A little bit info on Botswana
Place you must see and visit
Chobe National Park
Famed for its massive elephants, and some of the world's largest herds of them, Chobe National Park in
Botswana's far northeastern corner is one of the great wildlife destinations of Africa. In addition to the mighty pachyderms, a full suite of predators and more than 440 recorded bird species are present – watch for roan antelope and the rare oribi antelope.
Chobe was first set aside as a wildlife reserve in the 1930s and became Botswana’s first national park in 1968. It encompasses three iconic wildlife areas that all carry a whiff of safari legend: Chobe Riverfront, which supports the park's largest wildlife concentration; the newly accessible and Okavango-like Linyanti Marshes; and the remote and soulful Savuti, with wildlife to rival anywhere.
Top experiences in Chobe National Park
Savuti
Savuti's flat, wildlife-packed expanses and rocky outcrops, awash with distinctly African colours and vistas, make it one of the most rewarding safari destinations on the continent. With the exception of rhinos, you’ll find all of Africa’s most charismatic megafauna in residence here or passing through – on one afternoon wildlife drive, we encountered 15 lions and two leopards.
The area, found in the southwestern corner of Chobe National Park, contains the remnants of the ‘superlake’ that once stretched across northern Botswana – the modern landscape has a distinctive harsh and empty feel to it. Because of the roughness of the terrain, the difficulty in reaching the area and the beauty you'll find when you get here, Savuti is an obligatory stop for all 4WD enthusiasts en route between Kasane and Maun.
Chobe Riverfront
The Chobe Riverfront rarely disappoints, with arguably Botswana’s densest concentration of wildlife. Although animals are present along the riverfront year-round, the density of wildlife can be overwhelming during the dry season, especially in September and October. Whether you cruise along the river in a motorboat, or drive along the banks in a 4WD, you’re almost guaranteed an up-close encounter with some of the largest elephants on the continent.
If you don’t have your own wheels, any of the hotels and lodges in
Kasane can help you organise a wildlife drive or boat cruise along the river.
Linyanti Marshes
Hard up against the border with Namibia, the Linyanti River spreads into a 900-sq-km flooded plain that attracts stunning concentrations of wildlife during the dry season. On the Namibian side of the river, this well-watered wildlife paradise is protected by the Mudumu and Nkasa Rupara National Parks, which mirror the 7km of frontage along the northwestern edge of Chobe National Park.
Wildlife trails run along the marsh shoreline and sightings of the marshes’ stable populations of elephants, lions, cheetahs and leopards are fairly common, although you’ll need to be patient, especially for big cats. The Linyanti region is widely considered one of the best places in Africa for African wild dogs, but sightings are by no means guaranteed. Given that most of the luxury lodges are outside the national park, night drives are another highlight.
Kasane
Kasane lies in a riverine woodland at the meeting point of four countries – Botswana,
Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe – and the confluence of two major rivers, the Chobe and the Zambezi. It’s also the northern gateway to Chobe National Park, and the jumping-off point for excursions to Victoria Falls. Although it’s nowhere near as large or developed as Maun, there’s certainly no shortage of lodges and safari companies, as well as petrol stations and supermarkets for those heading out into the wilds.
About 12km east of Kasane is the tiny settlement of Kazungula, which serves as the border crossing between Botswana and Zimbabwe, and the landing for the Kazungula ferry, which connects Botswana and Zambia.
Moremi Game Reserve
Nature reserve in Okavango Delta
Moremi Game Reserve, which covers one-third of the Okavango Delta, is home to some of the densest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. Best of all, it’s one of the most accessible corners of the Okavango, with well-maintained trails and accommodation that ranges from luxury lodges to public campsites for self-drivers.
Moremi is also unusual because it’s the only part of the Okavango Delta that is officially cordoned off for the preservation of wildlife. It was set aside as a reserve in 1963 when it became apparent that poaching was decimating wildlife populations. Named after the Batawana chief Moremi III, the reserve has been extended over the years and now encompasses almost 5000 sq km.
Moremi has a distinctly dual personality, with large areas of dry land rising between vast wetlands. The most prominent ‘islands’ are Chief's Island, accessible by mokoro from the Inner Delta lodges, and Moremi Tongue at the eastern end of the reserve, which is mostly accessible by 4WD. Habitats in the reserve range from mopane woodland and thorn scrub to dry savannah, riparian woodland, grassland, floodplain, marsh, and permanent waterways, lagoons and islands.
With the recent reintroduction of rhinos, Moremi is now home to the Big Five (lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants and rhinos), and notably the largest population of red lechwe in Africa. The reserve also protects one of the largest remaining populations of endangered African wild dogs. Birding in Moremi is also incredibly varied and rich, and it’s arguably the best place in Africa to view the rare and secretive Pel’s fishing owl.
Tsodilo Hills
The Unesco World Heritage–listed Tsodilo Hills rise abruptly from the northwestern Kalahari, west of the Okavango Panhandle. Rare outposts of vertical variety in this extremely flat country, these lonely chunks of quartzite schist are dramatic and beautiful, distinguished by streaks of vivid natural hues – mauve, orange, yellow, turquoise and lavender. The hills are also a site of huge spiritual significance for the region’s original inhabitants, the San. The major drawcards are more than 4000 prehistoric rock paintings spread over 200 sites throughout the hills.
Excavations of flaked stone tools indicate that Bantu people arrived as early as AD 500, but layers of superimposed rock paintings and other archaeological remnants suggest that ancestors of the San have been here for up to 30,000 years.
Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
This 3900-sq-km park, the southern section of the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans National Park, extends from the Boteti River in the west to the Ntwetwe Pan in the east. The return of water to the Boteti River in recent years has drawn plenty of wildlife, particularly in the dry season from May to October, when the river, even at low levels, is the only source of permanent water in the reserve. The Boteti River has hippos a few kilometres northwest of Khumaga Campsite.
Out in the east of the park, the wildlife is less accustomed to vehicles, but watch for zebras, gemsboks and the occasional predator. Birdlife is especially rich along the Boteti River, from the plague-like red-billed queleas to much rarer African fish eagles and wattled cranes. Out in the east, you're more likely to see vultures and birds of prey.
Place you must see and visit
Chobe National Park
Famed for its massive elephants, and some of the world's largest herds of them, Chobe National Park in
Botswana's far northeastern corner is one of the great wildlife destinations of Africa. In addition to the mighty pachyderms, a full suite of predators and more than 440 recorded bird species are present – watch for roan antelope and the rare oribi antelope.
Chobe was first set aside as a wildlife reserve in the 1930s and became Botswana’s first national park in 1968. It encompasses three iconic wildlife areas that all carry a whiff of safari legend: Chobe Riverfront, which supports the park's largest wildlife concentration; the newly accessible and Okavango-like Linyanti Marshes; and the remote and soulful Savuti, with wildlife to rival anywhere.
Top experiences in Chobe National Park
Savuti
Savuti's flat, wildlife-packed expanses and rocky outcrops, awash with distinctly African colours and vistas, make it one of the most rewarding safari destinations on the continent. With the exception of rhinos, you’ll find all of Africa’s most charismatic megafauna in residence here or passing through – on one afternoon wildlife drive, we encountered 15 lions and two leopards.
The area, found in the southwestern corner of Chobe National Park, contains the remnants of the ‘superlake’ that once stretched across northern Botswana – the modern landscape has a distinctive harsh and empty feel to it. Because of the roughness of the terrain, the difficulty in reaching the area and the beauty you'll find when you get here, Savuti is an obligatory stop for all 4WD enthusiasts en route between Kasane and Maun.
Chobe Riverfront
The Chobe Riverfront rarely disappoints, with arguably Botswana’s densest concentration of wildlife. Although animals are present along the riverfront year-round, the density of wildlife can be overwhelming during the dry season, especially in September and October. Whether you cruise along the river in a motorboat, or drive along the banks in a 4WD, you’re almost guaranteed an up-close encounter with some of the largest elephants on the continent.
If you don’t have your own wheels, any of the hotels and lodges in
Kasane can help you organise a wildlife drive or boat cruise along the river.
Linyanti Marshes
Hard up against the border with Namibia, the Linyanti River spreads into a 900-sq-km flooded plain that attracts stunning concentrations of wildlife during the dry season. On the Namibian side of the river, this well-watered wildlife paradise is protected by the Mudumu and Nkasa Rupara National Parks, which mirror the 7km of frontage along the northwestern edge of Chobe National Park.
Wildlife trails run along the marsh shoreline and sightings of the marshes’ stable populations of elephants, lions, cheetahs and leopards are fairly common, although you’ll need to be patient, especially for big cats. The Linyanti region is widely considered one of the best places in Africa for African wild dogs, but sightings are by no means guaranteed. Given that most of the luxury lodges are outside the national park, night drives are another highlight.
Kasane
Kasane lies in a riverine woodland at the meeting point of four countries – Botswana,
Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe – and the confluence of two major rivers, the Chobe and the Zambezi. It’s also the northern gateway to Chobe National Park, and the jumping-off point for excursions to Victoria Falls. Although it’s nowhere near as large or developed as Maun, there’s certainly no shortage of lodges and safari companies, as well as petrol stations and supermarkets for those heading out into the wilds.
About 12km east of Kasane is the tiny settlement of Kazungula, which serves as the border crossing between Botswana and Zimbabwe, and the landing for the Kazungula ferry, which connects Botswana and Zambia.
Moremi Game Reserve
Nature reserve in Okavango Delta
Moremi Game Reserve, which covers one-third of the Okavango Delta, is home to some of the densest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. Best of all, it’s one of the most accessible corners of the Okavango, with well-maintained trails and accommodation that ranges from luxury lodges to public campsites for self-drivers.
Moremi is also unusual because it’s the only part of the Okavango Delta that is officially cordoned off for the preservation of wildlife. It was set aside as a reserve in 1963 when it became apparent that poaching was decimating wildlife populations. Named after the Batawana chief Moremi III, the reserve has been extended over the years and now encompasses almost 5000 sq km.
Moremi has a distinctly dual personality, with large areas of dry land rising between vast wetlands. The most prominent ‘islands’ are Chief's Island, accessible by mokoro from the Inner Delta lodges, and Moremi Tongue at the eastern end of the reserve, which is mostly accessible by 4WD. Habitats in the reserve range from mopane woodland and thorn scrub to dry savannah, riparian woodland, grassland, floodplain, marsh, and permanent waterways, lagoons and islands.
With the recent reintroduction of rhinos, Moremi is now home to the Big Five (lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants and rhinos), and notably the largest population of red lechwe in Africa. The reserve also protects one of the largest remaining populations of endangered African wild dogs. Birding in Moremi is also incredibly varied and rich, and it’s arguably the best place in Africa to view the rare and secretive Pel’s fishing owl.
Tsodilo Hills
The Unesco World Heritage–listed Tsodilo Hills rise abruptly from the northwestern Kalahari, west of the Okavango Panhandle. Rare outposts of vertical variety in this extremely flat country, these lonely chunks of quartzite schist are dramatic and beautiful, distinguished by streaks of vivid natural hues – mauve, orange, yellow, turquoise and lavender. The hills are also a site of huge spiritual significance for the region’s original inhabitants, the San. The major drawcards are more than 4000 prehistoric rock paintings spread over 200 sites throughout the hills.
Excavations of flaked stone tools indicate that Bantu people arrived as early as AD 500, but layers of superimposed rock paintings and other archaeological remnants suggest that ancestors of the San have been here for up to 30,000 years.
Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
This 3900-sq-km park, the southern section of the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans National Park, extends from the Boteti River in the west to the Ntwetwe Pan in the east. The return of water to the Boteti River in recent years has drawn plenty of wildlife, particularly in the dry season from May to October, when the river, even at low levels, is the only source of permanent water in the reserve. The Boteti River has hippos a few kilometres northwest of Khumaga Campsite.
Out in the east of the park, the wildlife is less accustomed to vehicles, but watch for zebras, gemsboks and the occasional predator. Birdlife is especially rich along the Boteti River, from the plague-like red-billed queleas to much rarer African fish eagles and wattled cranes. Out in the east, you're more likely to see vultures and birds of prey.
