10 day safari

Prices from

£5600

Excluding international flights

Tour Highlights

  • Zebra migration peaks by the Boteti River
  • Predators follow this annual migration
  • See spectacular wildlife from your riverside room
  • Access to the Okavango Delta and Moremi
  • Maximum of 6 clients on the tour

Botswana Zebra Migration

This is a Botswana safari I have been thinking about designing for years and I am so excited that it has finally come to fruition. The annual Zebra migration through Botswana does not attract as much attention as the famous Wildebeest migration in East Africa, but in its own way it is equally special and also attracts the attention of many of Botswana’s apex predators.

Once the rains end and the salt pans at Makgadikgadi dry up (around April/May), tens of thousands of zebra migrate across the National Park to the banks of the Boteti River valley and remain there until the rains start again in late October/early November.

Our beautiful Botswana wildlife lodge, Leroo La Tau, is located on the banks of the Boteti River Valley so this significant and overwhelming migration arrives on their ‘doorstep’ during April/early May (depending on the years rain) and will remain in that area for the next 6 months or so.

As well as 4 nights at Leroo La Tau to witness the Zebra migration, we will also spend 3 nights at Camp Xakanaxa which is located on the boundary between the Okavango Delta and the world famous Moremi game reserve. It is one of the few camps which allows the perfect balance of water based activities and game drives at the same time. Moremi is one of the best places in Botswana to see lions, leopards and African wildlife dogs.

We will have large well-equipped game vehicles for a maximum group size of 6 people so each guest has a window seat and plenty of room for their camera equipment. This tour will be characterized by maximising time in the field to take advantage of all available wildlife viewing opportunities.

 

When to Go:
  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

Best time to visit -

MAY

Safari Style -

Small Group Photographer

Day 1

TRANSFER FROM MAUN AIRPORT TO A BEAUTIFUL RIVERSIDE LODGE.

You will be met and transferred to an idyllic lodge located just 15-20 minutes away and on the banks of the Thamalakane River. It offers a lovely setting with beautiful views of the river and the vast array of water birds that inhabit this area.

Accommodation : Thamalakane Lodge

Day 2

Fly from Maun to Boteti River

After breakfast you will be transferred to a nearby airstrip in Maun and take a short flight with Safari Air to the Boteti river. On arrival a vehicle from the lodge will pick up our group and transfer us to our stunningly located riverside wilderness lodge. After a briefing and lunch we will be ready to head out for our first game drive.

Accommodation : Leroo La Tau

Botswana safari. Photo of Leroo La Tau

Day 3

Morning and afternoon game drives along the Boteti River

Leroo Tau is situated on the western bank of the Boteti river, which forms the boundary of Makgadikgadi salt pans. Our game viewing will take advantage of the peak Zebra migration and focus on safaris along the Boteti river.

Botswana safari. Male lion in sunlight

Day 4

Morning and afternoon game drives

Leroo La Tau translates as ‘Lions Paw’, but it is not just lions that you will be seeing on your Botswana safari by the Boteti river. Other resident wildlife includes Brown and Spotted Hyena, Genet, Caracal, Jackal, Leopard and Cheetah.
Photo of a Bat-eared fox taken on a Botswana safari

Day 5

Final day of game drives or visit to Nxai Pan

We always like to leave a little bit of flexibility within our Botswana safari holidays to allow the potential for other locations to be visited if the previous days of game viewing have been successful. So, today the group may decide to head to Nxai Pan and visit the famous Baines Baobabs

Photo of Baines Baobabs on your Botswana safari

Day 6

Fly from Boteti river to Moremi

Today we move from one spectacular wildlife location to another, as our Botswana photographic safari takes us to the world famous Okavango Delta. Our camp is perfectly situated to allow us to explore the wildlife rich waterways, as well as take game drives in the predator rich landscapes of Moremi game reserve.
Accommodation : Camp Xakanxaxa
Okavango and Moremi safari. Photo of camp Xakanaxa

Day 7

Options for both water and land based safari activities

Camp Xakanaxa is one of the few Botswana wildlife camps offering all year round activities. We will use both private 4X4 game vehicles and powerboats to fully explore this stunning landscape.

Botswana safari Okavango Delta. Ariel view of the Delta

Day 8

Morning and afternoon game drives in Moremi

Wildlife Trails have been organising photographic safaris to Moremi reserve for many years. Along with the adjacent Khwai wildlife concession, it is one of the best places to see African wild dogs in Botswana. It is also home to good populations of lions and leopards.

African wild dog puppy photographed on our Botswana camping safari.

Day 9

Charter flight back to Maun and overnight

It may be possible to include one more safari activity in the Delta or Moremi, before we get on the road back to Maun and again overnight at Thamalakane riverside lodge.

Moremi game reserve safari. Photo of elephant by the jeep

Day 10

Fly home or bespoke optional extensions

For those short on time it’s time to say a tearful goodbye to the magic of Botswana and connect with your onward flight. However, if you have a few more days available why not choose one of our bespoke optional wildlife extensions below?

  • Drive to Khwai wildlife concession for a great chance to see African wild dogs and leopards
  • Fly to Savute (Savuti) for the chance to photograph the iconic lion prides which learnt to hunt elephants
  • Fly to Kasane where you can spend several idyllic days on a small houseboat cruising the wildlife rich Chobe River

Pricing Info & Dates

Costs £5600 based on two people sharing and not including flights. Valid for travel in May and June 2024

Includes:

  • All inclusive at the wildlife lodges
  • Internal charter flights
  • Sole use of a vehicle for our group
  • UK tour leader throughout

Excludes:

  • Cost of international visas
  • Cost of PCR or Antigen tests if required
  • Lunch and dinner in Maun
  • Gratuities for hotel staff and camp staff
  • Tip for your main driver/naturalist

What

Our Clients Say About Us

★★★★★
Wild Botswana Experience

This was a wonderful mobile camping trip visiting several areas of Botswana. It was my first time mobile camping and I absolutely loved it - even the 'long drop toilets'! To sit outside er the stars with no light pollution was incredible. We had some brilliant sightings, especially the elephants who we watched playing in the water for ages. Trips in between camps could be long but it was more like an extended game drive and didn't bother me in the least. The trip started off at Thamalakane River Lodge where we had a beautiful sunset over the river. It finished at Chobe River Lodge where we went on a boat trip - once again with wonderful sightings - and watched the sun go down. I could honestly have gone immediately back and done it all again! Kirsty and Allan of Wildlife Trails arranged this brilliant photographic tour for us and I will hopefully return again in the not too distant future. I thought the quality of both lodges and the mobile camp was excellent. We would go for a game drive on the morning of our departure to another camp and by the time we got to our new site the old camp had been dismantled and was re-assembled, ready for us to use, as soon as we got there - with food and drink awaiting! The staff were absolutely amazing and our chef created excellent food with seemingly no effort. This was extremely well arranged by Wildlife Trails with nothing being too much trouble for Allan or Kirsty.

ByChris
★★★★★
A great wildlife trip where I saw everything I hoped for

On a safari trip I go with hopes and expectations, in this case they were exceeded which was a first. The vehicles used were modern and most importantly not crowded. The trip was a photographic ari and our hosts turned out to be expert wildlife photographers and I learnt a lot from them. The other part was fulfilled by our two local guides who had exemplary, knowledge and had the happy knack of putting us in the right place at the right time. This was a wild camping trip and the facilities again exceeded my expectations. The itinerary worked very well and enabled us to make the most of our time in Botswana. Wildlife trails created the environment that made the trip so good, I learned a lot about photography and the wildlife I went to see. For me the highest praise is that I was a returning customer and have already booked my next trip and that they are good value for money.

ByDavid
★★★★★
Amazing experience

Everything went like clockwork . Superb organisation, transfers, border crossings, our guide and driver were excellent making sure we got everywhere on time and with little fuss, but lots of husiasm. They were very knowledgeable, friendly, good cooks and always happy to help. Our accommodation was excellent ranging from luxury to basic camping. Elephant Eye was luxury on stilts with fantastic views over the watering hole, watching the elephants, etc, especially when you were having a shower! The Bedouin camp will remain close to my heart. Camping in the bush giving you that real sense of being at one with nature! The countries we visited, the wonderful friendly people and cultures we experienced was just amazing. This holiday was a little gem, although Vic Falls is highly commercialised,( but still dramatically beautiful) The rest of the trip is off the tourist trail! Would recommend this trip to anyone wanting to spend there time watching wildlife. Great company, always happy to help, listen to what your needs are and deliver an itinerary that is perfect. Would highly recommend Wildlife Trails to anyone wanting a holiday full of wildlife and adventure!

ByLesley