Game drives are a cornerstone of Botswana’s safari experience, offering thrilling opportunities to encounter Africa’s iconic wildlife in the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, and beyond. These guided excursions, typically in open 4x4 vehicles, complement mokoro trips, nature walks, and scenic flights, providing a dynamic way to explore vast ecosystems. With your interest in mokoro activities, nature walks, and scenic flights in the Okavango Delta, as well as hiking in Tsodilo Hills, game drives can round out a comprehensive Botswana adventure. As of October 2, 2025, you’re in the late dry season, when wildlife concentrates around water sources, making it a prime time for sightings.
What to Expect on a Game Drive
Experience: Game drives take you deep into wildlife-rich areas in open-sided 4x4s (6-9 seats) with expert guides and trackers. Morning drives (dawn, ~6 AM) catch predators like lions and leopards hunting in cooler temps, while afternoon drives (ending at dusk, ~6 PM) offer dramatic sunsets and nocturnal activity (e.g., aardvarks, hyenas). Night drives, where permitted, use spotlights for elusive species like genets or civets.
Wildlife: Expect the “Big Five” (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino—though rhinos are rarer in the Delta), plus cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and 500+ bird species (e.g., lilac-breasted rollers). October’s dry conditions draw herds to rivers and pans, boosting sightings.
Duration: 3-4 hours per drive, typically two daily (morning and afternoon) in multi-day safaris. Day trips from Maun or Kasane are shorter (~2-3 hours).
Guides: Highly trained, often local, guides share ecological and cultural insights, tracking animals via prints, calls, or dung. Vehicles carry radios for safety and coordination.
Add-Ons: Combine with mokoro trips (e.g., morning drive, afternoon paddle) or bush walks for variety. Some drives include sundowners (drinks at sunset) or bush breakfasts.
Best Locations for Game Drives
Okavango Delta:
- Moremi Game Reserve: A biodiversity hotspot with floodplains, lagoons, and woodlands. Expect elephants, lions, and wild dogs. Private concessions (e.g., Kwara, Khwai) allow off-road driving and night drives, unlike public areas.
- Chief’s Island: Prime for big cats and large herds, accessible via mokoro or scenic flight transfers.
- Maun Area: Day drives from Maun hit nearby concessions, pairing well with your mokoro interest.
Chobe National Park:
- Chobe Riverfront: Famous for massive elephant herds (up to 120,000 in the region) and river cruises. Easy access from Kasane.
- Savuti: Rugged, predator-heavy (lions, hyenas); known for elephant-hunting prides.
- Linyanti/Selinda Reserves: Exclusive, less crowded; great for wild dogs and cheetahs. Scenic flight access enhances your aerial interest.
Makgadikgadi Pans: Seasonal zebra/wildebeest migrations; quieter but striking for open vistas.
