Brief Flirtation with Botswana – Itinerary for a 10 day Botswana trip by 4WD

When I went to Namibia in early 2021, I also planned to spend some time travelling around Botswana. I had over 10 weeks and could of course visit the beautiful spots of Botswana with my 4WD. This turned into a flirtation with Botswana (only a 10 day Botswana trip) because I ended up in the rainy period. The period was actually supposed to be later but even there the effects of global warming, or change in the weather picture, are well felt.

So what was supposed to be a nice tour of Botswana’s highlights became a brief flirtation with Botswana. I certainly saw a very beautiful country. I visited super beautiful places but then didn’t get to visit the National Parks which of course would show me much more beauty.

A short flirtation with Botswana
Itinerary for a 10 day Botswana trip

Of course, I have not been idle during my flirtation with Botswana so I can show you quite a few beautiful spots. And then I hope that when you are there you can also get into the parks and experience just a little bit more of this amazing African country.

Ghanzi

I drove into Botswana from Namibia at the height of Ghanzi. The lodge where I was to spend the night had closed due to water flooding and so they were cleaning up and redecorating. Then I ended up at Tautona Lodge. I slept here for two nights in a super cute cottage! In the area, I took a nice walk. I just walked along the road and ended up at the tented camp where you can also stay. There, I made this super cute video of a dung beetle taking a ball into his den. Note how he was startled when I picked it up.

Check for accommodation near Ghanzi

But if you look closely on the way on grass and trees, you sometimes discover the most beautiful colours. See this grasshopper!

Not very big but big on colour!

At the end of the afternoon, I took a walk with the San. I was explained which plants they looked for food and which plants they used to make poison from. They also showed my how they made a fire. Very fun and educational. Also had a nice conversation because they had not done a hike for a long time due to corona and so were happy to have me as a tourist.

Itinerary for a 10 day Botswana trip by 4WD

Maun

During my flirtation with Botswana, I drove to Maun and checked in at Discovery B&B. On it were Rene and Marije, a couple from Belgium. Super to catch up in Dutch. Even the owner didn’t mind having a cosy sit-down during this quiet corona period. There was a good internet connection and so I sat for a while. They sell a really good cup of cappuccino there so if you like that you may book a room here for that reason alone if you ask me.

That first evening I ate a fine dinner at Crocodile Camp Safari & Spa, they have a nice terrace over the water there. Fine views over the Thamalakane River.

When in Maun, of course you have to go to Moremi NP only here too it was too wet. There had been floods and the roads in Moremi were too wet and muddy. Several cars were stuck in the roads and so the park was closed. However, I could drive the road to it and who knows, I might see something along the way I was told. So I took the 4WD in that direction but after an hour’s drive and a few deep puddles I gave up. I thought it was too exciting anyway, I already had the mud on the back of my seat … Suppose I did get stuck …. And what if I got to the end and still hadn’t seen anything? Just the same deep puddles again through back so.

I went to the museum in Maun that afternoon. There, I was given a tour by a super enthusiastic woman who told and led me, actually just a little too long and too much, around the museum. I ran out of steam after that and took a late lunch at Dusty Donkey in the city centre. There you can sit nicely and so I did that for a while!

In the city centre, I did some shopping at the supermarket and then returned to Discovery B&B where I had a nice dinner with the owners that evening.

Book your nights at Discovery Bed & Breakfast in Maun

A brief flirtation with Botswana

Makgadikgadi

Another beautiful trip on this 10 day Botswana, I drove to Makgadikgadi. On the way, I came across elephants … I took a photo (see one of the first photos in this blog) on one of Botswana’s long roads. Truly in the middle of nowhere

At Boteti River Camp where I stayed for 2 nights, I booked a crossing to go to Makgadikgadi NP that next day. It was dry enough there to drive around. For this afternoon, I went for a walk through the neighbouring village of Khumaga Village. At the Boteti River, I had a look around. I also found it very educational to see how things were in such a small village. I bought some vegetables from a local. Everywhere they have fences around the houses and at this one there was a small booth where all kinds of things were for sale. Even detergent or sweets. But I saw she had potatoes and some vegetables so that was nice!

The next day, I crossed the river on time. That was already a little adventure because you have to partly drive your car into the water only to drive there with your front tyres on the two planks that bring you onto the ferry. Then I also found out that they manually pulled this ferry across. It really is another world, isn’t it? Great!

I knew the park was quite wet anyway and so most animals stayed further away. When it is dry, they have to go to the river but now there were puddles of water everywhere and so they could stay far away from the roads. I still hoped to see something of course. I had got a map of Makgadikgadi of the roads in the park and had the booklet for the animals and birds of Etosha with me.

Still, the roads were quite difficult to drive. On 1 road, I almost got stuck and had to maintain considerable speed to avoid coming to a standstill. At one point I turned and chose another road at a junction, closer to the river. There I suddenly came across an elephant anyway. And this one was already very close. Suddenly he was there….he also startled me.

We stood looking at each other for a moment….

I quickly parked my car so that I could turn around should at be necessary. Fortunately, it turned around after a few minutes and slowly walked away. I drove on and eventually I arrived at works and people indicated to me, who were repairing the fence, that I had driven the wrong way…. Hmm..okay, so I went back to where I saw the elephant a moment before. There I picked up the route again.

The elephant was at the bottom of the river at the time. So he did cross the road I was driving on, so he went back to cross the road with a diversion anyway. I stood and watched for a while and then drove on. Later, I saw some springbok and a beautiful bird of prey high up in a tree.

Finally, I drove one more road into the park, some of which would be closed due to the weather. Who knows, maybe I saw some more there…. I found a few porcupine quills there. After watching the surroundings for a while, I quickly got out of the car and grabbed them. A nice souvenir of my trip. I never take much with me and now I have 3 spines from this trip lying in my cupboard. I love them.

Itinerary for a 10 day Botswana trip by 4WD

Gweta

My next destination was Gweta, I was to stay one night at the amazing Planet Baobab. On the way there, I could already see that I would not be able to go to the pans, the salt flats. Everything was underwater and therefore inaccessible. I had already got stuck once on a non-asphalted road on the way there and so had to detour.

I checked in after a few hours at Planet Baobab where I could go and marvel at the huge baobabs they have on their grounds there. It really is incredible as big as they are. I was told there that the oldest one, the one at the back left of the property, close to a couple of cottages, is over 4,000 years old.

You can’t imagine one, can you?

I spent the whole afternoon among those giants. I sat at their feet and I meditated under those very old ones. Such a place is by definition a special place. For centuries, people have been walking past this tree, enjoying the shade under this tree, fruit being picked from this tree…. This tree as the focal point in that place…

Here you can see how big the tree is compared to the little house next to it. This is not a mini cottage but just a spacious hotel room you can use as a family.

Kasana

Then, after a night at Planet Baobab, I drove to the last stop for me in Botswana. I was very much hoping that I could still go to Chobe NP and see groups of elephants on safari. I had just been told that you could spot lots of elephants in Botswana. During the days I drove, I had already seen more of them than I had seen in Namibia, but not the large group of dozens of elephants.

I also had hopes of a trip to Victoria Falls. In the end, this trip, which also involves going into Zimbabwe, fell through. Ivm corona regulations and all the costs involved with extra tests, I decided that that visit too will be on my list of why I should come back to Botswana again.

I checked in at Senyati and after 1 night in the rooftop tent, I upgraded to a cottage as it was still raining a lot. I had a great time sitting on their covered terrace overlooking the waterhole. Lulu and Lou run this place and are really super nice people. I had dinner with them on day 2, of course it was quiet during that corona period and so I just sat with them in the kitchen.

It really clicked between Lulu and me. Sometimes you have those people you feel comfortable with right away, Lulu is such a person for me. We decided to go to Chobe NP together that next day. Lulu had obviously been there before and so she had the knowledge to show me the right spots.

What a fun day we had together. Lulu had made sandwiches, we had a table and two chairs with us and so we sat picnicking at a resort that was closed at the time. We had a view of the Chobe River and discussed all sorts of worldly matters. Super interesting and, of course, very sociable.

Love seeing the wildlife of Botswana

Looking back now, I am surprised at the variety of wildlife we saw in a few hours. We also really spent the whole day there because we really wanted to see a lion or leopard…. Unfortunately, the leopard didn’t succeed…. What was also quite unique and what we did see were Leechwee antelopes. These are not the above bucks mind you. We saw them running through a pool of water…. And that is also typical of these antelopes. Because of the special hooves they have, they do not sink very far into the ground and can almost walk on water, it seems.

In the evening, I again did my best to spot some animals. I had now got another cottage which was a bit smaller and was also a bit closer to their home and the reception. This cottage was again great and had an outdoor bathtub. Really a bathtub what you have inside but in a small outdoor bathroom. Super nicely done!

Check for your accommodation in Kasane

The next day, I drove to Kwando River Bushcamp in Namibia’s Caprivi Strip. Great drive of several hours. I left on time in the morning because you never know how long you will need time at the border. Everything went smoothly and I was at my campsite on the Kwando River by mid-afternoon.

Despite the weather in Botswana, I had a great week. I saw so many beautiful places and marvelled at their beauty. I met lovely people there and unfortunately left my super good external battery behind. but also made someone happy again because she got to keep it 🙂

After this visit, I dove back into Namibia and visited Divundu, Rundu and Kwando in the Caprivi Strip and Kavango Region.

Short Flirtation with Botswana
Itinerary for a 10 day Botswana trip by 4WD

Good to know for Botswana

As a Dutch citizin, you do not need a visa for a visit of less than 90 days (3 months)

For your car (4WD), you pay road tax. I had to pay 152 Pula, which is just under 12 euros. They prefer this in cash but as I had no Pula I was allowed to report to another counter where I could pay the amount via an ATM.

You have to be able to produce the rental contract of your rental car. They want to make sure you are allowed to cross the border with that car.

I can imagine that after reading this inspiration, you will be looking at when to plan a trip to Botswana. The best travel time is September and October. It is springtime in Botswana then and therefore a suitable temperature. Also equal the busiest period for tourism.

And for the other months, the following applies:

November to February is summer and there will be a lot of rain and, in addition, it can be very hot during the day. March, April and May is spring. If you love birds, this is a very good time to go to Botswana. June, July and August is winter. So some chilly temperatures but very fine for safaris. And yes, I was there in February so yes… what can you say.

English is the official language spoken there and Tswana is also spoken.

70% of the population there is Christian

And did you know this?
There is a ban on plastic bags so as to better protect nature from plastic. How good!

Want to read more about African Travels?

What to do in Divundu, Rundu and Kwando – Namibia

Visit the Authentic Himba tribe near Opuwo – Namibia

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Visiting Wassu & Kuntaur – The Gambia