One big adventure still remained on our African safari bucket list: Botswana. After unforgettable journeys through South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, and Tanzania, it was finally time to explore this legendary wilderness. In April, we packed our gear and headed into the heart of southern Africa—just as the rainy season began to taper off. The land was lush and green, the roads occasionally muddy/wet, and the tourist crowds pleasantly thin.

For this trip, we chose a Land Cruiser equipped with a pop-up rooftop tent—an ideal setup for the season. It gave us the freedom to move at our own pace and sleep under the stars in some of the most incredible places on Earth.

Our route took us through an impressive list of national parks and game reserves:

• Makgadikgadi National Park
• Nxai Pan National Park
• Chobe Riverfront
• Savuti
• Khwai Community Area
• Moremi Game Reserve

Each destination had its own unique character and charm. From the vast salt pans of Makgadikgadi to the predator-rich plains of Savuti, no two places were the same. And in every park, luck was on our side—we encountered lions in each one, along with countless other animals. Not a single game drive left us disappointed.

But we had two special animals on our wish list: the elusive leopard and the endangered African wild dog. Botswana delivered both. Seeing these rare creatures in their natural habitat was nothing short of magical—a dream fulfilled.

Our hearts are full of gratitude for the experiences this country and Vincent with his crew gave us. Botswana was everything we hoped for, and more.