Botswana was made for flying. Its finest camps sit deep in the Okavango Delta and the far northern reserves, places with no roads worth the name, so you reach them by light aircraft from Maun or Kasane. A fly-in safari strings a handful of these camps together, and the flights themselves become part of the trip, with the Delta's channels and islands spread out below you.
The best of Botswana is beyond the roads. Flying opens up small camps in private concessions with hardly another vehicle in sight.
Hops of 20 to 45 minutes replace long, dusty drives, so you are on a game drive or the water within an hour of leaving one camp for the next.
Elephants crossing a floodplain, the glitter of the Delta, the sudden white of the salt pans. The flights are a highlight in their own right.
Because everything connects through Maun and Kasane, it is simple to mix water camps, dry-land game and Victoria Falls in one trip.
Five starting points, each one tailor-made around you. Every camp, every night and every flight can change.
The best of Botswana's water and wild, in lovely remote camps.
Game viewing every way, in the finest camps, ending at the Falls.
Three iconic places, joined into one unforgettable journey.
A wonderful first taste, taking in the Delta, Moremi and Chobe.
A shorter trip that still gets you deep into the wilderness.
Fly-in is the most comfortable way to see Botswana and it opens up the very best wildlife areas, but it is also the most expensive, and the luggage limit is real: soft bags only, usually 20kg including hand luggage. If your budget is tighter, or you love the idea of a proper overland adventure, have a look at our mobile safaris, which cover wonderful ground for a fraction of the price. Many travellers mix the two, a few nights under canvas then a fly-in finale.
Not sure? That is what we are for. Tell us what matters most to you and we will give you an honest steer, starting with our guide to what a Botswana safari costs.
One more idea, from the water. When the flood is high, some neighbouring Delta camps can be linked by boat instead of by air, and it is worth asking about. One of the Tribes team once travelled more than three hours by open motorboat from a camp in the private Delta through to Moremi, threading narrow papyrus channels that opened into lagoons, past waterlilies and huge waterberry trees, African jacanas and crocodiles. From a light aircraft the Delta is a stunning patchwork of greens, blues and sand; from the water, she says, is the only time she truly grasped how big and how alive it is. These transfers depend entirely on water levels and which camps you are linking, so tell us if the idea appeals and we will plan for it where the water allows.
One specialist, start to finish, and a trip strung together camp by camp around you.
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