Makgadikgadi and the Okavango: a luxury quad bike safari through remotest Botswana

This week-long journey though beautiful Botswana puts a twist on tradition; a spin on safari as you know it. A far cry from the usual 4X4 game drives, this one is for those with a spirit of adventure, daring and exploration. Beginning in the remote corners of the Makgadikgadi Pans, you’ll quad bike over to Kubu Island for two nights sleeping beneath the stars, before finishing in the heart of the Okavango Delta – where views of majestic wildlife will unfold around you from every angle.

Meet with meerkats at Jack’s Camp

You’ll begin your alternative safari in the Makgadikgadi Pans with a two-night stay at Jack’s Camp. Think green and stylish canvas tents with en-suite bathrooms and indoor and outdoor showers – so you can feel the Kalahari breeze. But the real charm of Jack’s Camp lies in its faraway location – it’s you, some skilled local bushmen, breath-taking scenery and the wildlife. That’s all.

The remains of an ancient lake, the Makgadikgadi are the largest salt pans on earth, characterized by arid, sandy desert and sparse vegetation. And with this unusual terrain comes a fair share of similarly unusual wildlife. From cheeky meerkat families to hyenas, wildebeest, springbok and zebras, the up-close safari experiences don’t stop as you spend two days exploring the scorched white landscapes these species call home.

Kubu Island: A Quad Bike Expedition

From Jack’s Camp, you’ll then hop onto a surprising mode of transport – a quad bike – and blaze across vast ethereal expanses en route to your second stop-off: Kubu Island. Far in this remote corner of Botswana, where visual landmarks fade into nothing, large rocky outcrops create islands where ancient, bloated baobab trees grow. The atmosphere is one of peaceful seclusion, unlike anywhere else we’ve experienced. And the best part? You don’t have to share it with anyone else.

Over two days, you’ll explore by quad bike, discovering ancient fossil beaches and mysterious stone walls, and spot large colonies of bright pink native flamingos in their natural habitat.

Following candlelit dinners in the evenings made with fresh local ingredients, you’ll sleep beneath clear skies scattered with stars – tucked warm and toasty under your feathery duvet, of course, next to a hot water bottle.

A return to Jack’s Camp’s comforts

All that adventure – and the journey’s not over yet. After quad biking back to Jack’s Camp, you’re still to meet local bushmen trackers who’ll teach you how they survive in this harshest of environments, before enjoying an evening of well-deserved relaxation in the yoga and meditation pavilion back at base.

Xigera: a paradise deeply rooted in the delta

Your last days on safari will be spent somewhere a little different, as we whisk you away on a quick flight to the winding wetlands and seasonal floodplains of the Okavango Delta. Your home for the next two nights – Xigera Safari Lodge – promises another different kind of safari, entirely tailored to you.

Immersed in nature from the moment you arrive, the lodge’s stunning suites are sheltered by a canopy of green and look out towards the rolling landscapes on which resident giraffes, elephants, leopards, lions and antelope roam. So, whether you fancy exploring by private game drive, helicopter, or glass-bottomed mokoro canoe, relaxing in the wellness spa or enjoying the food in the interactive open kitchen-dining room – your time here will be a spectacular finale to your African adventure.

As you head back towards Maun airport, from which you’ll fly home, your trip may be over – but the wild spirit of Africa will linger long after you leave.