A Guided 10 Days Botswana Safari Itinerary For First Timers

Tour Overview (10 Days Botswana Safari)

A Private Guided 10 Days Botswana Safari Itinerary For First Timers. Book This Affordable Luxury 10 Days Botswana Safari Tour. Visit Africa & Explore Wilderness. This 10-day Botswana Wildlife Safari will show you Victoria Falls, which is the world’s greatest falling water and is one of the Natural Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site. While at Victoria Falls, you will go for the sunset dinner cruise along the river Zambezi. The cruise will go down to River Zambezi so you will likely see hippos, crocodiles, and birdlife while having cocktails.

The trip will continue to Chobe National Park and while there, you will take a 2-3 hours scenic boat trip on the Chobe River. One of the best ways to view animals is from a riverboat on the Chobe. You will also go for a game drive which will offer an opportunity to see the big cats and wild canines. You will also go for a half-day fishing trip at Chobe.

The trip will also proceed to Savuti. Savuti is mainly a predator paradise with plenty of lion viewing, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs. Savuti is of a much drier marsh vegetation terrain compared to the water-logged Okavango Delta terrains of Moremi Game Reserve.

The safari will also take you to the Khwai community area. The Khwai River forms a border of Moreni Game Reserve which is the only officially safeguarded and protected area of the enchanting Okavango Delta and is also highly regarded for its outstanding and dependable wild dog sightings. Your driver guide will identify the migratory birds, tiny frogs, and unusual game like lechwe, and sitatunga antelopes which have adapted to living in Southern Africa’s wetlands.

Finally, you will visit Moreni Game Reserve. Moremi game reserve is a place of residence for the Big Five close to 500 bird species of bird and a vast array of wildlife inclusive of the buffalo, giraffe, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyaena, jackal, impala, red lechwe, African wild dog among others.

Detailed itinerary: 10 Days Botswana Safari

Day 1: Arrival at Victoria Falls Airport and sunset boat cruise on River Zambezi

Upon arrival, you will be met and greeted by our professional English-speaking driver guide. He will take you through the trip plan and then transfer to the hotel.  Upon arrival, you will check-in at the hotel for lunch.

In the evening, you will set out for a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River. The Zambezi River is the fourth-longest in Africa and it flows through six countries before reaching the Indian Ocean. During the boat cruise, you will acquire more knowledge about the Tonga people who have stayed along the Zambezi for centuries and their traditional fishing methods.

Accommodation: The Victoria falls hotel (Luxury)/ Shearwater explorer’s village (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 2: Half-day fishing at Chobe Riverfront and afternoon boat cruise

After breakfast, you will head to the docking point to board the boat with good binoculars. You will be accompanied by an experienced guide who will guide you while exploring the spectacular Chobe Riverfront. No trip to the Chobe River would be complete without a Chobe River fishing trip. Try your hand at catching the elusive tiger fish on the world-famous Chobe River.

In the afternoon, you will be driven to the docking point to board the boat and start the 3-hour sunset boat cruise into the Chobe National Park. The river cruise is considered one of the highlights of the trip as the clients get the opportunity to get up close and personal with fantastic bird life, hippos, crocodiles, and of course scores of elephants and Cape buffalo that make their way down to the river to quench their thirst. After the boat cruise, you will return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: The Victoria falls hotel (Luxury)/ Shearwater explorer’s village (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 3: Morning and evening game drive

After breakfast, you will embark on the morning game drive. You will take our specially adapted open 4X4 vehicles. Drives are along the waterfront where animals assemble to quench their thirst. Commonly sighted animals are elephants, buffaloes, eland, and elephants. Leopards are more difficult to see but if lucky, you can see them. This is a unique chance to experience some of the best game viewing in Africa.

In the evening, you will go for a game drive. Big cats and wild canines are more likely to be sighted around this time of day because they are still active and out and about. After the game drive, you will return to the hotel for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Accommodation: The Victoria falls hotel (Luxury)/ Shearwater explorer’s village (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 4: Transfer from Chobe to Savuti with a sunset game drive

After breakfast, you will check out of the hotel and transfer to Savuti by land. In case you want to prolong your safari, the best way to get to Savuti is by land. You will get to enjoy the animal sightings along the way. This is a game drive and transfer in one!

Alternatively, if you would prefer to reduce the travel time and arrive at Savuti a bit quicker, there is an option of flying. The flight to Savuti takes only thirty minutes and during the flight, you will enjoy beautiful aerial views of the area. Upon arrival, you will check-in at the hotel for lunch and relaxation. End the day with an evening game drive in Savuti in a 4×4 vehicle with a local guide.

Accommodation: Savute under Canvas (Luxury)/ Savute safari lodge (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 5 & 6: Exploring Savuti

On these days in Savuti, you will be pleased with two thrilling guided game drives per day in custom-built 4×4 vehicles. During these game drives, you will be in the company of knowledgeable rangers and trackers, and full board accommodation at your luxury lodgings. The present-day tectonic shifts have tilted the Okavango delta slightly leading to a year-round water supply flowing along the Savute Channel, finally draining into the sands of the Kalahari in the Mababe Depression. Stable water results in the entry and exit of many wildlife in the dry winter months and the sight of crocodiles and hippos, exceedingly scarce not too long ago is now not considered uncommon.

During the dry season with just a small amount of water remaining, animals gather around waterholes and elephants dictate the supply hence the interactions that can only be narrated as breathtaking. The biggest migration of zebras in Southern Africa moves south from the Linyanti Swamp in the summer months to take advantage of the rich grasslands in the Savute area. Following the herds are biggest population of lions was avoided every step of the way by their archenemy, the spotted hyena. Cheetahs, wild dogs, and leopards contest for their share. Elephants move long distances around the extremely rough terrain to get to this Eden. Birdlife is magnificent and around April, you may just observe the greatest congregation of animals on the globe: red-billed queleas crowding in tens of thousands like a rotating cloud on the horizon.

Accommodation: Savute under Canvas (Luxury)/ Savute safari lodge (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 7 & 8: Khwai Community Area, Botswana

After breakfast, you will check out of the hotel and drive to the Khwai Community area where you will spend 2 days and 1 night on an all-inclusive basis inclusive of all game drives. Khwai Tented Camp offers the finest setting of a wilderness area where a community resides in peace and harmony with nature and wildlife. The spectacular Khwai River is the center point for some of the most excellent wildlife sightings in the Khwai area.

Expect to take part in activities like game drives carried out in open 4×4 vehicles and night excursions. Noncompulsory cultural village tours to the old bushman village of Khwai, Moremi excursions & mokoro trips for longer trips must be asked for in advance. The diversity of wild animals that can be sighted in this area includes elephants, buffalos, zebras, lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffes, sable, hippos, and hyenas among others.

The morning hours are the best time to go for a game drive to catch a glimpse of the animals when they are very active. The morning is still the best time of the day to try to catch predators in action. There is a very healthy number of leopards here in Khwai as well as a resident pride of lions and pack of wild dogs.

After hours of uncovering the various parts of Khwai, you will head back to the lodge for lunch. Once more, if you are on a camping safari, this is the best time to shower as it is always cool in the evening hours.

In the evening, you will embark on a late evening game drive to endeavor and see some animals that move at night such as bush babies and nightjars. In the afternoon, you could go for the mokoro excursion which is the best way to encounter some of the wildlife at close quarters.

Accommodation: Khwai leadwood (Luxury)/ Khwai tented camp (Midrange)

Meal plan: Luxury

Day 9: Transfer to Moreni game reserve with sunset game drive

After breakfast, you will check out of the hotel and transfer to Moremi game reserve. You will take some time to uncover the park and see several animals. Upon arrival, you will have a hot lunch with the sounds of animals in the background. You will search for some animals, passing through lagoons and pools along the river channels as well as flat plains.

In the company of your driver guide, you will head out for a sunset and evening game drive within the Deception Valley. Immediately after returning to the camp, you will go for a hot shower before proceeding to dinner around a campfire.

Accommodation:  Nxabega Okavango tented camp (Luxury)/ Saguni safari lodge (Midrange)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 10: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise

Arise early, have breakfast, and set out for an early morning game drive. You will leave the hotel before the sun comes out for sunrise game viewing. If lucky, you will spot the big five as they buffalo herds, groups of impala, and other animals that roam this island.

The major part of this morning will be spent uncovering the extraordinary areas of this part of Moremi Game Reserve before going back to the camp late morning where you will be served brunch.

End of your 10 Days Botswana Safari

Inclusions. (10 Days Botswana Safari)

• Transportation
• English speaking guide
• Accommodation
• Full board meals
• Sunset boat cruise on the Zambezi River
• Fishing at Chobe River
• Sunset cruise at Chobe
• Boat cruise at Moreni
• Park entrance fees
• Game drives
• All transfers
• All activities mentioned above

Excludes (10 Days Botswana Safari)

• Air tickets
• Visa fees
• Tips & gratuities
• Personal expenses