14 Days in Botswana
Trip Overview
This two-week loop stitches together Botswana's four super-zones: the elephant-thronged Chobe River, the mirror-white Makgadikgadi salt pans, the water-maze of the Okavango Delta and the predator-packed Kgalagadi borderlands. You'll swap 4×4 game drives for mokoro poling at sunrise, sleep on remote islands where hippos grunt lullabies, taste seswaa stew simmered over acacia coals and feel Kalahari sand sift between your toes under the Milky Way. The pace is moderate, three nights in most hubs, so you can unpack, slow-walk with Bushmen trackers and still cover the big-ticket wildlife. Botswana's low-density policy keeps crowds away, so sightings feel private and the country's excellent infrastructure makes self-drivers comfortable.
Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$250, 350 per day
Best Seasons
May to October (dry season) for wildlife density; December to March for birding and lower prices
Ideal For
First-time safari-goers, Couples, Photographers, Self-drivers with 4×4 experience, Birders
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Touchdown & River Sundowners
Kasane, Chobe
Arrive in Botswana's safari gateway and ease in with a Chobe River cruise among bathing elephants.
Morning
Arrival & 4×4 pick-up
Land at Kasane airport, meet your pre-booked rental with fridges and two spare tyres. Drive 10 min to Chobe Safari Lodge for check-in, hearing fish eagles whistle over the green-brown ribbon of the Chobe River.
Book automatic 4×4 with GPS weeks ahead; Kasane stock sells out.
Lunch
The Coffee Buzz
Afternoon
Chobe River boat safari
Board a small pontoon at 14:00. Pods of hippos yawn, crocodiles slide off the banks and elephants crash through papyrus so close you feel spray on your cheeks. Fish eagle calls echo off Namibian reeds.
Reserve through your lodge. Sunset boats fill up.
Evening
Sunset braai dinner
Join the lodge's braai buffet tasting grilled impala sosaties under acacia thorns while geckos chirp.
Where to Stay Tonight
Kasane, riverfront (Chobe Safari Lodge)
Has secure parking, river jetty and on-site rental desk.
See all Botswana accommodation options →Load up on Pula cash at the airport ATM; most park kiosks are cash-only.
Day 1 Budget: $200
2
Elephants before Breakfast
Chobe National Park
Dawn game drive in the world's elephant capital, then a lazy river afternoon.
Morning
4×4 self-drive loop Serondela, Savuti turn-off
Gate opens 06:00. Soft orange light filters through mopane as breeding herds, sometimes 200-strong, cross the road, calves squeaking-trumpeting. Stop at Serondela picnic site for kettle coffee among Natal mahogany.
Buy a week-long Botswana national park ticket here to save on later gates.
Lunch
Picnic under sausage tree (bring cold chicken & mealie bread)
Afternoon
Photography hide session at Elephant Valley
Return to riverfront, slip into a sunken hide. Watch buffalo roll in grey mud while white-fronted bee-eaters hawk above. Shutter clicks echo inside the steel box.
Book 24 h ahead. Max 8 photographers.
Evening
Kubu cocktail cruise
Float until after dark, sipping watermelon-spiked cocktail as hippos surface beside the boat, their breaths smelling of river weed.
Where to Stay Tonight
Kasane (Chobe Safari Lodge (second night))
Lets you wash dust-covered clothes and re-stock ice.
See all Botswana accommodation options →Fill diesel at Chobe Motors. Pumps close at 18:00 and fuel is scarce south.
Day 2 Budget: $190
3
Victoria Falls Detour
Kasane, Victoria Falls, Kasane
A quick hop to Zimbabwe's thunder curtain and back before the border closes.
Morning
Day-trip to Victoria Falls
Drive 80 min to Kazungula border, cross on the new bridge. Enter Victoria Falls rainforest: mist clouds rise like smoke, crashing water drowns speech. Knifepoint rainbows shimmer over the basalt gorge.
Buy Univisa at Kazungula. Covers day return to Botswana.
Lunch
The Boma, Victoria Falls
Afternoon
Craft market browsing & return to Kasane
Haggle for hippo-bone carvings amid marimba rhythms, then re-enter Botswana by 16:00. Back in Kasane, sip local St Louis lager while watching pied kingfishers hover-dive.
Evening
Riverbanks fish restaurant
Grace's Place for fresh bream (tilapia) grilled with monkey-orange sauce.
Where to Stay Tonight
Kasane (Chobe Safari Lodge)
No need to shift base for a day-trip.
See all Botswana accommodation options →Carry small USD notes for Zimbabwe vendors. They struggle to change large bills.
Day 3 Budget: $220
4
Salt Under the Wheels
Nata, Makgadikgadi Pans
Long south-east drive onto the lunar expanse of Sua Pan.
Morning
Drive Kasane, Nata (308 km)
Leave 07:00 on A33, thorn-scrub cattle posts thinning into palm islands. Stop at Pandamatenga for rooibos espresso. By late morning the horizon blanches, first glimpse of the ancient lakebed.
Lunch
Nata Bird Sanctuary picnic (pick up pies at Nata Spar)
Afternoon
Guided quad-bike onto Sua Pan
Switch to low-pressure tyres. Pink flamingo shards glint on the horizon. The crunch of salt under wheels sounds like breaking glass. Stop at remote cattle skull marker for 360° whiteout photos.
Pre-arrange through Nata Lodge. Tides of waterbirds vary with seasonal pans.
Evening
Stargazing from pan sleep-out deck
Roll out bedrolls on raised wooden deck. No light for 100 km, Milky Way drips like spilled sugar.
Where to Stay Tonight
Nata (Nata Lodge chalets)
Last fuel stop before Maun and has pan-edge camping deck.
See all Botswana accommodation options →Bring polarized sunglasses. Pan glare is fierce even in winter.
Day 4 Budget: $180
5
Meerkats & Baobabs
Ntwetwe Pan, Gweta
Wake with habituated meerkats, walk among 4,000-year-old baobabs.
Morning
Meerkat sunrise visit
Drive 45 min to meerkat burrows. As sun lifts, the colony emerges. One sentry perches on your camera bag while others warm tiny bellies on your shins. Dusty air smells of dry grass and mongoose musk.
Book at Gweta Lodge. Departures at 05:30 sharp.
Lunch
Planet Baobab shakes
Afternoon
Baobab island walk
Stroll between 25 m-wide trunks, fingertips tracing fibrous bark. Hollow Chapman Baobab once served as colonial post office. Inside echoes like a drum when you tap.
Evening
Campfire storytelling with Bushmen guides
Listen to click-language fireside tales while grilled springbok fillets hiss on iron grids.
Where to Stay Tonight
Gweta (Planet Baobab traditional rondavels)
Baobab grove on property and solar-heated showers.
See all Botswana accommodation options →Pack gaiters. Golden grass seeds stick to socks like velcro.
Day 5 Budget: $170
6
Into the Water Maze
Maun, Okavango Delta
Fly or drive to Maun then pole into the delta's reed channels.
Morning
Drive Gweta, Maun (200 km) OR 40 min charter flight
Road option: graded gravel, cattle egrets riding on backs of red Zebu cattle. Flight option: Cessna 206 skims over fan-shaped delta fingers, water glinting like cracked mirrors below.
Book flights through Delta Air for weight allowance clarity.
Lunch
Hilary's Coffee Shop
Afternoon
Mokoro transfer to island camp
Board fiberglass mokoro, poler pushing with 12-foot ngashi pole. Tall reeds tickle elbows, frogs plop, lily scent drifts. Land on tree island for high-tea of vetkoek and wild-sage honey.
Part of 2-night delta package. Confirm poler's English fluency.
Evening
Delta bush dinner
Sit at low table dug into sand, lanterns flickering as kudu fillets braai over mopane coals, nightjars churring overhead.
Where to Stay Tonight
Okavango Delta island camp (Mankwe Bush Camp dome tents)
No fences, hippo calls guaranteed, flush toilets via bucket system.
See all Botswana accommodation options →Put phone in zip-lock; mokoros flip more often than you think.
Day 6 Budget: $250
7
Walking with Giants
Okavango Delta
Foot safari tracking buffalo herds and sitatunga, mokoro glide through lilies.
Morning
Guided walking safari
Leave camp at 06:00 with armed guide. Grass seeds cling to dew-damp boots. Identify white rhino tracks in damp sand, smell wild sage crushed under paw-pad thuds. Elephants tear palm fruit overhead.
Included in stay. Max 6 walkers for safety.
Lunch
Camp brunch platter
Afternoon
Mokoro photography glide
Drift through cathedral reeds, purple water lilies opening for afternoon sun. Kingfishers flash cobalt wings. You smell crushed watermint each time the mokoro nose nudges banks.
Evening
Floodplain sundowners
Climb termite mound with gin & tonic, watch buffalo silhouette against orange sky. Crickets start their dusk orchestra at 18:30 sharp.
Where to Stay Tonight
Okavango Delta (Mankwe Bush Camp (second night))
Two full days limits packing up.
See all Botswana accommodation options →Spray socks with permethrin before walk. Tsetses love delta shade.
Day 7 Budget: $240
8
Flight to Cat Central
Okavango Delta, Khwai Concession
Light-aircraft hop to predator-rich Khwai for leopard and wild-dog action.
Morning
Scenic flight to Khwai
10-seater Caravan lifts off, flying low over hippo highways and palm-dotted islands. Spot giraffe necks sticking out like periscopes. Land on Khwai dirt strip, greeted by iced hibiscus juice.
Book seats on left side for best delta photos.
Lunch
Khwai Guest House veranda plates
Afternoon
First Khwai game drive
Open-sided cruiser follows hippo channel. Two male lions sprawl on termite mound, manes catching amber light. Red lechwe splash through water, scent of sage and wild mint on breeze.
Part of full-board package. Private guide optional.
Evening
Boma dinner under jackalberry trees
Taste oxtail potjie while hyenas whoop across black waters.
Where to Stay Tonight
Khwai village edge (Khwai Guest House luxury tents)
Community-run, profits fund local school.
See all Botswana accommodation options →Pack neutral layers; Khwai nights drop to 8 °C even in September.
Day 8 Budget: $280
9
Night Eyes
Khwai Concession
All-day predator tracking finishing with spotlight safari after dark.
Morning
Wild-dog tracking drive
Track radio-collared pack. Engine off, only panting dogs and click of camera shutters. Pack splashes through lily lagoon, pups squealing, smell of wet dog and hippo dung heavy in air.
Leave camp at 05:30 when dogs hunt.
Lunch
Bush picnic near hippo pool
Afternoon
Leopard siesta stake-out
Wait in shade of leadwood tree. Female leopard descends at 15:00 carrying impala fawn. Musky scent of kill drifts downwind as she hoists carcass into jackalberry branches.
Evening
Night drive with spotlight
Red eyes glow back: genet, civet, bush babies leaping between fever trees. End with Amarula coffee back at camp fire.
Where to Stay Tonight
Khwai (Khwai Guest House (second night))
Consolidates laundry and battery charging.
See all Botswana accommodation options →Bring two headlamps. One always dies when leopard eyes appear.
Day 9 Budget: $260
10
Desert Edge Switch
Khwai, Maun, Ghanzi
Exit delta via Maun, head west into acacia scrub and cattle ranch country.
Morning
Game-drive transfer to Maun airstrip
Slow exit drive watching giraffe browse sausage trees. Stop for ground hornbills stalking grasshoppers. Small-plane hop or 4-hour tar road west.
Road option lets you re-stock groceries in Maun Spar.
Lunch
Old Bridge Backpackers
Afternoon
Drive Maun, Ghanzi (300 km)
Straight Trans-Kalahari highway. Thornveld turns to silver terminalia savanna. Stop at Takatokwane for ice-cold Stoney ginger beer in dusty bottle store.
Evening
Farm-style steak dinner
Thakadu Hotel restaurant: 300 g sirloin with monkey-orange sauce, walls hung with hunting trophies.
Where to Stay Tonight
Ghanzi (Thakadu Hotel ranch rooms)
Secure parking, generator power cuts at 22:00, sleep comes easy.
See all Botswana accommodation options →Fill up at Ghanzi Shell. Next reliable fuel is 250 km west.
Day 10 Budget: $160
11
Bushmen Tracks
Ghanzi, D'Kar
Morning walk with Ncoakhoe San trackers, afternoon craft market and storytelling.
Morning
San guided walk
Follow barefoot guides who point out wild cucumber tubers and termite edible queens. Smell wild sage on fingers. Learn to make fire by spinning fire-stick between palms.
Walk starts 07:00 to beat heat.
Lunch
D'Kar Kuru Café
Afternoon
Craft workshop visit
Watch women stitch glass beads into leather bracelets while the smell of cowhide and wood smoke drifts from nearby kilns. Pick up a small painted ostrich egg, carry-on safe and light enough to tuck into your suitcase.
Evening
Traditional dance performance
A drum circle pulses beneath camelthorn trees; dancers' ankle rattles lock rhythm with the clapping of visitors.
Where to Stay Tonight
D'Kar (Dqae Qare San Lodge rondavels)
Proceeds fund San education trust.
See all Botswana accommodation options →Tuck a few exercise books and pens into your daypack, San kids gather at every dance event and small gifts go fast.
Day 11 Budget: $140
12
Red Dunes & Black-Maned Lions
Ghanzi, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Long haul south to predator-packed red-dune wilderness.
Morning
Drive Ghanzi, Twee Rivieren gate (210 km)
The strip road slices through flat thornveld, then rises into rolling red dunes. At Two Rivers the border formalities take twenty minutes. Hot diesel and roasted corn drift from street vendors at the gate kiosk.
Carry passport even for day entry.
Lunch
Picnic at Rooiputs waterhole
Afternoon
First Kgalagadi game drive
Red dunes bleed into purple shadows. Gemsbok stand sharp-horned against the skyline. Brake at Samevloeing waterhole where three cheetahs sprawl beside a fresh springbok kill, metallic blood scent hanging in the hot air.
Buy 7-day park permit at gate.
Evening
Campsite braai
Grilled boerewors under thorn trees, jackal yelps from dune crests.
Where to Stay Tonight
Twee Rivieren rest camp (Cottage with air-con)
Last reliable fuel and first Kalahari lion territory.
See all Botswana accommodation options →Buy wood bundles at gate shop. Outside vendors sell wet camelthorn that smokes.
Day 12 Budget: $150
13
Cheetah Alley
Kgalagadi, Mata-Mata
Budget a full day for the dune corridor famous for cheetah and black-maned lion sightings.
Morning
Drive Nossob River road
Sunrise paints the dunes peach; bat-eared foxes trot the roadside. At Kij-Kij waterhole two adolescent cheetahs pant beside a springbok carcass, fur matted with blood and dust.
Lunch
Picnic at Melkvlei waterhole
Afternoon
Mata-Mata border loop
Swing west at Union's End; a black-maned Kalahari lion dozes under a shepherd tree, mane tips brushing the sand. Ground-squirrel colonies whistle alarm calls. Hot resin scent drifts from umbrella thorn.
Fill water at Nossob camp, next tap 120 km.
Evening
Sunset atop Kalahari dune
Climb the 50 m dune north of camp. Watch the sun drop like molten copper while the dunes shift from red to maroon. Pour boxed wine from the cooler box and toast the day.
Where to Stay Tonight
Nossob camp (Riverfront chalet)
Animal traffic along dry riverbed all night.
See all Botswana accommodation options →Bring telephoto beanbag. Vehicle window shots are shaky on corrugated roads.
Day 13 Budget: $140
14
Final Pula & Departure
Kgalagadi, Upington, Johannesburg
Morning last-chance leopard hunt, long drive to Upington flight home.
Morning
Dawn predator drive
Start early, 05:30 while the engine is still cool. Leopard tracks lie fresh in the dusty road: round pads, no claw marks. Spot the female draped over an acacia branch, tail twitching above an unsuspecting steenbok below.
Gate opens 06:00; last photo stop before exit.
Lunch
Upington Wimpy
Afternoon
Drive to Upington airport (250 km tar)
The straight road runs through grape vineyards and sheep farms. Dust devils twirl across stony flats. Return the rental and catch the 17:00 flight to Johannesburg still smelling of campfire and Kalahari dust in your hair.
Book 4×4 drop-off 24 h prior to avoid paperwork delays.
Evening
Departure
Evening flight home. Remember to declare that ostrich egg at customs.
Where to Stay Tonight
Depart Botswana (N/A)
Trip concludes at Upington airport.
See all Botswana accommodation options →Pack a spare T-shirt in carry-on; border post dust sticks to everything.
Day 14 Budget: $100
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
A self-drive 4×4 with dual-battery system and 40 L water is optimal. Roads are graded dirt but corrugations are common. Domestic flights Maun, Kasane, Khwai shave off two days. Fuel is available in Kasane, Nata, Maun, Ghanzi, Twee Rivieren, carry 80 L spare jerry for the Kgalagadi stretch.
Book Ahead
Secure in advance: Chobe and Kgalagadi park permits, Maun mokoro camps, Khwai concession, Victoria Falls Univisa, domestic flights in high season (July, Sep).
Packing Essentials
Pack neutral clothing layers, 300 mm lens, headlamp + spare, malaria prophylaxis, cash Pula & USD, solar panel for cameras, dust-proof bags, gaiters for delta walks.
Total Budget
$3,200, 4,200 for 14 days excluding flights
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Camp at national-park sites (Chobe Ihaha, Moremi South Gate, Nossob) with your own tent. Cook over fire and use shared ablutions. Swap charter flights for long drives and group mokoro transfers.
Luxury Upgrade
Book all-inclusive lodges: Chobe Chilwero, Jao Camp, Jack's Camp on the pans, Tau Pan Lodge in Kgalagadi. Helicopter delta transfers, private chef, spa treatments between drives.
Family-Friendly
Replace walking safaris with shorter child-friendly drives, book family units at Chobe Safari Lodge and Thakadu Hotel, skip sleep-outs on the pans, bring malaria prophylaxis suitable for kids, pack binoculars for each child.
Book Activities for Your Trip
Tours, tickets, and experiences in Botswana
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Botswana.
See All Botswana Tours on Viator