Budget Botswana Family Safari

Victoria Falls, Chobe, Khwai & Central Kalahari

Prices From £4,135pp
Year round | 8 nights
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Special Pricing for Families: Family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children aged 6 to 11)

This family-oriented budget safari combines some of southern Africa’s biggest “wow” moments with classic wildlife viewing, moving from the roar and spray of Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) into Botswana’s best-loved safari regions. You’ll start with time to explore the Falls and its viewpoints, then head to the Chobe Riverfront for game drives and river cruises in a landscape famous for water-backed sightings and unforgettable sunsets.

From there, the journey continues to the Khwai Community Area on the edge of Moremi and the Okavango Delta’s wildlife-rich fringes, where flexible activities can include day and night drives, mokoro canoe trips and community experiences. Finally, you’ll fly into the wide-open Central Kalahari for a true sense of space and wilderness, combining waterhole-focused game viewing with night drives and guided walks that add cultural insight.

Highlights

  • Enjoy a family-oriented, budget-friendly safari combining iconic scenery with good quality lodges and big wildlife experiences
  • Discover Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwean side, with easy rainforest viewpoints and optional add-on adventures
  • Experience the Chobe Riverfront on both game drives and boat cruises at sunset
  • Witness Chobe’s famous herds of elephant, plus buffalo, hippo and standout birdlife
  • Explore the Khwai Community Area on the edge of Moremi, a prime big-game region on the Okavango fringes
  • Search for predators on flexible safaris including off-road viewing and night drives 
  • Glide through the waterways on a traditional mokoro canoe excursion and connect with the Khwai community
  • Feel the vastness of the Central Kalahari, tracking gemsbok and springbok with chances of cheetah and lion under huge skies
  • Fly-in connections that reduce long road journeys and keep the pace manageable for families

What's Included

  • 2 nights at Batonka Guest Lodge on a Bed & Breakfast basis
  • 2 nights at Chobe Elephant Camp with all meals, local drinks, and activities as described 
  • 2 nights at Khwai Guest House with all meals, and activities as described
  • 2 nights at The Dune Camp with all meals, local drinks, and activities as described
  • All road transfers and charter flights between accommodations
  • Park Fees (excluding Victoria Falls)

Our popularitinerary Suggestions

All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable

Victoria Falls
1 - 2Days

Victoria Falls

Arrive independently to Victoria Falls International Airport and transfer to Batonka Guest Lodge, your base for the next two nights on a bed and breakfast basis. Set in a quiet residential area with lush gardens, the lodge is a peaceful retreat that’s still close to the action, being around 2.2km from the Victoria Falls Rainforest entrance and 1km from the town centre (with a twice-daily town shuttle included).

Spend the day settling in and exploring at your own pace. Visiting Victoria Falls is a must, and from the Zimbabwean side you’ll enjoy big, full-frontal views across much of the 1.7km-wide curtain of water from rainforest footpaths cooled by the spray. There’s plenty to add on if you wish, from river cruises, helicopter flights and national park visits to adrenaline options like white-water rafting, bungee jumping and zip-lining. Please book any activities in advance. You can also cross into Zambia for a different perspective.

Accommodation: 2 nights in a Family Room at Batonka Guest Lodge on a Bed & Breakfast basis with 2/day Victoria Falls town shuttle included.

Chobe River Front
3 - 4Days

Chobe River Front

On Day 3 you’ll take your included transfer from Victoria Falls to Chobe Elephant Camp, a beautifully positioned lodge set high on a rocky ridge with sweeping views over the Chobe River and its floodplains. Although located just outside the national park, it’s surrounded by wild bushland where wildlife often moves through. You may spot elephants, impala, warthog and an array of birdlife right around camp.

Over the next two days you’ll explore Chobe by open-vehicle game drives and boat cruises, plus a cultural visit. The camp is close to Ngoma Gate, a quieter access point to the Chobe Riverfront, and boat trips operate from a seasonal jetty (usually May–September) or from Kasane when water levels are low. This region is renowned for its dense concentrations of African elephants, particularly in the dry season when herds gather at the river to drink and socialise, alongside large numbers of buffalo and hippo. Keep watch for lions and other predators along the river’s edge, as well as a rich supporting cast of plains game and prolific birdlife, with fish eagles often providing the soundtrack as the sun sets over the water.

Accommodation: 2 nights at Chobe Elephant Camp with meals, local drinks, activities, laundry and park fees included

Activities Included: Game drives, boat cruise & village visit

Khwai Community Area
5 - 6Days

Khwai Community Area

On the morning of 5 you’ll transfer to Kasane Airport for your included flight to Khwai Airstrip, then continue by road to Khwai Guest House, set within the traditional village of Khwai. You’re perfectly placed on the edge of Moremi Game Reserve and the renowned Khwai Community Concession, a standout safari area in its own right, tucked between Botswana’s headline parks and often rewarding, especially in the winter months.

On a full board and activities basis, your time here is focused on the wildlife-rich Khwai River, a magnet for big game. Expect a mix of game drives in Moremi or the concession, plus the flexibility that comes with being outside the national park boundaries such as off-road viewing, night drives, and (with planning) guided walks. You can also slow things down with a mokoro (dugout canoe) excursion and take a cultural tour to meet the Khwai community, who live alongside the region’s resident wildlife.

Accommodation: 2 nights in a Family Room at Khwai Guest House with all meals and park fees included

Activities Included: Two in-house activities daily - Day & night game drives | Mokoro | Walking on request | Cultural Visit of Khwai Village

Central Kalahari Game Reserve
7 - 8Days

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

On Day 7, take your shared charter flight to the Deception Valley Lodge airstrip, then transfer to The Dune Camp in the 43,000-hectare Deception Valley Private Reserve, bordering the north-eastern edge of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The private reserve’s waterholes, hides and natural pans create excellent wildlife-viewing opportunities in a landscape that feels wonderfully far from anywhere.

This is big-sky safari at its most dramatic. Imagine endless grasses, wide horizons and nights where the stars seem close enough to touch, often accompanied by the distant roar of a Kalahari lion. Included activities feature day and night game drives, plus a nature walk with San Bushmen, adding a cultural layer to your time in this remote wilderness. Depending on the season, you may see springbok and gemsbok out on the plains, along with predators such as cheetah and lion, and smaller nocturnal characters like bat-eared foxes and jackals as the light fades.

Accommodation: 2 nights at The Dune Camp on a Fully Inclusive basis with all meals, local drinks, two activities per day and intermittent Wi-Fi

Activities Included: Two in-house activities daily - Day & night game drives | Nature walk with San Bushmen

Fly to Maun Airport - End of Tour
9Day

Fly to Maun Airport - End of Tour

As your Botswana family safari sadly comes to an end, you will fly from Deception Valley Lodge Airstrip to Maun Airport from where you can take your onward or homeward flights.

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A view from Above

Accommodation Options

Chobe Elephant Camp

Located high on the edge of a rocky ridge overlooking the famous Chobe River is the excellent Chobe Elephant Camp. This uniquely designed lodge has been built to take advantage of the incredible views overlooking the sweeping floodplains while offering a comfortable stay after a long day of exploration.

The lodge has been entirely constructed from sandbags, the thick sand-filled walls create a natural insulating barrier between the inhabitants and the harsh African climate and enhance the old farm-style feel of the camp. It houses ten rooms, one family room and can sleep 24 guests at a time.

With a variety of activities that include viewing the regions spectacular wildlife from open safari vehicles, by boat on the Chobe River or experiencing life in the village, a visit to Chobe Elephant Camp offers a wide range of experiences.

This property is located near the Ngoma Gate for entry to the Chobe Riverfront. Very few lodges are located on this end of the park and few people utilize this entry point, creating a more remote and exclusive experience than at the properties around Kasane. Although outside the park, this option is located in a bush setting where wildlife frequently passes through.

Khwai Guest House

Khwai Guest House is a friendly, down-to-earth base tucked inside the traditional village of Khwai, right on the doorstep of Moremi Game Reserve and the famed Khwai Community Concession. It’s ideal if you want classic Botswana game viewing by day and a genuine sense of village life by night. Think elephants wandering past the floodplains while children play nearby and fires crackle under the stars.

A small collection of ensuite rooms and family units blends simple, stylish comfort with an authentic bush feel, centred around a tented main area with a relaxed lounge, swimming pool and open-sided dining space for communal meals and campfire dinners. From here you can head out on guided game drives in Moremi or the Khwai concession, glide through channels by mokoro, join night drives, visit the local community or even take a scenic helicopter flip over the Okavango Delta, then come “home” to a warm welcome in the heart of the village.

Batonka Guest Lodge, Victoria Falls

This upmarket boutique guest lodge is located in the suburbs in the heart of the Victoria Falls region and offers stylish and environmentally friendly accommodation for guests looking for a peaceful and relaxing base from which to make the most of their trip to this remarkable area.

Beautifully decorated and offering an exceptional level of comfort and service the guest house is within walking distance of the town and is just 2.5km from the Victoria Falls entrance.

This lovely guest house features 22 spacious rooms, each of which have been tastefully designed and decorated. Each room has its own small private balcony, many of which overlook the beautiful landscaped gardens. All rooms have an en-suite bathroom, some with bath tubs and others with showers, WiFi, environmentally-friendly air-conditioning, mosquito nets and large comfortable beds which can be twins or doubles.

The large communal area of the guest lodge features a curio shop, reception, comfortable indoor lounge with fireplace, and a very nice dining area where a choice of wholesome home-style meals are available for lunch and dinner. Outside there is a large terrace area for dining and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, and a delightful swimming pool with sun loungers set amongst the well cared for gardens

The Dune Camp, Central Kalahari

The Dune Camp is an intimate Kalahari hideout set atop a vegetated dune, with sweeping views over the valleys and pans of the 43,000-hectare Deception Valley Private Reserve on the north-eastern boundary of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. With designated waterholes, viewing hides and vast open landscapes, this private reserve offers excellent day and night game drives, while a busy waterhole right in front of camp means you can often watch wildlife come to drink straight from the main deck.

Just eight ensuite chalets, each with a private veranda, look out across the endless Kalahari, and the central area brings together a dining space, bar, swimming pool, elevated viewing lounge and boma fire. A real highlight of a stay here is the chance to walk with San Bushmen from the local Naru tribe, learning about their tracking skills, traditions and deep connection to this desert environment and offering an experience that adds powerful cultural depth to the classic Kalahari safari

Too much to choose from? This is where we come in

Take advantage of our vast experience, passion and expertise to help you hand craft the perfect Botswana, Zimbabwe adventure for you.

Michael Gardiner Senior Travel Expert

Mike has more than fifteen years hands-on experience in the industry, travelling to some of the most incredible wild places on the planet. His far-reaching knowledge and invaluable skills will ensure that your wildlife travel adventure is a dream come true.

Simon Rowland Senior Travel Expert

With a lifetime of unforgettable nature and adventure based travel under his belt, Simon shares his passion, enthusiasm and hands-on experience to help create the perfect itinerary for every client.

Sheena Ogley Senior Travel Expert

Sheena’s abiding love of adventure travel has taken her to some of the most incredible wildlife-rich places on Earth. Her vast experience and genuine desire to share her knowledge makes her an outstanding and invaluable person to help you organise your wildlife adventure trip.

Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

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Outside the uk
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Call us - 0800 195 3385
Outside the uk? + 44 1625 5811 43 + 44 1625 5811 43 Call us - 0800 195 3385

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