An exclusive use safari in Botswana means your group books every tent in one small camp, so the guides, vehicles, dining table and campfire belong to you alone. Because many Okavango and Linyanti camps have only four to eight tents, a party of 8 to 16 can often fill one completely without paying for empty rooms.
The hard part for an organiser is not the idea but the detail: which camps can be booked outright, how many people you really need, how the light aircraft and luggage rules work, and how the price is built. This guide answers those questions from our Nairobi desk, and our page on how to organise a group safari with Divulge Adventures explains the planning steps we follow for every party.
Quick Facts
- Camp sizes: Many Okavango and Linyanti camps have four to eight tents; some small camps have four suites
- Group size that fits: About 8 to 16 guests, sharing two per tent
- Where: Okavango Delta concessions, Khwai, Linyanti, Chobe and private mobile camps in Moremi and Savuti
- Getting in: Fly to Maun or Kasane, then light aircraft to the camp airstrip
- Luggage: Usually about 20 kg per person in soft bags on light aircraft
- Best months: Roughly May to October for dry-season game viewing; November to April is green season
- Children: Commonly from age 6; walking safaris from 12 (camp rules vary)
What Is an Exclusive Use Safari Camp in Botswana?
An exclusive use safari camp is a camp your group reserves in full, so no other guests check in. You still get the camp’s own guides, trackers, chef and vehicles, but the schedule bends to your party: early starts, a long lunch, a private dinner on the deck or a celebration without strangers at the next table.
Botswana suits the exclusive use safari better than most safari countries. Its tourism model has long favoured small, low-impact camps in large private concessions, so the units are already the right size for a group. In Kenya or Tanzania a 20-tent lodge is common; in the Okavango a camp with six tents is normal.
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How an exclusive use safari differs from a shared camp
In a shared camp you join other guests at meals and often in vehicles, and the guide balances everyone’s wishes. On an exclusive use safari the guiding team works only for you. If half the group wants to follow wild dogs all morning and the other half wants a mokoro trip, the camp can split activities between vehicles and boats without upsetting anyone else.
The other difference on an exclusive use safari is atmosphere. Families can let children be loud at dinner, a company can hold a short briefing in the lounge, and friends marking a birthday can take over the bar. For reunions, milestone trips and incentive groups, that privacy is usually the whole point.
Which Botswana Camps Can a Group Book Outright?
The camps easiest to book outright are the smallest ones, with four to six tents, followed by private mobile camps set up just for your party. Larger camps can sometimes be booked in full too, but the price and minimum numbers climb quickly, so most groups aim for the small end.
Small camps with four to six tents
Several operators run small sister camps designed for private bookings. One major operator’s own site, for example, lists Little Vumbura on a secluded island in the Okavango Delta with six tented suites, Little DumaTau in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve with four, and Little Mombo with four suites near Chief’s Island, all offered for exclusive use (checked November 2026). Camps like these are ideal for an exclusive use safari of 8 to 12 people.
Mid-sized camps for larger parties
A group of 14 to 16 needs a camp with seven or eight tents. Little Sable in the Khwai Private Reserve, a 200,000-hectare concession bordered by Moremi and the Khwai Community Reserve, has eight tents including two family tents, according to its official page. We always ask the camp directly whether it accepts a full buyout on your dates, because policies differ between properties and seasons.
Private mobile camps
A private mobile camp is the most flexible exclusive use safari of all. A crew drives ahead, pitches walk-in tents with bedding and bucket showers, and cooks over the fire, so the camp moves with you through Moremi, Khwai and Savuti. Our 7 day Moremi, Khwai and Savuti camping safari follows this style, and for a group we can ask for the camp to be set up for your party only.
| Option | Typical size | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Small exclusive camp | 4 to 6 tents, about 8 to 12 guests | Families, friends and milestone trips wanting comfort and privacy |
| Mid-sized camp buyout | 7 to 8 tents, about 14 to 16 guests | Larger reunions and incentive groups |
| Private mobile camp | Sized to the group | Groups who want to move between Moremi, Khwai and Savuti and value adventure over luxury |
| Shared camp, private vehicle | Any size | Smaller parties who want their own guide but not the whole camp |
How Many People Do You Need to Book a Whole Camp?
You need enough people to fill every room, because camps charge for all tents whether or not they are slept in. For a four-tent camp that means eight adults sharing; for a six-tent camp, twelve. Single travellers and odd numbers are where the maths goes wrong, so count beds before you fall in love with a camp.
Rooming maths for an exclusive use safari
Every exclusive use safari starts with how the group will sleep. Couples and friends sharing twin beds are simple. Families often need a family tent or two adjoining tents, and a solo traveller takes a whole room on their own. A group of 11 in a six-tent camp works well if one person is happy to pay for a single room; a group of 9 may be better in a four-tent camp plus one shared room elsewhere.
If your numbers sit between two camp sizes, a good compromise is to book the whole of a small camp for the core group and put the remainder in a sister camp nearby. Another option is a shared camp with two private vehicles, which gives most of the freedom at a lower total cost.
Age rules and private vehicles
Children change the picture. One major camp operator welcomes children from 6 years old, keeps walking safaris for ages 12 and over, and requires a private guide and vehicle for children under 6 (checked November 2026). When your group owns the camp, these rules are far easier to work around, which is why our guide to a Botswana family safari often points families towards a buyout.
How Do Flights and Logistics Work for a Group?
Groups reach Botswana’s remote camps by light aircraft from Maun or Kasane, flying into an airstrip near the camp. International travellers usually connect through Johannesburg, where scheduled regional flights serve both Maun and Kasane. From Nairobi there is no need to route through Europe; we plan the connection to suit your group’s arrival.
Light aircraft seats and luggage
Bush planes are small, and an exclusive use safari group often fills one or two aircraft. Luggage is the rule people forget: the limit is usually about 20 kg per person including hand luggage, in soft bags or small soft-sided cases that fit the cargo pod. One Botswana air operator also sets maximum bag dimensions, so check the exact rule for your carrier before anyone packs.
For a party of 10 or more, a private charter often makes sense. Everyone flies together, departure times match the camp’s activity schedule, and nobody is left waiting at Maun for a later seat. On our 7 day Botswana celebration safari through Chobe, Moremi and Khwai we arrange scheduled seats for smaller groups and a charter when numbers justify it.
Building the route
Most exclusive use safari routes in Botswana combine two or three areas: a water camp in the Delta for mokoro trips and boating, a land-based concession such as Khwai or Linyanti for predators and night drives, and the Chobe riverfront near Kasane for elephants. Our Okavango Delta vs Chobe guide compares those two regions in detail.
How Much Does an Exclusive Use Safari Cost?
An exclusive use safari costs the camp’s nightly rate multiplied by every bed in the camp, plus flights, park or concession fees and extras. When your group fills all the rooms, the per-person price is close to what you would pay sharing the camp; empty beds, minimum stays and private charters are what push it up.
To give a sense of scale, Little Sable’s own page lists nightly rates from US$660 to US$1,445 depending on season (checked November 2026). Smaller luxury camps in the Delta sit above that. Botswana’s government also reviewed park and licence fees in 2026, so treat any fee you read online as a guide and confirm current figures before booking.
| Cost element | How it works for a group | What changes it |
|---|---|---|
| Camp rate | Charged on every room for every night | Season, camp size, minimum nights |
| Light aircraft | Per seat on scheduled flights, or per aircraft on a charter | Group size, number of camp moves |
| Park and concession fees | Often included in private concession rates; national park fees are paid per person | Government fee changes, the areas you visit |
| Extras | Private dinners, helicopter flights, celebration set-ups | What the group asks for |
How group discounts work on our trips
On our Botswana group trips, the seventh place is free for every six paying travellers, each traveller can pay their own share, and a deposit of 30 to 40% holds the camps and flights, with the balance due 2 to 4 weeks before travel. We confirm the final price in a written quote once the camps reply.
Planning a Botswana trip for your whole group?
See how we organise private group safaris, from rooming lists and charter flights to one point of contact for the organiser.
When Should a Group Book, and Which Season Is Best?
A group planning an exclusive use safari should book as early as possible, ideally a year ahead for the dry season. The smallest camps host one booking at a time, so once a party takes the whole camp those dates are gone. The dry months from May to October bring the best game viewing and peak demand.
The Okavango floods arrive from Angola months after the rains, usually peaking in the middle of the year, which is when water camps are at their best for mokoro and boat trips. The Botswana Tourism guide to the Okavango Delta explains the flood cycle and the main areas.
The green season from November to April has lower camp rates, newborn antelope and excellent birding, and some camps are more willing to accept an exclusive use safari booking at that time. Our best time to visit Botswana guide breaks each month down if your group is flexible on dates.
Whole Camp or Shared Camp: Which Suits Your Group?
A whole camp suits groups who value privacy and control and can fill every room. A shared camp with private vehicles suits groups of four to eight, odd-numbered parties and anyone who wants a lower total bill while keeping their own guide.
An exclusive use safari is the right call for families spanning three generations, wedding parties, milestone birthdays, incentive winners and close-knit clubs. It also helps when the group includes young children, guests with set meal needs or people who simply want the camp to feel like a private house in the bush.
Joining strangers in a shared camp works better for very small parties, for groups whose numbers might change late, or when the budget would not stretch to empty rooms. Some groups mix both: two nights in a shared Chobe lodge, then three nights with a Delta camp to themselves, or a Kalahari extension for meerkats and desert landscapes.
Whether or not you choose an exclusive use safari, keeping the trip private for your party is easier with one planner handling the camps, flights and rooming. You can read more about how we run group safaris for families, clubs and companies, or browse our Botswana safari packages for routes to build on. Our Botswana safari guide for first-timers covers the wider basics.
Insider Tips
- Count beds first: List every guest and how they will share before choosing a camp size
- Hold dates early: Ask for a provisional hold while the group confirms; small camps go fast
- Ask about minimum nights: Some camps only accept a buyout for a set number of nights
- Weigh the bags: Remind everyone of the roughly 20 kg soft-bag rule well before departure
- Name one decision-maker: One organiser approving changes keeps the camp, airline and planner in step
- Plan the special moment: Tell us about birthdays or awards so the camp can prepare a private dinner
Let us plan your private Botswana group safari
Tell us your dates, group size and how everyone will share, and our Nairobi team will check which camps can be booked outright and send a free group itinerary and quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an exclusive use safari camp?
An exclusive use safari camp is a lodge or tented camp that your group books in full, so no other guests stay there during your nights. You get the whole camp, its guides and vehicles, and you can shape meal times, activities and the daily rhythm around your own party rather than around strangers.
How many people do you need for an exclusive use safari in Botswana?
Most exclusive use safari bookings in Botswana suit groups of 8 to 16, because many Okavango and Linyanti camps have only four to eight tents. Some small camps have just four suites, so a party of eight sharing can fill one. Camps normally charge for every room, so empty beds still cost money.
Is booking a whole camp more expensive than a normal safari?
Booking a whole camp is not always more expensive per person. If your group fills every tent, you pay roughly what you would pay sharing the camp with others. The cost rises when rooms sit empty, when the camp sets a minimum number of nights or when you add a private aircraft charter.
When should a group book an exclusive use safari camp in Botswana?
A group should book an exclusive use safari camp in Botswana as early as possible, ideally a year or more ahead for the dry season from about June to October. The smallest camps take one group at a time, so a single booking closes those dates for everyone else.
Can children join an exclusive use safari in Botswana?
Children can join an exclusive use safari in Botswana, but camp rules still apply. One major camp operator welcomes children from age 6, limits walking safaris to ages 12 and over, and asks for a private guide and vehicle for children under 6 (checked November 2026). Booking the whole camp makes these rules much easier to manage.
Final Thoughts
An exclusive use safari in Botswana works best when the group size matches the camp: four to six tents for 8 to 12 people, a larger buyout or a private mobile camp beyond that. Fill the rooms, book early for the dry season and keep luggage light, and the camp becomes your own.
Send us your numbers and dates and we will tell you honestly whether a whole camp, a mobile camp or a shared camp with private vehicles gives your group the best value.
Is your group big enough to take a whole camp?
Chat with a Divulge Adventures safari consultant on WhatsApp for honest advice, a quick answer and a quote built around you.
