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Botswana Budget Safari Tours
Finding a Botswana budget safari can be a challenge. This is a country that has very much aimed its tours, or safari pitch, at a high-end market. But don’t let that put you off. Botswana is a fabulous destination for a wildlife trip. A number of operators offer budget safari packages that can take you deep into some of the best wildlife-viewing country in southern Africa. The Okavango Delta is a possibility, particularly in the Moremi Game Reserve or in the west, although the Delta’s northern reaches are dominated by private, luxury concessions. Chobe National Park, including the Savuti region, is a highlight, as are the options within the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and Tuli Block.
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8-Day Botswana North Best Highlight and Victoria Falls
$2,717 pp (USD)
Botswana & Zimbabwe: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Maun (Start), Moremi GR (Okavango Delta), Okavango Delta, Khwai Concession (Okavango Delta), Savuti (Chobe NP), Chobe Riverfront (Chobe NP), Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls Airport (End)
Skytheme Safaris
5.0/5 – 9 Reviews
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3-Day Mokoro Overnight-Okavango Delta
$572 to $619 pp (USD)
Botswana: Shared tour (max 15 people per group)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Maun (Start), Okavango Delta, Maun (End)
Mosu Safari Tours
5.0/5 – 35 Reviews
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3-Day Unveiling the Eden of the Delta Safari
$1,023 pp (USD)
Botswana: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Maun (Start), Moremi GR (Okavango Delta), Maun (End)
Bush Sands Tours & Safaris
5.0/5 – 3 Reviews
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3-Day Victoria Falls to Chobe National Park Expedition
$1,898 pp (USD)
Botswana & Zimbabwe: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Victoria Falls Town (Start), Chobe NP, Victoria Falls Town (End)
N'tee Safaris and Tours
5.0/5 – 25 Reviews
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3-Day 2 Nights Tented Safari in Chobe National Park
$545 to $578 pp (USD)
Botswana: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Kasane (Start), Chobe NP, Kasane (End)
Kalahari Tours
5.0/5 – 29 Reviews
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3-Day 2-Night Okavango Delta and Moremi Highlights
$1,007 pp (USD)
Botswana: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Maun (Start), Okavango Delta, Maun (End)
Sekanka Travel and Tours Safaris
4.9/5 – 53 Reviews
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5-Day Okavango Photo Expedition - Khwai
$2,475 to $2,723 pp (USD)
Botswana: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Maun (Start), Khwai Concession (Okavango Delta), Savuti (Chobe NP), Maun (End)
Nalange Mobile Safaris
5.0/5 – 21 Reviews
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7-Day Kalahari Explorer's Tour
$3,661 pp (USD)
Botswana: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Maun (Start), Nxai Pan NP, Makgadikgadi Pans NP, Central Kalahari GR, Maun (End)
Reflect Africa Expedition
5.0/5 – 19 Reviews
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10-Day Botswana Okavango & Savuti Mobile Tented Safari
$3,249 to $4,139 pp (USD)
Botswana: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Maun (Start), Moremi GR (Okavango Delta), Khwai Concession (Okavango Delta), Savuti (Chobe NP), Maun (End)
Kingfisher Safaris
4.7/5 – 57 Reviews
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3-Day Moremi Budget Camping
$1,155 pp (USD)
Botswana: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Maun (Start), Moremi GR (Okavango Delta), Maun (End)
Steenbok Safaris
4.9/5 – 7 Reviews
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4-Day Okavango Delta & Moremi Mobile Camping Safari
$1,232 to $1,353 pp (USD)
Botswana: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Maun (Start), Boteti River, Moremi GR (Okavango Delta), Maun (End)
The Mzansi Experience
4.6/5 – 76 Reviews
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7-Day Botswana North & Vic-Falls
$4,015 pp (USD)
Botswana & Zimbabwe: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Maun (Start), Moremi GR (Okavango Delta), Khwai Concession (Okavango Delta), Victoria Falls (End)
Exploring Botswana Tours & Safaris
5.0/5 – 2 Reviews
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6-Day Chobe NP, Savuti & Moremi GR Explorers
$3,630 pp (USD)
Botswana: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Kasane (Start), Chobe NP, Savuti (Chobe NP), Moremi GR (Okavango Delta), Maun Airport (End)
African Big Five Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 2 Reviews
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Best Seller
5-Day Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, Livingstone
$990 pp (USD)
Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe: Shared tour (max 9 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Victoria Falls town (Start), Victoria Falls, Chobe River, Livingstone (City), Victoria Falls Airport (End)
Tamuka Travel
4.5/5 – 8 Reviews
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3-Day The Best of Elephants Trails
$715 to $743 pp (USD)
Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia & Zimbabwe: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Maun Start Okavango Delta (Start), Maun (City), Moremi GR (Okavango Delta), Khwai Concession (Okavango Delta), Maun (End)
Nyala Mobile Safaris
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3-Day Chobe Camping Safari Tour from Victoria Falls
$540 pp (USD)
Botswana: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Victoria Falls Town (Start), Chobe NP, Victoria Falls Town (End)
Africa Zim Travel & Tours
4.9/5 – 151 Reviews
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Best Seller
15-Day Affordable Tour Starting in Cape Town
$2,898 to $3,188 pp (USD)
South Africa, Botswana & Zimbabwe: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Cape Peninsula, Winelands, Robben Island (Cape Town), Kruger NP, Panorama Route (Highlight), Johannesburg (City), Soweto (Johannesburg), Zambezi River, Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls town (Victoria Falls), Chobe NP, Victoria Falls Airport (End)
MoAfrika Tours
4.9/5 – 1,759 Reviews
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9-Day Majestic Victoria Falls and Botswana Wildlife
$3,323 pp (USD)
Botswana & Zimbabwe: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Victoria Falls (Start), Chobe River, Chobe NP, Makgadikgadi Pans NP, Okavango Delta, Elephant Sands GR, Victoria Falls Town (End)
Africa Uncovered Safaris
5.0/5 – 53 Reviews
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5-Day Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park Tour
$1,595 pp (USD)
Botswana & Zimbabwe: Shared tour (max 50 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge
You Visit: Victoria Falls (Start), Chobe Riverfront (Chobe NP), Victoria Falls Airport (End)
Escape to Adventure Safaris
4.9/5 – 132 Reviews
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3-Day Chobe and Victoria Falls Zimbabwe Package
$991 to $1,013 pp (USD)
Botswana & Zimbabwe: Shared tour (max 20 people per vehicle)BudgetHotel
You Visit: Victoria Falls Town (Start), Chobe NP, Zambezi NP, Victoria Falls Town (End)
Savannah Adventures
5.0/5 – 36 Reviews
6 Questions About Botswana Budget Safaris
Answered by
Anthony Ham
Anthony writes the Lonely Planet guide to Botswana and has written travel and feature articles about the country for various media worldwide. It’s quite possibly his favorite place on the planet and there are no corners of the country he hasn’t been to.› More about Anthony
6 Questions About Botswana Budget Safaris
Why should I choose Botswana for a budget trip?
“Botswana is a brilliant choice for a budget safari because the wildlife is world-class, and facilities such as budget accommodation or safari campsites are rarely crowded. Low visitor numbers and the relatively small market for budget safaris mean that once you get beyond the larger towns, a sense of wilderness is easily found. Much of this wilderness is accessible to those on a budget holiday. It’s actually far better here than in other countries where budget accommodation and campsites can be crowded, and multiple vehicles gather around wildlife sightings. Botswana also has one of the most professional safari industries in Africa, and these high standards very much include budget operators. Once you’re here, expect big cats, elephants and abundant birdlife.”
1What is included in a Botswana budget safari?
“Meals, accommodation and transport are usually included in the cost of your budget safari in Botswana. Depending on the operator, you may be expected to help in setting up the tents each night. And to participate in the more mundane aspects of camp life: cooking, washing up, and gathering firewood. Most safaris in Botswana begin and end in one of the gateway towns for the parks and protected reserves. For example, Maun (for Moremi and the Okavango Delta), Kasane (for Chobe National Park) and Gweta (for the Makgadikgadi Pans and Central Kalahari Game Reserve) all have simple but atmospheric budget lodgings. Beyond the towns, travel will be by a mixture of 4x4 and boat. The ‘mokoro’ (wooden dugout canoe) is a classic Delta experience that is at once cheap and environmentally friendly. It enables you to get a feel for the intricate tangle of waterways that define the Delta at the speed of a slow-moving river. Always ask your operator what is included and what will be expected of you out in the bush, before making your final reservation.”
2What are the pros and cons of a self-drive budget safari?
“Taking a self-drive budget safari has the advantage of including almost all of your expenses in one fee. Once your vehicle is paid for, campsite fees and food are both extremely cheap in Botswana. Petrol can, however, be expensive, as can the overall cost of rental vehicles. Whether it works out to be more expensive to take a self-drive safari, or go on an organized budget safari, will depend on how many of you are in the vehicle. These pros and cons can be added to the more general advantages of the self-drive safari in Botswana. The most obvious of these is the freedom it gives. Unlike on an organized tour, you decide how long you stay at each wildlife sighting. You also decide where to go and when. However, many campsites are so popular that you’ll need to reserve these sites through your operator well in advance of your visit. While it can be a little nerve-wracking to set out alone into the bush, trails are generally easy to follow and excellent GPS programs help to guide your way. You’re also never too far from help if you take the necessary precaution of carrying a satellite phone. The result is a deep-Africa experience that simply cannot be replicated by any other means.”
3Can you describe a typical day on a Botswana budget safari?
“A typical day on a budget safari involves a mix of helping out around camp and being out on the trails looking for wildlife. On a budget safari, you’re usually expected to help pack up the campsite in the morning and generally help to keep the camp clean. If you’re moving on to a new campsite, this may mean packing up the tents, as well as helping with the breakfast and washing up. If you’re remaining at the same campsite for a number of days, breakfast and daily cleaning-up duties may happen after you return from an early morning game drive. If you are expected to help with camp chores, you will assist in setting up camp upon arrival at each new campsite. This may include everything from putting up tents to preparing meals. Typically, lunch on a budget safari is a simple affair, a light meal or picnic taken in the shade. Activities during the heat of the day vary from one budget safari to the next. Some days you’ll rest in camp while at other times you’ll be out looking for wildlife, taking advantage of every minute out on safari. Sometimes you’ll be traveling from one campsite to the next, usually with some wildlife viewing en route. Dinner is usually the main meal of the day, followed by stories and (perhaps) singing around the campfire until everyone drifts off to bed.”
4What type of accommodation can I expect?
“There are a few budget lodges and permanent tented camps scattered throughout the country’s north. Most often your accommodation will consist of a simple canvas tent with bedding usually provided. Some of these are simple dome tents that you take with you from one site to another. Other tents have a semi-permanent location on elevated wooden platforms that serve as bases for exploring the surrounding area for a few days. Larger, and generally more expensive, are the safari tents that, as a minimum, consist of canvas floors, beds and either en suite toilets or a nearby shared ablutions tent or block with showers. The fancier of these tents might include a desk, wooden chest and shaded deck at the front, but most of these are associated with an increase in price.”
5How much will this safari cost?
“Per-person per-day prices for a cheap Botswana safari start at around US$165. This is based on a twin-share safari package. Individual or solo travelers can expect their costs to start at around US$220 to US$275, once the single supplement is added. Prices are, of course, highly variable, with rates depending on, for example, the number of people in a traveling party, the type of accommodation and the season. Transport can be another varying factor. The isolation of many Delta camps means that if you have to fly into your location in the Delta, costs rise significantly. Always ask if any flights are included in the cost.”
6Botswana Reviews
Harriet is a zoologist with more than 20 years’ experience. She has the privilege of working with the world’s top wildlife photographers and photo-guides.
Africa at its most wild
If I had 48 hours left on this planet, I would spend it on safari in Botswana. Botswana is my favourite African country. It still feels so wild, there is abundant wildlife, a huge variety of scenery and habitat…and only 2.4 million, very...
Mark is a travel writer who grew up in Africa and has written over 700 titles for Condé Nast Traveller, Travel Africa, BBC Wildlife and others.
Desert and Delta diversity...and leopards galore!
If – as many will feel – leopard sightings are your last great Big 5 aim, then Botswana is leopard country par excellence! I have made 5 visits to Botswana and, by some bizarre coincidence, have seen 6 leopards every time I have been...
Exceptional experience! Incredible guide and tour
We loved our trip to Chobe! Everything was seamless from the booking process, to the pickup and drop off. Our guide Opi was incredible, he has been working in Chobe for 18 years and his knowledge was phenomenal. We had incredible sightings,...
Vast wilderness and wildlife
I went on a mobile safari to Savuti and Khwai (which I especially loved because of the scenery next to the river) and one day in Moremi. I was a solo female traveler and felt well protected and looked after by the crew of my tour...
An upclose look at awesome wildlife and scenery
We loved our 3 day safari to Chobe. Our guide, Max was so informative and made so much effort to give us the best possible experience. We saw lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos, water buffalo and we were fortunate enough to even see a...
A Land That Takes You Back in Time
Botswana is a landlocked country in southern Africa yet offers an array of opportunities to see wildlife in their natural habitat. It is mostly flat, with scruffy brush and occasional trees that often times have that windblown appearance. ...