Botswana — Africa’s purest safari

The dry season — from May to October — is generally considered the best time for safari, with lower vegetation, wildlife gathering around permanent water sources, and exceptional game viewing. In the Okavango Delta, water levels typically rise from June and remain high through the winter months, creating superb conditions for mokoro and boating safaris. The green season, from November to April, has its own appeal: fewer visitors, dramatic landscapes, prolific birdlife and the zebra migration in Makgadikgadi.

We recommend a minimum of 7–9 nights to combine two distinct regions — for example, the Okavango Delta with Chobe or Linyanti. Ideally, allow at least three nights in each area to fully experience its rhythm and wildlife.

Botswana rewards a slower pace, and its sense of remoteness and exclusivity deserves time. For a more extensive journey including Makgadikgadi, we recommend around 10–12 nights.

Botswana is one of Africa’s most exclusive safari destinations, and its low-volume, high-value tourism model means rates are generally higher than in destinations such as Kenya or South Africa.

Most of our luxury Botswana safaris start from approximately US$10,000–12,000 per person for a week, depending on the season, camps selected and internal flights. Iconic properties such as Mombo Camp sit among the most exclusive — and expensive — safari lodges in Africa.

The Okavango Delta is one of Africa’s most extraordinary natural landscapes. The Okavango River rises in the highlands of Angola and, rather than reaching the sea, spreads across the Kalahari Basin in Botswana, creating a vast network of channels, lagoons, floodplains and islands.

Covering thousands of square kilometres, this UNESCO World Heritage Site supports remarkable biodiversity, including elephants, hippos, crocodiles, predators and hundreds of bird species. Its combination of land- and water-based safari experiences makes it unlike anywhere else in Africa.

A mokoro is the traditional canoe of the Okavango Delta, guided by a local poler who navigates the waterways while standing and using a long pole. It offers one of the quietest and most intimate ways to experience the African wilderness — gliding past birdlife, aquatic vegetation and wildlife at water level, with no engine and almost no sound. It is a completely different perspective from a traditional game drive.

Yes — it is one of the most popular combinations. Botswana and South Africa complement each other beautifully: Sabi Sand offers the classic Big Five safari experience and exceptional leopard sightings, while the Okavango Delta provides a completely different, water-based safari experience.

Zimbabwe is equally easy to combine, allowing you to add Victoria Falls — one of Africa’s great natural wonders — at the end of your journey. From Kasane, in northern Botswana, the Falls are only around 80 km away.

Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Citizens of many countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Spain, can generally enter Botswana for short tourist stays without obtaining a visa in advance.

As part of your journey planning, Siente África will confirm the latest entry requirements for your nationality before you travel.