If you're new to Botswana then this might help you in your travels (I hope). These are some of the FAQs, tips and tricks and opinions on travelling through Botswana. If you have alternative ideas, or corrections let me know down below. You can also read the blog for more info and travel inspiration: asimplyfab.life/searching-for-the-best-of-botswana-self-drive-4x4-trip/ Thanks for watching!
Great wrap-up! My wife and I are shipping our defender and Aussie camper trailer to SA in 2026 to do a year travelling the SADC. Thanks for sharing good ideas and tips!!
We went last fall in 2023. Okavango beer is so good, we had to bring a lot home, in Canada. I still have one 😂. We will go back for sure. I’m glad to see that not much change. I love that country and it’s people.
Thank you excellent video - we are heading there this Oct / Nov for 16 days also hiring from Bushlore (third time ) their vehicles have in the past been clean and reliable with good gear, but necessary to buy glass Glasses as drinking wine out of st st goblets doesn’t work……starting in Maun and ending in Kasane. Your info is good to have, especially the details on which beer and the various fees. Cheers Peter
@@PeterMcCarthy-g9e ah thank you, nice to hear 👍😊. Agreed wine out of plastic (or G&T😅) is not correct 💯 (like beer out of a can versus bottle - but we can't complain if it's ❄️ in the middle the Kalahari heat🥵😃) Have a fantastic time (I know you will 😃💪😎) Cheers for the comment 👍
Very interesting video. Thank you. One question: I’d like to know your opinion: if you were a tourist from abroad on a first trip to Botswana would you go to Maun and the Moremi area or would you go to Kasane and the Chobe area? Greetings from Brazil
Thanks for your comment. I enjoyed making this one, Botswana is just such a great place! This is the impossible question! Opinions and preferences are all over the place. I asked Victoria and she answered with Kasane/Chobe, for me it is probably Maun area, but we have different tastes. Some points to think about and what you prefer: Kasane (as mentioned in the video) is a mini version of Maun, but the Chobe river makes for awesome game viewing (on a guided tour or yourself). Victoria Falls is just a short drive away (as a day tour), helicopter flights (like Maun), river cruises, guided town tours, great lodges and a very chilled vibe at the river. Namibia border is just there, and there are various excursions to Zambia and Zimbabwe. However, Okavango (where Maun is the gateway) is considered to be the epicentre of Botswana. For me, the appeal is abundant waterways, animals, diverse areas like savanna, forest, and wetland to discover. It has a bit more 'safari' feel to me, and you can go on a mokoro (which you can't in Kasane), or head to Makgadigadi just a few hours away (a totally different vibe). You also have Khwai area nearby, which is fantastic. Depending on your timeline I would recommend half/half: if you have a week, maybe three or four days in each region, and drive through Chobe from Maun to Kasane. I am not sure this helps you a lot, but I enjoy both areas. An idea is to go onto facebook and ask this question on: Drivebots group. You will get some good, varying opinions and it can help to give you an idea on your route. The best is that is doesn't really matter which area you choose. Both are an amazing snapshot of Botswana and you will experience all the game viewing, safari tours, and local vibe you are looking for. Get out there and discover! Thanks for watching, great to hear some feedback🙏😊
Hey Marcel and Vic. Fabulous info. Can you share where you bought that gaslighter? Possibly share a link? Would this be available in Riley's Garage in Maun?
Hi, thanks for your comment. We found it at a hardware store in SA (Buildit). Or at www.outdoorwarehouse.co.za/product/lk-s-turbo-gas-lighter These guys make them: lks.co.za/product/gas-lighter-turbo/ I don't know the equivalent stores in Botswana. It's called a gas lighter or wood starter Hope that helps
@@ASimplyFabLife I'm not a 100% certain I'll be able to find it in Maun. I'm flying straight in. Let me check on forums, but in the meanwhile do you know a hardware/camping store in Maun that'll sell the same thing?
Great info - what is your take on the best time of the year to visit Botswana for a self drive? I'm thinking mid/late October - nice and warm, but before the rains start
End of October is a pretty good shout. As a comparison, we went in March which was extremely hot with the heat wave, but low season, super dry, and the campsites were quite empty. We also did a solo week at end of November/December as the rains were starting to pull in - with a number of camps where we were the only ones😊🤘, and we got through Makgadigadi okay at the time (about two inches of mud). When ae were there a few months ago Botswana was still experiencing a heavy drough, so depending on the region you're looking at and if you have a group or solo I would look at October / November timeline👍 Check the booking availability though🤔. Also if it is low- or mid-season, prices can change a lot!
Been doiing many travels in Bots , my experience is April/May to be the best ! Cool , low season and green when they had a good rainy season and Moremi waterlevels stil low . It fills up from August . August/September also good but more busy ! October is too hot and change of rain increase !
If you're new to Botswana then this might help you in your travels (I hope). These are some of the FAQs, tips and tricks and opinions on travelling through Botswana. If you have alternative ideas, or corrections let me know down below. You can also read the blog for more info and travel inspiration: asimplyfab.life/searching-for-the-best-of-botswana-self-drive-4x4-trip/ Thanks for watching!
Great wrap-up! My wife and I are shipping our defender and Aussie camper trailer to SA in 2026 to do a year travelling the SADC. Thanks for sharing good ideas and tips!!
Thank you very much for the work and the video, it couldn't be better explained. Thanks!
Very helpful thank you!!
This has been a great series and it’s been a lot of fun tagging along from Australia. Thanks for sharing and for these excellent tips.
Cheers, thanks 🙏🤘😎
We went last fall in 2023. Okavango beer is so good, we had to bring a lot home, in Canada. I still have one 😂. We will go back for sure. I’m glad to see that not much change. I love that country and it’s people.
@@cotepierre68 👍 nice, thanks for the comment, Botswana just rules 🤘😎.
Don't drink the last one 🍻!😅
(or maybe DO, so you have to go back 🤔😊)
Thank you excellent video - we are heading there this Oct / Nov for 16 days also hiring from Bushlore (third time )
their vehicles have in the past been clean and reliable with good gear, but necessary to buy glass Glasses as drinking wine out of st st goblets doesn’t work……starting in Maun and ending in Kasane. Your info is good to have, especially the details on which beer and the various fees. Cheers Peter
@@PeterMcCarthy-g9e ah thank you, nice to hear 👍😊.
Agreed wine out of plastic (or G&T😅) is not correct 💯 (like beer out of a can versus bottle - but we can't complain if it's ❄️ in the middle the Kalahari heat🥵😃)
Have a fantastic time (I know you will 😃💪😎)
Cheers for the comment 👍
Thank you lots if good info dispnsed
Fab summary Dude 😎 well done 🙌🏼 now for our next trip 😘😂
Great general synopsis 👏
Very interesting video. Thank you.
One question: I’d like to know your opinion:
if you were a tourist from abroad on a first trip to Botswana would you go to Maun and the Moremi area or would you go to Kasane and the Chobe area?
Greetings from Brazil
Thanks for your comment. I enjoyed making this one, Botswana is just such a great place!
This is the impossible question!
Opinions and preferences are all over the place.
I asked Victoria and she answered with Kasane/Chobe, for me it is probably Maun area, but we have different tastes.
Some points to think about and what you prefer:
Kasane (as mentioned in the video) is a mini version of Maun, but the Chobe river makes for awesome game viewing (on a guided tour or yourself). Victoria Falls is just a short drive away (as a day tour), helicopter flights (like Maun), river cruises, guided town tours, great lodges and a very chilled vibe at the river. Namibia border is just there, and there are various excursions to Zambia and Zimbabwe.
However, Okavango (where Maun is the gateway) is considered to be the epicentre of Botswana. For me, the appeal is abundant waterways, animals, diverse areas like savanna, forest, and wetland to discover. It has a bit more 'safari' feel to me, and you can go on a mokoro (which you can't in Kasane), or head to Makgadigadi just a few hours away (a totally different vibe). You also have Khwai area nearby, which is fantastic.
Depending on your timeline I would recommend half/half: if you have a week, maybe three or four days in each region, and drive through Chobe from Maun to Kasane.
I am not sure this helps you a lot, but I enjoy both areas.
An idea is to go onto facebook and ask this question on: Drivebots group. You will get some good, varying opinions and it can help to give you an idea on your route.
The best is that is doesn't really matter which area you choose. Both are an amazing snapshot of Botswana and you will experience all the game viewing, safari tours, and local vibe you are looking for. Get out there and discover!
Thanks for watching, great to hear some feedback🙏😊
@@ASimplyFabLife thank you very much for your answer
Hey Marcel and Vic. Fabulous info. Can you share where you bought that gaslighter? Possibly share a link? Would this be available in Riley's Garage in Maun?
Hi, thanks for your comment.
We found it at a hardware store in SA (Buildit).
Or at www.outdoorwarehouse.co.za/product/lk-s-turbo-gas-lighter
These guys make them: lks.co.za/product/gas-lighter-turbo/
I don't know the equivalent stores in Botswana.
It's called a gas lighter or wood starter
Hope that helps
@@ASimplyFabLife I'm not a 100% certain I'll be able to find it in Maun. I'm flying straight in. Let me check on forums, but in the meanwhile do you know a hardware/camping store in Maun that'll sell the same thing?
Great info - what is your take on the best time of the year to visit Botswana for a self drive? I'm thinking mid/late October - nice and warm, but before the rains start
End of October is a pretty good shout.
As a comparison, we went in March which was extremely hot with the heat wave, but low season, super dry, and the campsites were quite empty.
We also did a solo week at end of November/December as the rains were starting to pull in - with a number of camps where we were the only ones😊🤘, and we got through Makgadigadi okay at the time (about two inches of mud).
When ae were there a few months ago Botswana was still experiencing a heavy drough, so depending on the region you're looking at and if you have a group or solo I would look at October / November timeline👍
Check the booking availability though🤔. Also if it is low- or mid-season, prices can change a lot!
Been doiing many travels in Bots , my experience is April/May to be the best ! Cool , low season and green when they had a good rainy season and Moremi waterlevels stil low . It fills up from August . August/September also good but more busy ! October is too hot and change of rain increase !