Premium Botswana
Experience Overview
Experience the sprawling wilderness and the welcoming people of Botswana on this seven-day Premium adventure through the country’s heart. Set out in search of wildlife on a series of game drives, cruise down the Zambezi River from the Namibian banks, drift through the endless channels of the Okavango Delta and hang out with a family of meerkats at the Ntwetwe Salt Pans. From the rich diversity of Chobe National Park to the curious beauty of the Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana’s natural wonders will take your breath away.
Highlights
- Take a morning game drive in Chobe National Park – home to Africa’s largest concentration of elephants, this is one of the world’s great wildlife destinations.
- Spend two magnificent evenings at your Feature Stay camp. Perfectly positioned on the Namibian banks of the Zambezi River, enjoy an afternoon boat cruise along the fourth largest river in Africa.
- Uncover the unique beauty of the Makgadikgadi Pans during an Exclusive Experience – a 4WD excursion through the sprawling landscape, stopping for drinks and snacks as the sun goes down.
- Explore the Okavango Delta's maze of lagoons, lakes and streams via a traditional mokoro boat safari. Enjoy lunch on a delta island and spot wildlife on a bush walk with an experienced guide.
- Meet a family of meerkats on the edge of the Ntwetwe Salt Pans and watch them go about their morning rituals as the sun rises.
Trip Details
Product Code: 2936
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Unknown
Transport: 4WD,Open Safari Vehicle,Private Vehicle
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: UBPB
Starts: Chobe National Park, Botswana
Finishes: Maun, Botswana
Duration: 7 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (6), Lunch (5), Dinner (6)Accommodation: Lodge (6 nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $6,320 ($903 /day)
Itinerary
O Amogelesegile! Welcome to Botswana. Your adventure begins at Chobe National Park – one of Africa’s premier wildlife destinations and home to its largest population of elephants in the world. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll be met by an Intrepid representative and transferred to your accommodation on the banks of the Chobe River, at the fringe of the park. Meet your local leader and fellow travellers at a welcome meeting at 6 pm. After, head out for dinner at the lodge. Enjoy a celebration of Indigenous food and the rich flavours of Africa as you dine alongside the scenic Chobe River.
Included Activities:
- Chobe - Welcome Dinner
- Complimentary Arrival Transfer
Optional Activities:
- Chobe National Park - 4x4 Game Drive (580 BWP)
Accommodation:
- Chobe Safari Lodge or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Rise early for a morning game drive in Chobe National Park. You might see elephants drinking at the water's edge, large herds of cape buffaloes and many impalas within the park. Head back to the lodge for breakfast, then journey to the Ngoma Border Post before continuing to the Namibian side of the Zambezi River. Tonight you’ll stay in your Feature Stay accommodation – the fabulous Zambezi Mubala Lodge. Newly built, the Zambezi Mubala is a secret river hideaway where you can find hippos, vervet monkeys and over 450 species of birds. Arrive in time for a hearty lunch at the lodge, then enjoy some downtime to relax by the pool, spot wildlife from the bar or soak up the wild surroundings on the banks of the Zambezi River. Speak to your leader about the optional activities for the afternoon, including a canoe trip, guided walking trail or a birding drive.
Included Activities:
- Chobe National Park - 4x4 Game Drive
Accommodation:
- Zambezi Mubala Lodge (Feature Stay) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Today, enjoy a restful morning at your Feature Stay. This afternoon, take a cruise down the Zambezi River. The privileged position of your camp allows you to access a part of the river that most visitors don’t get to see, which means you can view the abundant wildlife without the crowds – look out for large herds of elephants, buffalo and antelope. After, head back to the lodge for dinner and watch the sunset change the colours of the landscape.
Included Activities:
- Zambezi River - Afternoon River Cruise
Optional Activities:
- Zambezi River - Morning River Cruise (750 NAD)
Accommodation:
- Zambezi Mubala Lodge (Feature Stay) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Heading south, cross the Ngoma border back into Botswana and continue your journey to the vast salt flats and grassy plains of the Makgadikgadi Pans. Located in the north-east of Botswana, the Makgadikgadi Pans sit in the middle of a dry savanna and are all that remain of the former Lake Makgadikgadi. This afternoon, you’ll head out on a 4WD excursion. The immense, sprawling salt flat will unfold in front of you as you look out for birds and animals, some who are seasonal visitors and some who call the area home all year. Sit out on the pans and enjoy drinks and snacks as the sun sets, then return to the lodge for dinner.
Included Activities:
- Makgadikgadi Pans - Sunset 4x4 Excursion & Sundowner
Accommodation:
- Nata Lodge or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Travel to the edge of the Ntwetwe Salt Pans, home to a resident family of meerkats. With the aid of trackers, you'll observe their morning rituals – watch the meerkats bask in the morning sun before heading out for their daily foraging. When you’ve had your fill of watching these magnificent creatures, you’ll stop at a neighbouring lodge for lunch, then continue to Maun – the gateway to the Okavango Delta, one of the world's most complex ecosystems.
Included Activities:
- Makgadikgadi Pans - Meerkat & Kalahari Bushman Experience
Accommodation:
- Maun Lodge or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Today, you'll take a traditional mokoro (a dugout canoe steered by friendly local 'polers') for an Okavango waterways experience. With some luck, you might spot some of the delta's wildlife or exotic birdlife. Spend some time exploring the maze of lagoons, lakes and streams by mokoro before exploring on foot with a local guide. View plants, trees and animals from a different perspective and observe close-up details often missed on game drives. Your guide will provide expert knowledge and help you gain a deeper understanding of the environment. Lunch will be served on one of the many secluded islands created by the Delta waterways.
Included Activities:
- Okavango Delta - Mokoro safari
- Okavango Delta - Expert Guided Bush Walk
Accommodation:
- Maun Lodge or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
Today, your trip comes to an end after breakfast, but this doesn’t mean the adventure has to end! If you’d like to spend more time here, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation. For those interested, there is the opportunity to fly over the delta in a helicopter for a bird's-eye view. This is a great way to appreciate the vast scale of this waterscape. Your leader can give you more information on this activity and how to reserve a place.
Optional Activities:
- Okavango Delta - Helicopter Scenic Flight (280 USD)
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Helene - Traveled, June 2023
This was an unforgettable experience! I am a birder, and I never saw so many spectacular and exotic birds in such a short amount of time! Seeing all these elephants on the roadside, outside the parks, was exciting. Botswana opened a window to Africa for me. I will be back!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/23/2023
Aaron - Traveled, April 2023
This trip is everything you think of when you think Africa. Can't recommend it enough.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/05/2023
Chantal - Traveled, April 2023
Our tour with Admore was well organized, knowledgeable and willing to answer any question. We always felt safe. The food was amazing (often having three courses of real food), we ate very well and were never ill. The accommodations were all very good and comfortable (be prepared for canvas sided cabins that are not air or insect tight; we tent in Canada and were comfortable with this). Chobe Safari Lodge (Kasane) and Chobe river Gondwana (Namibia) accommodations food and activities were excellent - these were our favorite. (If you need solid walls and tight windows to feel comfortable sleeping - the Chobe Safari Lodge in Kasane is for you.) We saw lots of wildlife with knowledgeable guides and drivers and enjoyed the viewing from the accommodation's porches and lounges as well. The bathtub at Nata Lodge cabins was a treat. The pools were all refreshingly cool after game drives in hot sunny weather. We were lucky with the salt pans drives, we saw the flamingos (excellent guide PK) and the meerkats (thankful for the spotter). The game viewing at Leopard Lodge was not as good as elsewhere (we would skip this location in hindsight to stay longer elsewhere) but the food and company were excellent. This tour was in the middle of our longer stay in Africa, our first time travelling to this continent (from Canada). It was late April and early May 2023. The Australians and New Zealanders in our group were all wonderful people. We also took in some day tours with other providers before and after the Intrepid tour, embracing recommendations from our booking.com accommodations and enjoyed each one (a sunset boat ride on Chobe river, a day trip to Victoria Falls, a half day tour of Soweto and a day tour to Pilanesberg National Park where we had an awesome leopard viewing). Last minute plans were very doable which we enjoyed (it was not peak season and tourism is not fully recovered from pandemic). Overall, it is an understatement to say we loved our vacation including this tour. We had so many amazing experiences. Thank you to all the local providers, our tour group leader Admore, the competent drivers, knowledgeable guides, and all the workers who made this vacation seamless and wonderful. You work and live in a fascinating place.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/13/2023
Margaret - Traveled, June 2024
An amazing trip! Our leader was well informed and able to assist all group members with any queries. He was always positive, happy and generous with his time. We saw an amazing number of animals and would highly recommend this trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/18/2024
Stuart - Traveled, July 2024
Great trip and amazing experiences. Be prepared for the cold mornings and evenings on the drives (it can get baltic). Switch off and enjoy the sunsets / sunrises (not sure which was better). Botswana lived up to everything I wanted and expected. Just go for it.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/23/2024
Kate - Traveled, July 2024
I would highly recommend this company. They clearly care for the environment and for the community and their leaders are extremely well informed and are proud to work for them .we had a fabulous experience that went far beyond our expectations .
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/23/2024
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