Botswana

Famous for it’s private concessions, many consider Botswana to be the pinnacle of safari destinations offering the continent’s most exclusive and intimate game viewing. With a unique combination of both land and water based safari activities, particularly in it’s headline Okavango Delta, safaris here offer a good range of variety. Botswana can come with a hefty price tag, but if you travel outside of peak season, the savings can be very significant. 

Okavango Delta

The jewel in Botswana's safari crown, this huge inland river delta is a must visit. 'The Delta' is divided up into private concessions, which are operated by individual safari operators. There are no fences between the concessions and with a very low human population, the Delta feels very wild. Offers opportunities for day and night game drives, and water activities by boat or mekoro. Game viewing is exceptional and sightings are shared by three vehicles maximum, but it's not uncommon to be the only vehicle at a sighting, a luxury not common in many other countries.

Moremi Game Reserve

Moremi Game Reserve is the public part of the Okavango Delta. Game viewing and activities on offer are the same as The Delta's private concessions, but in a busier area where self-drive vehicles are permitted. The main attraction of the Moremi Game Reserve is that it can be better value.

Chobe National Park

Huge national park that is particularly good for large herds of elephants and lions, especially along the Chobe River which forms the northern boundary of the park and the border with Namibia. Great land based game viewing and boat safaris are a real highlight here. Being a public park, the Chobe riverfront area can get busy, especially on the east side near the town of Kasane, but elsewhere it is quieter.

Kwand0/Linyanti

Kwando, Linyanti and Chobe are all names given to the same river in different parts of the country. The Kwando and Linyanti areas are private concessions further upstream of where the river becomes known as the Chobe. Game viewing here is great in the dry season, especially June to October. Kwando and the Linyanti are more exclusive and less restrictive than in the busy Chobe National Park, so upgrading to is defintely worth it if you have the budget flexibility to do so.

Kalahari 

The Kalahari is a lesser visited semi-arid area south of the more frequently visited areas in the north. Sometimes referred to as the Kalahari Desert, but it technically gets just a bit too much rain to be considered a true desert. Offers a contrast to the wetter areas further north, and opportunities to see some different animals that you won't find elsewhere. Some camps have the option to sleep out under the stars and San bushmen cultural experiences are popular too. Unlike many other safari areas in Botswana, game viewining in th Kalahari is at it's peak during the rainy season around December to March.

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

The Makgadikgadi Pans are a massive network of salt flats, which are are the remnants of an ancient super-lake that dried up around 10 thousand years ago. Seasonally, the salt pans alternate between a stark, sun-baked white desert in the dry season and a vital wetland teeming with birdlife in the rainy season. Highlights here include sleep outs under the stars and spending time on foot with habituated clans of meerkats.

When to visit Botswana

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