The Ultimate Adventure Through Wild Botswana: The 2024 Edition

Touchdown in Namibia's capital city, meet your host at the airport and transfer to your hotel. In the evening you’ll get the chance to meet your guides and fellow adventurers to chat through the adventure to come.

Rise early and hop into your overland truck ready for a road trip. After crossing the Botswana border around noon, your journey continues into the Kalahari Desert until you reach Ghanzi. There you'll be greeted by your hosts from the San Bushman tribe who will take you on an educational walk around this part of the desert, teaching you bush skills as you go. Settle in for your first night beneath Botswana's starry night skies.

The road trip continues deeper into Botswana, heading for Maun - the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Turn onto a network of off-road sand tracks for a 4x4 journey deep into the delta with giraffe, elephant, zebra and buffalo for company in this part of Botswana. Reaching the water's edge you'll meet your 'poler' - a local specialist guide from a village at the mouth of the delta. The polers are a remarkable group of people with a deep knowledge of the delta and its incredible ecosystem. They'll guide you serenely in the mokoro - a traditional dugout canoe - for a few hours upstream to reach a remote camp on the edge of Cha Cha Island deep in the delta. The mobile safari camp is already setup for you to relax and take in a famous African sunset while watching the hippos in the water and keeping eyes peeled for other wildlife as the light fades. Enjoy dinner and a campfire, hearing stories from your guide and camp crew of their time working in wildest Africa as the stars come out. You'll go to sleep tonight to the sounds of the bush.

Wake up in the heart of the African bush, tuck into coffee and a light breakfast first thing before hopping in the mokoro to cross quickly to the other side of the water to set off on an extended bushwalk safari. Your guide will lead the way, talking you through the myriad intricacies of the African bush, telling stories about the wildlife and plant life as you track various species. You’ll likely see giraffe, zebra, antelope, buffalo, herds of elephant, impala and countless bird species. Your guide will look out for tracks from the early morning activity for signs of big cats in the area - lion and leopards sightings occur regularly in this part of the delta. Being immersed in the bush on foot is a completely unique way to spot African animals, and is so different to the classic game drive safaris. Eventually circling back to the water's edge, enjoy brunch and some downtime back at camp. In the afternoon you can hop in the mokoro with your guide to reach a safe place for an unforgettable swim in the delta - safely away from any hippos or crocs! Later on you’ll take another mokoro ride through the tranquil channels on the river, eyes peeled for wildlife emerging as the light fades. Watch a classic African sunset from the mokoro before another evening round the campfire after a truly magical day in the delta.

Another early start - the African bush is at its most alive at dawn and dusk - to set off for another bushwalk, tracking various wildlife and looking for the morning activity. Prides of lions have been spotted at this time of the morning on previous trips, as have African Wild Dogs - a rare and sadly highly threatened species, though efforts to protect and conserve the population have been gaining traction in Botswana in recent years. One last breakfast at the camp before you say goodbye to the wonderful staff who have cooked and looked after you while far from civilisation. Hop back in the mokoro for one final meander through the tranquil waters back to where it all began, the 4x4 waiting to finish the journey back to Maun. Settle into your hotel and enjoy some creature comforts back in civilisation. The afternoon is yours to relax after your wilderness exploits the past few days - there are craft and artwork shops to visit and we highly recommend heading to an excellent restaurant called Marc's Eatery this evening.

Back on the road first thing today for a 3hr drive through the plains, heading east towards Nata. You’ll stop to stretch your legs and grab some lunch, before reaching Planet Baobab, a unique campground surrounded by majestic baobab trees. Take time to relax and enjoy a late afternoon wander around the campsite to see the giant baobabs up close. Finish the day with an evening sipping sundowners or swimming in the largest pool in the Kalahari at your lively base for the night.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Planet Baobab before heading 5hrs north towards the town of Kasane located on the banks of the Chobe River at the convergence of 4 country's borders: Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Kasane is the gateway to Chobe National Park - one of the world's great wildlife amphitheatres particularly famous for huge concentrations of African elephants which gather on the banks of the Chobe River to drink. Head out in the late afternoon to experience a classic game drive safari in a 4x4 with an expert tracker who will know where to look for the best chances to spot lions and herds of elephants. The sunsets on the Chobe River are particularly memorable, so grab a sundowner before dinner at the campground on the banks of the river.

Pre-dawn rises bring the best rewards in Africa, so an early start today with coffee in the dark before jumping on an open game drive vehicle which will take you deeper into the Chobe National Park for 3hrs of wildlife spotting to rival anywhere on Earth. Head back to camp for brunch prepared by your guide and enjoy some downtime at the lodge. As the sun gets lower in the sky you'll head out again, this time on the Chobe River aboard a sunset river cruise to spot various animals congregating at the water's edge. A boat trip on the Chobe River is real once-in-a-lifetime stuff, with Namibia on one side and Botswana in the other while surrounded by wildlife in every direction. The sun setting while on deck as you head back to the lodge in Kasane is yet another pinch-me moment on your journey across Botswana.

Say goodbye to Chobe as you pack up and hit the road towards Zimbabwe. You’ll cross the border shortly outside Kasane and then drive on through the Zambezi National Park to reach Victoria Falls. Please see the FAQs section about the local payment for the border crossing. Check into your final hotel of the trip and peruse the many optional activities to consider if staying on longer. In the afternoon you’ll head out to see the magnificent Victoria Falls, exploring the trails and massive viewpoints against the thunderous soundtrack. Why not celebrate with a final dinner at the hotel (or a local restaurant) to toast an epic adventure!

Home time. If you are leaving today, your host will transfer you to Victoria Falls Airport in time for your onward flight home. If staying on, your guides and hotel staff will be able to arrange any of the myriad adventure options if you fancy a rush of adrenaline while at the falls.