From Savannah to Waterways: A Botswana Safari Story

Botswana offers some of the most remote and authentic safari experiences in Africa, making it an ideal safari destination. Visitor numbers are deliberately kept low, ensuring you won’t find crowds of vehicles around wildlife sightings. I was fortunate enough to explore this incredible country on a luxury safari with cazenove+loyd on my very first visit to this remarkable continent. 

We flew across the African skies and finally arrived in Cape Town, where we were met by the incredible sight of Table Mountain. It was the perfect beginning to what would become the adventure of a lifetime. 

After a night at the Mount Nelson, South Africa’s most storied pink hotel, we flew to Maun to catch our flight into the wild. 

Destination: Savuti

We headed to Savuti, one of Botswana’s most untamed wilderness areas in a remote corner of Chobe National Park, leaving behind the buzz of city life. Soon, the buildings disappeared, roads gave way to endless stretches of savannah and suddenly there was nothing but glorious nature in every direction. 

From above, we began to spot silhouettes moving across the plains – elephants trudging through the bush and a giraffe with its head nestled high among the treetops. We were here to witness these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. We were the visitors; they were the hosts. 

Our stay: Savute Elephant Lodge 

The welcome at Savute Elephant Lodge was a perfect introduction to the richness of African culture. You couldn’t help but move with the music, beautifully performed by the Tswana people. The lodge itself offered not only luxury but also front-row seats to some of the most extraordinary wildlife. 

Our guide’s deep knowledge and genuine passion brought the landscape to life. He led us to some of the most elusive animals, often with no other vehicle in sight. He shared extraordinary stories of ancient baobab trees and centuries-old rock paintings. 

Each game drive felt like a story unfolding in real time: tracking a leopard and its cub in a tree, feasting on a freshly caught prey; witnessing a lion pride during a dramatic encounter; stumbling upon patterned backs of African wild dogs, one of the best hunters in the wild, as they relentlessly ran down their prey.  

And then came the sunsets – dramatic skies painted in hues of burnt orange and soft rose, enjoyed with a perfectly chilled gin and tonic in hand. 

Next destination: Okavango Delta 

After a short, 40-minute flight, we arrived in the Okavango Delta, one of the most unique ecosystems on Earth. It is also home to one of the most luxury camps in Africa.  

The contrast with Savuti was clear from the very first glance. While Savuti was dramatic and action-packed, the Delta had an otherworldly serenity. Imagine gliding in a mokoro, spotting a rich tapestry of Botswana’s native flora, with elephants wading nearby and fish eagles soaring overhead.   

Our stay: Eagle Island Lodge 

Just two minutes from the airstrip, Eagle Island Lodge became our home for the next two days. From our tented suite, we could watch impala grazing curiously by the water’s edge, while other animals gathered nearby, with no fence separating us from nature. 

From helicopter safaris soaring above the Delta to mokoro expeditions along lily-dotted channels and unforgettable wildlife encounters on land, this was a safari straight out of a storybook. 

And then came our final night. We arrived at a candlelit dinner set right on the airstrip. Beneath a breathtaking canopy of stars, with the haunting calls of hyenas echoing in the distance, we dined on traditional Setswana cuisine. It felt like the perfect goodbye. 

After four extraordinary days, we flew back to Cape Town for a few final moments of adventure before heading home, my heart full and mind buzzing with safari stories I couldn’t wait to share. 

Explore Botswana with cazenove+loyd

Discovering that kind of raw, real moment is exactly what our Discovering the Okavango Delta sample itinerary is all about. The trip begins in the Delta, where you’ll explore by mokoro, open-top safari vehicle and helicopter. You’ll stay in luxurious yet authentic small camps with private guides who tailor every experience just to you. At night, you’ll sleep out under the stars, surrounded by the sights, sounds and smells of Africa. Whether you decide to extend your trip to explore more of Botswana or combine it with Namibia or South Africa, this journey will give you a deep connection to, and love for, the Delta. 

cazenove+loyd was founded in Botswana more than 30 years ago. Our knowledge, expertise and deep passion for Africa and safari inspire us to create truly unforgettable experiences, ones that go far beyond wildlife viewing, with conservation at their heart.