Brilliant Botswana

14-Day Botswana Safari Itinerary from Kasane to Maun

This 14-day safari itinerary takes you through some of Botswana's most iconic and diverse landscapes, starting from the northern edge of the country in Kasane, and finishing in Maun. Along the way, you'll explore incredible wildlife reserves, ancient salt pans, vast deserts, and end with an optional 3-day, 2-night camping expedition in the Okavango Delta.

Day 1: Arrival in Kasane

• Accommodation: Hotel or lodge in Kasane

• Activities: Arrive in Kasane, located near the borders of Chobe National Park, where the Chobe River meets the borders of Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. You can spend the afternoon relaxing or take a boat safari on the Chobe River to spot elephants, buffalo, and crocodiles.

• Dinner: Traditional Botswana cuisine at your lodge.

Day 2: Kasane – Chobe National Park

• Accommodation: Lodge or tented camp within Chobe National Park

• Activities: Morning game drive in Chobe National Park, renowned for its large elephant population. Enjoy the sight of herds of elephants, lions, leopards, and various antelopes. In the afternoon, you can opt for a boat cruise along the Chobe River, providing excellent views of wildlife along the riverbanks.

• Dinner: Dinner at the lodge, with a bush barbecue experience.

Day 3: Chobe National Park – Gweta

• Accommodation: Lodge or camp in Gweta

• Activities: After breakfast, depart Chobe and travel south to Gweta, located near the Makgadikgadi Pans. En route, enjoy the scenic drive across Botswana’s countryside. After arriving in Gweta, check into your accommodation and enjoy an afternoon excursion to the nearby Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. This area is an ancient lakebed, and at sunset, it offers surreal landscapes and excellent photography opportunities.

• Dinner: Traditional meal under the stars.

Day 4: Gweta – Makgadikgadi Pans

• Accommodation: Lodge or camp at Makgadikgadi Pans

• Activities: Full day exploring the Makgadikgadi Pans. Experience a 4x4 safari across the salt pans, where you may spot wildlife such as wildebeest, zebras, and desert-adapted creatures like the meerkat. If you visit during the wet season, you may witness flamingos and other migratory birds.

• Optional Activity: Visit a local Bushmen village for a cultural experience.

• Dinner: Dinner at the lodge with a firepit and stargazing.

Day 5: Makgadikgadi – Naxi

• Accommodation: Lodge or camp in Naxi

• Activities: Depart Makgadikgadi and head toward Naxi. In the afternoon, take a scenic drive through the surrounding landscapes, which include salt pans, grasslands, and more. This area offers great wildlife viewing, including the possibility of spotting kudu, hartebeest, and springbok.

• Dinner: Enjoy a meal at a local lodge or camp.

Day 6: Naxi – Central Kalahari Game Reserve

• Accommodation: Tented camp or lodge inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve

• Activities: Head to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, one of the largest and most remote parks in Botswana. This area is famous for its unique wildlife and arid desert landscapes. Afternoon game drive, spotting wildlife like lions, cheetahs, and gemsbok.

• Dinner: Bush dinner under the stars with a campfire experience.

Day 7: Central Kalahari Game Reserve

• Accommodation: Continue at your camp or lodge in the Central Kalahari

• Activities: A full day in the Central Kalahari. Take morning and afternoon game drives, and if conditions are right, you may be able to observe the migration of animals across the desert, including the rare black-maned lions.

• Dinner: Enjoy a hearty Botswana bush meal.

Day 8: Central Kalahari – Maun

• Accommodation: Hotel or lodge in Maun

• Activities: Travel to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. On the way, you'll pass through vast Kalahari landscapes and possibly spot more wildlife. After arriving in Maun, relax and prepare for your next adventure in the Okavango Delta.

• Dinner: Evening at leisure in Maun with dinner at your lodge.

Day 9-11: Okavango Delta 3-Day, 2-Night Camping Expedition (Optional)

• Accommodation: Tent camping in the Okavango Delta (you can opt for a mobile safari camp)

• Activities: Depart Maun early and head to the Okavango Delta, one of the most unique ecosystems in the world. On the first day, arrive in a remote camp, settle in, and enjoy an afternoon mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) safari. Over the next two days, experience morning and afternoon game drives in the delta, guided walks, and boat rides to spot hippos, crocodiles, elephants, lions, and a variety of birdlife.

• Meals: Prepared by your camp staff, enjoying meals cooked in the bush, often on an open fire.

• Extra Note: This is an adventurous and immersive experience, perfect for nature lovers. The mobile camp offers a truly remote and intimate connection with the wild.

Day 12: Return from Okavango Delta – Maun

• Accommodation: Hotel or lodge in Maun

• Activities: After a morning activity in the Delta, head back to Maun. On arrival, you can either take a scenic flight over the Okavango Delta to capture the breathtaking aerial views of the waterways or simply relax after the adventure.

• Dinner: Farewell dinner in Maun, perhaps at a lodge overlooking the Delta or the Thamalakane River.

Day 13: Maun – Explore the Surrounding Area

• Accommodation: Lodge in Maun

• Activities: Take a leisurely day to explore Maun, visiting the Maun Wildlife Museum or take part in additional activities such as a scenic flight over the delta, a boat trip, or a visit to the nearby Moremi Game Reserve (if time permits).

• Dinner: Final dinner at your lodge or local restaurant.

Day 14: Departure from Maun

• Activities: Depending on your flight time, enjoy a last morning in Maun before departing for the airport for your onward journey.