Itinerary Okavango Delta, Chobe & Makgadikgadi

Seasonality: July is the dry winter season in Botswana—optimum for wildlife viewing. Cooler temperatures and receding floodwaters in the Okavango Delta mean better visibility of animals and comfortable safari conditions.

💰 Budget overview

Category	Amount
✈️ Transport	3500 USD
🏨 Accommodations	3400 USD
🧳 Gear	400 USD
🗺️ On-site	700 USD
Total	8000 USD

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🗺️ Activities & landmarks

🇧🇼 Maun & Okavango Delta - 4 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🛕 Okavango Delta Scenic Flight ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Aerial view of the Delta's mosaic islands and wildlife—book early; take morning flight for best light.

• [ ] 🌳 Mokoro Canoe Safari ⭐⭐⭐ (~4h)

  • Glide silently through water lilies and reeds in a dugout canoe—spot hippos, elephants, birds.

• [ ] 🏙️ Chief’s Island Game Drive ⭐⭐⭐ (~5h)

  • Iconic safari zone, high probability of seeing lions, leopards, and buffalo.

• [ ] 🌳 Xaxaba Walking Safari ⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • Guided exploration on foot—learning tracks and fauna.

• [ ] 🏛️ Nhabe Museum (Maun) ⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Insight into local culture and Delta history—good start to trip.

• [ ] 🏞️ Horseback Safari ⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • Unique vantage for wildlife in the floodplain—advanced riders preferred.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🍸 Delta Sundowner Cruise ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Watch sunset with drinks in hand—hippos and crocs visible from the boat.

• [ ] 🍛 Traditional Dinner at Lodge Boma ⭐ (~2h)

  • Dine outdoors under stars—try local specialties.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 Maun Street Food Market ⭐⭐
  • Tasty vetkoek, grilled meats, and local sweets. ~10–15 USD.

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🏙️ Maun Craft Centre (~1h)
  • Shop for baskets, beadwork—good for souvenirs.

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🇧🇼 Moremi Game Reserve - 2 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🦁 Moremi Game Drive ⭐⭐⭐ (~5h)

  • Premier safari with possible sightings of Big Five; best at dawn.

• [ ] 🌳 Dead Tree Island ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Dramatic landscape, excellent for photographers.

• [ ] 🏞️ Birding Excursion ⭐ (~2h)

  • Seek rare kingfishers, bee-eaters, and fish eagles.

• [ ] 🎨 Bushman Painting Sites ⭐ (~1.5h)

  • View San rock art with a guide—unique cultural stop.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🌠 Night Safari Drive ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Nocturnal wildlife—look for leopards and owls.

• [ ] 🍸 Star Gazing at Camp ⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Brilliant Southern Hemisphere sky, guided astronomy.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 Lodge Gourmet Picnic ⭐⭐
  • Bush picnic lunch—fresh, locally inspired cuisine. ~25–30 USD.

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🏙️ Waterhole Hide (~2h)
  • Quiet observation post—great for photography.

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🇧🇼 Chobe National Park - 2 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🐘 Chobe River Boat Safari ⭐⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • Paddle along elephant herds and birdlife—classic boat safari.

• [ ] 🦏 Kasane Game Drive ⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • Explore northern Chobe—good for buffalo and antelope.

• [ ] 🏞️ Sedudu Island Excursion ⭐ (~2h)

  • Guided walk on this biodiverse island.

• [ ] 🏙️ Kasane Town Walk ⭐ (~1h)

  • Local life, crafts, visit the Baobab tree.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🍸 Chobe Safari Lodge Bar ⭐⭐ (~2h)
  • Riverfront views for sunset drinks.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 Chobe Mowana Terrace Restaurant ⭐⭐
  • Pan-African cuisine, river views. ~20–40 USD.

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🏙️ Chobe Crocodile Farm Visit (~1h)
  • For reptile enthusiasts.

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🇧🇼 Makgadikgadi Salt Pans - 2 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🌍 Ntwetwe & Sowa Salt Pan Drive ⭐⭐⭐ (~4h)

  • Stand in endless white—stark, beautiful scenery; quad bike rides available.

• [ ] 🦓 Meerkat Experience ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Observe wild, habituated meerkats at sunrise.

• [ ] 🏞️ Baobab Tree Walk ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Learn about ancient trees and traditions.

• [ ] 🎨 Baines’ Baobabs ⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Stunning painterly landmark, made famous by Victorian explorer.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🌠 Sleepout on the Pans ⭐⭐⭐ (~overnight)

  • Luxe camp under the stars—once-in-a-lifetime stargazing.

• [ ] 🍸 Lodge Lounge ⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Sip a cocktail beside the firepit.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 Planet Baobab Camp Dinners ⭐⭐
  • Creative pan-African meals, open-air. ~25 USD.

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🏙️ Gweta Flamingo Pools (~1.5h)
  • Seasonal, massive flamingo gatherings.

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🎬 Films & series to watch

🇧🇼 Maun & Okavango Delta

• [ ] 🎬 The Flood (2020) — ⭐ 8.2 — BBC wildlife documentary on Okavango’s annual flood and creatures — BBC iPlayer
• [ ] 🎬 Into the Okavango (2018) — ⭐ 7.6 — Adventure doc following explorers mapping the delta — Disney+
• [ ] 📺 Savage Kingdom (2016) — ⭐ 8.3 — Lions and leopards of Botswana’s wild — NatGeo

🇧🇼 Moremi Game Reserve

• [ ] 🎬 The River and the Wall (2019) — ⭐ 7.3 — Conservation and wildlife in untamed ecosystems — Prime Video

🇧🇼 Chobe National Park

• [ ] 🎬 Africa: Eye to Eye with the Unknown (2013) — ⭐ 8.9 — David Attenborough explores Africa’s rivers and elephants — BBC iPlayer
• [ ] 📺 Chobe: Sacred Waters (2016) — ⭐ 7.4 — Wildlife documentary on Chobe elephants — NatGeo

🇧🇼 Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

• [ ] 🎬 The Meerkats (2008) — ⭐ 7.4 — Dramatic meerkat family doc set on the pans — Prime Video

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🍜 Local specialties

🇧🇼 Maun & Okavango Delta

• [ ] Seswaa (slow-cooked beef)
• [ ] Vetkoek (fried bread)
• [ ] Morogo (wild spinach)

🇧🇼 Moremi Game Reserve

• [ ] Game meat stew
• [ ] Pap (maize porridge)
• [ ] Kalahari truffles

🇧🇼 Chobe National Park

• [ ] Pan-fried bream (river fish)
• [ ] Goat stew
• [ ] Tswana chicken

🇧🇼 Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

• [ ] Mopane worms (crunchy snack)
• [ ] Baobab fruit drink
• [ ] Maize “phaphatha” bread

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📍 Maps - places to pin

🇧🇼 Maun & Okavango Delta

1. 🌤️ Okavango Delta Scenic Flight Terminal (Maun Airport)
2. 🌙 Chief’s Island Main Camp (for guided game drives)
3. 🛍️ Maun Craft Centre
4. 🏨 Belmond Eagle Island Lodge / Sanctuary Chief’s Camp
5. 🍽️ Maun Street Food Market

🇧🇼 Moremi Game Reserve

1. 🌤️ Moremi Game Reserve South Gate
2. 🌙 Camp Xakanaxa
3. 🛍️ Bushman Painting viewpoint
4. 🏨 Camp Moremi
5. 🍽️ Lodge Gourmet Picnic Spot

🇧🇼 Chobe National Park

1. 🌤️ Chobe River Jetty (Kasane)
2. 🌙 Chobe Safari Lodge Bar
3. 🛍️ Kasane Baobab Tree
4. 🏨 Chobe Game Lodge
5. 🍽️ Chobe Mowana Terrace Restaurant

🇧🇼 Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

1. 🌤️ Ntwetwe Salt Pan Viewpoint
2. 🌙 Sleepout Under the Stars (luxury camp site)
3. 🛍️ Gweta Craft Shops
4. 🏨 Planet Baobab
5. 🍽️ Planet Baobab Camp

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✈️ Transport to book

• [ ] ✈️ London → Maun (via Johannesburg or Addis Ababa)
• [ ] 🚐 Maun → Okavango Delta lodges (road/air transfer)
• [ ] 🚐 Okavango Delta → Moremi Game Reserve (road/air transfer)
• [ ] 🚐 Moremi Game Reserve → Chobe National Park, Kasane (road/air transfer)
• [ ] 🚐 Kasane → Makgadikgadi Salt Pans (road transfer)
• [ ] ✈️ Maun → London (via Johannesburg or Addis Ababa)

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🏨 Accommodations

City/Region	Nights	Accommodation	Price
Maun & Okavango Delta	4	Belmond Eagle Island Lodge / Sanctuary Chief’s Camp	2000 USD
Moremi Game Reserve	2	Camp Moremi / Okuti	1000 USD
Chobe National Park	2	Chobe Game Lodge / Ngoma Safari Lodge	800 USD
Makgadikgadi Pans	2	Planet Baobab / Jack’s Camp	600 USD
Total	10		3400 USD

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Enjoy your luxury Botswanan adventure—prime wildlife, delta wilderness, and starlit salt pans await!