Botswana's salt pans safari

11 days
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4.8/5 Excellent
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Private Guided
Walk with the bushmen in the Makgadikgadi Pans and learn about their traditional way of life. Experience the dramatic skies and incredible sunsets of the Kalahari desert. See the desert regions of Botswana come to life as the rain falls and deserts bloom. Enjoy Botswana's spectacular wildlife.
From$8,188
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Overview

Trip type
Private Guided
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

What's this trip about?

    Walk with the bushmen in the Makgadikgadi Pans and learn about their traditional way of life. Experience the dramatic skies and incredible sunsets of the Kalahari desert. See the desert regions of Botswana come to life as the rain falls and deserts bloom. Enjoy Botswana's spectacular wildlife.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityOperator does not provide
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Safari
  • National Parks

Destinations

Activities

  • Game Drive
  • Nature
  • Safari
  • Wildlife Viewing

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Itinerary

Day 1 : International outbound flight

Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Maun.

Day 2 : Makgadikgadi Pans

On arrival in Maun you will be met and assisted to your light aircraft which will fly you across Botswana towards the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. Here you will be met by your guide who will drive you to your camp in an open 4x4.

Day 3 : Makgadikgadi Pans

From the camp there are a number of activities with the main one being a guided safari drive into the national park. This is normally done as a full day excursion, stopping for a picnic lunch in the bush, allowing you to see and explore more of the park.

Day 4 : Makgadikgadi Pans

A second day of activities from the camp, which also offers boat safaris, a floating viewing hide on the river, bushman walks and a village visit.The camp is also a great place to relax with a pool overlooking the Boteti River.

Day 5 : Makgadikgadi Pans

Today you are transferred into the heart of the Makgadikgadi pans. Here you can further explore and learn about the giant and vast salt pans with your guide, enjoying a stunning sunset and looking for desert adapted wildlife such as aardvarks and the elusive brown hyena.

Day 6 : Makgadikgadi Pans

This morning you will drive to see meerkats that live by the salt pans and can then, in the afternoon, head out on quad bikes across the pans, gaining a true sense of how vast and remote they are. It is also possible to walk with local San bushmen and learn about their fascinating way of life and to visit giant baobab trees.

Day 7 : Nxai Pan National Park

Today you will take a light aircraft flight to the Nxai Pan National Park. You should arrive in time for a game drive. This little-known park centres on a grass-covered fossil lake bed which attracts grazing animals in the green season and then elephants and buffalo, in search of water, in the dry season. Throughout predators luck, particularly lion and cheetah.

Day 8 : Nxai Pan National Park

You will explore the Nxai Pan National Park on safari and there is the option for a day trip to visit Baines' Baobabs: the historical pan and trees made famous by painter Thomas Baines.

Day 9 : Nxai Pan National Park

A second day for activities from the camp and in addition to guided morning and afternoon safaris one of the trackers can provide a San bushman walk showing you how the San have lived and survived in the Kalahari.

Day 10 : International return flight

You will fly today from Nxai Pan to the Central Kalahari where you will spend three nights at Tau Pan Camp.

Day 11 : International return flight

Arrive home today to complete your journey.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $8,188
Price per day$744
Last Updated: 10/27/2023

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Audley Travel.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

Accommodation

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Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
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Trip ID
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