Luxury Botswana Safari Tours

There are no direct flights from the U.S. to Botswana, but it’s easily reached via connections through Johannesburg, Cape Town, Doha, or Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).

Most travelers fly into Maun (gateway to the Okavango Delta) or Kasane (for Chobe National Park). Airlink offers daily connections from South Africa, and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) also works well for combining Chobe or Linyanti.

Once in-country, we often arrange helicopter transfers with Helicopter Horizons – not just for the convenience, but because they offer incredible aerial views and seamless access to remote, otherwise hard-to-reach lodges. It’s one of the best ways to begin or end a Botswana safari.

Besides it being co-founders Kyle and Leah Green’s favorite safari destination? Botswana offers one of the most exclusive and conservation-driven safari experiences in Africa. With vast private concessions, fewer vehicles, and incredible wildlife density – including big cats, elephants, and wild dogs — it’s ideal for travelers seeking privacy, space, and world-class game viewing.

From mokoro safaris through the Okavango Delta to walking safaris, fly camping, and quiet moments at photographic hides, Botswana delivers on both luxury and authenticity. In her blog post 7 Highlights from My Safari in Botswana, Leah shares what made it unforgettable – including a wild dog den visit, helicopter transfers over the Delta, and incredible meals in the most remote settings.

If you’re looking for a safari that feels personal, immersive, and far from the crowds – Botswana is hard to beat.

Botswana is a year-round safari destination, with each season offering something distinct. While the dry season (May to October) is considered peak for wildlife viewing, the green and shoulder months also deliver unique advantages – from fewer visitors and seasonal migrations to family offers and exceptional value at luxury lodges.

Dry Season: June to October (Peak Safari Season)

The dry season is ideal for those prioritizing big game sightings and classic Delta experiences.

• Wildlife congregates around permanent water sources, making animals easier to find.
• The Okavango Delta floods (from May/June), creating ideal conditions for mokoro safaris and boating.
• Predator activity increases in Linyanti, Chobe, and Moremi as prey animals gather near water.
• July – October is especially productive for elephant herds, lion, leopard, and wild dog.

Note: September and October are hot but offer some of the best predator action of the year — ideal for serious game viewing and photography.

Green Season: November to March

With the arrival of rain, Botswana transforms into a lush and vibrant wilderness.

• Zebra migration moves through the Makgadikgadi and Central Kalahari, followed by cheetah and hyena.
• Birding is at its best, with migratory species and courtship displays.
• Reseeding grasslands in former floodplains create open plains perfect for plains game like springbok, oryx, and wildebeest.
• Many lodges offer off-peak pricing and family-friendly specials, making this a great time for longer stays or multigenerational safaris.
• Stormy skies and dramatic light make this a hidden gem for photographers.

Shoulder Months: April/May & November

These transitional months blend the best of both worlds.

• April: Cooler mornings, clear skies, and a green landscape fading into the dry season — excellent for photography and early game buildup.
• November: The first rains may arrive, but game viewing can still be exceptional in places like Linyanti, Mashatu, and the Kalahari before the full green season kicks in.

The Okavango Delta floods during Botswana’s dry season (non-rainy season), with water levels typically peaking between June and August. This unique seasonal event is driven by rains falling months earlier (January–March) in the Angolan highlands, which slowly filter down the Okavango River and into the Delta.

As counterintuitive as it may seem, the Delta is at its fullest when the rest of Botswana is dry — creating rich grazing for wildlife and ideal conditions for mokoro safaris, motorboat excursions, and island-based game viewing.

• The flood begins to arrive in April and May.
• Peak flood season is June to August — best for water-based safaris.
• Waters start to recede between September and October, depending on rainfall and camp location.

Botswana offers one of the most diverse and immersive safari experiences in Africa – from silent mokoro rides in the Okavango to walking with San trackers in the Kalahari. Here’s what you can look forward to:

• Mokoro Safaris (dugout canoes)- Drift silently through the seasonal floodplains of the Okavango Delta, guided by expert polers who reveal the smaller details of the ecosystem. This is Botswana’s signature experience – peaceful, intimate, and wildlife-rich.

• Motorboat Safaris – In addition to mokoros, motorboat safaris in the Okavango Delta offer access to permanent channels, lagoons, and papyrus-lined waterways – often paired with sundowners and surprise wildlife sightings.

• Walking Safaris – Offered in private concessions across the Okavango Delta, Linyanti, and Central Kalahari, walking safaris bring you close to the land – and often closer to the wildlife. These are led by top-tier guides and often paired with fly camping for a raw, unforgettable overnight experience under the stars.

• Helicopter Flights & Scenic Transfers – In the Delta and Linyanti, we often arrange scenic helicopter transfers between camps – offering a breathtaking perspective of Botswana’s landscapes and waterways. It’s also one of the best ways to reach remote lodges without backtracking.

• Horseback Safaris – Experienced riders can enjoy horseback safaris in select areas of the Okavango Delta, Makgadikgadi Pans, and Mashatu in Northern Tuli. Riding alongside giraffe, zebra, or even elephants in open wilderness offers a thrill like no other.

• Cultural Encounters with the San – In the Kalahari, meet with San (Bushman) communities who share their ancient tracking skills, traditional storytelling, and connection to the land. This experience adds cultural depth to the natural wonder.

• Meerkat Encounters – In the Makgadikgadi Pans, join habituated meerkat families at sunrise for a charming, unforgettable wildlife moment. It’s a gentle, fun activity – perfect for photographers and families alike.

• Photographic Hides – Particularly in Mashatu (Northern Tuli) and parts of Linyanti, underground photographic hides let you capture eye-level shots of elephants, predators, and birds – without disturbing the action.

• Quad Biking & Pan Exploration – In the dry season, quad bike across the endless salt flats of the Makgadikgadi — a surreal experience that ends with horizon-wide sunsets and star-splashed skies.

• Elephant Havens & Conservation – Visit elephant sanctuaries like Elephant Havens near the Delta, or observe herds in the wild in Chobe, Linyanti, and Mashatu, where Botswana’s conservation success is on full display.

• Wellness & Luxury Lodge Experiences – Botswana’s luxury lodges are among the finest in Africa – offering everything from private plunge pools and bush spas, to in-room massages, stargazing decks, and chef-prepared meals in the wild. Whether you’re in a treehouse-style suite in the Delta or a minimalist desert camp in the Kalahari, these properties blend comfort, exclusivity, and world-class service seamlessly into the safari experience.

Yes – the Okavango Delta’s water is remarkably clean, as it filters through hundreds of kilometers of natural sand and vegetation before reaching the Delta itself. It’s often referred to as one of the purest inland water systems in the world.

That said, we don’t recommend drinking untreated Delta water directly. All luxury safari camps provide filtered or bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth, and water used for showers and meals is carefully treated or drawn from safe sources.

Activities like mokoro safaris and motorboating are perfectly safe, and contact with the water (splashing, etc.) poses no risk when proper precautions are followed.

Yes. Botswana is a malaria-risk area, particularly during the green season (November to April). We recommend consulting your travel doctor about anti-malarial medication before departure. Most lodges provide mosquito nets, repellents, and good in-room protection – but precautions are still advised.

We also advise using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves in the evening, and sleeping under mosquito nets – all standard precautions provided at the lodges we choose.

Please consult your doctor for up-to-date health advice based on your personal health history and travel itinerary.