Where exceptional wildlife views meets meaningful conservation in Botswana
A 7-day journey through Botswana that goes beyond the traditional safari, this Botswana conservation safari combines exceptional wildlife encounters with meaningful, on-the-ground impact.
From the salt pans of the Makgadikgadi to the river systems and wildlife-rich floodplains of the Okavango Delta, each stage reveals a different side of Botswana’s diverse landscapes and ecosystems.
Along the way, travellers engage directly with pioneering conservation initiatives—working alongside researchers, anti-poaching teams, and local communities—to gain rare insight into the protection of elephants, African wild dogs, and other iconic species.
Cultural visits, guided field activities, and immersive conservation experiences connect travellers with the people and projects shaping Botswana’s conservation future. This is more than a safari—it is a purposeful journey that combines wildlife, conservation, and authentic human connection.
Safari Highlights:
Makgadikgadi Pans & Boteti River: Vast, dramatic landscapes where desert meets river, drawing herds of Elephant and Zebra to life-giving water.
Elephants for Africa Project: A hands-on look at pioneering work reducing human–elephant conflict in rural communities.
Khwai Private Reserve: A wildlife-rich corner of the Okavango Delta, known for predators, varied habitats, and exceptional game viewing.
Wild Dog & Predator Research: Rare access to long-term conservation studies tracking African Wild Dog, Lion, and Leopard.
Khwai Village & Community Projects: Genuine cultural connection through local initiatives supporting sustainable livelihoods.
Anti-Poaching Experience: Meet the frontline teams protecting wildlife through tracking, surveillance, and snare removal.
CLAWS & Life with Elephants Initiatives: Innovative, real-world solutions balancing community needs with predator and elephant conservation.
Top Mammals:
Lion, Leopard, Wild Dog, Cheetah, Nile Crocodile, African Elephant, Zebra, Spotted Hyena, Hippo, Giraffe, Buffalo.
Top Birds:
African Fish Eagle, Wattled Crane, African Jacana, African Skimmer, Malachite Kingfisher, Lilac-breasted Roller.
Day to day overview
| Day 1 | Maun to the boundary of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park |
| Day 2 | Elephants for Africa |
| Day 3 | Conservation and Community Overview |
| Day 4 | Khwai Community and Wild Entrust |
| Day 5 | KPR Anti-poaching |
| Day 6 | Okavango Delta |
| Day 7 | Life with Elephants and CLAWS |
| Day 8 | Departure |
Day to day itinerary
Day 1: Maun to the boundary of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
Arrival in Maun is followed by a scenic 90-minute road transfer to a camp set on a rocky clifftop overlooking the Boteti River, with expansive views across Makgadikgadi National Park. The setting is defined by spectacular scenery and endless horizons, where wildlife is often visible below, including herds of Elephant and moving herds of Zebra along the river and surrounding plains.
This location hosts the first Project, with Elephants for Africa, based on the north-western edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans. The project is dedicated to improving human–wildlife coexistence in rural farming communities, with a strong focus on reducing conflict between people and Elephants. Efforts include community workshops and the installation of elephant-proof fencing, helping to protect both local livelihoods and wildlife populations.
Activities include guided walks with San Bushmen, offering insight into traditional knowledge and the natural environment, as well as a game drive with a conservation representative to learn more about the project’s work on the ground. A visit to a local farmer provides further perspective on how these initiatives are applied in practice. Evenings are spent at leisure, overlooking the river and plains, with the constant presence of wildlife reinforcing the connection between conservation and the surrounding landscape.
Day 2: Elephants for Africa
The day begins with sweeping views over the Boteti River, where wildlife activity can often be observed directly from the veranda, offering a relaxed introduction to the morning.
After breakfast, a Community Elephant Coexistence cultural tour visits the village of Moreomaoto, where local farmers share first-hand insight into the challenges of living alongside Elephants. The visit highlights how Elephants for Africa supports communities through practical solutions such as deterrent methods and outreach initiatives, forming a vital partnership between conservation and local livelihoods.
The experience continues at the Elephants for Africa research base, where ongoing research activities provide a deeper understanding of Elephant behaviour and conservation strategies. Following a light lunch, time is spent exploring Makgadikgadi National Park, with opportunities for close encounters with Elephants in their natural habitat.
The evening is spent at leisure, reflecting on the day’s experiences while enjoying the sounds of the bush and the clarity of Botswana’s night sky.
Day 3: Conservation & Community overview
The morning begins with a final opportunity to take in views over the Boteti River before transferring back to Maun. From here, a light aircraft flight continues into the Okavango Delta, offering a striking aerial perspective of this vast wetland system.
Arrival is in the Khwai Private Reserve, a 200,000-hectare wilderness where mopane woodland gives way to riverine forest, floodplains, and seasonal pans shaped by the Khwai River. This diverse landscape supports a high density of wildlife and forms one of Botswana’s most iconic safari regions.
This stage of the journey introduces projects focused on African Wild Dog research, anti-poaching, and community engagement. The research component is linked to long-term work conducted in Moremi Game Reserve, with over 30 years of data on African Wild Dogs and other large predators including Lion, Leopard, and Spotted Hyena. Research efforts extend into and around the Khwai area, contributing to a broader understanding of predator dynamics across the Okavango ecosystem. Time in the reserve also includes meeting the anti-poaching team, a group of dedicated rangers carrying out essential work such as de-snaring patrols, tracking, and surveillance.
The Project focuses on the nearby Khwai Village, located on the eastern edge of the reserve. Ongoing community outreach initiatives support local livelihoods and promote coexistence between people and wildlife. A visit to the village offers valuable insight into daily life in this remote region and the practical realities of living alongside wildlife.
Accommodation is in a small, traditional-style tented camp set on raised platforms with private viewing decks, offering a relaxed base in the heart of the reserve. The evening includes a conservation and community overview, highlighting these combined efforts, before time at leisure under the open Delta sky.
Day 4: Khwai Community and Wild Entrust
The day begins with an early start before visiting Khwai Village, located on the eastern edge of the Khwai Private Reserve. Time in the village offers first-hand insight into ongoing community initiatives, including a visit to the local preschool and participation in a tree-planting activity. A stop at the kgotla provides an understanding of its central role in community life and decision-making.
Following the morning’s activities, there is time to return to camp and relax during the heat of the day. Seasonal visits between June and August may also include observing local grass harvesting projects, offering further perspective on sustainable resource use and livelihoods in the area.
In the afternoon, a guided game drive explores the diverse habitats of the reserve, from riverine woodland to open floodplains. Accompanied by a researcher associated with Wild Entrust Botswana Predator Conservation Programme, the experience provides deeper insight into predator behaviour and ongoing field research focused on species such as African Wild Dog, Lion, and Leopard. The day concludes with time to reflect on these conservation efforts in a relaxed setting under the evening sky.
Day 5: KPR Anti-poaching
The day is spent exploring the diverse landscapes of the Okavango Delta within the Khwai Private Reserve, beginning with an early morning departure after a light breakfast. Guided game drives in the morning, afternoon, and evening focus on tracking the region’s signature wildlife, with the varied habitats supporting a wide range of species, including elusive animals such as African Wild Dog, Serval, Honey Badger, and, on rare occasions, Pangolin.
During the day, there is an opportunity to learn more about the reserve’s anti-poaching efforts, with the possibility of meeting members of the field team and gaining insight into their work, including tracking, surveillance, and snare removal. Between activities, the waterways of the Delta can be explored by mokoro, gliding through clear channels lined with aquatic vegetation and birdlife, offering a quieter perspective on this unique ecosystem.
Day 6: Okavango Delta
After breakfast, the journey continues deeper into the northern reaches of the Okavango Delta, where a mosaic of floodplains, woodlands, and permanent waterways creates one of Africa’s most renowned wildlife-viewing regions. This landscape supports a high density of wildlife and offers classic Delta scenery shaped by seasonal water levels.
Time is available to relax overlooking a peaceful lagoon, where Hippo is often seen in the shallows and smaller mammals move through the surrounding vegetation. The area is also known for its wonderful birdlife, with a variety of species associated with wetland and woodland habitats.
In the late afternoon, a guided game drive explores the private concession, where healthy populations of Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, and Elephant are regularly encountered. Depending on water levels, activities may also include mokoro excursions or boating, providing a different perspective of the Delta’s channels and floodplains. The day ends at leisure, with time to unwind after a full day in one of Botswana’s most wildlife-rich environments.
Day 7: Life with Elephants and CLAWS
The day begins at dawn with coffee in hand, overlooking the northern Okavango Delta. A helicopter transfer takes you to Eretsha to explore two key community and conservation projects addressing human-wildlife coexistence. The first stop is the CLAWS initiative, a communal herding program that reduces human-lion conflict by having herders accompany cattle, combining herds to lower costs, and restoring overgrazed lands through rotational grazing. This approach safeguards livestock, decreases retaliatory killing of Lions, and improves rangelands.
Next, the Life with Elephants tour highlights the Elephant Express project, which transports vulnerable community members—children, the elderly, and the disabled—safely through Elephant corridors to schools and clinics. Supported by the Okavango Community Trust and Ecoexist Trust, this initiative reduces dangerous human-elephant encounters, enabling both people and Elephants to coexist more safely.
The day ends with a serene evening overlooking the Delta, observing wildlife around the water, and reflecting on the practical conservation and community initiatives that have been witnessed throughout the safari.
Day 8: Departure
The morning begins with a leisurely breakfast and time to enjoy the final views of the northern Okavango Delta. After a relaxed start, the journey continues back to Maun for onward travel, marking the conclusion of this enriching conservation-focused safari through Botswana’s extraordinary landscapes.
