Botswana in Contrasts: An 11-Day Journey from Delta to Desert

Day 1:

Begin your journey in Maun, the gateway to Botswana’s wilderness. Ease into the warm African sunshine and the relaxed rhythm of life on the edge of the Okavango Delta.

Day 2-3:

Set off in your rental vehicle towards Khwai, where the landscape changes dramatically as water and wilderness intertwine. This lush corner of the delta is rich in wildlife and waterways. Experience it from two perspectives — the excitement of exploring by vehicle and the quiet intimacy of a mokoro, gliding silently through a maze of channels.

Day 4-5:

Leave the waterways of the delta behind and enter the dry, expansive landscapes of the Makgadikgadi Pans. The stark salt flats stretch endlessly towards the horizon, creating an almost otherworldly sense of space. Nearby Nxai Pan National Park reveals another side of this seemingly barren landscape, with the iconic Baines’ Baobabs and, seasonally, the spectacle of migrating zebra.

Day 6:

Continue to Nata, where the vast salt pans once again transform with the arrival of water and birdlife. At the Nata Bird Sanctuary, seasonal wetlands attract impressive numbers of flamingos, pelicans and other bird species — a remarkable contrast between the starkness of the pans and the abundance of life they support.

Day 7 - 8:

Arrive at the Chobe River, where water once again becomes the focal point. The river draws extraordinary concentrations of wildlife, most famously the vast herds of elephants that gather along its banks. After the open solitude of the pans, the Chobe offers a vibrant, wildlife-rich experience.

Day 9 - 10:

Your journey culminates at Victoria Falls, where the scale and power of the water create a dramatic finale. After experiencing Botswana’s dry pans, open wilderness and quiet waterways, the sheer volume and thunder of the Falls is an unforgettable contrast — a fitting end to a journey defined by opposites.

Day 11:

Your transfer takes you to Victoria Falls Airport as you begin your journey home, bringing this unforgettable journey of contrasts to a close.

Included services:

1 night at Thamalakane River Lodge, including breakfast, sunset boat cruise and airport transfer
Car rental for 6 days - Toyota Hilux manual or similar (collect at Maun Airport and drop off at Kasane Airport)
2 nights at Camp Khwai, including all meals, selected beverages and two activities per day.
2 nights Leopard Plains Lodge, including breakfast and afternoon sundowner game drive.
1 night Nata Lodge, including dinner, bed and breakfast and Pan Drive.
2 nights at Chobe Bush Lodge, including dinner, bed & breakfast, 1x boat cruise, 1 x game drive and 1-day park fee.
Transfer from Kasane to Victoria Falls accommodation
2 nights at Shongwe Lookout, including breakfast and Tour of the Falls.
Transfer from Victoria Falls accommodation to Victoria Falls Airport

Recommended travel period:

All year

Excluded services:

Additional meals
Extra rental car services: E-tolling fees, all additional drivers per rental, young driver surcharge per day per driver, delivery and collection fees, document administration fee, traffic fine handling fee, claim handling fee, assessor's fee, water and under-carriage damage to vehicle, GPS unit and WIFI router.
Entrance fees and possibly Conservation Levies
Gasoline & tolls, as well as general rental car costs
Personal extras such as tips, laundry service, roaming etc.
Private expenses
International and/or domestic flights *Visa (if required)

Image Source: LCC Terra Nova Tours
Image Source: LCC Terra Nova Tours
Image Source: LCC Terra Nova Tours
Image Source: LCC Terra Nova Tours
Image Source: LCC Terra Nova Tours
Image Source: LCC Terra Nova Tours
Image Source: LCC Terra Nova Tours
Image Source: LCC Terra Nova Tours