5 Day Budget Botswana Safaris

Botswana is a great place to go on a wildlife tour in Africa. It has well-known parks like Chobe and Moremi, which have a lot of elephants, and the Okavango Delta.

Botswana’s main draw is its huge amount of wild life. It’s the perfect place for people who want to see natural, unfenced places, like the Okavango Delta’s islands or the Makgadikgadi region’s salt pans, or the desert landscapes of the Kalahari.

In the 1980s, a lot of rustic safari camps opened up, but a safari in Botswana was still mostly tent camping. This began to change in the 1990s, when more lodges opened up and hunting pretty much came to an end. Today, a Botswana safari takes place in lodges or camps. Mobile camping safaris are becoming more of an exception than the norm.

Botswana can make it hard to find a cheap tour. With its tours and safaris, this country has focused a lot on the high-end market. Many companies offer cheap tour packages that can take you to some of the best places in southern Africa to see wildlife.

Most of the time, tour companies have deals and packages that you can’t get on your own. This can save money on safaris. With their knowledge of the area, tour companies can help you get the most out of your trip. They can tell you about the best sights, places, and things to do.

A few of the areas to go to on a safari are:

Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
Tuli Block, which is a narrow fringe of land at Botswana’s eastern border wedged between Zimbabwe in the north and east and South Africa in the south.
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans.
The Okavango Delta, particularly in the Moremi Game Reserve or in the west, although the Delta’s northern reaches are dominated by private, luxury concessions.
Chobe National Park, including the Savuti region.

Some of the budget lodges and camping spots are:

Jack’s Camp (Makgadikgadi)
Camp Kalahari (Makgadikgadi)
Meno a Kwana (Makgadikgadi)
San Camp (Central Kalahari)
Kalahari Trails (Kalahari)
Kwa Nokeng Lodge (Tuli Block)
Woodlands Stop Over and Lodge (Francistown)
Maun Lodge (Maun)
Chobe Bush Lodge (Chobe)
Kwalape Safari Lodge (Chobe)
Muchenje Campsite and Cottages (Chobe)
Machaba Camp (Moremi)
Hyena Pan (Okavango Delta))
Pom Camp (Okavango Delta)
Khwai Tented Camp (Moremi)
Xakanaxa (Moremi)

What to Expect on a 5 Day Budget Safari in Botswana

On a 5-day budget safari in Botswana, you may visit one of the following most popular safari destinations:

Stay a day or two in Maun, the tourist capital of Botswana, visiting museums and animal sanctuaries in the surrounding area. From Maun you can also go on day trips into the Okavango Delta.
Game drives in Chobe or the Okavango Delta in search of elephants, hyena, and lions among others.
Navigate the many waterways in the Okavango Delta in a mokoro (dugout canoe).
Spend time in Francistown, a city in east Botswana, near the Zimbabwean border. A 19th-century gold rush town, its history is chronicled at the Supa Ngwao Museum, which also has traditional wood carvings and cultural exhibits on the local Kalanga people.

Walks with Bushman in Central Kalahari who will teach you about their culture and survival in this harsh environment.

Types of budget accommodation available in Botswana

It does cost a lot to go to the top safari places. We’ve all heard stories about camps in Botswana that cost more than a month’s rent. But like anywhere else in the world, you can save money if you know where to look.

Botswana has a number of hotels with shared rooms that cost as little as R200 per night. These are a great choice for tourists who want to stay on a budget.

Guesthouses are another low-cost choice for tourists. A private room with access to a shared bathroom costs about R810 per night. Guesthouses are usually cosier than hostels, and you do find some low cost accommodation with them.

Botswana has a lot of different parks, and some of them offer camping for as little as R700 per night. This is a great choice if you have limited funds and want to spend time in nature. Most camps have things like bathrooms, showers, and at some you can make your own meals.

Backpacker lodges are another type of place to stay that only serves visitors on a tight budget. You can stay in a single room or a dorm and use the bathrooms that are shared.

Best Time for a 5 Day Budget Safari in Botswana

From July to October, which is the high season, the weather is dry and clear, making it a great time to go on a trip. However, you will have to pay more and there will be more people there.

May or June are the best times for a cheap tour in Botswana. Even though it’s getting colder, it’s still a good time to go on a tour because the weather is still nice and it’s not the busy season.

From October to April, it rains a lot, so there are lots of birds. However, some off-road tracks may be hard to get around on, and low-water bridges may have broken. There are also a lot of mosquitoes.

What to Pack for a 5 Day Budget Safari in Botswana

For a 5-day budget safari you should pack the following

A few sets of shorts and t-shirts
Long pants for the chilly evenings
Warm jacket
Raincoat
Comfortable shoes with thick soles for hiking
Sandals
Cap or sunhat
Camera and binoculars
Personal items

Insect repellent

Tips for a successful 5 Day Budget Safari in Botswana

For a successful safari take note of these tips:

You will always save when camping.
Travel during the off-season.
Make advance reservations for your flights and accommodations.
Packing and preparing your own food is another way for saving on costs.
Stick to one or two locations.
Take advantage of free activities that are available in Botswana.
Avoid expensive activities, such as hot air balloon rides or any air flip.
Try something different. Straying from the traditional Botswana safari, in 4×4 vehicles and fully-catered lodges, can save you some serious pennies and give you a pretty fantastic experience too.

Selecting a Tour Operator for a 5 Day Budget Safari in Botswana

It is vital to choose a reputable tour operator for a 5-day budget safari in Botswana. They will be able to arrange and execute your safari with less hic-cups that trying to plan it yourself.

Tour operations are often offered discounts and packages that you cannot obtain on your own, which can reduce travel costs.

Tour operators can help you maximise your vacation with their local expertise and suggest attractions, restaurants, and activities.

Popular Itineraries for a 5 Day Budget Safari in Botswana

Itinerary 1 – Moremi region and Savuti in Chobe National Park

Day 1 – You will be picked up in Maun and travel to Mankwe Tented Camp on the border of Moremi Game Reserve. The afternoon you will go on your first game drive.
Day 2 – Wake up early and spend the day exploring the private concession area around your tented camp. You will go on game drives and have enough time to relax in the camp. You also have the option to embark on a full-day safari in Moremi Game Reserve.
Day 3 – Wake up early, enjoy breakfast, pack and travel to Savuti. You can either return to Maun and fly-out or travel by road which will obviously take longer. At Savuti you will embark on another late afternoon game drive.
Day 4 – Wake up early in Savuti and go on a bush walk. Relax in the camp until later afternoon when you’ll go on another game drive.
Day 5 – The day starts early again with breakfast after which you will travel back to Maun.

Itinerary 2 – Central Kalahari Game Reserve and Nxai Pan

Day 1 – You will depart from Maun and travel to Central Kalahari Game Park arriving in the early afternoon. You will have time to relax until the late afternoon game drive.
Day 2 and 3 – You will wake early and have an opportunity to go on a nature walk with the San Bushman as guides. You can also opt to go on a game drive or simply explore your immediate surrounding area and take some magnificent photographs.
Day 4 – Wake up early, have breakfast and travel to Nxai Pan to spend your last night. You will once again explore the are by 4×4 or by foot.
Day 5 – After the early morning wake-up call you will have breakfast and then drive through to the Baines baobabs. You will leave for Main in the afternoon.

FAQ

Are meals included on budget safari tours in Botswana?

Most of the time meals, or a meal, is included and guests can expect to enjoy a variety of delicious African-inspired dishes, as well as traditional local delicacies.

What type of wildlife will I see on a 5-day budget safari tour in Botswana?

During a 5-day budget safari tour in Botswana, guests will have the opportunity to spot a wide variety of African wildlife including elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, leopards, hippos, zebras, wildebeest, various kinds of antelopes, no mention but a few.

Are there any activities available apart from game drives on a 5-day budget safari tours in Botswana?

Yes, most 5-day budget safaris in Botswana also include other activities such as guided walks or mokoro cruises.

Are there age restrictions for a 5-day budget safari tours in Botswana?

There are not really age restrictions for safari tours in Botswana, but it is always best to check with the tour operator before booking, especially if children younger than 6 years of age are involved.

What type of budget safari can I do in Botswana?

A budget tour in Botswana can include a number of activities, such as game drives, mokoro cruises, nature walk, and bird watching, while staying in comfortable tents in selected campsites.