Botswana Safaris, River Cruises, & Tours

Where to Take a Safari: Botswana vs. Tanzania

Over the last decade, Botswana and Tanzania have emerged as the primer safari destinations in Africa. But, how do you know which country is best for you? Below we review the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Wildlife
Both have exceptional classic safari game viewing opportunities. In Botswana, it's more common to view wildlife from a boat along the Chobe River or Okavango Delta and elephants are more common than in Tanzania, while Rhinos are few and far between. And Tanzania’s Serengeti plains are the backdrop where the incomparable wildebeest and zebra migration unfold. 

Exclusivity & Cost
Botswana was developed as a high-end safari destination with fewer visitors and crowds, with more luxurious safari camps and lodging. Travelers tend to fly between camps instead of driving (common in Tanzania). The price of Botswana safaris tend to be on the higher side of the spectrum. 

Botswana Safari Highlights

Botswana is a staple part of many of our comprehensive Africa safari tours, including stops in South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It makes for a great extension package for 3-5 days, and we also feature several exclusively Botswana tours, which visit destinations such as:

• Chobe National Park, where buffalos, giraffes, elephants, hippos, zebras, impalas, and white rhinos roam freely.
• Santawani Concession & Mopane Forest, where you will see elephants, different types of antelopes, kudus, tsessebes, wildebeests, and zebras.
• Explore the Okavango Delta and the Khwai River, which are perfect for adventurous families with children.
• The thundering Victoria Falls awaits eager travelers hoping to see the world's biggest and most impressive waterfalls.
• In the Hwange National Park in neighboring Zimbabwe, you can enjoy open-air vehicle game drives, walking safaris, and nature walks with your professional guide.

How Much Does a Tour to Cost?

Botswana is a wonderful place to visit due to its fantastic landscapes and wildlife. tours can start at around $1,000 for a 5-day trip, and can go up to 16,500 for a 17-day trip.

There are also different kinds of trips, you can choose between a classic safari, a luxury safari, or a safari & cruise combination.

Of course, your choice will depend on your time and needs, but you can always contact one of Adventure Life's travel experts to assist you choose the best option.



 

Did You Know...?

• The Chobe National Park has the world's largest concentration of African elephants.
• An impressive 38% of the country is covered in national parks, preserves, and dedicated wildlife areas.
• The Okavango Delta (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), is the largest inland river delta in the world.
• The Makgadigadi pans stretches over 12,000 sq. km., making it one of the largest salt pans in the world.
• Although English is the country's official language, Setswana is the national language and is spoken throughout the country.
• The border between Botswana & Zambia is the shortest in the world, at just 150 meters.
• Because it is rather isolated and a bit more expensive to get to, Botswana isn't a top destination and is therefore a great place to go to see amazing things and avoid tourist traffic.

Animals to look for in Botswana (by region)

Chobe/ Caprivi: Buffalo, Cheetah, Elephant, Kudu, Hippo, Leopard, Lion, Wildebeest

Moremi/ Okavango: Buffalo, Cheetah, Elephant, Kudu, Hippo, Leopard, Lion, White Rhino, Wild dogs, Wildebeest

Linyanti/ Selinda/ Kwando: Buffalo, Cheetah, Eland, Elephant, Kudu, Hippo, Leopard, Lion, Wild dog, Wildebeest

Savute (Southwestern Chobe): Cheetah, Elephant, Kudu, Leopard, Lion, Wild dog, Wildebeest

Lodges & Safari Camps

We have curated Botswana's best safari lodges and tent camps to choose from. Here are our top picks:
 

• Beyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp - situated in the heart of the wildlife rich grasslands.
   
• Gomoti Plains Camp - allows perfect access to the Gomoti River system.
   
• Machaba Camp - right in the Okavango, it sits adjacent to the Moremi game reserve in the Khwai area.
   
• &Beyond Xaranna Okavango Delta Camp - enjoys the privacy of an expansive game reserve on its own delta island.
   
• Zarafa Camp - in an area renowned for large wildlife populations, especially the predators!

Best Botswana River Cruise Lines for 2025-2026

• AMA Waterways - has an African cruise and safari program based on Chobe River cruises in Botswana, with travel options to Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. The 28-passenger Zambezi Queen offers a sophisticated onboard experience designed to maximize animal sightings with a design specific for safari river cruising on the Chobe River. 
• CroisiEurope - offers shore excursions such as full-day safari in Jeeps to explore the Chobe National Park that is home to more than 1/4 of the total elephant population in Africa. Designed to explore Southern Africa, African Dream provides an intimate look at the nature and animals along the shores of this incredible region.