Why we love a safari through wild Botswana
“Explore Botswana at your own pace, from campfire to plunge pool. Freedom, adventure, and nature. Exactly the way we like it ourselves”
Nancy Vroon
Founder of Botswana Specialist
- For active travelers, couples & adventurous pairs
- Overnight stays in campsites & luxury lodges
- Self-drive with a fully equipped 4x4 with rooftop tent
- Highlights: wild dogs, birds, meerkats
- Includes 4×4, satellite phone, navigation tracks 4 Africa, and excludes park fees
- Includes meals and local drinks in lodges
- International flights and tips not included
From € 5,950 p.p.
(based on 2 people)
Get behind the wheel of your own 4×4 with rooftop tent and experience Botswana as it’s truly meant to be. During The Adventure Trail, a real safari through wild Botswana, you alternate camping in the bush with luxury lodges, drive from savanna to salt pan, and spot everything from elephants to wild dogs along the way. Sleep under the stars at Skybeds, cruise among the hippos on the Chobe river, and meet meerkats in Makgadikgadi. This is the ultimate trip for adventurers who love independence, freedom, and occasionally a bit of delightful comfort. Sounds like your kind of trip?
Route with savanna, Delta, salt pans & rivers
Luxury lodges at strategic locations for peace & comfort
Self-driving, experiencing on your own: freedom the African way
Skybeds: sleeping under the stars in open-air beds
Your 17-day itinerary
Day 1 - 3: Welcome to Maun, safari capital of Botswana
Day 1 - 3
Welcome to Maun, safari capital of Botswana
Upon arrival in Maun, you will be met by our local colleagues and taken to a lovely B&B. You will receive a clear explanation about the upcoming days and pick up the 4×4 with rooftop tent. Then it’s time to explore the town, do some shopping (water, wood, snacks!), and prepare your vehicle for safari. There’s a relaxed atmosphere in this little town, truly the perfect place to acclimatize and build up the excitement for the adventure ahead. Tomorrow the real driving begins. But first things first, enjoy a cold beer and a good night’s sleep in your B&B.
Day 3 - 6: Camping in the bush at Moremi Game Reserve
Day 3 - 6
Camping in the bush at Moremi Game Reserve
Today the adventure truly begins. You will drive the first kilometers into the bush yourself, towards Moremi Game Reserve. Along the way, you’ll soon spot your first elephant, antelope, or perhaps even a lion. Over the next few nights, you will sleep at a campsite in the middle of nature, without fences or lighting. You will set up your tent, cook your own meals, and live in tune with nature. Morning safaris, siestas in the shade, evening drives, and a campfire under a starry sky. This is Botswana in its purest form. A magical experience for the bold.
Day 6 - 8: Luxury in the wilderness: Khwai Private Reserve
Day 6 - 8
Luxury in the wilderness: Khwai Private Reserve
After a drive of about three hours, you reach Little Sable in the Khwai Private Reserve. Time for comfort, a hot shower, and a cold drink. You go on game drives with professional guides, searching for wildlife that is rarely spotted on your own: wild dogs, leopards, and unique birds. The highlight is the night safari: a magical experience you won’t soon forget. The guides share their knowledge and stories by the campfire, while the bush is never completely silent. Here you combine adventure with luxury. Here you experience Botswana at its best.
Day 8 - 9: Sleeping under the stars and the sky above
Day 8 - 9
Sleeping under the stars and the sky
Your next stage begins with a short helicopter flight with stunning views over the bush. Upon arrival, you first visit the ‘underground hide’: a hidden bunker from which you can photograph elephants and buffalo up close. Afterwards, you travel to SkyBeds and sleep in an elevated open-air bed under the starry sky. No walls, no windows. Just you, the stars, and the sounds of the night. You dine by the campfire and meet your guide for an early bushwalk the next morning. This is safari on a completely different level. Intimate, raw, and unforgettable.
Day 9 - 11: Self-drive to Savuti with lions & adventure
Day 9 - 11
Self-drive to Savuti with lions & adventure
By 4×4, you drive towards Savuti, famous for its large lion prides know for hunting elephants and buffalo. You sleep at a campsite along the Savuti Channel, surrounded by rocky hills and open plains. The Savuti Marsh Pride has more than twenty lions, so your chances of spotting them are high. Prefer not to drive for a stretch? Then we can arrange a guide for you. Evenings by the campfire, the sounds of roaring lions in the distance, and stars above your tent make this place exceptionally exciting and special.
Day 11 - 14: Boat safaris and waterfalls, Chobe & Victoria Falls
Day 11 - 14
Boat safaris and waterfalls, Chobe & Victoria Falls
After a long drive, you reach Kasane and the banks of the Chobe River. Here you sleep at a campsite with a view of the water. You go on a boat safari: sailing past elephants, hippos, and crocodiles as the sun sets. The next day, you take a game drive through Chobe National Park, famous for its enormous elephant population. A day trip to the iconic Victoria Falls is also on the agenda. A true spectacle! Want to stay a bit longer? We know many lovely lodges and B&Bs.
Day 14 - 16: Meerkats & salt pans in Makgadikgadi
Day 14 - 16
Meerkats & salt flats in Makgadikgadi
The route takes you along a good asphalt road to the vast salt pans of Makgadikgadi. Everything is taken care of at Planet Baobab. Idea? Take a quad bike tour over the moon-like landscape. Get up close to a local meerkat family and enjoy a traditional bushwalk with San bushmen. Oh, and in the right season, you will see the largest zebra migration in Africa here. This place is surreally quiet and endlessly vast. A beautiful ending to your self-drive adventure.
Day 16 - 17: Reliving experiences & safari memories
Day 16 - 17
Reflecting & safari memories
On the last day, you drive back to Maun at a leisurely pace. Time to reflect on all the impressions, look at photos, and share stories. You will spend one more night in a familiar B&B before your flight takes you back home. Your journey was intense, impressive, safe, and unique! This will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression. Botswana gets under your skin, and you can hardly wait to pack your bags for the next safari in Botswana. And us? We can’t wait to hear your safari highlights!
What others say about this trip
"Driving ourselves gave us an incredible sense of freedom. Every day was different, every night an adventure. And how about the Skybeds...!!!"
Thomas
Traveled with Botswana Specialist in 2024
