Botswana Travel Guide
Botswana offers an unforgettable safari experience with its vast wilderness and diverse wildlife. Whether you’re spotting lions at the Okavango Delta, watching massive herds of elephants roam in Chobe National Park, or visiting one of the world’s oldest surviving cultures at Kalahari Desert, you’ll come away with a trip to Botswana with endless wildlife tales and a deep appreciation for this incredible country.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit Botswana is during the dry season from August to October. This time offers great wildlife viewing opportunities and moderate temperatures.
Top regions to visit
Chobe National Park
Best known for its huge elephant herds, Chobe National Park is located in northern Botswana and is also home to herds of Cape buffalo, lions, antelopes, and hippos. The park was the country’s first national park and is ranked amongst the best in all of Africa. The Chobe Riverfront is a popular area for game viewing and river cruises.
Moremi Game Reserve
Located in the eastern part of the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve is known for its stunning landscapes and biodiversity. There are many habitats to be found here, from woodlands and forests to floodplains. Here, you’ll find wildlife like lions, elephants, African wild dogs, and leopards.
The Okavango Delta
Water-based safaris are the name of the game in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. This vast inland river delta is known for its expansive grassy plains, which flood seasonally, creating a lush habitat for all sorts of incredible creatures. Expect to see a diverse range of wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, and rare species like the African wild dog. Activities include guided mokoro (traditional canoe) trips through serene waterways, bird watching (with over 400 species), fishing, and scenic helicopter flights.
Central Kalahari Game Reserve
This is one of the largest protected areas in Africa and encompasses an area home to diverse wildlife. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is ideal for those seeking an off-the-beaten-path experience. It’s known for its stunning scenery, from grasslands and sand dunes to riverbeds. Along with spotting lions, cheetahs, meerkats, and antelope, visitors will also experience the ancient culture of the San people.
Top activities in Botswana
Explore Okavango Delta by boat
The Okavango Delta is made up of a network of winding channels and lagoons, and hopping aboard a motorized boat is the best way to explore the wildlife of the area. From a boat cruise through the Delta, you’ll spot hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and birds. You’ll also have the chance to appreciate the area's lush vegetation and flora and fauna.
Cruise along the Chobe River
The Chobe River has one of the largest concentrations of elephants in Africa, and cruising the river is a perfect way to see them in their natural habitat, often swimming in the waters. In addition to elephants, a cruise along the river will also offer sightings of hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, and more.
The Makgadikgadi Pans
The Makgadikgadi Pans is one of the world’s largest salt flats. During the dry season, it’s a surreal landscape, perfect for quad biking. During the wet season, it becomes a temporary wetland packed with wildlife like flamingos and other birds.
Visit the San people Central Kalahari
The San people, residing in Central Kalahari, are among the oldest indigenous groups in Africa. A visit to the San villages gives visitors the chance to learn about the group’s traditional hunting and gathering techniques, survival skills, and medicinal plants. You can even participate in cultural activities like dance performances and bush walks to gain an understanding of the San people’s culture and heritage.
Best hotels in Botswana
Kiri Camp, Okavango Delta—Nestled in the heart of the Okavango Delta, Kiri Camp offers an intimate safari experience with luxurious tented accommodations and breathtaking views of the surrounding wildlife-rich floodplains.
&Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge—Located along the edge of the Okavango Delta, &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge provides guests with a blend of eco-friendly luxury and immersive wildlife encounters amidst the delta landscape.
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