Botswana is a renowned wildlife destination. The country is best known for its vast green spaces, epic untouched landscapes and incredible diversity of iconic wildlife, from lion to leopard, buffalo to wild dog. Its warm hospitality and beyond-luxury accommodation also make Botswana a dream travel destination for many.

The Okavango Delta is perhaps Botswana’s most well-known destination. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a feat of nature entirely dependent on the annual floodwaters gushing down from the Angolan highlands to create a lush oasis in the desert that lures an astonishing abundance of wildlife.

Botswana is also recognized for its economic growth and prudent management of natural resources, particularly the diamond industry. It is a safe, welcoming and exceptional safari destination.

Home to one of the world’s last truly wild landscapes, Botswana is an excellent choice for a luxury safari experience. A combination of breathtaking landscapes, abundant wildlife and unmatched, ultra-luxe accommodation, the country ensures an exclusive and inimitably luxurious safari experience for those wanting to immerse in the wilderness. There are also endless opportunities for adventure by land, water and air.

The Okavango Delta is widely regarded as one of the best regions on the planet for a safari. An extensive, richly biodiverse, alluvial plain, it is a true miracle of nature that draws visitors from around the globe for its diverse and abundant flora and fauna. Here, amid the unparalleled wildlife viewing, you will find unmatched luxury experiences coupled with excursions and guided safari adventures aboard game vehicles, helicopters, mokoros and even horseback. There is nowhere in Africa quite like it.

When packing for a safari in Botswana, we suggest the following items. Your specialist will also collate a packing guide entirely personalized to your safari experience so this is a tentative guide to point you in the right direction:

Lightweight, neutral clothing: shirts (long and short sleeves), pants (long and short) and extra layers for cool weather

• Comfortable hiking or walking shoes and lighter sandals for warm afternoons relaxing at your lodge
• Rain jacket and lightweight rain gear, depending on the season
• Sun protection: sun screen, sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat
• Swimsuit
• Bug spray
• Camera and binoculars (though bear in mind, many ultra-luxe lodges supply these for you to use)
• Travel adapters for charging
• First aid kit
• Small backpack
• Water bottle

Botswana’s dry season spans from April to October, and the wet season from November to March. Conditions and excursions on safari may differ during these times and thus, so will your packing. Every safari is different and entirely personalized to you, so plan accordingly and follow the advice of your safari specialist.

Apart from the exceptional safari experiences on offer, there’s so much to do in Botswana. The country is an incredibly safe, conservation success story with something for everyone beyond the traditional safari experience.

Many people enjoying connecting with communities and cultures in the local villages for a deeper insight into Botswana’s people. You can also float along the winding waterways of the Okavango Delta in a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe), gallop across the savannah on horseback riding excursions and enjoy extraordinary birdwatching, especially during the wet season when the landscape is transformed in an emerald green blanket and the migrant species arrive. You may also enjoy visiting conservation projects or taking a luxury boat trip to see the wildlife from a different perspective.

Botswana offers ultra-luxe accommodation options in secluded luxury lodges like Mombo Camp and Xigera, peaceful sanctuaries that are replete with incredible African art, fabulous dining and exquisite wellness experiences. We personally vet all our properties and can vouch for their outstanding services and amenities.

When it comes to food, enjoy gourmet and luxury dining experiences in the heart of the bush, surrounded by the sounds of the wildlife, or sleep out under the stars in architectural marvels like Xigera’s Baobab Treehouse.