Botswana

Botswana is a country where the superlatives come thick and fast. It boasts an astonishing array of landscapes.  From the otherworldly salt pans of Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans National Parks, the sands of Central Kalahari Game Reserve, to the gently flowing waters of the Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta anywhere in the world.

Botswana safaris lays claim to some of the largest concentrations of wildlife anywhere on the African continent, including the Big Five.  It also holds the status of Africa’s oldest continuous democracy, with history depicted in the Tsodilo Hills cave paintings that date back 4,500 years.

Of the many unmissable sites, the Okavango Delta is undoubtedly the star of the show. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this pristine watery wilderness offers the opportunity to drift silently through floating vegetation in a traditional mokoro canoe.  A mokoro is a type of canoe used to get around in the shallow waters of the Okavango Delta. The oarsman stands in the stern and pushes the mokoro with a pole. Traditionally, Mokoros are made from large straight trees, like ebony, and kigelia.  However, these days, for conservation purposes, they are more commonly made from fibreglass.  Alternatively, you could visit the areas of Makgadikgadi and the Kalahari, and join Botswana’s indigenous San people for a bushwalk.

Nearly three-quarters of Botswana is covered by the sands of the Kalahari Desert.  And, the sheer quantity of Botswana’s wildlife species surprise many first-time visitors. Black-maned lions can be found in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.  While up to 80,000 elephants come together on the riverbanks in Chobe National Park. Elsewhere, large numbers of zebra and wildebeest gather among the baobabs of Nxai Pan National Park, and the salt pans of Makgadikgadi, during their annual wet season migration.

For the best variety, the ultimate Botswana safaris include the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and Chobe National Park.

WHY WE LOVE BOTSWANA

Tours

A FEW OF OUR FAVOURITE BOTSWANA SAFARIS ...

We have a wide range of Botswana safaris, from small group departures to tailor-made fly-in safaris.  The safaris below are intended to inspire you on what is possible for your safari holiday.  With exceptional game-viewing opportunities, the largest population of elephants in the world, and the most varied safari activities on the African continent, Botswana is a genuine gem of a safari destination.
We have a wide range of Botswana safaris not featured on our website, so it is best to contact us to discuss your Botswana safari options.

Best time to visit Botswana

Botswana’s climate is semi-arid. Though it is hot and dry for much of the year, there is a rainy season, from November to March. Rainfall tends to be erratic, unpredictable and highly regional. Often a heavy downpour may occur in one area while 10 or 15 kilometres away there is no rain at all. Showers are often followed by strong sunshine so that a good deal of the rainfall does not penetrate the ground but is lost to evaporation and transpiration.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best
Good
Mixed

Botswana Video Gallery

Click to display the map

Botswana Blog Posts