The tour begins in Gaborone, Botswana’s capital. Travellers will be met at Gaborone Airport and transferred to hotel, a drive of about 40 minutes. We will stay at the Avani Hotel, previously the Gaborone Sun, a location straight from the novels. The afternoon is free to unwind after your travels—perhaps by the pool or simply relaxing in your rooms. In the later afternoon we gather with our fellow travellers and hosts for drinks and a welcome dinner at the hotel, the perfect opportunity to get to know one another and share our excitement for the days ahead.

We begin our exploration of the capital with a choice! For those who enjoy an early start and are interested in stretching their legs, Mats will lead a pre-breakfast hike up Kgale Hill- where you can enjoy sweeping views of the city and the South African hills beyond. Alternatively, there will be the option to enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. By 9.30am the group has regathered, and we are ready to set off for our day tour.

The tour begins by taking in landmarks from Zebra Drive to African Mall, browsing Mma Ramotswe’s favourite bookshop, and pausing for coffee at Botswana Craft. We then visit artist Ann Gollifer’s studio to hear how she uses pigments from Mma Ramotswe’s home village in her work. From there, we make our way to Sanitas Plant Nursery to wander its lush gardens, meet its visionary founders—two Swedish brothers working to “make the Kalahari bloom”—and enjoy lunch in the tea garden. We end the day with an evening of culture, art, and good food at the National Museum.

This morning we travel to the charming village of Mochudi, about an hour out of town, and the home of Mma Ramotswe. Here we are welcomed by local singer Nnunu Ramagotsi who shares her beautiful songs and stories with us. We visit the hilltop Mochudi Museum, with offers wonderful views of the village and hills, making for a very scenic lunch spot. At the museum we learn about Bakgatla tribal history. Here we will attend the No. 1 Art award which celerates local artists.

We continue to the kgotla—a traditional meeting place where local matters are discussed under the leadership of the elders. A core part of Botswana life. In the evening, we enjoy dinner in a lovely local setting, meeting some of Gaborone’s most interesting residents for a relaxed evening of conversation and connection.

Today we set out for the SOS Children’s Village in Tlokweng, the real-life inspiration for the orphan farm in the books. Here we meet the dedicated staff, spend time with the children, enjoy a taste of the matron’s famous fruitcake, and join the “No.1 Fruitcake Award” ceremony lead by Mother Masire.

After lunch, we head into Old Naledi, Botswana’s only township, for a guided walk and drive through its bustling streets. Mentioned often in the books, Old Naledi is alive with small car washes, hair salons, street kitchens, snooker bars and much more. We sample fresh fat cakes, visit a preschool and finish with music and dance at the Mafitlhakgosi Cultural Café where the “No.1 Dance Award” celebrates talented local performers. Our final dinner together is at one of Gaborone’s favourite spots—a warm and joyful way to end our adventure.

Around midmorning we fly from Gaborone to Maun where we will stay at the Sedia hotel, a comfortable hotel with lovely gardens, a swimming pool a lovely bird life. That evening we enjoy dinner at the hotel and meet some of Maun’s visionary conservationist.

This morning we set off early, around 7.30am for Elephant Havens. This elephant orphanage is set on the edge of the Okavango Delta and rescues orphaned and abandoned elephants. Arriving at Elephant Havens we will begin by learning more about the sanctuary and their work in rescuing young elephant orphans with the aim of reintroducing them to the wild.

At 9am the elephants arrive with great excitement for their morning feed- which you will be part of. Together with their devoted handlers you will interact and feed the elephants and to learn more about elephant behaviour. Having had a chance to meet the elephants up close and personal we leave them to roam their large sanctuary and retreat to the shade for lunch, perhaps watching the elephant wallow in mud baths in the distance.

After lunch we return to Maun, to the airport, to catch our flight to the Okavango Delta panhandle. We land in Shakawe, at the top of the Okavango delta panhandle where the waters from Angola begin their journey into Botswana. From there we take an interesting drive of about 45 minutes to Nxamaseri village– followed by a short boat ride to Nxamseri island- our home for the next 3 nights.

Hidden away on a private island in the Okavango Panhandle, Nxamaseri Island Lodge is a tranquil retreat surrounded by winding waterways and shady riverine forest. Known for its personal and laid-back charm the lodge offers wonderful water safari experiences- it is a favourite for birdwatchers, anglers seeking tigerfish and importantly, travellers drawn to the nearby Tsodilo Hills. It offers an unhurried, close-to-nature experience, where days drift by to the gentle rhythm of the river.

We each take time to settle into the camp – and for those keen to get out a sunset boat cruise will be available. Or perhaps just relax in camp, enjoy a massage on the beautiful deck floating over the waters and a swim in the pool. We agtehr around the fire for drinks before dining under the stars.

Today is a gentle day- where the focus is about slowing down to enjoy the peaceful wetland environment. A range of activities will be on offer – out on the water there will be boating and mokoro excursions, and for those interested – fishing is available too. The birding here is wonderful and even those with only a passing interest in birds cannot fail to be impressed. The ladies from the local village will visit the lodge to teach us about traditional basket weaving and those interested can try their hand at weaving.

It is important to understand Nxamaseri is not a classic safari camp in the sense that it is not a big game viewing area. Instead it is all about enjoying the beautiful aquatic environment. Visitors should not expect any of the traditional ‘big five’ animals and indeed there are no game drives offered at Nxamaseri. There is still plenty of life in the area- the air is alive with birdsong and the waters bubble with hippos and crocs. Elephants roam these areas frequently but visitors should not expect the full range of wildlife many might expect on a safari. That will follow at your next camp!

Today we visit the Tsodilo Hills- leaving the lush Okavango waterways the landscape very quickly changes to Kalahari scrub, perfectly showcasing the diversity of the Botswana landscape. This remarkable cluster of rocky hills rises from the flat Kalahari landscape about 40km from the Lodge on the banks of the panhandle. The four massifs that make up Tsodilo Hills are home to around 4,500 ancient rock paintings, one of the largest concentrations of rock art in the world. These hills are sacred to the San bushmen and a UNESCO World Heritage Site- rich in cultural and geological history. On arrival we are introduced to the history of the hills by a local San guide. There are a number of different routes to explore the hills, to suit different levels of fitness levels. We will enjoy a picnic lunch before returning to the lodge later that day.

This morning we bid farewell to the team at Nxamaseri and begin our journey to the Linyanti, for our safari. On the way we visit Nxamaseri village to gain a deeper insight into life in this remote corner of Botswana. We’ll be welcomed by members of the community and learn about their day-to-day life along the Panhandle—how fishing and farming remain central to life here and how the seasonal rise and fall of the river shapes everything from food to transport.

We continue to Shakawe, a charming little town itself- and then to the airstrip for our flight east to the Linyanti, a flight of about 60 minutes. We are met by our guides on arrival and transferred to Duma Tau, our final stop of the tour. And the most spoiling.

Set on the banks of the Linyanti River in northern Botswana, DumaTau delivers a truly luxurious safari experience in one of the country’s most wildlife-rich regions. Overlooking a shimmering lagoon the camp is set within an enormous private concession that offers exclusive access to both land and water adventures.

Activities include game drives, guided walks and tranquil boat safaris. The accommodation offers a spoiling base between activities with spacious suites with private decks and wonderful views of the lagoon. A beautiful spa, swimming pool and unique floating fire deck provide spaces to relax between adventures, making DumaTau an unforgettable blend of comfort and wilderness.

For the next two days you will settle into the typical rhythm of a safari, with early morning and late afternoon activities.

At DumaTau, mornings start early, with a gentle wakeup call at dawn. After a light breakfast we head out on game drives or boat safaris to explore the camp’s private concession. We spend the morning tracking wildlife such as elephants, lions and wild dogs, with time to stop and enjoy the scenery along the Linyanti River. By late morning, we return for brunch. The middle of the day is the siesta hour and a chance to relax—swimming in the pool, enjoying the spa or watching wildlife from the decks.

In the afternoon, we head back out for another drive or a peaceful boat trip, returning in time for sundowners. After dinner, we gather together on the floating fire deck to share stories from the day and enjoy lively discussions about The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency books—comparing favourite moments and characters while reflecting on the Botswana that inspired them.

Today there will be a chance for one last activity for those keen to maximise every minute of the safari experience. Others may enjoy a lie in on this final morning. We fly from DumaTau to Maun in good time to catch our onward flights home.

Time to bid farewell to Sir Alexander and the team- Tsamaya Sentle!