Botswana is an easy destination to combine with its neighbours, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. It’s a half-day’s drive from Livingstone, Zambia or Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe to Kasane, Botswana, gateway to Chobe National Park.

Both Livingstone and Victoria Falls operators can arrange day or overnight trips to Chobe for those with limited time. Better yet, consider a more leisurely road trip through Botswana beginning in either Zambia or Zimbabwe on a circular itinerary which follows the main roads and minimizes the risks of traversing Botswana’s sand traps. (Between Chobe National Park and Savuti is one such sandy route.)

This itinerary includes Chobe National Park; Nata Bird Sanctuary; Makgadikgadi Salt Pans (for the zebras in April/May and the meerkats all year-round); the Boteti River (April/May for the zebra migration); the Central Kalahari Game Reserve; Maun (Okavango Delta), where you leave the car for a fly in and out stay at a lodge or for a mobile glamping safari in Moremi Game Reserve); and the Okavango Panhandle (a less visited area of the Delta on its western fringes and fantastic for birding). Exit the panhandle at Namibia’s Caprivi Strip and turn west for Namibia’s Etosha National Park (an overnight journey from this point) or east for Bwabwata National Park and Zambia or Zimbabwe. Consider a minimum of 16 days for this itinerary.