Okavango Delta & Chobe Safari - 7 Days

Experience the Okavango's unique water wilderness. Early morning mokoro excursion glides silently through crystal-clear channels - the water is so pure you can drink it directly. Watch kingfishers dive for fish, spot shy sitatunga antelope in the papyrus, and listen to the chorus of reed frogs. Hippos snort in deeper channels while crocodiles sun themselves on sandbanks. Return for brunch, then afternoon game drive on the larger islands. The Okavango supports exceptional predator populations - lion prides, leopards, cheetahs, and Africa's most endangered large carnivore, the wild dog. The combination of water and land activities offers wildlife encounters unique to this extraordinary place. Night sounds include hippo grunts and lion roars.

Another day exploring the delta's diverse activities. Morning game drive focuses on the island's incredible wildlife - the Okavango supports one of Africa's densest populations of elephants, and lions here have famously learned to swim between islands. Wild dogs range across the floodplains, and leopards frequent the woodland edges. Afternoon offers choice of activities: another mokoro excursion exploring different channels, a bush walk with armed guide learning traditional tracking skills, or boat cruise to deeper lagoons where hippos gather in large pods. The delta's ecology is fascinating - as annual floods from Angola's highlands arrive (peaking June-August), the entire landscape transforms, and animals must adapt their behavior accordingly.

After a final morning activity in the delta, transfer to the airstrip for your flight northeast to Kasane, gateway to Chobe National Park. The flight crosses the vast Okavango system, showcasing its full extent. Chobe is famous for hosting Africa's largest elephant population - an estimated 120,000 elephants roam this region. Arrive at your lodge on the banks of the Chobe River. After lunch, embark on an afternoon boat cruise - arguably Africa's finest wildlife boat experience. Elephants swim across the river, massive hippo pods surface and dive, crocodiles patrol the shoreline, and birds flock in their thousands. Watch the sun set as elephants wade through golden waters - quintessential African magic.

Dedicate a full day to Chobe's extraordinary wildlife. Morning game drive explores the riverfront and interior woodlands. Chobe's elephant herds are legendary - watch massive breeding herds come to drink, family groups crossing dusty roads, and bulls testing their strength. Lions patrol territories along the floodplains, while leopards hide in riverside thickets. The Savuti area (accessible by charter) is famous for its lion-elephant conflicts - here, prides have learned to hunt young elephants. Afternoon boat cruise offers a different perspective - water level views of drinking elephants, bathing buffalos, and the spectacular birdlife including fish eagles, carmine bee-eaters, and African skimmers. The river attracts wildlife from across the region, especially during the dry season.

Morning game drive continues exploring Chobe's diverse habitats - from riverfront floodplains to mopane woodland. Track any Big Five species not yet seen, or simply enjoy more time with the elephants - their complex social behaviors and family dynamics are endlessly fascinating. After lunch, choose between another Chobe activity or an optional day trip to Victoria Falls (additional visa may apply for Zimbabwe). The Falls, just 80km away, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site - the world's largest curtain of falling water, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya ('The Smoke That Thunders'). Walk the rainforest-flanked paths as spray soaks you, gazing at the 1.7km-wide cascade plunging 108 meters. Return to Chobe for a farewell dinner celebrating your Botswana safari.

Enjoy a final morning activity - either a game drive or boat cruise - savoring last moments in the African wilderness. Watch the sun rise over the Chobe River as elephants emerge from the morning mist for their daily drink. These final hours in the bush are precious, cementing memories that will last a lifetime. Return for breakfast, then transfer to Kasane Airport for your departure flight (connections via Johannesburg or direct to Victoria Falls). Your Botswana safari has shown you Africa at its most pristine - the water wilderness of the Okavango, the elephant paradise of Chobe - experiences that define why this country is Africa's premier safari destination.