BOTSWANA

A vast, untamed wilderness

Botswana is a rarity in our over-populated, over-developed world. Land-locked, it is virtually the same size as Kenya, larger than France and more than twice the size of Great Britain. With a population of just 1.85 million and a full 38% of its total land area devoted to national parks, reserves and wildlife management areas, travelling in many parts of the country has the feeling of an immense untamed wilderness. With so much space and so few people it is one of the last great refuges for some of Africa’s great wildlife concentrations in a completely untouched environment.

Botswana is home to the world’s largest inland Delta – the Okavango; the second largest game reserve – the Central Kalahari; the isolation and endless horizons of the Makgadikgadi –uninhabited pans the size of Portugal; and the prolific wildlife of the Chobe National Park, the neighbouring Linyanti, Selinda and Kwando Reserves and the world famous Moremi Game Reserve. The country’s low density tourism policy restricts visitor’s numbers to protected areas, meaning there are concessions of 2,300sqkms with just a couple of camps accommodating a handful of visitors and offering the most exclusive safari experience imaginable.

The diversity of the habitat affords the region a variety of game viewing opportunities, making this a truly exciting safari destination. Activities include game drives in open 4x4 game viewing vehicles, boat cruises along the Chobe and Linyanti Rivers where, in the dry winter months, tens of thousands of elephant and huge herds of buffalo converge; gliding silently in a mokoro through the waterways of the Okavango, canoeing the channels and spillways of the Linyanti, walking on islands, horse and elephant back safaris, quad biking on pans and even mountain bike safaris; all creating the ultimate safari destination.

Due to its exclusivity Botswana can be expensive, but if luxury is not your main priority, there are some excellent mobile safaris which keep prices down by operating with small groups of like-minded travellers on set dates. The dry season in Botswana is between May –October and this is considered peak season when rates are highest. Huge savings can be achieved by travelling in lower seasons and whilst the wildlife will not always be as concentrated, a good Africa travel expert knows the best camps for the different seasons and the best game viewing.

When To Go

♦ The dry winter months are from May –December when the days are warm and sunny, and little chance of rain.

♦ The Okavango flood peaks around May –June and the large herds of elephant and buffalo start to arrive back in the Chobe/ Linyanti areas.

♦ July is one of the best times to see wild dog after they den.

♦ Late November usually signals the start of the rains when the herds of elephant split into smaller herds and spread out. Summer migrant birds begin to arrive along with flamingos when the salt pans fill and zebra and wildebeest migrate to the Kalahari.