9.4/10 based on 42 reviews

Botswana 4×4 safari compact trip

This selfdrive4x4 short trip has as start and end Kasane in the north east of Botswana. From Kasane, you can quite easily travel to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe or Livingstone in Zambia. Both places lie at the Victoria Falls. Flights to and from Kasane are available (direct from Johannesburg). You can also fly to Livingstone or Victoria Falls airport.

During this 11-day Botswana 4×4 safari trip, you’ll visit the Chobe National Park, Savuti, Moremi Game Reserve and Makgadikgadi Salt Pans including Kubu Island. Above all a beautiful and very adventurous self drive holiday.

The 11-day trip can also be combined with another travel component in e.g. South Africa or Namibia.

Optional is for example to cross the border with Zimbabwe and stay the last two nights in Victoria Falls.

Advantages of self-drive 4×4 package trips

  • Inclusive support and professional advice safari trip
  • Inclusive GPS with Tracks4Africa software and all 4×4 waypoints and destinations for your trip
  • Inclusive CDW2 insurance with Zero Excess
  • A perfectly mapped route with optimal travel distances
  • SGR cover for pre-paid funds (incl. Sicherungsschein for Germany)

Alternative Botswana Self Drive Adventures

This tour to short for you? Have a look at our 14 days or 16 days Botswana 4×4 tours.

Chobe National Park
Third Bridge Moremi Game Reserve
Sunrise at Sunday Pan Kalahari Botswana 4x4 safari

Itinerary

  • 1: Kasane
  • 2: Nata
  • 3: Kubu Island
  • 4: Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
  • 5: Maun
  • 6: Moremi Game Reserve (Third Bridge)
  • 7: Moremi Game Reserve (Khwai)
  • 8: Chobe National Park (Savuti)
  • 9: Chobe National Park (Ihaha)
  • 10: Kasane
  • 11: Kasane/return flight
house icon white 1 nights B&B / Lodge
tipi tent icon white 9 nights camping
car icon white 11 days 4x4 rental

Route & itinerary

11days
1

Day 1: Kasane

The first day of your Botswana 4×4 safari trip. Upon arrival you will meet our partner of the car rental company for a transfer to the depot. After that you will receive an extensive instruction and handling of formalities. Optional this afternoon is to make a sunset cruise on the Chobe River. However you will also need some time for shopping and getting fuel.

Accommodation: camping. Travel distance: 10 km. You stay at Senyati Safari Camp.

2

Day 2: Nata

The second day of your stay in Botswana, driving the 4×4 car to Elephant Sands Campsite, Nata. During the drive to the South you can also spot wildlife along the road. In the morning there is also still time to make a game drive at the Chobe River.

Accommodation: camping. Travel distance: 160 km.

3

Day 3: Kubu Island

From Elephant Sands your trip continuous to the south, to Nata on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. After a dusty and adventurous ride on tracks through the bush you arrive at Kubu Island Campsite in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans of Botswana. During this drive you will also come along some of the cattle posts. The dusty journey will finally be rewarded with Kubu Island, a rocky island full of magnificent baobab trees. The camp site is simple and located near the island. On foot you can for example explore Kubu Island and enjoy the wide views and beautiful sunsets.

Accommodation: camping. Travel distance: 120 km.

4

Day 4: Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

In the early morning there is for example still time to explore Kubu Island. Then this Botswana Selfdrive goes a bit back to the North and one of the cattle fences. Then this journey crosses the Ntwetwe pan towards Gweta and then to Khumaga. This drive is definitely one of the 4×4 highlights of your self drive journey through Botswana. You will arrive in Gweta around noon, where there will also be time for lunch and a short stop. Optionally (when the pans are wet) you can also travel from Kubu Island to the South and drive to Khumaga via the Orapa – Motopi road.

Accommodation: camping. Travel distance: 260 km.

5

Day 5: Maun

From Khumaga you can go directly over the asphalt to Maun. However  you also have the option of taking an extra game drive through the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park towards Maun. During the drive you can spot more of the desert animals like Gemsbok and Springbok. After that you can continue your journey to Maun via the tar road. You will stay at Discovery B&B. You stay at Discovery B&B.

Accommodation: B&B. Travel distance: 160 km.

6

Day 6: Moremi Game Reserve (Third Bridge)

In the morning there is also time to do some shopping in Maun. After that the selfdrive4x4 safari continuous to the Moremi Game Reserve and the Third Bridge Camp on the edge of the Okavango Delta. Soon, this day is also dedicated to game drives and spotting the many safari animals living in the Moremi Reserve. There’s a good chance of seeing lions, hyenas and leopards and of course elephants and antelopes. The camps in the parks of Botswana are not fenced and the various animals may visit the camp during the day and also during night.

Accommodation: camping. Travel distance: 130 km.

7

Day 7: Moremi Game Reserve (Khwai)

After the morning game drive your Botswana 4×4 safari journey continuous through the Moremi Game Reserve to the second camp, Khwai (Northgate). This day is completely dedicated to game drives and most important spotting the many safari animals living in the Moremi Reserve. During the afternoon you will arrive at Northgate and the Khwai campsite. After building up the camp there is time to relax and subsequently an evening game drive along the Khwai River.

Accommodation: camping. Travel distance: 55 km.

8

Day 8: Chobe National Park (Savuti)

The 4×4 trip into the Moremi Game Reserve Khwai to Chobe Savuti is once more one great game drive where you will see many animals on the move. Most important is to start early and make a game drive along the Khwai river. After that the journey continues to the Chobe National Park. During the afternoon you will arrive at the Savuti Campsite. This part of Chobe is also famous for its Bull elephants and the Savuti Pride (pride of lions) which lives in the Savuti Marsh. The Savuti Channel which runs through the area and empties into the Savuti Marsh has been dry for many decades but for some years water flows in again. However right now it’s dry again. In the afternoon there is for example sufficient time to do an extensive game drive and to further explore this particular area of ​​Botswana.

Accommodation: camping. Travel distance: 110 km.

9

Day 9: Chobe National Park (Ihaha)

After Chobe National Park and Savuti, you’re now traveling to the northern part of the Chobe National Park. In the afternoon, you will arrive in Ihaha Campsite, at the Chobe River shore. There will be some time left for another game drive along the river front.

Accommodation: camping. Travel distance: 130 km.

10

Day 10: Kasane

Today you will drive to the Chobe Safari Lodge. After that you can for example join a sunset cruise at the Chobe River in the afternoon. During this sunset cruise you will most likely see elephants and maybe also buffalo drinking at the waterfront.

Accommodation: camping. Travel distance: 40 km.

11

Day 11: Kasane/return flight

The last day of the Botswana 4×4 safari. After you have returned your car it’s time for the return flight home or onwards to another location.

NB you can still extend and travel to the Victoria Falls, for example. The total return travel distance is 160 kilometers. Instead of a day trip to the Victoria Falls you can also cross the border with the rental car. For example, you can also stay two nights in a lodge near the Victoria Falls to enjoy this area longer. NB these costs are not included in the trip.

Changing the itinerary?

It is always possible to adapt this journey to your personal wishes. Limiting the journey or adding an extra destination, is no problem at all.
We are happy to help!

Your 4x4 rental car

The default car is a Toyota Hilux 4×4 double cab 2.4 Diesel.

The Toyota Hilux double cab is the most perfect 4×4 rental car for a self-drive safari in Africa.

It has much space and comfort, and has sleeping places in the roof tent. This Toyota Hilux Double Cab 4×4 has a separate boot where you can safely store your travel bags, together with all the camping equipment for your self-drive journey in Southern Africa.

Available for both 2 and 4 people, the Hilux is the best choice. For travels with 5 people (two adults and three children) the Hilux double cab can also be used.

If you’re with just two people, the back seat is especially useful for photo bags, day packs and supplies.

It is possible to upgrade car at extra costs.

Check here all our 4×4 rental cars.

Rates

Prices per person for various dates in 2024 and 2025. This Botswana 4x4 safari is available for 2 to 4 people per car. The default car is a Toyota Hilux 4×4 double cab 2.4 Diesel. The price for 5 people or more can for example be requested and depends on the local possibilities and space in the preferred car. 4×4 cars (Land Cruiser or 4×4 camper) other than the default 4×4 car are available upon request.

5 January - 19 March, (2024)

  • 2 people Rate per person € 1.590,-
  • 3 people Rate per person € 1.235,-
  • 4 people Rate per person € 1.010,-

Optional CDW (Zero Excess) insurance incl. tires and glass € 275,- per trip.

20 March - 30 June, (2024)

  • 2 people Rate per person € 1.675,-
  • 3 people Rate per person € 1.290,-
  • 4 people Rate per person € 1.065,-

Optional CDW (Zero Excess) insurance incl. tires and glass € 275,- per trip.

1 July - 10 November, (2024)

  • 2 people Rate per person € 1.955,-
  • 3 people Rate per person € 1.490,-
  • 4 people Rate per person € 1.190,-

Optional CDW (Zero Excess) insurance incl. tires and glass € 275,- per trip.

11 November - 4 January, (2025)

  • 2 people Rate per person € 1.675,-
  • 3 people Rate per person € 1.290,-
  • 4 people Rate per person € 1.065,-

Optional CDW (Zero Excess) insurance incl. tires and glass € 275,- per trip.

Included

Toyota Hilux 4x4 Double Cab with complete camping & safari equipment
All accommodation during the journey
Two drivers
GPS & Tracks4Africa software
Advise by experienced self drive specialists
Airport transfers
Support

Not included

International Flights
Entry Fees
Fuel
Food & Drinks
Upgrades to fixed (luxury) accommodations
Upgrade to Toyota Landcruiser or Hilux 3.0 (automatic) or Toyota Fortuner (automatic)
Zero Excess insurance

Highlights

10 / 10

Skillful people

It was a really good experience and they are skillful to plan and give quick response with answers.

Good knowledge of Africa and the countries there. What to visit and they plan the trip so it suits the customer.
Quick response when you have questions.

Christer Jonson

10 / 10

Adequate hulp

Selfdrive4x4.com biedt adequate en deskundige hulp bij zowel het plannen van het reisschema, het regelen van autohuur en het daarbij horende papierwerk (verzekeringen, transfers) en het vastleggen van de camping- en lodge-locaties.

Anonymous

10 / 10

Perfect organization

Selfdrive4x4.com offers the perfect organization of the trip for selfdrivers.

Strengths

Very easy handling, good communication.

Franziska

10 / 10

Perfect

Perfect, I would recommend it to everybody to work together with it.

Strengths

Friendly people – very fast in answering questions – high knowlede about the things you need at your destination and for a 4×4 driving holiday – easy to comunicate with.

Improvements or suggestions

Right know for my use it was perfect. Especially since I am not next door, and just worked together via internet and phone.

 

Niedereder Raimund

10 / 10

We would recommend Selfdrive4x4.com to our friends

We booked a last minute 17 day self drive trip through Namibia with this company and everything was just perfect. Contact with the company was very pleasant and they kept us posted with updates about the progress of our trip. Gps, maps, book and 12V equipment was sent to our home as soon as our trip was confirmed.

Price wise it was a great deal and everything in Namibia (car and layovers) were to our satisfaction. We would definitely book again with this company and we would recommend it to our friends.

Reinier