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The 9-Day Botswana: Makgadikgadi Pans, Chobe & Okavango Delta Experience tour is a journey that will leave you with no sense of understatement. We designed the itinerary so that you can take a break from the hustle and bustle and then dive headfirst into an African adventure. Your trip will begin with a stop at the Makgadikgani salt marshes. That is the most extensive salt plateau in the world, but it doesn't look lifeless. It is home to rare African animals that have adapted to harsh conditions. Here you can see a unique great migration of zebras. Small meerkats, which live here in large colonies and are accustomed to people's attention, will fascinate you. Makgadikgani is also a place where you can hear the silence. You'll experience it to the fullest when you relax in your luxury lodge.
A trip to Botswana would not be complete without a boat trip through the Okavango Delta and a safari in Chobe National Park. These activities are scheduled for the second part of the trip.
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Destinations
Botswana -
Activities
Boat trips, Game drives -
Expedition Types
Luxury
- Max Pax6
- 9 Day(s)
- 8 Night(s)
Photo Insights
Trip Details
- Itinerary
- Trip Includes
- Trip Excludes
- FAQ
- Downloads
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This tour starts in Maun and ends in Kasane;
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We can book your international flights;
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Fly to/from Kasane International Airport (BBK) in Kasane;
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A transfer from and back to the airport is included;
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We can arrange additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour for an extra cost.
Itineraries
Day 1
Maun to Makgadikgadi Pans
On arrival at the Muan International Airport, our representative will meet and assist you with your light aircraft transfer to Leroo La Tau.
Makgadikgadi Pans National Park extends from the banks of the Boteti River through scrublands and pastures. The Boteti River is the main drain of the Okavango Delta, collecting water that flows past the Mauna, then continues about 250 km southeast and finally ends at Lake Xau at the extreme southwest edge of the great Makgadikgadi salt marshes. Herds of zebra and wild deer migrate by the thousands to the river in late winter to gain access to water. The Makgadikgadi is a harsh, dry environment suited for oryx and kudu, but the river is a life-giving source of water for zebras and wildlife on the eastern grassy plains. After the onset of the rainy season, this wilderness is teeming with wildlife, with herds of zebra and wild deer grazing on the broad green plains of the Makgadikgadi. During the wet season, there is an influx of migratory birds, and desert-dwelling species welcome visitors by displaying their nesting plumage.
Leroo La Tau towers majestically over the Boteti River, which flows across the western boundary of Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. The park, inhabited by up to 30,000 zebras and wild zebras closely accompanied by predators, offers guests the thrill of seeing large concentrations of game and interacting with predators. The lodge has an elevated shelter above the river where guests can enjoy the spectacular wildlife views we expect in this part of Botswana. There are 12 deluxe thatched chalets overlooking the magnificent Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, each with an en-suite bathroom. The main lodge has a dining room, reading room and bar, spacious wooden decks and a pool where guests can fully immerse themselves in the wildlife of Botswana. After exploring the surroundings and enjoying spectacular wildlife experiences on guided day and night trips, guests can retreat to the gorgeous fireplace overlooking the river after dinner.
Overnight: Leroo La Tau (Luxury Safari Room - ALL)
Day 2 & 3
Makgadikgadi Pans
During your stay at the Lodge we can offer several activities to choose from:
Game Drives
The lodge offers guided game drives in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, focusing on the exceptional wildlife sightings along the Boteti River. The annual zebra migration which takes place between May and October every year offers guests a unique experience as thousands of zebra migrate onto the Boteti River in search of water. General wildlife along the river is excellent, with regular sightings of elephants, giraffes, kudu, zebra, and lions, to name a few.
Boteti River Boat Cruises
Depending on the water level, the lodge also provided boat activities. The boating safari departs from the lodge and heads up the river, allowing guests to enjoy the diverse wildlife from the water. During the annual zebra migration, the boating excursion offers a truly unique perspective as the zebra wade into the water to drink.
Khumaga Village Visit
We can arrange optional cultural excursions to visit the nearby Khumaga Village. This is an excellent opportunity for guests to gain insight into daily life in Botswana. Leroo La Tau has a strong working relationship with the Khumaga Primary school, offering guests the opportunity to visit the school while in the village.
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans Sleep Out (Three-Night Stay)
For guests staying three nights or more at Leroo La Tau, a sleep-out experience on the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans is available. The salt pans sleep out offers guests the rare opportunity to experience the vastness of one of the most extensive salt flats in the world. The salt pan sleepout is available from mid-July to the end of October and is subject to weather.
For an exceptional experience, add a one-way or return helicopter transfer to the package for a chance to view the salt pans from the air (helicopter flights quoted separately).
Nxai Pan Day Trip (Three-Night Stay)
Guests staying three nights or more at Leroo La Tau can enjoy a day trip to Nxai Pan National Park. The excursion starts in the early morning and includes a visit to Nxai Pan as well as Baines Baobabs for a chance to see the expansive salt pans. You will enjoy lunch while out exploring Nxai Pan.
Overnight: Leroo La Tau (Luxury Safari Room - ALL).
Day 4
Makgadikgadi Pans to Okavango Delta
After your morning activity at Leroo La Tau, you will be collected and transferred by light aircraft transfer into the Okavango Delta. Here you will spend three nights at the classic Xugana Island Lodge, ideally set on the edge of a deepwater lagoon, offering the best views of the Okavango Delta imaginable. Xugana Island Lodge offers a variety of safari activities, including mokoro excursions, motorboat safaris, guided bush walks, day and night game drives, and optional helicopter flights.
Described as ‘the jewel of the Kalahari’, the Okavango Delta—a tranquil and isolated oasis set in the harsh and arid surroundings of Botswana’s bush and desert—is widely regarded as one of Africa’s best safari destinations, with its rich diversity of fauna and flora.
Xugana Island Lodge is in a private concession offering a range of activities, giving you the chance to experience a true Okavango Delta safari. Experienced professional guides conduct all activities. Explore the crystal-clear waterways by mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) or motorboat for the chance to enjoy the magnificent variety of bird, plant, and reptile species found in the area.
Your experienced guide will also take you on a guided nature walk on surrounding islands in the concession, giving you the chance to experience nature up close and personal.
Xugana Lagoon is widely accepted as being the most spectacular permanent water site in the entire Okavango Delta. Xugana Island Lodge, on a wooded island abutting the lagoon, takes full advantage of this magnificent site. The thatched common area, comprising a cocktail bar, lounge, and curio shop, is still the original building put up in 1974 when Xugana became only the second tourist lodge ever built in the Okavango Delta.
Mokoro trips in eco-friendly dugout canoes built to the traditional design, boat safaris to lagoons and islands, and wilderness walks give guests the chance to see the Delta denizens such as sitatunga and lechwe antelope, crocodile, and hippo, as well as the other big game that frequents the islands and riverine fringes. Bird-watching opportunities are outstanding, and the bream and tiger fishing can be excellent at certain times of the year. The peaceful boat rides back across Xugana Lagoon during the spectacular African sunset provide a lifelong memory.
Overnight: Xugana Island Lodge (Luxury Safari Cabin - ALL).
Day 5 & 6
Okavango Delta Experience
OKAVANGA DELTA
Xugana Island Lodge is in a private concession offering a range of activities, giving you the chance to experience a true Okavango Delta safari. Experienced professional guides conduct all activities. Explore the crystal-clear waterways by mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) or motorboat for the chance to enjoy the magnificent variety of bird, plant, and reptile species found in the area.
Your experienced guide will also take you on a guided nature walk on surrounding islands in the concession, giving you the chance to experience nature up close and personal.
Guided Nature Walks
Guided nature walks on the various islands allow for the opportunity to track some of the larger species that inhabit this water wilderness.
Mokoro Safaris
Explore the crystal-clear waterways by mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) and enjoy the magnificent variety of bird, plant, and reptile species found in the area.
Motorboat Safaris
Explore the crystal-clear waterways and deeper channels of the Okavango Delta by motorboat and enjoy the magnificent variety of bird, plant, and wildlife species found in the area.
Bird Watching and Fishing
Bird-watching opportunities are outstanding, and the lodge also offered fishing for bream and tiger fish as an activity at the camp (seasonal).
Scenic Helicopter Flights (Not included, Additional Fees Apply).
Seeing the Okavango Delta from a helicopter is a truly magnificent experience. Our partners at Helicopter Horizons will remove the doors, providing uninterrupted views and close-up angles of the majestic delta and its wildlife. A scenic flight is not just a must for keen photographers but an exciting opportunity to witness the remarkable Okavango Delta from above.
The flights are operated with the utmost respect and caution for the natural environment, wildlife, and travelers. Routes have been carefully marked out ensuring guests are on other activities and in camp are not disturbed. The flight routes and take-off areas are designed specifically to make use of pristine areas within the concession.
Overnight: Xugana Island Lodge (Luxury Safari Cabin - ALL).
Day 7
Okavango Delta to Chobe National Park
After your morning activity at Xugana Island Lodge, you will be transferred by light aircraft transfer to Kasane Airport and by road to Chobe Game Lodge.
Chobe National Park is one of the largest in Botswana, famed not only for the highest concentration of elephants found anywhere in Africa but also for having the densest population of the game on the continent. This, together with its reputation of offering superb wildlife viewing all year round, makes it a highly popular travel destination. The park lies along the Chobe River and is comprised of four distinct ecosystems — the lush plains and forests of the Chobe Riverfront attracting elephant and vast herds of buffalo; the rich grasslands and savannahs of the Savuti Marsh; the Linyanti Swamps, renowned for prowling predators and large herds of the game; and the hot and dry hinterland of Nogatsaa and Teaching, holding water well into the dry season and attracting a profusion of the game between August and October. A high density of predators and the occurrence of many rare antelope species round off this spectacular game park.
Counter-balancing the wilderness is restful, air-conditioned, en-suite lodgings. Graceful high arches, quarry-tiled floors, and barrel-vaulted ceilings create an atmosphere of cool tranquillity. Other facilities include a large swimming pool with a terrace, a riverside boma area, a fully equipped conference room, a stylish bar with an outside terrace, and an expansive deck with magnificent views over the Chobe River. Meals are catered to at the terrace restaurant overlooking the Chobe River.
Overnight: Chobe Game Lodge (Standard room - ALL).
Day 8
Chobe National Park
Morning cruise on the Chobe River and afternoon game drive.
Chobe Game Lodge River Safaris
No Chobe safari is complete without experiencing the beauty of the Chobe River and its incredible wildlife by boat.
The riverboats are specifically designed to ensure each passenger can take in the magnificent Chobe views in complete comfort from anywhere on the boat. Owing to the flexibility in seating arrangements and the flat deck, the boats are ideal for keen wildlife photographers, with ample space for equipment and the freedom to photograph from any angle.
Unlike any other water-based activity in Botswana, the game viewing while on a river safari in Chobe is unsurpassed anywhere in Botswana. Elephants line the water’s edge, hippos congregate in lagoons, hundreds of antelope and giraffes make their way to the water, and sightings of predators along the riverbanks are common.
All the boats at Chobe Game Lodge are solar-electric powered boats—a clean and quiet way to enjoy a boat safari and another first for tourism in Africa.
Afternoon Chobe Game Lodge Game Drives
Owing to the location of Chobe Game Lodge inside the Chobe National Park, early morning game drives set off as soon as the park opens, giving you the best chance of tracking predators while they are still active. The afternoon drives depart the lodge in the late afternoon (the exact time depends on the season), only returning at park closure time after sunset, thus maximizing the time you spend out in the park to enjoy those special sightings.
The drives follow the course of the Chobe River as your experienced guide interprets the bush signs and tracks in search of the resident wildlife. Elephant encounters are common and huge herds of buffalo abound. The ever-present impala and the majestic giraffe are both common residents, while sightings of the puku antelope are also on offer. Predators are plentiful in the northern region of the Chobe National Park, and excellent sightings of lion, wild dog, and leopard are to be had.
The Chobe Game Lodge vehicles are open 4WD game viewers redesigned to make your trip comfortable and your viewing experience astonishing. The fleet includes several silent, CO2 emission-free electric vehicles designed to further enhance your Chobe safari.
Overnight: Chobe Game Lodge (Standard room - ALL).
Day 9
Chobe National Park—Kasane Airport
After breakfast, Departing Chobe Game Lodge, you will transfer back to the Kasane airport. End of our services.
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