9-Nights Family Botswana Safari

9 nights from: Please call for rates

From Desert to Delta, an Exhilarating Adventure to Thrill Safari-Goers of All Ages

For families, there’s no topping the adventure of an African safari—and in Africa, it’s tough to top Botswana. Big game is abundant, and we get amazingly close to elephants, lions and much more from authentic tented safari camps deep in the bush and far from crowds. In a world of vanishing natural treasures, the chance for a family to experience Africa's wonders together is an unsurpassed gift. As you watch a cheetah sprint across the savanna or study the green glow of a hyena’s eyes at night, "wild life" takes on a whole new meaning! Our family-focused itinerary is designed for all generations, to maximize diversity of locations and experiences, and to keep young minds captivated. From the vast expanse of the Kalahari Desert with its sprawling salt pans to the emerald marshes of the Okavango Delta and the thunder of Victoria Falls, our Botswana family safari unveils new thrills day by day.

The barren landscape of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in Botswana attracts adventurous nature lovers. The salt pans, about 310 mi/500 km north of Gaborone, are among the largest in the world, covering 2,500 sq mi/6,500 sq km between Francistown and the Okavango Delta. Free Makgadikgadi Pans Travel
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Bird-watchers interested in unusual habitats are the best candidates for a trip to Makgadikgadi. Game lovers might see zebra, springbok, gemsbok and other animals (primarily in February and March), but there are much better places in Botswana to watch animals. And, in reality, most of the birds seen there are the same species that can be viewed more conveniently in the Okavango Delta (though the flocks of flamingos and pelicans tend to be larger on the pans).

The main attraction of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans is the atmosphere: The bleached landscape, the dead-flat terrain, the few bloated baobab trees and the multitude of mirages provide a kind of otherworldly experience. Quad biking (using four-wheel-drive all-terrain vehicles) across the cracked and dried pans is a popular adventure activity, and most guides can arrange it.

Kubu Island is especially eerie, as the vistas of salt flats extend to the horizon. Large baobab trees dot the island, which at the north end looks much like a ship's prow. A circular stone wall and about 70 small stone cairns can be seen at the south end of the island. Some archaeologists believe this enclosure was used as an initiation site by 14th-century Zimbabwe peoples.

If you visit Kubu Island, which can only be reached by four-wheel-drive vehicles, be very careful of the salt. When wet, it is so soft that it can literally swallow a vehicle down to the wheel wells in a few seconds.

Several typical Zimbabwe ruins are situated around the east and southern edges of the salt pan. Consumption of the salt on the pan is not advisable because it can cause diarrhea.

Joining a professional mobile safari is the safest way to explore the pans, and there are plenty of camp sites.