Getting Lost in Botswana's Wilderness Tour: Makgadikgadi, Kalahari & Nxai Pan

Meerkat family in the savanna

What to expect on this itinerary

Lose yourself in Botswana's beauty and gently slip into its inimitable rhythm with this 10-day safari itinerary. Botswana's immense wilderness seems to stretch on forever. There are no roads, no people, and no settlements. There are just untamed landscapes and abundant wildlife, evocative paintings and the calls of the wild. Suitably relaxed? Now watch as nature's beguiling spell slowly unfolds before your eyes.

Countries Visited

Botswana

Places Visited

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Nxai Pan, Kalahari

Suggested Duration

10 Days

Customizable Itinerary

Expand All
Day 1

Makgadikgadi – Welcome to the Wilderness

Botswana isn't a place where you'll find many roads or towns. Even a main highway sees more elephants than vehicles. It's a vast country, and short hopper flights are sometimes the only way to get around. After landing at the international airport in Maun, you will transfer to a light aircraft and admire the dry savannahs from the air. You're heading to Makgadikgadi, an immense salt pan that covers an area bigger than some European countries. Touch down and get your first glimpse of the mirage; a hazy layer of white seems to hang above the salt, hypnotically extending beyond the horizon. Settle into your rustic camp and gaze out from your private verandah. The nearest settlement is hundreds of miles away, and so is the nearest main road, but you've only arrived at the edge of Makgadikgadi.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Dinner
Day 2

Makgadikgadi – Quad Bike Adventures

Day 3

Makgadikgadi – Experiences with San Bushmen

Day 4

Central Kalahari – The Lions' Kingdom

Day 5 - 7

Central Kalahari – Lost in the Kalahari

Day 8

Nxai Pan – Watching the Wildlife

Day 9

Nxai Pan – Exploring the Nxai Pan

Day 10

Maun – Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Explore the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, an immense dusty plain that's controlled by black-maned lions and filled with nature's great mammals
  • Head off on a quad bike and lose yourself in the vast open spaces of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
  • Spend an intimate day with San Bushmen and learn all about life in the wilderness and wander into lion country on a thrilling walking safari experience, and then discover the nocturnal Kalahari world on a nighttime game drive
  • Gaze out across the surreal Nxai Pan and watch the wildlife slowly approach a waterhole beside your private verandah
  • Take private flights and savor the sights from the air, before landing on tiny airstrips that are deep in the wilderness
  • Spend ten days lost in the untamed world of central Botswana, with nature's hypnotic spell keeping you company at all times

Starting Price

$9,900 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 401 reviews

Carolyn T.
South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe Trip Review: Wildlife, Local Cuisine, 13-Day Trip

Wow, I ran out of superlatives–fantastic, awesome, amazing. Everything was well organized and the recommended accommodations were all top-notch. The guides were so expert in their field. Every activity was well worth the time. Every meal was delicious.

See more

Anil M.
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Tour Review: 10 Nights

Our first trip to southern Africa was amazing, exceeding all expectations. We saw everything we came to see, and more. The game rides were well structured and safe, the visuals were unbelievable, and taking a side trip to Victoria Falls was a great idea. The accommodations were quite luxurious, despite being considered mid-range. There was always someone there to greet us and guide us at every travel point.

Zicasso's tour operator tailored our itinerary to our wishes and was wonderful to work with. Things couldn’t have gone better.

See more

bonnie A.
South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe: Safari, 13 Nights

The service before, during, and after our trip was totally "white-glove," and there were extra perks that we were surprised with each day of our trip. Zicasso's travel company listened to our goals and met and exceeded every one. We recommend them in every way and will be using them in the future!

See more

Edward L.
Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe Tour Review: Wildlife, 28-Day Trip

Fantastic job! Zicasso's travel specialist set up 28 days with flights, drivers, etc, and not a thing went wrong. She understood my needs and tailored the trip expertly.

See more

Mary B.
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Vacation Review: Safari, Cuisine, Camping, Welcome Songs, 17 Nights

The Zicasso tour operators did an exceptional job from start to finish. I would highly recommend this company. Plus, they were in my time zone, making communication much easier. Our agent always responded within 24 hours and when I had to contact him while in Africa, he responded within the half hour. Every aspect of our trip that was planned for us was exceptional and beyond my expectations.

See more

Meghan C.
South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe Travel Review: Safari, River Cruise, Winelands, 11 Nights

We had the most incredible experience! Zicasso’s travel agent was so easy to work with and made all of our dreams come true, from the hot-air balloon ride to the day trip in Botswana, she had every detail covered and made it so easy for us. When we had some last-minute questions while on our trip, she was incredibly responsive and provided helpful information. I cannot recommend her enough!

See more

Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

28,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews
Zicasso in the News