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.

Safari Activities

Explore every element of the wild

From the water-filled wonder of the Okavango Delta to the stark beauty of the Kalahari, Botswana offers freedom, variety, and wild beauty in equal measure. Drift through reed-fringed channels in a mokoro, walk with a guide who reads the land like a story, or sleep beneath a sky so clear it barely seems real. Your dedicated Travel Designer shapes it all around you — a safari that’s seamless and wild in equal measure.
Mokoro excursions

Glide silently through Delta channels in a traditional canoe, tracking elephants, frogs, and kingfishers along the way.

Walking safaris

Step into nature on foot with an expert guide who will unravel the mystery of the land – every track, scent and sound a clue.

Star Bed sleep-outs

Sleep under a canopy of stars, tucked into the bush with just a mosquito net between you and the African night.

Photographic hides

Wait quietly as wildlife comes to you. Hides let you photograph up-close moments without intrusion.

Helicopter flights

Take off for a sky-high view of the Okavango’s twisting waterways and floodplains — a photographer’s dream.

Custom adventures

From the Delta to the Kalahari, we’ll tailor every element with trusted partners — a journey shaped entirely around you.

My best friend and I planned our first safari with Wilderness and we could not have had a better experience. 

E. Tate | USA   ★★★★★

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.

Mokoro

Mokoro canoe crossing the Okavango Delta

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

Boat

Fishing

Types 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.

Game Drives

Watching an elephant from a game drive vehicle

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

Night drives

Walking

Types 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.

Helicopter

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

Victoria Falls combo

Wilderness Journeys Exclusive Wilderness Camps

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 Designer

Cultural 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

From basket weaving to local cuisine and learning about our partnership with CLAWS (Communities Living Among Wildlife Sustainably) and its human-lion mitigation initiative, the visit offers a chance to connect across cultures while supporting sustainable tourism and community empowerment.
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Conservation activities

A Wilderness safari isn’t just about what you see. It’s about what you support. We invite guests to connect with the people and projects shaping the future of Africa’s wild places — from visiting a local school supported through Children in the Wilderness, to learning about lion research, camera traps and sustainable beekeeping.

 

You might meet artisans and entrepreneurs, sample locally brewed beer, or take home a handcrafted keepsake that supports a local livelihood. These experiences reveal the deeper impact of your journey: one that protects ecosystems, empowers communities, and brings purpose to every moment spent in the wild.

Wilderness 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 back

Star 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

Offered at select Botswana camps like Jao, Tubu Tree, Little Tubu and Savuti, these remote sleep-out decks are tucked into the bush for a private night under the stars. Arrive after your game drive, enjoy dinner with a view, then settle in for the night. Your guide is nearby if needed, but out of sight — this is your time to disconnect, and just be.
Star Beds
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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

A photographic hide is the perfect place to capture intimate moments in exquisite detail. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or an enthusiastic amateur, patience is often rewarded. Settle in between game drives with your camera or a book, and wait quietly for the bush to put on its matinee performance.
Photography
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Wilderness Traveller Types Family

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.

Camps like Vumbura Plains offer exceptional family accommodation and programming that blends adventure with comfort. It’s all designed to make your child’s first safari just as unforgettable as your own. Bush Buddies and children’s activities are available at select camps and may vary by season, so speak to your Travel Designer when booking to confirm what’s on offer at your chosen destination.

Family Offering
Lioness and cubs crossing water in Botswana

WHEN TO VISIT

Botswana through the seasons

Seasons in Botswana don’t just shape the scenery they shape the safari. In the Okavango Delta and Linyanti, water-based experiences like mokoro rides, boating, and floating sundowners are typically best from May to October, when the floodwaters arrive and the channels are full.

As the waters retreat, floodplains re-emerge, grasses thin out, and predator sightings peak. The dry season, from June to September, is ideal for walking safaris and dramatic wildlife encounters. Your guide will tailor each day to the conditions — and some experiences, like helicopter flights, are best booked in advance.

See the best time to visit Botswana, by season

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.

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

October – November

December – April

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

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Let’s plan your next journey

Ready?

When we say we’re there every step of the way, we mean it, literally. From planning the perfect circuit, to private inter-camp transfers on Wilderness Air, and easing you through Customs. We’re with you on the ground, at your side, 24-7, from start to finish. Ready to take the road less travelled? Contact our Travel Designers to plan an unforgettable journey.