Safari planning guide

If you want a safari that feels truly wild, Botswana is where I send you.

It's a country of small camps, few vehicles and huge open spaces, from the waterways of the Okavango Delta to the salt pans of the Kalahari.

Here's what to know as you plan.

Why Botswana

• Fewer people. Most camps are small and remote, and many sit on private land where only their guests can drive. Outside the Chobe riverfront, it rarely feels busy.
• More ways to explore. In the private areas you can go off-road to follow animals, head out on night drives and walk with a guide.
• Water and desert in one trip. Gliding through the Delta in a mokoro (a traditional dugout canoe) and sitting on the edge of a salt pan feel like two different countries.
• Wonderful wildlife. Elephants, lions, leopards and cheetahs, plus a real chance at African wild dogs.

Water, River or Desert?

Most Botswana trips combine two or three of these areas, and each one feels completely different.

The Okavango Delta

The world's largest inland delta, with mokoro trips, boat rides, game drives on the islands and some of the most beautiful camps in Africa

Chobe and the North

Huge elephant herds, boat safaris on the Chobe River, and remote private areas like the Linyanti that are known for predators

The Kalahari and the Pans

Endless open space, the Makgadikgadi salt pans, and a desert that comes alive with zebra and wildebeest in the green season

One camp on the water, one on land: the best of Botswana.

Where to Go in Botswana

• Okavango Delta: the heart of a Botswana safari. The private concessions offer off-road driving, night drives and walks, along with mokoro trips through the channels.
• Moremi Game Reserve: the protected reserve inside the Delta, with excellent game viewing on both land and water.
• Chobe National Park: famous for its elephants. A boat safari on the Chobe River at sunset is a highlight, and it's the easiest jump to Victoria Falls.
• Linyanti and Savute: remote areas between the Delta and Chobe, loved for big cats, wild dogs and elephants.
• Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans: vast salt pans that are at their best in the green season, when the zebra and wildebeest arrive.
• Central Kalahari: a true desert experience, best from about December to May, with the chance to spend time with San guides.

When to Go

The dry season, roughly May to October, is the classic time to go. The animals gather around the water, and the Delta's camps are at their best.

Here's the surprise: the Okavango floods during the dry season. The water arrives from the Angolan highlands months after the rain, so the Delta is at its highest from about July to October. That's perfect for mokoro trips.

September and October get very hot. From November to March it's green season, with afternoon storms, baby animals, lower rates and the Kalahari and the pans at their best. Some camps close for part of January to March.

See my full month-by-month safari guide for every country.

Malaria

Northern Botswana, including the Delta and Chobe, is a malaria area, and the risk is highest from November to March. Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic before you go.

Traveling with young children? South Africa has wonderful malaria-free reserves, and I'm happy to help you compare.

How Long to Go

Plan on 8 to 10 days. That gives you time for two or three camps, often one water camp and one or two land camps.

You'll fly between camps in small planes, so bags are soft-sided and weight is limited. My safari packing list covers what to bring.

Pricing varies by camp and season, and I'll give you real numbers once I know your dates.

Add Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is a short trip from Chobe, which makes it an easy and popular way to start or finish a Botswana safari. Two nights is perfect for seeing the falls, a sunset cruise on the Zambezi and a little time to relax.

My Biggest Advice

Book early. The best Delta camps are small, and for July to October I recommend booking 12 to 18 months ahead.

And mix your camps. One camp on the water and one on dry land gives you the best of Botswana in a single trip.

keep planning

Botswana safari on my blog →How to choose your safari →Safari planning page →Safari pricing guide →

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Safari planning guide

"How much do we tip?" is one of the questions I get most from safari clients, usually a few weeks before they leave.

It's a fair question. Tipping in Africa can feel a little unclear, because customs vary by country and by lodge.

So here's the same guide I send my own clients before every safari.

First, the Most Important Thing

Tipping is always your choice. It should reflect your own experience and the service you received, and it is never mandatory.

These are simply guidelines. Whatever feels comfortable to you is absolutely appropriate.

Tipping on Safari

WhoHow much

Safari guide$15–$20 per guest, per day

Tracker$10–$15 per guest, per day

Butler or personal host$10 per room, per day

General camp staff$15–$20 per guest, per day

Your guides will be the highlight of your trip.

Tipping in the City

WhoHow much

Airport assistance$5 per person

Airport transfer driver$10 per transfer

Private touring guide$20 per person for a full day, $15 for a half day

Restaurants10–15%, if service isn't already included and you're happy with it

How Tipping Works at a Safari Camp

• Tip your guide, tracker and butler separately. These are the people you'll spend the most time with, and it's customary to thank each one directly.
• Use the gratuity box for everyone else. Most camps have a shared box in the main lodge area for housekeeping, the kitchen and the rest of the camp team.
• Tip once, at the end of your stay. There's no need to tip daily.
• Check your welcome materials. Some lodges share their own suggested amounts, which can vary a little by property.
• You don't always need cash. Many lodges let you add gratuities to your card at checkout. If that matters to you, confirm with the lodge team when you arrive.

What Currency to Bring

Most properties happily accept tips in US dollars or the local currency.

In most cases, small US bills are the easiest and most convenient option, so tuck some into your bag before you leave home.

My Biggest Advice

Don't stress over it! Your guides will be the highlight of your trip, and you'll know exactly how you want to thank them by the end.

keep planning

What to pack →Safari planning page →Safari pricing guide →

Ready to start planning your safari?

Plan My Safari

Safari planning guide

"When is the best time to go on safari?" is usually the very first question I get.

The honest answer is that it depends on where you're going. Africa is huge, and the seasons are different in Botswana than they are in Kenya.

Here's how I help my clients pick the right month.

The Short Answer

For most of Africa, the dry season, roughly June to October, is the classic time to go. The grass is shorter, the trees are thinner and the animals gather around water, so they're much easier to find.

It's also high season. The best camps fill up first, so for these months I recommend booking 12 to 18 months ahead.

Best Months by Country

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Botswana
South Africa (Kruger)
Cape Town
Namibia
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Kenya
Tanzania
Rwanda (gorillas)

BestGoodMixed

Pick your month and your country together.

Month by Month

January and February

The Great Migration's calving season in Tanzania's southern Serengeti, when thousands of wildebeest are born and the predators are never far behind. Kenya has a dry spell, and Rwanda is drier too. Cape Town is at its summer best. Much of southern Africa is hot and rainy, and some camps in Botswana close for part of the season.

March to May

The long rains in East Africa, with April usually the wettest month. This is low season, with lower rates and fewer people. By May, Botswana, South Africa and Namibia are drying out and coming into their best months.

June to October

Prime time almost everywhere. Botswana's Okavango Delta has its highest water from about July to October, which is perfect for mokoro (dugout canoe) trips. In Kenya and Tanzania the migration moves north, and the famous Mara River crossings are most likely in August and September. Rwanda's dry season makes the gorilla trails easier, and the falls at Victoria Falls are clearer to see than in the misty peak-flow months. Nights and early mornings can be cold, so bring layers.

November and December

The start of green season in southern Africa. The landscape turns green, baby animals arrive and the birding is wonderful. Kenya and Tanzania have their short rains, which usually come and go. It's also a great time to combine safari with Cape Town or a beach.

Don't Rule Out Green Season

• Lower rates at many lodges and camps
• Fewer vehicles at sightings
• Newborn animals and dramatic predator action
• The best birding of the year, with migrant birds arriving
• Lush, green scenery and beautiful skies for photos

The trade-offs: it's hotter, afternoon storms are common, and some remote camps close. It works best when you choose the right country and camp for the month, which is exactly what I help with.

My Biggest Advice

Pick your month and your country together. A safari in Botswana in August and one in Kenya in January can both be perfect, but the same month can be very different from one country to the next.

keep planning

Botswana safari guide →South Africa safari guide →Namibia safari guide →Kenya and Tanzania safari guide →Gorilla trekking guide →How to choose your safari →Safari planning page →Safari pricing guide →

Ready to start planning your safari?

Plan My Safari

Safari planning guide

Packing for safari is easier than most people think.

You don't need a whole new wardrobe or anything fancy. In fact, you'll probably pack less than you would for a week at the beach.

Here's the same packing list I send my own clients before they leave.

What to Wear on Safari

Pack comfortable, casual clothing in muted, neutral colors. Think khaki, olive, beige, cream, grey and other earth tones.

Skip bright colors, and leave the camouflage print at home.

Whatever the time of year, early mornings and evenings can be chilly, especially on an open safari vehicle. Layers are always your friend.

KhakiOliveBeigeCreamGrey

Why You'll Pack Lighter Than You Think

Most lodges and hotels offer laundry service, and it's often included. That makes it easy to rotate the same few outfits through your whole trip.

This matters more than you'd expect. If your trip includes small bush planes between camps, luggage allowances are strict, and soft-sided bags are usually required. Your exact allowance will be in your trip documents before you go.

Layers are always your friend.

My Safari Packing List

Clothing

• 2 breathable long-sleeved shirts, for sun and insect protection
• 2 t-shirts for relaxing at the lodge, city touring or casual days
• 2 pairs of shorts or lightweight pants
• 2 pairs of safari trousers or casual pants for game drives and walks (shorts are perfectly fine too)
• 2 pairs of jeans or casual trousers for evenings at the lodge
• 1 warm jacket or fleece for early morning and evening game drives
• 1 lightweight rain jacket with a hood
• Sleepwear and undergarments

Shoes

• 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes or sneakers
• 1 pair of flip-flops or sandals for downtime at the lodge or pool

Accessories and Essentials

• A small backpack or day bag, water-resistant if possible
• Swimwear
• Sunglasses
• A broad-brimmed hat or cap
• Sunscreen
• Moisturizer and lip balm
• Eye drops or nasal spray, if you use them
• Strong insect repellent (most lodges provide it)
• A neck gaiter or buff for cool mornings and dusty roads

Safari Gear

• Binoculars (compact and lightweight are best)
• Camera equipment and chargers
• A portable power bank

A Few Final Notes

• No formal clothes needed. Safari camps are very relaxed, even at dinner.
• Layers are the most important part of packing, especially for morning game drives.
• Repeating outfits is normal. Laundry is usually quick and easy.
• Pack a soft-sided bag if your trip includes bush flights.

keep planning

Safari tipping guide →Safari planning page →Safari pricing guide →

Ready to start planning your safari?

Plan My Safari