10-Nights Botswana Safari: From Delta To Desert - Tailormade Journeys — CALL

1 Arrive Johannesburg, South Africa

Rising from the plains of the north, Johannesburg is a modern metropolis, the powerhouse of South Africa, its veins coursing with rivers of gold. Yet for all the country’s natural wonders, it is human history that is writ large in Johannesburg: moving museums chart the difficult story of Apartheid, while the Cradle of Humankind is home to the largest concentration of ancient human fossils ever discovered, a fascinating glimpse into where human life began.

Fly to Botswana’s Selinda Reserve, an unfenced wilderness where grassy plains, islands of thicket and waterways draw abundant wildlife. Set between the Linyanti and the Okavango Delta, this remote reserve is home to elephants, lions and plains game, with only a handful of camps sharing access to its vast landscape.

Rise early for a game drive, when predators are most active and the reserve begins to stir. With so few camps in the region, sightings often unfold in remarkable seclusion, allowing for a deeply immersive safari experience. Return for lunch and time to rest before heading back out in the late afternoon as nocturnal wildlife begins to emerge.

Continue exploring Selinda, where each game drive reveals a different facet of this dynamic wilderness. Four of the Big Five may be found here, along with wild dogs and a full complement of plains game. With expert guiding and open landscapes, every outing holds the promise of unexpected wildlife drama.

Travel along the Selinda Spillway to the Okavango Delta, a vast network of lagoons, channels, palm islands and floodplains. Arrive at Chief’s Camp, an A&K Sanctuary, set within this extraordinary wetland wilderness. This afternoon, venture into Moremi Game Reserve on your first game drive or take in the views from your private deck.

Explore Moremi Game Reserve, often called the “Predator’s Capital of Africa” for its exceptional concentration of hunters and plains game. Morning and afternoon drives reveal a rich variety of wildlife, from big cats and plains dwellers to resident and migratory birds. Between outings, return to camp for time to relax in the heart of the delta.

Spend another day immersed in the Okavango Delta’s watery landscapes. Set on a naturally elevated island, your lodge offers an ideal base as seasonal waters rise around it. Explore by land and, conditions permitting, by mokoro (dugout canoe), taking in the remarkable spectacle of wildlife shaped by this ever-changing environment.

Travel to the Makgadikgadi Pans, the salty remains of an ancient lake system that once covered much of Botswana. For half of the year, walk across the echoing flats with a Zu/’hoasi guide, learning about the desert’s hidden life, such as aardwolves and bat-eared foxes. Between November and April, the pans transform into an algae-rich ecosystem as thousands of flamingos arrive to feed.

Leave the safari vehicle behind for a quad bike adventure across this seemingly endless desert landscape. Along the way, discover Stone Age archaeological sites and gain insight into the Zu/’hoasi communities who have lived in this arid environment for thousands of years, adapting to one of Botswana’s most striking settings.

Continue exploring your safari desert experience, focusing on species specially adapted to this stark environment. Watch for aardvark, gemsbuck, springbuck and the elusive brown hyena, and spend time with a habituated but wild meerkat clan for an unforgettable close-up encounter.