Botswana Accessible Safari — Group Departure April 2027
From £8,890
Per Person
Average carbon footprint per person
What We Love
The Adapted Safari Vehicle
Wild Paths uses one of the only wheelchair-adapted open game drive vehicles in Africa. A hydraulic ramp lowers to ground level, allowing wheelchair and roller users to board directly without transferring out of their chair. Once in position, either the guest or guide activates the button to raise the ramp to vehicle height, and the chair is securely fastened with a four-point restraint system. The vehicle offers full, unobstructed sightlines across the bush — the same experience as every other guest on board.
The Accessible Mobile Safari Camp
On this trip we stay in the world’s only wheelchair-adapted fully serviced mobile camp, making it possible to sleep under canvas in the heart of the African wilderness. The camp is set up in the Khwai Community Concession for three nights, with spacious en-suite tents featuring roll-in showers, raised beds, grab rails, padded seat chairs with folding armrests, and matting paths laid across the ground. Hot water and fresh drinking water are available throughout. This is wild camping, accessible to wheelchair users for the first time.
Exploring the Okavango Delta
The trip takes you deep into one of Africa’s last true wildernesses. The Okavango Delta — a vast inland river system that fans out across the Kalahari — is among the finest game viewing destinations on the continent. Elephant, lion, leopard, wild dog and buffalo move through its floodplains and riverine forests largely undisturbed, and the density of wildlife here is extraordinary. Adapted vehicle safaris allow full access to this landscape, with experienced guides reading the bush and positioning you at the heart of the action.
Arrive into Maun
The journey begins in Maun, Botswana — the gateway to the Okavango Delta, reached via connecting flights through Johannesburg or Addis Ababa. On arrival, airport staff use an aisle chair to assist disembarkation from the aircraft. After transferring back to your own chair, clearing customs and collecting luggage, your guide will be waiting to welcome the group. The Endeavour adapted vehicle is on hand for the transfer to Thamalakane River Lodge, a short drive from the airport on the banks of the Thamalakane River. Subject to water levels, the afternoon may offer a sunset boat cruise; otherwise the evening is an opportunity for the group to meet over dinner.
Maun to Khwai
After breakfast, the group departs Thamalakane and drives north towards the Khwai Community Concession, bordering the Moremi Game Reserve. The Khwai concession is managed by the local community and offers excellent game viewing, with the added flexibility of night drives and boat trips. For the next three nights, the group stays at the Endeavour Safaris fully serviced mobile camp — the world’s only wheelchair-adapted mobile camp — set up in the heart of the concession. Tents measure 4.5m x 3m with generous interior space, en-suite bathrooms, roll-in showers, and adapted facilities throughout. The camp is fully staffed with guides, chefs and support personnel.
On Safari In Khwai
The first full day in Khwai begins with an early morning game drive, returning to camp for a late brunch before heading out again in the late afternoon. The Khwai concession covers a vast area of floodplains, woodland and seasonal waterways, and the guides — with years of experience in this landscape — know where to find the best sightings away from other vehicles. Khwai is home to exceptional concentrations of predators: lion, leopard, wild dog and hyena are all regularly encountered, alongside elephant, giraffe, zebra, hippo and abundant birdlife. Each drive covers different ground, and no two days are the same.
Exploring the Okavango Delta
A second full day of morning and afternoon game drives in the Khwai concession. The diversity of habitat — from open floodplains to dense riverine woodland — means the character of each drive is different. Predator sightings remain a highlight: lion prides, leopard on the move, and wild dog denning activity are all possible at this time of year. The Khwai River itself supports hippo, crocodile and a rich variety of waterbirds. Between drives, the camp offers time to relax in the mess tent, review photographs, or simply sit and absorb the sounds of the bush. Meals are served buffet-style with fresh produce throughout.
Khwai to Savute
After an early breakfast, the group departs the mobile camp and travels south through Chobe National Park towards the Savute region, passing through the Mababe Depression — a vast, open basin that was once a lake and remains one of Botswana’s most atmospheric landscapes. The drive itself offers excellent wildlife viewing, with elephant, buffalo and lion frequently encountered en route. You’ll slowly meander on game drive before arrival at Savute Safari Lodge. The lodge is fully inclusive, with all meals and most drinks covered. This afternoon will be spent exploring the Savute area on game drives.
On Safari in Savute
Savute is lion country. The resident prides here are among the largest in Botswana — groups of 20 or more lions are regularly encountered, and sightings of 30 together have been recorded. Morning and afternoon game drives in the Savute marsh and surrounding woodland focus on predator activity: lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena are all present in high densities, and interactions between predator species are common. The Savute Channel also supports large herds of elephant and buffalo, drawing predators into close range. The lodge deck overlooks a waterhole, where game comes to drink throughout the day, providing excellent viewing between drives.
Savute to Chobe
Departing Savute after breakfast, the group travels north through Chobe National Park to Kasane and Chobe Game Lodge on the banks of the Chobe River. The drive passes through open mopane woodland and provides further game viewing en route, with elephant herds a consistent presence across this section of the park. Chobe Game Lodge is step-free throughout, with direct river frontage and wide accessible terraces overlooking the water. The lodge is fully inclusive. On arrival, guests settle in before an afternoon on the river — the boat safari departs from the lodge’s private jetty and is the best introduction to what the Chobe has to offer.
On the Chobe River
A morning game drive into Chobe National Park is followed by an afternoon boat safari on the Chobe River. April brings active birdlife to the river — carmine bee-eaters, kingfishers and fish eagles are all present in numbers — alongside elephant, hippo and crocodile along the banks. Elephant activity on the river is a highlight: families cross between Botswana and Namibia throughout the day, and watching the herd navigate the current, with younger animals guided by the adults, is one of the defining wildlife experiences on this itinerary. The boat holds a small number of guests and gets to within approximately ten metres of wildlife on the water.
Chobe to Victoria Falls
After breakfast, the group departs Chobe Game Lodge and travels by road to the Kazungula Border Post, crossing into Zimbabwe. An adapted vehicle with a hydraulic lift meets the group on the Zimbabwe side for the transfer to Palm River Hotel in Victoria Falls, a 15-minute drive from the border. The Palm River Hotel sits on the banks of the Zambezi River, four kilometres from the falls, and offers accessible rooms. The afternoon is free for guests to settle in, explore the hotel grounds, or enjoy life by the mighty Zambezi. The roar of the falls can be heard from the hotel grounds at this time of year.
Victoria Falls
Spend the morning at Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A guided tour is included, taking the group through the accessible paths of the Victoria Falls National Park on the Zimbabwean side. Multiple viewpoints look out across the gorge and the full width of the falls — at over 1,700 metres wide, the scale is extraordinary. The guide provides context on the geology, history and ecology of the site throughout. April sits at the end of the rainy season, when water volumes are at or near their peak and the spray from the falls reaches considerable height.
Trip ends in Victoria Falls
After breakfast, guests depart Palm River Hotel and transfer by adapted vehicle to Victoria Falls Airport for onward flights. Depending on flight times, there may be opportunity for a final walk, coffee, or visit to the local market before departure. The Wild Paths team ensures all transfer arrangements are confirmed in advance for a smooth end to the journey. This concludes a ten-night accessible safari covering the Khwai Community Concession, Savute, the Chobe River and Victoria Falls — some of Africa’s finest wildlife country, experienced entirely on your own terms.
Speak to a Safari Expert...
Other Botswana Itineraries
16 Days Namibia Self-Drive
From £5,536per person
Accessible Safari in Botswana
From £6,495per person
Guided Safari adapted for wheelchair users
From £9,500per person
Why Book with Us
Frequently Asked Questions
Can wheelchair users go on safari?
Yes. The common assumption — that safari is simply not accessible to wheelchair users — is one that the industry has been slow to challenge. What has changed is the adapted game drive vehicle. Endeavour Safaris in Botswana operate the only hydraulic-lift safari vehicle in Africa, allowing wheelchair users to board and travel entirely in their own chair. No transfers, no being lifted. The same vehicle, the same bush, the same experience. BAFTA-nominated TV presenter and disability rights advocate Sophie Morgan tried it firsthand and wrote about the experience for Adventure.com — you can read her piece here.
Does the trip price include international flights?
No — the trip price does not include international flights. The itinerary begins in Maun, Botswana and ends at Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe, so you’ll need flights to Maun (typically via Johannesburg) and home from Victoria Falls. Wild Paths can assist with flight booking if needed — just get in touch and we’ll help put the full journey together.
How much does an accessible safari cost?
Our April 2027 group departure to Botswana is priced from £8,980 per person, based on two people sharing. The trip is ten nights and fully accompanied, with the adapted vehicle and an expert Botswana field guide throughout. International flights are not included, but Wild Paths can assist with these. Places are limited to six guests.
Is this trip suitable for power wheelchair users?
The Endeavour adapted vehicle is built to accommodate both manual and power chair users, though the dimensions of larger power chairs are worth discussing before booking. Get in touch and we can talk through your specific chair and requirements before you commit.
What wildlife will I see?
The itinerary covers some of Africa’s most productive game-viewing areas. Khwai and the Okavango Delta are home to lion, leopard, wild dog, elephant and abundant birdlife. Savute is known for its large lion prides and predator activity. The Chobe River offers elephant families crossing at close range, hippo and crocodile. Victoria Falls rounds off the trip as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, with fully accessible viewing paths.
Is safari safe for disabled people?
With the right operator, yes. The risks associated with safari for disabled travellers are largely logistical rather than medical — the challenge has historically been getting in and out of vehicles and navigating uneven ground. Our Botswana itinerary is designed specifically around these realities: a hydraulic-lift adapted vehicle throughout, step-free lodges, matting paths across camp, and an accompanied group size of six. Every practical detail has been assessed in advance.
Where can I go on safari in a wheelchair?
Botswana is our first recommendation, and the reason is straightforward: it’s where Endeavour Safaris are based, and their adapted vehicle is the only one of its kind in Africa. The itinerary is entirely road-based, removing the light aircraft problem that makes most fly-in safaris inaccessible to wheelchair users. South Africa is the other strong option — Ximuwu Lodge in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve is South Africa’s first lodge with a universal access level 3 rating, and well worth considering as part of a broader trip.
What does a wheelchair-accessible safari actually involve?
Our Botswana itinerary covers ten nights across the Khwai Community Concession, Savute, the Chobe River and Victoria Falls. Game drives take place in the Endeavour adapted vehicle throughout, with wheelchair users boarding via a hydraulic lift and travelling in their own chairs with four-point restraints. In Khwai, three nights are spent at the world’s only wheelchair-adapted mobile camp — under canvas, in the heart of the Okavango Delta, with roll-in showers, raised beds and matting paths laid across the ground.
Do I have to transfer out of my wheelchair at any point?
It’s completely up to you. The Endeavour adapted vehicle is designed specifically so that wheelchair users — including power chair users — can board and travel without leaving their chair. However some guests choose to transfer into the safari vehicle seat for every drive. You may need to transfer for certain boat activities, where guides assist guests comfortably onto the vessel, but this is discussed with each guest individually before departure.
What is Endeavour Safaris?
Endeavour Safaris is a Botswana-based operator run by Mike and Silvia Hill, who have spent twenty years developing what is genuinely the most significant accessible safari product in Africa. Their adapted game drive vehicle — fitted with a hydraulic lift and four-point restraints — and their fully serviced, wheelchair-adapted mobile camp are the only ones of their kind on the continent. Wild Paths has partnered with Endeavour Safaris to bring a group tour to the UK market, departing April 2027.
How do I book or find out more?
Get in touch with Wild Paths directly. We speak with every guest before booking to understand your requirements and make sure the trip is right for you. Places on the April 2027 departure are limited to six guests.
Explore Related Accommodation
Okavango Delta
Okavango Delta Panhandle
Ngande Reserve, Makgadikgadi Pans