Explore breathtaking Botswana

Experience a safari of a lifetime

Botswana, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, has a landscape defined by the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta, which becomes a lush animal habitat during the seasonal floods.

1. MAUN

The town of Maun is the third largest in Botswana. It's the jumping-off point for the vast inland Okavango Delta, which becomes a lush wildlife habitat during the seasonal floods. There are shopping malls, banks, restaurants, a few hotels and some happening bars. Maun is the tourism capital of Botswana and the administrative centre of Ngamiland. It is also the headquarters of numerous safari and air-charter operations. Regular provision of almost anything can be bought in Maun, as well as a variety of car and 4 x 4 vehicle hire.

2. MOREMI GAME RESERVE (205km from Maun)

A 100 years after explorer David Livingstone called this land ‘country full of rivers’, the environment and wildlife in the Moremi area were under threat. It is because of the bold, local Batawana people that this area was proclaimed Moremi Game Reserve in 1963, making Moremi the oldest and first protected reserve of the Okavango Delta. As a sign of gratitude, the reserve is named after Batawana tribe members, Chief Moremi III and his wife. Now, the Moremi Game Reserve is one of the most diverse reserves with surprises everywhere, even for the most seasoned Africa-travelers.

3. LINYANTI VIA SAVUTI (150km from Moremi)

Linyanti is situated north of Savuti in a corner of the Chobe National Park. The Linyanti Swamp is one of the most attractive areas in the park. It boasts a great diversity of game and a restful atmosphere. The north-western corner of Chobe meets the Linyanti River - this is a fragment of almost 900 square kilometres of the secluded Linyanti Swamp. This area is further expanded by the Selinda Reserve in the west and Namibia's remote Mamili National Park on the northern bank of the Kwando River. The area's relative remoteness makes it a favoured safari destination.

4. CHOBE NATIONAL PARK (182km from Linyanti)

Chobe National Park is a true wildlife paradise and one of the best national parks in Southern Africa. Just one peek at the variety of wildlife and lush vegetation and you will be mesmerized forever! The gateway to Chobe is Kasane, a small town near the borders of Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia. Kasane accommodation offers hotels, tented camps and luxury lodge accommodation. Guests can transfer from Kasane to their respective accommodation in and around Chobe National Park. Accommodation in the park include wild unfenced camping, eco-lodges, tented camps and luxury lodges. Chobe National Park is extremely lush because of the many waterways. The Chobe River flows through the park and draws many animals and birds during the dry season. Boat cruises and game drives along the river are very popular. The natural environment of the park allows for excellent photographic experiences.

5. DAYTRIP TO VICTORIA FALLS (84km from Kasane)

Victoria Falls (Lozi: Mosi-oa-Tunya, "The Smoke That Thunders"; Tonga: Shungu Namutitima, "Boiling Water") is a waterfall on the Zambezi River, which provides habitat for several unique species of plants and animals. It is located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe and is one of the world's largest waterfalls, with a width of 1,708 m (5,604 ft).

Other destinations:

1. CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE (305km from Maun)

The CKGR is the largest, most remotely situated reserve in Southern Africa and the second largest wildlife reserve in the world, encompassing 52,800 sq. km. Initially established in 1961 to serve as a sanctuary for the San people in the heart of the Kalahari (and Botswana), the CKGR provides space for traditional lifeways, without intrusion or influence from the outside world. Following 30 years of closure, the 1980s and 1990s saw limited self-drive and organised tours. Following initiatives lead by the Government of Botswana to diversify tourism across the country; authorities allocated concessions for lodge construction. These sites are at the peripheries of and inside the reserve, allowing for fly-in tourists. Deception Valley, located in the north, is one of the reserve highlights due to dense concentrations of herbivores that gather to feed on the sweet grasses that spring into life after the rainy season. Naturally, these animals attract the usual itinerant predators. Deception Valley is also one of the most travelled areas of the reserve, with many public campsites and proximity to the eastern Matswere Gate. The other two gates are on the far side of the reserve, at Xade and Tsau, where public camps are also available.

2. KUBU ISLAND

Kubu Island is located en route to four major parks and game reserves in Botswana and is the only place in Botswana that has prominent rocky features with breathtaking views of the salt pans in the Makgadikgadi, as well as it's unique aesthetic beauty. Kubu Island also boasts rich archaeological and cultural significance and is a Botswana National Monument under the management of Gaing O Community Trust.

4. MAKGADIKGADI PANS NATIONAL PARK

This Game Reserve is a salt pan with an area of 3 900 sq. kms. Situated in the middle of the dry savanna of north-eastern Botswana it is one of the largest salt flats in the world. The pan is all that remains of the formerly enormous Lake Makgadikgadi. Lying southeast of the Okavango Delta and surrounded by the Kalahari Desert, Makgadikgadi is technically not a single pan but many pans with sandy desert in between. The largest is the Sua (Sowa), Nwetwe and Nxai Pans. The largest individual pan is about 1,900 sq miles (4,921.0 km2).

4. GABORONE

The capital of Botswana, Gaborone, is named after Chief Gaborone, who led his tribe to this area from the Magaliesberg around 1880. It’s known for the Gaborone Game Reserve, sheltering native animals like wildebeest and impala, plus resident and migratory birds. To the city’s southwest, rhinos and giraffes inhabit the Mokolodi Nature Reserve. Footpaths lead to city views at the summit of Kgale Hill. In the city center, the National Museum and Art Gallery displays art and cultural artifacts.

HOW TO GET THERE: Fly to Maun or Kasane directly from Cape Town or Johannesburg, alternatively hop in your 4x4

HOW TO GET AROUND: A 4x4 vehicle is a must for your safari of a lifetime

WHEN TO GO: The best time to visit Botswana is during the dry season between May and October, when you can expect warm, sunny days (22°C to 35°C) and chilly nights.

CURRENCY: The pula is the currency of Botswana and is subdivided into 100 thebe. Pula literally means "rain" in Setswana, because rain is very scarce in Botswana—home to much of the Kalahari Desert—and therefore valuable and a blessing. The word also serves as the national motto of the country.

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