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A canvas safari tent set among trees at a private tented camp

Private safari

10-Day Moremi, Khwai, Savuti & Chobe Private Mobile Safari

10 daysPrivate safariBotswanaIndividually quoted

Wake inside Moremi to lions calling, cross the Mababe Depression on sand tracks and roll into Kasane dusty and content: an old-school road trip through northern Botswana, with a private crew making camp before you arrive.

Customize This Journey
Duration10 days · 9 nights
Best monthsMay–October, in the dry season
Comfort levelsComfort · Premium · Luxury
RouteMaun · Moremi Game Reserve · Khwai · Savuti · Chobe Riverfront · Kasane
Best forTravelers who value wilderness and a guide’s company over lodge comforts, and don’t mind long, sandy drives
Trip typePrivate safari

A Botswana private mobile safari swaps light aircraft and permanent lodges for a road journey with your own guide, 4×4 and camp crew. The crew pitches a tented camp at reserved campsites inside Moremi Game Reserve, in the Khwai community area and at Savuti, so you wake where the wildlife is rather than driving in from outside. Each move is a full day of game viewing on sand tracks, ending at a camp that is already standing when you arrive.

It is the only journey in this collection that stays on the ground from Maun to Kasane, and it covers country that fly-in trips pass over: the Mababe Depression, the dead-tree channel of Savuti and the woodland between them. After seven nights under canvas, two lodge nights on the Chobe riverfront bring a pool, a proper bathroom and boat safaris before you fly out.

Why this route works

The route follows the one road corridor that links Botswana’s northern wildlife areas, from Maun on the Delta’s southern edge to Kasane on the Chobe. Moremi comes first and gets three nights because it is the wettest and most varied stop, with lagoons, floodplain and mopane in one reserve. Khwai sits just outside North Gate, and Savuti lies a day’s drive beyond across the Mababe, so each move is the natural next step and nothing is repeated. Two nights in a Kasane lodge give you a comfortable finish and easy connections, by air from Kasane or by road to Victoria Falls. Drives between areas take about 4–5 hours on sand, with game viewing throughout.

Itinerary

Day by Day

A suggested flow — every day can be reshaped around you.

  1. Wetland channels of Moremi Game Reserve

    Day 1 · Moremi Game Reserve

    Maun to South Gate

    Drive · Maun airport → Moremi Game Reserve (South Gate area) · about 2–3 hours — Sand tracks after the tar ends; game viewing along the way.

    Your private guide collects you at Maun airport, and after a short stop in town the tar soon gives way to sand. The drive to Moremi’s South Gate takes about 2–3 hours, through cattle country and then mopane woodland where the first elephants and giraffe appear. Your crew set off earlier to pitch camp, so you arrive to a walk-in tent made up with proper bedding, hot water ready for a bucket shower and a fire already lit. After a short afternoon drive, dinner is served under the stars, and the night brings hyena whoops and, sometimes, distant lions.

    • Meet your guide in Maun
    • Overland drive into Moremi
    • First evening around the campfire
    Overnight
    Moremi Game Reserve (mobile camp)
    Meals
    Lunch & dinner

  2. Day 2–3 · Moremi Game Reserve

    Xakanaxa and Third Bridge

    Moremi was set aside by the BaTawana people in 1963, and it packs a remarkable range of habitats into one reserve. Your guide works the lagoons and floodplains around Xakanaxa, where a boat trip among papyrus islands and nesting storks and herons is possible when water levels allow, and the grassland near Third Bridge, where lion and wild dog are seen regularly but never promised. The rules are strict and sensible: you drive only on tracks, return to camp by dark and camp only at official sites. Midday is for resting in the shade while the crew prepares lunch.

    • Full days of game drives in Moremi
    • Lagoon boat trip at Xakanaxa (water permitting)
    • Picnic brunch in the reserve
    Overnight
    Moremi Game Reserve (mobile camp)
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  3. Zebra herd wading through shallow delta water

    Day 4 · Khwai

    North Gate to the Khwai River

    Pack up after breakfast and leave the reserve through North Gate, crossing the Khwai River on your way. While you game-drive at an easy pace, the crew strikes camp, loads the truck and gets ahead of you to set it up again on the community side of the river. The Khwai usually holds water well into the dry season, drawing elephants, hippos and a busy cast of birds, from African jacanas to saddle-billed storks. By the time you arrive the tents are up and lunch is ready, with the afternoon free to explore the riverbank.

    • Game drive from Moremi to Khwai
    • Afternoon drive along the Khwai River
    • Sundowners on the riverbank
    Overnight
    Khwai (mobile camp)
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch & dinner

  4. Day 5 · Khwai

    A Full Day in Khwai

    Khwai is a community concession, not a national park, so the rules loosen a little and your guide gains new tools. Depending on your operator’s permits and campsite, the evening drive may continue after dark with a spotlight, picking out porcupines, civets and the eyeshine of hunting hyenas. A morning walk with a qualified guide can also be arranged. There are more vehicles here than in a private reserve, so timing matters: out early, back late, and patient where others move on. Community fees from visitors help fund the Khwai village trust.

    • Early morning game drive
    • Night drive where permits allow
    • Optional guided walk
    Overnight
    Khwai (mobile camp)
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  5. A male lion in warm evening light on the open savanna

    Day 6 · Savuti

    Across the Mababe to Savuti

    Drive · Khwai → Savuti · about 4–5 hours — Deep sand on the Mababe track; game viewing along the way.

    This is the big road day, about 4–5 hours of deep sand and open plains before you count the stops. The track crosses the Mababe Depression, an ancient lakebed where grass runs to the horizon and, after rain, zebra and wildebeest gather. Your guide eases the 4×4 through the heavy stretches while you watch for ostrich, tsessebe and bat-eared foxes. You reach Savuti in the afternoon, at the heart of Chobe National Park, where your crew has made camp. Expect dust and a bumpy ride; loose clothes and a scarf help.

    • Overland drive across the Mababe Depression
    • Late-afternoon drive at Savuti
    Overnight
    Savuti (mobile camp)
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch & dinner

  6. Day 7 · Savuti

    The Marsh and the Channel

    Savuti has no lagoons and no mokoros; it is a land of predators, dead trees and open marsh. The Savuti Channel runs from the Linyanti toward the marsh, and over the past century it has dried up and flowed again several times, leaving the pale skeletons of drowned trees along its banks. Lion, spotted hyena and cheetah are resident, and in the dry season elephants queue at the few waterholes, which makes for tense, absorbing viewing. Your guide plans the day around the waterholes and the cooler hours, with a siesta in camp when the heat peaks.

    • Morning and afternoon drives around the Savuti Marsh
    • Exploring the Savuti Channel
    • Waterhole photography
    Overnight
    Savuti (mobile camp)
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  7. Elephant herd on the Chobe riverfront floodplain

    Day 8 · Chobe Riverfront

    North to the Chobe River

    Drive · Savuti → Kasane · about 4–5 hours

    Say goodbye to the camp crew after breakfast; the trucks head back south while you drive north toward the Chobe River and Kasane, about 4–5 hours with stops. The sand gives way to firmer roads, and the country changes from mopane to riverine woodland as you near the water. Check into your lodge in time to wash off the dust, then join an afternoon boat safari. After a week of dry country, elephants swimming across a full river make a striking contrast, and the lodge bed feels like pure luxury.

    • Overland drive to Kasane
    • Afternoon boat safari on the Chobe River
    Overnight
    Chobe Riverfront (Kasane)
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch & dinner

  8. Day 9 · Chobe Riverfront

    The River at Eye Level

    Your last full day belongs to the river. A dawn drive on the Chobe’s floodplain tracks catches the cool hours, when buffalo and elephant move down to the water and fish eagles call from dead trees. In the afternoon a boat puts you at the waterline, and photographers can upgrade to a specialist photographic boat with swivel seats and camera mounts for low-angle work. Riverfront lodges have pools and plumbing that feel indulgent after a week of bucket showers, and dinner is a fine moment to look back through the week’s images.

    • Morning game drive on the Chobe riverfront
    • Afternoon boat safari
    • Optional photographic boat session
    Overnight
    Chobe Riverfront (Kasane)
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch & dinner

  9. Day 10 · Kasane

    Kasane Departures

    Flight · Kasane Airport → Johannesburg · about 1.75 hours — Or by road to Victoria Falls, about 80 km plus the border.

    After breakfast, transfer to Kasane’s airport for a scheduled flight to Johannesburg, or to Maun if you are continuing into the Okavango Delta. Another option is the drive of about 80 km to Victoria Falls for a few nights by the Zambezi before flying home; the crossing at Kazungula adds border formalities but no extra flight. Whichever way you leave, your luggage has not been restricted by small-plane limits at any point on this route.

    • Transfer to Kasane Airport
    • Optional road transfer to Victoria Falls
    Meals
    Breakfast

Lodges

Where You’ll Stay

Choose a comfort level to see the stay style for each part of the journey. We match specific camps to your dates and availability.

Spacious, characterful camps in prime locations, with exceptional service and food.

  1. 3 nights · Moremi Game Reserve

    Tented camp glowing at sunrise over golden hillsPremium

    Moremi · Khwai · Savuti — moves with your route

    En-Suite Mobile Camp

    Seasonal mobile camp · Typically operates April–November

    • Walk-in tents with en-suite bucket showers and toilets
    • Beds made up with linen and duvets
    • Camp crew and cook travelling ahead of you

  2. 2 nights · Khwai

    Tented camp glowing at sunrise over golden hillsPremium

    Moremi · Khwai · Savuti — moves with your route

    En-Suite Mobile Camp

    Seasonal mobile camp · Typically operates April–November

    • Walk-in tents with en-suite bucket showers and toilets
    • Beds made up with linen and duvets
    • Camp crew and cook travelling ahead of you

  3. 2 nights · Savuti

    Tented camp glowing at sunrise over golden hillsPremium

    Moremi · Khwai · Savuti — moves with your route

    En-Suite Mobile Camp

    Seasonal mobile camp · Typically operates April–November

    • Walk-in tents with en-suite bucket showers and toilets
    • Beds made up with linen and duvets
    • Camp crew and cook travelling ahead of you

  4. 2 nights · Chobe Riverfront

    Luxury lodge deck with loungers and umbrellas at golden hourPremium

    Chobe Riverfront · Kasane riverbank

    Boutique Riverbank Lodge · Kasane

    Lodge

    • River-view rooms with private decks
    • Small boats for private or photographic outings
    • Pool overlooking the Chobe

Price

Price

Every private safari is priced for your dates, party and choices — here is what moves the number.

Individually quoted

Custom pricing based on your dates, comfort level, party size and routing.

Get my quoteHow much a luxury safari costs
  • SeasonPeak months sit at the top of the range; green-season and shoulder months are noticeably softer at many camps.
  • Party sizeYour private vehicle and guide are shared across your party — the per-person cost typically falls as your group grows from two to four or six.
  • Comfort levelMoving from Comfort to Ultra-Luxury changes the nightly rate more than any other choice.
  • RoutingFlying the long legs saves hours on the road and adds light-aircraft fares; driving keeps costs lower.

What’s Included

  • Professional guiding throughout: a private vehicle and guide on road-based legs, and the camp’s own guides at fly-in camps (a private vehicle can often be added)
  • Accommodation at your chosen comfort level
  • Meals as listed day by day
  • Park and conservation fees for the itinerary
  • Airport meet-and-greet and road transfers as listed
  • Drinking water on game drives
  • Support from our team before and during your journey
  • Private guide and 4×4 for the whole overland route from Maun to Kasane
  • A dedicated camp crew who strike and pitch camp ahead of you
  • Reserved campsites in Moremi, Khwai and Savuti, with their campsite and vehicle fees
  • Camp equipment, bedding and hot bucket showers throughout the mobile section
  • Meals cooked over the fire by your crew during the mobile section
  • Boat safaris on the Chobe River, plus a Xakanaxa lagoon trip when water allows

Not Included

  • International flights
  • Visa and entry fees
  • Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Gratuities for guides and camp staff
  • Premium drinks and personal expenses
  • Scheduled flights into Maun and out of Kasane
  • Photographic boat with camera mounts on the Chobe (optional)
  • Scenic helicopter flight over the Delta from Maun (optional)
  • A Victoria Falls extension and the Zimbabwe visa it needs

A typical inclusion list — your written proposal itemizes exactly what is and isn’t included.

Activities

Activities & Add-Ons

Included experiences and optional upgrades for this journey.

Guests on a small safari boat watch an elephant herd grazing the river floodplainIncluded

On the water

Chobe River Boat Safaris

An afternoon boat on arrival in Kasane and another on your full Chobe day.

Safari guests in an open vehicle watching a leopard at close range on a private game driveOptional

Photography

Photographic Safaris in Botswana

A private photographic boat on the Chobe, or a vehicle set up with bean bags for the whole route.

Map

Route Map

Route map: Maun · Moremi Game Reserve · Khwai · Savuti · Chobe Riverfront · Kasane1Maun2Moremi Game Reserve3Khwai4Savuti5Chobe Riverfront6Kasane
By roadBy air

Approximate locations — not for navigation.

How This Journey Changes Through the Year

May–June
Cool, golden and quieter. The flood is rising in Moremi, so Xakanaxa boat trips are at their most reliable, while grass on the Mababe and at Savuti is still long. Nights in camp turn chilly, so pack a warm layer.
July–August
Cold nights, sometimes near freezing, and clear, dry days. Wildlife concentrates on permanent water, and the most popular campsites book out early, so plan well ahead for these months.
September–October
The hottest and driest spell, with dramatic concentrations at Savuti’s waterholes and along the Khwai and Chobe. By October the heat can reach 38°C or more, so drives start early and siestas are long.
November–April
Mobile camps typically stop running in the rains, roughly December to March, when low tracks flood and campsites close. For these months, the green-season journey is a better fit.

Make It Yours

  • Start with three nights in a Delta water camp before the drive begins
  • Add a scenic helicopter flight over the Delta from Maun
  • Upgrade to a luxury mobile camp with larger en-suite tents
  • Replace the Chobe lodge nights with a Chobe houseboat
  • Finish with two nights at Victoria Falls
  • Travel with friends or family and share one private crew
Customize This Journey

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What is a private mobile safari in Botswana?

It is a guided camping safari for your group alone. A professional guide drives you in a 4×4 while a small crew moves the camp between reserved campsites, cooks your meals and looks after the tents. The style ranges from simple walk-in tents with shared facilities to spacious canvas suites with their own bucket showers and toilets.

How long are the drives between camps?

Maun to South Gate takes about 2–3 hours, and Khwai to Savuti and Savuti to Kasane about 4–5 hours each, much of it on deep sand. These are game drives as much as transfers, but they are bumpy and dusty. If long days in a vehicle don’t suit you, a fly-in journey is a better choice.

How does a mobile safari compare with staying in lodges?

You give up fixed bathrooms and swimming pools, and you spend more time in the vehicle. In return you sleep inside Moremi and Savuti, where lodges are few, and share the whole trip with one guide who learns what you love. A mobile route often costs less than an equivalent fly-in trip, and the evenings around the fire have a closeness no lodge can copy.

What happens at night in an unfenced camp?

Animals move freely through campsites, and hearing lions or hyenas nearby is part of the experience. Your guide gives a safety briefing on arrival: stay inside your zipped tent after dark, use a flashlight and never wander around camp alone at night. The crew sleeps in camp, and your guide explains how to call for help if you need it.

When do mobile safaris operate?

Most run from about April to November, when the tracks are passable and the campsites open. The rains, roughly December to March, flood low-lying roads in Moremi and around Savuti and make overland travel unreliable. May to October is the best window, with September and October the hottest months.

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Continue exploring

A canvas safari tent set among trees at a private tented camp

Customize This Journey

Tell us your dates, who is traveling and your preferred comfort level. A safari specialist will tailor this route around you — nothing is booked until you approve every detail.

Customize This Journey