Desert & Delta Safaris has curated an experiential calendar, showcasing the best of Botswana for each month, from the blossoming Green Season in January to the best time for multigenerational family travel in December.
According to Out There, the top types of travellers that guests identify as are “adventurist,” “culturalist” and “escapist”—with 83% planning a long-haul getaway in 2023. Desert & Delta Safaris’ nine camps offer a comprehensive circuit covering Botswana, with every month showcasing a particular highlight of each property. One can explore, discover and immerse oneself in the beauty of Botswana in 2023/2024.
March 2023 – Nxamaseri Island Lodge
One of the oldest camps in the Okavango Delta, Nxamaseri Island Lodge is a prime location for fishing between March and December. March marks the arrival of the floods bringing with it a plethora of fish. When guests aren’t experiencing freshwater fishing, they can visit the spiritual Tsodilo Hills.
Sacred to the San people of Northern Botswana, the hills have over 4,500 cave paintings in 400 different sites dating back to over 25,000 years ago. After discovering the UNESCO World Heritage Site, guests can relax in one of the eight chalets at the secluded lodge beneath the shade of Jackalberry trees and wild date palms.
April 2023 – Camp Moremi and Camp Xakanaxa
April is the perfect time for guests to experience a classic safari. Camp Moremi offers 12 thatched safari tents, a library, a swimming pool and game drives through different ecosystems. The professional guides introduce guests to leopards, herds of elephants, pride of lions, impala, kudu, waterbuck and perhaps the rare Pel’s Fishing Owl. Accommodating 24 guests, Camp Xakanaxa has 12 Meru-style luxury safari tents, elevated communal lounge areas and a fire-deck with views across the Khwai River. At the point at which riverine forests, open savannah, serpentine channels and seasonal floodplains meet, guests can see elephants, buffalos, hyenas, giraffes, hippos, lions, leopards, wildebeest and more.
May 2023 – Camp Okavango and Xugana Island Lodge
As floods arrive in May in the rest of the Okavango Delta, why not choose a water-based safari? Camp Okavango’s guests can meander the reed-lined waterways spotting hippos, crocodiles, fish and birds. Following channel exploration, guests can retreat to one of the 12 safari suites or enjoy a night on the elevated sleep-out deck for a night beneath the stars in a comfortable bed. Xugana Island Lodge offers a true Okavango Delta water safari. Accommodating 16 guests in thatched lagoon-facing chalets, guests at Xugana Island Lodge can explore the crystal-clear waterways of the Xugana Lagoon and spot birds, plants and reptiles before relaxing beneath the Ebony and African Mangosteen tree canopies.
June 2023 – Chobe Game Lodge, Chobe Savanna Lodge, and Camp Moremi
Botswana in June means perfect weather and the start of the peak game viewing season. Desert & Delta Safaris can create a bespoke circuit for each guest depending on their specific requirements. Whether a guest wishes to see the largest elephant population in the world when staying at Chobe Game Lodge, observe an African wild dogs den when visiting Camp Moremi, or watch the movements of multiple animals as they gravitate towards the river for water when experiencing Chobe Savanna Lodge, June is a perfect time.
July 2023 – Leroo La Tau
Leroo La Tau offers guests a once-in-a-lifetime sleeping experience—Makgadikgadi Salt Pans Sleep Out. Tying in with the dry season, this experience is available every year between July 15 and October 31. The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans are some of the world’s largest salt pans, with no light or noise pollution, and a place devoid of animals or insects. The dedicated staff at Leroo La Tau prepare a “bedroll,” which consists of a duvet, pillow, extra warm blankets, an open fire and a bush menu. Guests can expect a peaceful night beneath the sparkling night sky in one of Earth’s most beautiful and tranquil environments.
August 2023 – Nxamaseri Island Lodge
The UNESCO World Heritage Site Okavango Delta is one of the most famous fly-fishing locations in Botswana and Nxamaseri Island Lodge is perfectly located to experience the world-renowned Barbel Run. This annual phenomenon occurs when floodplains and smaller channels dry up, forcing smaller baitfish and insects into larger channels encouraging tiger fish to hunt in the deeper channels. Indigenous to the Okavango panhandle, tiger fish can reach a weight of 20 pounds. Fishermen and women are guaranteed an unforgettable fly-fishing experience in line with Desert & Delta Safaris’ strict catch-and-release policy to ensure fish populations remain healthy. With specialist fly-fishing guides and unmatched access to the Okavango River, Nxamaseri Island Lodge is a premier freshwater fly-fishing destination.
September 2023 – Savute Safari Lodge, Xugana Island Lodge, Camp Moremi, and Camp Xakanaxa
The beginning of summer marks the arrival of the first migratory birds from the northern hemisphere who use the Okavango Delta for breeding and feeding. One of the first visitors is Carmine Bee-eaters that travel from Central Africa to the Savuti Marsh where they ride on the backs of Kori Bustards to catch and eat kicked-up insects—a spectacle best enjoyed at Savute Safari Lodge. Xugana Island Lodge and Camp Moremi provide the perfect base to observe nesting sites for hundreds of herons in the Gadikwe Lagoon and other productive nesting sites, as well as Marabou, Yellow-billed and Saddle-billed Storks, Sacred Ibis, and numerous species of egret. Camp Xakanaxa is spectacular for birding in the spring and summer as the migrant birds are breeding.
October 2023 – Leroo La Tau
Situated on the western bank of the Boteti River, Leroo La Tau is the perfect base from which to explore the Boteti River Valley, a lifeline for wildlife due to permanent water sources in an otherwise dry and desolate Makgadikgadi Pans National Park at this time of year.
The Makgadikgadi National Park is home to the world’s second-largest zebra migration where thousands of zebra migrate in search of food and water in October.
Translated as “lion’s paw,” Leroo La Tau has 12 thatched glass-fronted suites raised on platforms overlooking the Boteti River Valley.
With a communal lounge and dining area, a relaxing bar, and a swimming pool, Leroo La Tau is the ideal place to discover the paradise of the Boteti River Valley.
November 2023 – Camp Okavango, Savute Safari Lodge
November marks the beginning of the annual rains meaning the Savute region and Okavango Delta flourish. Plant enthusiasts at Savute Safari Lodge can enjoy bright yellows, whites, and purples accompanied by the fresh smell of grass and Wild Sage. Guests staying at Camp Okavango can experience the region coming to life with color and wildlife. They can enjoy guided bush walks, boat safaris, and tranquil water safaris spotting marine life and vibrantly colourful birds by traditional mokoro (dugout canoe).
December 2023 – Chobe Savanna Lodge
Chobe Savanna Lodge marks one of the most popular seasons for travel, particularly for families looking to celebrate the festive period abroad or seeking a multi-generational trip— Chobe Savanna Lodge is the ideal solution. Overlooking the vast floodplains of the Puku Flats, Chobe Savanna Lodge offers a private and secluded safari experience for just 26 guests.
With an open-sided main building with a 270-degree view over the Chobe River, attractive gardens, a secluded swimming pool and chalets, Chobe Savanna Lodge allows families to immerse in the rich Namibian culture and encounter the remarkable wildlife in total luxury and privacy.
January 2024 – Savute Safari Lodge
In the heart of the Green Season, the Savute Marsh comes alive and Savute Safari Lodge is the ideal base for exploration. Considered a magical time in Botswana, the Green Season occurs following heavy rainfall causing a luscious green landscape and thriving animal populations. The open plains of the Savute Marsh make for easier predator sightings as prey availability increases particularly the pride of lions that dominate the region. Perhaps guests will catch a glimpse of one of Botswana’s most famed lions, Sekoti.
February 2024 – Chobe Game Lodge
The month for romance! February is usually the quietest time of the year in Botswana making it the ideal time for in-love couples seeking tranquility. Chobe Game Lodge is perfectly positioned to explore one of Africa’s top travel destinations—the Chobe National Park. Opened in 1973 as the first five-star safari lodge in Botswana and the only permanent property to be built inside the National Park, Chobe Game Lodge is perfect for romantic getaways. In 1975, Hollywood stars Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton remarried at the lodge for their second marriage—why not follow in the footsteps of one of the world’s most famous couples? With a full eco-grading by Botswana Tourism Board, each of the 44 rooms is river-facing as are the four suites for guests seeking complete privacy and exclusivity.
