The hunter-gatherer San (Bushmen, or Basarwa), original inhabitants of this rugged country, still lead a Stone Age existence in isolated communities here. While indigenous crafts such as Botswana baskets, weaving, woodcarving and pottery will catch your eye, it is diamonds that have turned out to be Botswana's best financial friend - the country is one of the world's top producers of the gem.
The half-water, half-grass Okavango Delta in the north is the final resting place of the third largest river in southern Africa. The watery labyrinth is a bird-watcher's paradise and overflows with beautiful fish, reptiles, predators and mammals. Botswana is a land locked country, dominated in geographical terms by the Kalahari Desert, however it is probably more famous for its safari tours in the spectacular inland Okavango Delta. Botswana safaris offer travellers truly amazing and diverse experiences in pristine environments.
Explore the fascinating deserts, wetlands, savannahs, the delta and wildlife-packed game reserves of one of the wildest regions in Africa. Botswana is a sparsely populated country and is backed by a stable, democratic government. It is often described as 'Africa 's success story' since its independence in 1966, and it continues to achieve growth and economic development today.
Reasons to Visit Botswana
- It has some of the most beautiful subtropical wilderness reserves, 17 % of Botswana is pristine national reserves
- It is a land of contrasts, from the Kalahari Desert to the clear waters of the worlds largest inland Delta, the Okavango Delta
- Chobe National Park boasts the worlds largest elephant concentration
- The Linyanti and Savute areas features an annual summer migration of zebra and antelope
- Botswana offers a huge variety of camps and lodges to choose from in the different wilderness areas
- Botswana works on a policy of low tourist impact, resulting in lodges and camps only allowing a maximum of between 16 and 22 guest per night, which assures you of a very personal and intimate experience.
Discover one of the most breathtaking contrast on earth amidst this sprawling wilderness, where the arid desert of the Kalahari gives way to the miracle of the Okavango Delta. This is wild Africa, and your pioneering spirit will soar as you explore off the beaten track to experience a true African safari.
In the heart of Botswana, the floodwaters of the Okavango River spill out over the Kalahari desert sands, creating a 15 000 square km water wonderland - the largest inland river delta in the world. This fan-shaped jewel gives life to Botswana's arid interior, with its mosaic of channels and islands forested with palms and its floodplains teeming with wildlife.
Here, fish and birds, hippos and crocodiles, co-exist with herds of zebra and buffalo, elephant, lion and the wild dog. This biodiversity enables the Okavango Delta to offer remarkable land and water experiences. You can track game on safaris by open Land Rover, or on foot, or explore floodplains by mokoro (dugout canoe), in the company of licences guides. Motorised boats are used to explore the permanent river channels.
Access to Botswana's dazzling array of safari camps is easiest by light aircraft (either scheduled or private charters) and landing on remote bush strips is an integral part of the thrill. For the adventurer, guided or self drive safaris by four-wheel drive vehicle allows you to explore Botswana's wildlife high-sports at leisure, from Chobe and Savute in the north, to Moremi in the Okavango Delta, the arid Makgadikgadi, Nxai Pan and Central Kalahari in the centre, and finally, the Tuli Block in the south-east. In concession areas, vehicles are able to travel off road and walking safaris and night drives are highlights, whilst in National parks there are more stringent regulations
To the north-east of Botswana lies Chobe National Park, one of Southern Africa's greatest wilderness areas, spanning 12 000 square km and home to at least 35 000 elephant. The Chobe River front affords some of the best elephant viewing on earth, whilst further south in the unique Savute ecosystem, thousands of plains of zebra frequent the marshes after the rainy season, bring a feast for predators.
South of the Delta, Nxai Pan is famous for it's giant baobab trees, whilst the haunting Makgadikgadi Pans present a landscape frozen in time, it's dry salt pans, once a great lake. In the wet season, the pans fill with water, and flocks of flamingos and herds of wildebeest and zebra miraculously appear.
