Custom-crafted for Mind-Blowing Adventure
We at Desert & Delta Safaris appreciate all kinds of travellers with unique travel goals. For some, finery and luxury are a priority, catered for with each of our stunning camps and lodges and filled with soul by our incredible team of staff.
For others, it’s unfiltered connection and unbridled exploration, for which we have introduced an exciting new family of itineraries. These experiential journeys are guided by experts who have a profound, inside knowledge of Botswana, and are designed with our signature touch of exclusivity at the core.
Introducing Epic Experiences:
Indulge your senses and ignite your spirit with our newly launched Epic Experiences, custom-crafted for mind-blowing journeys.
These specialised mini-packages cater to travellers who value both the journey and the destination. They lead you to hidden gems and ancient sites, connecting you with local communities while keeping distractions at bay. Rooted in authenticity and meaning, these experiences will leave you with remarkable stories to share and memories that will last a lifetime.
How you travel and how deep you dive into any of our Epic Experiences is up to you because, through our personalised packages, you can choose your ideal balance between our traditional luxury safaris and our unique Epic Experiences.
“Think of Epic Experiences as your little home from which to come up with these inspiring itinerary ideas,” says Desert & Delta’s James Wilson.
Spanning three to ten nights, these packages can be added to your booking for a special touch or, if you’re ready for a fully immersive take, you can plan your entire trip around our themed itineraries.
Ideal for families, groups of friends, and couples alike, our Epic Experiences are for all who crave a unique venture into Botswana. Come with open hearts and minds, ready to explore, learn, and connect.
Craft Your Epic Experience:
From The Best of Botswana’s Birding to Okavango Delta Tiger Fishing, our Tsodilo Hills Adventure and Sleep-Out and our iconic Makgadikgadi Salt Pans Adventures, we can’t wait to show you a world many only dream of, guided by experts with our signature luxury touches throughout.
*Each itinerary is designed to inspire and can be tailored to your travel needs and goals.
2025 Epic Experiences:
Empowering Women: A Journey of Inspiration & Impact in Botswana
10-Night Journey – Chobe Game Lodge, Savute Safari Lodge, Nxamaseri Island Lodge
The legendary women at Desert and Delta Safaris have blazed a trail for women across the continent. They have led the uprising and set the trend for incredible women to follow, from pioneering safari guides to dedicated community leaders.
This inspirational 10-night journey, with set hosts at Chobe Game Lodge and Savute Safari Lodge, followed by an immersive cultural and wellness experience at Tsodilo Hills and Nxamaseri Island Lodge, is a dream itinerary for women-led entrepreneur groups, corporate retreats, or families with young girls seeking inspiration. This itinerary was crafted to seamlessly blend luxury, culture, and philanthropy while empowering the next generation of female leaders in Botswana.
Learn from inspirational women leaders, upskill (learn basket weaving, fishing, cooking local dishes like tswii), relax with some yoga, discover our heritage, and come face to face with iconic African wildlife.
Learn more about the day-by-day itinerary, your hosts and rates here.
Best of Botswana’s Birding: A Tailor-made Safari Experience (Hosted by a Specialist Bird Guide)
11-Night Journey – Chobe Game Lodge, Savute Safari Lodge, Nxamaseri Island Lodge, Leroo La Tau.
A journey of a thousand feathers begins as migratory birds arrive in Botswana for the start of the green season (December to March). Our specialist guide, Nick Buys, a dedicated bird enthusiast, is eager to share the deep passion and knowledge he has acquired during his time in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and beyond. With an impressive life list of 4,000 species, Nick excels at both serious birding expeditions and relaxed nature outings—his keen eye ensures you won’t miss a single sighting.
This avian expedition guides guests across Botswana, following the iconic migratory species that make it famous for birding. Some of our favourites include: as you stroll along the boardwalk at Chobe Game Lodge, the birds come to you as Broad-billed Rollers swoop in on unsuspecting flying ants at dusk. Thousands of Black-winged and Collared Pratincoles congregate along the seasonal pans and waterholes in the Savute region as they nest and hunt in the air. Nxamaseri’s inter-Africa migratory birds, the iconic Carmine-bee eaters as they nest along the river banks. One of our favourite sightings in the Okavango Panhandle, specifically at Camp Xakanaxa, is the elusive Pel’s Fishing Owl. Last but certainly not least is watching the hundreds of Burchell’s and Double-banded Sandgrouse flock to collect water on the pans to take back to feed their young.
This journey also unveils many other incredible feathered species, including korhaans, larks, pipits, Greater Swamp Warblers, Coppery-tailed Coucals, Chirping and Lapula Cisticolas, Wattled Cranes, and several species of Botswana kingfishers. Beyond this migratory journey, Botswana’s beautiful emerald landscapes and abundant wildlife offer additional distractions for you and your camera.
Find out more about this 11-night journey through Botswana.
The Ultimate Makgadikgadi Pans Adventure
3-Night Itinerary – Leroo La Tau & Makgadikgadi Pans
The first of three mind-blowing nights during this itinerary begins with a “deck safari” at Leroo La Tau, where you’ll be welcomed by the annual zebra migration in the thousands, all passing through the waterhole below your deck on their journey for water during the dry season. Heading out on a game drive to explore the Boteti River Valley will also introduce you to an abundant congregation of zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, elephants, and some spectacular lion sightings.
Night two is certainly no step down from the first; the experience just gets better. The Makgadikgadi Pans, a vast sea of salt, create a horizon where the earth meets the sky in a shimmering mirage. The plains reveal the beauty of desolation and the resilience of life, and here—where silence speaks volumes—you’ll spend the night under the stars, dining in solitude by campfire.
Day three whisks you over the plains to discover Kubu Island, where you can take it all in during a picnic and, depending on water levels, witness the flamingo migration—a sight to behold from above. This experience is like no other; the masterpiece that is the Makgadikgadi Pans is a humbling sight.
Validity: 15 June – 31 October
Find out more about our Makgadikgadi Pans Adventure here.
Okavango Delta Tiger Fishing: An Exhilarating Angling Adventure
4-Night Experience – Nxamaseri Island Lodge
Teeming with tiger fish, the Okavango Delta offers the thrill of patience and the dance between angler and predator—always an exhilarating experience. Our guides will place you at the heart of the ‘wild waters’ brimming with tiger fish, bream, or barbel (depending on the time of year). Guests spend mornings and afternoons enjoying the water, whether fishing or on a leisurely sundowner cruise, all while relaxing at Nxamaseri Island Lodge nestled under the canopy of acacia trees.
The breathtaking Barbel (Catfish) Run triggers a feeding frenzy, attracting swathes of tiger fish. Whether you’re an experienced fly fisher or prefer lure fishing, this journey is tailored to help you make the most of your time on the water in this pristine region.
Nxamaseri Island Lodge is also a haven for those who prefer not to dip their rods in the water; non-anglers have ample opportunity to indulge in the lodge’s luxuries, including yoga mornings, spa treatments, or exploring the culture and ancient history of Tsodilo Hills.
Fishing Seasons:
April-August: best for bream.
March-April & August-December: best for Tiger and Barbel
January -February: Closed for Fishing in Botswana due to breeding season
Tsodilo Hills Adventure: An Exploration of Botswana’s Undiscovered Culture
3-Night Expedition – Nxamaseri Island Lodge
This adventure includes three nights and two UNESCO World Heritage sites: Tsodilo Hills and the Okavango Delta. Tsodilo Hills, one of the world’s first sacred natural monuments, whispers ancient history—every painting is a story etched in rock and time. Modern humans are thought to have originated in Botswana, making this expedition an opportunity to discover more about the San peoples cultural heritage as you connect with local hosts who are experts in the region’s history.
Guests are immersed in the modern culture of these remote communities during their one-night stay (the second night of the 3-nights) in private sleep-out dwellings at the base of the hills. The day is spent hiking, while the night is spent around the fire, talking with local elders and witnessing the sacred “trance dance” below Botswana’s highest peak.
Your last two nights are spent at Nxamaseri Island Lodge, where you’ll enjoy the scenic Okavango Panhandle and visit the local community to learn how they live—such as foraging for lily roots, basket weaving, herding livestock, and moving around in traditional mokoros (dugout canoes).
An immersive experience discovering Botswana’s heritage is an experience not to be missed, find out more here.
Please contact [email protected] to make your request and start building your Epic Experience itinerary.