Any experienced safari enthusiast will tell you, “The most important element of an outstanding safari is the guide.” Safari guides play a crucial role in providing travelers with a memorable and safe experience in the African bush.
At Brave Africa, we understand this deep in our soul. In fact, it is the basis of our foundation: one of our owners and founders is a safari guide. And that’s why we are so proud to have some of the best safari guides in Botswana.
Guest Safety: Your safari guide is ultimately responsible for your safety. They have spent years learning everything there is to know about spending time in the Bush. Whether it’s understanding when and how to approach animals, navigating nature, or setting guest rules, safety is always a top priority.
Passion for Wildlife: With a talent for reading and understanding animal behavior and the language of the Bush, safari guides share their passion for wildlife with every guest. Not only will they educate you about every animal you see, but they’ll make sure the safari experience is as sustainable and eco-conscious as possible.
Animal Tracking: A safari is not a zoo. The animals are wild and free to roam, but your guide has the skills to track them. This is especially important for predators, which can be difficult to find if you don’t know the sounds and tracks to look for.
Share Knowledge: There are hundreds of birds, thousands of unique flora and fauna, and dozens and dozens of difficult animals. Somehow, your guide will know them all. They are walking and talking encyclopedias on everything in the bush.
Camp Hospitality: On safari, your guide is not just your connection to the wilderness they are also your Bush host. They’ll become your close companion on long game drives, at meal times, and so many moments in between.
Meet Tabona Wina: Brave Africa’s Premier Safari Guide
Tabona Wina is a Motswana born and raised in Francistown, Botswana. He is a Co-owner, President, and Founder at Brave Africa Safaris, as well as a level 3 experienced guide (the highest level).
Early Life
From a young child, Wina has always been interested in animals and nature. Whether he was spending time on a farm, in the plowing fields, or at the cattle posts, his favorite part was working with the sheep, cattle, and goats. And while doing so, he also gained exposure to the wilds, sparking his love and passion for the Bush.
But living in the city, Wina didn’t have very many opportunities to explore nature—at least as much as he wanted, especially as his schooling got more intense. So, for a while, he left the Bush behind and began his career working in Public Health after college. But while his job was fulfilling, it couldn’t replace the joy and beauty Wina found in the wild.
Career as a Safari Guide in Botswana
Then, in 2007, the opportunity finally came for Wina to go back to his first love. With the help of his family, he followed his heart and pursued his dream of becoming a safari guide by joining the Tourism Industry. And the rest is history.
Wina reignited his love and passion for the Bush immediately. And by 2008, he earned his professional guiding license and a job guiding at African Bush Camps (ABC)—a premier safari company with lodges in Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
For over a decade, Wina helped grow ABC while exploring his passion for wildlife, the environment, and amazing guest experiences. Under the guidance of Beks Ndlovu at ABC, he learned the guiding principles of intuition, respect, and sharing, and developed an incredible depth of knowledge and breadth of experience that is unparalleled. He quickly became the go-to guide for special guests and was regularly requested by anyone and everyone in the know.
Founding of Brave Africa
Then, in 2018, Wina was given a new opportunity. While guiding a young American couple on an incredible Safari in Linyanti and Savuti, he shared his private dream of owning his own safari company. They believed in him and his vision, and a year later in 2019, Brave Africa Safaris was born.
Wina is not just the President and Co-Owner of Brave Africa, he is our beating heart. It is his deep love and respect for the Botswana Bush that is woven into every aspect of our company from our “leave no trace behind” campsites to our all-day immersive safaris. Everything that is Bush-based is his forté. For Wina, there is nothing better than sharing his passion for wildlife with others.
Being a safari guide in Botswana is not just Tabona Wina’s dream; it is his calling!
5 Questions and Answers with Tabona Wina
How long have you been a guide? 15 years
After so long as a guide, do you still enjoy it? Yes! Animal behavior is just amazing. Over the years, I’ve never lost my love. I really really enjoy my time in the bush. This is my destiny. I am going to die in the Bush.
What is one of your favorite parts of being a guide? You never stop learning! You learn something new every single day you are in the Bush. Whether you are looking at vegetation, insects, or animal behavior, there is always something to learn. Whenever I am in the Bush, I feel like I’m growing my education.
Do you have a favorite animal? I love all the animals, but I have developed a particular love for elephants. I think in my previous life I was an elephant. I get so attached to them; I can feel their presence. They have a beautiful social structure with a Matriarchal society where the entire herd follows the oldest female. And the thought of that is incredible.
Do you have a particular guiding memory about elephants you can share? I had always heard and understood that elephants can mourn family members when they die, but I had never witnessed it. But when I was working for ABC in Linyanti one time, there was a local elephant we knew very well. He was an ancient guy with one tusk who died of old age. A few months later when he was just bones, I passed by his skeleton and found six Bull elephants with massive tusks surrounding the bones. Looking at their facial expressions, I could see they were mourning. I watched them for a while as one elephant picked a bone off of the ground and played with it in his tusk, tasted it, and then passed it to the next elephant. The bone went around the entire circle until it went back to the first elephant and then they walked off with the bone before tossing it in a new location. It was an amazing experience watching them scatter bones just as humans scatter ashes.
What do Guests Say About Tabona Wina as a Safari Guide in Botswana?
“How do I know there are 23 types of antelope – because of our fabulous guide Wina. He MADE the entire adventure. He was a walking Wikipedia with 3 years of schooling and 10 years of experience. I just can’t say enough about Wina. Besides his vast knowledge and charming personality, he always made our safety his top priority.” —Sheree F. TripAdvisor
“Mr. Tabona Wina is a skillful guide, with a deep knowledge of the flora and fauna of Botswana. He was able to locate and track many wonderful animals – elephants, lions, cheetah, hyenas and wild dogs, to name a few. We felt safe while on safari drive with him.” —PaultVo TripAdvisor
“If you don’t have a “Wina” (our guide), you don’t have ½ the experience. Wina has 10+ years experience in Botswana, he taught most of the guides. He knows every animal, behavior, tracking paw prints, birds, even knows about animal poop! Very important if you want to catch your animal. It’s like we’re hunting in a Landcruiser, everyone on watch, hoping to spy the next amazing sighting!” —Rick F. TripAdvisor
“Mostly however the superb skills of the resourceful Tabona Wina as Guide make this really special as he has an extraordinary ability to find game.” —Michaelk TripAdvisor
“I went on the most wonderful safari with Wina and his dedicated team. I’ve been on a few safaris in my time and this has been far and away the best. Wina is incredibly knowledgable and passionate about nature, and through his skill we were able to see a whole range of animals from lions to painted dogs to buffalo to elephants and, most excitingly of all, a leopard!” —LJHK TripAdvisor
“Wina is in a class ALL by himself, an expert tracker and naturalist who knew what seemed to me, everything about the bush. Everyday was a new and exciting adventure. It didn’t matter at all that we were in ‘Green’ season and that all the bush was full and tall. He tracked dogs, cats, hyena, cheetah, leopard and spotted all the little birds and animals that I would never have seen, had I not been with such an accomplished guide. Wina cares about them all, so deeply. He educated me about everything that my endlessly curious mind wanted to know!” —Herbeingness TripAdvisor
“Tabona Wina is a great guide, host and manager. We saw so many animals: elephants, lions, zebra, impala, a cheetah, a leopard, hippos, giraffe, buffalo and more. On day 2, Wina stopped the vehicle and said, “I see a hyena…he has blood on his mouth”. We could barely see it but he could, and off road we went to find about a dozen of them feasting on a recent kill. We just sat in the vehicle and watched. I felt like we were inside our own little nature documentary. Wina knows so much about the animals, birds and vegetation. He was constantly teaching us about our surroundings. He is so passionate and loves nature. Didn’t hurt that I was also nudging him for more info!” —E7158S TripAdvisor
When it comes to the best way to experience Botswana’s wildlife, you cannot beat a safari. No other activity allows you such close and intimate access to nature. Plus, it’s an adventure of a lifetime! And when you combine that one-of-a-kind adventure with a safari company that is committed to excellence, has a passion for conservation, and offers a personalized approach, it doesn’t get better than Brave Africa Safaris.
Here are five reasons why Brave Africa Safaris is the best way to embark on your adventure into the heart of Botswana’s wildlife with your family, surrounded by friends, or even on your own.
1. An Unparalleled Safari Team with the Expertise and Knowledge You Need
At Brave Africa Safaris, we are known for our team of highly experienced and knowledgeable staff. They are key to our success and the reason we can offer the incredible experiences we do.
“I cannot write a review without mentioning the large staff. Every single one of them were one of the loveliest people I have ever met. They simply cared…about everything. They sang beautiful songs as a group, which I will never forget. They were genuinely interested in who I was and wanted to know more. They smiled with such a genuineness that will bring me back to share more experiences with them, again.” —Laurie, Trip Advisor
All of our team members have spent years learning how to provide the best guest experiences possible. We are dedicated to ensuring that your safari experience is not only educational and enriching, but also exceptionally comfortable, fun, and memorable.
Brave Africa is waiting to welcome you on safari!
At camp, you can expect our amazing team to provide:
Personalized attention to every detail of your trip.
Daily cleaning, including laundry.
Chef-inspired and cooked meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
A hassle-free safari experience.
2. Exclusive Access to the Best Wildlife Guides
One of the things that make Brave Africa Safaris truly special is our exclusive access to some of the best safari guides in the business. Not only is our owner, Tabona Wina, a Level 3 guide (the highest qualification possible), but he is well known for being top-notch in the industry. After a safari with Brave Africa, every guest knows that it is Wina who made their experience special. We cannot deny that Wina IS the best way to experience Botswana’s wildlife, period.
“Tabona Wina is a great guide, host and manager. We saw so many animals: elephants, lions, zebra, impala, a cheetah, a leopard, hippos, giraffe, buffalo and more… I felt like we were inside our own little nature documentary. Wina knows so much about the animals, birds and vegetation. He was constantly teaching us about our surroundings. He is so passionate and loves nature.” — Susan A, Trip Advisor
“Mostly however the superb skills of the resourceful Tabona Wina as Guide make this really special as he has an extraordinary ability to find game.” — Michael H, TripAdvisor
“Wina is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about nature, and through his skill we were able to see a whole range of animals from lions to painted dogs to buffalo to elephants and, most excitingly of all, a leopard! Thank you Wina and team for making my stay in Botswana so special. I would highly recommend!” — Leo JHK, TripAdvisor
Wina, and all of our guides, are passionate about sharing their in-depth understanding of Botswana’s wildlife. They have spent years studying and observing the animals and their behaviors, ensuring that every safari is one-of-a-kind. Our guides’ expertise allows them to anticipate wildlife movements, giving you the best chances of witnessing unforgettable wildlife encounters.
And don’t worry, if you are on safari with Brave Africa, you are perfectly safe! You will not need to worry about a lion or other animal getting in your car or tent. The animals may get near you, but your guide is always watching closely. He will make sure that you are protected from the animals while still having a fantastic time.
3. Customized and Personalized Itineraries and Safari Locations
We understand that every traveler is unique, and that’s why we offer customized and personalized safari itineraries. In general, we offer three different safari packages to get you started.
Brave Adventurer: This 10-Day and 9-Night adventure takes you to our favorite campsites in the Okavango Delta. You’ll get to experience the different landscapes and wildlife of Moremi, Khwai, and Savuti (Chobe). This is our most in-depth experience that ensures you miss nothing.
Brave Explorer: If you have less time, this 7-Day and 6-Night adventure takes you to the Savuti (Chobe) and Khwai—two very different locations in the Okavango Delta. This is a great option for guests who want to experience lush forests and river fronts as well as desert plains and savannahs.
Brave Discoverer: Our final package is also 7-Days and 6-Nights and takes you into the heart of the Delta to spend time in Khwai and Moremi. These two locations are a favorite for guests interested in lush wetlands, vast waterways, and dense forests.
We have carefully selected our safari packages to provide you with the best way to experience Botswana’s wildlife. You’ll discover unparalleled opportunities to witness the natural wonders of this remarkable country from the Okavango Delta’s waterways to the vast expanses of the Savuti plains, we offer a diverse range of ecosystems and landscapes to explore.
But if any of these trips don’t exactly fit your dream safari, our team will work closely with you to tailor your safari experience to your preferences, ensuring that your adventure aligns with your interests and desires. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast, a photography enthusiast, or seeking a romantic getaway, we will curate a safari that exceeds your expectations.
“They gave us the most amazing experience, camping in luxury in the Chobe and Moremi national parks in Botswana. We saw some sensational game over our five nights, with the considerable aid of our expert guide, and otherwise were treated like royalty back in the camp by dedicated and very friendly staff. When it was time to go, we were as sad to leave the stunning wildlife as we were to say goodbye to the wonderful men and women who looked after us- a really unforgettable experience that we would all gladly repeat. Strongly recommended.” —Rupert K, TripAdivsor
4. Sustainable and Responsible Tourism
For most guests, we know that sustainable and responsible tourism practices are critical to your choice of safari operators. It’s important that you know your money is going toward a camp that is dedicated to the well-being of the environment, wildlife, and local communities. And at Brave Africa Safaris, that is our main mission.
Our camps are designed with eco-friendly principles in mind, minimizing our ecological footprint. Our motto is: we take only photos and leave behind only footprints. In fact, once our team packs up a camp and moves sites, it is like we were never there.
Our goal is to be in harmony with nature as much as we can. After all, the best way to experience Botswana’s wildlife is with an eco-conscious approach:
Brave Africa Safaris has no permanent structures: we leave each campground exactly as we found it.
As much as possible, we are solar-powered: our front and back-of-house batteries are hooked up to powerful solar panels. We also use solar-powered lights to illuminate the camp, tents, back-of-house, and more.
Plastic consumption is kept to a minimum with reusable, personalized water bottles: these water bottles are a gift for guests to keep and take home!
We purify our own water, using powerful Berkey Filters—the world leader in water filtration. It removes 200+ unsafe contaminants, 99.9999999% of pathogenic bacteria, and 99.999% of viruses. It exceeds all industry standards globally.
Our stove, used for all cooking, helps us cut back on firewood, and thus our impact on the environment.
“All guest tents were large. It accommodated a king-size bed, nightstands, and storage for our clothes. The toilets were fully flushable. Each tent even had a shower area. The entire setup, with the addition of the great service from the staff, felt like a mobile lodging. After a few nights in one location, the camp was moved by the staff of Brave Africa to a different location. This move was entirely done while we were out on safari drive, visiting the animals. All we had to do was to put our belongings back into our suitcases before we began our safari drive. When we arrived at this new camp location in the evening, our tent was set up and ready for use. This mobility of the camp made possible for us to experience a few different locals and environments.” —PaultVo, TripAdvisor
A safari with Brave Africa is not just a vacation; it’s a transformative and life-enriching experience. From witnessing a lion’s powerful roar to the delicate beauty of a bird in flight, each moment on safari is filled with wonder and excitement. The memories you create with us will last a lifetime, and the connections you make with the wildlife and the natural world will leave an indelible mark on your soul.
“Wina told us a phrase, ‘This is Africa!’ It meant, at any moment, at any turn, something could happen, something could change and you are awestruck watching in amazement an animal, an event, a dazzle of Zebra and quite frankly you are rendered speechless. Humbled by God’s creation and harmony of animals living and existing together in the bush.
You feel like you shouldn’t be here. You’re out of your element. Yet, you’re thrilled to be a part of it, to see and share in this experience in the ‘animals’ backyard’. You feel like you are in their zoo, and what a privilege to participate and to try and capture with your camera the moments presented to you. When an elephant (one of three encounters) walks up to you within 3 feet, you can’t help but feel a little scared, giddy, excited, overwhelmed, can’t breathe, want to touch, can’t move kind of moment! It’s that exciting!” —Rick F, TripAdvisor
Walking safaris are a back-to-basics approach to safari. You leave the car and follow your guide on foot, which gives you a far deeper and more intimate connection with the wildlife and landscape.
The most serene and sublime safari activity is the mokoro—dug-out canoe safari. It is like no other experience and offers a fascinating way to explore the beauty of Botswana’s waterways.
A boating safari, which takes place on a motorized boat, is a great way to explore even more of the vast waterways of the Okavango Delta—going where vehicles can’t.
Night drives are another unique African safari activity that keeps you out after the sun has set to explore the bush in total darkness. Not only will you have the chance to spot night-dwelling creatures, but you can also witness a dizzying array of stars.
Visiting Khwai Villageis one of the highlights of going on safari in Khwai, Botswana. It’s one of the things that makes this area so unique and allows you to see learn how communities live, speak to villagers, and participate in their traditional way of life.
The Best Way to Experience Botswana’s Wildlife is with Brave Africa Safaris!
Embarking on a safari with Brave Africa Safaris offers an unparalleled opportunity to immerse yourself in Botswana’s wildlife and natural beauty. With our expertise, exclusive access, customized itineraries, commitment to sustainability, and the creation of unforgettable moments, we ensure that your safari experience with us is truly exceptional.
Choose Brave Africa Safaris for the adventure of a lifetime and discover why we are the best way to experience Botswana’s wildlife.
Great news! Botswana President Masisi approved lifting the country’s international travel restrictions. It will happen in a phased manner, starting on November 9, 2020. You can now start planning your Botswana safari travel in 2021 and beyond.
On November 9, 2020: air travel will resume into Botswana’s airports: Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (Gaborone), Kasane International Airport, and Maun International Airport. We expect international carriers to announce their schedule for online bookings imminently.
On December 1, 2020: those looking to travel in by road may do so from major land border points, including the Kazungula road, Kazungula ferry crossing from Victoria Falls & Livingstone, as well as the main border from South Africa – Martins Drift.
Botswana Safari Travel Requirements
All arriving travelers will be expected to meet the following requirements:
c) Symptomatic clients upon arrival will be required to undertake mandatory testing and possible isolation and or quarantine, as per section 76 (1) (2) and 80 of the Public Health Act of 2013 (our company is discussing a protocol to ensure symptomatic guests are well looked after and access to the best facilities possible).
d) The traveler will be required to remain in contact with the local health authority for a period of 14 days doing self-monitoring.
e) Travelers exiting Botswana are expected to comply with the destination country’s travel regulations at their own expense.
f) Non-citizen travels NOT meeting the requirements will NOT be allowed entry into Botswana.
We’ll continue to update you as we get more information.
Botswana Safari Travel During Green Season (December – March)
Now that we know Botswana is opening up to safari travel again, let’s talk about it! Should you go on safari in Botswana during the Green Season?
Green Season—also known as rainy season—begins in December and goes through March. It’s typically the least popular season to go on safari in Botswana, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad time to visit. Every month in Botswana offers something special and different for visitors.
Truly, Botswana is a year-round destination with more than 300 days of sunshine and abundant wildlife whenever you visit.
Rainy Weather
Green Season is known for lots of thunderstorms and rain. But remember, the Okavango Delta is part of the Kalahari Desert. And as a desert, it never rains too much or too often.
Two of our owners visited in late December 2019 for seven days and only experienced one evening with storms. And when a recent guest went on a 25-day safari in March 2020, she was only rained out one day.
However, we can never predict the weather or promise that you won’t get rained on. December through March is rainy season, and so that is a risk you take. And one thing we can promise Is humid and hot weather.
Green Vegetation
The good news is that with rain comes beautiful green vegetation and flowers. The Okavango Delta is never prettier than during Green Season. The scenery is truly stunning. Water, flowers, bushes, and trees are abundant. The Delta is completely transformed into an oasis during this time, making for some truly incredible photos.
However, green vegetation does come with a few downfalls:
The thicker the vegetation, the more easily animals can hide in the bushes, so it might make animal sightings a little more hard-fought.
An abundance of water can also come with more mosquitoes and other bugs. It never gets too terrible when it comes to bugs, but it is something to keep in mind if you have a phobia.
Vegetation and flooding can also limit where you can drive. Especially later in the season (February and March), you may find that your safari vehicle has to go out of the way to drive around deep water.
The good news is that green vegetation and flooding can also limit where animals—particularly predators—can travel. This means if you can find dry land, you might have predators and their prey that are easy to find and watch. This happened to our safari guest this past March 2020. She saw an abundance of lions in Khwai because they were limited to the same dry land that the safari vehicle was limited to.
Newborn Animals
Green Season is also newborn animal season. That’s because newborns and expectant mothers are highly dependent on an abundance of water to survive. December through March can be a great time to see newborn antelopes, zebra, giraffe, and more.
For example, did you know that impala can stop the birthing process until right after a rainy day? They can remain pregnant for additional weeks on end until it’s just the right time and rains hit.
As for predators, this is also their birthing season. However, it is highly rare to see newborn predators. Their mothers are typically very protective and keep their newborns hidden in bushes, dens, and trees until they are old enough to handle the world independently. It’s for this reason that we actually recommend March – June to see young predators.
And the best news is that elephants give birth year-round. So if you want to see baby elephants, any time you visit is a great time.
Migrations
Did you know that Botswana is home to one of the greatest migrations in all of Africa? The Chobe River to Nxai Pan National Park zebra migration is the longest known mammal movement in Africa—a round-trip of over 482 KM (300 miles).
Around 20,000 zebras take this route every year! It’s an incredible sight. You have the best chance of witnessing this phenomenon during Green Season. The migration usually starts in December or January, depending on the rains. If it’s a drier season, the migration will start a little later than usual because the zebra follow the water.
December welcomes the first rains of the wet season. The weather begins to cool this time of year, and some areas will be inaccessible because of mud and heavy rain. However, flooding won’t be in abundance yet, so you should still have many chances to get around. This time of year is excellent for newly-born calves and cubs as well as migrant birds and zebra, and some green scenery.
The good:
Lots of newly-born calves and cubs.
The migration season for Zebras and birds (in the millions) begins.
Start of the green season, which can mean beautiful foliage.
Shoulder and Off-Season pricing makes these two months more affordable.
The bad:
Hot and humid weather can make game drives uncomfortable.
There’s a good chance you can be rained on at the start of the wet season.
Mud and heavy rains may make some areas inaccessible.
Botswana Safari in January and February
January and February are the two wettest months of the year. This means that you have a good chance of getting rained on while you’re out on game drives. However, it also means there’s beautiful thick, green vegetation.
The scenery will be stunning this time of year. Flowers will be in bloom, trees will be packed with leaves, grass will be growing, and water will be everywhere. Unfortunately, this incredible scenery can hide wildlife because you can’t see as far.
It’s also hot and humid. Despite this, these months are incredible for bird watching, many migrations are in full swing, and many antelope give birth so predators can be abundant.
The good:
Great time for bird watching.
Beautiful scenery
Many migrations are in full swing, including the Botswana zebra migration.
Antelope birthing seasons, so hunting predators will be in abundance.
Lush greenery means that animals have more hiding places.
Lots of rain could mean wet game drives.
An abundance of water may make it difficult to get to many areas.
Hot and humid weather may be uncomfortable for some.
Botswana Safari in March
March is when the rains begin to ease. You’re far less likely to be rained on in March, but all the water from January and February has built up, so water is absolutely everywhere. This will be the greenest season and a stunning time to visit Botswana if you want to see the country in full bloom. However, because the water has had so long to build up, getting around can be difficult. You’ll have to find a way to drive between water, and some areas may be inaccessible. But this does mean that you’ll find large concentrations of animals in the accessible dry areas. Unfortunately, this can also be prime mosquito season, so bug spray is a MUST!
The good:
Because it’s so wet, large concentrations of animals will be found in dry areas.
The greenest time of the year with lush plants and flowers.
It’s birthing season for many animals, which could mean lots of happy predators.
Highly affordable off-season prices.
The bad:
VERY thick greenery means that animals have more hiding places.
Flooding may make it difficult to get to certain areas.
This is a mosquito-heavy season because there’s so much water.
If something goes wrong, you can reschedule (with 30-days notice) without penalty for any time through December 31, 2021.
If you have to reschedule, you get a 10% bonus towards your rescheduled booking.
Hold your booking for an incredibly affordable deposit.
$400 for 6 nights / 7 days itinerary (regardless of party size)
$600 for 9 nights / 10 days (regardless of party size)
And don’t worry! If you can’t schedule your Botswana safari over the Green Season, we’ll still be open the rest of 2021. You can go on safari with Brave Africa at any time, and we’d love to have you.
Are you trying to plan your next African safari holiday for the end of 2020 or 2021? We know there are a ton of options out there, which means it can be challenging to find the right African safari package for your holiday travel.
The good news is that Brave Africa offers three incredible African safari packages that can fit almost anyone. Whether you have plenty of time to spend in the bush and want to dig deep or you just have a few days and want to make the most of your limited time, we have an African safari tour package that’s ideal for you.
Let us break down our three essential African safari holiday offerings, your customization options, and what you can expect from Brave Africa no matter what.
3 Brave Africa Safari Package Holidays
When it comes to going on an African safari holiday, we have three featured packages: Brave Adventurer, Brave Explorer, and Brave Discoverer. Each of these packages offers something a little different.
10-Day Safari Package: Brave Adventurer
If you’ve got a lot of holiday time saved up and you want to get the most out of your Botswana safari, we recommend our Brave Adventurer package. This 10-day/9-night safari holiday takes you to three different locations in Botswana’s Okavango Delta: Moremi Game Reserve, Khwai Community Trust, and Savuti (Chobe National Park).
Think of this package as a deep dive into Botswana and the many landscapes and abundant wildlife found there. You’ll spend three nights at each camp with game drives from dawn until dusk. With this African safari holiday, you won’t miss anything.
This map shows the route of our 10-day Brave Adventurer safari tour.
7-Day Safari Packages: Brave Explorer and Brave Discoverer
If you have less time to spend on holiday in Africa, we offer two shorter safari packages that are just seven days each. These packages are very similar except for where you’ll explore. Both packages will have you spend three nights in Khwai, but the second location changes between Savuti and Moremi
Brave Explorer
Our first 7-day/6-night Botswana safari holiday package, Brave Explorer, takes you to Savuti and Khwai for three nights in each location. Savuti is where the big game roams. Located in Chobe National Park, Savuti is best known for its predators, including large prides of lions. National Geographic’s Savage Kingdom is filmed here.
This map shows the route of our 7-day Brave Explorer safari tour.
Brave Discoverer
Our final 7-day/6-night Botswana safari tour package is the Brave Discoverer. It takes you to Moremi and Khwai for three nights in each location. Moremi Game Reserve is renowned for its beauty. All year long, it has spectacular wildlife and birding with leopard, cheetah, and antelope in abundance. You’ll fall in love with the riverine forests, seasonal floodplains, and serpentine channels.
This map shows the route of our 7-day Brave Discoverer safari tour.
African Safari Holidays 2020
Now that you know the three packages we offer, what makes each unique? What’s the ideal African safari holiday for you?
All-Day Game Drives
All of our African safari package holidays include all-day game drives. What does this mean?
Well, you go on safari to see Africa’s many amazing animals. On a traditional safari, you get two game drives a day: once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Each of these game drives is between three to four hours in length (6-8 hours total), and the rest of the time is spent at camp. What this means is that four to five hours a day is spent not trying to see animals.
At Brave Africa, we take you on all-day game drives instead, which means you get 12-13 hours in the bush looking for animals. This allows us to cover more ground on our day trips instead of staying around camp. It also means you get to stay at an animal sighting as long as you want.
We bring lunch and snacks with us on our all-day game drives. So you can set the schedule with your car and guide about when you want to take a break and eat. And, as for those breaks, our incredible safari guides always do their best to make sure you take your break nearby something stunning.
African Safari Holiday Destinations
When it comes to our two, 7-day safari packages, the main difference is where you’ll spend your time. Both packages will have you spend three days in Khwai Concession. That’s because Khwai is a must-visit safari location offering a wildlife-rich patchwork of lagoons, shallow flooded pans, woodlands, and grasslands. It’s a go-to location for wild dogs, elephants, lions, and more.
Khwai also offers unique safari activities. For example, you can:
As for choosing between Moremi and Savuti, if you can only visit one, that’s a difficult choice. Both are incredible destinations but very different.
Moremi Game Reserve: Moremi Game Reserve is a magical oasis. It offers crystal-clear waters, dense green forests, and pristine wilderness. It arguably is one of the best places in Africa for Big 5 wildlife viewing. It encompasses 5,000 square kilometers with amazing chances to see leopards, wild dogs, cheetah, elephants, and more.
Savuti (Chobe National Park): Chobe National Park is nicknamed “The Land of the Giants.” It’s home to Africa’s largest elephant populations. Comprised of more than 10,000 square kilometers, the area offers unique landscapes with savannas, rocky outcrops, and limited watering holes. Savuti is also known for a thriving population of predators, particularly lions.
African Mobile Safari Lodge
No matter what African safari tour package you choose with Brave Africa, you’ll get to enjoy our luxurious mobile safari lodge. This means that you’ll stay in the same tent and with the same staff for the entirety of your trip. You check-in once at the beginning, and then we move camp between locations, similar to a cruise. You enjoy your all-day game drives, and then on move day, we bring everything to the next safari destination.
As for Brave Africa’s camp, you’re not roughing it by any stretch of the imagination. Think of it as a hotel room under canvas. We have a team of 12 full-time staff that have been trained to handle everything from guiding to camp management, cooking, hospitality, housekeeping, maintenance, and more. You’ll enjoy:
A luxury tent (6m x 3m x 2.25m) with an en-suite bath and flushing toilet.
A main lodge with a bar, cozy seating area, lively fire circle, and dining area.
Gourmet cooking with multi-course meals for lunch and dinner.
Eco-conscious lodging, including no permanent structures, powerful solar panels, reduced plastic use, and more.
African Safari Holidays 2020 Deals
For a limited time, we’re offering special pricing as well as updated cancelation and reschedule policies for the 2020 safari season. Our once-in-a-lifetime pricing for any safari scheduled between June 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, is just $4,000 per person for 10-Days and $2,700 per person for 7-days. That’s up to $2,500 off per person!
As for our Book with Confidence promotion for 2020, you’ll enjoy ultimate flexibility. You can book now and pay later for a minimal deposit to hold your booking that can be rescheduled for 100% reservation credit. And you can change your trip at any time, without penalty, up to 30 days prior to departure.
African Safari Holidays 2021 Deals
If you’re not feeling comfortable enough to book an African safari holiday in 2020, we understand. The good news is that we also have a Book with Confidence promotion for 2021. This promotion is good for any safari departing from April 1, 2021, until March 31, 2022.
Reschedule (with 60 days’ notice) for any available departure date through March 31, 2022—for any reason and without penalty.
Enjoy reduced deposits to hold your booking.
Shoulder Season (April, May, June, November)
$400 for 6 nights / 7 days itinerary (per person)
$600 for 9 nights / 10 days itinerary (per person)
High Season (July, August, September, October)
$450 for 6 nights / 7 days (per person)
$650 for 9 nights / 10 days (per person)
African Safari Tour Customizations
Now, what if you’re looking for an African safari holiday that is outside the box? Do you have a big group? Would you prefer a private experience? Are you wondering if there’s anything special for a honeymoon? Do you have kids and want to know what type of safari would work best for them?
We offer group discounts for parties of six or more. And we can do our best to accommodate your special needs.
You can pay for a private safari experience, whether you just want a private car for your all-day game drives or you want a completely private safari camp.
Contact us at [email protected] to ask about our customization options and how Brave Africa can meet your needs.
Brave Africa was built on the idea that travelers want incredible experiences with companies whose values match their own. We believe that if we stay true to minimizing the impact on the environment and maximizing our economic and social benefits to the local community, that safari-goers who value those same things will find our product compelling and “vote with their dollars.”
To remain true to ourselves, we are taking a moment to share our stance on the Black Lives Matter movement and the protests that are happening around the world against racism and the excessive use of force by law enforcement.
We understand that this might be unpopular, and some readers might think and comment, “Brave Africa is a safari company. Stay in your lane. Do not get into politics.” However, it is because we are an African safari company in Botswana with Black employees and a Black co-founder and owner that we must make our position known.
One more thing: though corporate statements are an important step, it is a company’s actions that ultimately matter. Brave Africa has done our best to live up to our values before these important conversations ever came to their current boiling point, and we will continue to strive to be the change we want to see in the world.
Brave Africa began from community, diversity, and inclusion.
In Botswana, there is the concept known as botho, which in Setswana means that everyone is connected to the larger community as an extended family. That concept is vital to Botswana, and the idea that Brave Africa is a part of and affects the larger community compels us to be a part of the global conversation and to take action.
What you might not know is that Brave Africa was founded and is co-owned by three individuals from three different ethnicities:
Tabona Wina is Black Botswanan.
Kelly Vo is white American.
Patrick Vo is Vietnamese American.
This makes Brave Africa unique because the majority of the safari companies in Africa are owned and led by white Africans and white Europeans. We founded Brave Africa with the belief that Black Africans should be equally recognized for their talents and their contributions to building a business, that Black Africans should be given an equal opportunity to earn leadership positions and even ownership in the business built by their efforts, and that they should not be denied any of those things simply because of the color of skin they were born with.
Brave Africa believes that true strength is being able to acknowledge that we can do better.
We believe that no one is perfect. Therefore, true integrity and strength is to acknowledge our flaws and failings. Getting defensive and saying “we are not racists” shuts down any opportunity to address issues and become better. Having an honest conversation about our flaws is not to be negative, to cause division, to assign blame, or to tear people down, but we cannot pursue a better version of ourselves if we deny our flaws out of insecurity.
Brave Africa rejects racism and promotes inclusion.
First and foremost, we 100% reject racism and discrimination in all of its forms. It has no place in any aspect of our business, period.
We believe in inclusivity and equality for all individuals. We do not take into account the race, gender or gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or political affiliations of our employees or our guests. Everyone, staff, and guest is valued and is entitled to respect and compassion.
Racism has no place in how we treat our staff, and we will not accept racism from staff.
We are incredibly proud to be a Black Botswanan-owned company dedicated to equality and inclusion. We hire, keep, and elevate employees based on their merit. And we can tell you, right now, that all of our employees are incredible individuals who we are proud to have on our team. They have been trained and will continue to be trained to recognize discriminatory behavior and how to resolve such situations.
Our Brave Africa staff Christmas picture.
Racism has no place among our guests, and we will not accept racism from guests.
The beauty and wonder of African wildlife are meant to be shared with and enjoyed by everyone. We want all of our guests and staff to feel safe and comfortable while on safari. Therefore, we ask that all of our guests treat every individual, whether Brave Africa staff or other guests, with respect and compassion, and we encourage any guest or employee to reach out to us if there is ever a problem so that it can be resolved swiftly.
Brave Africa declares that Black Lives Matter.
We are not saying that Black lives are more important than other lives. However, our society as a whole, through its actions, treats Black lives as though they matter less than other lives. We, therefore, declare that their lives matter just as much as the lives of others, we recognize the pain and suffering they have endured through being seen as less than equals, and we wholeheartedly support efforts and changes that seek to elevate Black lives so that they are treated as equals.
As such, Brave Africa fully supports the peaceful protestors who are making their voices heard around the world. We stand with you. We believe in your cause. We lift our voice with yours. We are committed to being part of change. We will continue to confront bias and racism whenever and wherever we see it.
Brave Africa believes in activism and understanding.
It is not enough to speak or to write this post. We must put actions behind our words.
As part of our support, we are providing a list of resources, causes, and movements that you can join, donate to, and learn more about racism and Black Lives Matter.
Donate:
Black Visions Collective is a Minnesota-based (where George Floyd was murdered) collective committed to dismantling systems of oppression and violence.
The NAACP and NAACP Legal Defense Fund are dedicated to ensuring equal rights without discrimination based on race. They focus on enforcing civil rights at all levels.
Split your donation between 70+ bail funds for protestors across the U.S.
We encourage everyone to seek a greater understanding of racism and its impact around the globe. It is pervasive and deeply rooted, and we must hold ourselves accountable for how we facilitate it or fight it.
Brave Africa is always seeking to do and be better.
The path forward for communities around the world is to have open and honest conversations about racial injustice. We cannot be bystanders that watch and do nothing.
Talking about racism is uncomfortable, but refusing to talk about it does not mean racism does not exist. It is systemic. It is ingrained. It is powerful. Ignoring it will not make the problem go away. We must acknowledge that it is a problem and continually fight to overcome it.
We all have inherent biases and prejudices. That is what it means to be human and imperfect. However, that does not mean we should accept the status quo. We can always work to do better, to be better.
At Brave Africa, we want to be known as a kind, caring, understanding, supportive, and considerate business. The pursuit of doing and being better will never end, but we continue pursuing those ideals every day.
That is what we are trying to do right now: be better. We are using our platform as an African safari to speak out against racism, amplify Black voices, and to let our Black team members know:
We hear you.
We see you.
We support you.
We care about you.
We believe in you.
We fight for equality beside you.
While we may not have all the answers, we know the path forward is to continue with these difficult conversations so that positive change can happen. Our promise is to show compassion and empathy every single day, and when we fail, we will acknowledge the failure and will try again. We honor and celebrate our differences because that is what matters.
So, how can you plan your African safari after the coronavirus?
The African Safari After Corona
The coronavirus pandemic has drastically changed the travel industry. In the short term, it’s completely shut down all travel with worldwide lockdowns and stringent restrictions across the globe. In the long term, people are going to think about traveling differently.
Suddenly, all travelers are going to have to consider what’s safe and what’s healthy before choosing a vacation. And it’s not just about the end destination. You have to get there, and plane travel has never been ideal.
What does the African safari industry look like after corona? It’s different.
Seeing the beauty of an African sunset is just one reason to go on safari after coronavirus.
Africa is, of course, ready and waiting for tourists to return. And while right now might not be the best time to travel, it is a great time to plan for the future.
If you’re willing to take a leap of faith and plan your dream African safari, you could take advantage of some major deals, flexibility, and pricing cuts. In fact, most safari operators are making it so there’s little to no consequences and only benefits to booking now.
5 Questions to Ask Before You Plan Your African Safari After Corona
There are just a few questions you need to ask before you plan your African safari after coronavirus.
1. Where do I want to go on my African safari?
Botswana is home to more elephants than anywhere else in the world—130,000 at last count.
First, you need to decide what country you want to visit for your African safari: South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, etc. Each country offers unique experiences, amazing wildlife, and beauty.
During normal times, you couldn’t go wrong with any country—though we’re biased toward Botswana, of course—but these are not normal times. Instead, you need to consider your destination based on:
The impact of the coronavirus
Travel ability
Safety guidelines
For most people, South Africa is the gateway to Africa. Almost everyone flies into Johannesburg as a launching point for the rest of the continent. It’s the most common destination. That means that, until South Africa opens up its borders to tourists, getting anywhere in Africa could be difficult.
As of May 27, 2020: South Africa has had 25,937 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 552 COVID-19 related deaths. Starting on June 1, 2020, the country will move into Level 3 of their coronavirus response, which will open up much of the economy. However, travel will not open until Level 2 or Level 1, for which there are no current timelines.
Countries such as Botswana and Zimbabwe are almost completely dependent on South Africa’s reopening to restart safaris. Until that time, travel for safari is going to be difficult if not impossible.
As for safety, you might want to consider going on an African safari after coronavirus in a location where the pandemic had very little impact. For example, in Botswana, there have only been 29 cases of coronavirus recorded and one coronavirus-related death.
There is no bad time to visit Botswana. You’ll have incredible animal viewing in every season.
Depending on where you choose to go on your African safari that will help make your decision in regards to travel. Right now, most African countries are still closed to tourists and outside travel. Until borders open back up, you won’t be going anywhere.
While it’s difficult, if not impossible, to predict when you can go on an African safari after coronavirus, that doesn’t mean you should completely write-off 2020. If you are willing to push back your dates toward the end of the year—August and later—there is a chance that you could be one of the only people on safari.
Some experts are predicting that there could be a start to normalizing life at the end of 2020, and there could be nothing better than being on your own in the wilderness—just you, your guide, and the animals.
If that still seems too risky for you, you can plan your safari for 2021, instead. Just be sure to book early and quickly. Since many safari-goers who had planned to come out in 2020 had to push back their dates until next year, availability is becoming tight. If you want to get your preferred dates, you should book as soon as possible.
3. Are there any special deals, discounts, or policies for going on a safari after coronavirus?
Brave Africa has special coronavirus deals that you’ll want to chase down.
As we’ve said, the world has changed, and the African safari industry has changed with it. We understand that it’s a brave new world out there, and we’re doing our best to keep up with the times.
With how unpredictable the future is at the moment, many African safaris are doing what they can to offer travelers peace of mind and confidence when booking their safari. Not only are there revised cancelation and reschedule policies for the remainder of 2020 and 2021, but there are also some incredible discounts you can take advantage of.
For example, at Brave Africa, for a limited time, we are offering:
Once-in-a-lifetime pricing for any 2020 safari
2020 and 2021 Book with Confidence promotions
You can learn all there is to know here. But here are the highlights:
2020 travel
Our once-in-a-lifetime rates mean that guests who book a 2020 departure may enjoy a High season safari this fall for less than the price of low season. The price reduction saves the guests over $5,000 for a party of two!
Book with confidence. The deposit is only $400 (7-day itinerary) or $600 (10-day itinerary) to hold their spot for the entire party. It covers our own non-refundable costs for campsites—that’s it.
Book now; pay later. The remaining balance is not due until 30 days prior to departure.
As long as we get 30 day’s notice, guests can reschedule for any available date through December 31, 2021—any reason; no penalties.
If rescheduling for another date in 2020, there will be no difference in costs.
If rescheduling for 2021, guests rollover 100% of their reservation credit AND get a further 10% bonus towards their rescheduled booking. (As an example, if a party of two pays $8,000 for a 10-day itinerary in 2020 and reschedules for 2021, they will have $8,800 available in credit towards any available 2021 itinerary).
We designed this 2020 Book with Confidence policy so that, on a worst-case scenario, the most that guests’ risk is the $400 or $600 deposit if they completely walk away without going on their safari between the day they make the booking and December 31, 2021. Otherwise, if COVID-19 spread, vaccine delays, or any other circumstance forces guests to postpone their travel dates, they may roll over at least 100% of their investment into a new travel date for the next 19 months!
2021 travel
Book with confidence. The deposit is only $400 (7-day itinerary) or $600 (10-day itinerary) per person to hold their spot (deposits are usually 20%-30% of the entire reservation).
Book now; pay later. The remaining balance is not due until 60 days prior to departure.
As long as we get 60 days’ notice, guests can reschedule for any available date through March 31, 2022—any reason; no penalties.
Again, even though we are cautiously optimistic that everyone will return to a new normal by 2021, we want to minimize the stress from the uncertainty of the future. Worst-case scenario, guests lose a deposit much smaller than industry-standard if they completely walk away without going on their safari with us. Otherwise, even if COVID-19 or other life circumstances delay their original travel date, guests can roll over 100% of their investment into a new travel date through March 2022!
4. Is the safari operator taking the coronavirus seriously?
Brave Africa has social distancing built into our safari with a maximum of 12 guests and 6 tents.
Going on an African safari after coronavirus means that you will have to travel responsibly in the future.
While there’s no definitive information about how risky it is to travel on an airplane during the pandemic, we do know that airports, TSA, airlines, and tourism gateways will all do what they can to decrease infection risk once the world starts traveling again. A key will be avoiding crowded settings as much as possible.
The good news is that going on an African safari is a guaranteed way to get away from crowds while remaining safe. Especially if you choose to safari in a place like Botswana’s Okavango Delta, you can expect the crowds to be small. Most safari camps and safari lodges in the area have a low maximum number of guests, tents, and vehicles.
For example, at Brave Africa, our safari camp’s maximum capacity is six tents (12 guests) at a time. Your safari vehicle is also maxed out at six guests (two guests per row—no occupied middle seat). This means that we’re already ideally set up for social distancing on vacation.
On top of that, because we are a mobile-tented safari, our main tent and vehicles are open-air, which greatly diminishes your risk of getting an airborne infectious disease—such as coronavirus.
But that’s just the bare minimum. If you want to feel comfortable going on an African safari after coronavirus, you also want to ask what the safari operator is doing to increase their health and safety measures. At Brave Africa, we’ve implemented additional processes and procedures, including:
Increased availability of hand sanitizer.
Masks available to use as-needed / desired.
Enhanced staff training on safety and health protocols.
Heightened cleaning and hygiene processes.
Our team will carefully wipe down and sanitize vehicle armrests, seats, and handles after every game drive.
All shared surfaces at camp will be cleaned and sanitized between uses.
Sanitization of hard surfaces during daily guest tent cleaning.
In addition, every Brave Africa guest will receive a Health Amenity Kit upon arrival. This kit includes a mask, a personal hand sanitizer, and a personalized water bottle.
5. Is there any reason not to book my African safari now?
Brave Africa is waiting to welcome you on safari!
Finally, you need to really ask yourself if there’s any reason not to book your African safari right now?
With extremely low deposits required, flexible rescheduling policies, and great discounts, now is the ideal time to book your dream vacation. If you’re willing to go with the flow, change your plans as required, and go on safari sometime in the next 18 months, then there’s no reason to delay.
Many of the special safari deals and offerings are only available for a limited time. Once travel gets back to normal, so too will the booking policies of most safari operators.
Also, if you have been watching the news at all, you know how stir-crazy everyone has gone. When travel resumes fully, we can only imagine how busy things could get for a little while as everyone tries to get away from home. If you book early, you will have your choice of dates, locations, operators, and more.
By making the commitment right now to go on an African safari in 2020 or 2021, not only do you enjoy the benefits of the coronavirus deals only available for a limited time, you are also saying that you care about the African wildlife and are willing to commit to protecting it.
When you book a safari with Brave Africa, we donate $5 a day per guest to various charities dedicated to conservation.
Going on an African Safari After Coronavirus
There’s no reason not to go on an African safari after coronavirus! And there has never been a better time to plan for your dream vacation. Just be sure to choose your destination, safari camp or safari lodge, and timing carefully.
