Botswana Tours & Holidays
Small Group Tours & Tailor-Made Holidays
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Overview
From the parched red deserts of the Kalahari to the shimmering wetlands of the Okavango Delta, Botswana is a land of extremes. One of southern Africa’s more prosperous nations and arguably the region’s most exclusive safari destination, its contrasting landscapes are surrounded by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa.
...From the parched red deserts of the Kalahari to the shimmering wetlands of the Okavango Delta, Botswana is a land of extremes. One of southern Africa’s more prosperous nations and arguably the region’s most exclusive safari destination, its contrasting landscapes are surrounded by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa.
Start your journey
TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS
Whether you want to travel on one of our award-winning itineraries or build your own journey from scratch, our expert consultants will help create the perfect tour for your tastes and budget. Below are a few suggestions of the kind of trips we can offer, all of which can be tailored to you.
SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
HIGHLIGHTS OF BOTSWANA
BEST EXPERIENCES
Search for big game in Chobe
Take a game drive around the Chobe National Park; choose from early rise drives or afternoon drives. Experienced, local guides with profound knowledge of the park will prove to be an invaluable asset in finding and learning about its residents.Safari in a canoe
A unique and breath-taking experience, a jaunt on a Mokoro, a traditional Botswanan canoe, allows you the opportunity to see the wild up close and personal from the Okavango delta. Your expert guide will be there to show you the wonders of the delta.Take a walking safari
Take a safari on foot around the Kalahari Desert to see the local wildlife in their new natural habitat. See elephants, antelopes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, baboons, hyenas, anteaters and dozens of other species that call this desert home.Search the wetlands for wildlife
Roam the wetlands to see the home of herds of elephants and Carmine bee-eaters, which can often be seen nesting on the banks of the river, and thousands of birds which migrate during the green season to the most remote and exclusive area of Botswana.Cruise along the Chobe River
Take a cruise along the Chobe River in search of the range of wildlife, such as elephants, predators and birds, that call this river home. Take to the river in time for a blissful early morning sunrise or gloriously glowing sunset.See the remarkable Salt Pans
Witness the incredible Salt pans of North Eastern Botswana. Spanning over 10,000 square km, these salt pans are also a fossil mine, the geology and history are fascinating and they play a vital role in the area's ecosystems.Get that perfect shot of a meerkat
The desert presents travellers with the unique opportunity to interact with the animated meerkat. The habitual meerkats are not tame but will snuggle up to travellers on cool mornings or climb on heads to use as a viewing post.Meet the San bushmen
The oldest inhabitants of Southern Africa for at least 20,000 years, these incredible hunters will show you their tried and true method of hunting, with a bow and arrow. You will be amazed at the prowess and strength of these hunters and their methods.Track Endangered Wild Dog
See the African wild dogs of this region roaming the wetlands whilst they stalk their prey. Visit the wetlands between July and August for a chance to see the pups leaving their dens for the first time!TOP PLACES TO VISIT
OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY
BOTSWANA REVIEWS
Gia Shaw
A complete experience - riding quality horses in a challenging and beautiful environment.... There is never a dull…
Olly Gerrish
Our trip to the Okavango Delta was without doubt the best I have ever been on.
Georgina Owen
It was magical being the only tourists in 2500 square kilometres of the Okavanga Delta.
Tara Anbudaiyan
Our favourite part of the trip was encountering the natural beauty and varied wildlife of Botswana.....
Catherine Wilkinson
My first Wild Frontiers trip blew my expectations away - I'm not sure I'll be able to cope travelling with other…
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WHEN TO GO
Gaborone
Maun
INSPIRATION
Meet the expert, Jamie
Jamie is our Sub Saharan expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.
Speak to Jamie by calling
+44 (0)20 3944 6258
USEFUL INFORMATION
Health and Vaccinations
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Botswana though you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. Malaria is present in some parts of Botswana.
Please note we are not medical professionals and so we highly recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
Currency
The local unit of currency in Botswana is the Botswana Pula (BWP), although USD is widely accepted in safari camps. US dollars from before 2006 are not accepted.
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com.
Cultural Sensitivity
On our tours you will frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your tour-leaders and guides will always be able to advise you accordingly.
Language & Religion
The official language is English although Setswana is widely spoken across the country. Setswana has important prefixes which relate to various concepts. ‘Bo’ refers to the country and with the largest tribe in the country being the Tswana people the country name became Botswana. The people as a whole are Batswana, ‘Ba’ referring to the people.
70% of the country identifies them self with Christianity. There are a minority of Muslims in the country but about 20% of the population declare no religion.
Time
Botswana is 2 hours ahead of GMT.
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com.
Food and drink
Most of the food in Botswana comes in the safari camps and is very similar to what you would eat in South Africa. They enjoy their meat, especially beef and goat, although vegetarians and those with other specific dietary needs can be catered for with advance notice. Millet and sorghum porridge are staples while other specialities include Morama (an underground tuber), Morogo (wild spinach), Kalahari truffle, all sorts of beans, and Mopane worms – grubs, which are served boiled, deep-fried or cooked.