Highlights of Botswana Safari

Camp Kalahari Overview

Set among acacia trees on Brown Hyena Island bordering Makgadikgadi Pans National park, Camp Kalahari is the perfect base for witnessing the wildebeest and zebra migration along with incredible birdlife, including flamingo. The island’s name gives away that it’s also possible to spot the rare brown hyena, which is virtually impossible to see anywhere else in Africa. Some of the other animals you might marvel at including the elephants that stop at the camp’s pool for a drink while on their nomadic journey, cheetah, lion, and small mammals like the aardvark and bat eared fox. You’ll have close encounters with the famous meerkats who like to hang around camp. A variety of activities are available, including quad bike rides across the Makgadikgadi Pans, day and night game drives. Accommodation is in Meru-style tents with four-posted beds and private, en-suite open-air bathrooms for showering outdoors. With interconnecting family tents, you can bring the kids too.

Kalahari Plains Camp Overview

The Kalahari Plains Camp is located in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana. It is renowned for its cheetah and Kalahari black-maned lion viewing, with full-day open 4×4 outings or twice-daily game drives promising impressive sightings of all sorts of carnivores along with wildebeest, springbok, mongoose, honey badger, and more. Guests stay in tented chalets with en-suite bathrooms that include walk-in showers are built on wooden decks, each of which includes a fabulous sleep-out area just above for taking advantage of the incredible stargazing after dark and the lush, green bush lands during the day. There are lots of special touches to appreciate, including insect repellent, extra blankets for those chilly winter nights, and even a sarong which is really helpful during the hot summer months, wetted down to help keep you cool. The grounds include a small saltwater pool and look-out deck, while the often raved-about meals includes family-style dinners around a communal table in the dining area or a roaring campfire.

Little Vumbura

At little Vumbura, the adventure begins en route to the camp that’s perched on a private island, with access only possible by a boat that weaves between water lilies and reeds. Guests stay in one of seven tents with wooden floors, large beds, in and outdoor showers, a separate sunken lounge, and a private veranda from which to view the floodplains. Each room is colored in neutral tones with light touches of indigo echoing the waters surrounding the island, and every tent has a small collection of African art.

A walkway leads to a small library and lookout and there are floating decks and lamp-lit public areas, excellent venues to sample the local cuisine, created with seasonal ingredients from local farmers. The nearby mosaic of habitats supports all kinds of wildlife, with buffalo and elephants often sighted nearby, but you’ll see leopards, lions, crocodiles, and red lechwe on game drives and water safaris.

Vumbura Plains

A stunning camp expertly woven into its natural surroundings and exceptionally well-located to explore the waterways, island woodlands, and wildlife of the Kavango Delta, Vumbura Plains is every bit as adventurous as it is luxurious. The fourteen thatched roof villas offer a generous amount of space with open plan living and sleeping areas, en suite bathrooms, large beds, and panoramic views of the floodplains from beautifully finished sunken lounges and decked terraces, each with a private plunge pool, ideal for languorous afternoons dedicated to wildlife watching.

Explore the wooden walkways that lead across the camp for delightful stargazing opportunities and al fresco dining characterized by seasonal staples from local farmers, as well as safari staples such as Phapata bread cooked over the campfire. Wildlife like elephants and otters are never far away, and game drives, night drives, boat safaris, and guided walks show off other charismatic locals: lions, jackals, crocodiles, and hundreds of colorful bird species.

Linyanti Tented Camp

An old-style “vintage” camp within the Okavango Delta’s famous Linyanti Concession, Linyanti Tented offers an intimate stay with modest comforts for a more affordable stay, far from the design-focused chic that has become all the rage in recent years. The five traditional Meru-style canvas tents are uniquely appointed in the style of early explorers, and all overlook the Linyanti River and include hot showers, sinks, and toilets. The main lounge sits above the delta where elephants and wildlife often gather providing a perfect spot to watch while activities include game drives by four-wheel drive during the day and after dark. Short walks and boat excursions like canoeing in large canoes on the nearby lagoons are possible too, something that most other camps in Botswana rarely offer. The dining and bar area overlooks the river while evenings are spent under the stars around a bonfire sharing the stories of the day.

Sable Alley

Located in the Khwai Private Reserve bordering Moremi Game Reserve in northern Botswana, Sable Alley overlooks a tranquil lagoon. It’s a classic tented camp offering a high-value stay, built to minimize its impact on the environment while offering activities that include game drives, walking safaris, and night drives. The tents are elevated on raised decking and include options for families, with all featuring private verandas that look out to the lagoon and floodplain. There are comfortable beds that look out through sliding glass doors to the lagoon, large photos of the area’s wildlife, a dressing area with double sinks and Healing Earth bath products, and a bathroom with the toilet and shower in separate areas. There’s another shower outside on secluded decking too. Meals are generous with hearty dishes – on morning game drives you’ll enjoy a light bite with brunch served upon return. Dinners are three-course, with options for private romantic dinners.