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Botswana is considered by many travel
connoisseurs to be the ultimate safari destination in Africa. Known
for its stability, safety, and active government support of environmental
protection, Botswana's National Parks, and the Great Okavango Delta,
are vast, awe-inspiring lands that convey a sense of pristine Africa,
rich in wildlife and untainted by the modern world. Many travelers
choose to combine a visit to Botswana with a brief excursion to nearby
Victoria Falls. Given its present name by Livingstone, the falls'
more atmospheric, traditional name is Mosa oa Tunya - The Smoke that
Thunders. The Falls are one of the great sights of this world, and
have also become the heart of adventure travel in Africa, with canoeing,
whitewater rafting, kayaking, horseback safaris, and bungee jumping
on offer for the adventurous. More sedate excursions include sunset
cruises along the Zambezi, enjoying sundowners and canapés.
Botswana is a short distance west of the Falls, enticing you with endless
opportunity for adventure. Chobe National Park is a raw,
wild land, teeming with game. The most popular regions of the park
are the riverfront, and the Mababe depression, popularly known as
Savuti. The river attracts tremendous numbers of wildlife during
the dry season: June to October. The sight of hundreds of frolicking
elephants along the water each afternoon is an unforgettable highlight
of a visit to Botswana. The nearby flood plains are covered withgrasslands, dense bush and forests. This varied landscape is
home to herds of elephant, buffalo, waterbuck, antelope, and much
much more. Savuti is at its best from November to May. The area
is known for the prides of lions that rule the marsh. Even travelers
who have visited other wildlife parks in Africa are struck by the
primeval wilderness of Savuti, where the vast expanse ofplains
are heaving with masses of wildlife, who migrate to the riverfront
during the dry season. To the north of Savuti are the Gubatsaa Hills,
dotted with ancient rock paintings.
The Okavango Delta is an enchanting labyrinth of channels,
lakes, flood plains and islands, which shelter one of the world's
greatest arrays of wildlife and birds. The most popular time to
visit is the dry season, from April to October. On the eastern edge
of the Delta is Moreni Wildlife Reserve: recognized as one of the
best reserves in southern Africa, Moreni is imbued with a sense
of primordial wilderness long gone from so many other parts of the
continent. Drift through waterways lined with lilies as you explore
hidden islands, teeming with elephants and antelope. Most of all,
the Delta is a paradise for bird-watchers: even the most casual
visitor with be enthralled by the splendor of the birdlife: storks,
herons, kingfishers, fish eagles, rollers, and over 400 other species
make their home amidst the varied ecosystems of the Delta. Delta
lodges epitomize luxury in the wild, combining exploration of this
glorious natural wonderland, with stylish accommodation, superb
service, and exclusive luxury.
The vast Makgadikgadi and Nxai salt pans of the northeast
immerse visitors in a rare and powerful sense of silence, space
and infinity. The unique landscape surrounding the pans attract
an amazing wealth of birdlife: flamingoes, pelicans, ducks, and
geese nest amidst the grassland surrounding the pans. In the Makgadikgadi
Pans are a series of islands; most notable is Kubu. Only 10 meters
high, Kubu provides a surprisingly panoramic view over this otherwise
utterly flat area. Some archaeological remains have been found here,
dating as far back as 500 AD. The Makgadikgadi Pans Game Reserve
are best seen in the dry season, from April to November, especially
from June onwards. Gemsbok, springbok, ostrich, lions and more dwell
amidst the grasslands and palm groves to the north of the pans.
Nxai Pan National Park is dramatically different from Makgadikgadi.
Here, a 14 km stretch of grass is dotted with small islands of trees.
The best time to visit is the rainy season - from November - March.
This is the time to see most of the wildlife: if there have been
good rains, you'll see wildebeest, zebra, gemsbok, giraffe, and
sometimes cheetah & lions. At the southern edge are Baines' Baobabs,
overlooking Kudiakam Pan. From December-February, the pans fill
with rain, and attract flamingoes & other waterbirds.
As a travelers' destination, the Kalahari Desert is in
a class of its own. Covering almost two thirds of Botswana, this
is a raw, untamed and challenging land that has unique rewards for
those adventurous to accept its innate difficulties. While the area
is home to a great deal of wildlife, the vast scale means that sightings
are not guaranteed. The profound silence of the landscape and awesome
desert expanse is deeply rewarding to those inspired by the grander
of the natural world. The area is also home to some of the last
remaining San hunter-gatherers, whose rapidly vanishing lifestyle
may be experienced by fortunate and inspired visitors eager to learn
their secrets of survival in this harsh land.
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© Botswana Tourism Board

© Botswana Tourism Board |


Sample Botswana Itinerary

PRIVATE TOURS

Botswana in Style
(10 days/9 nights)
Okavango Delta, Moremi Reserve, Chobe National Park, Victoria Falls

Hemingway's Botswana
(13 days/12 nights)
Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, Savute, Moremi Wildlife Reserve, Okavango Delta, Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Rivers Rise and Fall
(7 days/6 nights)
Victoria Falls, Chobe, Okavango Delta

Where the Wild Things Are
(7 days/6 nights)
Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, Victoria Falls

The Waters of Life
(7 days/6 nights)
Victoria Falls, Okavango Delta

Distant Voices, Ancestral Roots
(5 days/4 nights)
Makgadigadi Pans, Kalahari Desert

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