Botswana on your own
Elephants by the tens of thousands, unfenced campsites in the heart of the Okavango Delta: the step up from Namibia — wilder, more demanding, unforgettable.
Botswana made the opposite choice to mass tourism: few visitors, immense parks left raw, unfenced campsites where lions walk through at night. Self-driven, it is African adventure at its purest — and a technical notch above Namibia: deep sand, seasonal water crossings, real GPS navigation.
The classic loop links Maun to Victoria Falls via Moremi, Savuti and Chobe, in 10 to 15 days. It is prepared seriously (public campsites booked months ahead, an equipped 4x4, full autonomy) or simplified into a "tar roads + guided excursions" version from Maun and Kasane.
The destinations that matter
- 01
Okavango Delta
2 to 3 nights (Maun base)
A river that never reaches the sea, vanishing into a labyrinth of islands and lagoons: southern Africa's most extraordinary ecosystem is discovered by dugout canoe.
- 02
Moremi Game Reserve
2 to 3 nights
The land side of the delta — mopane forests, lagoons and the country's best predator density: Moremi is the holy grail of African self-driving.
- 03
Savuti
1 to 2 nights
A savanna far from everything, famous for lions that hunt elephants: Savuti is the wildest — and sandiest — leg of the northern crossing.
- 04
Chobe Park
2 nights
Hundreds of elephants swimming across the river at sunset: the Chobe riverfront delivers southern Africa's most reliable wildlife spectacle.
- 05
Makgadikgadi Pans
1 to 2 nights
The floor of a vanished lake the size of Switzerland: salt crust to the horizon, lone baobabs, meerkats tamed by patience — and the starriest nights there are.
- 06
Central Kalahari (CKGR)
2 to 3 nights
A reserve half the size of Portugal, a handful of tracks, zero services: the Central Kalahari is the very definition of African solitude.
On our publishing schedule
Coming soon“Botswana on your own”, the complete edition, is in preparation
Same method as our Namibia guide: day-by-day itineraries, driving, a costed budget and checklists. Leave us your address and you'll hear about the launch — at the launch price.
In the meantime, our reference
The “Namibia on your own” guide — €29
- The same method, already applied to Africa's easiest self-drive country
- 3 day-by-day itineraries, 4x4 insurance decoded, costed budget
- Instant download, 14-day guarantee — currently in French, English edition coming
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