Rhino Trail

DAY 1: Arrival in Gaborone – Welcome to Botswana

Upon arrival at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone, you’ll be greeted by your guide and taken to your lodge or hotel for a relaxing evening. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy an optional city tour, visiting places such as the Three Chiefs Monument, the National Museum, or Mokolodi Nature Reserve. Overnight in Gaborone.

DAY 2: Gaborone to Khama Rhino Sanctuary (Approx. 500 km / 6 hrs)

After an early breakfast, depart Gaborone and travel north through the beautiful countryside to Khama Rhino Sanctuary, a community-based wildlife project near Serowe. This sanctuary is home to both black and white rhinos and provides a vital role in rhino conservation in Botswana.

Arrive in the early afternoon and settle into your chalet or tented accommodation. After some rest, enjoy your first afternoon game drive to track rhinos, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeest across the Kalahari scrub. A guided night drive can be arranged for those keen to spot nocturnal species such as spring hares, owls, and aardvarks.

DAY 3: Full Day at Khama Rhino Sanctuary

Enjoy a relaxed morning with a sunrise game drive to catch the wildlife at its most active. The sanctuary’s open landscape makes for easy animal viewing and great photography. Spend the rest of the day either on a bush walk with a guide or exploring more by vehicle.

In the afternoon, visit the bird hide near Malema Pan, which attracts a variety of birds and mammals. Learn about the sanctuary’s conservation programs and community involvement before enjoying a sunset drink in the wild. Dinner and overnight at the sanctuary.

DAY 4: Khama Rhino Sanctuary to Lekhubu Island (Approx. 250 km / 4 hrs)

After breakfast, depart for the mystical Lekhubu Island, a granite outcrop in the middle of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. This remote and sacred site was once a spiritual center for local tribes, and the area still exudes an otherworldly aura.

Arrive in time to set up camp and explore the rock formations and ancient baobabs. As the sun sets, the island glows with golden light, and the vast salt pans stretch out like a sea of white around you. Enjoy an atmospheric evening under the stars with no electricity—just the silence of the desert and the stories around the campfire.

DAY 5: Lekhubu Island to Nxai Pan National Park (Approx. 200 km / 3.5 hrs)

Wake early for sunrise over the pans, then continue north to Nxai Pan National Park, famous for its wide open grasslands, towering baobabs, and seasonal wildlife migrations. After entry formalities, enjoy a game drive en route to your campsite, looking for springbok, oryx, giraffe, and elephants.

In the afternoon, visit the famous Baines’ Baobabs, a group of ancient trees immortalized by Victorian explorer Thomas Baines. Return to camp for sundowner and dinner, surrounded by the sounds of jackals and owls calling in the distance.

DAY 6: Full Day in Nxai Pan National Park

Today you’ll spend the full day exploring Nxai Pan. During the green season, this park becomes a prime game-viewing destination, attracting zebras in large numbers along with predators like lions and cheetahs. You’ll enjoy morning and afternoon game drives across the pans, searching for wildlife and marveling at the stark beauty of the open plains.

In the dry season, waterholes become magnets for elephants and lions, and bird life includes kori bustard, secretary birds, and many raptors. Return to camp for your final night in this unique wilderness.

DAY 7: Nxai Pan to Maun (Approx. 150 km / 2.5 hrs)

Depart Nxai Pan after breakfast and travel westward to Maun, the safari hub of northern Botswana. Upon arrival, check into a comfortable lodge or hotel. Spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool, enjoying Wi-Fi and hot showers, or exploring the local craft markets and shops.

Optional activities include a scenic flight over the Okavango Delta, offering a bird’s-eye view of the channels, lagoons, and wildlife below. Dinner at the lodge and overnight in Maun.

DAY 8: Maun to Moremi Game Reserve – Xini Area (Approx. 100 km / 3.5 hrs)

After breakfast, leave the comforts of Maun behind as you journey into Moremi Game Reserve, entering through the South Gate and heading toward the Xini Lagoon area. The reserve is a jewel of the Okavango Delta, offering a unique combination of floodplains, woodlands, and lagoons.

Upon arrival, enjoy a picnic lunch and set up camp before heading out on an afternoon game drive. Wildlife in this area includes elephants, leopards, wild dogs, and countless bird species. Enjoy a dinner under the stars and a night surrounded by the sounds of the bush.

DAY 9: Exploring Xakanaxa

Today you’ll venture deeper into Moremi, driving toward the Xakanaxa area. These region offer some of the richest biodiversity in the Delta. Hippos snort in the water channels, lions stalk the reed beds, and fish eagles cry from above.

The day includes morning and afternoon game drives, stopping for bush meals and observing wildlife both big and small. Return to camp in the evening and reflect on the day’s sightings with your guide.

DAY 10: Third Bridge and Floodplain Habitats

Travel west to the Third Bridge area, crossing water channels and exploring remote floodplains. This scenic and adventurous part of Moremi is excellent for elephant, buffalo, and predator sightings. The water crossings add a thrill to the drive, especially during the wetter months.

After a picnic lunch, return to your Xini campsite for your final night in Moremi, surrounded by the symphony of frogs, crickets, and distant calls of hyenas.

DAY 11: Transfer to Khwai Community Concession – Afternoon Game Drive

Break camp and head northeast to the Khwai Concession, a community-managed area just outside Moremi. The landscapes shift subtly, and the wildlife is just as abundant. After setting up camp near the Khwai River, head out for an afternoon game drive followed by a night drive, which is permitted in this concession. Look for genets, servals, and porcupines by spotlight.

DAY 12: Mokoro Safari on the Khwai River & Wildlife Exploration

Today’s highlight is a tranquil mokoro (dugout canoe) safari, guided by local polers from the community. Glide through lily-filled channels, spotting frogs, kingfishers, and perhaps an elusive sitatunga. In the afternoon, take a game drive through woodlands and along the river, searching for lions, leopards, and elephants. Return to camp for dinner and stories by the fire.

DAY 13: Final Game Drives in Khwai

Spend your final full day on safari exploring the Khwai floodplains, where you can enjoy a blend of dry woodland and wetland ecosystems. Early morning and late afternoon game drives increase your chances of predator sightings. Between drives, enjoy a relaxed bush lunch and soak in the sights and sounds of the wilderness.

Toast your last night in the bush with sun downers and a farewell dinner.

DAY 14: Khwai to Maun

After breakfast, pack up and enjoy a leisurely drive back to Maun, where your journey comes to an end. Upon arrival in Maun, you will be dropped off at your place of accommodation. After lunch you may visit local curio shops or take a tour around Maun, the gateway to the Famous Okavango Delta, and then head back to your place of accommodation where you will spend a night.