18 to 35s Essential Botswana

Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa. Touch down in Jo’burg (as the locals like to call it) where your adventure begins, ready for your welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe visit the Apartheid Museum to start your journey with some local history, crucial in understanding this region. After your meeting, why not head out for a group dinner and get to know your fellow travellers. Your leader can point you in the right direction if you’re looking for local bars and restaurant recommendations.

See ya South Africa – this morning, you’ll cross the border into Botswana and travel to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. It sits on the Kalahari Desert and is an old hunting area transformed into a conservation project. It now protects what’s left of Botswana's black and white rhino populations, but you can also see zebras, giraffes, leopards, ostriches and wildebeest, all of which chill out around the natural waterholes. Not only do you get to check out the animals here, but you’ll also be benefitting local communities and helping protect the white rhino. When the sun begins to set, hop in a jeep to see the rhinos at their most active. About 35 rhinos roam around this 400-hectare community-based reserve, so don’t forget your binoculars!

Get up nice and early and drive to Maun. When you arrive, you’ll have the chance to stock up on any supplies you might need for the journey ahead. This town is the gateway to one of the world's most renowned and complex ecosystems – the Okavango Delta, a 16,000-sq-km maze of wetlands made up of waterways, green islands, lush plains and loads of wildlife. You might see hippos, crocodiles, elephants and big cats within the diverse ecosystem here. Tonight, you'll camp on the outskirts of Maun.

Make your way to the north to the Okavango Delta. Leave the truck and jump aboard a traditional mokoro – a dugout canoe steered by friendly local 'polers' – to reach your campsite in the bush. Your accommodation for the next two nights is on a remote island right in the heart of the wilderness. When you arrive, set up camp, take in the incredible views of the Delta and relax on the edge of the water for the rest of the afternoon. While you’re here, there’s the option to go on a bush walk where you might catch a glimpse of some of the wildlife including elephants and Cape buffalo. Get to know your mokoro polers and maybe even have a go at navigating a mokoro yourself! Tonight, watch as the sunset turns into a brilliant sky full of stars, far away from any light pollution. Then, fall asleep to the sounds of the wilderness.

Today, you get to paddle the mighty Delta. There's nothing more relaxing than feeling the African sun on your face as you lie back in a mokoro, while your expert poler propels you down calm waters through papyrus and reed beds to lily-covered lagoons. Watch out for elephants, lechwe, warthogs and sitatunga on a quick bush walk, then stop at one of the islands for a swim before returning to camp. If you are interested in the culinary side of Southern Africa, feel free to join your cook for a cooking class while they prepare tonight's meal.

Wake up to the sounds of the Delta this morning, then drive to Gweta – a small town sitting near the stunning Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, which are some of the largest on earth, covering around 12,000 sq km (4640 sq mi). When you arrive, have lunch and freshen up, then head out on a 4WD adventure. First, you’ll make the scenic drive towards the salt pans, taking in the scenery from your open vehicle. Along the way, you’ll make a stop to learn about the iconic baobab trees that scatter the landscape and see the trees up close. After, continue towards the salt pans, where you’ll stop for sundowners as you watch the sky change colours over the vast landscape. Join your group for dinner under the open sky tonight. Do some stargazing and spend the night camped in this remote landscape, soaking up the stillness.

Have breakfast at your camp this morning, then pack up and drive back to Gweta. You’ll have some time to freshen up in Gweta, then hit the road again for the drive to Chobe National Park. Make sure you’ve got some good tunes or a book ready for the drive. You have a free evening to relax at your camp.

Head out on a safari in Chobe National Park this morning. There's a huge range of wildlife here, all packed into one tiny area, making it unlike anywhere else in the world! Huge herds of buffalo and elephants are often seen roaming around the savanna, matched by the size of the local lion prides. An estimated 70,000 Kalahari elephants roam the park, too – these amazing beasts are the largest known subspecies of elephant in the world. You might also see zebras, impalas, wildebeest, giraffes, lions, leopards, hyenas, jackals, warthogs, baboons, monkeys and heaps of birds. Tonight, you’ll have free time to either rest or jump into some optional activities, like a sunset safari or river cruise.