5 Day Luxury Botswana Safaris

Botswana’s immense wilderness and unlimited space will help you disconnect from regular life and reconnect with nature. This beautiful country situated in southeast Africa borders South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Zambia. It offers a true wilderness experience over thousands of kilometers.

Botswana has twelve National Parks and Reserves and travelers can experience herds of animals stampeding over dusty migratory routes or resting by dams or rivers.

The five main areas to visit in Botswana are, the Kalahari Desert, the Okavango Delta, Chobe, the Tsodilo Hills and the Kanyu Flats. If you only planning to go on a safari for two days, it is best to focus on only one of these areas.

In the past couple of years, a number of luxury lodges have opened in Botswana, bringing in travelers from all over the world. The country is known for its luxury boutique lodges and camps. Most of them deliver excellent services and provide full amenities, while still being environmentally responsible.

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 5 Day Luxury Safari in Botswana

On a 5-day luxury safari in Botswana, you can visit some of the country’s distinctive tourist sites and enjoy its stunning scenery and animals. You should have sufficient time to see one or two tourist spots, but keep in mind that most of the popular destination lie far apart from each other.

It will be worthwhile if you visit one or two destinations and spend more time experiencing them fully, than trying to fit in more destinations.

Some of the most popular safari destinations in Botswana are the following:

The Okavango Delta Swamps’ and are definitely first on the list of popular tourist attraction. It has many natural attractions, one being the Okavango River that runs through this wetland of islands and channels with about 15,000 square km of waterways and wetlands, attracting a wide diversity of wildlife.
The Moremi Game Reserve is one designated area in the Okavango Delta that is very popular and where visitors can get close to the big five in a mokoro (dugout canoe) or in an open safari vehicle.
Chobe National Park is the second largest reserve in Botswana. The Chobe River flows through it which attracts a large amount of game.
The Kgalagadi or Kalahari Desert cover nearly two-thirds of Botswana and is a huge area with mostly sand and sparse vegetation. Despite this, wildlife is plentiful and a visit to this area provides a wilderness experience rivalled by no other place in the world.
Makgadikgadi Pan Game Reserve is another worthwhile are to visit. It 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.
The Tsodilo Hills is situated in the northwest of the country and is a captivating site for those interested in African history and culture. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers various hiking paths throughout the park.
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.
Linyanti Concessions lies in the Kwando-Linyanti rivers system and is home to a number of private game reserves. This vast, untamed wilderness in the perfect location for those seeking a unique African adventure.

To start your safari trip you will drive or fly-in to Maun.

Highlights on your trip may include the following:

In Maun itself you can visit the Thye Nhabe Museum. There are many luxurious lodges in and around Maun where you can stay or start your safari from. Maun also has numerous restaurants and travelers usually visit the shopping malls to top up on whatever they may need on their safari.
The Chobe National Park is the first National Park of Botswana. Housing a great population of wildlife, the park has the maximum concentration of elephants. The diverse biological ecosystem makes the Chobe national park, third largest national park in Botswana.
Botswana’s Okavango Delta is listed as the UNESCO World Heritage site. Lying in-between the Moremi Game reserve, the delta covers an area of around 15 000 square kilometers, stretching its the boundaries to the Kalahari Desert. The diverse wildlife with endemic flora and fauna makes the region perfect for a safari.
Join the San bushman on a guided walk in the Kalahari where you will learn about their culture, tracking and hunting skills as well as their knowledge of medicinal and poisonous plants.
Go hiking along the Thamalakane or Chobe rivers where you will have some close encounters with the wild life of the area.
Scenic flights over the Okavango Delta or the Kalahari, either in a light aircraft, helicopter or a hot air balloon.
Stop at the Makgadikgade Salt Pans in the Kalahari Desert with its white sands and many fossil sights as well as Bushman remnants.
Visit the Motsana Cultural Centre, situated in Maun that showcase the true culture of Mauna and its people.

Best Time for a 5 Day Luxury Safari in Botswana

There is not really a best time to go on a safari in Botswana as you can experience the wildlife of the region all year round. Your safari will also depend on what exactly it is that you want to see.

Winter, which runs from May through to September is a popular time as water as scarce and most animals stay in the vicinity of the dams and rivers. The vegetation is also much thinner which make it easy to spot animals.

On the other hand, Botswana’s wet summer with lots of grass and water attract herds of game, and has become quite popular despite the problem of contracting malaria.

What to Pack for a 5 Day Luxury Safari in Botswana

For a five-day safari you will need to pack short cotton pants, tops, shirts and sweaters. Comfortable walking shoes and sandals. Remember a fleece jacket, windbreaker and rain jacket. Also remember your articles of a personal nature and your prescription medicine. Cameras and binoculars is a must and it is a good idea to pack insect repellent.

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

When considering a five-day safari in Botswana, selecting the right tour operator can provide various benefits. You will gain access to some of the country’s top environment and wildlife sites. Tour guides have typically worked there for years and know a great deal about the land and animals, as well as how to design the most effective schedule to make the most of each day.

Popular Itineraries for a 5 Day, 4 Night Luxury Safari in Botswana

Itinerary 1 – Okavango Delta and Chobe

Day 1 and 2 – Fly from Maun to Kadizora which lies in the most northern part of the Okavango Delta. For the ultimate delta experience, you will be taken on game drives, boat cruises and mokoro canoe safaris.
Day 3 and 4 – You will travel further on a Savuti safari and fly to the Ghoha Hills Savuti Lodge in Chobe. Here you will have floodplains and open pans and enough time to spot all the prime predators of the area on game drives.
Day 5 – You will have to pack up and fly back to Maun.

Itinerary 2 – Kalahari and Okavango Delta

Day 1 – Arrive in Maun and catch a flight in a light aircraft to your luxury bush camp in Central Kalahari. You will have time to relax and refresh before you go on a game drive, watch the sun set and then back to camp for supper.
Day 2 and 3 – Get up early and go on game drives during the early morning as well as late afternoon. You can also go on a game walk, led by San Bushman who has survived for many centuries in the desert area. You will learn about their fascinating culture.
Day 4 – Pack up and fly out to the Okavango Delta. You can choose to go on a game drive, explore the many waterways on a mokoro or go on a hike in the surrounding area of your luxury lodge.
Day 5 – Get up early and return to Maun.

FAQ

How much does a luxury 5-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.

What is the best time of year to go on a 5-day luxury safari in Botswana?

The best time to go on a 5-day luxury safari in Botswana is the dry winter season, from the month of May through to September.

What type of accommodation can you expect on a 5-day luxury safari in Botswana?

Most luxury safaris in Botswana include accommodation in exclusive luxury lodges or tented camps.

What is the closest town to the Okavango Delta?

The nearest town is Maun, which also houses the main airport for travelers who want to visit the delta.

Can you see the Big 5 in Okavango Delta?

Yes, you can see the ‘Big Five’ on your safari to the Okavango Delta.