Botswana Self-Drive
Day 1- Maun-Crocodile Camp
Arrive today, and get transferred to Crocodile Camp
Today you will stay in the rooms and the rental will pick you up from the airport to their depot where you will pick up your vehicle this afternoon.
At the airport waiting for you will be Jack Ntema,(+26772782812) who is our ground representative and the one who will be organising the Okavango Delta excursion.
Accommodation: Croc Camp
Contact Number: +2676840830
Day 2 Moremi- Third Bridge Camp
Depart in the morning for Moremi Game Reserve. Be ready for some amazing animal sightings for the next couple of days. The game drives technically starts once you have passed the Buffalo fence, an hour’s drive from Maun. There is a good chance of seeing leopard, lion, wild dog, hyena, kudu, waterbuck, giraffe, zebra, elephant, buffalo, and impala and many more different types of animals. The campsite is not fenced.
Distance -130kms
Approx-3hrs
Accommodation: Third Bridge Camp
Contact Number :+26773294634
Route: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Xy6TsQfmEYk5rmnj8
TAKE NOTE-Do your shopping this morning for the next 4 nights. Fill up your diesel as well, both tanks, which should take you through the next 4 days until you get to Kasane-Chobe Safari Lodge
Day 3- 4 Khwai Reserve
Have an easy start this morning. Leaving after breakfast, head out and start the game drive in the Moremi Game Reserve, cross the Khwai River and enter the Khwai Concession through North Gate. The Khwai Concession is a private game reserve comprising lagoons, channels, and grassland adjacent to the stunning Moremi Game Reserve.
There will be a good chance of seeing plenty of common game and cats. Birdlife is quite amazing with birds such as secretary bird, hornbill, lapwing, vulture, African jacana, African fish eagle, hamerkop, kori bustard, lilac-breasted roller, and crested crane amongst many other species.
Distance-40kms
Approx. -3 hrs
Accomodation: Khwai Camp Grounds
Contact Number:
Day 5 Mwandi View
Travelling north on the sandy tracks, head to Mwandi View via Savuti..
Savuti lies in the more remote Central region of the Chobe National and displays a stark contrast to the Chobe Riverfront – the park’s Northern boundary – which has water all year round.
Savuti offers dramatic game viewing and a somewhat eerie atmosphere. It is also well known as one of the best areas for big cat viewing. The Savuti lion pride has earned a fearsome reputation for hunting elephant, but other predators like leopard, wild dog, spotted hyena and even cheetah are also abundant in the area.
Take note: It is a long drive today. Leave early as there will be plenty of opportunities of wildlife viewing along the way as you will be driving via Savuti.
Distance-190kms
Approx-6hrs
Accommodation: Mwandi View Camp
Contact Number:+26775579025
Day 6- Chobe NP-Chobe Safari Lodge
Heading towards the Chobe River, you do a game drive and with luck you see several large animals during the drive. It is not unlikely to see lions, elephants and buffaloes.
Arrive after the long drive and catch a glimpse of the majestic Chobe River at sunset, hear the echoing calls of African fish eagles, and the long journey will be forgotten. You will be in awe!
Enjoy viewing and photographing the magnificent wildlife and birdlife the park has to offer. Chobe National Park boasts large herds of buffalo, wild dog, lion, puku, red lechwe, sable and roan antelope.
Distance -100kms
Approx. +-4hrs
Accommodation: Chobe Safari Lodge
Contact Number:+2676250383
Day 7 Chobe NP-Chobe Safari Lodge
A short drive across the Chobe National Park along the Chobe River gives an opportunity of seeing animals coming to the river for a drink.
Chobe was Botswana’s first national park and remains its greatest. It’s ranked among one of the leading parks in all of Africa. Chobe is commonly referred to as the “Land of the Giants” because of the incredible number of elephants here, estimated to be around 120,000.
The Chobe River is the main tributary of the mighty Zambezi, meandering peacefully across the northeast of the park. Boat trips along the river, particularly at sunset when elephants, buffalos and other animals flock down to drink and bathe, are quite simply magical.
Embark on an afternoon boat cruise on the Chobe River and have an opportunity of seeing animals coming to drink from the river.
Distance-50kms
Approx-2hrs
Accommodation: Chobe Safari Lodge
Contact Number: +2676250383
TAKE NOTE: Remember to do your shopping here for the next 4 nights. There are small shops along the way, but I recommend using them just for buying snacks. On this day, please call Planet Baobab to confirm what time you will be arriving because you have a half day tour to do hence the need to know the exact time, they expect you to be there for the tour.
Day 8 Elephant Sands
Travel down to Elephant Sands. It is a bush lodge & campsite in north-eastern Botswana with spacious camping pitches. At the natural waterhole in front of the lodge, you can see the elephants drink just a few metres away, a unique experience! There are no fences around the accommodation, so other wild animals also roam freely here.
Distance-260kms
Approx-3hrs
Accommodation: Elephant Sands Camp
Contact Number: +26773445162
Day 9 -Planet Baobab
A short drive takes you to Gweta, where you will embark of a half day trip into Ntwetwe Pan for a meerkat experience. These are habituated Meerkats who live on the edge of the Ntwetwe salt pan. These Meerkats are human habituated and this, therefore, gives you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe their natural behaviors and charming personalities from an almost touching distance!
After visiting and interacting with the Meerkats you are then transported to the vast Ntwetwe salt pan, which forms part of one of the largest salt pans in the world, likened to being on the surface of the moon, the sight of the salt pan is truly one to behold!
Distance-160kms
Approx-2hrs
Accommodation: Planet Baobab Campsite
Contact Number: +2676840931
Day 10-11 Makgadikgadi Salt Pans- Kumaga
Entering the gate, you take a beautiful drive to Kumaga Campsite. This camp is bordered by the seasonally flooded Boteti River, which is part of the flaming migration route and home to a small number of rhinos. It is situated in an area well known for the migration of zebras and wildebeest. Spend 2 nights doing game drives in these beautiful areas.
Distance-110kms
Approx-2hrs
Accommodation: Kumaga Camp
Contact Number:
Day 12 Maun
After the Makgadikgadi National Park, head back to civilisation. From Kumaga you can go directly to the tarred road back to Maun. However, you also have the option of taking an extra game drive through the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park towards Maun. During the drive, you have an opportunity of spotting more of the desert animals like gemsbok and springbok. After that, you can continue your journey to MAUN via the tarred road. However, I do suggest to leave earlier this day if you want to do a game drive before you leave or leave at normal times and drive straight without doing a game drive. I will explain below why.
TAKE NOTE: Tomorrow morning, you will be handing in the vehicle before you leave for the Okavango Delta. Please use this afternoon to organise your luggage into two parts. Here is why. When you go into the Okavango Delta, you will go with just a day pack. You will not take your big luggage. So, please pack an overnight pack. It is bush camping so, there is no showers available. You will shower when you come back. Things to pack, mosquito repellent, toothpaste, brush, one pair long pants, jacket for the evenings (camouflaged clothes), headlight(torch), comfortable walking shoes, sun lotion, a game to play with the guides/polers, a book to read.
You will leave your big luggage at the reception, and you will pick it up the following day when you come back. Please leave your valuables behind ie your passports and anything extra that you do not need in the bush. The reception can store it in their safe for you.
Distance-150kms
Approx. 2hrs
Accommodation: Croc camp
Contact Number: +2676840830
Day 13 Okavango Delta
You will be picked up early in the morning after breakfast and head to the Okavango Delta where we will spend one night.
Here, we will meet the mokoro poler guides and polers who will assist with the loading of luggage into the mokoro and with the seating arrangements. You’ll spend two to three hours on a mokoro, gliding through narrow waterways to your campsite. Travelling by mokoro is undeniably the best way to experience the Okavango Delta as you explore the waterways.
Upon arrival at one of the many secluded islands, which make up this fragile yet dynamic, unique eco-system, camp will be erected, and lunch served, followed by an hour or two of relaxation. Go on a nature walk in the afternoon where you will have the opportunity to track game and get a close-up feel of this unique environment.
Accommodation: Bush Camping
Distance-30kms
Approx. 3-4hours (including mokoro time)
Day 14 Maun-Croc Camp
Wake up early for coffee or tea, cereal, and rusks. Embark on an early morning bush walk, return to the camp, and enjoy an easy breakfast.
When ready, the polers will assist in breaking camp, packing tents and loading luggage into the mokoro for the return journey through the channels back to the Mokoro station. Here, the transfer vehicles will be waiting to back to Maun .
Distance-30kms
Approx. 3-4hrs
THE CONTACT PERSON IN MAUN IS JACK NTEMA. (+26772782812) AND HE IS THE SAME PERSON ORGANISING THE OKAVANGO DELTA EXCURSION. WE HAVE DISCUSSED AND AGREED THAT YOU LEAVE THE OKAVANGO DELTA AFTER LUNCH. HOWEVER, LUNCH IS NOT INCLUDED ON THIS DAY. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THEM AND THEY HAVE OFFERED TO GIVE YOU LUNCH ON THAT DAY AT NO EXTRA COST.
Tipping in Botswana is optional.
Average Guidelines:
Restaurant -10% of the bill
Activities-$5 per person per 3-hour activity
Okavango Delta Excursion- $15 per person