
Wilderness experiences
Safari activities in Botswana
From mokoro excursions to game drives and Star Beds, discover Botswana’s top safari activities.
Space to roam
Wilderness protects over 367,000 hectares of private land in Botswana. Fewer vehicles, more freedom, and access to wild places others can’t reach.
Safari your way
Whether it’s game drives, walking, mokoro or boat safaris, every day is tailored to your pace and interests with expert guides by your side.
Giving back
Every Wilderness safari helps fund conservation and community projects across Botswana — from lion tracking to local schools.
Wild comfort
From family-focused camps to private sleep-outs and in-tent spa treatments, you don’t have to choose between adventure and indulgence.

Types of Safari
Water-based safari activities
The Okavango Delta moves to the rhythm of the water. Exploring it by mokoro, boat or barge gives you a different view of the wild - closer, quieter and more connected.

Glide silently in a mokoro
Let your guide pole you through lily-lined channels in a mokoro, the traditional dugout canoe used for generations. This is safari from a frog’s-eye view: reed frogs, kingfishers and the gentle sway of papyrus. Available when flood levels allow (usually May to Oct) at camps including Jao, Vumbura, Tubu Tree and more.
Mokoro
Skim the waterways by boat or barge
Skim across open lagoons and winding channels by boat or barge to the cry of fish eagles and the splash of hippos. Perfect for photography or a peaceful sundowner. Available when water levels are high (May to Oct) at camps like DumaTau, Jao, Savuti, Vumbura Plains, Little Vumbura, Pelo and more.
Boat Safari
Try your luck with a quiet cast
Catch-and-release fishing brings calm to your safari. Cast from a boat or riverbank and feel the pull of tilapia, catfish or African pike. It’s not about the catch, it’s about the connection. Available at DumaTau, King’s Pool, Jacana, Little Tubu, Jao, Tubu Tree and others, from March to December.
FishingMokoro

Glide silently in a mokoro
Let your guide pole you through lily-lined channels in a mokoro, the traditional dugout canoe used for generations. This is safari from a frog’s-eye view: reed frogs, kingfishers and the gentle sway of papyrus. Available when flood levels allow (usually May to Oct) at camps including Jao, Vumbura, Tubu Tree and more.
MokoroBoat

Skim the waterways by boat or barge
Skim across open lagoons and winding channels by boat or barge to the cry of fish eagles and the splash of hippos. Perfect for photography or a peaceful sundowner. Available when water levels are high (May to Oct) at camps like DumaTau, Jao, Savuti, Vumbura Plains, Little Vumbura, Pelo and more.
Boat SafariFishing

Try your luck with a quiet cast
Catch-and-release fishing brings calm to your safari. Cast from a boat or riverbank and feel the pull of tilapia, catfish or African pike. It’s not about the catch, it’s about the connection. Available at DumaTau, King’s Pool, Jacana, Little Tubu, Jao, Tubu Tree and others, from March to December.
FishingTypes of Safari
Land-based safari experiences
Set foot on solid ground and feel the pace shift. From classic game drives to walking safaris and after-dark adventures, every land-based experience offers a different way to feel part of the wild.

Classic game drives
There’s nothing more iconic than a game drive. Head out with your guide at sunrise or late afternoon to track lion, leopard and elephant. In private reserves, off-roading and night drives bring you closer to the action. Most Wilderness camps offer two drives a day.
Game Drives
After dark: safari by spotlight
As daylight fades, the bush transforms. Eyes glow, sounds sharpen and nocturnal predators begin to move. On private reserves where night drives are allowed, you might encounter prowling leopard or hunting hyena. A thrilling way to experience Africa after dark.
Night Game Drives
Walk the wild
Step off the vehicle and into the bush. Guided walks bring you closer to the small details - tracks, scents, plants and textures. Whether you’re following fresh spoor or admiring ancient trees, walking safaris are a powerful way to feel connected to the land.
Guided Walking SafarisGame Drives

Classic game drives
There’s nothing more iconic than a game drive. Head out with your guide at sunrise or late afternoon to track lion, leopard and elephant. In private reserves, off-roading and night drives bring you closer to the action. Most Wilderness camps offer two drives a day.
Game DrivesNight drives

After dark: safari by spotlight
As daylight fades, the bush transforms. Eyes glow, sounds sharpen and nocturnal predators begin to move. On private reserves where night drives are allowed, you might encounter prowling leopard or hunting hyena. A thrilling way to experience Africa after dark.
Night Game DrivesWalking

Walk the wild
Step off the vehicle and into the bush. Guided walks bring you closer to the small details - tracks, scents, plants and textures. Whether you’re following fresh spoor or admiring ancient trees, walking safaris are a powerful way to feel connected to the land.
Guided Walking SafarisTypes of Safari
Take to the skies
Some views you just can’t get from the ground. Helicopter flights open up a whole new way to see the scale, patterns and drama of Botswana’s wild places.

Soar over the Okavango Delta
See the Okavango from above: winding channels, herds on the move, floodplains that stretch into the horizon. Helicopter flights are available from all Wilderness camps and offer a thrilling, unforgettable way to explore the Delta from a new angle.
Helicopter Safari
Fly above Victoria Falls
Combine your Botswana safari with a stay at Wilderness Toka Leya on Zambia’s legendary Zambezi River. A helicopter flip over the Victoria Falls provides jaw-dropping perspective of the Falls’ sheer power, and this Southern African natural wonder.
Helicopter SafariHelicopter

Soar over the Okavango Delta
See the Okavango from above: winding channels, herds on the move, floodplains that stretch into the horizon. Helicopter flights are available from all Wilderness camps and offer a thrilling, unforgettable way to explore the Delta from a new angle.
Helicopter SafariVictoria Falls combo

Fly above Victoria Falls
Combine your Botswana safari with a stay at Wilderness Toka Leya on Zambia’s legendary Zambezi River. A helicopter flip over the Victoria Falls provides jaw-dropping perspective of the Falls’ sheer power, and this Southern African natural wonder.
Helicopter Safari
Make it uniquely yours
For those who crave a little extra magic, Wilderness goes beyond game drives to create unforgettable moments. Dine in the wild beneath ancient trees or on a remote riverbank with nothing but wildlife for company. After dark, stargaze with your guide beneath skies so clear they barely look real. These moments blend luxury, romance and adventure in ways that stay with you long after the safari ends.
Talk to a Travel DesignerCultural encounters with an Okavango community
A visit to Eretsha, a village on the north-eastern edge of the Okavango Delta, offers a meaningful glimpse into daily life in this part of Botswana. Guests at Vumbura Plains or Little Vumbura can meet community members, learn about local traditions, and see how culture and conservation come together. It’s a chance to connect, listen and share. Not just observe.
Impact

Protecting more than wildlife
Wilderness Impact
Every Wilderness journey supports something bigger. From funding conservation to uplifting local communities, we help protect the places and people that make this wild world thrive.
Find out how we give backStar Beds and sleep-outs
There’s sleeping under the stars, and then there’s a safari sleep-out. Our Star Beds let you drift off to the sounds of the African night, and wake to the soft light of dawn, with just a mosquito net between you and the wild.
Romance and adventure
Photographic hides
There’s something unforgettable about watching an elephant drink just metres away, without it ever knowing you’re there. In our photographic hides, you become part of the landscape: still, silent, unnoticed. That’s when the magic happens. These purpose-built spaces at camps like King’s Pool and Qorokwe offer a front-row seat to the wild without stepping off the edge.
Hides


Family-friendly activities
At Wilderness, we believe the safari experience should be just as magical for young adventurers as it is for grown-ups. In Botswana, our dedicated Bush Buddies are specially trained mentors who create fun, hands-on experiences for kids — from tracking footprints and nature walks around camp to crafting and learning about local culture. Whether roasting marshmallows by the fire, identifying birds, or using binoculars for the first time, these activities spark curiosity and a deep love for the wild.
What to expect, when
Botswana is never the same safari twice. Water levels rise and fall, grasses grow tall then fade back, and wildlife moves with the rhythm of the land. Knowing when to travel can shape your whole experience and that’s where we come in. Whether you’re after drifting mokoro journeys, dramatic predator sightings, or lush, green landscapes, each season brings something unique.

High-water season in the Delta
Mokoro and boat safaris are at their best, with full channels across the Okavango. Expect crisp mornings, mild days, and exceptional birding. Scenic flights are stunning at this time of year, and the landscape is lush and alive with sound.

Dry season and predator peak
Wildlife gathers at water sources as the land dries out. This is prime time for walking safaris, predator sightings, and golden-hour photography. Visibility is excellent, grasses are low, and activity levels soar.

Heat builds, wildlife concentrates
Hot, dry days drive animals to water — creating dramatic wildlife scenes. The first rains arrive in November, turning dust to green. Helicopter flights are popular now, and walks continue where conditions allow.

Green season and new life
The bush transforms with new growth, newborn antelope, and a flood of migratory birds. Water activities depend on rainfall, but the colours, calm, and crowd-free feel make this a photographer’s dream.
May - July

High-water season in the Delta
Mokoro and boat safaris are at their best, with full channels across the Okavango. Expect crisp mornings, mild days, and exceptional birding. Scenic flights are stunning at this time of year, and the landscape is lush and alive with sound.
August – September

Dry season and predator peak
Wildlife gathers at water sources as the land dries out. This is prime time for walking safaris, predator sightings, and golden-hour photography. Visibility is excellent, grasses are low, and activity levels soar.
October – November

Heat builds, wildlife concentrates
Hot, dry days drive animals to water — creating dramatic wildlife scenes. The first rains arrive in November, turning dust to green. Helicopter flights are popular now, and walks continue where conditions allow.
December – April

Green season and new life
The bush transforms with new growth, newborn antelope, and a flood of migratory birds. Water activities depend on rainfall, but the colours, calm, and crowd-free feel make this a photographer’s dream.
Wilderness24
Adventure, safely delivered
Safaris are about stepping just far enough outside your comfort zone to feel alive — never unsafe. From mokoro excursions to walking safaris, our adventures bring you thrillingly close to nature, always under the guidance of highly trained professionals who understand the land and its wildlife. Behind the scenes, our Wilderness24 team is on call around the clock, providing expert support wherever your journey takes you.

Frequently asked questions
Botswana safari activities

Book your Botswana safari
Your journey starts here. Speak to a Travel Designer and let us craft your perfect Botswana safari.
Book nowOur camps in Botswana

Vumbura Plains
Wilderness Vumbura Plains epitomises the ultimate Okavango Delta luxury safari, offering both land and water experiences.
Explore Camp
Mombo
Experience Wilderness Botswana’s flagship luxury safari camp – Mombo, in arguably Southern Africa’s finest wildlife area.
Explore Camp
Jacana
A superb water-based camp ideally situated for an intimate and authentic Okavango Delta safari.
Explore Camp
Tubu Tree
Set in one of Earth’s ultimate untamed places Wilderness Tubu Tree is tucked deep in the Okavango Delta’s Hunda Island.
Explore Camp
Chitabe
Discover Wilderness Chitabe and its prolific wildlife, for an out-of-this-world Okavango safari experience.
Explore Camp
Jao
In the heart of the Okavango, set on a remote island, Jao invites you to discover an unsurpassed Delta wilderness experience.
Explore Camp
DumaTau Camp
Home to Africa’s highest density of elephants, supremely chic DumaTau offers exceptional wildlife encounters.
Explore Camp
King's Pool Camp
As regal as the noble elephants and other prolific wildlife, King’s Pool offers unrivalled safaris in the wild Linyanti.
Explore Camp
Mokete
In the supremely wild Mokete Private Wilderness Area, predators meet prey in a beautifully brutal dance of life and death.
Explore CampJOURNAL
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Wilderness Okavango Delta Camps Newsletters – June 2025
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