Inspiration
Botswana in depth: Big 5 encounters and wilderness luxury
Welcome to one of Africa’s most rewarding safari destinations. Botswana is a place where wildlife still roams freely across ancient migratory routes, where mokoros glide silently through reed-fringed waterways, and where luxury and adventure go hand in hand.
Delta waters, predator plains and untamed elegance
This 14-night journey takes you deep into four of the country’s most exceptional private concessions, each offering a different lens on the wilderness – from the predator-rich grasslands of Selinda to the mirror-like lagoons of the Okavango Delta and the secluded islands of NG12.
This is safari at its most immersive. You’ll track lions and wild dogs by vehicle, paddle past kingfishers and crocs in a canoe, drift above the landscape by helicopter and toast the day’s sightings with a G&T under the stars. Every lodge has been carefully selected not only for its luxury and location, but also for its access to extraordinary wildlife encounters and expert guiding. Expect a front-row seat to the rhythm of the bush – all while staying in some of the most exclusive camps in Southern Africa.
- Selinda Reserve
- Moremi Game Reserve
- Johannesburg
- Sitatunga Private Island
- Kwedi Concession
- NG12 Concession
Pauline Duffin
Pauline specialises in designing highly-personalised adventures, guided by her decades of travel expertise. With a focus on India, South East Asia and South America and a deep love of African safaris, she's renowned for her finely-tuned ability to create experiences that reflect your unique interests.
Selinda Reserve
Your journey begins in style at Zarafa Camp, an exclusive safari retreat tucked beside the Zibadianja Lagoon in the heart of the Selinda Reserve. This vast private concession lies between the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park, and is known for its impressive concentration of predators, immense elephant herds and rare antelope species like roan and sable.
Spend your days exploring this wildlife-rich landscape on twice-daily game drives with expert guides. Mornings might bring sightings of lion cubs playing in the golden grass, while afternoons offer the chance to track elusive African wild dogs or spot leopards lounging in sausage trees. For a slower pace, set out on a guided bush walk to learn about the smaller details, from medicinal plants to animal tracks, or glide across the lagoon in a canoe when water levels allow.
Back at camp, the experience is equally remarkable. With just a handful of suites, each with its own copper bathtub and plunge pool overlooking the water, Zarafa blends true luxury with a deep sense of place. Evenings are spent around the firepit or in the wine cellar, swapping stories beneath Botswana’s star-studded sky.
Kwedi Concession
Next, a light aircraft whisks you southwest to a contemporary safari lodge set in a private concession bordering the Okavango Delta. The scenery here shifts dramatically, from papyrus-lined waterways and flooded plains to dry savannahs teeming with game, offering one of the most diverse safari experiences in Botswana.
This region is renowned for its sheer abundance and variety of wildlife. Lions and leopards patrol the thickets, hippos wallow in the shallows, and huge herds of elephants cross the open plains. You could spot cheetahs sprinting after impala or witness the rare and riveting sight of wild dogs hunting as a pack. Night drives open up a different world altogether, when bush babies, porcupines and servals emerge under the cover of darkness.
Vumbura also shines when it comes to water-based safaris. Drift silently in a mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) through lily-covered channels, spotting tiny reed frogs and brilliant malachite kingfishers. Or hop on a boat cruise for a sunset gin and tonic, watching elephants graze on the islands as the sky blazes orange and gold.
Back at camp, Vumbura Plains offers sleek, design-forward suites with private plunge pools and expansive views of the floodplain. Meals are served al fresco whenever possible, and the emphasis is always on relaxed luxury and connection to nature. The staff can’t be overlooked, either: if you’re there on a Monday, you’ll spot them singing and dancing around the Boma welcoming all guests – it’s a really special experience.
NG12 Concession
Your next stop is Sitatunga Private Island, reached by light aircraft and then perhaps the smallest helicopter you’ll ever see, before entering what feels like a secret world. Set on a remote island in the far northern reaches of the Okavango Delta, this ultra-exclusive retreat is surrounded by pristine floodplains, palm-fringed channels and thick papyrus beds – a true haven for wildlife and birdlife alike.
This area, part of the NG12 Concession, offers a slower, more intimate safari experience. Game drives are possible, but it’s the guided walks, mokoro excursions and tranquil boat trips that truly shine here. Track the movements of elusive sitatunga antelope through the wetlands, glide past buffalo cooling off in the shallows, and spot rare birds like the Pel’s fishing owl or wattled crane.
This is also an exceptional place for cultural immersion, with opportunities to meet members of the local community who help conserve the land and share their traditional knowledge of the Delta ecosystem.
At Sitatunga Private Island, everything is curated for privacy and peace. With only three beautifully designed suites (two individual and one family), the lodge blends seamlessly into its surroundings. Expect elevated wooden decks, candlelit dinners under the stars, and days that end with stories around the fire pit, set to the soundtrack of the Delta after dark.
Glide through the Okavango in a mokoro at sunset
As the heat softens and the light turns golden, you’ll step into a mokoro, Botswana’s traditional dugout canoe, and begin drifting through narrow, reed-lined channels. The only sounds: the gentle splash of the pole in the water, the rustle of papyrus, the distant call of a fish eagle. Dragonflies hover over lily pads, while kingfishers dart through shafts of evening light. It’s a peaceful, deeply grounding way to explore the Delta: eye-level with the water, fully immersed in its rhythms. As the sun dips below the horizon, your guide pauses to let the silence settle in. This is the magic of the Okavango: slow, wild and endlessly unforgettable.
Moremi Game Reserve
Your final safari stop brings you to the legendary Moremi Game Reserve, often described as one of the most beautiful and wildlife-rich corners of Africa. Located on the eastern edge of the Okavango Delta, Moremi offers an ever-changing mosaic of floodplains, lagoons, forests and savannah, where game viewing is superb year-round.
You’ll stay at a luxe safari retreat that takes full advantage of its watery surroundings. Perched on a private island, the lodge is designed for laid-back luxury – think breezy tents with plunge pools, expansive views over the delta and a fire-lit Fish Eagle Bar for sundowners.
From here, you’ll venture out on mokoro safaris, motorboat excursions and traditional game drives in search of the region’s famed wildlife. This is big cat territory: lion, leopard and cheetah all roam these parts, while the open plains are dotted with herds of zebra, wildebeest and antelope. Elephants are a constant presence, particularly in the dry season, and wild dogs can also be spotted by the lucky few.
When you’re not out exploring, relax with a bush picnic, take a helicopter flight over the Delta for a dramatic bird’s-eye perspective, or join a walking safari to learn the secrets of animal tracks and medicinal plants from an expert guide.
Johannesburg
After your final morning in the Delta, you’ll board a light aircraft for the return flight to Maun, followed by a short connection to Johannesburg. Here, you’ll enjoy a night at a refined boutique hotel tucked away in a quiet, leafy suburb. This luxurious stopover offers elegant rooms, attentive service and a peaceful atmosphere – perfect for relaxing before your international flight.
Depending on your arrival time, you might choose to unwind with a spa treatment, enjoy a leisurely dinner on the terrace, or simply toast to an unforgettable trip with a glass of South African wine.
The next day, you’ll return to Johannesburg Airport for your flight back to the UK, arriving home with lasting memories of elephants crossing misty floodplains, lions under glowing sunsets and the soft silence of the Delta at dawn.
Talk to our specialists to start planning your trip
