Why visit Botswana?
From the calm and tranquil waters of the Okavango Delta, to the dunes of the Kalahari Desert, Botswana offers a unique and diverse luxury African travel experience.
Most of Botswana consists of semi-desert, yet there are numerous places where wildlife is thriving. Home to an estimated 30% of Africa’s entire wildlife population, Botswana boasts some of the world’s most well-known and populated wildlife parks, which provide ideal destinations for viewing game.
Visitors can take in the beauty of the natural landscape through 4×4 game drives, boat cruises and hot air ballooning in select locations. For the more adventurous at heart, guided walking safaris or horseback trails are also available.
Apart from its astonishing natural diversity, Botswana also has a unique cultural landscape. The Batswana people consist of three main indigenous cultures: the Twana, Kalanga and San (Bushmen). Resplendent basket crafts and handmade items can be seen everywhere, while historical sites showcase Botswana’s rich cultural presence throughout the ages. Ancient bushmen paintings, which are especially prominent in the Kalahari Desert, can be found on rocks and in caves. They tell a story of living closer to nature, a way of life that visitors can share whilst basking in the African sun.
The Okavango Delta, Moremi and Chobe are Botswana’s most popular parks. The best time to visit them is from May to September, during the Dry season and winter, resulting in more moderate temperatures. In addition, the Okavango is flooded from June to October. Wildlife viewing is good year-round, but this can differ for some parks.
Best Time
June to September (Early morning and evening drives can be cold in June, July & August. Peak floods are generally May to August)
High Season
July to October (Will never feel too crowded, except maybe in Chobe. October & November can be very hot)
Low Season
December to April (January & February are the peak months of the rainy season)
Best Weather
April and May (moderate temperatures, little to no rainfall, and few clouds)
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What to See in Botswana
Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta stands out as an African oasis among the drylands. It’s a location that offers splendour and serenity with its crystal-clear lagoons and the life-giving Okavango River.
Ranging in size from 15,000 square kilometres in dry times, to an astonishing 22,000 during the rainy season, the Okavango is the largest inland delta on planet Earth. Its vastness and the rich water supply make for a prime safari location with abundant plant and animal life to enjoy. Known as ‘The Jewel of the Kalahari’, the life and beauty of this Delta cements it as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa.
Activities: walking safaris, bird watching, fishing, star gazing, mokoro canoe safaris, horseback safaris, helicopter safaris, hot air ballooning, motorboat safaris, barge cruises, cultural excursions to villages
Moremi Game Reserve
Many consider Moremi Game Reserve to be one of the most beautiful parks in Africa. The park has a variety of natural habitats ranging from acacia forests, lagoons and grasslands.
Moremi park’s land area of approximately 4,871 square kilometres is home to a variety of animals such as buffalo, giraffe, gazelle and African predators. Whilst on game drive, visitors will see a diverse variety of wildlife as expected from one of Africa’s most well-known safari destinations.
Activities: game drives, walking safaris, mokoro canoe safaris, bird watching, star gazing, motorboat safaris
Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park is one of Botswana’s most magnificent travel destinations. A variety of ecosystems within the park create diverse landscapes to explore, from rolling grasslands to lagoons and woodlands.
Chobe National Park is home to all the Big 5. Elephant and cape buffalo populations within the park are especially prominent. Approximately 50,000 of Africa’s largest elephants freely and majestically roam the 11,700 square kilometre land area of the park.
Activities: game drives, sundowner cruises, fishing excursions, tours to Victoria Falls, bird watching
Central Kalahari Game Reserve
With a total land area of 52,800 square kilometres, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the second largest in the world. It covers approximately 10% of Botswana’s land area and is bigger than the Netherlands, which is 41,543 square kilometres in size, for comparison.
The park is home to the San people of Africa, adding a cultural element to any travel experience in the reserve. Historically, it’s estimated that the San people have been living in the Kalahari for as long as 30,000 years. Wildlife in the park includes exciting game such as giraffes and hyenas. Cheetahs and wild dogs, both rare species, can also be spotted by lucky visitors.
Despite all the park has to offer, it’s a hinterland unknown to many tourists, allowing visitors to experience a truly unique and relatively unexplored African destination.
Activities: game drives, walking safaris, bird watching, star gazing
Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
The Makgadikgadi Pans National Park offers approximately 3,900 square kilometres of uninterrupted grasslands. Unique natural surroundings abound in the park. Water pans are present during the rainy season, creating prime locations to view some of the park’s wildlife. Baobab trees are also abundant in the park. These unique trees are well-known from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s novel, ‘The Little Prince’ and are particularly distinct in shape, sporting thick trunks that lead up to a table-top of leafy branches.
Activities: game drives, walking safaris, bird watching, star gazing
Perfectly tailored luxury travel itineraries
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