The Top 5 Places You Should Experience When You Visit Botswana

19/03/2020

Remember that adage, “you get what you pay for”? Well, visiting Botswana is a great way to confirm its veracity. Botswana safari tours are a bit pricey, but most visitors will tell you that it’s well worth it. From its incredibly diverse wildlife to the sublime natural landscape, this landlocked beauty has it all. Not sure where to start? Here are 5 excellent reasons to visit in Botswana.

1. Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is a unique safari destination. Each year its floods cover more than 16,000 square kilometres. The best way to view its wildlife is to travel in a mokoro, a traditional dug-out canoe. With a poler steering you, sit back and relax in this peaceful mode of transport, taking in the beautiful watery scenery and wildlife around you. To get the most out of your trip, visit the Okavango Delta between June and October. This is the peak flood season when most wildlife hangs out on the delta islands, making them easier to spot.

2. Linyanti

In recent years, the Linyanti region has become a prime safari destination. The area is remote and contains three game reserves: Linyanti, Kwando and Selinda. To gain access you’ll need to book accommodation at a private lodge, which will take you into the heart of this impressive region. Linyanti used to be a part of a large inland lake and it still features various water habitats. During the dry season, animals migrate to these wetlands in numbers while hippo, crocodiles and elephants can be seen throughout the year.

3. Chobe National Park

Chobe National Park boasts a population of around 120,000 elephants, along with smaller herds of zebra, giraffe, eland and buffalo. The park covers four distinct eco-systems including the stunning Chobe River where boat cruises take you up close to the wildlife drinking from the river and grazing on the banks. Unlike some other parks in Botswana, Chobe is easily accessible by car and there is accommodation for all budgets from luxurious hotels to houseboat rentals. For cooler weather the best time to visit is between May and September.

4. Savuti

If you love watching wildlife programs on television, there’s a good chance that some of the material you’ve seen comes from Savuti. This region sees a lot of action with highlights such as its zebra migration and infamous predators. The powerful lion prides regularly attack hippo and elephants, with cheetahs and leopards lurking close by. Savuti also offers great opportunities for bird watching, see kori bustards and secretary birds strutting around the Savuti marsh, as well as landscape photography.

5. Moremi Game Reserve

Though relatively small, Moremi is one of Botswana’s most diverse regions with mopane woodland, acacia forest, floodplains, lagoons and rivers. Known for its numerous birds, with over 560 species, it’s also home to the Big Five, lion, rhino, leopard, buffalo and elephant, as well as a variety of antelope species, cheetah, wild dog and hyena. There are a wide variety of ways to see its impressive wildlife; most visitors opt for a combination of water-based mokoro trips and 4×4 safaris to really experience this superb area and its wildlife.

More Reasons to Visit Botswana

When visiting Botswana, it can be hard to settle on just a few places to visit. The country is so diverse and unique that it’s almost guaranteed to live up to your expectations. For travel savvy, self-drive tours may be the best option while others treat themselves to fly-in safaris and luxurious camps.

Looking for other reasons to visit Botswana? Trying to make sure you won’t miss out on anything while you’re there? Contact us here to learn more about things to do in Botswana!

About author

Robin Cormack

MD and Co-Founder. Born in Zimbabwe, Robin has a long history in Africa, and safaris in general, from running lodges to marketing. He is always on the look out for new ideas and products from around the safari world.