Island is the largest landmass within Moremi and was the Batswana tribe’s richest hunting ground, before being declared a game reserve by the tribe. We spend 4 days on game drives watching the abundant wildlife including elephant, hippo, buffalo, lion & other game, both in Moremi Game Reserve and in private concession reserves surrounding the park. We return to Maun midday on day 8 for an evening restaurant meal (at your own expense). Overnight permanent tented camp (3 nights) and lodge (1 night). Optional scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (own expense). Drive: 120km/ 4 hrs plus game drives

Meals: B,L,D

We have time for an optional game flight over the Okavango before we head to Nata (at your own expense). The shimmering saltpans of Makgadikgadi appear as a glaring white, endless plain. When the rain comes a dramatic change takes place as thousands of wildebeest and zebra migrate to the sweet nutritious grasslands and clouds of flamingo feed in its algae rich waters. It is an area of low rainfall, so this spectacle only lasts a short while (conditions vary from one season to the next). Overnight tented lodge or chalets. Drive 350km/5 hrs.

Meals: B,L

The Chobe River is a stunning feature of Botswana and will be the focus of our lodge stay. The Chobe River flows lazily along the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park attracting some of the largest herds of elephant in Africa. An early morning 4WD game drive in the Chobe National Park and an afternoon game viewing sundowner cruise to see the mighty elephant herds return to the Chobe River to quench their thirst. Overnight private tented camp with views of Chobe River. Drive: 315km/4 hrs.

Meals: B,L

We visit “Mosi oa Tunya” or “the smoke that thunders” - Victoria Falls. These magnificent falls are one of the seven natural wonders of the world. A rich and fertile rain forest, fed by the spray or “smoke”, surrounds the falls attracting colourful birdlife. There are opportunities to participate in various optional activities (at own expense). Overnight hotel. Drive 80 kms/2 hrs plus time for border crossing.

Meals: B

Your tour ends after breakfast at 08:00am. Transfers to the airport are available on request (please ask your consultant for cost). NB: Breakfast will be provided by the hotel.

Meals: B

Ready to start your adventure?

37 scheduled departures between 25 Oct 2026 and 19 Dec 2027.

  • Departs 25 Oct 2026 – ends 7 Nov 2026 (14 days)
  • Departs 8 Nov 2026 – ends 21 Nov 2026 (14 days)
  • Departs 15 Nov 2026 – ends 28 Nov 2026 (14 days)
  • Departs 22 Nov 2026 – ends 5 Dec 2026 (14 days)
  • Departs 6 Dec 2026 – ends 19 Dec 2026 (14 days)
  • Departs 20 Dec 2026 – ends 2 Jan 2027 (14 days)
  • … and 31 more departures.
View dates to Book

What's included?

Included

  • 13 nights accommodation in comfortable guest houses, chalets, lodges or permanent tented camps on a twinshare basis
  • 13 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 6 dinners
  • English speaking local guide
  • Private transport in minibus / safari truck
  • Game drives and excursions as listed in itinerary
  • National park fees and site entrance fees as listed in itinerary

Not included

  • Local cash payment of US$300 per person payable to the tour guide on day 1
  • Entrance to Victoria Falls
  • Flights
  • Travel Insurance (compulsory)
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Bottled water and alcoholic drinks
  • Optional activities
  • Visas
  • Tips

Reviews (3)

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This trip exceeded my expectations in every way. The highlight was the huge number of animals, Including the big five, that we saw on our Safari. Our guides were very experienced and knowledgeable, the food was great and the lodges and permanent tents were wonderful.

Catherine|Saskatchewan, Canada
4 Nov 2025
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Our tour of Botswana (including Vic Falls) was incredible. We had so many wonderful encounters with animals in a variety of settings. The accommodations were clean and comfortable. Our tour leaders were very knowledgable and friendly. We were surprised at the quality and variety of food, and feel the tour catered very well for people with dietary requirements.

Sharon|VIC, Australia
11 Aug 2025
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Anton Nikulin|Kharkiv, Ukraine
29 Oct 2024

Extra trip info

Who will I travel with?Will My Trip Run?Wildlife Safari Safety
Group shot, 'African wilderness in comfort' trip | Peter Walton

Travelling with our local partners

This trip is run by one of our local partners, on a departure shared with travellers from other companies.

What's the benefit to you? More departure dates, and dates that reach their minimum numbers sooner, because bookings from several companies go into one group. Your guides live and work in the region.

Who is in your group? Expect a mix of travellers and nationalities, not only people who booked with World Expeditions.

What will we tell you when you book? We advise the name of the local partner at the time of booking, along with any terms of their own, such as an additional deposit. These apply alongside our Booking Terms and Conditions.

Travelling alone? On some partner-operated trips your own room is required. The room options on this page show which applies to this trip.

Every departure date advises whether the date is confirmed, and roughly how full it is. Here is what each one means.

Is the departure confirmed?

Guaranteed to go This departure has reached its minimum number and will run.
It is the point travellers should wait for before booking any non-refundable flights.
Close to guaranteed This appears only when a date is close to reaching minimum numbers. If it shows 1 or 2 to guaranteed, book as a pair on a date needing two and it reaches its minimum. Your booking confirms the date for everybody already booked.

How full is the date I am looking at?

Space is filling or Space is filling fast This date has bookings and places are still open. Filling fast means limited spots available, so don't leave your decision too late.
Closing soon Down to its last few places, or close enough to departure that we are finalising numbers. Still bookable online.
Closed Not bookable online - either full, or inside the notice we need to arrange permits, flights and logistics. Ask us anyway, you never know!

Availability questions answered

Will this trip actually go ahead, or could it be cancelled?

If a date shows Guaranteed to go, it runs regardless of further bookings.

What does 2 to guarantee mean?

It means two travellers are enough to confirm the departure. It could be 2 more to add to the group, or the date only needs 2 people to run. Either way, if you book for two people, the date will become guaranteed to run.

What happens if my departure does not reach minimum numbers?

You will know the status before you book. Every date on this page is labelled, and dates marked “Guaranteed to go” are running regardless of further bookings. Where a date has not reached its minimum we either offer a surcharge to operate for a smaller group size so it can still run, or we cancel it. We contact you directly either way.

Will I get my money back if you cancel a departure?

If we cancel a departure due to not meeting minimum trip numbers, you receive a full refund of everything you have paid us less any non recoverable costs, where insurance may cover you. We cannot refund money committed elsewhere – additional non refundable deposits advised at the time of booking, flights, visas, vaccinations, gear - which is why it is worth waiting for “Guaranteed to go” before booking other arrangements around this trip date. Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions before you book.

Why can't I book some dates online?

Each trip closes online a set time before departure. Permits, internal flights and hut or campsite bookings all have to be arranged before we take payment. Call or enquire as it might still be possible to organise last minute places.

The date I want is closed. What are my options and why does it say to enquire?

Cancellations happen and places do open up on closed dates, so it is worth being on our list. We can also tell you which nearby date on the same trip has space, which is usually the faster route.

None of these dates suit me. Can you run this trip on another date?

Yes, as a private departure. We can run this trip on a date you choose, for your own group - family, friends, a club, or in many cases, just for the two of you. Tell us when you want to travel and who is coming, and we will build it around that.

Early morning game viewing walk in Hlane National Park in Swaziland

Your safety is our main priority

Africa's wildlife is wild and unfenced. On many wildlife safaris you may meet them on foot, or from a vehicle. Walking in big-game country carries some risk, and the safeguards are not the same in every country.

Rules on firearms, guide qualifications, group size and how close you may approach an animal are set country by country, park by park. Many incorrectly assume that every wildlife safari in Africa travels with an armed ranger. Several countries prohibit firearms outright. Where an armed escort is required, it is supplied by the park authority.

What is consistent is how these trips operate. You walk in a small group with a professional local guide who knows the country and the animals in it. We do not include captive or hands-on wildlife encounters in any itinerary.

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