Botswana

Botswana is a country of unspoiled wilderness. With more vegetation to hide in, travelers on safari in Botswana tend to experience the wildlife on a more intimate level than that found on the great savannahs of Africa. The Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta represent not only Botswana's juxtaposed physical geography but also a diverse habitat for its people. A peaceful, safe country with a stable government and fast growing economy, Botswana is truly a treasure of the South.


Best Time to Visit
Most non-desert destinations have good game viewing year round, however, May - August is the most comfortable time to travel with temperatures ranging between 45 and 85 degrees. This is the ideal time to visit because it is also the dry season sighting distances increase as vegetation recedes. The desert regions have the best viewing from December to May.

Facilities

Facilities are fine in the main centers; however, outside in the more rural areas you will find that few roads are paved and life generally moves at a slower pace. Botswana's wildlife department has developed a plan for their country's tourism emphasizing low impact, low volume, and high quality game viewing. For this reason, you will not see many human "herds" on safari, as most camps have fewer than twenty beds and are miles from any other camp.

 

Accommodation in the delta and various other game destinations is available with most permanent camps and lodges' prices falling in the upper end category and a few camping options at a more moderate range. Botswana doesn't have much in the way of budget options; but, if you can afford a visit you'll understand why it remains one of the top safari destinations in the world.

Map
 

Clearly, Botswana's main attraction is the Okavango Delta. Its nearly 5,800 square miles of channels, flood plains, lakes and islands allow for excellent game viewing in a number of different ways. On safari, you can observe animals from open vehicles, by mokoro (a dug-out canoe), by pontoon, sometimes on foot, and don't forget the incredible views as you fly into the game areas. At the heart of the Delta is the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, noted as one of the best animal reserves in southern Africa and home to plentiful big game and incomparable bird species. North of the Delta, you'll find the Linyanti region with characteristic swamps during the rainy season, and as the plains dry out, attracting many large mammal species. Also not to be missed is Chobe National Park which lies to the northeast of the Delta continuously attracting game to the Chobe River, and the Makgadikgadi Pans which allows one to experience a unique isolation and conception of extraordinary space. Finally the Central Kalahari Game Reseve covers 20,000 square miles of desert but attracts the least amount of visitors.  

  • Okavango Delta
  • Chobe National Park
  • Linyati Swamps
  • Moremi Wildlife Reserve
  • Makgadikgadi Pans
  • Maun
  • Central Kalahari Game Reserve

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    Botswana was originally settled by the San (Bushmen) an estimated 30,000 years ago, and then joined by the Khoi-Khoi and Bantu speaking people who migrated from the East and Northwest regions of Africa. The Tswana asked the British for protection from the Boer settlers in the late 1800's and the region was eventually established as the Colony of Bechuanaland. Into the 1900's however, Britain began to loosen its grip on the colony and as nationalist ideas grew, the country gained independence in 1966. While Botswana greatly depended on South Africa throughout most of its development, the discovery of diamonds in 1976 resulted in drastic economic incline. English is the official language in Botswana due to its former relationship with Britain; however, there are many ethnic groups throughout the country with their own. Most of the people are Tswana and Kalanga, although San and Herero also live in the Northern and Southern regions of the country.

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