21 days – 4×4 Self drive wild parks Botswana

Welcome to Africa! Arrive in Johannesburg. On arrival you’ll be met and transferred to your guesthouse in Melville to recover from the long flight. Melville is a relaxed, bohemian neighborhood with cafés, bars and restaurants within walking distance.

Note: while Picobella is a popular local restaurant (often busy even on Monday nights), we recommend taking an Uber or taxi rather than walking at night — Johannesburg’s ride-hail network is reliable and adds an extra layer of safety. There is 24-hour security outside many guesthouses; still use sensible precautions.

Morning suggestions: breakfast at Baba Eatery (a beloved local bakery), a street-art / graffiti tour through Braamfontein, Newton and Maboneng with Touratraveltherapy, or a Soweto tour (Hector Pieterson Monument, Nelson Mandela’s house and the Apartheid Museum) with a local guide (eg kaizergau) for historical context and insight.

Overnight: Lucky Bean guesthouse – Melville.

Collect your 4×4 at the depot around 08:00 after breakfast (you will be picked up at the guesthouse). Take time to inspect the vehicle, do provisioning/shopping for the coming days and confirm recommended local suppliers for supplies. You can do your shopping around Marakele as well.

Drive northwest to Marakele National Park (approx. 267 km / 3 hr 20 from Johannesburg) or choose Pilanesberg (approx. 170–220 km / 2–3 hr depending on route). Marakele offers dramatic landscapes and birdlife (part of the Waterberg Biosphere), while Pilanesberg has higher game density and shorter drives between sightings.

Activities: afternoon game drive / self-drive in the park.

Overnight: campsite at Marakele.

Drive to the Botswana border and onward to Khama Rhino Sanctuary. Expect border formalities and watch for potholes once you cross. You can stop in Serowe to top up supplies; just across the border there’s usually a fuel station with an ATM where you can withdraw Pula. The Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a valuable conservation project protecting white and black rhinos and a great introduction to Botswana’s protected areas.

Activities: guided rhino viewing, self-drive game viewing in the sanctuary, cultural interactions in Serowe if time permits.

Approx. drive: Johannesburg → Khama area is roughly ~590–600 km / 7+ hr (depending on border route and stops).

Drive toward the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and Kubu Island. At Orapa you’ll enter the park area; facilities are minimal here — bring extra water, food and fuel. The vast white pans and granite outcrops create surreal photographic opportunities, especially at sunset.

Activities: explore Kubu Island, sunset photography on the pans.

Approx. drive: Serowe → Makgadikgadi region ~450–460 km / 6–7 hr depending on route and road conditions.

Drive to Nata, a gateway to the pans. Stop at Nata Bird Sanctuary for excellent seasonal birdwatching. Continue to Elephant Sands — a lodge and campsite with a permanent waterhole that regularly attracts elephants right to the lodge’s viewing areas. Elephant Sands also has a pool for cooling off — a welcome respite after long drives.

Activities: birding at Nata, relax at Elephant Sands, swim and wildlife viewing at the waterhole.

Approx. drive: Makgadikgadi → Nata ~100–160 km / 1.5–3 hr.

Continue north to Kasane, the base for Chobe National Park and an optional day trip to Victoria Falls. Aim to arrive at your Kasane campsite before 14:00 to join a Chobe River sunset cruise the same afternoon.

You can also book a day transfer to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe or Zambia side) — don’t forget your passport and a waterproof bag for cameras. Campsite restaurants are limited; bring food, though many camps have a bar.

Approx. drive: Nata → Kasane ~309 km / 4–4.5 hr.
Activities: Chobe game drives and river cruises — big herds of elephants and buffalo, high predator activity along riverine areas.

Fill up on fuel and supplies (Maun is the main hub later, but you can refuel in Kasane / Savuti areas where available) and head southwest toward Moremi Game Reserve.
Ihaha campsite is one of the most beautifull campsites in the Chobe National Park with lots of wildlife around.

Approx. drive: Kasane → Ihaha — 2 hours straight but with game stops and slow tracks you can make it a safari drive of several hours.

Activities: morning and afternoon game drives, self-drive exploration of Chobe National Park.

Overnights: Ihaha campsite.

From Ihaha you will drive to Thobolo’s bush lodge. The drive is a safari on it’s own. At Thobolo you can relax at the pool or at the bar.

At the Khai concervacy you can enjoy the hippo’s and elephants from your campsite.
Optional you can book a mokoro (traditional canoe) excursion into the Okavango Delta — a highlight of the trip. Experience quiet waterways, birdlife and the unique wetland ecology. In the afternoon, return to Khwai Community Campsite (e.g., Maghoto/Khwai camping) and continue daytime game viewing in Moremi and Khwai.

Note: mokoro excursions depend on water levels and local operators; book in advance if possible.

Enjoy a final morning game drive before continuing to Maun. Maun is the principal gateway to the Okavango Delta and the best place to restock fuel, supplies and any last-minute equipment. If you arrive in the afternoon, top up and prepare for early departure the next morning.

Approx. drive: Khwai → Maun ~100–160 km / 2–4 hr depending on route and tracks.

Activities: optional scenic flights, cultural village visits, final vehicle checks.

Head east/southeast toward the Boteti River area. Boteti is a productive wildlife area when the river is flowing — large herds congregate seasonally. Camp near the river and enjoy evening sightings.

Approx. drive: Maun → Boteti region ~200–300 km / 3–6 hr depending on track choices.

Continue into the Central Kalahari Game Reserve for raw, open wilderness. Rakops (near the CKGR entrance) offers last fuel/food opportunities before deep park tracks. The CKGR has minimal services — bring all provisions and expect remote, sandy tracks.

Activities: game drives in untouched wilderness, dune and grassland landscapes, excellent red desert scenery.

Approx. drive: Boteti → CKGR / Rakops area ~200–300 km / 3–6 hr depending on gate and route.

Leave the Kalahari and head south toward the South African border, spending the night at a riverside campsite that marks the separation between Botswana and South Africa. This is your last night in the African bush — expect a memorable riverside sunset.

It’s an early start today: Martin’s Drift border post opens at 06:00. Cross into South Africa, drive to Johannesburg and return your rental 4×4 to the depot before 16:00 for the final inspection. After the vehicle handover you can get a transfer to Lucky Bean Guesthouse for your final night in Johannesburg.

Approx. drive: Mokobeng / border → Johannesburg ~300–450+ km / variable time depending on border formalities and start point.

You end the trip where you started it. At the Lucky Bean Guesthouse in Johannesburg. One last moment for a good glass of wine, an excursion or just relaxation.

Extensions & alternatives
More wildlife: extend your stay in the Central Kalahari for additional game viewing.
More city time: add two nights back in Johannesburg on return — there are many tours, galleries and food experiences to enjoy.
Different country: consider a 21-day self-drive through Namibia for a contrasting desert and coastal experience.