Desert & Delta – an extraordinary journey of contrasts
Lush floodplains full of wildlife, vast salt pans that seem to stretch forever, and red dunes rising from the Namib. Few journeys show Africa's contrasts so clearly, with water and desert, abundance and space, all in one unforgettable trip.
What to expect
Move between waterways, wetlands and desert landscapes, with each stop offering a completely different perspective on Southern Africa.
Fly-In Safaris
Travel between remote camps by light aircraft, making the journey part of the experience while giving you access to places that are difficult to reach by road.
Okavango Delta
Explore a vast inland delta of waterways, islands and floodplains, where wildlife gathers around the water and every season brings a different landscape.
Desert Landscapes
Experience the extraordinary contrast of the Makgadikgadi, Kalahari and Namibia, where wide-open spaces, ancient landscapes and dramatic skies create a very different kind of safari.
Exclusive Camps
Stay in intimate camps and lodges in remote locations, with fewer guests, exceptional service and a real sense of privacy.
Big 5 & Wildlife
Follow wildlife across very different habitats, from elephants and hippos in the Delta to desert-adapted species in the drier landscapes.
Mokoro & Water Safaris
Glide quietly through the Delta by mokoro or explore its waterways by boat, getting close to wildlife from a completely different perspective.
Walking in the Wilderness
Explore on foot with an experienced guide, learning to read tracks, understand the landscape and notice the smaller details of the bush.
Star-Filled Skies
Far from towns and artificial light, the desert and Delta offer extraordinary night skies and some of the best stargazing in Africa.
Exceptional Dining
Enjoy beautifully prepared meals in remarkable settings, from elegant camp dining to private dinners beneath the African sky.
Where could your Desert & Delta safari take you?
Combine two, three or all four, depending on how much time you have and what you'd most like to see.
Okavango Delta
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's largest inland deltas, the Okavango floods each winter with rain from the Angolan highlands. Peak water from roughly June to August draws huge concentrations of wildlife, including elephant, lion, leopard and wild dog. You can explore by game drive, mokoro, boat and on foot.
Makgadikgadi Pans
The Makgadikgadi Pans are among the largest salt flats in the world, and in the dry season they feel almost otherworldly. The rains bring one of Africa's largest zebra migrations, while habituated meerkats and San-guided walks make it a year-round highlight.
Kalahari Game Reserve
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is one of Africa's largest protected areas, known for its black-maned lions, gemsbok and springbok. It's at its best in the green season, roughly December to April, when rains transform the pans and draw the herds.
The Namib Desert
For the most dramatic desert scenery, add Namibia. Sossusvlei has some of the world's highest dunes, and Damaraland is home to desert-adapted elephants and rhino. NamibRand has some of the darkest skies on earth, and the whole country pairs well with the Delta on a fly-in safari.
Things you’ll experience on a Desert & Delta safari
A gorilla trekking safari is so much more than an hour spent in the forest.
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San Cultural Experiences
Learn about the traditions, knowledge and way of life of the San people.
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Mokoro Excursions
Glide through the waterways of the Okavango Delta in a traditional mokoro.
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Game Drives
Head out with an experienced guide to track wildlife and discover the wilderness.
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Walking Safaris
Explore the landscape on foot and discover the smaller details of the wilderness.
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Boat Safaris
Explore rivers, lakes and waterways while watching wildlife from a different perspective.
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Fishing
Spend time on some of Africa’s rivers, lakes and coastline with opportunities for both freshwater and saltwater fishing.
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Birdwatching
Discover Africa’s extraordinary birdlife, from colourful residents to seasonal migrants.
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Horse Riding
Explore the landscape on horseback, from open plains and bushveld to beaches and mountain trails.
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Safari on Foot
Slow down and explore the landscape on foot, with an expert guide to point out plants, tracks and wildlife.
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Sundowners
Stop as the sun goes down and enjoy a drink while taking in the changing colours of the landscape.
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Bush Dining
Enjoy memorable meals in the wilderness, from relaxed bush breakfasts to dinners beneath the stars.
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Stargazing
Look up after dark and experience some of the clearest night skies on the planet.
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Spa & Wellness
Take time to unwind with massages, spa treatments, yoga and peaceful surroundings.
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Meerkat Interactions
On the edge of the Makgadikgadi, habituated meerkat colonies go about their day around you, sometimes using a guest as a lookout post.
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Zebra Migrations
In the wet season, tens of thousands of zebra cross the Makgadikgadi, followed closely by predators.
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Desert Quad Biking
Ride across the endless white pans of the Makdagadi in the dry season, or the red-sand deserts in Namibia.
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Sleep in a Star Bed
Spend a night in a luxurious star bed beneath the Milky Way.
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Track Wildlife by Air
From the air, the Delta's channels, islands and grazing herds reveal a pattern you can't appreciate from the ground.
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Deadvlei & Dunes of Sossusvlei
Climb the red dunes at sunrise, then walk among the ancient, blackened camel thorn trees of Deadvlei.
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Rhino Tracking in Damaraland
Specialist trackers follow desert-adapted black rhino on foot through rugged, rocky landscapes.
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Hot-air Ballooning
Drift silently over the Namib at dawn as the first light turns the dunes to gold.
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Thrilling Night Drives
Night drives, only possible on Botswana's private concessions, offer the chance to see honey badgers, aardvarks and leopards at their most active.
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Picture-perfect Africa
Specialist photographic vehicles, low mokoro angles and dramatic desert light make this one of Africa's most rewarding journeys to photograph.
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Walking with San Guide
Walking with San guides offers a rare glimpse into one of the world's oldest cultures, as they share tracking skills, bush remedies and stories of desert survival.
LET US HELP YOU SHAPE YOUR SAFARI
We are Desert & Delta experts
Timing is everything here, with the Delta and the desert peaking in different seasons and camps linked by light aircraft. Our consultants know these regions first-hand and have long-standing relationships with Botswana's and Namibia's finest camps. Tell us when you'd like to travel, and we'll create the right combination for you.
We’ll bring the right places and experiences together to create a journey that works for you.