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School Trips to Botswana: Chobe, Okavango & Victoria Falls

Two elephants stand chest-deep in a river in Botswana with their trunks touching, palms and green floodplain grass on the far bank under a hazy sky.

School trips to Botswana are educational group tours that introduce students to Chobe's river wildlife, the Okavango Delta's mokoro channels, and the geology of the Makgadikgadi salt pans.

Programs cost $3,895–$6,495 per student, excluding international airfare, on itineraries of 8 to 9 days.

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$3,895–$6,495per student, excluding international airfare8–9 daysacross the two sample itineraries10+ studentsmost school programs; smaller groups assessed case by caseCustom school tripsbuilt around your dates, curriculum and budget1 free placefor a teacher, for every 8 paying students; covers Program Tuition only
Rustic Pathways · 6082 Pinecone Drive, Mentor, OH 44060 · +1 (440) 975-9691 · groups@rusticpathways.com · rusticpathways.com Student travel programs since 1983.

Botswana School Travel Itineraries

The two Botswana school travel itineraries are Chobe, Salt Pans and Okavango at $3,895 for 8 days, and Victoria Falls, Chobe and Okavango at $6,495 for 9 days.

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Compare the two itineraries side by side
ItineraryChobe, Salt Pans and OkavangoVictoria Falls, Chobe and Okavango
Length8 days9 days
Starting priceFrom $3,895From $6,495
Learning focusEnvironmental Science · Geography · Community TourismGeography · Biology · Conservation
RouteKasane · Chobe National Park · Nata · Maun · Okavango DeltaVictoria Falls, Zimbabwe · Kasane · Chobe National Park · Okavango Delta · Maun
Overnight basesLodge, Kasane (2) · Lodge, Nata (1) · Hotel or lodge, Maun (1) · Tented camp, Okavango Delta (2) · Accommodation, Maun (1) · In transit (1)Hotel, Victoria Falls (2) · Lodge, Kasane (3) · Tented camp, Okavango Delta (3) · In transit (1)
Physical profile3 low · 5 moderate5 low · 4 moderate
On-program flightsNone on program. Arrival is at Kasane and departure is from Maun, connected entirely by road through Nata and the Okavango Delta.Two on-program light-aircraft transfers: Kasane to the Delta camp on day six, and the Delta camp to Maun on day nine. Arrival is near Victoria Falls; departure connects onward from Maun.
Time in BotswanaAll eight days in BotswanaTwo nights in Zimbabwe, six in Botswana
Best forBest for departments that want a first Botswana program across three habitats, Chobe's rivers, the Makgadikgadi salt pans and a community-run Okavango Delta camp, at a controlled budget.Best for departments that want the strongest combination Botswana offers: Victoria Falls, three nights on the Chobe riverfront, and three nights of guided Okavango Delta safaris.
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  1. Kasane · Nights one and two; the Chobe riverfront, game drives and a boat safari in Chobe National Park
  2. Nata · Night three; the salt-pan landscape near Nata Bird Sanctuary
  3. Maun · Nights four and seven; the Okavango Delta's gateway town, and the flight home
  4. Okavango Delta · Nights five and six; a community-run camp reached from Maun by road and mokoro
The eight-day route: two nights on the Chobe riverfront at Kasane (Chobe National Park merges into this stop), a night at Nata on the salt-pan landscape, then two nights in a community-run Okavango Delta camp reached from Maun.
  1. Victoria Falls · Nights one and two; the Zimbabwe side of the falls and Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust
  2. Kasane · Nights three to five; the Chobe riverfront, crossed from Zimbabwe by road
  3. Okavango Delta · Nights six to eight; reached by light aircraft from Kasane
  4. Maun · Day nine; a light-aircraft connection home
The nine-day route: two nights near Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, three nights on the Chobe riverfront at Kasane (Chobe National Park merges into this stop), a light-aircraft flight to three nights in an Okavango Delta camp, then on to Maun.
A giraffe's head and neck rise against a pale sky above a wide river and a green floodplain, its tongue out. Botswana · Rivers, drylands, and a Delta camp 8 days · From $3,895

Chobe, Salt Pans and Okavango

Students explore Chobe National Park by vehicle and by boat, examine the salt-pan landscape near Nata, and spend two nights in a community-run Okavango Delta camp reached from Maun, before flying home from Maun.

Choose this program
10+ studentsEnvironmental Science · Geography · Community Tourism

The route connects Kasane, Chobe National Park, Nata, Maun, and Okavango Delta.

  1. Lodge, Kasane2 nights
  2. Lodge, Nata1 night
  3. Hotel or lodge, Maun1 night
  4. Tented camp, Okavango Delta2 nights
  5. Accommodation, Maun1 night
  6. Flight home1 night

Your eight-day itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Welcome beside the Chobe River

    Students settle into Kasane before beginning the wildlife program.

    MorningArrival at Kasane, according to the group's flight schedule.
    AfternoonTransfer to the lodge in Kasane and rest after the flight.
    EveningWelcome dinner, with an introduction to Botswana's two contrasting river systems, the Chobe and the Okavango.
    Route
    Kasane airport to a lodge in Kasane.
    Travel
    Private road transfer.
    Overnight
    Program-approved lodge in Kasane, shared gender-separated rooms.
    Meals
    Dinner. Earlier meals depend on the arrival flight.
    Physical demand
    Low effort; a travel day.
    Learning outcome
    Students locate Chobe and the Okavango and distinguish their two river systems.
  2. Day 2

    Chobe from land and water

    Two different observation methods make this a substantive safari day.

    MorningGuided game drive in Chobe National Park.
    AfternoonLunch and rest at the lodge, then an included Chobe River boat safari.
    EveningComparison of the sightings from the vehicle and from the boat.
    Route
    The lodge in Kasane to Chobe National Park's game-drive route, then the river for the boat safari, and back.
    Travel
    Safari vehicle for the game drive, then a river boat for the cruise.
    Overnight
    Program-approved lodge in Kasane, shared gender-separated rooms.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
    Physical demand
    Low to moderate effort; two seated safaris in one day.
    Learning outcome
    Students explain how habitat and observation method change what they see, comparing the vehicle count with the boat count.
  3. Day 3

    Nata and the pans landscape

    Students move from a riverfront ecosystem toward Botswana's salt-pan country.

    MorningRoad transfer south to Nata, with rest breaks.
    AfternoonVisit to Nata Bird Sanctuary where access permits, with a focus on the landscape and its seasonal habitats.
    EveningDiscussion of the relationship between water, birds and local tourism.
    Route
    Kasane south to Nata and Nata Bird Sanctuary.
    Travel
    Program road transport, with a substantial road transfer and short walks at the sanctuary.
    Overnight
    Program-approved lodge in Nata, shared gender-separated rooms.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
    Physical demand
    Moderate effort; a substantial road transfer and short walks.
    Learning outcome
    Students explain why seasonal water changes the value of a habitat.
    Customization
    Bird concentrations and pan access vary with conditions.
    Community tourismNata Bird Sanctuary is run and staffed by residents of four local communities on the edge of the pans.
  4. Day 4

    Maun and preparations for camp

    A practical overnight separates the road journey from the Delta transfer.

    MorningTravel from Nata to Maun.
    AfternoonCheck-in, rest, and packing the smaller bags needed for camp.
    EveningMeeting the field team and reviewing the next two days.
    Route
    Nata to Maun.
    Travel
    Private road transfer.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel or lodge in Maun, shared gender-separated rooms.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
    Physical demand
    Low effort; a travel day.
    Learning outcome
    Students identify what a remote field base needs from its transport and supply chain.
  5. Day 5

    Into the Delta channels

    Students enter a camp selected for the group's ages and the season's water conditions.

    MorningTransfer to the departure point for the Okavango Delta camp.
    AfternoonContinue by boat or mokoro; settle into camp and explore the nearby channels.
    EveningCamp dinner and an introduction to the local tourism partnership.
    Route
    Maun into the southern Okavango Delta, to a community-partnered camp.
    Travel
    Road transfer, then boat or mokoro for the delta's shallow channels.
    Overnight
    Program-approved serviced tented camp on the Okavango Delta, shared gender-separated tents.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
    Physical demand
    Moderate effort; a road transfer and a water transfer in one day.
    Learning outcome
    Students connect seasonal water levels with transport and local livelihoods.
  6. Day 6

    Waterways and island ecology

    A full day in the Delta avoids treating it as a brief excursion from town.

    MorningGuided mokoro outing where water levels and operating conditions permit.
    AfternoonLunch, rest, and a guide-led island walk appropriate to the group.
    EveningRecording habitat observations and discussing how tourism income is distributed.
    Route
    The camp's approved channels and walking area on the Okavango Delta.
    Travel
    Mokoro for the morning outing; the island walk on foot.
    Overnight
    Program-approved serviced tented camp on the Okavango Delta, shared gender-separated tents.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
    Physical demand
    Moderate effort; several hours between the water and a walking safari.
    Learning outcome
    Students compare the ecological and economic roles of the Delta's waterways.
    Customization
    An alternative water or land activity is agreed in advance if the mokoro cannot operate.
  7. Day 7

    Maun and local perspectives

    The group returns to town before departure day.

    MorningTransfer from camp to Maun.
    AfternoonRest, followed by a prearranged craft or tourism-enterprise visit.
    EveningFarewell dinner and student presentations. The presentations open with a question the week never settled: what does today's craft or tourism-enterprise host notice about this land that a week of touring through it does not show visitors?
    Route
    The Okavango Delta camp to Maun, then a hosted venue in town.
    Travel
    Water transfer out of the delta, then road transport into Maun.
    Overnight
    Program-approved accommodation in Maun, shared gender-separated rooms.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
    Physical demand
    Moderate effort; a water and road transfer plus an afternoon on foot.
    Learning outcome
    Students describe one detail their host raised today that did not match what they expected from the week's earlier stops, and trace it back to the host's own stake in this land.
    Customization
    The craft or tourism-enterprise visit is agreed with the host in advance.
  8. Day 8

    Botswana reflections and departure

    Students finish with time to organize their fieldwork before flying.

    MorningBreakfast, a final reflection, and checkout.
    AfternoonTransfer to Maun Airport for departure, according to flight schedules.
    EveningOnward travel.
    Route
    Maun to Maun Airport.
    Travel
    One private road transfer, then the departure flight.
    Overnight
    None; the group flies home.
    Meals
    Breakfast. Later meals depend on the departure flight.
    Physical demand
    Low effort; a travel day.
    Learning outcome
    Students compare the three environments the program visited, Chobe's rivers, the Makgadikgadi pans and the Okavango Delta, with specific observations from each.
A wide waterfall drops in several channels over a dark cliff into a deep gorge, spray rising against green forest on both sides. Botswana and Zimbabwe · Waterfalls, river wildlife, and the Delta 9 days · From $6,495

Victoria Falls, Chobe and Okavango

Students begin at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, cross into Botswana for three nights beside Chobe, then fly into an Okavango Delta camp for three nights of guided wildlife and habitat study, before connecting home through Maun.

Choose this program
10+ studentsGeography · Biology · Conservation

The route connects Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Kasane, Chobe National Park, Okavango Delta, and Maun.

  1. Hotel, Victoria Falls2 nights
  2. Lodge, Kasane3 nights
  3. Tented camp, Okavango Delta3 nights
  4. Flight home1 night

Your nine-day itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Arrival near Victoria Falls

    Students settle in without making the falls visit depend on an on-time arrival.

    MorningArrival near Victoria Falls, according to the group's flight schedule.
    AfternoonTransfer to the hotel, rest, and a short orientation walk if time permits.
    EveningWelcome dinner and an introduction to the Zambezi River.
    Route
    Victoria Falls Airport to a hotel in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
    Travel
    Private road transfer.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, shared gender-separated rooms.
    Meals
    Dinner. Earlier meals depend on the arrival flight.
    Physical demand
    Low effort; a travel day.
    Learning outcome
    Students locate Victoria Falls within the Zambezi's course and the region's borders.
  2. Day 2

    The falls and conservation work

    The main landmark receives a full scheduled visit rather than becoming an optional extra.

    MorningGuided walk along the Zimbabwe-side viewpoints of Victoria Falls.
    AfternoonLunch, then a prebooked educational visit to Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust.
    EveningDiscussion of conservation problems that extend beyond a protected area's boundaries.
    Route
    The hotel to the Victoria Falls viewpoints, to Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, and back.
    Travel
    Road transfers between sites, and walking at the falls.
    Overnight
    Program-approved hotel in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, shared gender-separated rooms.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
    Physical demand
    Moderate effort; several kilometers of paved path, potentially wet with spray.
    Learning outcome
    Students connect the falls' physical geography with human-wildlife coexistence.
    Customization
    Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust's session needs advance booking.
  3. Day 3

    Across the border to Chobe

    The group crosses into Botswana with enough flexibility for border processing.

    MorningDeparture for the border, continuing to Kasane.
    AfternoonCheck-in at the lodge and rest; a short local orientation if timing allows.
    EveningPreparing observation sheets for the safari days ahead.
    Route
    Victoria Falls across the Botswana border to a lodge in Kasane.
    Travel
    Private road transfer, with a border crossing.
    Overnight
    Program-approved lodge in Kasane, shared gender-separated rooms.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
    Physical demand
    Low effort; a travel day.
    Learning outcome
    Students explain how a border affects travel and transboundary conservation.
    Customization
    Border crossing time varies and is not guaranteed.
  4. Day 4

    Chobe's riverfront wildlife

    Students compare land and river perspectives within one habitat system.

    MorningGuided game drive in Chobe National Park.
    AfternoonRest after lunch, then a river boat safari on the Chobe.
    EveningComparison of species, behavior and habitat use between the two safaris.
    Route
    The lodge in Kasane to Chobe National Park's game-drive route, then the river, and back.
    Travel
    Safari vehicle for the game drive, then a river boat for the safari.
    Overnight
    Program-approved lodge in Kasane, shared gender-separated rooms.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
    Physical demand
    Low to moderate effort; two seated safaris.
    Learning outcome
    Students identify how access to water changes where animals gather.
  5. Day 5

    Beyond a single safari drive

    A second full day allows students to test early impressions instead of relying on one outing.

    MorningGame drive along a contrasting route, chosen by the guide.
    AfternoonRest, then a guide-led discussion of park management and tourism.
    EveningReviewing repeated sightings and gaps in the observation record. The evening closes on the guide's own stake: how does someone whose income depends on this park weigh its conservation rules against the tourism that pays for them?
    Route
    A second stretch of Chobe National Park, from the lodge in Kasane.
    Travel
    Safari vehicle.
    Overnight
    Program-approved lodge in Kasane, shared gender-separated rooms.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
    Physical demand
    Low effort; a seated safari and a lodge-based session.
    Learning outcome
    Students recall the guide's strongest point for or against a park rule discussed today, and weigh it against their own first impression from day four.
  6. Day 6

    Flying into the Delta

    The flight replaces a lengthy overland approach to the interior safari base.

    MorningTransfer to Kasane Airport for the light-aircraft flight into the Delta.
    AfternoonCamp transfer, lunch, and an introductory outing if arrival timing permits.
    EveningOrientation to the camp's habitats and operating rules.
    Route
    Kasane Airport to a Delta airstrip, then the camp.
    Travel
    Light aircraft, then a camp vehicle transfer.
    Overnight
    Program-approved tented camp on the Okavango Delta, shared gender-separated tents.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
    Physical demand
    Low effort; a flight and a short vehicle transfer.
    Learning outcome
    Students compare the Okavango Delta's landscape with Chobe's riverfront.
    Customization
    Aircraft baggage limits and group rotations are confirmed with the operator in advance.
  7. Day 7

    Delta wildlife across habitats

    The camp is selected for meaningful wildlife access, not simply an address on the Okavango.

    MorningGuided game drive where permitted at the camp.
    AfternoonRest, then a second habitat outing.
    EveningComparison of the Delta's observations with Chobe's.
    Route
    The camp's approved safari routes on the Okavango Delta.
    Travel
    Safari vehicle, mostly.
    Overnight
    Program-approved tented camp on the Okavango Delta, shared gender-separated tents.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
    Physical demand
    Low to moderate effort; two vehicle-based outings.
    Learning outcome
    Students relate differences between the two safaris to vegetation and water.
  8. Day 8

    Channels, plants and seasonal water

    A contrasting activity rounds out the land-based safari days.

    MorningMokoro or boat excursion where the camp and water levels support it.
    AfternoonRest, then a permitted nature walk or interpretive session.
    EveningFarewell dinner and a comparison of the Zambezi, the Chobe and the Okavango.
    Route
    The camp's approved water routes and walking area on the Okavango Delta.
    Travel
    Mokoro or boat for the water excursion; the nature walk on foot.
    Overnight
    Program-approved tented camp on the Okavango Delta, shared gender-separated tents, the last night.
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
    Physical demand
    Moderate effort; a water excursion and a walk.
    Learning outcome
    Students explain why different water systems support different experiences and habitats.
    Customization
    Water activities are confirmed for the exact camp and travel dates.
  9. Day 9

    From the Delta to Maun

    The group exits the remote camp by air.

    MorningBreakfast and an airstrip transfer.
    AfternoonFlight to Maun, connecting onward with an appropriate buffer.
    EveningOnward travel.
    Route
    The Delta camp's airstrip to Maun.
    Travel
    Light aircraft, then an onward flight.
    Overnight
    None; the group connects onward. A Maun night is added if the connection needs a buffer.
    Meals
    Breakfast. Later meals depend on the connection.
    Physical demand
    Low effort; a travel day.
    Learning outcome
    Students summarize how access shapes the cost and management of remote tourism.
    Customization
    If the international routing cannot make a reliable connection from Maun, a Maun night and a tenth day are added and priced separately.
What applies across every itinerary
Groups and teachers
Groups start at ten students; we consider smaller groups individually. One teacher's Program Tuition is free for every eight paying students.
Rooming
Students share rooms, separated by gender, each with their own bed. Teachers get private rooms.
Price
The price doesn't cover flights to and from the program, travel insurance, medical insurance, or pocket money.
Flights and documents
Book the international flights yourselves, or ask us to arrange them. Passports and visas are on the families, and we'll guide them through it, including the border days.
Supervision
Program Leaders lead scheduled activities, stay on site and are available overnight. The approved itinerary specifies any free time, and Program Leaders are present during it.
Effort
Low means a seated day, on the water, in a safari vehicle or on the road. Moderate is a full day on foot in heat, the mokoro and walking-safari days on the Okavango Delta, the meerkat and pans excursions near Gweta, or the Victoria Falls paths.
Getting around
The eight-day route has no on-program flight and connects its stops entirely by road. The nine-day Victoria Falls route carries the one exception, two light-aircraft transfers between Kasane and the Okavango Delta camp, plus a road border crossing into Zimbabwe.
Flexibility
The mokoro trips move with the delta's water levels, the meerkat and pans excursions move with access conditions near Gweta, and the Victoria Falls border crossing depends on the post's hours. City and lodge days can shuffle without restructuring anything.
Decision documents

How far ahead does a school trip to Botswana need to be booked?

A school trip to Botswana should be booked 9 to 18 months in advance, especially for peak dry-season travel. Botswana’s high-value, low-volume tourism model limits camp capacity around Chobe, the Okavango Delta, and Makgadikgadi, so beds can fill months ahead.

Camps and park access require separate bookings, with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks issuing permits for confirmed stays. Rustic Pathways coordinates camps, permits, park fees, transport, border formalities, and light-aircraft transfers where required.

A single tree stands in silhouette against a violet and orange sky at dusk over dark, flat bush.
The camps are small and the dry-season beds go first. Rustic Pathways books the beds and the park permits together, on the dates the school sets.

How much should a school budget for a trip to Botswana?

A school should budget $3,895 to $6,495 per student for a Botswana school trip, excluding international airfare.

Program Tuition covers accommodation, meals, in-country road transport with the border crossing into Zimbabwe, the on-program flight where an itinerary carries one, park fees, scheduled activities and entrance fees. Schools receive one complimentary Program Tuition place per eight paying students and a group-specific quote.

$3,895 to $6,495

per student across the sample itineraries, excluding international airfare.

8 to 9 days

the program length span across this page's two itineraries.

Group quote

every school receives its own, built on dates, group size and route.

What the price includes
IncludedWhat it covers
TravelAccommodation for every program night, meals and drinking water, airport transfers, in-country road transport and the border crossing into Zimbabwe, the on-program flight where an itinerary carries one, scheduled activities, and entrance fees.
Field workPark entry fees, the licensed safari boat and vehicle on the Chobe days, mokoro polers on the Okavango Delta, and the educational visit to Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust.
Staff and supportAt least two trained Program Leaders, including both a male and a female leader, pre-departure planning, and school documentation.
Community donationsRequired by a service project, paid by Rustic Pathways and never collected from students.
ChaperonesOne complimentary Program Tuition place per eight paying students. Chaperone airfare and insurance are separate.

Not included: International airfare, travel insurance, medical insurance, personal spending, passport or visa fees, and vaccinations.

What changes the price?
EffectFactor
raisesPeak dry-season and holiday weeks, which cost more than shoulder-season dates and sell out first
raisesA short trip does not shrink the fixed costs. They spread across fewer days, so each day costs more.
raisesBeyond the one free teacher place, added chaperone seats are costed across the whole group.
raisesLodging tier, from delta and pans tented camps to a lodge on the Chobe riverfront or a hotel in Victoria Falls
lowers10 students is the starting size, with no upper limit; the more who join, the lower the per-student price.
lowersShoulder-season dates, in the months either side of the dry-season peak

Payment and cancellation

Installment plans are available. Review the current enrollment terms.

Families can enroll directly and use monthly installments, or the school can pay as a group.
Request Botswana pricing

What do students learn on a Botswana school trip?

Students on a Botswana school trip learn about environmental science, biology, and cultural studies through field-based experiences. Programs explore wildlife and habitats in Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta, the salt pans near Nata and Gweta, local San knowledge, and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

  • Environmental Science

    Chobe National Park by game drive and boat, the salt-pan landscape near Nata Bird Sanctuary, and two nights in a community-run Okavango Delta camp reached by mokoro.

    How does seasonal water change the value of a habitat?

    Chobe, Salt Pans and Okavango

  • Biology

    A species count kept from the vehicle and again from the boat on the Chobe riverfront, repeated across two full days, and a second Okavango Delta camp reached by light aircraft for three more nights of guided safaris.

    How do you count animals that will not stand still?

    Victoria Falls, Chobe and Okavango

  • Cultural Studies

    A dawn meerkat colony and a pans excursion near Gweta, paired with a hosted session led by local San hosts on the Makgadikgadi's dryland knowledge, after three nights of wetland-edge fieldwork in the Khwai area.

    What does dry ground still support?

    Okavango and Makgadikgadi Field Expedition

A giraffe splays its front legs to drink at the edge of a river, with a green floodplain and a flat horizon behind it.

What makes Rustic Pathways educational trips different?

A Rustic Pathways school trip is one private group on your school's own dates, one bed per student, and an itinerary built to your curriculum.

  • 01No mixed groups. Just your school
  • 02One student, one bed
  • 03Your school picks the dates
  • 04Monthly payment plans available
  • 05No tipping; Rustic Pathways Program Tuition includes community donations
  • 06Aligned to your curriculum

Who supervises and manages the trip to Botswana?

School chaperones and Rustic Pathways Program Leaders supervise and manage the school trip to Botswana together.

Rustic Pathways manages the itinerary, accommodation, ground transport, activities and emergency procedures; your school manages its own student conduct and communication policies.

Your school can book international flights directly or ask Rustic Pathways to arrange them. Families receive trip logistics and itinerary information through the MyRustic web app.

How safety is managed on a school trip to Botswana

Program Leaders manage local operations and safety procedures alongside school chaperones. Across 13 years of published incident data from every Rustic Pathways program worldwide, 87% of reports were GREEN, the minor tier where the group stays intact.

What the team plans for

  • Chobe riverfront, game drives and Victoria Falls

    Wildlife distance rules on river and game-drive safaris in Chobe National Park, on both itineraries; the border crossing to Victoria Falls with passports, wet spray on the falls paths, and the high-water season

  • The salt pans and Nata

    Heat and remoteness near Nata and the Makgadikgadi pans, and access conditions that change with the season for the meerkat colony and the pans excursion

  • Okavango and Khwai

    Water safety and swimming ability for mokoro trips, wildlife distance rules on walking safaris with an armed guide, and delta camps reached only by 4WD, water, or light aircraft

Level 2  Exercise increased caution. The June 17, 2026 U.S. advisory holds Botswana at Level 2 for crime, with no change to its risk indicators.

Controls built into every trip

  • Written risk plan. A score above 5 requires new controls, reassessment or cancellation.

  • Two-Deep Leadership. A single staff member is never alone with students, and at least two trained Program Leaders, including both a male and a female leader, support each School Group Travel trip.

  • Assessed activity vendors. Safari operators, boat and mokoro operators, and the lodges and camps are reviewed before use, every one to two years, and on site when high risk.

  • Medical readiness. WFR coverage for remote programs and a dedicated Medical Director since 2015.

Is Rustic Pathways the right partner for your school trip to Botswana?

Yes, Rustic Pathways is the right partner for private, curriculum-focused school trips to Botswana. Your school chooses the travel dates, and Rustic Pathways builds the itinerary around your curriculum.

Students travel only with their teachers and classmates and never join another school's group. Individual students can join open enrollment teen travel programs to Botswana instead.

A strong fit
  • You want one private group with your dates and your teachers.
  • Your group can travel for 8 to 9 days.
  • You want river, delta and dryland fieldwork in one program.
Talk with us first
  • You have fewer than 10 students.
  • A student has significant mobility, medical, sensory, mental-health, dietary, or religious support needs.
  • Both routes include malaria-area travel. Raise prophylaxis with your school's medical reviewer before booking. This page gives no medical advice.
Probably not a fit
  • You are an individual student or parent seeking open enrollment programs to Botswana.
  • You want your group merged with another school.
  • Your school requires single-country travel. This route spends two nights in Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls.

Support planning starts early

Raise individual needs before booking so Rustic Pathways can assess them and adapt the route and support plan where feasible.

Questions about school trips to Botswana

The questions schools ask most before requesting a Botswana proposal, answered from the itineraries and prices on this page.

How much would a trip to Botswana cost?

A school trip to Botswana runs $3,895 to $6,495 per student across the two sample itineraries, 8 to 9 days, excluding international airfare. Program Tuition covers accommodation, meals, in-country transport, park fees, and scheduled activities.

Groups start at 10 students, and one teacher place is free for every eight paying students. Every school receives its own quote, built on dates, group size and route.

When is the best time to travel to Botswana?

The best time for a school trip to Botswana is the dry season, May to October, when the days are clear, the roads are open and wildlife gathers at the rivers.

The rains run from November to March, and the hottest weeks come just before they arrive. Rustic Pathways builds Botswana trips around each school's calendar and books the camps and park permits for the dates the school sets.

Patrick Ziemnik, Leader of Global Operations at Rustic Pathways.
Patrick Ziemnik has been with Rustic Pathways since 2012 and leads global operations. He directed teen travel programs as Country Director in Mongolia, Tanzania and Costa Rica.

Have a question before you ask for a proposal?

Patrick Ziemnik answers Botswana school-trip questions with the school travel team.

Send your group size, dates, trip length, and what you want students to learn. I’ll reply within 1 business day and send you options within 48 hours, and no sales call unless you ask for one.

Start with your travel window

Start your Botswana trip proposal with your travel dates, group size, and learning goals. Receive a reply within 1 business day and customized trip options within 48 hours.

Or reach a person directly: +1 440-975-9691 or groups@rusticpathways.com

Need approval or funding first?

Certificate of insurance, risk management plans, and fundraising templates for families, on request.

Step 1 of 2 · Your contact details

We reply within 1 business day and send options within 48 hours.

Submitting this form starts a conversation with the Rustic Pathways school travel team. Read the Rustic Pathways privacy policy.

An aerial view of a river winding in tight loops through green and gold floodplain, with islands of trees to the horizon.A red lechwe antelope stands in shallow floodplain water among reeds, with the sky reflected around its legs.Four elephants walk in a line across a flat white salt pan under a grey-blue sky.An aerial view of a city's low-rise center and tree-lined suburbs at dusk, with a line of hills on the horizon.