After 3 self-drive trips in Southern Africa, 2x South Africa (J-burg/Kruger/Swasi/Durban/J-burg and last December J’Burg /Addo/Tsi tsikamma/Oudtshoorn/winelands/Capetown and 1 trip through Namibia , we start to think about doing Botswana as a self-drive.
Or we take the cheaper option of booking a 4x4 with roof top tents or we could see for the midrange lodges (preferably as kids like to have a swim and it is more comfortable as roof top tent don’t seem very spacious)
So, we will travel with 2 children (7-10 years old now) and are thus forced to go during the school holidays which means that we can only choose between 3 periods.
Our summer vacation (july-august) is winter in Botswana, it is more expensive, dry but good day temperature, more chance to see wildlife but very cold during the night. This means swimming pools will be freezing cold. In this period we could make a trip for 23 days approx.
Second option is Christmas Holidays, accommodation/excursion would be cheaper, but this is the green and rainy season and therefore I read that some roads can become impassable and I’m not looking forward to getting stuck in the middle of nowhere with 2 children due to the bad road conditons. On the other hand, birdlife seems to be beautifull and the animals have the babies. But our preference is not actually to see birdlife but more the animals. Unfortunately, we could only have about 15 days.
As well as for the third option which is the Eastern Vacation Holiday. I read rain is becoming less havier and it starts to cool down. But how are roads in this period ?
would we be able do drive ourselves ex Maun, passing Savuti to Chobe, or we’d better travel along the A3 passing and sleeping in Gweta/Nata and on to Kasane ?)
Can someone give a bit of feedback on what would be the best period to do such a trip ?
We’d like to fly into J’burg and on the wish list is one night or 2 nights in a Game Lodge or National Park in Johannesburg ; Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Central Kalahari (can be left out if time is short), Makgadikgadi Pans, Maun as a base for the Okavango Delta, Chobe NP, Caprivi (Zambezi –region) Victoria Falls (and then fly or drive back to J’burg).
What would be the best route and tips for travelling with the kids.
Thank you!