10 Days in Botswana
Botswana is one of my favourite destinations in Africa!
With its beautiful wildlife, breathtaking delta, and endless saltpans. It’s also the first country I visited outside of South Africa and so the beginning of all other adventures.
Botswana is wild and adventurous and there is so much to experience.
This was a very busy itinerary and in retrospect, we wish we’d spent a few days longer at each destination.
Getting There
The Groblersbrug, Botswana/South Africa border is a three hour drive from our home and a five hour drive from Johannesburg.
Weather
January – March
These are the wettest months with likely downpours in the afternoons.
April – June
Temperatures are cooler, with less rain and the dry season approaches.
July – September
The winter months are the best time to visit the country as the temperatures are cooler and days are not too hot.
October – December
October is likely to be hot and humid but as December approaches so does the rainy season.
Getting Around
A well-equipped 4×4 was a must for this trip! As most of the roads we covered were single-track or pothole-ridden.
Currency
Botswana uses Pula, meaning “rain” in Setswana, as rain is precious in Africa.
Visa
South African citizens do not need a visa to enter Botswana.
Staying Connected
My South African “Vodacom” network worked very well as “Orange” in Botswana, and the roaming fees were not overly expensive. The signal range was good all around with the exception being in Moremi Game Reserve.
10 Days in Botswana
Day 1
Leave for Khama Rhino Sanctuary (via the border and Palype)
We started with an early morning from home in Limpopo, South Africa. A three-hour drive to the South African/Botswana border. From there it was on to Palype for lunch, fill up on fuel, and get to an ATM.
We arrived at Khama Rhino Sanctuary in the early afternoon. Checked-in and camp set up, we ended the day with a game drive just before sunset.
Khama Rhino Sanctuary was established to save and protect the last of the rhino population within Botswana. Together with the local community, the sanctuary has assisted in creating a familiar environment for the rhino as well as other wildlife species.
Day 2
Khama Rhino Sanctuary to Guma Lagoon Camp (via Maun)
Day two started with a little bit of a shock as the GPS revealed the ‘time of arrival’ to the next camp. We had miscalculated the distance and condition of the road to the Guma Lagoon Camp. This resulted in us missing our planned sunset boat cruise on the lagoon that afternoon.
Initial shock overcome, we hit the road and resorted to having sandwiches in the car for lunch to save up on time.
The road between Khama Rhino Sanctuary and Maun is beautifully tarred. We still however, lose time on this stretch of road having to wait patiently for donkeys, cattle, and goats to cross the road, heading towards the river.
After what felt like a very long morning we eventually arrived in Maun. It was a quick stop to fill up on fuel before heading to Guma Lagoon Camp.
Replacing the livestock crossing was an endless pothole-filled road and the progress was once again slow.
By late afternoon we had taken the turn-off to Guma Lagoon Camp. We were overjoyed to see the campsite after a long day on the road.
The camp is situated on the edge of the beautiful Guma Lagoon and forms part of the Okavango Delta and is located on its northwest side. This calm lagoon on the panhandle of the Delta forms a natural entry into the Okavango.
Tip: Spend a night in Maun to split the distance, explore the town, and avoid a long day on the road.
Day 3
Guma Lagoon Camp (Sunrise Macorro Trip)
A day on the Delta! Our morning started with a scenic motorboat trip to one of the islands, known as Macorro Island.
Here we were welcomed by our guides for the macorro trip.
THe guides paddled us over the delta and we got to see wildlife
Day 4
Guma Lagoon Camp to Khwai Community Camp (via Maun)
This was another early morning back to Maun on the pothole-filled road. From Maun, we turned northeast to Khwai.
Khwai Community Camp, located on the border of the Moremi Game Reserve, forms part of a community development trust. All funds brought in through tourism are sowed back into the community.
Tip: Khwai Community Camp is a great alternative to Moremi as the camp still borders the reserve.
Day 5
Game Drive and Rest Day
A night with little sleep as the hyenas kept us up a good part of the evening, we were happy to have a relaxed day at camp and enjoy the day in Moremi Game Reserve.
Day 6
Khwai Community Camp to Big 5 Torro Lodge, Kasane
We had another early morning start, as it was going to be a long day on the road. The single-track road and anticipation give us more time if something were to go wrong.
The anticipation of the single-track road from Khwai Community Camp to Kasane made us want to get a head start on the day.
We arrived in Kasane by late afternoon and luckily didn’t get stuck anywhere along the thick sand.
We ended the day with dinner overlooking the Chobe River.
Day 7
Kasane and Chobe National Park
A morning well spent in Kasane, with a walk through town and a coffee at the beautiful Chobe Safari Lodge. We also used the time to stock up on essentials and souvenirs and we managed to organised a day-trip to Victoria Falls for the following day.
The afternoon was spent in the Chobe National Park.
Day 8
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
A tour bus picked us up at our Lodge. and after a short drive to the border, we were met by our next tour guide from the Zimbabwean side.
After a tour of the Victoria Falls we had lunch underneath the trees of the Victoria Falls Hotel, before being taken on a tour of the hotel and Victoria Falls town itself.
Tip: This is much easier than taking your car through customs and immigration.
Day 9
Big 5 Torro Lodge to Elephant Sands Lodge
A three hour drive on the A33, we booked into the Elephant Sands Loge around midday. We spent the afteroon exploring the Makgadigadi Salt Pans.
Day 10
Elephant Sands and back home (via Francestown and Sherwood)
There was simply no better way to start our last morning! Waking up surrounded by ellies. We had breakfast in Francestown before heading home.
Sherwood is the quaint little town, not to miss before you cross the border back to South Africa.
Much love,
