Seven Nights in the Okavango: The Itinerary We Plan Most Often
Water camps, dry-land game drives and a helicopter over the Delta. A week in Botswana that balances adventure, comfort and complete privacy.
Botswana does not do crowds. For decades the country has favored low-volume, high-value tourism, and the result is a wilderness that still feels like it belongs to the animals. If you have one week, this is the route we plan more than any other.
Nights one to three: inside the Delta
Fly from Maun by light aircraft over a maze of channels, lagoons and islands. Your first camp sits on the water, so expect game drives, dawn mokoro canoe trips and, depending on the season, boat safaris among elephants and hippos. Between roughly June and August the annual flood, which begins as rain in the Angolan highlands, reaches the Delta, filling it while the land around it is dry. It is one of the most remarkable seasonal events on the continent.
Nights four and five: big cats on dry land
Move to a camp in a dry-land concession or the Moremi Game Reserve. This is classic safari terrain, with open floodplains and woodland where lion, leopard and wild dog hunt. A walking safari with an expert guide rewards patience with details you will never notice from a vehicle.
Nights six and seven: Chobe and Victoria Falls
Finish on the Chobe River, where elephants arrive in huge herds to drink in the afternoon. A sunset cruise here is as good as it gets. If your schedule allows, add a night at Victoria Falls, with a helicopter flight over the gorge and dinner within earshot of the spray.
Why this route works
Short flights, small camps and one planner for everything. No wasted days in transit, no repacking from scratch and no shared transfers. You spend your time with the animals, not in airports.
When to go
Most travelers do best in the dry season, roughly May to October, when wildlife gathers along the water and the days are clear and cool. Peak camps fill early, so the sooner you choose your dates, the better your options.
Ready to plan your own journey? Request a tailored proposal at iloveafrica.travel/booking or call +27 78 078 8223, and a specialist will take it from there.
