Botswana Safari Cost, 11 Best Botswana Tour Packages 2025.
Hotels, tour companies, attractions, and the price of a Botswana safari tour guide.
Botswana’s Chobe National Park Safari
The average cost was $380 (USD).
Duration of Tour: 3 Days
There should be no more than six people.
Moremi, Okavango, and Safari Chobe
Duration of Tour: 7 Days
From $3,600 to $4,400 in price
There are two to eight people.
Named after the Chobe River, Chobe National Park was created in 1968. It is easily accessible, particularly for tourists on southern African tours and those traveling from the Victoria Falls, due to its proximity to the borders of Zambia, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Every year, Chobe boasts some of the biggest wildlife densities.
The Chobe Riverfront, Savute, the Ngwezumba Pans, and Linyanti are the four distinct geographic regions of this Botswana safari park, each of which has a wealth of attractions. With cape buffaloes and several elephant herds, the Chobe River Front is a popular destination.
In addition to lions, impalas, bushbucks, giraffes, kudus, hyenas, leopards, monkeys, and baboons, the park is home to over 460 different kinds of birds, making it a popular destination for birdwatchers. Activities available to visitors include bird watching, game drives around the park, and riverboat cruises where they can spot crocodiles and hippos.
The park is open from May to September, when it is colder and drier and you may observe wildlife including giraffes, buffaloes, elands, and wildebeests. Due of its road accessibility, the park is less expensive to enter than other national parks.
While visiting Chobe National Park, visitors can choose from a range of lodging options, including luxurious Chobe Safari Lodge, moderate Kwalape Safari Lodge, Thebe Lodge, Chobe Bush Lodge, and Muchenje Campsite.
Safari in the Central Kalahari Desert Game Reserve
Safari Length: Three Days
The average cost per person is $1100.
Mahan, Okavango, and Central Kalahari
Safari Length: 8 Days
The average cost per person is $4700.
Established in 1961, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve spans 52,800 square kilometers. It is located in the Kalahari Desert, which has mostly flat but also expansive sand dunes, rolling plains, river valleys, shrubbery, and grasslands, among other stunning and romantic scenery.
In addition, the wildlife reserve is well-known for its annual zebra migration, which provides visitors with an experience they won’t soon forget as thousands of zebras and some wildebeests traverse the undulating plains.
Bush elephants, spotted hyenas, South African cheetahs, cape ground squirrels, sable antelopes, white rhinos, greater kudus, cape buffaloes, South African giraffes, warthogs, Kalahari lions, cape foxes, elands, springboks, brown hyenas, ostriches, honey badgers, and black-backed jackals are among the other creatures that can be found in this park.
The San Bushmen, who lived in this region for a very long time and were originally hunters and gatherers, are a must-see for everyone interested in culture. Therefore, traveling to these communities and witnessing their way of life is an incredible experience.
It is best to prepare and make reservations in advance and to have sufficient knowledge about the park before you visit. Leroo La Tau, Dinaka Safari Lodge, Deception Valley Lodge, Kalahari Trail Blazers, Haina Kalahari Lodge, Kalahari Plains Camp, Kalahari Tented Camp, and Kalahari Arms Hotel-Ghanzi are a few of the lodging options.
Botswana’s Okavango Delta Safari
From: $2600
Duration of Safari: 6 Days
There are two to four people present.
Chobe and Okavango Delta Safari
From: $2,800
Safari Length: Five Days
The northwest region of Botswana is home to the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The delta, which is fed by the River Okavango and is located in the Kalahari Basin, is a popular safari destination since it is made up of both permanent marshes and plains that flood seasonally. In dry seasons, the Okavango delta region is 15,000 square kilometers; in rainy seasons, it is roughly 22,000 square kilometers.
Your dreams will come true in Okavango, a breathtaking location. The most remarkable feature of this area is that the River Okavango floods during the dry season, which runs from June to October. May through September is the ideal time of year to explore the delta. The Delta, the dry land, and the Panhandle are the main destinations in Okavango; these regions are good for boating, bird watching, and animal viewing.
More than 122 animal species, 444 bird species, almost 1,300 flower plant species, 64 reptile species, and 71 fish species may be found in Okavango. The rarest mammal species in the world, including lions, black rhinoceroses, cheetahs, African wild dogs, and white rhinoceroses, can be found there. Giraffes, kudus, waterbucks, zebras, buffaloes, duikers, elephants, hartebeests, impalas, and reedbucks are among the other creatures.
The delta is a unique location due to the abundance of opulent lodges; therefore, it is advised that guests reserve rooms in the delta as it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Safaris at Moremi Game Reserve
Chobe, Okavango, Moremi, and Makgadikgadi
From: $4,500
Safari Length: 9 Days
There are two to four people present.
Okavango, Khwai’s Moremi Game Reserve Safari
From: $2,230
Duration of Safari: 6 Days
About a third of the Okavango Delta was set aside in 1962 when the Batawana people established the Moremi Game Reserve for the future conservation of wildlife. The wildlife reserve, which was named in honor of “Chief Moremi,” is located east of the Okavango delta and spans over 3000 square kilometers.
Although the game reserve is small, it is home to a large number of Botswana safari animals. Other geographical features include the Moremi Tongue, Chiefs Island, and the Khawai River. The dense woodlands, savannah grasslands, and lagoons like Xakanaxa lagoon, which are excellent for bird watching, provide breathtaking views.
More than 500 forest and water bird species, as well as a variety of wildlife, including the South African cheetah, hyena, Angolan giraffe, impala, hippopotamus, black rhinoceros, zebra, elephant, red lechwe, jackal, Cape wild dog, and Cape buffalo, can be found in Moremi.
Moremi is reachable by plane and by road through Maun. It is difficult to get to Moremi during the rainy seasons, therefore the best time to come is during the dry season, which runs from July to October. To see more wildlife, such as crocodiles, drivers are encouraged to use 4×4 safari vehicles. They should also take a boat tour on the sea.
Outside the Reserve, there are a number of campgrounds and lodges that offer excellent wildlife viewing. Please be aware that due to the rainy season and the inaccessibility of the area, some lodges close from December to February.
12 Days of All-Inclusive Luxury Safari
From: $7,830
Safari Length: 12 Days
There are two to four people present.
Safari from Maun to Victoria Falls
From: $1,440
Duration of Safari: 6 Days
The town of Maun is located along the Thamalakane River in Botswana. Because it is close to numerous tourist destinations and houses the offices of several air charter and safari companies, it is often known as Botswana’s “tourism capital.” Maun, which is close to the Okavango Delta, has grown significantly over time and now has a large number of hotels, shopping malls, vehicle rental companies, and lodges. Most tourists stay a few nights in Maun as a stopover before continuing on to the Okavango Delta.
Maun is a lovely town that will introduce you to the various traditions of the locals, including how they raise and graze their cattle. You may also view the Red Lechwe on the banks of the Thamalakane River while you observe the cattle grazing. The Nhabe museum, which features some local artwork, is a good venue for visitors to learn about the history of this area.
Nxai Pan and Makgadikgadi National Parks
Safari, Okavango, and Chobe Makgadikgadi
From: $2,730
Duration of Safari: 13 Days
There are two to four people present.
Makgadikgadi Pans & Other Safari Locations for 7 Days
From: $1,440
Duration of Safari: 6 Days
The largest of them all, Makgadikgadi Pan, Kudiakam Pan, Nxai Pan, and Ntwetwe Pan make up the vast Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan National Park.
The majority of the park’s grasslands are desolate during the dry season, and animals can be observed congregating to drink water. Hippos also venture deep into the dried-up River Boteti’s water pools. The salt pans are breathtaking during this time of year, and quad biking is one of the popular pastimes.
The whole environment comes alive again when the rainy season starts, the grasslands bloom and thrive, and the pans are filled with water, which draws water fowl and also triggers the zebra and wildebeest migration season.
From December through April, it is easy to visit the park. Its location in Botswana’s northeast makes it easy for you to explore and take in the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park. Camping, including mobile camping at the Makgadikgadi Pan camps, is the mode of lodging utilized here.
Block Tuli
Starting Price: $3650 (USD)
Tour Length: 15 Days
Solomon’s Wall, which is located at the Motloutse River close to the southwest of the Tuli Block, is one of the physical characteristics that make the Tuli Block notable. Tuli Nature Reserve and Mashatu Game Reserve are situated in the eastern part of Botswana, between the southern border of South Africa and the northern and eastern borders of Zimbabwe. This is where the Shashe and Limpopo rivers converge. Tuli is a slender block of land that provides a good wildlife watching spot.
With its numerous riverine forests, savannah grasslands, rivers, rocks, giant baobab trees, and herds of elephants, this region is very breathtaking. The Black-manned lion is the primary mammal of interest here, however other species include zebras, giraffes, kudus, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, and wildebeests.
Here, you can also learn about the area’s history, which dates back more than 80 million years. The historical sites include the stunning African rock art and paintings on Lepokole hill and the Tswapong, which are thought to have been created by the San people’s ancestors. There are also several stone age sites that transport you back in time to events you never saw but occurred.
The Hills of Tsodilo
Starting Price: $520 (USD)
Duration of Tour: 3 Days
There should be no more than six people.
The Tsodilo Hills are located near the Namibian border in the northwest region of Botswana. In 2002, the Tsodilo Hills received UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. People have lived in this little region, which is made up of caves and rock art, for more than 100,000 years. There are thought to be over 4,500 rock drawings at the location, and it is thought that the San people or bushmen who lived there are the ones who painted them.
As you explore this area, you can take a guided walk along well-known walking paths including the cliff trail, rhino trail, and lion trail to discover paintings, caves, and communities that reside close to the hills.
Since the Tsodilo Hills are regarded as one of the oldest historical locations in the world, seeing them is an experience that will never be forgotten!
Transfrontier Park in Kgalagadi
Starting Price: $850 (USD)
Duration of Tour: 3 Days
The vast Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which spans over 38,000 square kilometers, is situated in Botswana’s southwest. Even though you won’t be able to see all of the “Big Five,” the park is an exclusive location for wildlife viewing and is managed as a single ecological unit.
Many species can be seen in the park, including antelopes, brown hyenas, migratory wildebeests, Kalahari lions, hartebeests, and several wild cats. Additionally, this area is home to more than 170 different species of birds. On the South African side of the park, there are various camps where you can stay.
Walking Safaris in Gaborone
Starting Price: $250 (USD)
Tour Length: Two Days
The capital and largest city of Botswana is Gaborone. The city is well-known for the Mokolodi game reserve, which is a short drive from the city and offers guided nature walks and game drives, as well as the Gaborone game reserve, which is home to giraffes, rhinos, and other species like impalas and wildebeests.
While here, you should also visit the National Museum, the Art Gallery, which features handicrafts and other cultural arts and crafts, and Kgale Hill, which provides stunning city views. While here, birdwatchers can also see local and migratory birds.
The city is perfect for most games and sports because of its pleasant weather. Games include rugby, volley ball, tennis, boating, netball, swimming, horseback riding, golf, football, cricket, and rugby. Of course, there are gyms and other fitness facilities for folks who enjoy working out. There is no need to worry about where to stay because Gaborone offers a wide range of hotel accommodations.
Khama Rhino Refuge
Starting Price: $520 (USD)
Tour Length: One Day
The Khama Rhino Sanctuary was created in 1992 with the intention of reintroducing wildlife to the region and protecting the nation’s endangered rhinos, both of which will benefit the local population through tourism. Schoolchildren from the surrounding villages and Francistown, the nation’s second-largest and oldest city, are housed in this refuge, allowing them to receive education and awareness-raising about conservation.
Tours of Northern Botswana
Cost of a Botswana Safari The two main stops on the northern Botswana safari are Okavango Swamp and Chobe National Park. These locations offer excellent game viewing opportunities and the chance to see the big five. You will witness lions, crocodiles, hippos, and African wild dogs. Buffalo, wildebeests, giraffes, zebra elephants, and antelopes are among the other large wildlife.
The Best Time to Visit Botswana for a Safari
Botswana’s dry season, which lasts from May to October, is the ideal time to arrange a safari because average temperatures range from 22 to 35 degrees Celsius (22 to 35 degrees Celsius). The nights and early mornings are cold throughout this season, but the days are typically bright and sunny. The best water curtain at the waterfall is available during this season since the well-known Okavango Delta is at its highest point.
However, Botswana’s green season, which runs from November to April, is also a great time to visit, especially for those on a tight budget, because most safaris are cheaper, there are fewer tourists, many animals are giving birth, and the landscape is lush and green.
Cost of a Botswana Safari
When planning a Botswana safari, careful consideration should be given to your itinerary, where you want to stay, when you want to travel, how you want to get around the country, and the activities you want to do. These factors will all have an impact on the cost of your safari.
Low-cost Safari in Botswana
Budget-conscious tourists are strongly encouraged to schedule their elephant safaris during the green (wet) season, which occurs from November to April. An overland safari vacation is actually the most economical and comfortable option to have a low-budget Botswana safari because it usually includes a prearranged itinerary and is guided by a professional guide who also acts as your driver and has extensive knowledge of the country.
By selecting this option instead of self-guided tours, you will save the hassle of making reservations for lodging, renting a car, paying for gas, creating a workable itinerary, paying for activity and pack entrance costs, and even providing for your own food. Overland safari trucks have gas burner stoves, stretchers, and tents with camping chairs. An overland safari vacation in Botswana typically costs $250 to $350.
Botswana Safaris at Reasonable Prices
These offer good value for the money and a decent degree of comfort during your safari vacation. Good safari resorts or traditional safari camps with air conditioning and roomy beds and rooms will be your accommodations. However, it is recommended that you reserve your mid-range lodging well in advance, particularly during the park safari season when there are a lot of visitors. The cost of a moderate Botswana safari can range from $400 to $525 per day.
A luxurious safari in Botswana
Luxury safaris in Botswana When it comes to a luxurious safari experience, there is no shortage. Luxurious lodging in prestigious safari locations with unobstructed views of wildlife is available to you, along with the best possible customer service from your lodging. In order to avoid the lengthy journeys over the dusty roads, you can have the option of taking connecting flights from one place to another. Since the list is extensive, you can also enjoy a variety of safari activities. In Botswana, a luxury safari might cost anything from $700 to $1,500 per day.
Activities for a Botswana Safari Experience
$160 for Canoe Safaris
The average cost of a tent camp is $300.
Viewing the game costs $200.
$300 for private concession game viewing
$600 for hot air ballooning
$150 for Might Victoria Falls
Water Safaris: $200
Accommodations in Botswana
As previously mentioned in this article, Botswana is home to a large number of tourist destinations. As a result, each of these locations offers a variety of lodging options for guests, ranging from basic camping areas to mid-range lodging to luxury lodging. Your safari budget will undoubtedly influence the lodging you choose.
Dinaka Safari Lodge, Leroo La Tau, Camp Savuti, Haina Kalahari Lodge, Camp Linyanti, Grasslands Bushman Lodge, Three Baobabs, Gunn’s Camp, Nxai Pan Camp, Meno a KwenaHaina Kalahari Lodge, Mashatu Tented Camp, and Mopiri Camp are a some of the lodging options in the nation.
Why does Botswana cost so much to visit for safari?
Zebra safaris One might question why this stunning place is so expensive! Numerous factors have played a significant role in this, and because it is government policy for wildlife tourism in Botswana to have a minimal impact on the environment, the number of vacationers or tourists who are permitted to visit safari destinations has been restricted by the imposition of high concession fees, high park entrance fees to enter or even stay within the wildlife sanctuaries, and high community fees to ensure that the locals benefit from tourism as well. Not to mention the high cost of lodging.
The average daily cost of a safari in Botswana is summarized below; this estimated cost includes the cost of a variety of activities, such as game drives, guided walks, mokoro trips, park entrance fees, and inbound flights, as well as the cost of lodging in various types of accommodations throughout the year.
The approximate daily cost of a Botswana safari in US dollars
Seasons: Mid-range Camps Premier Camp Luxury Camp1. Green season: $500–$600$625–$825$775–$10002. Shoulder season: $700–$750$900–$11125$1000–$12503. Peak season: $825–$950$1175–$1325$1650-$2200
Please take note:
The majority of camps and lodges in Botswana provide special discounts to visitors who stay longer; therefore, the shorter the stay (2–3 nights), the higher the price, and the longer the stay, the lower the price.
Factors influencing a Botswana safari’s price
As indicated below, we will attempt to examine the various elements that influence the price of a safari in Botswana in this post.
When to Go to Botswana
Africa Safaris Cheetah Botswana has three distinct seasons: the peak tourist season, which runs from July to October and sees a high volume of visitors; the shoulder season, which runs from April to June and November and is also regarded as a good time to visit because game viewing is still rewarding; and the green season, also known as the wet season, which runs from December to March, excluding the joyous Christmas season.
Different safari costs are associated with different seasons, primarily because to variations in lodging rates. When compared to the off-peak green season, the price of a safari during the peak season is probably going to quadruple.
The Botswana Safari of Your Dreams
As shown below, Botswana has three primary safari experience types: private mobile safaris, tented safaris, and group camping or accommodated safaris.
Camping in groups or safaris with accommodations
For those on a tight budget who want to take a safari in Botswana, this is the greatest choice. You can split several operating expenses, such the cost of the car, the game drive, and the guide, if you travel in a group. This will reduce the total cost of your Botswana safari. Tents or accommodations like permanent safari tents, camp guest homes, or chalets will be reasonably priced for you to stay in.
Safari tent accommodations
You will fly between lodging establishments (lodges) on these adventures. Prices for Botswana safaris in this category are typically seasonal, with the green season (December to March) being the least expensive, followed by the shadow season (April to June and November), and the high season (July to October) being the most expensive. This is because there are very few road transfers during your itinerary.
Numerous factors contribute to the seasonality, including the fact that several lodges alter their rates throughout the holiday season and during the busiest travel times, particularly August. These modifications, however, vary depending on the facility’s location and are not consistent across all sites.
Furthermore, the availability of safari activities, the caliber of the guides, and the lodge’s location—whether it is in a national park, game reserve, or even a private conversation area or a community area—all influence the surcharges here rather than the lodge’s star rating.
All inbound flights according to your itinerary, full board lodging (which includes all meals minus alcoholic beverages), game viewing activities offered at each lodge, such as Mokoro trips, game drives, motorboat rides, and guided walks, and taxes, including concession fees, conservation levies, and government taxes, are typically included in the price quotation provided on an itinerary in this category.
You will share a vehicle for game drives, for example, with other visitors staying at the same lodge while participating in various safari activities. However, it is strongly recommended that families who are traveling with children reserve private game activities because they offer greater comfort and seclusion while on an African safari.
Private Mobile Safari Camps
Vacationers on private mobile camping safaris will experience the luxury of a private vehicle, be escorted by a private guide, and visit the most remote wildlife sanctuaries, such as Savuti, Moremi Reserve, and Khwai, where they can get up close and personal with wildlife while dining outside.
This entails spending two to three nights camping in one place before service members move you to the next spot on your itinerary as you take part in other safari activities including game drives. For those who want to escape from everyone, a mobile safari is the ideal option.
It will reward you with a Safari experience that is completely private. Additionally, lodge stays can be paired with mobile safaris. These are typically pricey and a fantastic choice for “big spenders” who have more money to spend on their vacation.
There are three primary categories into which private mobile camping falls:
Adventure camping entails sleeping in doom tents that are set up at camp grounds with shared restrooms and bucket showers, as well as clean bedding and sleeping bags;
Camping that is more reasonably priced entails using bigger tents that are roomier enough to accommodate a bed and mattress with fresh bedding.
Comfort camping is carried out in opulent, roomy tents that are tastefully decorated with a cozy bed, a sitting space, and a private bathroom.
The Length of Your Safari
As previously stated, longer stays reduce the cost of lodging per night, thus the more nights you spend at a camp, the less your safari will cost overall. We recommend staying at two or, if at all feasible, one camp throughout your four to seven-night safari in Botswana in order to take advantage of the exceptional longer-stay lodging savings.
Visit Safaris in Botswana.
How to organize a reasonably priced safari in Botswana
Steer clear of the busiest time of year.
Selecting the ideal trip dates is the best strategy to save money while organizing a safari in Botswana. June through September is Botswana’s busiest travel season, and due to the abundance of tourism-related activities during that period, there are no deals available.
However, you will have the opportunity to take advantage of special pricing, discounts, and other attractive travel bargains that will lower your safari cost if you choose to travel during the shoulder season, which runs in April, May, and November, as well as the green season, which is the off-peak season that runs from December to March.
Choose Extended Stays
Staying in a camp for several nights is another excellent method to reduce the expense of a Botswana safari. In addition to offering you exclusive lodging savings, this would cut down on the quantity of inbound aircraft that would connect camps.
Camp on a mobile device
Imagine a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have dinner outside beneath the stars while getting up close and personal with nature. You can accomplish all of this on a Botswana mobile camping safari and save a lot of money by using simple tents instead of the more expensive and opulent permanent camps.
Keep an eye out for new facilities.
Another excellent strategy, while less popular, is to keep an eye out for recently opened facilities, hotels, or camps, as these provide exclusive deals to draw in vacationers.
Establish a travel budget.
It is highly recommended that you have a travel budget so that your tour operator has a range to operate within. In order for your tour operator to assist you in selecting affordable lodging and safari activities that fit your needs, you need also be upfront with them about your financial constraints.
