This 11-day (10-night) mobile camping safari circuits Botswana's premier northern wildlife heartlands, starting in Maun and weaving through the lush floodplains of Moremi Game Reserve, the hippo-filled Khwai Concession, the predator-rich Savuti plains, and the elephant-packed Chobe Riverfront—ending in Kasane. It's a seamless progression from the Okavango Delta's watery mosaics to Chobe's arid expanses, offering Big Five sightings, birdlife (over 400 species), and immersive bush experiences like mokoro glides and sunset boat cruises.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Maun & Transfer to Moremi Game Reserve (Xakanaxa Region)
Arrive at Maun Airport (MUB) and meet your guide for a 2–3-hour overland transfer (or optional 25-min scenic flight) into Moremi's eastern reaches, a UNESCO jewel blending lagoons, woodlands, and savanna. Settle at a private mobile camp near Xakanaxa Lagoon.
Afternoon: Introductory game drive through mopane forests and floodplains, spotting red lechwe, elephants, and perhaps a lion pride at a waterhole. Evening campfire briefing on Moremi's ecosystems.
Meals: Lunch, dinner.
Overnight: Mobile camp, Xakanaxa.
Day 2: Full Day in Moremi – Central Floodplains Exploration
Dawn wake-up for a morning drive targeting Moremi's core: scan for leopards in fever trees and wild dogs on the prowl amid fresh green shoots. Midday picnic by the Boro River, with time for a guided bush walk (spotting tracks and medicinal plants).
Afternoon: Afternoon drive to Third Bridge area, where hippos grunt in channels and giraffes tower over acacias. Return for sundowners as the sky ignites.
Meals: All.
Overnight: Mobile camp, Xakanaxa.
Day 3: Moremi Immersion – Night Drive & Mokoro Option
Another full day delving into Moremi's diversity. Morning: Venture to the mopane-dominated plains for buffalo herds and saddle-billed storks.
Midday: Leisure at camp—relax with a siesta or optional short nature walk.
Afternoon: Evening game drive, possibly extending to a night drive (spotting genets and owls under spotlights). Add a serene mokoro (dugout canoe) glide through papyrus channels if water levels allow, poled by a local poler.
Meals: All.
Overnight: Mobile camp, Xakanaxa.
Day 4: Transfer to Khwai Concession – Riverfront Drives
Break camp post-breakfast and drive north (~2 hours) into the Khwai Community Concession, bordering Moremi—known for unrestricted off-road driving and cultural ties to local communities. En route, pause at hippo pools for photos.
Afternoon: Game drive along the Khwai River, teeming with crocs, elephants bathing, and vibrant kingfishers. Camp setup overlooks the floodplains.
Evening: Bush dinner with stories from your guide, perhaps including San folklore.
Meals: All.
Overnight: Mobile camp, Khwai.
Day 5: Full Day in Khwai – Diverse Habitats & Walk
Explore Khwai's mosaic of palm groves, grasslands, and wetlands. Morning: Track predators like cheetahs in open areas or lions near the river.
Midday: Picnic brunch and optional guided walk with a Khwai tracker, learning about termite mounds and edible roots.
Afternoon: Afternoon drive to remote pans, seeking sable antelope or a leopard drag. End with golden-hour views.
Meals: All.
Overnight: Mobile camp, Khwai.
Day 6: Khwai to Savuti – Transition Through Mababe Depression
Early start for a scenic ~4–5-hour transfer northeast, crossing the wildlife corridor of Mababe Depression (a predator hotspot). Game view en route—zebras and giraffes abound.
Afternoon:* Arrive in Savuti (western Chobe), a stark, rocky plain famed for its "Savuti lions" and ancient rock art. Afternoon drive around the seasonal Savuti Channel, now flowing again, drawing buffalo herds.
Meals: All. *Overnight:* Mobile camp, Savuti. *Distance:* ~150 km. *Highlight:* En-route elephant encounters.
Day 7: Full Day in Savuti – Predator Paradise
Dedicate the day to Savuti's dramatic grasslands. Morning: Search for the park's iconic lion prides, adapted to this arid zone, often hunting in packs.
Midday: Bush lunch amid thornveld, with downtime for photography.
Afternoon: Explore the channel's edges for cheetahs sprinting across flats or hyenas at waterholes. Optional visit to San rock engravings for a cultural touch.
Meals: All.
Overnight: Mobile camp, Savuti.
Day 8: Savuti to Chobe Riverfront – Northern Shift
Pack up and head north (~3 hours) to Chobe's lush riverfront, where the Chobe River meets the floodplains—a verdant contrast to Savuti's dryness.
Afternoon: Settle camp and embark on a riverside drive, witnessing massive elephant herds (Africa's largest concentration, up to 120,000) quenching at sunset.
Evening: Relax with river views and a braai.
Meals: All.
Overnight: Mobile camp, Chobe Riverfront.
Day 9: Full Day Chobe Riverfront – Boat Cruise & Drives
Morning game drive along the riverbanks, spotting hippos, crocs, and thirsty herds.
Midday: Picnic by the water.
Afternoon: Signature sunset boat cruise on the Chobe—glide past grazing elephants, buffalo, and iridescent birds like carmine bee-eaters. Return for a fireside debrief.
Meals: All.
Overnight: Mobile camp, Chobe Riverfront.
Day 10: Chobe Exploration – Optional Add-Ons
Final full day in Chobe. Morning: Drive to Serondela area for varied sightings, including rare sable or roan antelope.
Midday: Leisure or optional village visit (e.g., to a riverside community for beadwork demos).
Afternoon: Afternoon drive, tying up wishlist species like a puff adder basking or saddle-billed storks. Evening stargazing over the river.
Meals: All.
Overnight: Mobile camp, Chobe Riverfront.
Day 11: Morning Drive & Transfer to Kasane
Dawn drive for last-minute magic—perhaps a leopard crossing or fish eagles calling. Break camp by 9 AM and transfer ~1 hour to Kasane Airport (BBK) or town center, arriving by noon for departures. Optional extension: Victoria Falls day trip (~US$150 pp).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch.