Your first safari: what to expect

A calm, plain-spoken guide to choosing where to go, when, and how many camps is enough.

By the Cawejo team

A first safari can feel like a long list of unfamiliar names: concessions, fly-in camps, mokoros, game drives. The good news is that Botswana is one of the easiest places in Africa to get it right, because the best areas are protected, quiet and well run.

Start by choosing one region instead of trying to see everything. The Okavango Delta gives you water, islands and mokoro trips. Chobe is famous for elephants along the river. Moremi and Khwai are known for big cats. Two areas in one trip is plenty for most people.

Next, decide how long you have. Four to seven nights lets you settle in without rushing. Two or three nights per camp is the sweet spot: long enough to learn the rhythm of early mornings and afternoon drives, short enough to keep things fresh.

Finally, let a planner handle the joins. Light aircraft flights, transfers and luggage limits all need to line up. That is exactly what we do, so you only have to think about which jacket to pack for the cool morning drives.

The trip at a glance

• Pick one region, not three
• Two camps beats four
• Let a planner handle flights and transfers