A Different Kind of Safari in Botswana

Botswana has always held a certain pull for me.

It is one of Africa's great wildlife destinations, but it is also a place where the way you travel really matters. The best experiences here are not just about where you sleep or what you see from a vehicle. They are about the quality of the guiding, the feel of the camp, the movement through the landscape, and the sense of being properly connected to the wild places you have come to experience.

That is why I have chosen Letaka Safaris for this Travel Like Jenny hosted journey.

This is a mobile tented safari, following Letaka's Northern Highlights route from Maun to Kasane, with three nights in Moremi Game Reserve, three nights in the Mababe Private Reserve, and three nights in Chobe National Park. The safari includes fully serviced en-suite tented camping, expert guiding, game drives, a charter flight into Moremi, a mokoro excursion, night drives in Mababe, and a final afternoon boat cruise on the Chobe River.

This is not a lodge-to-lodge safari. The camp moves with the journey, which allows the experience to stay closely tied to the wildlife areas, changing landscapes, and movement through northern Botswana.

It is a more adventurous way to travel, but one that feels very aligned with what I believe travel can be: thoughtful, personal, well-matched, and full of meaning.

Why this journey

One of the things I love about this itinerary is the way it builds.

You begin with a charter flight into the Moremi Game Reserve, seeing the Okavango Delta from above before dropping into the wilderness. From there, the journey moves steadily north by road, through Moremi, the Mababe Private Reserve, and Central Chobe - each area adding a different layer to the story of northern Botswana.

And then, on the final day, the safari ends on the Chobe River.

After days of travelling through wild landscapes by vehicle, the afternoon boat cruise offers a completely different perspective - wildlife along the riverbanks, elephants at the water's edge, hippos, crocodiles, birdlife, and that wonderful feeling of watching the day soften from the water.

It feels like a very fitting finale to the journey.

At a glance

Key highlights include:

• Charter flight into the Moremi Game Reserve
• Three nights in Moremi / Xakanaxa
• Exploring the fringes of the Okavango Delta by mokoro
• Three nights in Mababe Private Reserve
• Game drives, night drives, and possible guided walks in Mababe
• Three nights in Chobe National Park / Central Chobe
• A final Chobe River boat cruise ending in Kasane

Itinerary at a glance

Days 1-3: Moremi Game Reserve / Xakanaxa



The safari begins in Maun, with a charter flight into the Xakanaxa area of Moremi Game Reserve. This is a wonderful way to begin - seeing the Okavango Delta from above before landing in one of Botswana's most rewarding wildlife areas.

These first three nights are spent exploring the Xakanaxa region by game drive. Moremi sits on the eastern edge of the Okavango Delta, with floodplains, marshes, lagoons, waterways, woodland, and savannah creating excellent habitat diversity. Wildlife possibilities include elephant, buffalo, lion, hippo, red lechwe, and African wild dog, along with outstanding birdlife.

Day 4: Moremi to Mababe Private Reserve

This is a full day of travel and wildlife viewing as the journey moves northeast through Moremi towards the Khwai and Mababe areas. It is not simply a transfer day - it is an extended game drive with a picnic lunch between camps.

On this day, the itinerary includes a mokoro excursion in the calmer backwaters of the Khwai and Mbudi channels, which adds a slower, quieter perspective to the journey.

Days 5-6: Mababe Private Reserve

The next two nights are spent in Mababe Private Reserve, an area that allows experiences not permitted inside the national parks, including night drives and, when conditions allow, guided walks. The walking activity is seasonal and dependent on rain, grass height, and the guide's safety assessment.

This is one of the reasons I find this itinerary so interesting. Mababe gives the journey another layer - the chance to explore by day, after dark, and potentially on foot. It also has a strict vehicle limit within the concession, which helps preserve a more spacious and less crowded safari experience.

Day 7: Mababe to Central Chobe

The journey continues north towards Central Chobe. This is another full travel and game drive day, crossing varied habitats and moving through landscapes shaped by the ancient Paleo-Lake Makgadikgadi.

Letaka describes this as a day when anything could happen, with the route passing through strong lion country and some of the best cheetah country covered on the safari.

Days 8-9: Central Chobe / Savuti

Central Chobe brings another shift in landscape. Unlike much of Botswana, this region is not completely flat. Volcanic rock outcrops rise from the Kalahari sands, and the Savuti Marsh area has long been known for dramatic wildlife viewing.

This area is especially known for predator activity, including lion, hyaena, cheetah, and at times wild dog. The itinerary also includes game drives and Bushman painting walks during this section.

Day 10: Chobe River and Kasane

The final day is a long day, but an important one.

You leave Central Chobe early, travelling towards the Chobe River and arriving in Kasane for a picnic lunch before ending the safari with an afternoon boat cruise. After days of travelling by vehicle, this river experience gives the journey a completely different perspective and a very special ending.

For those who would like to extend, Kasane, Livingstone, and Victoria Falls are natural post-safari options. Letaka's itinerary also recommends considering a night or two in Kasane or continuing to Livingstone or Victoria Falls after the safari.



What is included

• Fully serviced tented accommodation with beds, bed linen, towels, and a private en-suite bathroom
• Services of a professional guide, safari chef, camp assistants, and supply vehicle
• Game drives and local transfers in customised safari vehicles
• Exclusive camping in private campsites within the national parks and reserves
• National park and reserve entrance and camping fees
• Meals and drinks while in Letaka Tented Camps, including mineral water, soft drinks, beer, wine, and G&T
• Activities specified in the itinerary

What is not included

• Travel insurance
• Flights unless otherwise indicated
• Items of a personal nature
• Staff gratuities
• Optional safari extensions
• Drinks at lodges or accommodations other than Letaka Tented Camps

What to expect

This is a fully serviced mobile tented safari, but it is still a mobile safari.

That means early starts, long days in the vehicle, moving camp, time in remote areas, and a style of travel that asks for a little flexibility and a sense of adventure.

The tents are comfortable and en-suite, but this is not a lodge safari with a spa, plunge pool, or Wi-Fi. Camp life is part of the experience - meals under the sky, evenings around the fire, bucket showers, and the chance to properly switch off for a while.

For the right person, that is exactly the appeal.

Who this journey is for

This journey is for those who are drawn to wild places, expert guiding, wildlife behaviour, and a more immersive way of experiencing Botswana.

It will suit travellers who are curious, adaptable, and comfortable with the realities of a mobile camp. It is for those who value the experience itself over extra layers of polish, and who understand that comfort can be thoughtful without needing to be elaborate.

It is not the right safari for everyone, and that is important to say.

But for the right small group, I think this could be something very special.

A note from Jenny

I am currently working with Letaka on space for this small Travel Like Jenny hosted group in late April 2027.

The itinerary is in place, and I have chosen this as my Journey of the Month because it feels like the kind of experience that will speak to the right person - adventurous, thoughtful, and closely connected to the places we will be travelling through.

It is not a safari for everyone, but for those who are drawn to wild places, expert guiding, and a more immersive way of experiencing Botswana, it is one I am genuinely excited to share.

Detailed itinerary

For those who would like the full day-by-day detail, the Letaka Northern Highlights itinerary is available as a downloadable PDF here.