Botswana Camping Safari FAQ

cheetah seen on a safari in the Khwai Concession of Botswana

Lelobu Safaris is a Maun-based safari agency that has planned and booked guided mobile camping safaris in Botswana's Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, Khwai Concession and Chobe National Park since 2015. These are the questions travellers ask us most before booking. If yours isn't here, WhatsApp us on +27 71 367 1490 or email anton@botswanabudgetsafaris.com.

At a glance

Safari agency: Lelobu Safaris (Betty's Travel Agency (Pty) Ltd), Maun, Botswana. Booking camping safaris since 2015, for close to 100 guests a year. Rated 5.0 from 45 reviews on TripAdvisor (October 2026).
Safari type: Guided mobile camping safaris, private or scheduled group. Most guides have around 20 years' experience in these areas.
Areas: Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, Khwai Concession, Savuti and Chobe. Private trips can add the Central Kalahari, Makgadikgadi Pans and Nxai Pan.
Group safari prices (2027): USD 1,525 to 2,425 per person sharing, for 5 to 7 days.
Private safari prices (2027): About USD 450 (budget), 560 (comfort) or 870 (luxury) per person sharing per day.
Group departures: Tuesdays and Thursdays from Maun, May to September 2027, with up to 8 guests on most departures.
Minimum ages: Any age on private safaris, 12 on group safaris, 8 for mokoro trips and walks.
Booking terms: 20% deposit, with the balance due 65 days before departure.

Booking and prices

How much does a camping safari in Botswana cost?

A scheduled group camping safari with Lelobu Safaris costs from USD 1,525 per person sharing for 5 days in 2027. That's about USD 380 per person per night. Private camping safaris cost about USD 450 per person sharing per day at budget level, USD 560 at comfort level and USD 870 at luxury level. Park fees, meals, activities and Maun transfers are included.

2027 group camping safaris from Maun (price per person sharing):

5 days Okavango & Moremi: Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve. Departs Tuesdays. USD 1,525.
5 days Moremi & Khwai: Moremi Game Reserve and Khwai Concession. Departs Thursdays. USD 1,800.
7 days Okavango, Moremi & Khwai: Okavango Delta, Moremi and Khwai. Departs Tuesdays. USD 2,425 (single USD 3,030).

The 9-day Maun to Kasane safari is a private set package covering the Okavango Delta, Moremi, Khwai and Savuti. It costs USD 3,750 per person sharing, with a minimum of three people. Private prices depend on the areas, the number of nights and your group size.

What is the difference between a private and a group camping safari?

On a group camping safari, you join other travellers on fixed departure dates and share the vehicle, guide and camp. On a private camping safari, you choose the dates and route, and the guide, vehicle and camp crew are yours alone. Private safaris need at least three people. Group safaris suit solo travellers and couples.

How big are the groups on a group camping safari?

Most Lelobu Safaris group camping safaris take a maximum of 8 guests, with one vehicle and one guide for the whole group. Because everyone shares the vehicle, a window seat isn't guaranteed on every drive. If a guaranteed window seat matters to you, for photography for example, choose a private safari, where the vehicle is yours alone.

Can I go on a camping safari in Botswana as a solo traveller?

Yes. Solo travellers can join Lelobu Safaris' scheduled group camping safaris from Maun. If you want a tent to yourself, you pay the single rate. On the 7-day safari, that's USD 3,030 instead of USD 2,425.

When do the group camping safaris depart?

Lelobu Safaris' group camping safaris leave Maun every week from May to September 2027. The 7-day Okavango, Moremi & Khwai and the 5-day Okavango & Moremi safaris depart on Tuesdays. The 5-day Moremi & Khwai safari departs on Thursdays. Other group safaris run throughout the year, so contact us with your dates to find one you can join.

Related: 7-day group safari itinerary

What is included in the price of a camping safari?

Lelobu Safaris' camping safari prices include:

Park, concession and community fees
Game drives, plus mokoro trips and guided walks where the itinerary includes them
All meals in camp
Pickup and drop-off in central Maun
Drinks. Budget and group safaris include drinking water, coffee/teas, fruit juice at breakfast and wine at dinner. Comfort and luxury private safaris add soft drinks, beer, cider and a limited supply of spirits.

Not included: international flights, travel insurance, tips and personal items.

How much should I tip on a camping safari in Botswana?

On a Botswana camping safari, we suggest tipping about USD 10 per guest per day for your guide. Add about USD 5 per guest per day for the rest of the camp team to share. On a 7-day safari, that comes to about USD 105 per guest. Tipping is optional and isn't included in the safari price.

How do I book and pay for a camping safari?

Send your travel dates, group size and preferred safari level to Lelobu Safaris by email or WhatsApp. We'll reply with availability and a quote. A 20% deposit confirms the booking, and the balance is due 65 days before departure. The deposit is non-refundable. You can pay by international bank transfer, using the banking details on your confirmation invoice, or by secure credit card payment.

What is Lelobu Safaris' cancellation policy?

If you cancel a Lelobu Safaris camping safari, the 20% deposit is non-refundable and counts toward the cancellation fee. The fee depends on how close to departure you cancel. Cancellations must be made in writing and take effect once Lelobu Safaris acknowledges receipt.

70 days or more before the safari starts: 20% of the total safari price
61 to 69 days before: 50% of the total safari price
60 days or less before, or if you don't arrive: 100% of the total safari price
Any cancellation fees charged by lodges, airlines or other suppliers are added to these fees.
Moving your departure date counts as a cancellation, so the same fees apply.
Lelobu Safaris can cancel a booking without a refund if a guest has, or is reasonably suspected of having, a contagious illness. The same applies if a guest behaves illegally or improperly, can't get along with staff or other guests, or endangers people or property.

Travel insurance with cancellation cover protects you against these costs. Our full booking terms and conditions are provided on your confirmation invoice.

Who is Lelobu Safaris, and do you run the safaris yourselves?

Lelobu Safaris is a Maun-based safari agency that has planned and booked camping safaris in Botswana since 2015. We send close to 100 guests on camping safaris each year, and we're rated 5.0 on TripAdvisor (October 2026). We book each safari with local camping operators whose trips our team has done personally, and we support guests 24/7 while they're in Botswana. Lelobu Safaris is registered in Botswana as a tourism company with a D licence, which covers making, planning and reserving travel arrangements.

Related: Contact Lelobu Safaris

Safari styles and tents

What is a mobile camping safari?

A mobile camping safari in Botswana is a guided trip that moves between wilderness areas, usually spending two nights in each. A camp crew sets up the tents and cooks along the way. You sleep in unfenced campsites inside the reserves and concessions, so wildlife moves around camp day and night.

Is a camping safari better than staying in a safari lodge?

A camping safari puts you closer to the bush and usually costs less than staying in lodges in the same areas. A lodge gives you a permanent room, more facilities and fewer moves. On a camping safari, you still have your own tent with a private shower and toilet, cooked meals and a camp crew. Private safaris can mix camping nights with lodge nights.

Do I have to help set up camp?

No. Our camping safaris are non-participation: the crew pitches the tents, cooks and does all the camp chores.

What is the difference between budget, comfort and luxury camping?

Every tent at all three Lelobu Safaris camping levels has its own private shower and toilet. The levels differ in tent size, bedding, camp extras and price.

Budget (about USD 450 per person sharing per day): En-suite dome tent with a bedroll and linen on a stretcher, a bedside table and a lantern. Private shower and toilet at the back of the tent; towels and soap supplied.
Comfort (about USD 560 per person sharing per day): 3 m x 4 m Meru-style tent with proper beds and quality cotton linen. Covered veranda with chairs and a table; private shower and toilet.
Luxury (about USD 870 per person sharing per day): 3 m x 4 m Meru-style tent with carpet, feather duvets, clothing shelves and bedside tables. Shaded veranda, dining tent, fully stocked bar, lounge and mini library; can include an en-suite chemical toilet.

Where do you camp?

Our camping safaris use private campsites run by members of BOGA (Botswana Guides Association) and HATAB (Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana). These sites are away from the busy public campsites, so your group usually has the area to itself.

How experienced are the guides on a camping safari?

Most of the guides on our Botswana camping safaris have around 20 years of experience guiding in the Okavango Delta, Moremi, Khwai and Chobe. They know the tracks, the animals' habits and where to look in each season. Guests regularly mention their tracking skills and their knowledge of animal behaviour, birds and ecology in our TripAdvisor reviews.

Do your camping safaris support local communities and conservation?

Yes. Every guide and camp crew member on our camping safaris is local to Botswana, and as a Maun-based company we work only with local partners. All our camping safaris follow leave-no-trace principles, so each campsite is left clean when the camp moves on. Community and concession fees are also included in every safari price.

Which areas of Botswana can a camping safari cover?

Most Lelobu Safaris camping safaris run between Maun and Kasane, through the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, the Khwai Concession and Savuti in Chobe National Park. Private safaris can add the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Makgadikgadi Pans and Nxai Pan. They can also mix camping with lodge nights.

What activities are included on a camping safari?

Every Lelobu Safaris camping safari includes two game drives a day, in the early morning and mid-afternoon. Other activities depend on the area:

Okavango Delta: mokoro (dugout canoe) trips with a local poler, and guided walks on the islands
Khwai Concession: night drives, which aren't allowed inside Moremi Game Reserve
Chobe: boat cruises

What wildlife will I see on a camping safari in Botswana?

Guests on our Botswana camping safaris regularly see elephants, buffalo, lions, hippos, crocodiles, zebras, wildebeest, kudu, impala, hyenas, baboons and monkeys. With a skilled guide, guests have also often found leopards, African wild dogs, cheetahs, sable, tsessebe, genets, several kinds of mongoose and monitor lizards. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the reserves are unfenced, so animals move freely through the areas you camp in.

What recent guests wrote on TripAdvisor:

“We successfully tracked and viewed leopards, wild dogs, several species of mongoose, genets, tsessebe, sable, and monitor lizards... We even had front row seats (in vehicle) to a lion chasing a Kudu.” — Steven S., 9-day mobile safari, review September 2026
“We spotted three of the Big Five in just one morning (elephants and buffaloes in large numbers, and a leopard—which hadn't been seen for the past week at the site we were at).” — Sharon T., family safari, April 2026
Another guest's guide found “a mother cheetah and her cubs, leopards, lions and rare and wonderful finds like the African wild dogs and nocturnal genets.” — Natasha E., Okavango safari for a couple, June 2026

How is a safari in Botswana different from Kenya or Tanzania?

A safari in Botswana is quieter and more remote than the busy parks of Kenya and Tanzania. Visitor numbers are low, the campsites are isolated, and you explore in open vehicles, by boat and by mokoro. On a camping safari you also sleep in the bush, with no fence between you and the wildlife.

One recent guest had seen all of the Big Five in Kenya and Tanzania before coming to Botswana: “the experience here is truly different! Botswana is more intimate and authentic, with its open jeeps, boat safaris, isolated locations, and fewer tourists around.” — Sharon T., April 2026

Are camping safaris in Botswana suitable for families?

Yes. Lelobu Safaris welcomes children of any age on private camping safaris, and the minimum age on group safaris is 12. Children must be at least 8 for mokoro trips and walking safaris. In June 2024, we arranged a private camping safari for a group of nine, including two young children.

Related: Family safaris

How fit do I need to be for a camping safari in Botswana?

If you're comfortable sleeping in a tent, you're fit enough for a Botswana camping safari. The main physical need is being able to climb in and out of the safari vehicle. Walking safaris are the only activity that may be hard for guests with limited mobility, and you're welcome to skip them. Older travellers are very welcome.

Life in camp

What does a typical day on a camping safari look like?

A typical day on a Botswana camping safari starts at 05:00, with game drives in the early morning and mid-afternoon. In between, you rest in camp through the midday heat. Times shift with the season, and your guide will always stop for a good sighting.

05:00: Wake-up call, then tea, coffee and breakfast by the fire.
06:00 to late morning: Morning game drive in the open vehicle, usually with a coffee break in the bush.
Midday: Lunch back in camp. Then you have free time to rest in the shade, read or charge your camera, and animals often wander past camp.
15:00: Afternoon game drive. On a private safari you set the schedule, since you have the guide to yourselves.
Sunset: A stop for snacks and a drink. In the Khwai Concession, the drive can carry on after dark as a night drive.
Evening: A hot bucket shower, then dinner around the fire.
Night: Lights out in your zipped tent, with the sounds of the bush around camp.

On days when you move to a new area, you do a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch. For groups of more than four people, private or scheduled, a separate camp team packs up and moves ahead while you're out game viewing. When you reach the next area, camp is already set up, there's hot water for showers and dinner is underway.

Related: 7-day itinerary, day by day

What food is served on a camping safari?

All meals on a Lelobu Safaris camping safari are cooked fresh in camp, and we cater for vegan, vegetarian and pescetarian diets. The menu depends on the safari level.

Budget and group safaris:

Breakfast: tea, coffee, cereals, fruit and a cooked breakfast
Lunch: salads, breads and spreads
Dinner: two courses, either a starter and main or a main and dessert
Drinks: drinking water, fruit juice at breakfast and wine at dinner, plus a cooler and ice for your own drinks

Comfort and luxury private safaris:

Breakfast: tea, filter coffee, cereals, yoghurt, fruit, rusks and a full cooked breakfast
Lunch: a light lunch of salads, breads and spreads
Sunset: snacks
Dinner: three courses: soup or starter, main and dessert
Drinks: bottled water, fruit juice, local soft drinks, beer, cider, wine and a limited supply of spirits

Tell us about any dietary needs or drink preferences when you book.

How do showers and toilets work on a camping safari?

Every tent on a Lelobu Safaris camping safari has a private enclosure at the back with a bucket shower and a toilet. The crew heats water over the fire and fills your shower when you're ready. Luxury camps can also have en-suite chemical toilets.

Is it safe to camp among wild animals in Botswana?

Wild animals are unpredictable, so no safari is completely without risk. Following your guide's instructions at all times keeps that risk low. Your guide gives a safety briefing on the first day. The two main rules are to stay in your tent at night with it zipped closed, and never to walk around camp after dark without your guide. We also strongly recommend travel insurance with medical and evacuation cover.

Can I charge my camera and phone on safari?

Yes. Each Lelobu Safaris camping safari has a charging station that runs off the safari vehicle, either directly or through an inverter. Bring your own charging cables, and a power bank as a backup.

Is there Wi-Fi or phone signal on a camping safari?

Usually not. Most camping safari areas in Botswana are remote, with no phone signal or Wi-Fi. Your guide carries a satellite phone for emergencies. Tell your family you'll be offline, and give them Lelobu Safaris' contact details in Maun.

When to go

When is the best time for a camping safari in Botswana?

The best time for a camping safari in Botswana is the dry season, from May to October. Animals gather at permanent water and the bush is thinner, so they're easier to see. Lelobu Safaris' scheduled group safaris run from May to September for this reason.

May to June (early dry season): The flood water reaches the Okavango Delta, so mokoro trips are at their best. Nights turn cold.
July to August (peak dry season): Mild, sunny days, and nights that can drop close to freezing. These are the busiest months, so book early.
September to October (late dry season): Hot days, with big concentrations of game at the water. October is the hottest month.
November to April (green or rainy season): Afternoon storms, lush scenery, newborn animals and migrant birds. Lelobu Safaris runs camping safaris in November, February and April, but not in December, January or March, the height of the rains.

Related: Best time to visit Botswana

How cold does it get at night on a camping safari?

From June to August, nights and early-morning game drives in Botswana can be close to freezing, though the days are mild and sunny. Pack a warm jacket, a beanie and gloves for the open vehicle. Blankets are supplied on the vehicles, and extra blankets go in your tent on cold nights.

Can I do a mokoro trip at any time of year?

Mokoro trips depend on water levels in the Okavango Delta, which change through the year and from year to year. Lelobu Safaris checks which areas have enough water on your dates. We have so far always been able to do mokoro throughout the year.

Packing

What should I pack for a camping safari in Botswana?

For a Botswana camping safari, pack light, layered clothing in neutral colours such as khaki, green and brown. Bring:

A warm jacket, beanie and gloves for winter mornings (May to August)
A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellent
Comfortable closed shoes for walks, and sandals for camp
A headlamp or torch
Binoculars, a camera and spare batteries
Personal medication and a small first-aid kit

Towels and soap are supplied in every tent.

What kind of luggage can I bring on a camping safari?

Bring a soft duffel bag, not a hard suitcase, because luggage has to fit in the safari vehicle. The limit is 20 kg per person. If your trip includes a light-aircraft flight, check that airline's limit too. You can leave extra luggage, such as a suitcase for the rest of your trip, at your Maun hotel, where you're collected at the start of the safari and dropped off at the end.

Can I bring my own drinks on safari?

Yes. On budget and group safaris, Lelobu Safaris includes drinking water, fruit juice at breakfast and wine at dinner. A cooler is also supplied with ice for any additional drinks you would like to bring. Comfort and luxury private safaris include soft drinks, beer, cider, wine and a limited supply of spirits, so just tell us what you like before you travel.

Getting there and travel health

Where do camping safaris in Botswana start and finish?

Most Lelobu Safaris camping safaris start and finish in Maun, the gateway town to the Okavango Delta. On group safaris, your guide collects you anywhere in central Maun at 15:00 on day 1. You're dropped back between 16:00 and 17:00 on the last day. The 9-day Maun to Kasane safari ends in Kasane, about 80 km by road from Victoria Falls.

How do I get to Maun?

Fly into Maun International Airport (MUB), which has direct flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Windhoek and Addis Ababa.

Do I need malaria tablets for a safari in Botswana?

Northern Botswana, including the Okavango Delta, Moremi, Khwai and Chobe, is a malaria area. The risk is highest in the rainy season, from November to April. Ask a travel clinic or your doctor about prevention before you travel. Use insect repellent and cover up at dusk.

Do I need a visa for Botswana?

Many nationalities can visit Botswana without a visa, but the rules depend on your passport. Check with Botswana's immigration authorities or your nearest embassy before you book. Standard international rules apply: your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after you arrive and have at least 3 blank pages. Children under 18 also need a full birth certificate to enter and leave Botswana. Source: UK travel advice for Botswana, checked October 2026.

Do I need travel insurance for a Botswana safari?

Yes. Travel insurance is important for any safari, in case of an unforeseen emergency. Camping safaris go deep into remote areas, so check that your policy covers medical emergencies, including evacuation, and trip cancellation.

Answers by Joshua, Lelobu Safaris, Maun · Last updated October 2026