Botswana Travel Forum

Hello,

We are making a 13-day trip in Botswana. Can anyone recommend us where we can best hire a fully equipped 4WD (starting in Maun)?

An agency made an itinerary for us for the 13-day trip mostly at camp sites:

Aug 11: Maun (Ensuite tent)

Aug 12: Savuti (camping)

Aug 13: Savuti (camping)

Aug 14: Linyanti (camping)

Aug 15: Linyanti (camping)

Aug 16: Ihaha (camping)

Aug 17: Ngepi camp, Caprivi (tree house)

Aug 18: Guma Lagoon (camping)

Aug 19: Guma Lagoon (camping)

Aug 20: Moremi (camping)

Aug 21: Moremi (camping)

Aug 22: Santawani (lodge)


They came up with a total price of around US$2200 per person. Is this expensive or not?

Does anyone have more tips for our trip?

Thanks in advance.


Giten (Netherlands)

Are you saying that the hire car costs are not included?! For a comparison: we are 3 people going to Namibia/Botswana. We have hired a fully equipped 4x4 (in Windhoek) and part of our holiday will be in Moremi and Nxai Pan and Mkgadgagdi Pan areas. For these 8 days we are staying 7 days in National Parks campsites and 1 night at Kalahari Bush Breaks. TOTAL COST (except food and fuel) for 3 people (not per person) is US$1385 give or take a few dollars. Extrapolate the same costs per day to 13 days and it would be around US$2250.
Your 3 nights in non-camping accommodation which will add extra cost but I have looked up those establishments accommodation cost and they are all mid-range very reasonably priced so not a lot of expense there. Are park fees included in your quote for Savuti, Moremi etc.? The price you have been quoted is exhorbitant. You can easily work out how much you should be paying by checking out car hire firms costs and National parks camping fees or other safari camps fees on the internet. Bearing in mind 4x4 car hire is expensive and prices can vary considerably - it pays to shop around. Did you also realise the drive from Maun to Savuti? My Bradt guide books says 'a good 6-7 hours..you'll have some slow, heavy driving across the sand ridge...' and that is the most direct route. You should be able to do this for around US$1500 per person absolute maximum.

Thanks!

This itinerary was based on the car hire in Maun, which will bring extra costs because of the car have to come from Windhoek. However, even then I think US$2200 pp is too expensive, right?

Well, we changed our plans anyway: now we're going to the Kruger park and south Botswana.

Thanks a lot for you reply.


Giten

I can see that I cannot edit my message.

To be clear: the car hire is included in the US$2200.

Hi I did a 2 week self-drive camping trip around Botswana in June this year. I hired a 4W camping equipped landrover from safari drive (uk), picking the vehicle up and dropping it off in Maun. We didn't get to Linyati because the region is largely closed to self-drivers. The price being quoted is very reasonable. If you would like to find out more, please see my detailed blog which shows the daily trip report: http://www.wilddogsandenglishmen.wordpress.com
You can also read a lot more on Fodors forums where I've had a lot of discussions with people about this itinerary, costs, etc.
It really is the most amazing trip of a lifetime and I'm very excited for you.
WD

The best way to hire a fully equipped 4x4 vehicle for exploring southern Africa is at AJC 4x4 (= wabsite) in Modimolle (former Nylstrom) in South Africa. They have almost new cars (Landrover Defenders) and the value compared to the price is unbeatable, as is their service. If You need more info pls. contact me (s.kohl@bluewin.ch)

Zeno Colo