Great questions, Melissa! Yes, our trip to Chobe Game Lodge was part of the larger trip planned by Desert & Delta Safaris. In fact, Chobe Game Lodge is one of their properties.

The way it mostly works in Botswana is that the safari lodges where you choose to stay arranges your game drives and other activities. This means that many places (including Desert & Delta properties) are all-inclusive, meaning that all activities (game drives, cultural days, bicycle trips, etc.), meals, drinks, etc. are organized and included in the price. So a safari tour will often include several properties/locations in Botswana and each of those lodges will take care of your game drives and other activities.

As for things you can do “on your own” that could be done if you stayed a few days in Kasane town (or Maun) in a B&B or hotel (i.e., non safari lodge) you’d be able to book some day boat or other trips with a private tour company (e.g., Lonely Planet and Viator list a couple of options). Another option would be to rent your own 4×4 vehicle and do a self-drive safari staying in camps or simple accommodation in or near parks.

Hope this helps with your planning! If not, please ask more questions.

You are welcome, Paula. Glad we could introduce you to the Pale Blue Dot and connect it with an experience like this. And yes, the female guides. Definitely an experience differentiator.

Paula, the all-female guide team is pretty great. It was a bold move on the part of Chobe Game Lodge a few years ago to go this direction, but the great feedback that they get has spurred other companies in the area to hire female guides. And these women are caring, funny and put so much of themselves into each experience.

Pale Blue Dot moments…they can be rare in our busy world, but so important to gain perspective. I imagine you’ll be experiencing your own version of this soon in Patagonia.