Are you looking for a family safari to Botswana? Are you a bit adventurous & crazy about wildlife? Then as Botswana specialists, we have the answer to your question.
Botswana is a perfect safari destination for families with children of all ages! What makes this country so special? Well, Botswana has no fences around the campsites & lodges, so it is truly a wild experience for the whole family!
It can happen that an elephant suddenly walks into the campsite or that you are surprised by this large mammal at your luxury safari tent while you are just relaxing outside. Don’t be surprised if you have to stop for a herd of elephants simply crossing the road. Botswana isn’t called the holy grail of Africa for nothing. Are you already excited? Trust us. You want to take advantage of these highlights when travelling through Botswana with the kids.
Okavango Delta
Did you know that Botswana has the world’s largest inland Delta and is on UNESCO’s world heritage list? This Delta is about the size of Switzerland. Speaking of Switzerland, Botswana is also called the Switzerland of Africa. It is a lovely, wealthy country, super safe, and beautiful nature, which unfortunately does come at a price.
Anyway, what is there to experience in the Okavango Delta: besides the incredible game drives where you will encounter plenty of wildlife, you can also go on walking safaris, motorboat safaris, or a multi-day mokoro trip (a canoe made of a hollowed-out tree trunk, nowadays they are made of polyester) for this there is a minimum age of 12 years and above. How about viewing the Delta from the air on a spectacular helicopter flight?
Family safari to Botswana? Let's go!
National park or private concessions
Botswana has several national parks and many private concessions. What is the big difference between these? National parks are open to everyone, self-drivers and adventurers joining a mobile safari – this is great fun with your family and lodge guests, who are out and about with their guide. However, in a National Park, you must always be back at the campsite or lodge before dark and are kept on the beaten track.
In a private concession, you will not encounter self-drivers or mobile safaris; the area is only accessible to lodge guests.
However, driving off-road is allowed here, which is super cool, especially if you have just spotted a group of wild dogs and want to follow them on their hunt. You may also go on a night game drive here after dark to encounter the most amazing nocturnal animals.
Either way, whether you’re on safari in one of the national parks (Savuti, Chobe, Moremi ) or a private concession, it’s like stepping into a National Geographic nature documentary. Can you see yourself starring in this film?
Makgadikgadi salt pans – Sleep under a sky full of stars.
Botswana is home to the Makgadikgadi salt pans, one of the largest salt pans in the world, with an area of a whopping 16,000 square kilometres! These pans are not to be missed with children because the salt pans are home to the super cute cheeky meerkats. So you’ll want to see them with your kids; we can promise that!
That’s just some of what Planet Boabab has to offer! You can go on a super cool quad expedition at the lodge or campsite where you will be staying. With quads, you drive onto the salt pans. After a good hour’s drive, it’s time for a sundowner, taking incredible pictures of this endless plain, and the bbq gets going. The mattresses are rolled out as the sun sets, and the sleeping bags come out. You will sleep under a “sky full of stars” in the middle of the pans.
A genuine once-in-a-lifetime experience that you will never forget. The following day, you will visit the meerkats. Remember your camera because these photogenic animals make you want your picture taken!
Hiking or Horseback riding among giraffes and zebras
Thamo Telele is a small 250-hectare private game reserve on the outskirts of the iconic safari town of Maun. Thamo Telele can be described as a haven in the bush with luxury safari tents and chalets. Anyone with a soft spot for giraffes will be in pure bliss while visiting this lodge.
You can experience these long necks, which means Thamo Telele in Setswana, up close. A group of wildlife researchers working here will happily tell you about the giraffes and their habits. At Thamo Telelele, you will also find the stables of David Foot (The man of the horse-riding safaris in Botswana).
Lodge guests, who are not afraid of horses, can go on a horse-riding safari in this area, where you will ride among giraffes, antelope, zebra, ostrich and numerous birds with a guide who will tell you all about it. Can you see yourself walking or riding among the giraffes?
Victoria Falls
Hmmm, those aren’t in Botswana, are they? Yes, that’s right, they are on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. From Kasane, a small tourist safari town in northeastern Botswana, where all our safari trips start or end, it’s only an hour’s drive to Vic Falls.
So naturally, you want to take advantage of these spectacular waterfalls when you are close. Thrill seekers can take another bungee jump off the bridge here or a raft ride on the wild Mighty Zambezi. Will you go for that extra adrenaline rush?
There is so much more we’d like to share with you about the lodges & campsites in Botswana and the unique activities for the (young) adventurers. So let’s book a call to talk it over. You won’t regret a family safari trip to Botswana.
Be sure to book a call quickly! Lodges, rental cars & campsites should be booked almost a year before departure to ensure you get the best out of your family safari trip.
Email: info@botswanaspecialist.com
Whatsapp: +31 6 13 66 30 06 / +31 6 11 37 57 14
