Why Botswana for a Honeymoon
Most safari countries sell the animals. Botswana sells the solitude around them. Large parts of the north are divided into private concessions where only guests of one or two camps may drive, so a leopard in a sausage tree usually has one vehicle beneath it rather than fifteen. Night drives, walking safaris and off-road tracking are allowed in many concessions, which is rarely the case inside national parks elsewhere in Africa.
The camps themselves are built for two. Expect canvas suites raised on decks, outdoor showers, a plunge pool at the high end and staff who will set up a private dinner on a floodplain if you mention an anniversary. Many couples find that the small size of the camps, often eight to twelve tents, makes the experience feel personal without being forced. Add a country that is stable, English-speaking and well run by regional standards. The result is a safari that feels remote but not risky.
Best Time to Visit
Botswana runs on two clocks. The rains fall roughly November to March, while the Okavango flood arrives on its own schedule: rain in the Angolan highlands takes months to travel south, so the Delta is fullest from about June to August, in the middle of the dry winter.
June through October is peak season. Game gathers around permanent water, the bush thins out and the mosquitoes ease off. Mornings in June and July can drop near freezing in an open vehicle, so pack a warm layer. October is hot, often above 100°F, but sightings are at their best.
November to March is the green season. Afternoon storms are common, some camps close briefly and rates can fall by a third or more. It is also when zebra and wildebeest move onto the Makgadikgadi Pans and the antelope drop their young. April and May are good shoulder months with fresh landscapes and fewer guests.
Where to Go
Most Botswana honeymoons combine two or three of these areas, each with a different feel.
- Okavango Delta: the reason most couples come. Water channels, palm islands, mokoro trips and some of the most exclusive camps in Africa, reached by light aircraft from Maun.
- Chobe National Park: the riverfront near Kasane has one of the largest elephant populations on the continent. Boat safaris here are the highlight. Victoria Falls is close enough for a day trip or a final night.
- Makgadikgadi Pans: salt flats and grassland on the edge of the Kalahari, with habituated meerkats, quad bike trips onto the pans in the dry months and a zebra migration after the rains.
Further afield, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and the Linyanti and Savuti areas suit couples on a second safari who want even fewer people and a drier, wilder landscape.
Sample 10-Day Itinerary
Day 1: arrive in Johannesburg after the overnight flight. Rest at an airport hotel before flying to Kasane the next morning.
Days 2 to 4: Chobe riverfront. Three nights at a lodge above the river with a morning game drive and an afternoon boat cruise each day. The elephants come down to drink in the late afternoon.
Days 5 to 8: Okavango Delta. Fly by light aircraft to a camp in a private concession. Split these nights between two camps if you can afford it, one water-based for mokoro and boating, one land-based for game drives and predators.
Days 9 to 10: Makgadikgadi Pans. Fly or drive via Maun to a camp near Gweta. Spend an afternoon with the meerkats, then sleep out on the pan under the stars in the dry season. Fly out from Maun through Johannesburg on day 10.
Budget and Costs
Botswana is one of the most expensive safari destinations in the world, by design. Approximate figures, per person per night for two sharing, all-inclusive of meals, drinks, activities and park fees:
- Mid-range lodges near Kasane, Maun or the pans: about $400 to $900.
- Established Delta camps in private concessions: about $900 to $2,000.
- Top-tier camps in peak season: $2,500 and well beyond.
Light aircraft transfers between camps add a few hundred dollars per leg. Many couples spend $15,000 to $30,000 total for a 10-day trip including international flights. Some spend far more. Green season rates, quieter camps on the Delta fringes and a self-drive section with a specialist outfitter can bring the cost down considerably. Tipping is customary: guides and camp staff are tipped separately, usually in US dollars or pula. Camps post suggested ranges.
Getting There and Around
No airline flies nonstop from the US to Botswana. The usual route is a nonstop to Johannesburg, then a regional flight to Maun for the Delta or Kasane for Chobe. Some couples arrive at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe instead, which is about 90 minutes by road from Kasane, then fly out of Maun. Gaborone, the capital, is far from the safari areas and rarely worth a stop on a honeymoon.
Inside the north, nearly everyone moves by light aircraft. Flights between camps take 20 to 60 minutes and land on dirt strips, often after a quick loop to clear animals off the runway. Luggage limits are strict, usually around 20 kg per person in soft bags without wheels. Self-driving is possible in Chobe and Moremi with a fully equipped 4x4, but it is a different kind of trip and probably not the one for a first honeymoon safari. A specialist agent can bundle flights, transfers and camps into one booking.
Culture and Etiquette
Botswana has had peaceful elections since independence in 1966 and its people take quiet pride in that. Greetings matter: start any exchange with a hello and ask how someone is before getting to the request. Dumela (hello) is appreciated. So is a simple thank you, ke a leboga.
Dress at camp is casual, but neutral colors work best on game drives because bright clothing can disturb animals. Ask before photographing people, especially in villages around Maun. Many guides and camp staff come from communities bordering the concessions. A growing number of camps are partly owned by those communities, so your fee supports local jobs.
On drives, follow the guide's rules without debate: stay seated, keep voices low and keep arms inside the vehicle. Tips are given at the end of a stay rather than after each activity, usually in an envelope to the guide and a shared box for the staff.
Health and Safety
The State Department rates Botswana Level 2 for crime, which in practice means theft and occasional break-ins or smash-and-grab robberies in Gaborone, Francistown and Maun. Couples on a lodge-based safari rarely spend time in those towns. Keep valuables out of sight in vehicles and use hotel safes on transit nights.
The north, including the Okavango and Chobe, is a malaria area, so talk to a travel clinic about prophylaxis and pack repellent. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices for Botswana. Medical care at camps is basic and evacuation is by air, so buy travel insurance that covers emergency medical evacuation from remote areas. Tap water at lodges is usually filtered, but check with staff. The biggest real risk on safari is wildlife. Following your guide's instructions handles almost all of it.
Quick tips
- Pack soft duffels: bush planes into the Delta usually cap luggage near 20 kg each.
- Book Delta camps 9 to 12 months ahead for July through September.
- Bring small US bills for guide and staff tips, handed over on your last morning.
