7 Day Luxury Botswana Safaris

Botswana is known for having some of the best wildlife and wilderness places in all of Africa. National parks, reserves, and wildlife control areas take up about 38% of Botswana’s total land area.

Botswana’s huge desert and endless wilderness space will help you get away from everyday life and get back in touch with nature. South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Zambia all border this beautiful country in southeast Africa. It lets you experience the real wilderness over tens of thousands of miles.

In Botswana’s twelve National Parks and Reserves, tourists can watch groups of animals moving over dry migration routes or resting by dams and rivers.

The Kalahari Desert, Okavango Delta, Chobe, Moremi, Tsodilo Hills, and Kanyu Flats are Botswana’s top six vacation spots. If you only seven days for your safari, you could visit at least three tourist areas.

Botswana has had a number of high-end lodges open in the past few years, which have brought in tourists from all over the world. The country is famous for its luxurious cabins and camps. Most of them have great services and a wide range of perks, and they also care about the environment.

Some of the luxury lodges and camps are:

Okavango Delta

Duba Plains Camp.
Mombo Camp.
Abu Camp overlooks a lagoon.
Sancturay Baines’ Camp.
Vumbura Plains.
Jao Camp tucked away on a remote island.
Zarafa located in the Selinda Concession.
Belmond Eagle island Lodge.
Eagle Island Lodge situated on the Delta’s Xaxaba Island.

Chobe

Chobe Game Lodge.
Leopard Hills
Chobe Water Villas

Moremi Game Reserve

Chief’s Camp in the Moremi Game Reserve.
Camp Moremi in the Moremi Game Reserve.
Okuti Camp in the heart of the Moremi Game Reserve.

Makgadikgadi Pans

San Camp situated in the Makgadikgadi Pans on the Kalahari Plains.

Jack’s Camp located in the Makgadikgadi Pans

Meno a Kwena perched above the Boteti River on the border of the Makgadikgadi Pans.

Other

King’s Pool Camp overlooking the waters of King’s Pool Lagoon in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve.
Tuludi Camp in the Khwai Private Concession.
Little Tubu Camp situated on a remote island in the Jao Private Concession.

What to Expect on a 7 Day Luxury Safari in Botswana

On a 7-day luxury safari in Botswana, you can visit some of the country’s tourist sites and enjoy its stunning scenery and animals.

It will be worthwhile if you visit could visit more than one destination as you will have enough time when planning a seven-day safari. Also keep in mind that the sites are far apart and it will take some time to travel between them.

Some of the most popular safari destinations in Botswana are:

Chobe National Park is the second largest reserve in Botswana with the Chobe River flowing through it. Many game is seen in the area surrounding the river in the summer as well as winter months.
The Okavango Delta is one of the most popular tourist attraction. The Okavango River that flows through this region is the main natural attraction. This wetland of islands and channels with about 15,000 square km of waterways and wetlands, attracts a wide diversity of wildlife.
The Kgalagadi or Kalahari Desert cover about two-thirds of Botswana and is mostly sand with sparse vegetation. However, wildlife is plentiful and a visit to this area provides a wilderness experience rivalled by no other place in the world.
The Moremi Game Reserve is an area in the Okavango Delta that is very popular and where visitors can get close to the big five. Traveling in a mokoro (dugout canoe) or in an open safari vehicle allows you to do just this.
A number of private game reserves are found in the Linyanti Concessions that lies in the Kwando-Linyanti rivers system. This untamed wilderness in the perfect location for those seeking a unique African adventure.
Makgadikgadi Pan Game Reserve is a salt pan situated in the middle of the dry savanna of north-eastern Botswana and one of the largest salt flats in the world.
Nzai Pan National Park is situated in Northern Botswana and consists mainly of forest and savanna woodland and large areas of open grassland. The Nxai and Kgama-Kgama Pan are the most popular to visit.
The Tsodilo Hills is situated in the northwest of the country and is of interest for those interested in African history and culture. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hiking safaris are popular in this area.

Maun is the beginning point for most of the safari’s in Botswana.

Highlights on your trip may include the following:

A must inclusion on your trip is a scenic flight over the Okavango Delta or the Kalahari. You have many options, like in a light aircraft, helicopter or a hot air balloon.
Since your trip will start in Maun, you can visit the many shopping malls and restaurants as well as reserve accommodation in the many luxury lodges in and around the town. Spend some time in the Thye Nhabe Museum and the Motsana Cultural Centre.
The Okavango Delta was listed as the UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014. The delta covers an area of around 15 000 square kilometres, stretching its boundaries to the Kalahari Desert. The diverse wildlife with endemic flora and fauna makes the region perfect for a safari.
The Chobe National Park is the first National Park and also the third largest park in the country. Most game found in Botswana can be seen in this vast area.
Visiting the Kalahari you can join the San bushman on a guided walk. They will teach you all you need to know about their culture, how to track and hunt and how they have survived in the dry piece of land for centuries.
The magical white sands of the Makgadikgade Salt Pans in the Kalahari Desert with allow you to have many fossil sights as well as study some Bushman remnants.
Hiking in any of the areas is highly recommendable, especially in the Thamalakane Hills or along the Chobe river where you will have some close encounters with the wild life of the area.

Best Time for a 7 Day Luxury Safari in Botswana

The best time for families to visit Botswana is from April to October, which are called the winter months. During these months, you are more likely to see wildlife, there is less chance of rain, and there are fewer mosquitoes.

What to Pack for a 7 Day Luxury Safari in Botswana

You should bring short cotton pants, tops, shirts, and sweaters for a seven-day trip. Shoes and boots that are good for walking. Don’t forget a wool jacket, a windcheater and a raincoat. Also, don’t forget your personal items and any medicine you need to take. You must bring cameras and glasses, and it’s a good idea to bring bug spray.

Selecting a Tour Operator for a 7 Day Luxury Safari in Botswana

If you want to go on a seven-day safari in Botswana, finding the right tour company can help you in many ways. As a first-time guest to the country, you will be able to see some of the best natural and wildlife sites in the country. Botswana has had tour guides for a long time, so they know a lot about the country and its wildlife. They can help you make a good schedule so you can get the most out of each day.

Popular Itineraries for a 7 Day, 6 Night Luxury Safari in Botswana

Itinerary 1 – Okavango Delta, Moremi, Savuti, and Chobe

Day 1 – Arrive at Maun and be transported to your luxury accommodation in the Okavango Delta. You will have time to relax and go on your first safari drive.
Day 2 – Enjoy a morning game drive and set out in a mokoro the afternoon.
Day 3 and 4 – After breakfast you will travel to the Moremi Game Reserve and arrive in time for lunch. Game drives are on the agenda for the next two days.
Day 5 and 6 – After breakfast you will pack and travel to the Savuti area in Chobe and participate in the activities offered there.
Day 7 – After breakfast you will be flown or driven back to Maun.

Itinerary 2 – Kalahari Desert and Okavango Delta

Day 1 to 3 – Arrive in Maun and travel to Nxai Pan National Park where you should arrive just before sunset at your luxury accommodation. For the next two days you will explore this area and go on game drives and see an abundance of game.
Day 4 to 6 – Get up early and after breakfast head out to the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta which should be a two-hour drive. Activities will include game drives, boat or mokoro cruises, bird watching and even star gazing. You will also have enough time to relax.
Day 7 – After breakfast you will pack and travel back to Maun, still being able to take in all the wild life sites while you travel back.

FAQ

How far in advance should I book a Botswana safari?

Depending on the time of year, it is best to book 12 months in advance if you are going during peak or high season. For low season two to six months should be enough.

How much does a luxury 7-day luxury safari in Botswana cost?

The cost of a luxury safari in Botswana may range between R10 000 to R14 000 per person per day.

Can you do a self-drive in Botswana?

You can if you plan your trip well. A self-drive through Botswana’s vast and varied landscape, plus seeing a spectacle of wildlife, is an unbeatable experience.

What is the best time of year to go on a 7-day luxury safari in Botswana?

The best time to go on a 7-day luxury safari in Botswana is the during the dry winter season, which stretches from May through to September.

How many days do you need for a safari in Botswana?

From five to ten days will allow you to explore the country’s many safari regions.