North Botswana Birding Special – Mobile Safari

North Botswana Birding Special – Mobile Safari

Prices From £3,719pp
November to March | 11 nights
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North Botswana Birding Special – Mobile Safari

Experience Botswana like never before on this immersive mobile camping safari, designed especially for passionate birders and wildlife lovers alike. Travelling deep into the wilderness, you’ll journey with expert guides who lead you off the beaten track to some of the country’s most iconic and remote landscapes, from the sweeping floodplains of Moremi Game Reserve and the quiet backwaters of the Khwai River, to the wild expanses of Chobe National Park and the exclusive Mababe concession. Each night, you’ll rest in spacious, comfortable tents set in exclusive campsites, where everything you need (tents, linens, meals, and drinks) is thoughtfully provided, leaving you free to focus on the adventure ahead.

This mobile safari is the ultimate way to connect with Botswana’s rich natural heritage, combining thrilling game drives, peaceful mokoro excursions, and guided walks that bring you face-to-face with the diverse birdlife and iconic wildlife of the region. Whether watching a Bat-Hawk glide silently over the floodplains, listening to the call of the African Hawk-Eagle in the mopane woodlands, or spotting rare riverine species along the Chobe, you’ll be immersed in the true spirit of safari. This promises to be an intimate, authentic, and unforgettable experience.

Various departure dates available throughout the season.

Highlights

  • Explore through some of Botswana’s premier wildlife reserves, staying in remote and exclusive campsites set within incredible locations
  • Camp comfortably under the stars in spacious tents with all amenities provided, for a true wilderness experience
  • Witness spectacular birdlife, including rare raptors and an endless list of majestic species
  • Encounter iconic wildlife including elephants, lions, wild dogs, sable antelope, and massive buffalo herds
  • Enjoy intimate game drives and mokoro excursions guided by some of Botswana’s most experienced safari experts
  • Immerse yourself in the rich sounds and sights of the African bush on guided walks and night drives in private concessions
  • Experience diverse habitats from mopane woodlands and floodplains to riverine forests and Kalahari sands

What's Included

  • Spacious and comfortable tented accommodation with ensuite bathroom (beds, bed linen and towels included)
  • Exclusive camping in private campsites within the national parks and reserves
  • All meals and drinks (mineral water, soft drinks, beer, wine and G&T)
  • Professional guide, safari chef and camp assistants
  • All transfers as outlined in itinerary
  • All game drives and activities as described in itinerary
  • All entrance and camping fees

Our popularitinerary Suggestions

All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable

Maun to Moremi
1Day

Maun to Moremi

Having arrived independently to Maun, at 8am this morning your guide will collect you either from your hotel or the airport to begin your journey into the heart of Moremi, passing through an incredible variety of mopane woodland. From the towering cathedral groves of Xakanaxa to the drier scrub habitats around San-ta-Wani, the landscape transitions through ecosystems that host a wealth of birdlife. As you travel, keep your eyes skyward for raptors like the African Hawk-Eagle and the ever-watchful Dark Chanting Goshawk circling above. The mopane and adjacent woodlands are alive with activity, with Southern Ground Hornbills striding purposefully through the grass, while flashes of red and yellow signal the presence of hornbills flitting between trees. This route is also particularly good for spotting some of Africa’s more elusive brood-parasites, like the vibrantly plumaged Diederick Cuckoo or the elegant Shaft-tailed Whydah, whose long tail streamers trail behind in flight.

By afternoon, you arrive in the Xakanaxa region, where you’ll spend the next few days exploring this richly diverse wilderness. Your camp will already be set up and waiting for you, so sit back, relax and soak up the sights.

Moremi Game Reserve
2 - 3Days

Moremi Game Reserve

Over the next two days, you will delve deeper into the wilderness of the Xakanaxa region, exploring the varied landscapes of Moremi on morning and afternoon game drives. This part of the Okavango Delta is a mosaic of habitats, with papyrus-fringed channels, open floodplains, dense Miscanthus stands, and shady woodlands, each teeming with life. The changing scenery offers superb opportunities for both birding and game viewing. With luck, we may encounter the elusive African wild dog or witness lion prides trailing the resident buffalo herd that roams this region. Elephants are frequently seen moving between the mopane forests and the Delta’s life-giving waters, while red lechwe splash through the marshy plains in small herds.

Birders will find the swampy areas particularly rewarding. The bubbling call of the African Rail may echo from the reeds, while secretive species like the Red-chested Flufftail and Black Coucal occasionally emerge for a glimpse. Along the open waterways, graceful African Skimmers and Goliath Herons hunt alongside Saddle-billed and Yellow-billed Storks, and you’ll keep a hopeful eye out for rare gems like the Slaty Egret and Wattled Crane, which quietly feed along the shallows.

Moremi to Mababe
4Day

Moremi to Mababe

After an early breakfast, you will leave the Xakanaxa region behind and begin a slow, game-viewing journey northeast through Moremi Game Reserve toward the Khwai and Mababe areas. This is a moving day rich in both scenery and wildlife, as you follow the course of the Manuchira Channel, known in its eastern stretches as the Khwai River. The track winds its way between lush riverside floodplains and mopane woodland, offering an ever-changing backdrop to the day's exploration. Along the way, your guide will pause at the striking Dombo Hippo Pools, where you can take in the stillness of the water interrupted only by the grunts and splashes of the resident hippo pods.

Later, you’ll take to the water for a tranquil mokoro excursion through the quieter backwaters of the Khwai and Mbudi channels, offering a peaceful perspective of the Delta.

This area is rich in wildlife, with elephants, both breeding herds and impressive old bulls, frequenting the riverbanks. Big cats such as lion, leopard, and cheetah may also be spotted, and you remain within the territories of two wild dog packs. Birding along this route is equally rewarding. Raptors patrol the skies and woodlands, including African Hawk-Eagle, Tawny Eagle, and the agile Shikra. In the mopane canopy, mixed flocks move noisily through the trees, bringing flashes of colour from Red-headed Weavers and the iridescent throats of Scarlet-chested Sunbirds. On the wetter fringes of the floodplain, the calls of Rosy-throated Longclaws and African Crakes echo through the grasses, while sharp-eyed guests may spot the shy Black Coucal or a Long-legged Bustard stepping purposefully across the open ground.

Arrive at our next camp in the late afternoon and settle in along the riverbank.

Mababe Concession / Khwai River
5 - 6Days

Mababe Concession / Khwai River

Over the next two nights, you will settle into your exclusive campsite in the Mababe concession, a quiet, low-impact wilderness area where vehicle numbers are strictly limited. Days are spent exploring the varied landscapes that stretch from the lush Khwai River banks to the dry Kalahari shrub and cathedral mopane woodlands. This diversity of habitat supports an incredible array of birdlife, and your drives, both by day and by spotlight at night, offer a chance to seek out some of the region’s most elusive and exciting species. As the sun dips below the horizon, the floodplains come alive with new sounds and silhouettes, and with luck, you may spot a Bat Hawk swooping low over the river in pursuit of prey.

The birding here is exceptional. In the western marshes, you can search for the striking Rosy-throated Longclaw, while the thick woodlands might reward with a sighting of the rarely seen Cuckoo Hawk or Long-crested Eagle perched silently in the canopy. Martial Eagles and African Hawk-Eagles are more regular companions in the skies above, and along the quieter waterways, you may find African Rail or Allen’s Gallinule picking through the reeds. When conditions allow, a guided walk through this pristine wilderness offers an intimate experience with both birds and habitat, making Mababe a true highlight of any birding safari.

Mababe to Central Chobe
7Day

Mababe to Central Chobe

Today you journey north toward Chobe National Park, traversing some of northern Botswana’s most varied and dramatic landscapes. The route takes you across the Magwikwe Sand Ridge, once the shoreline of the ancient Lake Makgadikgadi, and into the expansive Mababe Depression. Wildlife sightings can be unpredictable but thrilling, with elephant, lion, and even cheetah all possible along the way. By late afternoon, you’ll reach your exclusive wilderness campsite in Central Chobe, where we’ll spend the next three nights exploring this arid, game-rich region.

The birding enroute is outstanding, particularly across the Mababe Depression. The fertile grasses here attract clouds of colourful seedeaters like Violet-eared and Black-cheeked Waxbills, along with striking viduids such as Paradise and Shaft-tailed Whydahs. These flocks don’t go unnoticed. Small raptors like Shikras and Little Sparrowhawks patrol the skies, while rodent booms in the area draw in larger birds of prey including Tawny Eagles, Secretary Birds, and Steppe Buzzards. This blend of habitats and abundance of food makes today’s drive one of the most bird-rich of the safari.

Central Chobe
8 - 9Days

Central Chobe

Over the next few days, you explore the rugged beauty of Central Chobe, where volcanic hills rise dramatically from the Kalahari sands, an unusual feature in an otherwise mostly flat country. These rocky outcrops offer shelter to unique bird and plant life, while the surrounding savannah and the open expanse of the Savuti Marsh provide a striking contrast. Once fed by the now-dry Savuti Channel, the marshland supports large herds of game and is famous for its intense predator activity, particularly the exceptional lion pride known for hunting young elephants. This is a rare and surprising behaviour that is seen nowhere else.

Birding here is just as compelling. In the dry season, pumped waterholes draw in clouds of doves and sandgrouse each morning, often under the watchful eye of raptors like Tawny Eagles, Yellow-billed Kites, and African Hawk-Eagles. The surrounding grasslands and marsh edges host seasonal migrants such as Caspian Plovers and Montague’s Harriers, while year-round residents like Northern Black Korhaans, African Pipits, and Rufous-naped Larks fill the landscape with movement and song. Raptors like Red-necked Falcons and the occasional Dickenson’s Kestrel patrol the fringes, rounding out an impressive birding experience in one of Botswana’s most dramatic settings.

Savuti to Chobe River Front
10Day

Savuti to Chobe River Front

This morning you will depart Savuti and make your way north toward the Chobe River, enjoying a full day of travel through a rich variety of habitats. The route takes us from the stunted mopane scrub of the Goha basin, across a sand ridge, and into the beautiful Zambezi teak woodlands of the Chobe Forest Reserve. As we approach our final campsite near the Chobe River, the landscape opens dramatically into the wide floodplains. An impressive sight, especially in high water years when the river stretches to the horizon.

Birding along this route is especially rewarding in the teak woodlands, where the dense canopy hosts lively mixed flocks of insectivorous birds. Species like Grey Tit-Flycatcher, Paradise Flycatcher, and Violet-backed Starling may be seen flitting through the upper branches, while the elusive White-faced Owl often roosts low in roadside trees. Raptors, including Lizard Buzzards and Red-necked Falcons, may be spotted soaring overhead, while open patches offer opportunities to see Flappet and Fawn-coloured Larks. It’s a varied day of birding and wildlife, and a fitting lead-up to your time on the Chobe River.

Chobe River Front
11Day

Chobe River Front

Your final full day is spent exploring the dynamic Chobe River region, an area defined by a striking sand ridge, sweeping floodplains, and a rich variety of woodland and riverine habitats. Broad-leafed trees dominate the higher ground, while the valley floor reveals the unmistakable impact of the park’s large elephant population. Dense thickets of combretum and caper bush thrive despite the constant browsing, creating tangled vegetation where wildlife and birds alike find shelter.

As the day warms, wildlife activity peaks. Elephant herds are a near-constant presence in the dry season, and it’s not uncommon to spot sable or roan antelope grazing near the floodplain. Massive buffalo herds, closely shadowed by one of Africa’s densest lion populations, move through the open grasslands, while the elusive puku, found nowhere else in southern Africa, can sometimes be seen near the river’s edge.

Along the floodplain, the striking Rosy-throated Longclaw may be spotted alongside Luapula Cisticola and Malachite Kingfisher. As pools begin to dry, large flocks of Red-winged and Black-winged Pratincoles gather, often joined by soaring Great White Pelicans. The surrounding woodlands offer a chance at woodland specialists like Racket-tailed Roller and Stierling’s Wren-Warbler, while raptors such as Bat-Hawk and Ovambo Sparrowhawk keep a keen eye on the activity below. It’s a vibrant and fitting finale to your birding safari.

Kasane - End of Itinerary
12Day

Kasane - End of Itinerary

On your final morning, you'll rise early for the journey to Kasane, where your safari concludes with a relaxing three-hour boat cruise along the Chobe River. Drifting quietly past reed-fringed banks and open floodplains, this peaceful experience offers a fresh perspective on the river's prolific birdlife and wildlife.

From the water, you may spot African Fish Eagles calling from riverside trees, Squacco and Green-backed Herons stalking the shallows, and flocks of African Skimmers gliding low over the surface. Pygmy Geese, White-fronted Bee-eaters, and Water Thick-knees are often seen along quieter inlets, while elephants and buffalo frequently come to the river's edge to drink or bathe.

After the cruise, your guide will transfer you to Kasane Airport for your onward or homeward flights, marking the end of an unforgettable birding adventure in Botswana.

See All Itinerary

A view from Above

Accommodation Options

Letaka Safaris

Letaka Safaris operate inclusive tented camp safaris in Botswana. They pride themselves on the quality of their guides, who are all professionally trained. Accommodation at the camps is in comfortable and spacious tents with private en-suite facilities with bush toilets and bucket showers, comfortable beds, storage, LED lights and covered verandahs with deck chairs. All beds, bedding and towels are provided, and the camp assistants will set everything up so guests can simply relax in their unique surroundings. Meals are served either al-fresco or in a dining tent. Camps are fully inclusive of meals and all non-premium drinks, as well as limited laundry

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 adventure for you.

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.

Michael Gardiner Senior Travel Expert

Mike lives and breathes adventure travel and has a wealth of experience in some of the most exciting and inspirational destinations in the world. His expertise and first-hand experience afford him the skills to help build holidays to remember.

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.

Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

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Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

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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