Compare Okavango Delta Budget Lodge Safari by African Budget Safaris vs Wildlife & Wilderness of Botswana by Exodus Travels
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
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5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 7 days | 14 days |
| Price From | $ 778 | $ 4,275 |
| Price Per Day | $ 111 | $ 305 |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Basic | Standard |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included |
7 Breakfast, 2 Lunches and 6 Dinners |
All breakfasts, seven lunches and seven dinners included. Breakfast: Cereals, coffee and toast and the occasional fried breakfast/brunch. Lunch: Cheese, cold meats, salads, bread or rolls. Dinner: Potjies (stew), braais (barbecue), stir-fries, etc. Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this holiday. Please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so our local team can be well prepared. The trip leaders do all the shopping and meal planning for each group. They will always try to obtain fresh produce wherever possible. Each tour has one cool box for meat and fresh produce only and one cool box for cold drinks. We supply squash, tea or coffee with meals. All other beverages will be at your own expense. On some days where early morning game drives are included, lunch may be substituted for a large brunch on return from the game drive – this is customary. We will always ensure the number of meals detailed in the trip notes are provided. The water provided on this trip is safe, clean drinking water, normally from boreholes. You can buy bottled water if you prefer, but we encourage you to make use of the safe drinking water provided as this helps diminish plastic consumption. |
| Description |
Departing from Livingstone, a few kilometers from Victoria Falls on the Zambian side, this budget lodge safari takes you into Botswana to experience Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta, Botswana's top safari destinations.Venture into the heart of the watery Okavango Delta by traditional dugout canoe and camp out under the stars on a remote island in this pristine wilderness area - an unforgettable wildlife experience! |
Take a journey into the wilds of Botswana. Glide along the Okavango Delta in traditional mokoro canoes and admire a billion stars from the otherworldly and eerily silent Makgadikgadi Pans. Search for the emblematic wildlife of Africa on the Savuti Marsh and the Moremi Reserve and take to the Chobe River, home to the highest concentration of elephants anywhere. Finally discover why David Livingstone, upon seeing Victoria Falls, declared ‘scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.’ Aldo Kane Collection: A hand-selected range of adventures by our Brand Ambassador: "This was always on my bucket list of trips, to see the Okavango Delta floods. I recently had the opportunity to travel down the iconic Okavango Delta waterways in traditional Mokoro canoes with the local Exodus expert Polers. Without a doubt, it was one of the most serene ways to travel I've ever experienced. It was so quiet that we could literally glide past herds of elephant, giraffe, buffalo and sections teeming with hippos without disturbing them." This trip includes a few of our Citizen Science Departures. These special departures offer you the opportunity to be involved in the collection of freshwater samples during the trip. The environmental DNA information derived from this sample will contribute directly to the eBioAtlas; the world’s largest repository of flora and fauna species data, contributing to the conservation and restoration of biodiversity both locally and globally. To book onto one of these special departures, see the Dates & Prices tab. For more information on these departures and the eBioAtlas, click here.Delta, falls, saltpans, bush: Discover the best of Botswana’s wilderness |
Day 1: Livingstone to Chobe National Park & Kasane – Botswana (Dinner)
Our week-long safari starts in Livingstone, a few kilometers from the famous Victoria Falls, on the Zambian side. On day one we depart from a meeting point located on the banks of the Zambezi River, near Vic Falls.
Day 2: Chobe to Gweta – Botswana (Breakfast & Dinner)
Today we have an early breakfast and take a leisurely drive south to the small village of Gweta, located just outside of the Nxai Pan National Park. Along the way we keep our eyes peeled for big old elephant bulls and buffalos that are found in this unfenced area of Botswana. We pause for lunch or snacks in Nata, before proceeding to Gweta - the closest town to the salt pans of the Kalahari basin in northeastern Botswana.
Day 3: Gweta to Maun – Botswana (Breakfast & Dinner)
Rise for an early breakfast before taking a guided walking tour in a Tswana village near Gweta.
On our guided tour we visit a local school, doctor and stores, walking around the village to see how the Tswana people live in rural Botswana. The village visit is a great way to gain insight into the traditions of these African people.
Day 4: Okavango Delta – Botswana (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
We slowly follow rough tracks into the untamed Okavango Delta, crossing the Buffalo Fence which was erected to keep cattle out of the delta.
Reaching the fringes of the delta waterways we transfer to mokoros and continue deeper into this wild part of Africa. Experienced and knowledgeable local guides 'pole' us along the winding channels and tranquil lagoons in the mokoros, which are traditional dugout canoes. A 'poler' stands in the back of each mokoro like a gondolier, guiding you through this extensive wetland system.
Day 5: Okavango Delta to Maun – Botswana (Breakfast & Dinner)
Wake up in one of Africa's wildest places and take a guided morning walk in the bush, a great time to sight wildlife and birds. Then we have a light breakfast and glide out of the beautiful Okavango Delta in our mokoros. We return to the mokoro station and our 4x4 safari vehicle, bringing our unforgettable delta experience to a close. Back in Maun we have lunch at our camp outside of town, enjoying a hot shower and some rest.
Day 6: Maun to Khama Rhino Sanctuary – Botswana (Breakfast & Dinner)
From Maun we travel south to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, getting up early for a hearty breakfast before hitting the road.
We drive along the edges of the Kalahari Desert region in central Botswana, passing through the small town of Mopipi. This little-visited town is located near Makgadikgadi Pans, which we can see spreading out beyond the town.
Day 7: Johannesburg – South Africa (Breakfast)
On the final day of this Okavango Budget Lodge Safari we cross back into South Africa travelling to Johannesburg, the City of Gold.
Along the way we visit the historic town of Serowe, a regional hub for commerce and trade. Then we return to Martin's Drift on the border and travel back through the changing landscapes of the Limpopo and Gauteng provinces, stopping for lunch in Mokopane.
Day 1 Start Maun
The adventure begins at our campsite on the banks of the Thamalakane River. You can arrive at any time and make use of the site facilities, which includes a bar, swimming pool and much-loved restaurant. Accommodation: Audi Camp (or similar)
Day 2 To Okavango Delta
We pack minimal gear for two nights into a smaller bag (provided), before a 4x4 transfer into the Okavango Delta. At the polers' station, we meet a team from a nearby village who will look after us during our stay in the delta. With them, we travel in mokoros (traditional canoes) deep into the Okavango Delta. We have lunch at our riverbank campsite, and then our first game walk in the late afternoon. We return to camp before sunset and for our first meal in the African bush. Accommodation: Okavango Delta Wild Camp
Day 3 Morning game walk; sunset dug-out canoe trip on the Okavango Delta
We get up early this morning for a game walk with a guide from the poling team. There are never any guarantees with wildlife, but there is the chance of seeing elephants, buffalos and other smaller game. We return to camp for brunch and time to relax. In the afternoon, we take a short mokoro trip on the river to view the sunset before returning to camp. Accommodation: Okavango Delta Wild Camp
Day 4 Return to Maun; free afternoon
This morning, we board our mokoros for the trip back to the polers' station. We meet our vehicle and transfer back to Maun for the night, where we will purchase supplies for the days ahead. The afternoon is free to relax by the pool or take an optional scenic flight over the delta. Accommodation: Audi Camp (or similar)
Day 5 Visit Makgadikgadi Salt Pan
After a relaxed breakfast, we head east to the vast Makgadikgadi Salt Pan. We camp wild on the pan or one of the campsites nearby, depending on the conditions. The Makgadikgadi Salt Pan covers more than 6,180sqmi (16,000sqkm) and forms the bed of an ancient lake – now dried up. The sunsets here are spectacular. Accommodation: Makgadikgadi Pan wild camp (or similar)
Day 6 To Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls
Today we have a long drive north before crossing into Zimbabwe to Victoria Falls, a town minutes from the waterfalls of the same name. At the Kasangula border, we complete border formalities and continue to our accommodation for the next two nights. The falls themselves are more than 5,580ft (1,700m) wide and 330ft (100m) tall, making them the largest waterfalls in the world. Accommodation: Premier Lodge (or similar)
Day 7 Free day for optional activities at Victoria Falls
Today is a free day to take part in one of the many optional activities on offer, including white-water rafting, flights over the falls and various others. Accommodation: Premier Lodge (or similar)
Day 8 Free morning to visit Victoria Falls; afternoon to Chobe; optional boat trip
This morning, we can view the Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwean side, before returning to Botswana. It’s then a short drive from the border to the town of Kasane, where we camp by the Thebe River, a tributary of the mighty Zambezi. The afternoon is free, with an option to view game on a cruise down the Chobe River. This is widely regarded as one of the best game cruises in Africa with a very good chance of seeing elephant herds drinking from the river before sunset. Accommodation: Thebe River Camp (or similar)
Day 9 Discover Chobe National Park; visit Savuti
We take an early morning game drive back to the Chobe Waterfront area. Chobe is famous for its large population of elephants but is also home to plenty of other game, including lions and wild dogs. After exploring the northern end of this huge park, we head south into remote, rugged terrain, passing in and out of the national park, before finally reaching the Savuti Area at the southern edge of the park. Here, the Savuti Marsh is fed by the Savuti River channel, which alternately flows and then dries up for years at a time. Recent flooding has given this area new life. It’s home to plenty of game, but is especially well known for lions, and the large numbers of elephant that walk enormous distances to find fodder. Accommodation: Zwei-Zwei or Savuti Wild Camp
Day 10 Full-day game drive on the Savuti Marsh
We take morning and afternoon game drives on the Savuti Marsh. There is a good chance of seeing the lions, cheetahs and hyenas that follow the seasonal zebra migration through this area. Large secretary birds and kori bustards are often seen strutting around the marsh and small red-billed francolins provide a noisy morning wake-up. Accommodation: Zwei-Zwei or Savuti Wild Camp
Day 11 Game drive on the way to Moremi
After breaking camp, we drive to Moremi Game Reserve. Along the way, we pass through a variety of habitats, including the Mbabe depression, Mopani forest and past great Acacia trees before arriving at Khwai village and the North Gate entrance of Moremi Game Reserve. Moremi National Park is the jewel in Botswana's wildlife crown. Protecting much of the northern part of the Okavango Delta, it encompasses waterways, marshes, islands and open grasslands. Accommodation: Moremi Wild Camp
Day 12 Full day safari in Moremi Game Reserve
We take morning and afternoon game drives through this beautiful, protected area, looking for the large variety of animals that live here. Despite its wet reputation, there is plenty of dry land in Moremi, which allows our game drives to cover significant distances while spotting game in the sometimes-dense vegetation. It’s a good place to spot elephants, lions, leopards and cheetahs, while red lechwe, a water-dwelling antelope, are often seen grazing among the lilies. Accommodation: Moremi Wild Camp
Day 13 Morning game drive in Moremi; to Maun
We go on a final game drive through the park this morning before returning to Maun and our riverside campsite. We can enjoy the swimming pool before our last dinner at the campsite restaurant. Accommodation: Audi Camp (or similar)
Day 14 End Maun
The adventure ends after breakfast and we begin our return journey home.
