The Ultimate Adventure Through Wild Botswana: The 2024 Edition

Botswana’s tourism model has been a huge success in managing its vast wild spaces and huge populations of free roaming wildlife. The number of visitors are restricted and the national parks and wildlife reserves - which cover a 5th of Botswana’s landmass - omit any fences or physical borders, so safaris here are a true experience of the wilderness. Government policy is focussed on low-impact, high-value tourism, so while prices are often quite high compared to other parts of Africa, the income is critical to ongoing conservation efforts and local community empowerment. The tourism model is based around a ‘concession’, where safari companies compete for leases to operate in the reserves, and must prove their commitment to environmental management and financial responsibility towards local communities in order to renew their leases. Large percentages of revenue are reinvested in communities and towards conservation programs, with rigorous rules in place, including laws protecting employment of Botswana citizens rather than outsourcing to other countries. Over 10% of the population of Botswana is employed in the tourism sector, ensuring sustainable livelihoods for whole communities and a huge number of people.

In addition to the concession model and the positive benefits tourism brings to local communities, visiting Botswana can also massively help efforts to block hunting in the country. In 2019, Botswana lifted a 5-year hunting ban, to the dismay of conservationists in Botswana and around the world. Simply put, the greater the income from Botswana’s famed and highly regarded tourism industry, the greater the pressure on the government to reinstate the ban in the near future.

Finally, this trip visits some key areas of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), where the borders of five African countries converge. The sheer scale of this vast international conservation project is difficult to comprehend and it encompasses a bewildering range of experiences, ranging from the mighty Victoria Falls to the lifeforce of the region, the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers.

This is an incredible trip for wildlife lovers! In particular you will be visiting two of the great natural areas of Africa, the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park. The Okavango is one of the largest wetlands on the continent, making it a paradise to hundreds of species of birds such as cranes, storks, jacana, kingfishers and many more. As a vast oasis north of the Kalahari, it is also home to much larger animals such as elephants, rhino, lions, zebra, hippo and crocodiles. In Chobe NP you'll have further opportunity to see Africa's "Big 5", amongst the abundant wildlife present such as buffalo, wildebeest, hyena, cheetah and antelope.

When on safari game drives and boat rides you'll have expert guides to help you spot the wildlife and educate you on the environment they live in. In the Okavango Delta, you'll be piloted in mokoro canoes through the wetlands by local guides called "polers" and wild camping on an island deep in the delta for a fully immersive experience. Remember, as a visitor into a natural environment with wild animals, you must follow your guide's instructions at all times for safety reasons.

'Overland adventures' are incredibly popular and very common in Africa, particularly the southern Africa countries; South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Southern Africa has a few major international arrival and departure points, namely Windhoek, Johannesburg and Cape Town, and Livingstone/Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia. This trip utilises Windhoek and Victoria Falls as your arrival and departure points, with Botswana conveniently sandwiched in the middle to make for an epic road trip in between the incredible locations that you'll be visiting.

Yes, there is a local payment of $50 USD per person to be paid to your guide towards the end of the trip, for the national park entry fee at Victoria Falls.

Your visa for Zimbabwe can be paid for in cash locally at the border crossing from Botswana into Zimbabwe (approx $55USD). Please check your passport's visa and entry requirements for all countries before you travel.

Your border fees between Namibia and Botswana and all your national park fees in Botswana are covered in the main trip price. Please also read the Food & Accommodation section regarding budgeting for lunches and dinners not included in the itinerary.

Most places in Namibia will accept both the Namibian Dollar and the South African Rand. Money can be exchanged on arrival at the airport or withdrawn from ATMs during the trip. Botswana's Pula can be purchased on arrival, or withdrawn from local ATMs. In both Namibia and Botswana, many local purchases can be made by card. The commonly used currency in Zimbabwe is the US Dollar; it is recommended that you bring some USD in cash. Some activities and items can also be paid for on a card.

As a general rule: plan ahead before you travel, to avoid paying unnecessary currency charges and fees.

Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation to tip for good service. Your local guide will help with advice, however, we would suggest $5-$10 USD per person per day as an initial guideline. Of course, you are free to tip more or less, and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality - a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

Typically, people will tip the San Bushman guide, the Mokoro polers in the Okavango Delta, and the safari guides on the game drives and boat rides, as thanks for sharing their local knowledge and experience with the group.

Your host will provide you with clean, safe drinking water from large containers, while the lodges, hotels and campgrounds will also supply safe drinking water during your stays. Bring a refillable bottle, it will be used well.

As this trip starts in Windhoek and ends 1500km away at Victoria Falls, you'll need to bring everything along with you. Your overland expedition vehicle has ample storage and your main luggage can be safely stored in there throughout the trip.

This trip visits locations where daytime temperatures can be extremely high during the times of year when this trip operates. High humidity and limited access to shade can also be factors, and warm temperatures can continue into the nighttime, which additionally influence the body’s ability to cool down. Personal care should be taken to keep cool as best possible in the conditions, such as wearing appropriate clothing and proper hydration. Very high temperatures can impair an individual’s physical abilities to perform an activity that they may otherwise be able to do competently at cooler temperatures. People may experience symptoms associated with dehydration and Heat Stroke. Your guide(s) are trained to mitigate the risks associated with high temperatures, by carefully managing the intensity of the activity, and to provide the appropriate support response should someone feel ill during the trip. Should you experience health issues during your trip you should inform your guide immediately so the proper care can be provided.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.