Where Wilderness Meets Luxury: A Safari Journey through Botswana
- lucyjanega
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
It is hard to describe the first time you go on an African safari without sounding cliché. Exhilarating, captivating, and transformative are just a few words that come to mind; however, when you experience Botswana with Natural Selection Travel, you can also add luxurious, seamless, and wildly refined. Thanks to my host, I experienced a diverse safari itinerary highlighting Botswana's remarkable contrasts- and we did it in elevated style! From the expansive Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in the south, to the wildlife-dense private concessions of Khwai and NG12 in the north, and into Moremi Game Reserve in the heart of the Okavango Delta, this itinerary showcased each region's distinct geography, experiences, and style of accommodation. Together, they created an unforgettable safari journey.
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
Desert Landscapes & Otherworldly Experiences
Indescribably vast and quiet, the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans stretch endlessly in every direction. A safari experience in the pans focuses less on traditional game drives and more on space, silence, and a feeling of solitude. I can't decide if it is the perfect place to start or end your safari experience; either way, the vastness and emptiness is humbling.
Accommodations
San Camp- A favourite among the locals, this camp is elegant, romantic and somewhat magical. I love this camp for both its minimalism, understated luxury and its setting in the mysterious desert landscape.
Jack’s Camp- Iconic and timeless, with opulent character and exceptional comfort. I love the vintage style and old-world charm of this legendary camp. (There is also Jack's Private Camp which offers private accommodations for multigenerational families and small groups.)
Camp Kalahari- Warm, welcoming, and adventure-focused with excellent value. This camp is understated and affordable, yet offers all the same experiences as other premium camps.
Signature Experiences
Sunrise Meerkat Encounters
I truly can’t decide which experience I loved most, but watching the meerkats emerge at sunrise was pretty special. These habituated (yet wild) meerkats are curious, playful, and completely unfazed by us. If you lie down on the ground, they are likely to jump up on top of you to get a better vantage point of the area.
Quad Biking Across the Salt Flats
This one was a little challenging for me at first, but once I got the hang of it, quad biking across the salt pans was pure freedom. Just wide-open space, endless horizon, and the feeling that you are on a lunar expedition.
Seasonal Zebra & Wildebeest Migration Viewing
Zebra and wildebeest love the salt pans and we saw hundreds of them moving across the pans. Funfact- they roam together because zebras eat tall, coarse grass and wildebeest eat the short, fresh grass left behind. One of my favourite memories was sitting by the campfire surrounded by darkness and listening to the thunder of the wildebeest hooves as they passed by- close enough to feel thrilling, and just a little bit unsettling!
Cultural Experiences with Local Bushmen
Spending time with local Bushmen taught us about their traditions as they demonstrated how they forage for plants across the salt pans, using them for everything from food to medicine. This experience is part of an important program that helps preserve ancestral knowledge and pass ancient wisdom on to future generations.
Khwai Private Reserve
Wildlife Density & Safari Flexibility
Khwai Private Reserve is part of an unfenced wildlife corridor in northern Botswana which offers exceptional game viewing as animals can move freely between protected areas. Though we were there only a short time, the reserve definitely lived up to its reputation as we saw hundreds of impala, many giraffes, countless elephants, a family of ostriches (tending their babies!), a pride of lions, a demure cheetah, leopard siblings quarrelling and several pods of hippopotamuses. Another reason to love this place: the reserve is operated in partnership with a local trust and tourism, supporting conservation and providing lasting benefits to the local community.
Accommodations
Little Sable- An intimate and charming camp that offers excellent game viewing and a high-quality safari experience at a more accessible price point. And the view of the floodplains from the pool is simply spectacular.
Sable Alley- This camp is not only gorgeous with its understated Afro chic design, it is also perfectly positioned along a wildlife-rich lagoon. Here you get front-row seats to classic Okavango Delta game viewing- enjoy with a G&T in hand!
Tuludi- This camp took my breath away- luxurious and spacious, with a sweeping view of the floodplains. The elevated contemporary design, luxe fabrics, plush bedding, and natural aesthetic all contributed to the five-star experience. But my favourite moment? Arriving at dusk and being welcomed by a lone elephant roaming in the distance. That is the perfect combination of refined luxury and nature in the wild.
Signature Experiences
While the reserve offers many iconic experiences- from game drives and birdwatching to scenic helicopter flights- my favourite was cruising the channels by boat. We set off bright and early to explore the waterways, searching for aquatic birds, hippos, and crocodiles, all while relaxing on board with breakfast and a hot cup of coffee. On our outing, hippos were everywhere, though mostly visible only as small eyes peeking above the water. Our captain navigated carefully to avoid passing over one of them- hippos are surprisingly territorial in the water, and a startled one can easily ram or bite a boat, causing serious damage.
NG12
Classic Okavango Delta Game Viewing
NG12 is a greatly loved concession within the greater Moremi area. It is made up of permanent waterways, seasonal floodplains, and dry islands that attract a high concentration of wildlife. Because of the variety of habitats, game viewing is consistently excellent, with large herds of elephants, red lechwe in the shallows, hippos in the channels, and predators like lion and leopard regularly spotted. The mix of land and water activities makes NG12 a great all-round Okavango Delta safari experience- and with a good guide and a keen eye, you will see these animals moving from land to water and back again.
Accommodations
Duke’s Camp- Another classic safari camp, with a focus on great guiding and the surrounding wilderness. As soon as I arrived, I felt completely immersed in nature and truly impressed by the warmth and hospitality of the staff.
North Island- Remote, surrounded by water and open floodplains but also surprisingly stylish and elevated. 5-star luxury in the middle of the wildest of places. Excellent game viewing with the comforts of luxurious convenience (and did I mention the beautiful spa and gym?)
Mbamba- A relaxed, contemporary camp overlooking wide floodplains where wildlife regularly moves through. In classic safari style, it offers excellent game-viewing year round. I particularly loved the orange glow of the mess tent- warm and inviting, it is an oasis in the middle of the Delta.
Signature Experiences
There is no shortage of activities to do in this area whether you are into fishing, predator action, exploring bushman paintings or the never-tiring game drives. But my favourite experience was taking an evening boat ride through the channels to watch a large herd of elephants cross the river. Our guide knew this was part of their nightly routine and positioned the boat perfectly for the best view. The moment was made even more magical when we tied up for sundowners, with a few elephants lingering in the background- perhaps hoping for a sip of my G&T.
Moremi Game Reserve
Water and Wilderness
Moremi feels different from other parts of the Delta because the scenery is always changing. You can move from dry woodland to open plains and suddenly find yourself alongside floodplains and winding channels. That mix keeps things interesting, with wildlife appearing when you least expect it. I had two surprising close encounters in this area- once I came upon an elephant chomping on the bushes outside my chalet and another time I opened the doors to my deck and found a large male baboon staring me in the face. I found both incidents absolutely thrilling- I couldn't believe how excited I was to encounter these untamed beasts face-to-face and I also couldn't believe how uninterested they were in my existence!
Accommodations
Tawana – Have you ever been so enamoured with a place that you almost kissed it goodbye when you had to go? Fair warning- it could happen here. I genuinely didn’t want to leave. Tawana sits along the Gomoti River, surrounded by forest and grassland. Spacious chalets, soft natural textures, and flowing, curved architecture create a sense of calm, while thoughtful details-like the hand-crafted fishnet tunnel you walk through on arrival- make the camp feel like a work of art. With no fences, wildlife moves freely through the area, often passing quietly through camp. The result is a rare combination of five-star luxury and a truly five-star wilderness experience.
Signature Experiences
As my safari adventure began to wind down, the richness and excitement of the experiences certainly didn’t. Right up until the end, wildlife sightings were abundant- we witnessed a pack of wild dogs on the hunt, a cheetah stalking prey alongside her two small cubs, and a pride of lions feasting on a young elephant- each sighting more incredible than the last. We were also surprised with an alfresco lunch in the middle of the bush- how a gourmet hot meal appeared in the middle of nowhere is still beyond me. I even took my first helicopter flight over the Okavango Delta, an unforgettable way to appreciate the scale of this stunning landscape.
One of my favourite moments, though, was the iconic mokoro ride. Gliding silently through narrow channels in a traditional dugout canoe, our guides gently pushed us along by a long wooden pole. Floating past reeds and water lilies- I felt like I was inside a Monet painting. With no engine noise, all you could hear were reeds rustling, frogs calling and birds lifting off the water. It was slow, peaceful, and absolutely breathtaking.
Final Reflections
As this journey through Botswana came to an end, I realized it wasn’t just the incredible wildlife or beautiful camps that made it so special, but how carefully everything is done there. Botswana offers a safari experience that feels wilder, more immersive, and genuinely respectful of the land. There’s a strong focus on conservation, with visitor numbers limited to protect the environment; this affects the price tag but the value truly shows. This FAM was a powerful reminder of why Botswana stands apart as one of the most special places in the world to go on safari. Thank you to Natural Selection for intruding me to such a unique destination.
If Botswana has been on your bucket list, or you are curious about what kind of safari experience might suit you best, I’d love to help you start planning.
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