For those looking to experience the wild and diverse landscape of Botswana through the authenticity of a safari, it can be difficult to know exactly where to start. You might wonder, ‘which safari is right for me?’, or ‘where do I start when booking a Botswana safari?’.
A Botswana safari offers the unique choice between mobile camping and lodging safaris. These are 2 sides of the same coin, but each deliver different immersive experiences. With this in mind, it’s useful to understand exactly what each safari type entails, how they differ and which type best fits exactly how you want to experience Botswana.
To make things easier, we’ve put together this detailed guide to help you understand the differences in safari type, exploring what mobile camping and lodge safaris involve, how they shape the day-to-day experience within the bush, and which type of traveller each safari style is best tailored to.
Why Safari Style Matters in Botswana
Botswana is unique from most African countries in the sense that not all safaris feel the same.
This is because vast areas of wilderness across the country remaining undeveloped, raw, and remote. Floodplains expand and contract, wildlife movements shift throughout the year, and access to certain regions can change dramatically between seasons, meaning that no two safaris are the same.
This means that your choice of safari can influence:
- How much ground you cover
- The flexibility of your trip
- Your accommodation style
- How close you feel to the landscape
- And simply… how you experience the rhythm of life in the bush
Just to mention a few.
Essentially what we’re trying to say is that a fixed lodge stay in the Okavango Delta offers a very different perspective from a mobile safari that moves between Savuti, Moremi, and the Mababe region – even if both deliver immersive wildlife viewing.
What Is a Mobile Camping Safari?
Unlike other safari tours, a mobile camping safari is a guided adventure that sees you move between temporary camps set up in remote wilderness areas.
These experiences are carefully choreographed, with camps positioned in private or low-density areas. This allows for unique close access to wildlife, varied landscapes, and a more immersive, raw, and flexible safari experience.
Mobile camping safaris through the Okavango Delta, Savuti, and the Central Kalahari for instance have itineraries designed to follow wildlife movement across the landscape, rather than remaining tied to a single location.
Life in a Mobile Camp
So, what can you expect day-to-day from a mobile camp? In short, no two experiences will be the same, with the adventure tending to follow the natural rhythm of the bush.
Early mornings might begin with coffee around the fire before heading out on game drives while wildlife is most active. Afternoons often allow time to rest in camp, read, or quietly observe animals passing through, followed by late-afternoon drives as the light softens and temperatures cool.
Depending on the route and the pace of the journey, there can also be more hands-on, participatory moments that many guests find deeply rewarding.
This might include learning how camp is set up and packed down with guidance from the team, joining short interpretive bush walks, or gaining insight into traditional skills such as using a mokoro (dug-out canoe) or identifying useful plants around camp. These moments are never forced on guests, but most like to take part as they add a cultural and practical layer to the trip that goes beyond wildlife viewing alone.
On routes such as the Savuti to Moremi mobile camping safaris, the rhythm is shaped by the landscape itself with potential open floodplains one day and riverine woodland the next. Evenings are often spent around the campfire, with dinner under the stars and the distant sounds of the bush replacing any sense of separation from the environment.
Comfort Levels in Mobile Camping
One of the most common misconceptions about mobile camping is that it is ‘uncomfortable.’
In reality, this isn’t the case.
While all experiences will give some form of comfort, it can vary greatly depending on the style of safari chosen. We currently provide 2 types of mobile camping safaris:
Adventure Mobile Camping:
This focuses on simplicity and immersion, providing a more rugged, budget-friendly camping experience designed for travellers seeking authentic adventure.
Tents are simpler, facilities are basic (shared bathrooms or bush-style setups), and meals are often self-prepared or camp-style. The focus is on immersion in nature, wildlife, and the journey itself rather than luxury.
Premium Mobile Camps:
These are much higher-end, fully serviced mobile camp experiences, serving as a comforting middle ground between adventure camps and lodges. Guests stay in luxurious, movable tents that are set up at scenic locations each night. They can include amenities such as comfortable beds, en-suite bathrooms, gourmet meals, and attentive staff, offering the thrill of mobile camping without compromising on comfort.
Premium camps are particularly popular with travellers who want the flexibility and immersion of a moving safari without sacrificing comfort – an option that appeals strongly to older travellers and first-time safari guests.
Wildlife and Wilderness Access
The defining difference of mobile camping safaris over lodges is flexibility.
Because camps move, guides can position guests where wildlife is most active at that time of year. This is especially valuable in Botswana, where seasonal changes dramatically impact animal movements.
Mobile routes through areas like Mababe, Savuti, and the Khwai region for instance allow travellers to experience different predator populations, elephant corridors, and floodplain ecosystems within a single journey. For travellers who value variety and a sense of exploration, this adaptability is difficult to match.
Who is a Mobile Camping Safari Best Suited For?
- Adventure seekers
- Nature and wildlife enthusiasts
- Experienced campers
- Couples or small groups
- Travelers seeking flexibility
What Is a Lodge-to-Lodge Safari?
On the other side, you might decide to go with a Botswana lodge to lodge safari.
These involve staying in permanent lodges strategically located near wildlife-rich areas, providing access to the authentic Botswana landscape within more traditionally premium accommodation.
This style of safari offers a balance of wildlife adventure and comfort, making it ideal for travellers who want an immersive bush experience without the logistical demand of mobile camping.
Daily Life at a Lodge
Lodge safaris follow a more structured daily rhythm compared to mobile camps. You might head out on scheduled morning and afternoon game drives, returning to the same area between activities. Meals are served in dining areas, and downtime might be spent watching wildlife from a deck or resting between excursions.
For travellers on lodge-to-lodge itineraries, this structure provides continuity and ease, particularly for those who value a more regimented routine while still enjoying exceptional guiding.
Comfort and Accessibility
As you would expect, lodges generally offer higher levels of comfort and accessibility.
En-suite bathrooms, electricity, laundry services, and easier physical access make lodge safaris appealing to travellers who want to focus on wildlife without the demands of frequent movement.
While lodge safaris don’t cover the same geographic range as mobile camping, they offer depth instead of breadth. Guides develop an understanding of their concession, often tracking individual animals and long-term behaviours.
In areas like the Selinda Reserve or the Okavango Delta, this deep local knowledge can result in exceptional predator sightings.
Which Safari Style Is Right for You?
There is no single “best” safari style in Botswana. The right choice depends on how you want to travel, how much comfort you need, and what kind of connection you hope to have with the wilderness. Both are safe, professionally guided, and conservation-focused.
| Attribute | Safari Lodges | Safari Camps |
| Comfort & Amenities | Highest and most consistent comfort. | Varies by style; tented and premium mobile camps can be very comfortable, while adventure mobile camps prioritise simplicity and immersion. |
| Accommodation Style | Solid or semi-solid suites or chalets with indoor living space. | Canvas safari tents; semi-permanent tented camps or fully mobile camps that move locations. |
| Wildlife Experience | Deep exploration of a single concession with repeat sightings and detailed local knowledge. | Tented camps offer similar depth; mobile camps add variety by moving through multiple ecosystems. |
| Flexibility & Movement | Fixed location; flexibility limited to the surrounding concession. | High flexibility, especially on mobile safaris that follow seasonal wildlife movements. |
| Immersion & Atmosphere | Comfortable and secluded, but infrastructure can soften the wilderness feel. | Strong sense of being “in the bush”; mobile camps are the most immersive and elemental. |
| Environmental Footprint | Larger footprint due to permanent infrastructure, though often responsibly managed. | Generally lower footprint; mobile and low-impact tented camps align closely with “leave no trace” principles. |
| Best Suited For | Travellers prioritising comfort, accessibility, predictability, and a restorative base. | Travellers seeking authenticity, immersion, variety, and a more adventurous safari experience. |
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Safari Experience in Botswana
For those who want to travel to Botswana, it can be difficult to know exactly how you want to start? Do you go with a lodge or a mobile camp?
Hopefully, this guide has been useful in directing you toward your ideal safari experience based on your ideal adventure. Beyond wildlife and landscapes, it’s often the shared moments (think quiet mornings in camp to evenings around the fire) that leave the strongest impression long after the journey end.
When you’re ready to book, why not enquire with our team? We will ensure your experience of the Bush is fully tailored to your ideal and authentic Botswana experience.
