Botswana Bush Camps Wildlife Safari
Summary of this Budget Safari Package
Spend two nights at Tuskers Bush Camp in an exclusive wildlife concession bordering on Moremi Game Reserve and two nights at Xobega Island Camp on a private island in the Okavango Delta.
Explore the wilderness areas around Moremi Game Reserve, as well as game viewing in Moremi as we transfer between bush camps. First, enjoy game drives and optional bush walks in the private concession area of Tuskers Bush Camp. Then, embark on morning and sunset boat cruises from Xobega Island into the Okavango Delta. Highlights include sundowners in the game-rich African bush, bird watching in the watery delta and relaxing at the tented camps tucked away in secluded wilderness areas of Botswana.
Experience the African bush in more comfort than a regular camping tour, staying at basic tented bush camps on this entry level lodge safari.
Itinerary for this Tour
Day 1: Maun to Tuskers Bush Camp
Arriving at the airport in Maun you are collected and transferred to Tuskers Bush Camp about one and a half hours’ drive away. When we reach the bush lodge you have time to freshen up and have some light snacks and drinks, before embarking on your first game drive.
In the late afternoon, we head out into the 365 000 hectare wildlife concession, driving along private roads in search of wildlife and birds. Along the way we stop for sundowners keeping an eye open for roaming creatures as we watch a peaceful sunset over the bush. After sunset we make our way back to the tented camp, looking out for nocturnal animals as we drive into the night.
Sit back around the flickering campfire and enjoy dinner in the dining tent at the end of your first day in the wilderness of northern Botswana.
- Road transfer to Tuskers Bush Camp
- Sunset game drive
Day 2: Tuskers Bush Camp – Private Concession Area
Day two begins with an early morning coffee and rusks at camp, before setting off on our game drive in the private concession area. Early mornings are one of the best times to be in the African bush, because many animals are at their most active in the early hours of the day.
If you would prefer to experience the bush on foot this morning then you can take an optional game walk in the exclusive concession area, instead of the game drive. The game drive covers more ground, improving your chances of spotting more animals and a wider variety of them, whilst the game walk is a more immersive experience bringing you up close to the bush and its inhabitants, potentially even the large wildlife species.
The morning game drive or walk is followed by breakfast and free time back at the bush lodge. Sit back and soak up the natural setting at camp, take a nap after our early morning start, or watch for wildlife drawn to the watering hole at camp. After resting up, we have lunch and prepare for the afternoon’s game viewing adventures. The late afternoon game drive takes us into the bush for sundowners in a scenic location, followed by a night game drive back to the camp.
The glowing campfire awaits and dinner is served in the dining tent of the tented safari lodge.
- Morning game drive/bush walk
- Afternoon game drive
Day 3: Tuskers Camp to Xobega Island Camp – Okavango Delta
We are up bright and early on day three, starting the day with coffee and breakfast at camp. Then we head to the Khwai Gate of Moremi Game Reserve for our five hour drive to Xobega Island Camp. This game drive transfer takes us through the Khwai River Area of Moremi, pausing for coffee and a picnic lunch in this top Botswana game reserve along the way.
Our rewarding game drive through Moremi brings us to the Mboma Boat station, where you are collected by your host from Xobega Island Camp in a motorboat. Cruising deeper into the Okavango Delta along winding channels we arrive at Xobega Island after about 45-minutes. Drinks are served upon arrival and your host provides an introductory briefing. Settle into your canvas safari tent and have some light snacks and drinks before our first activity.
Our delta adventure begins with a sunset boat cruise – the perfect way to take in the wild scenery and search for wildlife and birds. Relax and enjoy a cool drink as the sun sets as the guide takes drinks of your choice along on the cruise. The laid-back cruise ends back at the remote camp tucked away in the trees on Xobega Island. Sit back around the campfire in the open-air boma and enjoy dinner in the canvas dining tent, before retiring to your tented room in the delta.
- Morning game drive/bush walk
- Afternoon game drive
Day 4: Xobega Island Camp – Okavango Delta
On day four, wake up in the wild Okavango Delta and enjoy coffee and breakfast in the dining tent, surrounded by nature.
After charging up with coffee and breakfast we set off on a boat cruise in the watery Okavango Delta of Botswana. We cruise along the reed-lined waterways of the delta, moving between the secluded small islands of this massive estuarine system. Sit back and enjoy the beautiful delta environment, one of the wildest places in Southern Africa, hosting an incredible diversity of wildlife and birds.
Back at camp there is time to freshen up and have a warm bucket shower, before tucking into a hearty lunch in the dining tent. Lunch is followed by free time for a rest or some bird watching at the bush camp. In the afternoon high tea is served and we embark on a sundowner boat cruise – an ideal way to end our magical day in the delta.
Returning to bush camp we feast on a three-course dinner and unwind around the campfire, enjoying our last night on Xobega Island.
- Morning boat cruise
- Sunset boat cruise
Day 5: Xobega Island Camp to Maun or Kasane
The final early morning start – day five begins with breakfast before leaving Xobega Island Camp and the Okavango Delta.
We set off on a 45-minute boat cruise from Xobega Island to the Mboma boat station. Here we switch to a safari vehicle for the short drive to Xakanaxa airstrip in Moremi Game Reserve.
From Moremi you fly to Maun or Kasane, where this magical Botswana Bush Camps Wildlife Safari finishes.
- Transfer from Xobega Island to Xakanaxa Airstrip
- Flight to Maun/Kasane
About Tuskers Bush Camp
This unfenced bush camp is located in Kwatale Conservancy, covering 365 000 hectares of wilderness between Nxai Pan National Park and Moremi Game Reserve on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta. Wildlife roams between the private concession area and neighbouring Moremi Game Reserve, making for top-class game viewing. An abundance of birds and wild animals are sighted here, including four of the Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo and leopard. Other sightings include hippos, giraffes, zebras, warthogs and an array of antelopes, such as lechwe, kudu, tsessebe and blue wildebeest.
Accommodation is in six permanent safari tents with en suite bathrooms with bucket showers, flush toilets and wash basins. These spacious canvas tents are tucked away in the indigenous trees offering privacy and more comfort than standard camping tents. The main camp areas include a canvas dining tent, an open-air boma around the campfire and a thatched lounge-bar area looking out over a pan visited by wildlife and birds. Open-sided lounge areas under thatch, also provide shady spots for relaxing in this exclusive wilderness location.
Tuskers Bush Camp is eco-friendly and intimate, accommodating eight guests at most. This bush camp offers a simple yet comfortable tented experience in classical safari style. Activities include game drives (morning, afternoon and night), bird watching at camp, sundowners in scenic bush locations and game walks.
About Xobega Island Camp
Tucked away in the lush vegetation and shady trees on Xobega Island this rustic camp lies deep in the Okavango Delta, just off the mainland of Moremi Game Reserve. The tented camp is basic, but provides more comfort than standard camping, offering an affordable and charming alternative. Guests sleep on stretcher beds in permanent twin-share tents with en suite, open-air bathrooms featuring bucket showers and eco-friendly toilets.
The tented rooms are set in the dense bush surrounding the main camp area, which consists of a dining tent and two open-sided lounge areas under canvas. The bush camp is adequately equipped and simply furnished, with its spaces featuring calming neutral tones and tasteful touches. Xobega Island Camp also has an intimate boma area for sitting around the fire pit at night, and a tea and coffee station in the dining tent.
Set on a small, private island only accessibly by boat from Moremi Game Reserve, this unfenced bush camp is ideal for getting close to unspoilt nature. Days are spent exploring the Okavango Delta on boat cruises (morning, afternoon and sunset), looking out for wildlife and birds in this birding paradise. Common wildlife sightings on the boat cruises include elephants, antelopes, hippos and crocodiles, along with a plethora of birds.
Please Note:
This Botswana Safari can be extended by adding extra days at either of the camps visited above and/or Chobe Elephant Camp can be added to the itinerary. One of our Victoria Falls Safari packages can also be added on to this safari as an extension.
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