7 days Botswana: road trippin’ the north

Welcome to Botswana! Kasane International Airport (BBK) is the northern gateway to Botswana’s wilderness and the world-famous Chobe National Park. Just minutes from Kasane town and close to the borders of Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, you’ve arrived in the heart of the legendary Four Corners of Africa. As you descend, keep an eye out for sweeping views of the Chobe River, open floodplains and vast savannah - often dotted with wildlife even before you touch down. Your private driver will be waiting in the arrivals hall and will transfer you to your lodge, where it’s time to unwind and ease into Botswana’s warm hospitality. This is the start of your safari adventure!

Activities:

Accommodations:

• Silver Chobe Elephant Camp
• Gold Muchenje Safari Lodge
• Platinum andBeyond Chobe Under Canvas

The Chobe Riverfront stretches along the northern boundary of Chobe National Park, where the Chobe River separates Botswana and Namibia. The whole park is home to over 120,000 elephants - the largest remaining population in the world - but during the dry season, the herds gather along the riverfront in extraordinary numbers, alongside buffalo and plains game. Game drives along the riverfront put you in the middle of this, while a boat cruise on the Chobe River brings you eye to eye with hippos, crocodiles and elephants drinking and swimming at the water's edge.

Accommodations:

• Silver Chobe Elephant Camp
• Gold Muchenje Safari Lodge
• Platinum andBeyond Chobe Under Canvas

The drive from the Chobe Riverfront to the Savuti covers around 80 kilometres and takes roughly two hours, but it’s far more than just a transfer. This is a true bush journey, winding through Chobe’s dense forests toward the Goha Hills Gate, before continuing across deep sandy stretches (particularly in the dry season) and corrugated tracks. The route doubles as an extended game drive, with frequent sightings of elephants, giraffes, and various antelope along the way. As Savuti draws closer, anticipation builds: this predator-rich region is famous for its lions, and you may even spot one before you head out on your first game drive through the iconic marshlands.

Accommodations:

• Silver Camp Savuti
• Gold Ghoha Hills Savuti Lodge
• Platinum Savute Safari Lodge

Savuti is one of Africa's most extraordinary and ever-changing wilderness areas, a vast, ancient landscape in the remote western reaches of Chobe National Park that has captivated explorers and wildlife enthusiasts for generations. Fed by the legendary Savuti Channel, its waters have come and gone over centuries, shaping a dramatic mosaic of dry riverbeds, open grasslands, and seasonal wetlands that draw some of the continent's most spectacular concentrations of wildlife. A Savuti Marsh Excursion offers a rare and privileged window into this untamed world!

Accommodations:

• Silver Camp Savuti
• Gold Ghoha Hills Savuti Lodge
• Platinum Savute Safari Lodge

The drive from the Savuti to the Khwai Community Concession takes 4 hours and covers just over 100 kilometres - a gentle reminder that in the bush, distance and time rarely agree. This is not a smooth cruise: expect a slow, bumpy ride over deep sand and uneven tracks, particularly in the dry season, while summer may add a few splashy water crossings for good measure. The reward comes as the landscape shifts from Savuti’s dry plains to the lush riverine scenery of the Khwai River, with excellent chances of spotting elephants, lions, and leopards along the way. Leave Savuti after breakfast, and you should still arrive in time to enjoy your first afternoon game drive in Khwai.

Accommodations:

• Silver Camp Khwai
• Gold Hideaways Mogotlho Safari Lodge
• Platinum Sable Alley

Wedged between Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve, the Khwai Community Concession is where unfenced wilderness meets community spirit. Think roaming elephants, prowling predators, herds of buffalo and shimmering lagoons -  all wrapped into one spectacular safari playground. Add an amazing game drive, a peaceful mokoro safari in a dugout canoe, and a meaningful encounter with the Khwai village community in the mix, and you’ll have an experience as enriching as it is exhilarating.

Accommodations:

• Silver Camp Khwai
• Gold Hideaways Mogotlho Safari Lodge
• Platinum Sable Alley

The drive from the Khwai Concession to Kasane is a 240-kilometre journey, taking at least 6 hours on bone shaking roads. It's a true overland safari adventure; one that rewards patience with unforgettable scenery and a good chance of spotting some lions and elephants. Travelling north, the route winds through the Mababe Depression, mopane woodlands and the legendary Savuti Marsh, before crossing the wildlife-rich Chobe National Park and eventually reaching the Chobe Riverfront near Kasane. Expect deep sand, corrugated tracks and (in the green season) occasional muddy or waterlogged sections. It could get quite exhausting... especially after a final morning game drive. If you’d prefer a gentler pace, consider adding an overnight stop in Kasane before flying home.

Activities: