What It Really Feels Like to Go on a Luxury Safari in Botswana
Flying Into the Okavango Delta: A Private Bush Plane Arrival From Maun
Freedom of the African skies takes on a whole new meaning when you take off in Maun, Botswana. Forget the neatly groomed stewardess serving you a cold drink in a plastic cup with a serviette upon departure. Instead, your pilot does a quick safety briefing on the tarmac next to your 12-seater fixed-wing bush plane and the next minute you’re flying across a wilderness so vast you cannot imagine there is anything else beyond the horizon.
Muted viridescent and khaki bushveld makes way for emerald green as far as the eye can see, interspersed with the characteristic navy and indigo blue waterways of the Delta. Butterflies flutter as mild turbulence rocks your little plane at 500m altitude and the excitement of your impending safari truly kicks in.
On the way to your first lodge, we do a couple of drop offs and pick ups - fellow safari travelers who are visiting other lodges en route. The pilot expertly lands and takes off on the well-maintained bush airstrips, as bottle green open-top gameviewers waiting patiently on the side drop off and pick up their guests. Before you know it, sky-hopping across the Delta becomes second nature, as routine as the daily commute back home - only with a better view.
Eastern Okavango Delta: Where the Kalahari Sands Meet the Flood Waters
As night falls on your first afternoon drive, pastel colours replace the saturated cerulean of the skies and glaucous greens of the wild sage bushes. Fading into soft pinks, lilacs, oranges and peaches, the sky becomes a cotton candy festival with the clay-coloured soil providing the perfect neutral backdrop. Ethereal fluffy grasses add a touch of translucent beige clouds, bordering waterholes and giving the impression of endless lush plains. Lala palms stand high and proud against the sunset, interspersed with centuries-old petrified cathedral Leadwood trees. Both will be here long after we are gone, symbolizing the eternal beauty of the Delta and the circle of life that guides us all.
As you bumble along on soft, bouncy Kalahari sand roads snaking between Kalahari Appleleafs, the contours of camp become visible on the horizon, and the whisky white clouds turn a dusty lavender, you cannot help but wonder why it took you so long to get here. An amazing two days of excitement follow, with wildlife sightings that rival some of the best we’ve seen on safari so far.
Moving West: Into the Lush Heart of the Okavango Panhandle
After two nights at the eastern most boundary - and therefore the driest section - of the Delta, head further west, towards the “Panhandle” where the five permanent channels originate. Be prepared to be immersed in lush verdant mossy landscapes dissected by midnight blue water channels dotted with bright white and lavender waterlily flowers and pea green lily pads as far as the eye can see, promising exciting water safari adventures and unique sightings of water-loving species.
After a freshen up in your room, in a rain shower overlooking the permanent Maunachira channel of the Delta, afternoon gamedrive starts. The white sandy roads are shaped by the previous week’s traffic, creating characteristic bumps that bounce and rock your vehicle side to side, providing what has been aptly termed the “African back massage” as your body sways with the movement.
A cloud of dust nearby alerts us to the presence of Cape Buffalo, most likely a large herd. As we position ourselves with the sun in the background, the golden hour sunset provides the ideal backdrop for backlit landscape photography. As low sun rays peek through the trees, tall, seedy grasses sway as the herd moves through the frame. Sip a gin and tonic or the local beer as you take in the soothing munching sounds of Buffalo grazing, moving through the vegetation and find a little piece of heaven you never knew these bovines could evoke.
Early Morning Safaris in Botswana: Dawn Light, Tracks and Quiet Roads
The next morning, after a 5:30am wake up call by your guide, grab some light breakfast cooked on an open fire, while watching the sky turn from its deep dawn lavender to a horizon painted in saturated reds, copper and pinks bleeding into the muted grey-blue sky above. Climb onto your gameviewer, greeted with hot water bottles and blankets to ward off the morning chill with the anticipation of new tracks to be discovered from nightly wanderers. Slowly rock awake on sandy roads bordered by flooded grasslands, where the water shows scattered reflections of the morning sky.
As we head deeper into the Delta, in search of wildlife, be prepared to lift your feet, as the floodwaters stream into your gameviewer whilst you drive on roads that only your guide seems to be able to discern. If you thought you knew your way around a car, be prepared to be humbled, driving skills take on a whole different meaning here. The morning sun shimmers and flickers as its low reflection hits the water that now has your gameviewer half submerged. Until you reach higher ground, and the water levels both in and out of the vehicle drop once again. Off you go, in search of the animals that have learnt to move with the eternal ebbs and flows of the Delta waters.
Mokoro Canoe Safaris: One of Botswana’s Most Iconic Luxury Experiences
The afternoon brings a mokoro boat ride on a seasonal flood lake. Surrounded by herds of Red Lechwe, you meet your poler and clamber into your mokoro canoe (nowadays - for sustainability reasons - made from a durable fiberglass material, instead of a massive hollowed out tree trunk).
As our poler propels us forward using his traditional nkashi, the combination of the gentle lapping of the Delta floodwaters, alternated with the ricke-ticking of the reeds against the sides of the mokoro, and tinkling chirp of the Angolan Painted Reed Frog is perhaps one of the most soothing soundscapes we’ve ever experienced. Glide across crystal clear waters, looking straight through to the sandy river bed of the Delta merely half a meter below, while the setting sun bathes your surroundings in hues of blood orange and dusky indigos.
The next morning, as the sun just about peaks above the horizon, for only a few minutes, the otherwise beige and flat dead leaves and trees suddenly become alive in shades of peach, terracotta and maroons, as you watch a troop of Chacma Baboons climbing as high as they can to catch those same rays of sun. A Black Headed Oriole’s clear, melodic call cuts through the silence. It are these fleeting moments that make it so important to be aware and atune your senses to the spectacles that nature provides freely to those willing to receive them.
Private Island Stops: Coffee, Palms and Feeling a bit Lost
A short drive from the lodge and we arrive at a wooden jetty in the middle of nowhere, where a couple of small motorized boats are anchored, waiting for us. We embark and can barely grab hold of our hats, as we zoot off between the papyrus reeds and waterlilies on the permanent channels of the Maunachira branch of the Delta. Here and there we catch glimpses of large, grey shapes in between the reeds. Elephants crossing the channels, foraging for waterlily roots that they slap against the water to wash away any remaining soil, the African Fish Eagle’s eerie call echoing across the water and dainty African Jacanas skipping on lily pads with their disproportionally large feet.
As you reach a small island, your guide anchors the boat and announces that it is time for a little break. Disembarking, you find yourself in the midst of Lala and wild date palm thickets, sipping a french pressed coffee and nibbling on a short bread biscuit, whilst your guide creates a truly ingenuous waterlily necklace for you to wear on the way back. One cannot help but think how the whole experience is giving Robinson Crusoe vibes.
Heading North to the Linyanti River: A Remote Delta Frontier
Too soon, it is time to leave the Delta proper, and make your way north, where the Selinda spillway joins the Linyanti River. This perennial river constitutes the border between Botswana and Namibia, allowing the wildlife to haphazardly cross between two man-made territories, unbothered by trivial human constructs like borders delineated on a map.
As you drive leisurely along the water's edge, you spot a huge variety of bird species, including Little Bee Eaters, a Pied Kingfisher trying to fit a freshly caught fish in its beak, a couple of majestic African Fish Eagles perched in a tree, and many more. Watch as Elephant bulls cross the water and dust bathe on the banks, Giraffes stroll across the grasslands bordering the river in their characteristic slow motion saunter, and a pair of Blacksmith Lapwing defending their spotted eggs - so haphazardly laid in the open on the muddy banks it's a miracle they ever even hatch. Herds of Red Lechwe graze between the reeds, before being scattered by a hidden disturbance. A radio call comes in, three male Lions were spotted resting amongst the mopani trees, on our road back to the lodge.
We decide to pass by and watch them for a while as they snooze. We know that as the sun sets, they might start getting active so we agree to have our sundowner in the vehicle as other vehicles are leaving. As we sip our Ataraxia Sauvignon Blanc and munch on droewors, we share stories with our guide BK and simply enjoy spending time with each other and the three male Lions lazying right next to the vehicle. As darkness sets in and ice clinks in our empty glasses, we realise these three guys aren’t planning to move anytime soon, so off we go, back to the lodge for early dinner and bed.
A Floating Lunch in Botswana: One of Africa’s Most Exclusive Safari Experiences
Waking up to another spectacular sunrise across the water, the dusky hues of dawn make way for the bright, saturated and sharp colours of the day. A lunch on the water awaits, at this point the combination of those words doing nothing to surprise you.
Until it proves to be perhaps the highlight of your entire six night safari! Colourful drinks of all shapes and sizes adjoin a lunch of vibrant salads and canapés, expertly presented on a barge boasting a seating area perfectly decked out for lazy lounging, while the pop of a champagne bottle announces your departure from the dock.
As you float on the wide river flanked by forest green reeds, sipping a coupe of bubbles, a small herd of Elephant plays in the middle of the water, with small calves dipping and diving underneath the surface as they grapple to get their footing on the sandy bottom. Said champagne forgotten on the table, you lie down on the floor, in an attempt to get an eye level shot of the splashing and playing going on right in front of you. As waterlily flowers and pads - loosened from their roots by foraging Elephants - lazily float past your barge, you start to truly grasp the appeal of the Delta. Such life, such vibrancy, such depth of colour, such quiet, such novelty, such beauty - it is impossible to describe and yet here I am… trying to do just that.
Our Final Evening on the Water: Sunset Cruise and the Last Light of the Delta
That evening, a final water activity announces the end of your safari. A sunset cruise on a motorized boat, zooming further out on the river, brings sightings of massive herds of Elephant crossing into Namibia, and a pair of Hippos that decide to have a stand-off right in the middle of the channel you need to take, to get back home. As you patiently wait for them to resolve their - at this point evidently quite serious - dispute, it’s getting darker and darker - until eventually, it becomes a “foot down and hope for the best” kind of situation as you fly past them with your eyes closed and hands gripping the boat tighter than a baby monkey holding onto its mom. A final sundowner is still on the cards, bobbing on the Linyanti River, as you watch your last sunset in the Delta melding the colours in the skies from amber, saffron, marigold, and ochre into deep magentas, plums and burgundies, and the Lala palms on the horizon proudly stand out, reminding you that everything - eventually - must come to an end.
Ready to Experience Botswana in Your Own Way?
A luxury safari in Botswana isn’t about ticking off sightings. It’s about how the places, experiences, wildlife and people make you feel.
Botswana safaris are defined by space, water, and a sense of moving with nature rather than through it. From private bush flights and water-based safaris to hand-picked lodges and slow moments that can’t be scripted, the Okavango Delta is best experienced through thoughtful planning.
If this journey resonated with you, we’d love to design a bespoke Okavango Delta safari itinerary tailored entirely around your travel style, pace, and priorities.
Contact our travel team to enquire about your own private Botswana safari.
At Wild Wonderful World, every itinerary is custom-designed. No templates. No group tours. Just deeply considered journeys that give back to the wild and yourself.
FAQs about safari to the Okavango Delta
Q: Is Botswana a good destination for a first luxury safari?
A: Yes, especially for travellers who value space, privacy, and a slower pace. Botswana offers an intuitive, uncrowded introduction to safari life, with exceptional guiding and lodges that feel immersed in nature rather than separate from it. Looking for more practical tips to plan an Okavango Delta safari? Read our blog here.
Q: What makes the Okavango Delta different from other African safari destinations?
A: The Okavango Delta is a living wetland, reshaping itself each season and drawing wildlife to the abundance of water. Safaris happen on land, by motorboat, bush plane, helicopter and by mokoro, creating a quieter, more immersive experience where wildlife moves with the water.
Q: Are mokoro safaris safe and suitable for luxury travellers?
A: Yes. Modern mokoros are safe, comfortable, and guided by experienced local polers. Our experiences have always felt comfortable and safe. For many guests, they become the most memorable part of the safari, quiet, grounding, and deeply connected to the Delta.
Q: How many days do you need for a luxury safari in the Okavango Delta?
A: Six nights is the ideal minimum, split between different regions of the Delta. This allows time for both land- and water-based safaris, without rushing the experience.
Q: What wildlife can you expect to see in the Okavango Delta?
A: The Delta is home to elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, wild dogs and water-adapted species like red lechwe and hippos. Exceptional birdlife adds another layer, from fish eagles to jacanas walking on waterlilies.
Q: Is Botswana safari travel suitable for couples, honeymooners, or families?
A: Yes, as with any safari thoughtful lodge selection adjusted to your needs is key. Botswana is ideal for couples and honeymooners seeking privacy, while select camps are well-suited to families looking for customizable, guided experiences. For families with younger children, we recommend a South African safari.
Q: How exclusive are safaris in the Okavango Delta compared to Kenya or South Africa?
A: Botswana prioritises low-impact tourism, limiting lodge and vehicle numbers. This creates a rare sense of space, where wildlife sightings are often shared with no one else. If you really want an off-the-beaten-path safari, we've got the ideal Delta destination for you!
Written by Evelyn Poole
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