Journey Through Botswana

Highlights

Big Five in Okavango Delta

Nearly 40 percent of Botswana is made up of national parks and wildlife reserves, providing ample opportunity to see the indigenous species and countryside. The most recognizable name within this vast designation is the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its grassy plains that flood annually, forging one of the most nutrient-rich ecosystems in the world. Within the Delta are various national parks and private reserves like Moremi and Khwai, home to some of the most impressive safari lodges on earth. Here you’ll find unparalleled predator populations such as lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena and spotted dog.

Elephants in Chobe National Park

Northeast of the Okavango Delta, the Chobe National Park is equally equipped with impressive wildlife. Known for its massive herds of elephant (the largest on the continent) and water buffalo, Chobe was Botswana’s first national park and the most biodiverse. Within Chobe lie the smaller reserves of Savuti and Linyanti with outstanding lodges and camps serving as the ideal base for game viewing and traditional mokoro canoe rides through the waters.

Kalahari Desert and Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Despite the immense lushness rightly associated with Botswana, the Kalahari Desert represents about 80 percent of the country, and yet another extraordinary opportunity for a truly unique safari. Unlike most deserts, the Kalahari is able to host a surprising degree of flora and fauna. Here you’ll find black-maned Kalahari lions alongside the meerkat, endemic to the region. In the nearby Makgadikgadi Pans, one of the world’s largest salt flats, travelers in the green season from January to March will witness the world’s largest zebra migration. The Kalahari also offers the chance to delve into the fascinating history of the San people who continue to dwell on their ancestral lands and maintain their hunter-gatherer culture.

The traditional culture of the region is further evident at another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Tsodilo Hills, as well as through the legacy of indigenous groups, including the Himba population, dating back to the Bantu migrations starting around 1,000 BC.

Travel Guide

Botswana is easily accessible from South Africa, with daily direct flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town. Generally those traveling internationally will fly into Johannesburg and connect onward to Maun. Botswana is also easily reached via land or ferry transfer from the Victoria Falls region of Zimbabwe and Zambia, respectively. There are also several border crossings with Namibia, though as they are in more remote parts of Namibia are less frequented by travelers combining the two countries.