From the Desert to the Delta Botswana, Turning the Tide in the Green Season

Botswana - a vast, sparsely populated country that has set aside nearly one fifth of its territory for wildlife - is rarely crowded. The rules of extremely exclusive tourism, set by a responsible and committed government, are strict: No more than one traveller per 50 km² (19 square miles) of bush, desert, marsh, riverside forest or floodplain. Just imagine venturing to Botswana outside the peak tourist season. You will discover regions that are virtually devoid of people, vast expanses of unspoilt nature inhabited by incredible wild animals. This off-season, which runs from January to April during summer in the Southern Hemisphere, is poetically called the “green season”. It takes its name from the providential rains that fall - only occasionally, rest assured - on the usually hyper-arid lands of the Kalahari Desert. Watered once a year, the country is reborn from its ashes. The vegetation bursts forth in emerald bouquets. It is an unreal phenomenon, with the ground being carpeted with flowers. Birds take over the branches and the winding stretches of water of the Okavango Delta. Drawn to the water, the source of life, millions of zebras and wildebeest cross both the vast Nxai Pan salt desert and its neighbours, the Makgadikgadi Pans - the spectacle of this massive migration is unlike any other in the world. Daytime hours are hot, so you’ll likely want to make the most of the shade in the tents at your bush camps. In the evening, thunder rumbles in the distance, the crimson sunset lights up the metallic blue-grey clouds, and nature becomes incredibly photogenic…

Your Trip

This trip is full of contrasts, alternating between endless desert horizons and lush vegetation, with submerged areas that are teeming with life. Upon arrival, you’ll recover from a long night’s flight by spending your first night by the river, about 12 km (7.5 miles) from Maun, the gateway to Botswana. The view of the river from your comfortable tent is a promise of what awaits you on this trip. The next day, a short flight in an air taxi will take you to the middle of nowhere, in the heart of the vast, arid and salty expanse that was once a lake. Sleeping arrangements are in an intimate camp, ideally located in Nxai Pan National Park. With its dazzling chalky whiteness dotted with palm trees and ancient baobabs, during the green season it offers a spectacle that very few have the chance to witness: the great animal migration. On foot or in a 4x4, you will cross the endless plains of these marvellous lands, accompanied by experienced rangers. Then you will head north to the evocatively named delta, which looks like something straight out of an African tale: the Okavango Delta. A world apart from the Pans, this extremely fertile flooded region is made up of islands and islets, and countless stretches of water. During the green season, we promise you memorable shots of it all. In the evening around the fire, you’ll unwind and reflect on the day’s emotions. Your camp, emblematic of Botswana, is set up among the trees and blends perfectly into its surroundings. For three nights, you’ll soak up the smells, sounds and sensations that are so unique to the bush before returning to reality. Everywhere you go, you rely on nature to fill your days. In Maun, you will meet the giraffes in the reserve where you are staying, and in the Pans and the Okavango Delta, several safaris are organised every day - on foot, in a 4x4 or on the water. And for anything we can’t anticipate - be they sudden wishes or minor setbacks - you will have the contact details of our Concierge at your disposal throughout your trip.