Botswana Leopard Safari Holiday

Day 1 – Start the Leopard Safari in Maun
On arrival in Maun, you will be met and transferred to your accommodation for the evening. After your journey, the rest of the day is leisure time.
Overnight in Maun

Days 2 & 3 - Deception Valley
Your safari adventure starts in Maun, where you'll meet your guide at your lodge bright and early at 7:30 am. It is a scenic 160km journey through the Botswana landscape. To your first destination: a private reserve bordering the vast Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Upon arrival, it's time to set up camp and get prepped for the adventure ahead with a safari briefing. The next two days will be all about exploring this incredible wilderness. Embark on game drives led by expert guides, searching for desert-adapted animals like oryx, springbok, and eland. Keep your eyes peeled for predators, too – lions, brown hyenas, and cheetahs might just appear. But the adventure goes beyond spotting wildlife. Join a local San tracker on a nature walk. They'll share their ancestral knowledge of the bush, giving you a glimpse into their fascinating culture. This is adventure camping in its purest form, as water and communications are limited, and we travel as a self-sufficient group.
Overnight camping Deception Valley (Day 2 - LD, Day 3 - BLD)

Days 4 to 6 - Central Kalahari Game Reserve
You will wake up as the sun rises and depart for the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, the most significant wildlife sanctuary in Botswana. It is a 3-4 hour journey (including a game drive) through untouched wilderness. The destination is the northern part of the reserve, where you'll set up camp for the next three days in a secluded, designated spot. The campsite offers basic amenities, but the incredible scenery surrounding you is the real luxury.
Overnights at Central Kalahari Game Reserve (Camping – BLD)

Day 7 – Makgadikgadi
After packing camp, you'll take a relaxed drive towards the Makgadikgadi region (3-4h). Your destination for the night is a camp perched right on the edge of the national park, looking out over the Boteti River that flows through Khumaga village. Prepare for a game drive into the vast Makgadikgadi National Park in the afternoon.
Overnight lodge in Makgadikgadi (BLD)

Days 8 to 10 - Okavango Delta
Enjoy a sunrise breakfast before we set off for the Okavango Delta. We'll stock up on drinks in Maun before reaching the Gomoti River, the Delta's gateway. Here, you'll meet your local polers and their traditional mokoro canoes. Quietly cruising along river channels and floodplains, you will enjoy the spectacular landscape of this unique region, taking you deep inside the Delta.
For the next three days, this lush paradise will be your playground. Glide through channels teeming with life and embark on guided walks across islands and floodplains. You'll camp under the vast African sky at night, enjoying the wilderness experience with basic amenities. Imagine sleeping on a secluded island, the sounds of the Delta lulling you to sleep. Feeling adventurous? On the third afternoon, you'll have the chance to book a helicopter ride. This unforgettable experience is an optional extra, payable locally in cash only.
Overnights camping in the Okavango Delta (BLD)

NOTE: You will leave your main luggage in the trailer and pack a smaller bag (small backpack, hand luggage) with what you need for the two nights on the island. Transfers from the mainland to the island where you will stay are done on dugout canoes (mekoro), which cannot accommodate large bags. Your main luggage will safely remain in the vehicle, which will be parked in a secured area while you are on the island.

Days 11 to 13 - Moremi Game Reserve, Xakanaka & Khwai
Today's adventure begins with a pre-dawn breakfast to fuel you for the journey to Moremi Game Reserve, known for its diverse and striking landscapes. Lush floodplains give way to woodlands, creating a haven for abundant wildlife and birds. For the next three days, we will explore this remarkable reserve. You'll spend three nights in two different campsites, venturing out on game drives at sunrise and sunset, the prime times to spot animals. The evenings will be spent at comfortable, private campsites, where nature's beauty is your backdrop and the starry sky your ceiling. Bathrooms will be basic, but the experience will be unforgettable.
Overnights camping in the Moremi Game Reserve (BLD)

Day 14 – Southern Chobe National Park – Savute / Zwei Zwei
Chobe National Park is a land of breathtaking beauty and diverse landscapes. We'll be trading lush greenery for the drier plains of Savute, where magnificent bull elephants roam freely. This dynamic region is known for its ever-changing ecosystem. Waterholes, dry riverbeds, and hidden marshes create a wild stage where a diverse range of animals can appear. Every game drive is an adventure – you never know what awaits around the next bend. At night, we'll rest comfortably in private campsites, enjoying the peace of the African bush.
Overnights camping in the Chobe National Park (BLD)

Days 15 & 16 - Northern Chobe National Park
Your adventure continues north to the Chobe River. Here, your game drives will take you on a relaxing journey along the riverbanks, guided by the unforgettable cry of the African Fish Eagle. This unique river environment teems with wildlife, from the rare puku and Chobe bushbuck to a stunning array of birds. As you travel north, you'll transfer from the southern part of Chobe National Park and delve deeper into the lush floodplains, where even more exciting animal encounters await.
Overnights camping in the Chobe National Park (BLD)

Day 17 - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
After a short morning game drive, your guide will take you to the Kazungula border, where you will meet the transfer vehicle for your lodge in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (Visa required). You will spend the night at a comfortable lodge. There will be time to visit the thunderous Victoria Falls and have a shop in the afternoon. Lunch and dinner will be at your own expense.
Overnight at Victoria Falls (B)

Day 18 – End of the Leopard Safari
The safari officially ends after breakfast today. We are happy to arrange post-tour accommodation, activities and transfers to Victoria Falls airport, lodges, or Kasane, Botswana, at an additional cost. Activities in Victoria Falls include White Water Rafting down the Zambezi Gorge, canoeing on the upper Zambezi and helicopter flights over the Victoria Falls; please ask the lodge reception for further details. (B)

Important Information

Camping - The Leopard camping safari requires a minimum participation from the guests. This involves you setting up the tent, packing it, and carrying your bag from and to the vehicle at campsites. The rest of the camp chores are carried out by the local team of one guide and one camp assistant.

Equipment - Tents are 2.1m x 2.1m x 1.75m. A 5cm high-density foam mattress is provided for each guest. Ablutions are shared, and bush ablutions are set up by the team when staying in game reserves and national park campsites. Sleeping bags, including a small pillow, are available for hire at GBP£20 per safari – please advise us at the time of booking

Vehicle – Custom-built 4x4 safari vehicles with custom-built trailers.

Number of guests – The Leopard Safari operates with a maximum of 12 people.

Itineraries—There are a variety of different mobile camping safari programs available, including the Leopard safari (18 days), Lion safari (16 days), Fish Eagle safari (12 days), Jackal safari (12 days), Buffalo safari (9 days), and Kalahari safari (8 days). Contact us for more details.