Self Drive Safari Tips for the Ultimate Adventure! 

Botswana hospitality is well known, and visitors self-driving through Botswana can expect warm welcomes and friendly smiles throughout their journey. To ensure your self-drive safari is the best adventure possible, check out these self-drive safari tips from Khwai Expeditions Camp. 

Khwai Expeditions Camp

Experience the wild with us… This is the slogan adopted by Khwai Expeditions Camp, and it certainly lives up to its name! Khwai Expeditions Camp is an excellent location for self-drive safaris, ideally located between the Moremi Game Reserve and the Chobe National Park in Botswana. It makes a wonderful oasis to include in your itinerary, with six modern, tastefully furnished rooms and a family unit. 

The Khwai region is undoubtedly one of Botswana’s most spectacularly wildlife-rich, game-viewing areas with the most stunning picturesque landscape of the Okavango Delta. Expect to see large herds of elephants, several types of antelope, hyenas, wild dogs, lions, and many different species of birdlife. In addition, the area has leopards and cheetahs, but these are more elusive. 

Self Drive Vehicle

Remember that it is a good idea to ensure adventure enthusiasts use a reliable 4×4 vehicle when self-driving through Botswana. This is because the roads and routes can be a little arduous in some areas, and there’s a chance of getting a flat tyre or being stuck in sandy areas. 

Communication

In addition, there is very little or no cell phone signal or Wi-Fi in many areas where self-drives travel. Although the aim of a self-drive safari in Botswana is typically to get away from modern technology, it is still integral to plan and let someone know your itinerary. We recommend using a fully equipped vehicle when driving through Southern Africa since travellers will most likely journey through plenty of wilderness and remote areas. 

Money 

Remember to take cash for National Parks Fees. While in Botswana, we highly recommend having a bit of US Dollars and Pula cash for places that don’t accept credit cards or when communication systems might be down. 

Plan your route

The road from Maun to Khwai is a bit rough but is only approximately a 3.5 – 4 hour drive depending on the route taken. There are a few different route options to choose from, and one takes drivers through the Moremi Reserve, where they would probably enjoy excellent game viewing. 

If guests take the longer route from Kasane to Khwai, it may be best to split the journey over two days. There is no fuel in the Khwai Community area, so filling up in one of the main towns is essential. 

Be a responsible self-driver

When driving through Botswana, there are designated areas and campsites in many regions they will traverse. Please ensure that the camping areas are left in pristine condition on departure. Driving through the Khwai area provides unparalleled adventure experiences. The intrepid traveller will explore diverse habitats, including open savannah plains, mopane woodlands, and riverine woodlands. 

Multi-country itinerary

Combining a self-drive safari through Botswana with a longer itinerary through Namibia works exceptionally well. Alternatively, it is only an hour’s drive from Chobe National Park through to Livingstone, Zambia or Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Each of the four countries in Africa’s Eden has diverse offerings, including the dunes and coastal areas of Namibia, the wildlife reserves of Botswana, and the Victoria Falls of Zimbabwe and Zambia.