Book this 20-day Botswana Kalahari self-drive safari from N$ 133,000. You start at Victoria Falls in Zambia, then drive through Botswana. The route covers Nxai Pan, the Makgadikgadi Pans, the Central Kalahari, Moremi Game Reserve, Khwai, Savuti and Chobe National Park. You end in Kasane.
People Tours & Safari CC (PTS) books your lodges and campsites and briefs you on your vehicle and route. You spend 10 nights in lodges and 9 nights in campsites. The best months for this trip are May to October.
Trip Summary
- Duration: 20 days, 19 nights
- Countries: Zambia and Botswana
- Start: Livingstone, Zambia
- End: Kasane, Botswana
- Accommodation: 10 nights in lodges and camps, 9 nights in campsites
- Best season: May to October
- Price: From N$ 133,000
Where You Stay
- Waterberry Lodge, Livingstone: 2 nights
- Kubu Lodge, Kasane: 1 night
- Nata Lodge, Nata: 1 night
- South Camp Campsite, Nxai Pan: 1 night
- Baines Baobab Campsite, Nxai Pan: 1 night
- Boteti River Camp, Makgadikgadi Pans: 2 nights
- Deception Pan Campsite, Central Kalahari: 1 night
- Sunday Pan Campsite, Central Kalahari: 1 night
- Motopi Pan Campsite, Central Kalahari: 1 night
- Gray’s Eden, Maun: 1 night
- Third Bridge Campsite, Moremi Game Reserve: 1 night
- Xakanaxa Campsite, Moremi Game Reserve: 1 night
- Sango Safari Camp, Khwai Concession: 2 nights
- Savuti Campsite, Chobe National Park: 1 night
- Ihaha Campsite, Chobe National Park: 1 night
- Chobe River Lodge, Kasane: 1 night
20-Day Self-Drive Itinerary
Days 1 and 2: Livingstone, Zambia
You are transferred from Livingstone to Waterberry Lodge, on the banks of the Zambezi River. Use the second day to visit Victoria Falls.
Overnight: Waterberry Lodge
Day 3: Livingstone to Kasane, Botswana
Cross the Kazungula border into Botswana and drive to Kubu Lodge, a small private lodge in Kasane. A member of the PTS team meets you here for your vehicle and route briefing.
Overnight: Kubu Lodge
Day 4: Kasane to Nata
Drive south toward the Makgadikgadi region and Nxai Pan. Break the drive at Nata Lodge. You can visit the nearby bird sanctuary.
Overnight: Nata Lodge
Day 5: Nata to Nxai Pan
Drive west to Nxai Pan, a flat grass pan with islands of umbrella acacia trees. It shares a boundary with Makgadikgadi.
Overnight: South Camp Campsite
Day 6: Across Nxai Pan to Baines Baobab
Drive across Nxai Pan to Baines Baobab Campsite. The campsite sits on a rise among seven large baobab trees and overlooks the Kudiakam Pan salt flats. The pitches are well spread out, so each one feels private.
Overnight: Baines Baobab Campsite
Days 7 and 8: Boteti River Camp, Makgadikgadi Pans
Drive south to Boteti River Camp. The camp overlooks the riverbed and is close to Makgadikgadi National Park. Explore one of the largest salt pans in the world and learn about rural life in Botswana.
Overnight: Boteti River Camp
Day 9: Deception Pan, Central Kalahari
Enter the Central Kalahari. The landscape and the wildlife are very different from the northern parks of Botswana.
Overnight: Deception Pan Campsite
Day 10: Sunday Pan, Central Kalahari
Drive deeper into the Central Kalahari. The campsites at Sunday Pan sit around a pan with a clump of acacia trees in the middle. Watch the sunset from the pan. You may see bat-eared foxes.
Overnight: Sunday Pan Campsite
Day 11: Motopi Pan, Central Kalahari
Drive west to Motopi Pan. Few visitors come here. The three campsites are well away from the rest of the reserve.
Overnight: Motopi Pan Campsite
Day 12: Central Kalahari to Maun
Leave the Central Kalahari and drive north to Maun. Stay at Gray’s Eden, a luxury boutique hotel. Restock food and refuel in town.
Overnight: Gray’s Eden
Day 13: Third Bridge, Moremi Game Reserve
Camp at Third Bridge, in the trees on the far side of a bridge. All kinds of game visit the campsite. Lions sometimes cross the bridge and walk into camp.
Overnight: Third Bridge Campsite
Day 14: Xakanaxa, Moremi Game Reserve
Drive north through Moremi. This part of the park has far more water, wildlife and green growth. Xakanaxa Campsite is in a quiet corner of the park. Bushbuck visit often.
Overnight: Xakanaxa Campsite
Days 15 and 16: Sango Safari Camp, Khwai
Drive to Sango Safari Camp, a small tented camp on the Khwai River. The camp is simple. The guides and the food are good.
Overnight: Sango Safari Camp
Day 17: Savuti, Chobe National Park
Drive into Chobe National Park to Savuti Campsite, next to the Savuti Park Rangers Post. Savuti is deep in the park. It has rock paintings and large populations of hyenas and lions. Old bull elephants stay near the waterholes.
Overnight: Savuti Campsite
Day 18: Ihaha, Chobe River
Drive to Ihaha Campsite on the banks of the Chobe River. It is one of the best game viewing areas in southern Africa. The campsites are well spaced.
Overnight: Ihaha Campsite
Day 19: Chobe River Lodge, Kasane
Pack up camp for the last time and drive back to Kasane. Spend your last night in Botswana at Chobe River Lodge, a small lodge on the banks of the Chobe River.
Overnight: Chobe River Lodge
Day 20: Departure
Your trip ends in Kasane. Confirm your departure plan with PTS when you book.
Book This Botswana Kalahari Self-Drive Safari
Book your 20-day Botswana Kalahari self-drive safari with PTS. Send an enquiry with your travel dates and group size to get your quote.
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