Adventuring in Botswana with Kids

Botswana offers an unforgettable experience for families. From quad biking on the expansive Makgadikgadi Salt Pans to thrilling encounters with elephants, lions, and giraffes, it stands out for its incredible diversity.

Whether you're embarking on a multigenerational safari, a self-driven expedition, or camping under the stars, its sprawling, pristine landscapes provide an ideal playground for young adventurers. Here’s your guide to exploring Botswana with kids.

Is Botswana suitable for children?

Exploring Botswana with kids, including teens and tweens, can be an enriching experience, though it may pose some challenges for families with toddlers or infants. The country's vastness means that many of its highlights are in remote locations, requiring long travel distances. For instance, the journey from the Okavango Delta to the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans exceeds 930km. If your children are comfortable with flying or lengthy rides in a 4WD, Botswana's expansiveness can enchant young explorers. However, public transport options are limited.

Preparation is crucial. While Botswana is generally safe, remote areas may lack certain amenities. In cities like Gaborone, Kasane, and Maun, you can find relatively clean restrooms. On the roads, however, facilities might be small, less hygienic, and often lacking toilet paper. It's wise to carry a well-stocked first-aid kit, wet wipes, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and any essential medications. Consider leaving the stroller behind; a baby carrier or backpack will be more practical on the sandy terrain of the Kalahari Desert.

Larger towns typically offer basic family-friendly amenities, including baby-changing stations, highchairs, and children's menus. Supermarkets also stock diapers and baby food, but these items may be hard to find in more remote regions.

If your goal is wildlife viewing, most safari operators and luxury lodges set age restrictions, usually not allowing children under 12 (sometimes even seven) on game drives, which also lack car seats. Nevertheless, some safari camps provide family-oriented accommodations and activities to engage and entertain kids. It's important to note that babysitting and child-minding services are quite rare in Botswana.

Which locations in Botswana are best suited for children?

Chobe National Park is perfect for family safaris, particularly for families with younger children. Kids under eight can enter the park for free, while those aged eight to 17 enjoy half-price admission. There are shorter game drives and boat tours with no age restrictions, offering close encounters with wildlife along the Chobe River, including elephants, hippos, and crocodiles.

The entry point to the park is Kasane, where you can find a variety of family-friendly hotels equipped with swimming pools, air-conditioning, televisions, and babysitting services. Additionally, Victoria Falls is just a short journey away, making it an exciting day trip for kids.

Great accommodation choices include luxurious family suites with plunge pools at Chobe Game Lodge or the laid-back riverfront Chobe Safari Lodge, which offers a variety of activities. Chobe Bakwena features a bohemian treehouse atmosphere and provides bicycle rentals, perfect for older kids and teens.

The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans are also kid-friendly. Children can observe the adorable meerkats of the Kalahari, enjoy quad biking, horseback riding, and sleeping under the Milky Way, all of which are sure to thrill teenage adventurers and spark their imagination.

Top activities for families with babies and toddlers in Botswana

Check into a luxury lodge

Locating a family-friendly safari lodge in Botswana that caters to babies and toddlers can be tricky. Most camps in the Okavango region only permit children aged six and older, but some more intimate lodges with villa units are welcoming to younger children. In the Okavango Delta, Machaba Camp, Gomoti Plains, and Khwai Leadwood Camp accommodate children of all ages. Other options include Linyanti Ebony in the Chobe Enclave, Chobe Chilwero near Chobe National Park, Chobe Game Lodge within the park, and Chobe Safari Lodge in Kasane. In Makgadikgadi, lodges such as Camp Kalahari, Jack’s Camp, San Camp, and Meno a Kwena welcome children of all ages.

Inquire whether your tent offers hot water and a sink for sterilizing and warming bottles, if necessary.

Embark on a mini safari in the Okavango Delta

Certain lodges in the Okavango Delta can host families by offering private game drives that focus on shorter, more relaxed excursions to spot elephants, zebras, and other wildlife. Keep in mind that there are no restroom facilities in the wilderness, so be ready to manage diaper changes outdoors.

Top activities for families in Botswana

Spot elephants on a Chobe River cruise

Sail smoothly along the Chobe River on a cruise, searching for buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, and awe-inspiring elephants up close. Navigating through Chobe National Park, these boats are especially suitable for energetic young adventurers. Most cruises operate on spacious barges with railings and carpeted floors, allowing little ones some freedom to explore, though it’s important to keep a watchful eye on curious toddlers. Life vests are always provided. For a more intimate experience, smaller speed boats are also an option.

Reserve an all-inclusive luxury safari in the Okavango Delta

Imagine this: a snug family tent, a range of thrilling activities, and incredible wildlife sightings at your fingertips. In Botswana, safari camps are situated on raised platforms amidst wild landscapes, often without fences. This provides unmatched wildlife experiences, though game viewing can demand patience and quiet—traits that kids may not always possess. Consider hiring a private safari vehicle with a professional guide for tailored game drives that align with your family’s interests and your child's routine.

Participate in a bush program

Safari companies like Ker and Downey, Machaba, Kwando Safaris, African Bush Camps, and Wilderness offer fantastic bush programs. These experiences are not only educational but also interactive, keeping kids actively engaged—safety is always a top concern.

Explore freely in the Nata Bird Sanctuary

Every winter (May to August), around a quarter of a million flamingos flock to the Nata Bird Sanctuary to breed. When the flamingos are gone, the vast white salt pans provide a safe playground for kids to observe ostriches, wildebeest, and zebras. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen on the little ones! For accommodations, Nata Lodge offers comfortable family-friendly facilities, while the laid-back Eselbe Camp provides canoes for rental.

Get up close with the meerkats of the Makgadikgadi

Kids will be delighted by a visit to the meerkats of the Makgadikgadi. After an early morning drive to the edge of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, you can observe a friendly meerkat family as they dig for treats. When they’re not being playful, they stay alert, ready to warn others of approaching threats. Reservations can be made through Gweta Lodge, Planet Baobab, Camp Kalahari, and Jack’s Camp.

Ride across the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans on horseback

At Camp Kalahari, children aged eight and older can explore the expansive landscapes on horseback, deepening their connection with nature. Horse riding teaches kids responsibility and environmental respect, while teens often form a special bond with their horses, fostering empathy and awareness. In Maun, day rides along the Thamalakane River are available from Thamo Telele.

Discover the Khama Rhino Sanctuary

The Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a wildlife paradise that serves as a conservation classroom for children. It's compact and easy to explore, providing an unforgettable opportunity to observe both white and black rhinos in their natural surroundings. With guided game drives, nature hikes, and exciting birdwatching trips, kids can engage deeply with nature in a meaningful way.

Top activities for teenagers and tweens in Botswana

Experience wild camping in the Moremi Game Reserve

Wild camping offers the ultimate adventure, allowing you to disconnect from the digital realm and fully embrace the raw beauty of Botswana. Rent a 4WD camper van and head to public campsites in Moremi Game Reserve and the Khwai Community Concession for a family-friendly experience surrounded by elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, and African wild dogs.

Teenagers can fully immerse themselves in the tranquil wilderness and enjoy the starry African sky while gathered around a campfire. Wild camping encourages teamwork and independence, transforming your family into a close-knit group of outdoor enthusiasts. If self-guided camping feels daunting, consider a private mobile safari for a guided yet adventurous experience, with days customized to your family's interests, complete with your own guide and dedicated staff to care for you in the wild.

Race across the salt pans on a quad bike

Quad biking over the breathtaking salt pans feels like stepping into a real-life video game, but with a valuable educational twist. This thrilling activity appeals to teenagers' adventurous spirits, giving them a sense of freedom and speed while they learn about the geology, ecology, and history of the landscape, observing changes in terrain and ancient fossilized remains. Reservations can be made through Planet Baobab, Camp Kalahari, or Jack’s Camp.

Release some energy on a walking safari in the Okavango

Walking safaris provide a distinctive, intimate experience with the wildlife and the bush. Guided by knowledgeable experts, teens will enjoy learning about tracking animals through their tracks and droppings, as well as the captivating world of plants and creatures within this intricate ecosystem.

Encounters with wildlife on foot, whether observing elephants or tracking predators, create unforgettable memories. Many camps in the Okavango Delta offer walking safaris, with Delta Camp and Moremi Crossing being excellent family-friendly options. Be aware of age restrictions, typically set at 12 or 16 years.

Planning tips

• Malaria is present in Botswana; consult your healthcare provider for necessary precautions and use insect repellent.

• If traveling during the summer months of October to March, choose accommodations with a pool and check for air conditioning.

• For milder temperatures and fewer mosquitoes, opt for the dry winter season from April to October.

• Safari companies tend to be more accommodating from October to March; ask about any kid-friendly options available.

• Visiting luxury lodges with children may involve a short flight; be prepared for possible motion sickness.

• Most lodges supply mosquito nets; if camping, verify that your operator includes them or consider bringing your own.

• Consider travel times of 45-90 minutes for flights to lodges; alternatively, select lodges that are accessible by road.

• If self-driving, keep daily driving distances short to maximize time at the camp or partake in activities.

• Carry change for public restrooms, or plan to use facilities at restaurants during your travels.

• Be cautious of wildlife, particularly during wild camping, as dangerous animals like lions and elephants may roam freely.

• Exercise care if children witness predator-prey interactions; ensure they are mature enough to handle such scenarios.