Types of Botswana Safaris
Although a Safari may be understood as a holiday/ vacation that focuses on game viewing (which can include birding), there are a surprising number of types of safari – particularly in a country such as Botswana.
The Lodge Safari (often also known as a Fly-in Safari)
A Lodge Safari continues to be a very popular way of enjoying a Botswana Safari. Here you travel by light aircraft from Lodge to Lodge. Most lodges have airstrips or a close to one, and thus you save hours in a vehicle as hop from property to property. This also allows for some aerial game viewing and for interesting scenic flights.
Botswana has an excellent tradition of light aircraft charter flights – both ‘’shared’’ and private. There is also an excellent network of Camps and Lodges, which suit most budgets. You can there enjoy a surprising extensive trip, visiting the wildlife hotspots.
Whilst at the Lodge your stay includes meals, local-brand drinks, teas/ coffee, scheduled activities (which can vary from game drives, walks, boating, mokoro excursions, birding, fishing, and village visits).
Botswana has an excellent tradition of light aircraft charter flights – both ‘’shared’’ and private. There is also an excellent network of Camps and Lodges, which suit most budgets. You can there enjoy a surprising extensive trip, visiting the wildlife hotspots.
Whilst at the Lodge your stay includes meals, local-brand drinks, teas/ coffee, scheduled activities (which can vary from game drives, walks, boating, mokoro excursions, birding, fishing, and village visits).
The Mobile Safari
Mobile Safaris are offered on a scheduled and ad hoc basis, and are run in specially converted 4x4 vehicles, generally offering window-seats (and thus the best views). There are a number of excellent Mobile Safari operators. Guests can choose from tented safaris (participation, non-participation, semi-participation), lodge safaris and combination of tented and lodge. In terms of the participation aspect – you either have nothing to do in terms of camp set-up, or you can assist with putting up tents etc or you can do that and help with the washing-up!
Most Mobile Operators make use of specially designated Tour Operator Camps sites – mostly within the National Parks and Reserves, and occasionally in private concessions.
These aspects naturally also have an effect on the cost of the Safari. The Mobile Safari can also be offered on a private basis – particularly popular for families or small groups of friends. These are also useful for special interests – such as birding.
Depending upon the routing of the Safari, some do include a couple of short charter flights – as they may need to go deeper into the Okavango, where there are no access roads.
Although Mobile Safaris tend to be offered year-round, they are more popular in the peak game viewing months of June to November, and there are fewer offered in the green season (late November to April).
Most Mobile Operators make use of specially designated Tour Operator Camps sites – mostly within the National Parks and Reserves, and occasionally in private concessions.
These aspects naturally also have an effect on the cost of the Safari. The Mobile Safari can also be offered on a private basis – particularly popular for families or small groups of friends. These are also useful for special interests – such as birding.
Depending upon the routing of the Safari, some do include a couple of short charter flights – as they may need to go deeper into the Okavango, where there are no access roads.
Although Mobile Safaris tend to be offered year-round, they are more popular in the peak game viewing months of June to November, and there are fewer offered in the green season (late November to April).
Photographic Safaris
Effectively, all Botswana Safaris have what might be called a photographic element to them – as guests are keen not only to enjoy some excellent wildlife viewing and experiences, but also to get photographs/ videos as such.
Many guides both at Lodges and on Mobile Safaris are themselves keen photographers, and are able to assist with positioning vehicles and so forth to assist with the best possible shot.
There are also an increasing number of Mobile and Lodges offering specifically designed for the keen photographer. You can even borrow specialist equipment (lenses in particular) to allow for improved photographs and experiences.
Many guides both at Lodges and on Mobile Safaris are themselves keen photographers, and are able to assist with positioning vehicles and so forth to assist with the best possible shot.
There are also an increasing number of Mobile and Lodges offering specifically designed for the keen photographer. You can even borrow specialist equipment (lenses in particular) to allow for improved photographs and experiences.
Riding/ Horseback Safaris
There are a number of excellent Riding Safari options in Botswana – whether in and around the Okavango, the Makgadikgadi or the Tuli Block. In nearly all cases, you do need to be an experienced rider, who is a regular in the saddle.
The horses are all well-schooled, there are excellent guides, and your rides take you into game-rich areas for some unique experiences.
The lodges and camps which offer Riding Safaris all also a variety of other activities, and can this cater for non-riders.
The horses are all well-schooled, there are excellent guides, and your rides take you into game-rich areas for some unique experiences.
The lodges and camps which offer Riding Safaris all also a variety of other activities, and can this cater for non-riders.
Birding Safaris
Birding is a hugely popular pursuit, and many visit Botswana for staggering numbers (both in terms of species and volume) of birds. Although the country doesn’t have endemics, per se, it does have some very interesting, and rare species. There are also a good number of migrants.
In terms of the Photographic Safaris, some are specifically aimed at birders. Many Lodges and Mobile Safaris also have specifically trained guides who can make your Birding Safari a trip of a life-time. You can enjoy stays at individual lodges or travel with a specialist guide.
In terms of the Photographic Safaris, some are specifically aimed at birders. Many Lodges and Mobile Safaris also have specifically trained guides who can make your Birding Safari a trip of a life-time. You can enjoy stays at individual lodges or travel with a specialist guide.
Self-Drive Safaris
These are very popular, but it is advisable that you have some experience with 4x4 driving. A self-drive Safari in Botswana is not for the faint of heart – it means long hours of driving in some very challenging conditions.
There are a number of excellent vehicle-hire companies, some of which also include all of the required equipment for camping safaris. Or you hire a vehicle and you then drive between lodges. In such a case though, once at the lodge you do need to do the game drives with their guide and vehicle.
Should you wish to do a camping self-drive, you make use of the Public Campsites which are generally in the National Parks and Reserves.
There are a number of excellent vehicle-hire companies, some of which also include all of the required equipment for camping safaris. Or you hire a vehicle and you then drive between lodges. In such a case though, once at the lodge you do need to do the game drives with their guide and vehicle.
Should you wish to do a camping self-drive, you make use of the Public Campsites which are generally in the National Parks and Reserves.
