Botswana family safari

With its pristine wilderness and diverse ecosystems, Botswana’s real draw lies in its vast, empty, but utterly mesmerising spaces. This is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world and the only crowds will be the wildebeest congregating around a waterhole or a herd of elephants slowly plodding across the Kalahari. The landscapes are constantly changing and always beautiful, from the tranquil waterways of the Okavango Delta to the vast expanses of the Makgadikgadi Pans.

Best suited to families with kids in their teens, Botswana is very much one for those who want wilderness and to get away from it all. A Botswana family safari is all about exhilarating wildlife encounters, whether you’re floating down a waterway in a traditional mokoro canoe, embarking on a guided bush walk in the light of dawn or taking a thrilling game drive. After the excitement of the day, you can all gather around the campfire under a vast African sky to savour the silence and listen to the sounds of the bush.

Why take the kids?

Some of our favourite activities on a Botswana family holiday include:

1. Getting an eyeful of huge herds of elephants
2. Taking in Okavango’s blissfully peaceful waterways from a dug-out canoe
3. Discovering Africa’s iconic wildlife on a wilderness game drive
4. Soaking up the sounds of the bush around a campfire under the stars
5. Taking a mobile camping trip through the game-rich Moremi Game Reserve
6. Learning to shoot a bow and arrow with San Bushmen
7. Having water-based fun at Victoria Falls – rafting, canoeing, zip-lining and much more

It’s the variety of activities, combined with the remote and breath-taking landscapes that make a Botswana family safari such a success. From playful meerkats to majestic elephants, adventure and wildlife is around every corner and the children will revel in tracking and spotting anything from the Big Five to the humble dung beetle and everything in between.

Most of our Botswana family safaris will either start or end with time in Victoria Falls, one of Africa’s most incredible spectacles. Known as ‘The Smoke that Thunders’, this is pure and un-tamed nature in all its glory. There’s also a whole wealth of exciting activities to keep even the most adventure-loving teens entertained, including bungee-jumping, gorge high-wiring, zip-lining, canopy tours and micro-lighting. 

Example Botswana family itineraries

All of our Botswana family holidays are bespoke meaning that they are tailor-made specifically for your family, taking into account the ages of your children, your interests and your budget. However, to give you an idea of what you could do on a family holiday in Botswana, have a look at our sample itineraries, Botswana Highlights & Vic Falls (8 days) and Botswana Highlights & Vic Falls (11 days).

If you’d like to read more about some of the places you’d like to see on a Botswana family safari, see Places to Visit in Botswana. And to find out what the weather will be like when you want to travel, visit When to Go.

Ring us when you are ready to start planning and we’ll be delighted to advise you on the best safari in Botswana for your family.