Ultimate 7-Day Botswana Safari Itinerary & Costs

Even though I’ve explored many of the most pristine wildlife sanctuaries in Africa, nothing I’ve ever seen before could have prepared me for the natural wonders of Botswana!

Nestled in the heart of southern Africa, this landlocked country boasts an incredible diversity of ecosystems – from the lush waterways of the Okavango Delta and the teeming Chobe Game Reserves, to the stark beauty of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

I’ve had some unforgettable experiences in Botswana. It’s here that my great safari wish came true and I witnessed a pack of playful wild dog pups jostling outside their den.

I also had a heart-stopping close encounter with an enormous crocodile, and caught my first glimpse of a tiny hippopotamus calf. And that doesn’t even scratch the surface of what Botswana has to offer! 

If you want to view all of Botswana diverse national parks and reserves, then a 2-week or 3-week Botswana safari itinerary allows you to travel the country at a relaxed pace.

Itineraries of 7 or 10-days, work well with a more regional focus and can still provide an amazing safari experience.

In this article, I share my two favourite 7-day Botswana safari itineraries in detail, so that you can embark on your own adventure.

In this guide, I’m going to dive into two of the ultimate 7-day Botswana itineraries. My goal is to provide you with everything you need to know, including cost, how to find the perfect tour operator and more, so that you can plan the safari of a lifetime!

Botswana 7-Day Safari Itinerary Maps

Below are the route maps for my two recommended 7-day Botswana itineraries. We’ll cover these two itineraries more detail in this guide.

7-Day Okavango Delta Botswana safari itinerary map.

7-Day Khwai & Chobe Botswana Safari safari itinerary map

Why Go on Safari in Botswana?

Botswana is an outstanding safari destination for many reasons, which I’ll briefly cover below.

If you prefer, you can watch my Botswana experience video or, if you’re short on time, skip ahead to my two 7-day itinerary options.

Low Levels of Tourism Provide an Exclusive Experience

Thanks to its remoteness, low human population density, and relatively high costs, Botswana is probably the most exclusive safari destination in Africa.

The tourism industry operates on a low-impact, high-value model. In other words, Botswana’s parks and safari lodges receive fewer tourists than in other destinations in Africa, but each guest has a higher tourism spend.

As a result, Botswana is one of the more expensive destinations to visit for a safari – but you certainly get what you pay for! Accommodation options are top notch, and the wildlife is truly spectacular. 

The careful management of visitor numbers and environmentally-friendly lodges ensures minimal impact on this pristine ecosystem. Plants and animals continue their ancient rhythms undisturbed, allowing travellers to experience nature in its purest form.

The map below gives you an overview of Botswana’s key national parks and reserves.

Dense Wildlife

Roughly 40% of Botswana is protected wilderness with no fences separating reserves. This means that wildlife can roam freely throughout the country, which is the perfect condition for animal populations to thrive.

According to the most recent count (the Great Elephant Census, published in 2016) Botswana’s elephant population is over 130 000, equating to roughly 35% of the world’s population of African elephants! It is also one of the best places to see the critically endangered African wild dog.

Visitors may also spot some of Africa’s rarer antelope species, like the roan, tsessebe, and red lechwe. Meanwhile, the aquatic ecosystems pulse with life – from massive hippos and crocodiles to diverse fish species, including the fierce and highly-prized tiger fish.

My Verdict on Self-Drive Safaris: 

My Verdict on Local Tour Operators

Option 3: Hotel-Provided Safaris

Many hotels and lodges provide their own safari experiences. This option may be worth considering if have a large budget and prefer to stay in one location for a longer time or if you’d like to travel between lodges by air.

However, hotel-provided safaris are expensive and often the safari trucks are shared rather than private.

My Verdict on Hotel Safaris:

In my opinion, lodge-based safaris are a good option if you have a large budget and prefer a more stationary, luxurious safari experience. It’s important to be aware that you’re likely to share your game drives with other hotel guests.

If budget is not a concern and you’re after the convenience of somebody arranging your entire trip, including your international flights, then booking your safari via an overseas travel agent may be a good option to consider.

However, there are some major drawbacks of booking this way, the most obvious of which is that you will typically pay 25% – 40% more for your safari than if you booked through a local tour operator. This is because they will usually outsource the actual safari activities to local tour operators, and then add a markup onto their services in order to make a profit.

My Verdict on International Travel Agents:

In the end, aside from potentially simplifying international flight bookings, there aren’t many advantages to booking your safari with an international travel agent. At best, your safari experience will be similar to what you would get with a local operator, but at a significantly higher cost.

From my personal experience, booking through a local tour operator gives you the best combination of value and experience.

Private vs Group Botswana Safaris

The next thing you’ll have to decide is whether to book a private or a group safari. It’s an important decision that will have a big impact on the cost and quality of your overall safari experience. 

I almost always recommend a private safari, rather than joining a group tour. Let’s run through some of the pros and cons of both of these options.

Private Botswana Safaris

Private safaris are the best option for most travellers, as the entire safari experience is custom-made to your individual needs. 

Group Shared Botswana Safaris

Group shared safaris tend to be more popular with those on a tight budget, or for solo travellers who are interested in meeting fellow travellers on their game drives.

How Much Does a Botswana Safari Cost?

Typical prices for a private safari in Botswana start at $500 per person per day, and shared group safaris in Botswana start at around $400 per person per day.

A safari in Botswana will set you back more than a visit to other safari destinations in Africa. To put that amount in perspective, the starting price for a private Kenya or Tanzania safari is around $300 per person per day.

These expenses include your park fees, unlimited game drives, accommodation, meals on full board, beverages (including alcoholic drinks), transport, driver guide, and all activities (often including mokoro trips and boat cruises). Prices exclude international flights, tips and gratuities. 

The final cost of your Botswana adventure depends on a range of factors, including your choice of accommodation, reserve entrance fees, and activities. Below you’ll find a general price guide based on local tour operator rates.

Below you can view a chart of typical Botswana safari costs based on the luxury level.

For an in-depth cost breakdown, you can have a look at my up-to-date guide to Botswana safari costs.

There are three price points when it comes to safaris in Botswana: budget, mid-level and luxury.

Budget private safaris start at $450-$500 per adult per day, while a budget group safari will set you back around $400 per day. The mid-range option, in which you stay in luxury mobile tented camps, is the most popular choice. These safaris average $650 per person daily. 

High-end safaris with accommodation in semi-permanent tented camps or lodges typically cost around $1,300 per person per day, with premier lodges charging as much as $7,000 per night.

Botswana Safari Costs Breakdown

Let’s look at the distribution of your safari costs. The majority of expenses – over 59% – goes toward the core elements: your accommodation, safari vehicle, fuel, and professional guide. Add in the park and concession fees (15%), and these essential components make up about 74% of the total cost.

These park and concession fees are based on mid-range safari pricing, specifically for luxury mobile tented camps. These naturally come with higher overnight fees compared to basic camping options.

The remaining costs are split between bank charges (3.4%) and safari company operations like insurance and administrative support (13%). This leaves around 9% as the operator’s profit margin for organizing your safari experience.

You can see the complete breakdown in the chart below.

Comparing safari costs across eastern and southern Africa reveals some interesting differences. In Botswana, a higher percentage of costs goes to accommodation, vehicles, and guide services than Kenya and Tanzania. This reflects Botswana’s commitment to low-impact tourism, which naturally leads to higher accommodation prices. 

Botswana’s relative prosperity means guides typically earn better wages and the guides are generally highly trained and demonstrate impressive expertise in their field.

Balancing this out somewhat, you’ll find that entrance fees to parks and reserves in Botswana are lower than in Kenya and Tanzania. Park entry fees are nominal, at about $10 per person per day. There is also a small vehicle fee for foreign vehicles, which is usually no more than $5 per day. 

For basic camping accommodation, overnight concession fees range from $30 to $75 per person per night, and can reach up to $100 per person per night for luxury camping. The latter is what you can expect for a mid-range safari, in which the safari company rents a private campsite with ample space and privacy for setting up a luxury mobile tented camp.

Factors Affecting Botswana Safari Costs

The biggest factor affecting the cost of your Botswana safari is the type of accommodation you choose. As you might expect, semi-perminent luxury lodges and camps command higher rates than mobile tented camps

The way you book your safari also makes a difference – booking through an international travel agent, for example, typically costs more than using a local tour operator. 

Let’s take a closer look at each of the key factors which will affect your safari cost below.

How you Book Your Safari

How you book your safari will impact the price you pay with self-drive being the cheapest.

International travel agents are typically the most expensive way to book a safari in Botswana. They typically use local operators to actually carry out the safari (and with whom you can book directly), and of course add their profits over and above the local operators’ prices.

If you book your safari through a local safari company in your destination country, this is typically the best value.

Below you can view a chart of typical budget safari costs based on the booking method.

My Preference: Nowadays, I choose to book all my safaris through local tour operators. Even when I occasionally opt for fly-in safaris, I still rely on local tour operators for these bookings, as well as for game drives and other arrangements, as they handle everything, including airport transfers.

Accommodation Comfort Level

Your choice of accommodation comfort level significantly influences the overall safari cost.

Budget-friendly private safaris begin at approximately $450 per person daily, offering accommodation in mid-range tented camps. This option provides an authentic bush experience while keeping costs more manageable.

Mid-range private safaris, which start at approximately $650 per person per day, are a great choice if you’re after improved comfort levels. This option would offer you upgraded mobile tented accommodation, complete with proper beds and private bathroom facilities. Your dedicated team of porters and a chef would take care of everything so you don’t have to lift a finger.

Moving up the comfort scale, a higher-end private safari can easily cost more than $1300 per person per day. At this price point you can expect to stay in lodges with superior amenities and a high level of comfort. Some of the more luxurious lodges can cost as much as $7000 per person per night, or even more.

Time of Year

Botswana’s dry winter season attracts the highest visitor numbers, and prices tend to reflect this peak demand. However, traveling during off-peak periods comes with the prospect of significant savings – up to 40% on accommodation costs at luxury lodges.

While the wet summer season offers more affordable rates, it does present some practical challenges. Wildlife viewing conditions are not always optimal, and certain regions become less accessible. The Okavango Delta, for instance, has limited foot access during this period due to flooding.

My Preference: In my opinion you can’t go wrong with any time of year apart from perhaps January and February which are the wettest.

Mode of Transport Between Parks

Your choice of transport between locations can significantly impact your overall safari costs.

Opting for road travel between regions and reserves is a way to save on costs. Road transfers are essentially included in your daily rate (since you’re already paying for the vehicle), making them a cost-effective option that doubles as extra game viewing time!

While scheduled flights offer convenience and reduce travel times, particularly over rough terrain, they add approximately $300 per person per flight to your budget.

Private chartered flights cost significantly more than scheduled flights but allow you to choose the flight time and also access smaller airstrips which might not be covered by scheduled flights. These start from around $2,000 per flight hour.

Group Size

The number of people in your safari party significantly influences individual costs. Solo travellers on private safaris bear the full burden of fixed expenses, such as vehicle and guide costs. You could pay up to 50% more, in total, per person when travelling alone than when travelling with a companion. 

Sharing these fixed costs among multiple travellers creates significant economies of scale, but while larger groups generally means lower per-person costs, there are practical limitations. Safari vehicles typically accommodate a maximum of seven passengers, making this the upper limit for group size.

My Preference: I personally like a maximum of 2 or 3 people, including myself in the back of the safari truck to allow me to move around freely for sightings on both sides of the truck, and to take photos.

Best Time to Visit Botswana

Botswana is a good year-round travel destination, with the different seasons providing their own unique wildlife experiences.

My Preference: In my opinion you can’t go wrong with any time of year apart from perhaps January and February which are the wettest.

 Let’s look at the pros and cons associated with each season.

The Dry Season (April – October)

The dry season is best for wildlife sightings generally and for those who don’t mind higher prices and larger crowds.

This is the most popular time of year to visit as the weather is sunny and dry (with minimal chances of rain) and wildlife sightings are abundant.

The most popular time to visit Botswana is during the dry season, which runs from May to October. Temperatures during this time usually range from 43°F (6°C) at night to 77°F (25°C) in the day, and the skies are sunny. 

Since there is little water, most of the animals gather around watering holes, so it’s easy to find them. The vegetation is less dense in the dry season than in the wet season, which makes it easier to spot game when they are roaming in the bush. 

The dry season is also the best time to see my personal favourite, the African wild dogs. They typically den at this time of year, meaning that they remain in one territory.

Wild dogs travel vast distances during most other times of the year, so you have to be really lucky to see them outside of the dry season. Most good guides would be able to locate a wild dog denning territory. 

Botswana is famous for the Okavango Delta and many visitors to this region hope to explore it using a traditional dugout canoe, or mokoro. If that’s what you’re after, make sure to come between June and August when the Okavango Delta is flooded (but there is still little precipitation).

Travelling along water channels by mokoro helps you get deeper into the bush, where you’re more likely to have close-up encounters with wildlife. Botswana is one of the few places in southern Africa where you can do this, and it is certainly one of the most unique safari experiences on the continent. 

Botswana’s impressive zebra migration can be viewed throughout much of the year. However, in the dry season, the 30,000-odd zebras that take part in the migration are static and can be found in the popular Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta.

The Green Season (November–April)

The Green Season is good for visitors who like it quieter with slightly lower prices as well as keen birders.

The rain starts to fall in November, transforming Botswana into a lush, green wilderness. Whilst days are hot with high chances of rain, wildlife viewing remains fantastic and prices are slightly lower at this time of year.

November to April is considered Botswana’s off-season, thanks to the high temperatures and regular rain. During this time, prices are lower than they are in the dry season, and there is a fraction of the number of visitors.

This is also a great time for bird watching, with many migratory species flocking to the southern hemisphere while it’s winter up north. What’s more, you’re likely to see many newborn animals as they take their first steps on the plains and riverbanks. As you can imagine, this is a really special time to be here!

In the wet season, the zebra migration is in full swing. Starting in early November, the great herds make their way south towards Nxai Pan National Park in Makgadikgadi, where the soil is rich in minerals. At this time of year you’ll find the zebras happily chomping away on the park’s green grasses which are only here in the green season.

At the end of February and start of March, the great herds make their way north once more towards the Chobe River and Okavango Delta.

One of the challenges of visiting Botswana in the wet season is that rain can affect viewing conditions. No one likes to be in an open-sided safari truck while it’s pouring with rain outside. In addition to this, sometimes the rain makes certain routes unnavigable. 

How Long to Spend in Botswana

You can easily spend up to three weeks exploring Botswana’s exceptional reserves and parks, particularly if you want to take in all the different regions.

However, for many people 7 days is the perfect amount of time to start out with, particularly if time and budgetary constraints are in play. 7 days is enough time to experience the highlights of what this magical country has to offer, and the best way to do that is to give your itinerary a particular regional focus.

If you’d like to spend slightly longer on your safari, take a look at my 10-day Botswana itinerary here. 

My preference: I like to spend between 10 days and 3 weeks in Botswana depending on whether I’m focusing on of area of the country or covering all the key parks and reserves.

Botswana Safari Logistics

If this is your first time travelling to Africa, dealing with the logistics of a safari can be quite intimidating. Don’t be discouraged though – if you book through a local tour operator, they will take care of most of the logistics around accommodation and transport.

However, there are a few things you’ll need to handle yourself before travelling to Botswana.

Botswana Visa & Entry Requirements

First and foremost, it’s important to check if there are any visa and entry requirements based on the passport you’ll be travelling on.

Citizens from the UK, Canada, Australia, the US, and most of Europe don’t need a visa to enter the country for stays fewer than 90 days. However, you must make sure that your passport is still valid for at least six months after your arrival date, and that you have at least three blank pages in it.

You should also always reconfirm the visa requirements before you leave, as these can sometimes change with little warning.  You can find more information about this on the Botswana e-visa website.

Vaccinations for Botswana

Like many developing countries, Botswana still struggles with some communicable diseases that are no longer prevalent in the UK or the U.S. It’s a good idea to make sure that you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines such as polio, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and tetanus. It’s also recommended to get vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B.

You may also need a yellow fever vaccination if you have recently travelled in a country listed as high risk for transmission or are including one of these counties in a multi-country trip.

Depending on the area of the country that you are travelling to, you may want to consider taking prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Most of these medications need to be taken a few days before your trip, throughout the trip, and then up to two weeks after you return home. It’s important that you factor in the entire trip to ensure that you don’t run out of medication.

You can consult NHS Fit4Travel for further information.

Medications in Botswana

There is a risk of malaria in Botswana, especially in the rainy season.

Talk to your healthcare provider or travel clinic about taking antimalarial medication as a precaution. Certain medications need to be taken for some days before you enter a malaria area, and then throughout your stay. To prevent mosquito bites, cover up with loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing, and use insect repellent, especially at dusk, dawn, and in the evenings.

It’s also a good idea to pack enough of any regular or chronic medications, as pharmacies may not be easily accessible during your trip.

Botswana Currency 

The local currency in Botswana is Botswanan Pula. Local currency can be obtained at the airport via a Bureau de Change or ATM. Maun also has ATMs, banks and Bureau de Changes. 

Small towns usually have 1 ATM but they occasionally run out of cash.

USD (printed after 2007) is widely accepted at lodges, hotels, and tourist-focused establishments, but smaller local businesses and roadside vendors typically only accept local currency.

Credit / Debit cards are widely accepted, especially Visa. Occasionally card payments can incur a fee of 3-5%, added by the establishment to cover their card fees – they will tell you about this before payment.

If you plan to use your credit / debit card, let your bank know about your travel plans first to avoid it being blocked. These days you can usually do this via your bank’s phone app or website

My experience: I just took USD and a multi currency Visa Debit card (E.g. those offered by Wise, Revolut etc.) I used some 1 USD notes for tips for the taxi driver in Maun. The taxi costs were added to my room bill and paid by card. The only other time I used USD was for tips for my guide and mobile camp team at the end of my safari.

Botswana Border Crossings

It’s very popular for visitors to Botswana to add the natural wonder of the world, Victoria Falls, to either the start or end of their itinerary. Located on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, visiting Victoria Falls requires at least one border crossing. But the good news is, in my experience, it’s very straight-forward!

It’s possible to get a Zimbabwean visa on arrival at the border between Botswana and Zimbabwe. 

These visas cost somewhere between $30 – 55 (the exact costs is dependent on your nationality. At the time of writing, the visa costs $30 for US citizens and $55 for UK citizens).

Alternatively, you can purchase a Kaza Univisa. This visa costs $50 and allows tourists to obtain one visa that covers Zambia and Zimbabwe. It’s valid for stays of up to 30 days and can be used any time during a 12 month validity period as long as you stay within the two countries. The visa is only available at a handful of borders – in my experience it’s available at the border near Kasane in Botswana with Zimbabwe.

My Two Favourite 7-Day Botswana Safari Itineraries

I have crafted two of the perfect 7-day Botswana safari itineraries below based on both my personal experience and after conducting copious research on the topic.

I have also considered the distance between the parks and driving times in order to come up with the most enjoyable itinerary.

Option 1

7-Day Okavango Delta Botswana Safari Overview

The itinerary below begins in Maun before heading north into Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta, Botswana’s oldest and most diverse wildlife reserve.

After spending a few days in the Okavango Delta, you’ll continue to the edge of the reserve to the Khwai Community Area. This privately owned conservation area is one of a few places in Botswana where you can do game drives at night, allowing you to see animals and behaviours that are rarely seen during the day. 

7-Day Okavango Delta Botswana Safari Map

Day-by-Day Breakdown of the Perfect 7-Day Okavango Delta Botswana

Option 2

7-Day Khwai & Chobe Botswana Safari

This itinerary starts off in Maun before heading northeast to the Khwai Community Area. This privately owned game reserve is one of the few places that you can do a night game drive, which makes it very unique. You’ll have the chance to see many different animals that you can’t normally see during the day.  

After spending a few days in Khwai Community Area, you’ll head to Chobe National Park. There, you have a few more days of game drives. The itinerary finishes in Kasane where you can take a boat ride along the Chobe Riverfront, which is absolutely teeming with animals. From there you have the option to visit Victoria Falls after this 7-day itinerary ends.

7-Day Khwai & Chobe Botswana Safari Map

Day-by-Day Breakdown of the Perfect Khwai & Chobe Botswana Safari

Final Thoughts

I hope that these itineraries have inspired you to plan your own safari in Botswana! As one of the most exclusive safari destinations in Africa, Botswana holds an allure that few other destinations can match. And it certainly lives up to its reputation as a conservation wonderland. I have no doubt that the untouched nature and the sense of reprieve from the businesses of town and city life will be a balm for your soul. 

If you loved the sound of both itineraries but aren’t sure which one to pick, why not add a few more days on to the trip and consider this 10-Day Botswana itinerary?

Alternatively if you have time for a much longer itinerary covering more of the country, check out my 3-week Botswana Itinerary.