Wildlife & Wilderness of Botswana

Fantastic trip to a stunning country with a great guide, cook and team. I’m new to camping and was apprehensive but it was fine and we adjusted much more quickly than expected.

This was a very immersive experience and we loved every minute.

We went on this tour in September 2024, and really did have the most unbelievable time. Each day brought something new and exciting, from hearing Hyenas while trying to sleep, to having Elephants walk just past camp.

This is the most incredible experience, we travelled in September 2024 and the more we look back and remember it, the more unbelievable it feels. We wild camped in tents in the African savanna! This isn't a holiday. It's an adventure. I can't imagine a better way to travel on safari. We saw everything we wanted to, and learnt a lot about the animals, birds, and environment. Highlights included the mokoro through the delta, a large pack of painted dogs in Savuti, and leopards in Savuti and Moremi. When you are wild camping you are in the middle of the parks and reserves so you are the first group in the action. This safari trip will be very hard to beat as one of our best ever travel experiences.

Excellent trip with so much wildlife . Elephants , lions , leopard, african wild dogs , hippos, crocs ....the list goes on. Thats without listing all the birds.

We have done trips with wild camping before but this trip took things to the next level. On this trip you really do get away from it all and get very close to the wildlife. You really will be amongst the animals you've come to see. Early morning starts (be ready for 05:30 alarm calls) are worth it for seeing the animals still active before the heat of the day. 'Assisted camping' makes the whole experience more relaxing, with a great support crew to take care of putting up/taking down tents and preparing great meals. (You won't go hungry.)

A great trip for seeing wildlife. We saw so much and pretty well everything except a cheetah. Full of amazing moments and experiences from start to finish. The Chobe River cruise is a must as is the walk in the Victoria Falls Park. Our group of 10 got on very well and made sure we moved around the ‘truck’ to share the bumps and reduced leg room seats.

I've now done this trip two times and both experiences were fantastic. The wildlife is exceptional - an incredible number of elephants, lions, leopards (the first time we saw 12, this time we saw three mating), wild dogs, hyenas, masses of antelope, even a serval. The list could go on. Botswana's low density tourism means that even in the major reserves you never feel surrounded by other people and most of the time the group is on its own. Both times I did the camping departure which has the inevitable discomforts of camping but repays with the extraordinary experience of being out in the bush. The camping team were fantastic and couldn't have done more to make sure we had a great time.

This trip isn't for everyone. You have to be prepared for camping in the wild: sleeping in a tent to the sounds of lions, hyenas and hippos; rising with the sun in the early morning; and the joys of "bushy bushy" (if you know, you know). But with this trip comes some of the most exceptional wildlife viewing experiences I've had. And the unique experience of being among the wilderness made this feel like one of the most authentic safari holidays out there.

This is my 9th Exodus tour and can honestly say it was one of the best. Wild camping in Africa is such an awesome experience - night skies, dawn and dusk safaris, animals everywhere, plus a visit to Victoria Falls. This is an incredible trip to an incredible country - you won’t be disappointed! It is well-named: if “Wildlife and Wilderness” appeals, this is a trip for you.

Fantastic trip, camping most of the time allowed us to be on the heart of the wilderness. The tents are put up for you and have a camp bed and mattress . When we were at wild camps with no bathroom, a long drop was dug and a shower hung over a branch where possible. The camp food was simply excellent and the whole team looked after the group well!

I have been on several Exodus trips but this adventure took it to a new level. The benefit of camping is that like-minded people tend to be attracted to this kind of trip, and on my trip, the group made it. I really feel like I have made 11 new friends and just two weeks after returning, we have plans for a Christmas meet-up. There wasn't one person who complained about the early mornings, or the bush toilet, or the 39 degree heat. Our guide Brian was fantastic and the mokoro trips in the Okavango was a definite highlight of mine, as well as camp singing and dancing around the fire. In terms of animals seen, we were extremely lucky to see a leopard with her cub, a leopard with a kill, a pack of wild dogs stalking a wildebeest herd, countless elephants, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, lions, impala, kudu, vultures, baboons and 138 species of bird. We were also extremely lucky to have two avid birders in our group who were only too happy to explain each bird to us! Camp-life was brilliant and our support crew was excellent. Chef James managed to cook some beautiful campsite meals - much better than I'd eat at home! Curries, stir-fries, whole chickens, oxtail all loaded with roasted or braised veg. A must for anyone with a sense of adventure willing to rough-it for two weeks in return for going for a wee in the middle of the night under the Milky Way, hearing the lions roar from inside your tent and making new pals.

Saw so much wildlife, elephants, lions, hyena, hippo, crocodiles and much much more. We got very close to a lot of the wildlife and had some amazing experiences. Variety of habitats, some beautiful and anazing sunsets. Boat trip enabled us to get close to animals such as hippo and buffalo. Helpful and efficient camp crew and food was good. Mixture of drives, walks and boat trips, all very rewarding.

An excellent trip, Brian and Mello were a fantastic team making this a brilliant experience for us all. The wildlife turned up in abundance, the accommodation was great, elephants outside the toilet tent notwithstanding and the food in camp was delicious, varied and plentiful including catering for us vegetarians Victoria Falls did not disappoint and the early start meant we had the park almost to ourselves. Extra activities were very exciting, although quite expensive

This is the second time I have been on this particular trip. As before it didn’t disappoint. The mokoro trip to the delta was magic. We were provided with copious wildlife sightings during our walks with a local guide. The camp was in a great location where a friendly elephant repeatedly wandered by during the day and also in the night. On the way to the Makadikadi pan we saw a large group of vultures on the roadside feasting on a cow carcass. It was like watching wildlife on one in the flesh. The pan when we reached it shimmered in the sun looking very unreal. The big skies gave us a breathtaking sunset. At Victoria Falls we had a restful day. We enjoyed visiting the Falls which were at their best “wet but still visible “ . We went on the zipwire across the gorge which was relaxing and scenic and allowed a good view of the Zambian falls. The evening meal at the Lookout cafe was delicious and the cafe very stylish. Returning to Botswana next day the optional cruise is recommended. The highlight of this was the sunset in an area rich in hippos and watching to birds fly to their roosts for the night. Next day after a long drive to Savuti we were rewarded with the sight of Painted Wolf puppies playing outside their den. I felt very privileged to see them. Next day they had left the den so we were lucky. A full day in Savuti allowed a sighting of wild dogs after a kill and lions contemplating a pursuit. Sadly this didn’t happen while we were there. Another drive to Moremi with a sighting of a secretary bird in the distance. We were fortunate to view crocodiles devouring a rotting carcass and performing classic rolls in the water to release the flesh. Our pre supper treat was another sighting of lions in the reserve. Next day we continued our game viewing but the major highlight came in the evening during supper. We had heard hyena’s in the night but this night a plucky hyena wandered into camp looking for scraps. During all this the food prepared by Abis and the rest of the crew exceeded in quality every restaurant we visited. The T bone was especially delicious.

What an amazing experience this trip was. We saw so much it os difficult to know where to start. Brian our guide was so knoledgable about all of the animals, plants and insects we saw. He could spot a bird and tell you what it was when just a speck in the sky or perched on a distant tree. He also knew where most of the animals hang out, so we saw plenty of wildlife incuding elephants, lions, impala, giraffe, hippos, zebra and kudu among other things. We even saw a couple of cheetah and a pack of wild dogs. There ar a lot of different experiences on this trip, from the mokoro canoes on the delta to Victoria falls. This inevibably led to some long drives. The wild camps were good fun and it was amazing what our cook Abi could produce on a camp fire and a gas ring. Although I personally don't like it apparently the porridge was to die for!!

Wildlife & Wilderness of Botswana trip is great. No matter where you go, Wildlife & Wilderness of Botswana trip is the coolest, most happening thing around!"

I have just returned from this trip which was very good indeed. We were a very diverse group and I don't think we were very easy for our leader Anthony but he coped very well with a difficult person and a demanding situation. H was helped by the crew Melo an excellent cook and Ronald and KT who worked so hard and were always kind and helpful. We were all struggling with the tremendous heat and I would not recommend october as the best month. it was exceptionally hot, drinking hpt water was something we had to get used to, to keep from dehydration, very diddifcult indeed, We had elephants in camp which was a treat and at night could hear the lions and hyeanas outside the tents. We saw numerous birds and wonderful lions also saw a cervil a real treat. Dont expect it all to be easy but it is worth it.

Wow what a way to see botswana on Brians fun bus,from start to finish our every need was met by Brian and his crew,having never camped before we were worried about bush toilets and open fire cooking and wild animals wondering about in the camp,but all of these things are part of what makes this adventure special the bush toilet was fine and discreet the open fire cooking was unbelievable best lasagne fish and chips and beef fillet potatoes and green beens i have ever tasted thanks to Abis the cook ,there are long dusty journeys but is a good time to get to know the other travellers in your group and nature seems to provide all the way to your next destination,the camp beds were comfortable and the kettle always boiling,sitting around the camp fire at night listening to all the sounds and looking up at the night sky really is awe inspiring,the game drives were amazing and Brians knowledge of every animal bird tree plant insect and animal poo was incredible there was nothing we asked that he didnt give a full explanation about, And we saw every animal except cheetahs and Rhinos ,

I always wanted to go on safari, but had never been camping before, so I was a little apprehensive about that. But camping was all part of the adventure and it was lovely gathering around the campfire in the evenings. It also makes you feel very immersed in the wildlife, e.g. hearing lions roar as you're going to sleep and wondering how far away they are! So if you're worried about camping, just do it, you won't regret it.