Safari experts & storytellers. Since 1991
Trust us to find you the rarest animals, the most spectacular wildlife events, the remotest landscapes and deeply meaningful cultural encounters!
This iconic Big Five safari encompasses three of Botswana's iconic landscapes: the arid Central Kalahari with its desert-adapted wildlife, the verdant, wildlife-rich Okavango Delta waterways and seasonal floodplains, and the wide Chobe River, where you drift as elephants and hippos swim around you.
Expect luxury accommodation, delicious meals and discreet service as you ogle a wide range of wildlife in spectacular locations.
The ultimate safari to understand the impact of water, and the lack thereof, on wildlife and people
Highlights
Incredible wildlife viewing - including the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), cheetahs, wild dogs, spotted hyenas, red lechwe, roan, sable and desert-adapted species such as brown hyena, springbok and oryx.
Diverse landscapes, from the sand dunes of the Central Kalahari to the deep-water channels and lagoons of the Okavango Delta and the wide Chobe River.
Activities that ensure excellent wildlife viewing, including guided game drives, walking safaris, boating, mokoro (traditional canoe) excursions, and a nature walk that provides insight into the San people’s deep understanding of the land.
Private accommodation in luxury lodges and authentic bush camps, with attentive, discreet service.
Scenic flights for all transitions to enjoy an eagle-eye view of these iconic landscapes and to maximise time in the wild.
Locations
The Chobe Riverfront in the massive Chobe National Park attracts huge herds of elephants and buffalo in the dry season, offering fantastic photographic opportunities as they bathe and drink in the late-afternoon sunlight. Chobe wildlife includes four of the Big Five (the rhino is absent), cheetah, hyena, wild dog, hippo, roan, and sable.
The Okavango Delta is a verdant inland delta formed by the mighty Okavango River flowing into the Kalahari Desert, a unique ecosystem shaped by annual floodwaters from Angola and channels engineered by hippos and elephants. The lush Okavango Delta teems with diverse wildlife, including the Big Five, wild dog, cheetah, hippo and pangolin.
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is one of the world’s largest protected wilderness areas, featuring vast open plains, salt pans, and mixed woodland. Wildlife in the Central Kalahari is abundant, including elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah and desert-adapted species such as oryx, springbok and brown hyena. Rhinos are regularly seen near Dinaka.
Lodges
2 nights at Chobe Game Lodge (Chobe National Park). A riverside lodge with direct access to the Chobe River, offering a mix of boat cruises and guided drives in one of Botswana’s most wildlife-rich regions.
4 nights at Shinde (Okavango Delta). An intimate, classic Delta camp set among ancient trees, with a wide variety of water and land activities that showcase the richness of the region.
3 nights at Dinaka (Central Kalahari). A warm, characterful camp overlooking a permanent waterhole, ideal for desert wildlife viewing, guided walks and cultural encounters with San Bushmen.
Timing
The ideal time to travel is June to October, when the Okavango Delta is in full flood, wildlife gathers in high densities along the Chobe River, and the dry Kalahari offers excellent visibility and predator sightings.
Wildlife concentrates around permanent water sources, maximising sightings of elephants, predators, and birdlife. The cooler dry season climate provides comfortable safari conditions, while the Delta’s waterways remain navigable for mokoro excursions.
The rainy season months (December to March/April) are excellent for bird-watchers looking to make the most of the influx of migratory species, as well as for seeing plenty of wildlife babies and predator action, as the big cats focus on young prey.
You can enjoy this safari at any time of year, with careful planning. Our safari experts will help you make the best timing decision.
Price per person sharing
9 nights (10 days) | ||
Low season | January to February 2026 | from US$ 12,150 |
High season | June to October 2026 | from US$ 17,450 |
Includes: All accommodation, meals, local beverages and laundry, twice-daily safari activities with professional guides, park entrance and conservation fees, flights connecting Johannesburg, Kasane, the Okavango Delta, Dinaka and Maun, airstrip transfers, and 24-hour logistical support.
Excludes: International flights and airport taxes, gratuities, personal expenses, optional activities not specified, and mandatory cancellation, travel and medical insurance.
Thank you!
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
“Perfect location”
Ross Exler, AG Botswana safari expert: “I love how Shinde offers such rich wildlife right outside of camp, yet feels so peaceful inside. Many consider Shinde's location to be among the most beautiful islands in the Delta, and I rank among them.”
“G&T safari”
Linda Fox, AG Botswana safari expert: “Drifting down the Chobe River at sunset, G&T in hand, I watched elephants, lions, crocs and hippos at the river's edge - a wonderful way to enjoy this amazing wildlife-rich park.”
“Botswana Big 5”
Our CEO, Simon Espley, says, “Dinaka offers the best chance of spotting rhinos in Botswana, and completing your Big Five list. You will find the others - leopard, lion, buffalo and elephant - relatively easily across northern Botswana.”
Safari planning
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Classic Botswana Big 5 safari
Tell us about your dream trip - our travel experts will craft a no-obligation itinerary just for you. We have crafted over 5,000 safaris since 1991. Your personal details are protected; we only use this information to contact you.
Why choose us to craft your safari?
Handcrafted experiential safaris since 1991.
Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?
Trust & Safety
Guest payments go into a third-party TRUST ACCOUNT - protecting them in the unlikely event of a financial setback on our part. Also, we are members of SATSA who attest to our integrity, legal compliance and financial stability.
Make a difference
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
YOUR safari choice does make a difference - thank you!