Botswana: Raw, Wild Heart of Africa

Ever wanted to experience the raw, wild heart of Africa?

Landlocked Botswana is a game watcher’s paradise, teeming with exotic wildlife and lush with extraordinary landscapes. It is a place where you can witness the beauty of African wilderness. So, whether you want to channel your enthusiasm for wildlife by exploring the African bush on foot or spotting animals from the comfort of the traditional (mokoro) canoe, this is the place to go!

photo credit| Gobackpackinggo

From Delta to Desert:

“The thrill of watching Africa’s epic wildlife in Botswana is made all the more special by experiencing the wondrous environments that nurture it.” – Lonely Planet

Explore the spectacular Okavango Delta, the rich habitats of the Chobe River valley and the red stark beauty of the Kalahari Desert – what you find will astound you. Get lost in what Botswana has to offer and you will have the continent’s most intimate safari experiences.

A dining spot underneath a baobab in Botswana

The Okavango Delta

At the heart of Botswana lies the Okavango Delta – there is no place like it on earth! It is a  UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. This is one of the very few major interior delta systems that does not flow into a sea or ocean but evaporates water itself. Between June and August when the water is at its peak, about 200,000 animals arrive to drink its sweet waters and to feed on the erupting flora (or to eat the animals doing so).

A pride of Botswana Lions drinking from the delta

Enjoy paddling through the glistening waterway as you watch the wild creatures roam and rule; big cats, hippos and much bigger elephants walk freely in their own natural habitat. You can expect to have an entirely different safari here when you ditch the conventional 4x4s car for quality game viewing on a traditional mokoro or on foot. It is truly a safari melting pot!

Man paddling canoe in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

photo credit| lonely planet

Chobe National Park

Word of warning: this is a place for thrill seekers. Larger than some countries and covering almost 11,000 sq km, Chobe is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife destinations. The safari experience can seem endless here as you can choose to explore the wilderness either by boat on the rivers or 4wd wildlife drives along its banks and floodplains.

An Elephant Safari in Chobe National Park

photo credit| moveabroadnownow

Either way, these options allow you get close up views of elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, wildebeest, antelopes, possibly lions, leopards and cheetahs. Nothing beats the rush you will experience as you paddle through the delta for hippo and crocodile encounters. Twitchers can see their dreams in reality as they witness over 450 bird species. The Chobe National Park makes a fantastic itinerary for game safaris and mind-defying views. No matter what you opt for you are sure to have a great time.

photo credit| botswana wildlife

Khalari

“You are still young, free. Do yourself a favour. Before it’s too late, without thinking too much about it first, pack a pillow and a blanket and see as much of the world as you can. You will not regret it. One day it will be too late”. – Jhumpa Lahiri

Where the delta ends, the Kalahari takes over. From the salt pans of Makgadikgadi, the colourful baobabs of Nxai Pans, and the spare grandeur of Kubu Island in the north, to the wonderful wildlife of Kgalagadi in the south, this is not your ordinary dessert. It offers a replicate of what Chobe and the Okavango Delta would resemble if Mother Nature had turned off the taps. No wonder, it has been capturing the attention of travellers for more than a century.

photo credit| botswana wildlife

photo credit| New York Times

Take a trip from Chobe and the Okavango to Khalari and you will be amazed about the transition from the wet playground to the bleak desert – it is just a thin line between the sand and water.

The thin line between Khalari and Okavango

photo credit| walkinmyshew

Cross over this nature’s boundary and you’re in what the Tswana people call the Kgalagadi, which translates to the ‘Land of Thirst’. Get closer to nature as you explore the rich wildlife such as zebras, black-maned lions, rare brown hyenas, wild dogs, super cute meerkats and wildebeests.

A family of 8 super cute Meerkats

Khalari has one of the captivating landscape on earth, that at some point you might wonder if you’ve fallen off the end of the earth. It is one of the best spots to witness some truly breathtaking wildlife.

photo credit| lonely planet

Best way to go

Camping and self-drive safaris are by far the cheapest way to experience the Okavango Delta. Leave the fancy safari-lodge glitz for the real luxuries of life on a mobile camping safari: a closer-to-nature tent and the freedom to plan every day with your own itineraries.

Mobile camping at Botswana

Overview

Peak Season	Population	Language	Currency
February-June	2.25 million	English	Botswana Pula

Best time to visit

Between March to November is the ideal time to travel to Botswana. April to October is a good time to see elephants in Chobe while May to August is the best time visit the Okavango Delta.

A pride of Botswana Lions appear to ignore the zebras behind them

Getting there

The easiest way to get to Botswana is by flying. However, note there might be stops and a transit visa might be required depending on the airline you are travelling with. The Airport code is GBE(Sir Seretse Khama International Airport). Book on Travelstart now!

Duration: 6 hrs 55 min (non-stop).

photo credit| dragonfly

What next…

Take a trip to this gorgeous African getaway! With no doubt, Botswana is an ideal destination for safari lovers and nature photographers.

Have you ever travelled to Botswana? What would you recommend for people going on safari in Botswana? Or do you have any other suggestions?  Please share in the comment section below… We’d love to hear from you!