BOTSWANA

The jewel in Southern Africa's crown

Abundance. That's Botswana in a single word - one that sums up the richness of its landscapes, the diversity of its wild fauna and flora and the welcoming warmth of its people. Renowned the world over for the Okavango Delta - the river that empties into the arid Kalahari depression, creating a vast wetland bursting at the seams with life, Botswana is a shining jewel in Southern Africa's crown.

But there's more to this country than meets the eye, and SO much more than this one, legendary destination. Take Chobe, for example, home to some of the best boat-based game viewing on the continent... Or the other-worldly oddball that is the Makgadikgadi with its decidedly off-planet salt pans... Or the ancient sandscapes of the Central Kalahari and lush riparian forests and towering sycamore figs along the Selinda Spillway...

This is a safari country like no other, and worthy of exploration. Take your time, combine the hotspots into one breathtaking itinerary and embark on an adventure you'll never forget.

Best times to visit

Things to do

Mokoro, boat, walk and hot air balloon in, on and over the Okavango Delta

There's no denying the pulling power of the Okavango Delta, even if Botswana is filled with other amazing safari destinations. You simply have to experience the Delta, if only to get a better understanding of the word "wilderness" and a true appreciation of the spirit of wild Africa.

Take to the channels in a traditional dug-out canoe - the ubiquitous mokoro. These days they're made of fibreglass rathern than tree trunks in an effort to stop deforestation. Walk the islands, marvelling at the tall trees that call them home or take a boat and explore the endless lagoons where countless birds fill the air with their songs. Or float on high using the oldest form of manned flight and bear witness to this wonder of the natural world from above.
View the last zebra migration in Africa

Botswana is home to one of the longest mammal migrations in Africa as thousands of zebra move, mostly in single file, between the floodplains of the Chobe River and Nxai Pan in the greater Makgadikgadi - a return journey of more than 1000km!

A second migration takes place between the Okavango and Makgadikgadi with around 15,000 zebra moving between these two areas, following the rains and gresh grazing. Both migrations happen between December and February each year.
Visit Chobe - Africa's "elephant central"

If its jumbo encounters you're after, then Chobe is the place to be. Where the Chobe River meets the mighty Zambezi, elephants gather like nowhere else in Africa, in herds that are hundreds strong. The presence of these incredible rivers creates permanent food and water, irrespective of the season, meaning that no matter when you choose to visit the elephant action is invariably off the charts.
Sleep under the stars in the Makgadikgadi Pans (seasonal)

It's one of the best sleepouts money can buy... Snuggling down on a comfortable bed atop the vast salt pans of the Makgadikgadi with a billion stars twinkling above as the Milky Way puts on a light show like no other. You get there on a quad bike, an adventure in its own right as you traverse this ancient landscape like a latter-day T E Lawrence!
Glamp it up on a mobile safari

Forget the grunge of damp two-man tents and slightly skanky communal loos on the decidedly dodgy camp sites of your youth and trade up with a glamping expedition par excellence, slumming it millionaire-style in spacious, en-suite luxury on a mobile safari.

All you have to do is rock up! The camp is prepared ahead of time and is waiting for you on arrival. Think pre-dinner drinks around a roaring camp fire, sharing the exploits of the day's adventures, listening to the sounds of the African night all around you... Discover the joy of al fresco bucket showers and freshly made bread cooked over open coals... There's nothing quite like it!