safari Archives - Honest Explorer

Tanzania and Zanzibar: A 10 Day In-depth Itinerary

07/01/2021 7 Comments

Tanzania is a vast country, from the snowy peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro, to the incredible wildlife parks and turquoise waters of Zanzibar. Ten days is a reasonably short time to spend in both Tanzania and Zanzibar but if you are short on time, there is still a lot you can pack into 10 days.

Here is a 10 day itinerary for an amazing week in Tanzania and Zanzibar !

Day 1 in Tanzania

Arusha

Arusha is a fairly large town and is where most of the safari tours will depart from. There is actually quite a bit you can do here, so it is worth spending at least a day here. You can visit the Cultural Heritage Centre (which has an awesome souvenir shop) or explore the Arusha Natural History Museum.

There are many markets and souvenir shops that sell some really unique gifts, such as wooden animals masks and beautiful oil paintings. If you have more time to spend here, then head out on a coffee plantation tour or take a visit to the stunning hot springs (which aren’t actually hot!).

Accommodation:
There are a lot of places to stay in Arusha from homestays, hostels, bnb’s, and nice hotels.
If heading out on a safari and returning to Arusha, it may be worth seeing if your hotel can arrange for your luggage to be kept safe, so you only have a small bag for safari. Although I kept my big backpack, so this is still fine.

Take a look on booking.com for a whole range of options.

Day 2 in Tanzania

Maasai Tribe

Close to Mto wa Mbu village, take a visit to see one of Tanzania’s Maasai tribes, which is a 2 to 3 hour drive away. These tours can give a real insight into how the tribe lives, their culture and traditions, and their homes. The tribe is incredibly welcoming and will greet you with big smiles. You can even have a go at jumping with the ladies, whilst they sing.

The G Adventures tour I was on had created the Planeterra project, which installs cooking stoves in the villager’s huts. These can help keep out 90% of the pollution from the smoke, as well as being much safter than having an open fire. The women were very happy to show us inside their huts.

Accommodation:
Again, there are so many options here in the village of Mto wa Mbu. I stayed at the Twiga Campsite and would recommend it. They have cheaper camping, as well as actual lodges if you fancy something a bit nice. Although I would recommend camping! There is something pretty special about sleeping under the African sky. The Twiga site also has a pool to relax in at the end of the day.

holding hands with maasai women in tanzania — Finding new cultures in Tanzania.

Day 3 in Tanzania

Mto wa Mbu to Serengeti National Park

This is a long 8 hour drive, but on the way, you will still see lots of wildlife through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Along the way you will pass through a few towns and villages, be sure to stock up on food and essentials if you are camping in the Serengeti.

Your best bet is to book a tour when in Arusha (or whilst planning your trip). Whether it is a camping tour, or a luxury resort stay, they should take care of the food for you, so you only really need to buy any snacks, or toiletries etc. Tours can range from budget to luxury. My tour was one of the cheapest as I chose to camp, and I absolutely loved it!

Arriving to the entrance of the Serengeti is incredibly exciting and you will see animals almost immediately! If you choose to camp, then you will be sleeping amongst the lions, zebras and all the other wild animals, as there are no gates or barriers. This is a little scary but also pretty amazing, I mean my group even had a wild elephant take a walk through the campsite.

Accommodation:
There are many types of accommodation in the Serengeti, but you will most likely be booked on a tour in which it comes included. Whether you have a tent or a 5* resort, you will not be disappointed.

Day 4 in Tanzania

Full day safari

Wake up early for sunrise to get the most out of your day of wildlife viewing. This is such a pretty time in the Serengeti National Park and the animals will all be out, so this is a good time to spot them. I was only in about 10 minutes before we saw a big male elephant walking through the trees.

You could spot anything from lions, cheetahs, zebras, wildebeest, crocodiles, monkeys, elephants, birds, hippos, giraffes and so much more! There is even a small café right in the middle of the park, where you can grab a coffee and snack. Our group headed back to camp for lunch, before heading out again the afternoon.

Accommodation:
Same as previous night. If you are camping, then you can sit by the bonfire with a cold beer and roast marshmallows. If staying in a lodge, well…. Just enjoy whatever amazing things they have to offer there haha!

Day 5 in Tanzania

Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro

Slowly drive out of the Serengeti National Park, seeing all the animals from the previous day, and make your way to the stunning Ngorongoro Crater. If you thought you saw a lot of animals in the Serengeti, you will be amazed what you find here.

I could not believe how much wildlife there was, and all so close together too. The backdrop of the crater is absolutely stunning. Driving through, I saw herds of wildebeest and zebra, lions, elephants, a hippo, and a rhino which was in the distance.

Accommodation:
Your accommodation will be included in your tour. If on a camping tour, you may get to stay at a campsite overlooking the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. I stayed at Simba Campsite, which had beautiful views. This is also where the elephant casually walked through our tents!

wildlife Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania — A lone hippo

Day 6 in Tanzania

Back to Arusha

Your safari tour is likely to drop you back off at Arusha, where you first departed. Enjoy the drive back, taking in all the small villages and dusty roads. When back in Arusha, either relax in your accommodation or campsite, or enjoy the nightlife, ranging from bars, restaurants, clubs, a cinema, or live music venue. Just be sure to go out with a group after dark to keep safe when in Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Accommodation:
Arusha accommodation ranges from hostels to fancy hotels.

Day 7 in Tanzania

Arusha to Stone Town, Zanzibar

Get an early flight and travel to the beautiful Zanzibar. The time from Arusha to the airport is around a 1 hour drive, and then the flight to Zanzibar is approximately 1.5 hours. If you get an early flight, you will have plenty of time to explore Stone Town.

The flight to Zanzibar will likely be on a small plane and you will get some incredible views flying onto the island. The blue waters are just divine!

Stone Town is such a cool place, with a mix of different cultures and architecture. It has a sort of European feel with all the old buildings but mixed with African, Arab, and Indian cultures. Its full of life, with many markets, palaces, and museums to visit. I would recommend a visit to the slave chambers. Even though it can be upsetting it can give a real insight into life back then and allow you to understand more about the island’s history.

There are many restaurants and bars to spend the evening too. I went to one rooftop bar to watch the sun go down with a lovely cocktail in hand.

Accommodation:
There are plenty of hotels and guesthouses to stay at in Stone Town.

wooden window Stone Town Zanzibar, Tanzania — Love the carvings and that gorgeous blue colour of this window in Stone town

Day 8 in Tanzania

Stone Town to Beach Resort

This morning, you could either explore some more of Stone town, or make your way straight to the beach resort. I booked half day tour for myself, going out to Changuu Island. I would really recommend this tour; it is only 30 minutes from Stone Town by boat. The island has a hard history and was used to hold slaves back in the day. However nowadays many people visit to see the giant tortoises that live here. You can also go snorkelling off the island as part of the tour, where you can see lots of colourful little fish.

If you want to head straight to the beach, basically anywhere you go in Zanzibar is gorgeous, so not sure you can go wrong here. However, the North and West side beaches are said to be a little better. I stayed in Nungwi (North point) at cheapish hotel beach resort, with buffet breakfast included (bacon here I come).

The area is essentially a long strip of beach resorts and bars and cafes. You can venture out to the local area and villages if you want a bit more of an authentic experience, but I would either book a village tour or go with other people, as I’m not sure how safe it would be if you are alone.

Generally, the locals are friendly, but you may get hassled by the beach boys trying to sell you cheap sunglasses! Apart from that, you can basically just relax and enjoy paradise. The water is so clear and if you get up early for sunrise, you will see the calm waters sparking. You may even see the local women going out in the ocean to fish.

If you are after a little more action, then there are a few water sports to enjoy, as well as paddle boarding, snorkelling, and sunset boat tours.

Accommodation:
There are so many fabulous places to stay in Zanzibar, ranging from low budget backpackers to luxury resorts.

Nungwi beach — Sunrise is worth getting up for

Day 9 in Tanzania

Beach Resort

Explore more of the beautiful resort, sip cocktails on the beach, have a game of beach volleyball with the locals, read a good book, go for an ocean swim, or just sit and people watch! This is a great time to sit and relax after a busy safari. I would recommend you time your trip here well though as I got caught out with monsoon rain for much of my time here!

For those who cannot sit still, why not try making your way to a few beaches and seeing what Zanzibar has to offer. A trip from the Northern end and down the West coast could be a great way to see a few different beaches.

Accommodation:
Again, plenty of places to stay for all budgets.

Day 10 in Tanzania

Beach Resort to stone Town

Enjoy the morning before heading back to Stone Town and traveling to your next destination (book a late flight so you can still have almost a full day!).

If you have time, you could visit some of Zanzibar’s wildlife filled forests, such as the Jozani Forest or Masingini Forest. There are also caves to explore, old ruins and spice plantations.

When to Visit Tanzania and Zanzibar

Tanzania (Serengeti)

Safaris can be enjoyed any time of the year, although March to May is the low season as there will likely be rain. However, I went in March and had great weather, so you never know! January and February can also be a good time to visit the Southern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

If you are wanting to catch the great wildebeest migration at its best, then go in June to September.
Temperatures are generally in the mid to high 20’s region (Celsius) but at night they can drop to around 15 degrees. During early morning and night, it can get cool on safari, so bring some warmer clothes.

Zanzibar

The best time to visit Zanzibar is from June-October. This is when you will see the least rain and the temperatures are a little cooler. You could also try January and February when it will be dry but hot.

The rain comes from March-May when there will be tropical monsoon rain throughout the island (usually in the afternoon). November and December also have a short rainy season, but its generally lighter (but can be unpredictable).

Temperatures are nice and warm, going down to 19 Celsius at night in the cooler months and going up to low to mid 30’s in the hotter months.

Best time for Tanzania and Zanzibar combined

June to September is one of the best times to see the wildebeest migrations, as well as dry weather in Zanzibar.

January and February is another good time, if you don’t mind it being that bit hotter. The island will be dry, and the animals will be likely to gather at the watering holes.

snorkelling prisn island — Exploring Prison Island

What to wear in Tanzania and Zanzibar?

Tanzania

For safari, you will want some neutral coloured clothing to blend in with the scenery. Anything really bright could scare off animas and anything blue tends to attract the tsetse flies. You will want some longer trousers for safari and clothing you do not mind getting a bit dusty. Bring along some shorts or a dress to wear around camp/ hotel. You will also want some warmer clothes for early morning and night-time.

Zanzibar

As it is hot and humid you will want to bring loose fitting clothing, with breathable fabrics such as linen. Of course, bring along bathing suits, shorts, dresses etc but do remember this is a Muslim country so these types of clothes would be better for the beach. For walking around Stone Town, or the villages, you will want to cover up your legs and shoulders and not wear anything too tight or figure hugging.

I really hope this post on Tanzania and Zanzibar was helpful. If you wanted a longer safari, you could either take out the full day in Arusha or sacrifice a beach day for an extra day of wildlife viewing. The safari was one of the best things I have done so its worth doing 2 days minimum, preferably 3 or 4 days.

Please share or take a read of some of my other adventures from Tanzania and Zanzibar!

Tanzania and Zanzibar Travel Guide

Tanzania & Zanzibar

Tanzania Safari Adventure: Camping with the Big 5

25/04/2019 20 Comments

There’s something special about Africa. Something that’s hard to put into words and something that can only truly be felt. To experience a trip to Africa is a once in a lifetime for many. A Tanzanian safari, a visit to Maasai villages, being the heart of curiosity amongst the local children and walking along the dusty streets, chatting to the local food sellers. Africa is the ultimate adventure.

young boy with cattle, Maasai village Tanzania — A young boy with his herd

Tanzania is a popular country for an African safari as it’s the home of the Serengeti National Park, one of the best places for wildlife viewing in the world. Here you will see the big 5- lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Aside from these incredible animals there’s an abundance of wildlife from birds, cheetahs, zebra, impala, baboons, crocodiles and hippos. It literally is like being in a David Attenborough documentary!

Serengeti migration safari Tanzania — There will be hundreds more in the full swing of migration

I booked myself on a Tanzania & Zanzibar tour with GAdventures, which included visiting a Maasai village, a 4 day Tanzania safari and ended in the beautiful Zanzibar. This is a great trip if you want to combine paradise beaches with safari! (Pssstt…I will post a separate post on Zanzibar next week!)

Tanzania safari guide — Excited for safari

Here is what you can expect from a 4 day camping safari in Tanzania. It is a budget option as opposed to the luxury lodges but I actually believe that camping out in the middle of the Serengeti, with no barriers or gates between you and the wild animals is an INCREDIBLE experience. We actually had an elephant walk directly into our camp as we were eating dinner, just a few feet away! More on that below…

So lets get started with our Tanzania safari tour shall we?!

Lunch at Mto wa Mbu Village

Mto wa Mbu village tour, Tanzania — Learning more about the village

The day before our Serengeti safari, my tour GAdventures tour group visiting the local Mto wa Mbu village, where we learnt about local life. We were shown around the fields, told how they build their huts and grow their own food, seeing many banana trees around!

Banana tree full with fruit

Exploring Mto wa Mbu village

paintings, Mto wa Mbu village, Tanzania — Paintings and crafts from the local market

We also went to the markets where the locals sell paintings and crafts, mainly for the tourists I think. Although I’m usually dubious about the ‘local stalls with the same reproduced souvenirs you see everywhere’, I have to say that these handmade mixed media paintings and sculptures were actually very good, resulting in me purchasing several items!

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painting, Mto wa Mbu village tour, Tanzania — I bought this!

Later on we ate a traditional lunch of meat and plantains from the village, very delicious and great to try some local food.

Visit to a Maasai Village

Maasai village Tanzania — The Maasai women showing us their traditional dress and dance

Close to Mto wa Mbu village, we visited a local Maasai tribe, all dressed in the traditional clothing and jewellery, full with textures and bright colours (predominantly red). The colour red is believed by the Maasai people that it can warn off lions and so is a symbol of their culture.

huts in Maasai village Tanzania — Being shown the village huts was educational

The woman and children were there to greet us, singing and jumping. I was overwhelmed by their huge smiles and welcoming nature. What a fantastic experience. They even put the white necklaces around us and we joined them jumping up and down whilst they sang.

Maasai village visit Tanzania — Joining in the singing and jumping

We were then shown around the village and spoken to about the Planeterra project that is working on installing clean cook stoves in these huts. This removes the harmful smoke (that is linked to numerous deaths) and in place removes 90% of the pollution. For the women these stoves are a God send and they were proudly speaking of how it has helped their families.

Maasai village children Tanzania — Those green eyes though

After our tour it was time to say goodbye to the village and it seemed all of the kids ran out to wave goodbye, full of energy. I remember feeling so happy to have had this experience and looked forward to the Tanzania safari to come. And what better way to end the day, sitting by the campsites pool whilst a delicious meal was being cooked up for us by our guide.

camping safari tanzania, Africa — Relaxing by the campsite pool after an eye opening day

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OK and now for the safari…

Tanzania Safari: Day 1 (Arusha to Serengeti National Park)

Yummy breakfast getting ready for safari!

Gearing up for some adventure

My tour group woke early for a lovely breakfast made by our guide. Preparing for an 8 hour drive from Arusha, Tanzania into the Serengeti National Park, we eagerly jumped on the huge over-landing vehicle. The group was fairly small so we each got 2 seats to ourselves- what a bonus.

arusha Tanzania safari guide — Driving out of Arusha, Tanzania

We drove past local villages, shops and food stalls before heading into the savannah. We actually saw a lot of wildlife before even reaching the Serengeti, where you will find one of the largest populations of lions in the world.

Once we arrived at the Serengeti National Park entrance, we stopped for some photos and were basically glued to the windows for the next few hours. I remember when we first saw some zebra, everyone was so excited, we wanted to stop every 5 minutes. Our tour guide told us “don’t worry, we will see plenty more zebra”. And we definitely did.

hyena

After a long day of driving, we had to set up our tents at the basic bush camp. I actually couldn’t believe that there was no gates or anything- animals could walk past our tents of they wanted. Our guide told us of times when they had seen lions footprints close to the tents- pretty scary though but it just makes it more exciting!

campground, Serengeti National Park Tanzania

Our campground for the night

Setting up our tent

sunset, Serengeti National Park Tanzania — First sunset of the safari

We sat by the fire for a while after dinner but all got an early night, ready for day 2 of our African safari. Can’t even tell you how exciting I was for the morning at this point!

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Tanzania Safari: Day 2 (full day Serengeti safari)

So I slept well the previous night after a full day previously, plus there’s something about camping out on the ground, wrapped up in a warm sleeping bag that just sends you right off. We were also delighted to see a group of zebras close to our tents to say good morning to us.

camping, Serengeti National Park Tanzania

Waking up to zebras by our tents

sunrise Serengeti National Park Tanzania

Back on the bus for sunrise

After waking up in the dark, I was soon thankful for the early wake up call as, the most beautiful sunrise slowly lit up the savannah. We headed out early and it didn’t take long to spot an African elephant wandering through the trees.

elephant, Serengeti National Park Tanzania — First animal of the day and one of my favourites 🙂

After this we saw herds of zebra and impala, a group of female lions (very exciting!), hippos, giraffes, birds and a crocodile. I couldn’t believe the amount of wildlife we were seeing.

Seeing lions is exciting

Seeing them stampede past the van was really exciting!

Serengeti, Tanzania safari — Impala, hippos, crocodile and a stalk (croc is behind hippos on land- hard to spot)

We were also very privileged to see a leopard attending to her cubs. They are very rare to see and she was hidden away really well but I could feel my heart beating faster as she popped her head over the rock.

leopard Sergengeti National Park — A rare glimpse of a leopard

We then stopped at a coffee shop- yes, you read right. A small cafe selling coffee and snacks right in the heart of the Serengeti! There were these little creatures walking round that I have now discovered to be called rock hyrax’s and they are seriously cute.

Cafe in the middle of the Serengeti?!

How cute are these rock hyax’s?!

Tent set up 😛

camping Serengeti safari Tanzania Serengeti safari Tanzania

Back at camp for lunch

After a coffee break we headed back to camp for some lunch, before heading out again in the afternoon. We spotted ostriches, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, a huge lake full of hippos and at the end of the day, a cheetah walking into the sunset. Yep, that was an adventurous day of safari!

Majestic animals

Tanzania safari — Wouldn’t wanna get caught in those jaws

Back at camp we were treated by a gorgeous sunset (cant beat an African sunset) and a beer by the campfire, where our guide told us spooky ghost stories.

sunset, Serengeti, Tanzania safari — One of the best sunsets I’ve seen

Read more of my adventures in Tanzania: Making Jewellery at the Orphanage: Arusha, Tanzania

Tanzania Safari: Day 3 (Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Crater rim)

baboon, serengeti Tanzania — A baboon searching for food

Geared up for another morning of safari, today the group had one last wildlife tour in the Serengeti, before heading to the campsite overlooking the Ngorongoro Crater (known for the best wildlife viewings). Yet more wildlife to be seen from baboons, lions, zebras playing in the mud and a cheetah eating a kill. This was incredible to see in person after having watched so many nature documentaries showing this.

Tanzanian safari tips — A cheetah with a kill

Later that day we drove the our campsite on the Ngorongoro Crater’s rim. This was my favourite campsite as the views were out of this world incredible. This is the campsite where a male elephant just walked right past where we were eating, only a few feet away. They really weren’t joking when they said we were out in the wild!

camping at Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania — Enjoying the setting at camp

Some of the group taking in the views

My favourite campsite

What a heart pumping experience! He ended up walking to some trash by the camp and so we just sat back out by our fire, eating dinner and keeping one eye open on the elephant that was next door- madness!

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Tanzania Safari: Day 4 (Ngorongoro Crater)

sunrise Ngorongoro Crater jeep tour — Yet another beautiful sunrise

Ngorongoro Crater jeep tour — Getting the jeeps loaded for safari

We woke up to another stunning sunrise, the sun reflecting off the morning mist that was rising up into the sky. Today was when we explored the Ngorongoro Crater, where there is always lots of wildlife due to there being a permanent water supply here. We drove down into the crater in big jeeps with open roofs.

safari, Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania — Stunning views from the Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater looked a lot more green than the Serengeti and the stunning backdrop of the mountains and cloud formations were beautiful. The wildlife were everywhere- we literally drove through herd of zebra and wildebeest.

lions Ngorongoro Crater — A lioness with cubs (you can see a couple either end of the rocks and 1 climbing in the middle)

Again we saw numerous wildlife like lions and another cheetah. It felt lively with herds of zebra and wildebeest stampeding around running after each other. The photo opportunities are just everywhere here.

A lone hippo

There’s a swamp section where we saw hippos and an area covered with trees, where we saw elephants roaming. We even saw a rhino in the distance. The whole safari experience was completely incredible and what a fantastic way to end this adventure.

Best time to visit the Serengeti?

The good news is that you can go on safari any time of the year. I went in March during rainy season which is sometimes not recommended but we had perfect weather. If you are looking to see the best of the great wildebeest migration then go in June to September. January and February are when the wildebeest give birth to their calves. March to May is considered low season due to the rains. But really every season has something different to offer. P.S- The migration happens throughout the year, track it here with this helpful map.

ngorongoro crater elepahnts — Elephants in the Ngorongoro crater

What to wear on safari?

Many safari’s, especially camping safaris will have a luggage restriction so try not to over pack. Finding clothing that mix’s and matches well is a great idea. You also need to make sure you pack neutral, earthy toned clothing and avoid bright colours (which may scare off the animals). Try to avoid darker colours, particularly anything blue as this attracts the tsetse fly (a disease carrying insect). Anything white will be likely to get dirty as safari’s get very dusty!

ngorongoro crater safari Tanzania — Enjoying a safari in Ngorongoro crater

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Where can I stay in the Serengeti?

There is an abundance of accommodation types suited for most budgets. Basic camping is the most budget friendly and then the permanent tents or glamping is the next step up. From there you have hotels to luxury lodges. The list is endless!

camping Serengeti safari Tanzania — Camping out in the open

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Hope you enjoyed this post on what to expect on a Tanzanian safari, it really is a bucket list experience and I would thoroughly recommend Tanzania as a whole. There’s plenty more to see and do from visiting coffee plantations in the mountains or lazing around on a tropical beach in Zanzibar (more on that to come).

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Botswana

Botswana: 8 Adventurous Reasons To Add To Your Bucket List

27/03/2019 20 Comments

Elephants. And lots of them! That’s what I think of when I think of Botswana. The countries elephant population is 130,000 strong and the largest in Africa. It’s also home to UNESCO World Heritage site, the Okavango Delta- a huge marshland in the North-West of the country. Botswana is also considered one of the safest countries in Africa, occurring mostly petty crime rather serious attacks, which are still rare. The locals are also extremely friendly and always smiling.

For the adventurous and wildlife lovers then look no further. Botswana has it all. National parks, boat trips, quad biking, horse riding, walking & cycling safaris, hot air ballooning and even camel rides.

So here are 8 adventurous things to see and do in Botswana:

1. Safari in Chobe National Park

Chobe National Park is right by the border with Zambia and Zimbabwe, a great location if you want to cross the border to catch a glimpse of Victoria Falls (which you should). Go on a safari through the park and get up and close with elephants, bird species, hippos, giraffes, buffalo, cheetah, zebra and many more!

Chobe National park, elephants — So many elephants in Botswana

I was really surprised how close we got to the elephants, we even had a little baby ellie chasing after our van! Most accommodation is situated just outside the park and ranges from basic camping to luxury lodges.

2. Sunset Boat Cruise on the Chobe River

River cruise, Chobe — See the big 5 from a boat

Offering a different perspective of Chobe National Park, the sunset river cruise allows you to see many animals along the river banks, such as crocodile, hippos and elephants wading through the water. Plus the deep red glow from the African sun means you can get awesome photos of the park.

I remember sitting on the boat watching the wildlife and the backdrop of the intense sunset and thinking how special this opportunity and how it was truly a once in a lifetime experience.

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3. Take a Helicopter Ride Over the Okavango Delta

From the river to the sky, take in a wider view over the Okavango Delta. The huge marshland floods every year, with the best time to visit being the dry season as animals congregate to the open water source.

3 seater plan

Ready to take off

helicopter, okavango delta — Views from above

Taking a flight in a tiny plane over the delta gives an opportunity for interesting photos of animals from above. I went with Kavango Air. It also gives you the chance to see how vast and green the landscape is. I loved seeing the water flooding in and the sky reflecting in the massive pools and lakes it forms.

4. Take a Mokoro tour (and try it out yourself)

Okavango delta boat trip — A peaceful journey

A mokoro or dugout canoe is a traditional mode of transport and can give visitors a chance to see the delta from a different angle and to just sit, taking in nature at it’s best. My tour group took a 2 hour mokoro tour deep into the delta. This was such a peaceful and tranquil ride, the group was quiet, just sitting, taking in the water lilies, wildlife and surrounding bush landscape. There was something very calming about the gentle and repetitive rhythm of the canoe, with the water being so still.

Meet Rose, my ‘driver’

I also had the chance to push my own dugout canoe (which is a bit like punting in Cambridge for those of you who have tried that). After a few initial wobbles it’s not too bad. A pretty cool experience to say you’ve tried.

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5. Camp Overnight in a Wild Bushcamp

Botswana camping bush walk — Heading into the bush

As part of my mokoro trip, my tour group also stayed overnight in the Okavango Delta, right in the heart of the wild bushland. There’s no showers, no toilet, just incredible landscapes and bright night skies. With no barriers between you or potentially dangerous wildlife this is both exiting and scary at the same time. You can also take a quick swim in the water which may or may not have crocodiles in. It was a brief dip I’ll tell you that!

My tent mate, flat out

We headed out on a walking safari, seeing zebra and antelope and bird species, before being treated to a golden sunset. In the evening the locals who pushed the boats gave us a song and dance performance around the campfire and invited us to join in. A great way to end the day and we all fell asleep quickly that night.

Seeing zebra on the walking tour

More on Africa: Tanzania Safari Adventure: Camping with the Big 5

6. Walk with the San Bushmen of Botswana

This was one of my favourite memories from this trip. The San Bushmen of the Kalahari are fascinating people. Unfortunately there are few tribes left that are able to live in the traditional and ancient way as their ancestors lived. These walking tours are often run by the safari lodges who allow the San bushmen to pass on knowledge to visitors about how they are able to live off the land.

They speak no English so everything is translated through a local guide as they explain how they use plants for food and medicine and showing us how to make fire. They are all dressed in traditional animal skin clothing and I was surprised at how small they were in comparison to us Westerners.

I found them mesmerising and full of wisdom. The warm light at the end of the day cast a beautiful orange glow over the bushmen and the land, just adding to the extraordinary experience.

7. Enjoy Camping In Botswana

What I loved most about this Africa trip was just camping out night after night under the amazing African sky. There’s something so simple about camping and it just feels like you’re a world away from home.

Go back to basics and appreciate the landscape even more. Aside from basic bush camping, a lot of the campsites are actually very well decorated, complete with swimming pools like the Planet Baobab camp. They will usually have a restaurant and bar area to relax, with the more basic ones having a bbq to make your own food. I really enjoyed relaxing at camp with a beer after a lot day of adventurous activities.

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8. Look for Animals in the Road

giraffe in road, Botswana — Giraffes in the road

Botswana in particular, I noticed so many big game animals on the side of the road. It’s just fascinating sitting in the overland truck, staring out the window, listening to music, watching the world go by- and then an elephant is just a few feet from you right on the road. We saw all sorts of wildlife by the roadside which adds to the excitement of the road trip- expect the unexpected in Africa!

elephant in road, Botswana — Not something you see everyday

Really hope you enjoyed this post on where to visit in Botswana. It really is an unforgettable country and a wildlife and photographers dream. To see the big 5 in person is something that’s hard to describe. If you haven’t yet, then be sure to add this to the bucket list.

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If you liked this you’ll love reading: Namibia: 15 Stunning Reasons Why You Need To Visit