The Wild Reset
The Wild Reset
Some of Southern Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences are shaped not by roads, but by water.
From the seasonal floodplains of Botswana’s Okavango Delta to the mighty Zambezi River at Victoria Falls, this journey follows the waterways that sustain some of the continent’s richest ecosystems. Along the way, each destination reveals a distinctly different perspective on safari—whether exploring quiet channels by traditional mokoro, tracking white rhino on foot, viewing the Delta from above by helicopter, or cruising the Zambezi as elephants gather along its banks.
Designed for travelers who want to experience more than traditional game drives, The Wild Reset combines immersive wilderness, meaningful conservation experiences, and intimate safari camps into a thoughtfully paced journey that celebrates the remarkable ways water shapes both landscape and wildlife across Southern Africa.
Why We Love This Safari
- Every destination introduces a new landscape, ecosystem, and style of safari, creating a journey that continually evolves rather than repeating the same experience.
- Experience Southern Africa from multiple perspectives, with wildlife encounters by vehicle, boat, helicopter, mokoro, and on foot.
- Scenic helicopter flights reveal the immense scale and seasonal flood patterns of the Okavango Delta while connecting remote wilderness areas inaccessible by road.
- Walking safaris, rhino tracking, river experiences, and conservation encounters offer a deeper understanding of Africa beyond traditional game drives.
- Intimate safari camps with limited guest numbers create a quieter, more personal wilderness experience and allow greater flexibility during wildlife encounters.
- Carefully balanced pacing allows time to fully experience each destination rather than simply moving between them.
- The combination of Botswana and Zambia showcases how water shapes wildlife, landscapes, and daily life across two of Southern Africa’s most remarkable safari regions.
Best Time To Travel: April – December
This journey is best experienced between April and December, spanning Botswana’s transition from green season into the dry months and the annual arrival and retreat of Okavango floodwaters. Wildlife viewing is strong throughout this period, while seasonal water levels shape mokoro excursions and other water-based experiences.
Bushtracks will tailor the timing around the combination of wildlife, water levels, and activities most important to you.
Safari+
Beyond the Game Vehicle
Some of the most memorable moments on safari happen when you leave the vehicle behind. These experiences reveal Africa from entirely different perspectives—on foot, from the water, in the air, and alongside the conservationists working to protect its wildlife.
- Wildlife Experiences
- Walking safaris
- White rhino tracking on foot
- Wildlife viewing by vehicle and boat
- Water Experiences
- Traditional mokoro excursions
- Zambezi River cruises
- Livingstone Island excursion
- From Above & Beyond
- Scenic helicopter flights
- Royal Livingstone Express historic train journey
- Conservation & Community
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- Elephant Havens elephant orphanage
- Conservation and community initiatives
Video above courtesy of Beagle Expeditions.
Highlights
- Explore two of Southern Africa’s most iconic water-shaped landscapes, from Botswana’s Okavango Delta to the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls.
- Experience wildlife from multiple perspectives by vehicle, helicopter, mokoro, boat, and on foot.
- Visit Elephant Havens, where orphaned elephant calves are rehabilitated with the goal of one day returning to the wild.
- Fly by helicopter above the Okavango Delta to appreciate the immense scale and seasonal flood patterns that make this UNESCO World Heritage Site unique.
- Track endangered white rhino on foot alongside expert guides in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.
- Journey aboard the historic Royal Livingstone Express as it crosses Victoria Falls Bridge at sunset.
- Stay in intimate safari camps thoughtfully positioned to immerse guests in some of Southern Africa’s most remarkable wilderness landscapes.
Who This Journey Is For
This safari is ideal for travelers who:
- Want to experience Southern Africa beyond traditional game drives.
- Enjoy active, immersive safari experiences including walking, boating, and helicopter flights.
- Appreciate smaller safari camps and quieter wilderness settings.
- Are interested in wildlife conservation and meaningful encounters with the people protecting Africa’s landscapes.
- Want to experience both Botswana and Zambia in one seamless journey while exploring remarkably different ecosystems.
Why This Journey Works
Rather than focusing on a single safari destination, The Wild Reset explores the many ways water shapes Southern Africa’s landscapes and wildlife.
The journey begins in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, where seasonal floodwaters create one of the world’s great inland wetlands and support an extraordinary diversity of wildlife. As the itinerary progresses, guests experience the Delta from the ground, the water, and the air before continuing to Zambia, where the Zambezi River culminates at Victoria Falls—one of the planet’s great natural spectacles.
By combining these two regions, the journey balances immersive wilderness with iconic landscapes, offering remarkable variety without sacrificing the slower pace that allows each destination to be fully experienced.
Your Journey Supports
Travel on this itinerary supports conservation and community initiatives working across Botswana and Zambia, including efforts to protect wildlife while creating tangible benefits for the people who live alongside it.
In Botswana, Beagle Expeditions supports grassroots education initiatives in communities neighboring wildlife areas through the Beagle Education Trust. In the Habu region, conservation partners including Wild Entrust and the Habu Elephant Development Trust support community-led wildlife protection, local livelihoods, and practical approaches to human-wildlife coexistence.
Wild Entrust’s Botswana Predator Conservation program has conducted field research since 1989, combining long-term research on African wild dogs and other large carnivores with practical strategies designed to reduce conflict between predators, people, and livestock.
Throughout the journey, park, conservancy, and community fees also contribute to protecting the landscapes and wildlife that make these experiences possible.
Itinerary at a Glance
The Wild Reset
Maun, Botswana
Recover from your international journey with time to unwind – stretch your legs on a guided nature walk or enjoy a leisurely guided horseback ride through the private reserve. As the sun sets, enjoy “giraffe sundowners,” sipping a refreshing drink while meeting the resident herd and learning about vital giraffe conservation efforts. After a restful night, visit Elephant Havens, a Botswana-based elephant orphanage established to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned and abandoned calves, with the ultimate goal of returning them to the wild. Following this inspiring encounter, board your helicopter for a scenic flight to your first camp in the Okavango Delta.
Thamo Telele is set within an approximately 600-acre private wildlife reserve on the banks of the Thamalakane River, where riverine woodland and dry savanna support plains game, prolific birdlife, and a resident herd of giraffe. Safari-style tents and thatched chalets sit among old-growth leadwood and acacia trees, creating an easy transition from Maun into the wilderness of the Okavango Delta.
Thamo Telele 
Abu Private Reserve, Okavango Delta, Botswana
Explore a spectacular corner of the Okavango Delta, accessible only by helicopter. Safari here returns to its roots – immersive, grounding and deeply authentic. Guided with care and intention, every moment feels connected to place, purpose, and presence. With just ten guests sharing 74,000 acres of pristine wilderness, wildlife encounters are intimate and unhurried, without another vehicle in sight.
Each day follows the natural pace of the bush: game drives, mokoro excursions when conditions are right, walking safaris, and tracking on foot. Evenings end simply, gathered by campfire under the expansive night sky.
Your journey begins along the southern Kweene River at Kweene River Camp, where less frequent flooding creates productive grasslands that support large herds of grazers—and the predators that follow.
Continue north to Magwegwe Camp, where the landscape changes with the annual Okavango flood. Seasonal swamp, expansive floodplains, wooded islands, and year-round surface water create a distinctly different expression of the Delta and draw abundant wildlife.
When moving from one camp to the next, the journey itself becomes the experience. Traveling by game vehicle, on foot, or by silent mokoro – sometimes a combination of all three – spend a full day immersed in the wilderness. A leisurely siesta and beautifully prepared picnic unfold along the way, while your support team discreetly relocates the camp.
Airy Meru tents open fully to the surrounding bush, immersing you in nature while offering refined essentials. Comfortable camp beds and Egyptian cotton linens ensure restful nights. The main tent features an en-suite bathroom with bucket shower, compost loo and thoughtfully chosen amenities to ensure comfort and privacy. Fresh, healthy food is cooked on an open fire and complemented by handpicked South African wines and a collection of premier brand spirits from boutique distilleries around the world.
Kweene Trails Camps (Kweene River Camp & Magwegwe Camp) 
Mapula and Sekwana Concession, Okavango Delta, Botswana
A scenic helicopter flight from Kweene to Karangoma reveals the breathtaking grandeur of the Okavango Delta. Karangoma offers a rare opportunity to experience the Delta through the lens of culture, conservation, and true exclusivity. Created in partnership with local elder Olatotse Sarefo of Gudingwa, the camp is deeply rooted in Bukakhwe San and Hambukushu traditions and committed to meaningful, lasting impact for both communities and wildlife. Set amid diverse, wildlife‑rich habitats, Karangoma delivers exceptional game viewing paired with immersive activities.
Set where Okavango floodplains meet the woodlands of the northern sandveld, Karangoma offers access to remarkably varied habitats and wildlife. Game drives, walking safaris, mokoro excursions, and boating when water levels allow reveal different sides of the landscape.
With just six tented suites tucked into a wooded peninsula overlooking the floodplain, Karangoma is intimate by design. Created in partnership with local elder Olatotse Sarefo and rooted in Bukakhwe San and Hambukushu culture, the camp brings local knowledge and cultural perspective into the safari experience rather than treating them as something separate from it.
Karangoma 
Livingstone, Zambia
Journey by helicopter, light aircraft, and overland transfer to one of Africa’s most iconic natural wonders—Victoria Falls. Experience the Zambezi from every angle: a romantic dinner aboard a floating river sampan, a tranquil sunrise cruise, or an excursion to the private Livingstone Island. When conditions allow, slip into Devil’s Pool, Angel’s Pool, or Rock Pool—natural infinity pools perched dramatically on the edge of the falls. On land, seek out wildlife on game drives or feel the pulse of adventure tracking white rhino on foot in Mosi‑oa‑Tunya National Park. Conclude in grand style with a four‑course dinner aboard the Royal Livingstone Express, a historic luxury train, crossing Victoria Falls Bridge at sunset.
Set on a secluded bend of the Zambezi, the award-winning Tongabezi Lodge blends Zambian design, deeply personal hospitality, and an extraordinary riverside setting. Thatched cottages and houses overlook the river, with private plunge pools in select accommodations and personal valets shaping each stay. Tongabezi’s roots here extend beyond the lodge: its long-standing Tujatane Trust School, founded in 1996, provides education, skills development, and opportunities for children and families in the neighboring Simonga community. Evenings unfold beside the Zambezi—dining by lantern light, listening for hippos after dark, and waking to fish eagles across the river.
Tongabezi Lodge 
The Wild Reset
From helicopter transfers across the Okavango Delta to light aircraft flights and private transfers in Zambia, the logistics of this journey are carefully coordinated across some of Southern Africa’s most remote landscapes. Accommodations, meals, scheduled activities, transfers, and conservation fees are arranged in advance, allowing you to focus on the experience rather than the mechanics of moving through it.
Included in your custom tour
- All scheduled regional and domestic air as indicated in the itinerary.
- Accommodations and meals as indicated in the itinerary.
- Safari activities and ground transfers as indicated in the itinerary.
- Park, conservancy, and applicable community fees.
- Medical evacuation insurance.
Price
Custom Dates From $16,340 per person
The Wild Reset
This safari is best suited for travelers who enjoy active, experience-rich journeys and are comfortable moving between remote wilderness regions by helicopter, light aircraft, boat, and safari vehicle. While the itinerary is thoughtfully paced with time to relax and fully absorb each destination, several activities involve walking on uneven terrain, boarding small aircraft and boats, and extended wildlife-viewing excursions in warm conditions.
Walking safaris, mokoro excursions, rhino tracking, and certain wilderness activities require a moderate level of mobility and a spirit of adventure. Guests should feel comfortable spending time outdoors and participating in activities that unfold naturally according to wildlife movement, weather conditions, and seasonal water levels.
The reward is an immersive safari experience that offers deeper connection to the landscapes, wildlife, and rhythms of Botswana’s Okavango Delta and Zambia’s Zambezi River region.
April through December spans several distinct seasons across Botswana and Zambia, with changing temperatures, vegetation, flood levels, and wildlife movement shaping the experience throughout the year.
April – June marks the transition from the green season into the cooler, drier months. Rainfall diminishes, vegetation gradually begins to thin, and floodwaters originating in the Angolan highlands make their way through the Okavango Delta. Days are generally warm and pleasant, with increasingly cool mornings and evenings as winter approaches.
July – August brings dry, mild conditions and some of the coolest temperatures of the year, particularly before sunrise and after dark. As surface water becomes less widespread outside the flooded areas of the Delta, wildlife increasingly concentrates around permanent water and productive floodplains.
September – October is the late dry season. Temperatures rise considerably, vegetation becomes sparse, and wildlife remains concentrated around available water. These can be exceptionally rewarding months for wildlife viewing, although October in particular can be very hot.
November – December marks the transition back toward the green season as the first rains begin to transform the landscape. Fresh vegetation emerges, migrant birds return, and many antelope species give birth, bringing another cycle of activity to the bush.
Water levels in the Okavango Delta do not simply follow local rainfall. The annual flood originates in the Angolan highlands and moves slowly through the Delta, so conditions can vary considerably by location and from year to year. Activities such as mokoro excursions are therefore always determined by local water levels at the time of travel.
Is this safari suitable for first-time travelers to Africa?
Yes. The Wild Reset is an exceptional introduction to Southern Africa while offering enough depth to appeal to experienced safari travelers. By combining the Okavango Delta with Victoria Falls, the journey balances iconic landscapes, exceptional wildlife viewing, and a wide variety of safari experiences—all at a comfortable pace. It’s ideal for travelers who want more than a traditional game-drive itinerary without feeling overly ambitious.
What wildlife can I expect to see?
Wildlife sightings vary throughout the year, but guests commonly encounter elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, hippo, giraffe, zebra, crocodile, numerous antelope species, and exceptional birdlife across Botswana and Zambia. The Okavango Delta is especially renowned for its diversity of habitats, supporting both abundant herbivores and one of Africa’s richest predator populations.
What makes this safari different from a traditional safari itinerary?
Rather than focusing exclusively on game drives, The Wild Reset explores Southern Africa through multiple perspectives. Guests travel by mokoro, helicopter, boat, and on foot while also participating in conservation experiences, rhino tracking, river safaris, and cultural encounters. The result is a journey that offers a broader understanding of the landscapes, wildlife, and people that define this region.
When is the best time to travel?
The Wild Reset is best experienced between April and December, when the Okavango Delta’s annual flood coincides with Southern Africa’s dry season. During these months, wildlife viewing is exceptional, waterways are ideal for mokoro excursions, and cooler, drier conditions encourage animals to gather around permanent water sources.
Are the camps private or shared with other travelers?
The featured camps are intimate safari properties with a limited number of guests, creating a quieter and more personal wilderness experience. Daily safari activities are typically shared with other guests staying at camp, although private vehicles and guides can often be arranged upon request.
How do guests travel between destinations?
Travel between destinations includes scenic helicopter transfers, light aircraft flights, and overland transfers. These connections are part of the experience, providing access to remote wilderness areas that would be difficult—or impossible—to reach by road while offering remarkable views of the landscapes below.
Is this safari appropriate for families or multi-generational travel?
Yes. The Wild Reset works particularly well for couples, families, and multi-generational travelers seeking an active, immersive safari experience. The variety of activities and comfortable pacing appeal to a wide range of ages and interests.
Please note that the featured camps welcome children aged 12 and older (at the time of travel). Families traveling with younger children can work with Bushtracks to create a customized itinerary featuring family-friendly camps and activities.
Can this itinerary be customized?
Absolutely. Every Bushtracks safari is privately tailored to each traveler’s interests, pace, and style of travel. Camps, routing, activities, and length of stay can all be customized, allowing this journey to serve as inspiration for a safari designed entirely around you.
Why combine Botswana and Zambia?
Botswana and Zambia complement one another remarkably well. Botswana offers some of Africa’s finest wilderness and water-based safari experiences, while Zambia adds the drama of Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River, and unique experiences such as white rhino tracking. Together, they create a journey with exceptional variety while minimizing travel time between destinations.
Helicopters Over the Okavango
Walking Safaris & Waterways
Unscripted safari moments
Wild Places Few Travelers Reach
Helicopters Over the Okavango
Walking Safaris & Waterways
Unscripted safari moments
Wild Places Few Travelers Reach
Speak With a Journey Expert
Not sure where to begin?
Planning an African safari can feel overwhelming — especially for first-time travelers. Our team has spent decades exploring Africa’s most extraordinary wilderness regions, camps, and experiences. We are here to guide you through every step, helping you choose the destinations, seasons, activities, and style of safari that best fit your vision for the journey.
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