The scrubland below your light aircraft gives way to dry riverbed and open grassland as you track south-east from Maun towards the Makgadikgadi Pans. A short transfer from the airstrip brings you to a lodge perched on cliffs ten metres above the Boteti River — the name translates as ‘lion’s paw’ in Setswana, and the elevated position delivers sweeping, east-facing views across the river to the national park beyond. After settling in over lunch, head out on an afternoon game drive into Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. In the dry months, zebra and wildebeest gather along the Boteti in large numbers, shadowed by lion, hyena and cheetah. Return to the lodge for dinner as the sun sets behind you and the first stars appear over the pans.

Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

Stay at: Leroo La Tau

Meals included: Full Board (L, D)

Drinks included: Local spirits, wines and beers (premium brands excluded)

Wake early and watch the sunrise from your veranda — the lodge faces east, making it one of the finest sunrise spots in Botswana. After breakfast, cross the river to reach your game drive vehicle on the national park side. The morning drive follows the Boteti riverfront, where zebra, elephant, giraffe and wildebeest come to drink, trailed by predators. Your guide will work the mopane woodland and grassland tracks in search of lion, cheetah, and both brown and spotted hyena. Back at the lodge between drives, spend time in the hide built into the riverbank at water level — eye-to-eye with whatever comes to drink, from elephant to impala. The afternoon drive continues into the park as the light softens and the animals begin to move again. After dark, a shorter drive on the lodge’s private concession offers a chance to spot nocturnal species that the national park’s daytime-only rules don’t allow.

Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

Stay at: Leroo La Tau

Meals included: Full Board (B, L, D)

Drinks included: Local spirits, wines and beers (premium brands excluded)

The shift is immediate. Where Makgadikgadi was open and dry, the view from your aircraft window now fills with serpentine channels, palm-fringed islands and the unmistakable green of the Okavango Delta system. You land near the Moremi Game Reserve and transfer to a classic tented camp on the banks of the Khwai River, overlooking Xakanaxa Lagoon. This is one of Botswana’s oldest and most characterful safari camps — Meru-style canvas tents under towering trees, a self-service bar, and paraffin lamps that light the walkways after dark. Settle in, then head out on an afternoon game drive through mopane woodland and open savannah. The habitat here is richer and more layered than the pans — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and wild dog all frequent this area.

Moremi Game Reserve

Stay at: Camp Xakanaxa

Meals included: Full Board (L, D)

Drinks included: Local spirits, wines and beers (premium brands excluded)

A full day to explore Moremi’s varied habitats. The morning game drive tracks through the ancient riverine forests and across grasslands that surround the camp — this sector of the reserve is known for its predator density, with lion, leopard and wild dog all recorded on recent visits. Between drives, the camp’s fire deck extends over the Khwai River and the plunge pool overlooks the lagoon — hippos graze in front of the tents and elephants wander through camp after dark. In the afternoon, swap the vehicle for a motorboat and head out onto Xakanaxa Lagoon. The boat trips explore the deeper channels and reed-fringed waterways, offering a completely different perspective on the Delta’s wildlife. Birding from the water is exceptional, particularly during the summer breeding season when herons, storks and kingfishers crowd the heronry islands. After your final sundowner on the water, return to camp for dinner by candlelight, with drums marking the call to the table.

Moremi Game Reserve

Stay at: Camp Xakanaxa

Meals included: Full Board (B, L, D)

Drinks included: Local spirits, wines and beers (premium brands excluded)

There’s time for a final morning activity before you leave Moremi — an early game drive or a last boat trip on the lagoon, depending on what calls you back. After brunch at camp, transfer to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Maun. The aerial view of the Delta on the way out is a fitting end — winding channels, scattered palm islands and the sheer scale of the wetland below. You’ll arrive in Maun by midday, connecting to onward flights or extending your journey elsewhere in Botswana.

Meals included: Breakfast & Brunch (B)

Drinks included: Local spirits, wines and beers (premium brands excluded)