About this Experience
Led by South African-born environmental specialist Murray, whose background includes Environmental Science, Anthropology, and frontline experience across Botswana and Zambia, this journey offers much more than a traditional safari. His work has ranged from lodge management to river conservation campaigns, and today he supports impactful projects with the Natural Selection Trust and Foundation. With Murray as your guide, you'll gain rich insight into the intricate balance of wildlife, community, and the environment.
You’ll stay in intimate, thoughtfully designed safari camps that provide exceptional comfort while maintaining a light footprint. Each property offers its own character and charm, from clifftop vistas to floodplain forests and lagoon-front hideaways. Throughout the journey, expert talks, hands-on activities, and wildlife encounters will connect you to the pulse of Botswana’s conservation efforts.
Highlights
Stay in three exclusive camps across Botswana’s wildest regions
Discover five impactful conservation and community projects
Daily guided safaris, bush walks, mokoro excursions, and cultural tours
Meet with local rangers, researchers, and community leaders
Learn about predator protection, elephant coexistence, and anti-poaching
Led by a seasoned environmental guide with real-world expertise
Intimate luxury accommodations with front-row wildlife views
Contribute meaningfully to sustainable travel and conservation
Best Times to Go
The ideal window is May to October, during the dry season when wildlife is most concentrated and the delta is in full flood — perfect for both land and water-based exploration.
Who This is For
Perfect for conservation-minded travelers, impact-focused explorers, and those seeking deeper meaning in their safari experience. This journey is for those who want to actively contribute to preserving Africa’s wild spaces while enjoying the elegance and thrill of immersive, small-scale safari travel.
Why We Chose This Experience for You
“This is not just a safari — it’s a journey into the heart of conservation, where your presence makes a difference. Guided by a passionate expert, and with access to rarely seen projects and communities, this trip offers profound insight into what it takes to protect Africa’s wilderness. A luxurious, purpose-driven experience from start to finish.” – Sybarite Team
An Example Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival at Meno a Kwena & Elephants for Africa
Arrive in Maun and transfer to Meno a Kwena, a characterful clifftop camp overlooking the Boteti River. Relax into your safari surroundings with guided bush walks led by the San Bushmen and a scenic boat trip. This evening, gather around the fire for an introduction to the work of Elephants for Africa, focusing on reducing human-elephant conflict in nearby communities.
Day 2 – Elephant Coexistence & Cultural Immersion
Wake to armchair safari views from your tented veranda. After breakfast, join a community tour in Moreomaoto Village, where you’ll meet local farmers and see elephant-deterrence strategies in action. In the afternoon, head into Makgadikgadi National Park for wildlife encounters and sundowners under a starlit sky.
Day 3 – Into the Okavango Delta & Community Conservation
After breakfast, fly to Khwai Private Reserve, a vast, untouched wilderness on the northern edge of the Delta. Settle into Little Sable Camp, an intimate, relaxed retreat overlooking the plains. This evening, hear from the conservation team about anti-poaching partnerships, predator research, and ranger training programs run in collaboration with WildEntrust and local communities.
Day 4 – Khwai Village Visit & Conservation in Practice
Visit Khwai Village and contribute by planting a tree at the preschool. Learn about the role of traditional governance structures like the Kgotla, and how they influence conservation decisions. Spend the afternoon at leisure—cool off by the pool or relax in your tent before an afternoon game drive and optional visit to a grass harvesting project (seasonal).
Day 5 – Predator Conservation & Mokoro Safari
Enjoy a full day exploring Khwai’s diverse ecosystems on foot, by vehicle, and via mokoro (dugout canoe), searching for elusive species like wild dogs, honey badgers, and maybe even a pangolin. When available, meet members of the KPR anti-poaching unit and learn about their frontline efforts to protect endangered species.
Day 6 – Welcome to Duke’s Camp
Depart for Duke’s Camp, nestled in the remote northern Delta, surrounded by floodplains and rich waterways. Here, you’ll glide through channels by mokoro, watching for birdlife, hippos, and crocs. Later, unwind at the pool pavilion, taking in the serene views and the occasional grunting warthog or curious antelope wandering by.
Day 7 – CLAWS & Life With Elephants Tour
Take to the skies for a helicopter transfer to Eretsha, where you’ll meet representatives from the CLAWS project (Communal Herding for Livestock and Wildlife Protection). Visit kraals and rangelands, and then join the Life with Elephants Tour, which showcases the Elephant Express programme and the realities of living among giants. Return to Duke’s Camp for a final night of fireside reflection beneath Botswana’s starlit sky.
Day 8 – Farewell to the Delta
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before your transfer back to Maun. Depart with a newfound connection to Botswana’s people, wildlife, and wild places—and the knowledge that your safari helped protect them.
