Botswana safari and beach holidays

Although Botswana is a landlocked destination, combining your safari here with a beach holiday in somewhere like Mozambique is relatively simple, with easy connections through South Africa. Spend your days on a mokoro, or on a game vehicle searching for elephants and leopards, then swop the safari for a beach, with turquoise waters and powder-soft sand. A safari itinerary of between 10 and 14 days is recommended, which allows for at least 4 to 6 nights on safari, followed by the same amount of time by the ocean.

Whether travelling as a couple for your honeymoon or getting away on a multi-generational family adventure, Wilderness can help arrange a holiday combining both a Botswana safari and a beach holiday, with end-to-end routing, accommodation at properties aligned to your needs and interests, and all activities, transfers and logistics taken care of. All you need to worry about is your sundowner order or where you left the sunscreen (although we've probably got that covered too).

What is the best time of year for a safari and beach holiday in Botswana?

The best time for a bush and beach holiday in Botswana depends on the experience you're looking for. June to August is peak safari season, and also the time of the annual inundation in the Okavango Delta, so if you’re hoping to enjoy water safari activities like boating, barge trips or mokoro excursions then this is the best time to visit. This time also aligns beautifully with an Indian Ocean beach holiday as days are generally warm and sunny, and free of rain. 

November to March is known as green season in Botswana and can bring showers on safari as well as at many beach holiday destinations, but these sporadic rains often provide welcome relief from the heat. On safari, this is also a time of renewal with lush landscapes, dramatic thunderstorms, newborn wildlife and predators. If you want to combine a green season safari in Botswana with a beach holiday then the coastal city of Cape Town is a great choice at this time of year with warm, dry days and plenty on offer.

How do you get from a safari in Botswana to the beach?

Combining a Botswana safari holiday with the beach is very achievable, but it does involve a couple of connections. Most itineraries include a flight from your safari lodge to the main Botswana hubs in Maun or Kasane. From there, you would typically connect on a regional flight to Johannesburg in South Africa, which acts as the main hub for onward travel to your chosen beach destination. For Mozambique’s coastal gateways, direct flights from Johannesburg are available, with Vilanculos providing access to the Bazaruto Archipelago, including Benguerra Island, where boats or helicopters complete the final transfer to the island lodges.