THE OKAVANGO-ZAMBEZI CIRCUIT
Duration
2 weeks - Essential
3 weeks - In Depth
Approx. 2,500 km
Distance
Jouney Flow
Maun
Starts - Maun
Ends - Maun / Gaborone
Travel Style
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Self-drive camping, lodge combinations/ fully guided available
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Guided Travel strongly recommended for Chobe-Savuti-Moremi
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Only attempt self-drive there if experienced with deep-sand 4x4
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Must be comfortable navigating remote conditions
A classic North Botswana safari with a journey into Namibia’s Caprivi Strip
Approx. 2,500 km
From Maun, Botswana’s safari capital, this journey flows through the shimmering waterways of the Okavango Delta and into the wildlife-rich plains of Moremi Game Reserve or the Khwai Community Concession. It slows along the quiet Okavango Panhandle, crosses into Namibia’s lush Zambezi Region (Caprivi Strip), and returns via the elephant herds of Chobe and the vast Makgadikgadi Pans.
A perfectly balanced self-drive or guided Botswana safari combining wetlands, big game, ancient culture and desert horizons.
Day 1-3
Maun & the Okavango Delta
Maun welcomes gently. Settle into one of our handpicked lodges, charming B&Bs or intimate campsites. Ease into Botswana’s rhythm, perhaps with a mokoro excursion into the Okavango Delta, drifting silently between papyrus reeds as fish eagles call overhead.
Venture deep into Moremi Game Reserve, one of Africa’s finest safari destinations. On a fully catered mobile safari, you sleep under canvas in pristine wilderness. Lions may roar at dawn; elephants pass quietly through camp.
Prefer lodge comfort? The Khwai Community Concession offers excellent accommodation in a high-density wildlife area bordering the Delta.
Day 6-8
Okavango Panhandle & Tsodilo Hills
Northwest, the Delta widens into the Okavango River. Riverside lodges and scenic campsites invite you to slow down. Boat trips offer tiger fishing, birdwatching and golden sunsets.
Nearby, Tsodilo Hills a UNESCO World Heritage Site reveal thousands of ancient rock paintings. Guided walks here add cultural depth to your safari journey.
Day 8-10
Namibia’s Zambezi Region (Caprivi Strip)
Cross into Namibia and follow the B8 through Bwabwata National Park toward Katima Mulilo. This green corridor of rivers and floodplains feels worlds away from Botswana’s open savannas.
Stay at least one night to explore elephant-rich Mudumu National Park or the wetlands of Nkasa Rupara National Park Namibia’s premier birding region. Riverside lodges along the Zambezi provide a peaceful interlude.
Day 10-12
Kasane is the gateway to Chobe National Park, famous for Africa’s largest elephant population. Explore the Chobe Riverfront by 4x4 and by boat an unforgettable Botswana safari highlight.
From here, visit the mighty Victoria Falls, one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. Stay overnight to experience sunset cruises, white-water rafting or simply the thundering spectacle itself.
Day 12–14
Makgadikgadi & Nxai: Salt Pan Silence
Driving south, elephants may still cross your path. Beyond Nata, the landscape transforms into the immense salt flats of the Makgadikgadi Pans.Spend two nights exploring:
Nxai Pan National Park – excellent during the green season
Boteti River – exceptional dry-season wildlife
The vast lunar scenery of the Makgadikgadi itself
Baobab islands, zebra migrations, quad biking at sunrise — this region offers a striking contrast to the Delta’s waterways.
Day 15
Return to Maun
End your Okavango–Zambezi safari circuit back in Maun — enriched by river landscapes, close wildlife encounters and the wide horizons that define Northern Botswana and the Caprivi Strip.
Other Circuits Offered
The Chobe-Okavango Overlander
Botswana Green Season Signature