3 Weeks in Botswana vs South Africa: A Self Drive Safari Itinerary.

How to Best Spend 3 Weeks in Botswana & South Africa: A Self Drive Safari Itinerary. Continue your journey via Botswana from Johannesburg. If you want to observe rhinos in their natural habitat in Botswana, you should go to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. Travel north into Botswana to the renowned Okavango Delta after immersing yourself in the enchantment of the Kalahari. Traveling through Moremi and Chobe will allow you to see some of Botswana’s breathtaking wildlife. The next stop is Victoria Falls, which can be reached on a day excursion from Kasane. Returning to Johannesburg from there, you can visit the Makgadikgadi Pans (during the dry season only) on the way.

Tour Summary

Duration: 19 Days
Departs from: Johannesburg
Ends in: Johannesburg
Destinations: Botswana, South Africa
Travel Style: Camping
Activities: Okavango Mokoro Trip, Victoria Falls Day Trip, Chobe River Cruise
Highlights: Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Central Kalahari, Okavango Delta, Moremi, Chobe, Chobe Riverfront, Victoria Falls, Makgadikgadi Pans

Detailed Day by Day 3 Weeks Botswana vs South Africa Self-Drive Itinerary

Day 1:

Gather your camping gear and vehicle in Johannesburg, then head north for 2.5 hours to Matamba Bush Campsite in the Waterberg area. You’ll be well-positioned to enter Botswana the next day.

Destination: The Waterberg Biosphere
Accommodation: Matamba Bush Campsite
Type: Campsite

Day 2:

Go all the way into Botswana and stop at the community-run Khama Rhino Sanctuary, an initiative to release rhinos back into the wild. Located around a pan, KRS is a tiny game reserve. Many tourists rank the Khama Rhino Sanctuary among their favorite stops because of the excellent game viewing opportunities available here. In a picturesque setting, the campsites are arranged around Manketti trees.

Destination: Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Accommodation: Khama Rhino Sanctuary Campsite
Type: Campsite

Day 3 – 4

Among the world’s largest game reserves, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve spans over 53,000 km2. A genuine wilderness encounter, the sensation of openness and freedom is enchanted. Kori campground in the Deception Valley is a great place to spend two nights camping in the reserve.

Destination: Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Accommodation: Kori Campsites
Type: Campsite

Day 5

Proceed on the road to Khumaga, which is situated along the Boteti River in the western part of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. You may go on wildlife drives right along the riverbank from the campsite on the Boteti River, which overlooks the water.

Destination: Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
Accommodation: Boteti River Camp

Day 6

Get ready for your journey to Moremi and Chobe by driving to Maun and stocking up on supplies. Crocodile Camp, located on the outskirts of Maun beside the Thamalakane River, is the perfect place to spend the next night.

Destination: Maun
Accommodation: Crocodile Camp
Type: Lodge
Type: Lodge

Day 7

A guided half-day mokoro (dug-out canoe) excursion into the Delta awaits you today. While you float leisurely over the streams and channels, your guide will point out the local flora and wildlife. You will return in the late afternoon after leaving your vehicle at the lodge, and the excursion includes a packed lunch.

Destination: Maun
Accommodation: Crocodile Camp
Type: Lodge
Activities: Okavango Mokoro Trip

Day 8 – 9

Drive to Moremi Game Reserve – on the edge of the Okavango Delta. Moremi sits on the edge of the Okavango Delta and is one of the most beautiful wildlife sites in Africa. Spend two nights camping at Khwai campground.

Destination: Moremi Game Reserve
Accommodation: Khwai Campsite
Type: Campsite

Day 8 – 9

Head to Moremi Game Reserve, on the Okavango Delta’s edge. One of the most amazing places in Africa, Moremi is on the edge of the Okavango Delta. Two nights camping at Khwai Campground.

Destination: Moremi Game Reserve
Accommodation: Khwai Campsite
Type: Campsite

Day 10 – 11

Spend the following two nights at the well-known Savuti campground after traversing the Chobe National Park. Savuti is well-known for its lions, hyenas, and elephants—all of which frequent the campground area.

Destination: Savuti – Chobe National Park
Accommodation: Savuti Campsite
Type: Campsite

Day 12

Spend the next night camping at Muchenje campsite from where you will tour the western riverfront of the park. Muchenje sits on the Chobe Enclave’s hilltop view of the floodplain.

Destination: Chobe River Front
Accommodation: Muchenje Campsite and Cottages
Type: Self-catering

Day 13

Stop at The Old House in Kasane for the night as you drive along the riverbank. Afternoons will be spent cruising the Chobe River as the sun sets. Seeing majestic creatures like elephants foraging on grassy islands across the river is an unforgettable experience that many tourists have while visiting Botswana.

Destination: Chobe River Front
Accommodation: The Old House
Type: Lodge
Activities: Chobe River Cruise

Day 14

You will leave your car at the lodge and go on a day trip to the Victoria Falls today.

Destination: Chobe River Front
Accommodation: The Old House
Type: Lodge
Activities: Victoria Falls Day Trip

Day 15

From Kasane, head south to Planet Baobab, a traditional grass-hut town sheltered by enormous, night-lit baobab trees. Spend the night here.

Destination: Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
Accommodation: Planet Baobab
Type: Lodge

Day 16

After dropping off your car at Planet Baobab, you will take a guided overnight trip to Ntwetwe Pan, where you will see meerkats along the way and get a chance to get up close and personal with these amazing animals. You will then board quad bikes at the pan’s edge and drive out to camp on the pan itself, where you will have a barbecue dinner as the sun sets and then curl up in your bedrolls under the Makgadikgadi night sky. The next morning, after breakfast, you will return to Planet Baobab.

Destination: Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
Accommodation: Planet Baobab Ntwetwe Pan Overnight
Type: Mobile Safari

Day 17

Proceed south to Francistown and camp overnight at the Woodlands stop-over, which is located just outside of town. There is a swimming pool and a barbeque area at the private property where the accommodations are located beside the dry Tati River. The viewing platform beside the river on the river’s edge offers a wide diversity of bushveld bird species.

Destination:
Accommodation: Woodlands Stop-over
Type: Campsite, Self-catering

Day 18

Return to South Africa and spend your last night at the Waterberg Biosphere’s Zebras Crossing Lodge. Full board accommodations are included, along with local beverages and one activity.

Destination: The Waterberg Biosphere
Accommodation: Zebras Crossing
Type: Lodge

End of the 3 Weeks Botswana vs South Africa Self Drive Itinerary 

Included

  • 19 days 4×4 vehicle and equipment hire incl one way fees (vehicle with R20,000 insurance excess)
  • GPS with Tracks4Africa
  • All accommodation and meals where stated
  • Airport transfers
  • Okavango Mokoro Excursion
  • Chobe River Cruise
  • Victoria Falls Day Trip
  • Ntwetwe Pan Overnight with Quads
  • 1x Guided activity at Zebras Crossing
  • Trip handbook, directions & maps

Excluded

  • International flights; Personal insurance; Visa / border fees; National park / Reserve entrance fees