Driving across Botswana was an enlightening experience. Spot elephants, lions, leopards and buffalo at Chobe National Park; visit the Kalahari parks where baboons, hippos and cheetahs roam freely. The thrill of driving through the haunting, yet unimaginably beautiful Kalahari wilderness, the endless horizons and remote landscapes of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, the excitement of camping under the immense African sky, game viewing without flocks of tourists… there are countless reasons why a self-drive safari entices many Botswana visitors. Few things excite me as much as seeing elephants, big cats and other wildlife I never see in my day-to-day life.You get to experience it without noisy car engines. Botswana is a country where a 4×4 definitely feels at home. Below is a quick checklist of advice that could help you when on a self-drive safari in Botswana. The Central Kalahari has been on high up on my bucket list for a long time. The beauty of self-drive is that you can experience things for yourself, in your own time, focusing on what you want. Self driving in the national parks in Botswana is certainly more challenging then say driving round somewhere like Etosha or Kruger as none of the roads are sealed - they are all sand or dirt track.. Bushlore are well respected experts in self drive safaris in Southern Africa. It was NOT a particularly cheap option (the usual reason we do self-drive in SA, Nevertheless it is not too bad as long as you have a decent 4WD vehicle. There is almost only a short window of opportunity because the summer months – our rainy season – is highly unrecommended for all areas in Botswana as can be seen below when even us experienced bush girls got hopelessly stuck in the mud for hours. Self driving in the national parks in Botswana is certainly more challenging then say driving round somewhere like Etosha or Kruger as none of the roads are sealed - they are all sand or dirt track.. While a day trip is a great option for travellers short on time, it’s worth crossing the border if you want to do more than one This information is lovely to read and very informative. I didn’t have to dip into my snack reserves once!Wake up slowly and enjoy your last breakfast at Nxai Pan Camp around the fire. Group mobile camping safaris will be cheaper but still quite expensive. We cracked open a few bottles of beer, drove onto the salt pans (something that you can’t do in the wet season) and watched the sun go down over the plains.Start your day with Nata Lodge’s delicious buffet breakfast. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of driving in Botswana information within this post, and you can use it to form a safari plan and the best Botswana self … You Need a High Clearance Vehicle: Botswana’s roads aren’t in the greatest condition for normal cars. Perhaps take some 4x4 lessons at home first if you aren't used to soft sand etc IMO, if you decide to self drive Botswana, get a high clearance vehicle like a land rover or land cruiser, with a diesel engine. The National Parks in Botswana are extremely protected. And, of course, most will, for a fee, provide you with a satellite phone. But first: Make sure the vehicle you are travelling in has been serviced before the trip. Botswana has a single lane highway.If you stay at the lodge, you only need to pay entrance to the bird sanctuary. Although it’s totally possible to plan a Botswana road trip without a 4×4!But if you want to explore Nxai Pan National Park and some of the other destinations on my Botswana itinerary, you’ll need a high clearance vehicle. any one would like to travel immediately when they read this. Still, the occasional theft or car jacking can occur, but it is rare. It is a well known joke that we all hold a degree in driving and are pros at dodging potholes! The lodge also includes game drives to the salt pans if you don’t feel like driving yourself and want a knowledgable guide at your side.Unfortunately, the salt pans were as dry as the Sahara desert during our trip to Botswana. Travel with two vehicles if you are on an off-road 4x4 self-drive journey. The Chobe River and Kasane is certainly the easiest place to access in Botswana, on a self-drive safari. Botswana is made for road (and road-less) trips – it is big-sky country, a land of flood plains, deserts and eternal horizons. Diesel for the low end torque so you don't need to be too concerned about deep sand tracks, have some extra clearance for water crossings, and for the fuel economy, so you don't need a bunch of jerry cans to haul petrol. They have an extensive range of customised 4×4 campers available for trips to Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. This is why we always recommend a pre-night in town before flying out!There is a lot to consider when booking a self drive itinerary so let us advise you on the best routes to take, the best time of year to successfully navigate the inevitable challenges and the 4×4 driving courses we recommend clients take, before embarking on this adventure!Hereby a short list of the Dos and Don’ts for your clients to consider on a self drive:Here is some helpful information about road conditions in Botswana: https://traveladventuresbotswana.com/helpful-information/driving-and-road-condition-information/Site designed by Black Duck, web development by DessolEnter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.