Top 8 places to visit in Botswana

ArabiaWeather - Botswana combines amazing wildlife, landscapes, and many specialized guides, and always holds something exciting to discover. Botswana is home to some of the most wonderful and expensive resorts and camps in Africa, and leads the scene in the field of tourist safaris with high value and low price, and has vast areas This diverse country is protected, allowing a huge variety of wildlife to roam freely. So, whether you join a mobile safari, or drive yourself, and stay at a state camp, you will not have to spend a lot of money to enjoy the wild nature, and in this article we will show A group of the best places to visit in Botswana:

Okavango Delta

Best for luxury wildlife viewing

The Okavango Delta, nicknamed the “Jewel of the Kalahari,” is one of the highlights of an Africa trip. Heavy rains in the mountains of Angola cause the level of the Okavango River to rise, which flows through the desert and branches into a network of channels, lakes and shining islands. This area covers approximately 20,000 km2 (7,700 sq mi) , it is the largest inland delta in the world. The resorts here follow the model of exclusive and upscale Botswana, but you will find wildlife in abundance, and you may even see lions swimming between the islands, along with the endangered African wild dogs and more than 500 species of birds. .

You can explore the delta by 4x4 and on foot, but the best way to reach the delta is by mokoro, a traditional boat that sits low on the shallow waterways. Two Botswana boats will take you on a journey through the sounds of the reeds to watch graceful jacana birds hop among the lily pads. , red water antelopes and elephants taking a bath.

Advice for planning a trip

Don't expect an aquatic world when you arrive in Maun, you must travel at least an hour north to ride the mokoro, three hours to the Moremi Reserve to see the animals, and other land encounters often require a short plane ride to a luxury resort.

Moremi Wildlife Sanctuary

Best for safari by private car

The Moremi Wildlife Conservation Area covers an area of approximately 4,000 square kilometers (1,500 square miles). Although it may be small by Botswana standards, it makes up for it with its unique density and diversity of wildlife and is considered one of the oldest protected areas in the Okavango Delta.

In addition, it is an easily accessible area for self-drivers looking for a great safari experience. Visitors can see lions dining under the trees, leopards hunting, birds singing and the diverse landscape, from forests to ilala trees and dry savannah. All the way to seasonal floodplains and lakes surrounded by perennial grasses.

Chief Island is a favorite safari destination, teeming with herds of animals such as red antelopes, zebras, buffalo and huge lions. There are also baboons and green monkeys, as well as rivers filled with huge crocodiles and beautiful hippopotamuses.

The Moremi Reserve contains a variety of luxury camps that visitors can choose from, and if you prefer to experience the Moremi Reserve with a different experience, there are community-run camps that provide a unique experience, and do not forget to wake up to the sound of the elephant in the morning in these camps instead of the sound of the alarm phone in the the hotel.

Trip planning advice

Luxury lodges at Moremi have year-round boating benefits, and locations for animal viewing excursions are varied, but public park policies do not allow for overnight tours or walking safaris compared to private concessions in the Okavango Delta.

Makgadikgadi salt marshes

The best place for otherworldly thrills

The harsh white plains of Makgadikgadi are what remains of a long-vanished lake. It is the largest salt network in the world and is completely devoid of vegetation, except for rare clusters of majestic baobab trees. With the onset of the dry season from April to September , this area transforms into a place of exquisite beauty and character. Surreal, visitors can ride horses or quad bikes through the moon-like landscape, and since there is no light pollution, visitors can enjoy a peaceful night on the plains to watch the magnificent celestial display.

Although wildlife is scarce in this area, the Boteti River in the west and Makgadikgadi National Park provide opportunities for more traditional wildlife viewing and during, and after the rainy period, the swamps attract herds of zebra and buffalo during the annual migration, quickly followed by lions, leopards and hyenas.

Sua Pan in the east near Nata is home to a large population of flamingos, and if you're keen to see crocodiles in their natural habitat, you'll need to venture out to the outskirts of the golden grass of the swamps guided by a local guide at the resort.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Best to get off the beaten track

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is considered the second of its kind in Africa in terms of size after the Selous Reserve in Tanzania, and the transition point between the delta and the arid desert. This site is characterized by a unique terrain that is completely different from the well-known Sossusvlei Hills. Here, shimmering salts, petrified river valleys and semi-arid grasslands combine to form stunning landscapes.

The reserve is home to species adapted to the desert environment, such as the famous Kalahari lion with its thick black hair, elephants and large groups of antelope, and since it is a very isolated area, and one of the least densely populated areas in the world, it is unlikely that you will encounter anyone else during your trip to explore wildlife. .

In addition, this area is the original homeland of the indigenous San people, hunter-gatherers who maintain deep connections to their land and the surrounding wildlife; They still practice their ancient traditions in nearby private reserves, and they form an important part of the cultural heritage of the region.

Trip planning advice

Exploring the vast Kalahari National Park requires time, determination and patience, as well as having a 4x4 vehicle.

If you don't want a luxury experience, the wheel is not for you and the quickest way to get to the reserve is to camp in the Deception Pan area and access the reserve via the Rakobs trails. However, it is best to be prepared to stay for three nights and two full days to best enjoy the trip.

Kalagadi Transboundary Park

Best for desert adventurers

Between Botswana and South Africa, the adjacent Kalagadi Park extends like a vast and wild desert. It is a harsh, but truly beautiful natural area, with the scenery interspersed with the dry valleys of Nosop and rolling red sand dunes, making it an ideal place to explore. Although there are no water-dependent aquatic animals here, such as hippo, elephants, buffalo and zebras, you will have the opportunity to... To see desert-adapted antelopes, such as the moon camel, and have a good chance of seeing big cats, including lions, tigers and leopards.

Don't forget to look for smaller carnivores, as you might spot a shy brown hyena, a fox with big ears, or a fox with a slender stature. You can drive for hours without seeing a thing, giving you a more personal experience when you see one of the creatures. For adventurous travellers, the Botswana side of the park has almost primitive camping options with only thin canvas walls separating you from the local predators. There are more accommodation options in the southern part of the park. South Africa.

Chobe National Park

Best for budget safaris

Between Botswana and South Africa, the bordering Kalagadi Park extends like a vast, wild desert. It is a harsh, yet exceptionally beautiful landscape, with scenery dotted with the dry valleys of Nosop and rolling red sand dunes, making it ideal for exploring, especially during the golden hour, although there are no water-dependent aquatic animals here, such as hippo and elephants. And buffalos and zebras, but you can enjoy the unique opportunity to see animals adapted to the desert environment, such as the moon camel. In addition, you have a good opportunity to see big cats, including lions, tigers and leopards.

Don't forget to also look for smaller carnivores, as you may spot the shy brown hyena, the big-eared fox, or the slender fox. You can drive for hours without seeing anything, which makes the trip a special experience when you are surprised to see one of these creatures.

For intrepid travelers, there are almost primitive camps on the Botswana side of the park, where only thin walls of canvas separate you from the predators. There are also more accommodation options available in the southern part of South Africa.

Khama Rhino Sanctuary

Best to see the big five

Khama Rhino Reserve is a distinctive destination characterized by the abundance of wildlife surrounding nature. This reserve is considered the main habitat for black and white rhinos, in addition to more amazing wild creatures. The reserve provides a wonderful experience throughout the year as it hosts wild buffalo, impala, ostriches, brown hyenas and leopards, in addition to more than 230 species of birds.

The ideal time to see rhinos is in the early morning, or in the afternoon when visiting areas such as Ban Malema, Ban Sirio, and the water hole in the bird hide. You can explore the area with your own car, but to ensure the chance of seeing a rhino, it is preferable to join a guide on a monitoring trip. animals, sign up for a walking safari, or engage in a rhino tracking trip.

Tully Block

Best for mountain biking

In an adventurous oasis between Zimbabwe and South Africa, the North Tuli Wildlife Sanctuary shines as a charming destination. Magnificent hills accompany the dry areas with exceptional sunset views, where you can admire elephants and ancient baobab trees. These wildernesses are mixed with history, and are filled with traces of ancient empires and scattered historical treasures.

The Tuli Reserve offers many exciting activities, including guided walking safaris, horse riding and mountain biking adventures. As you ride your mountain bike through the historic trails, you may pass by giraffes and elk herds. The terrain is relatively flat and easy to traverse, and you follow ancient roads along which we walk herds of elephants through years, making this path smoother and more flowing than any other artificial path.

Horizon's high altitude horse riding tours also provide a great experience, but are intended for horse riding enthusiasts with intermediate to advanced experience only. Each rider must take a short test to verify their ability to independently control the horse at all speeds before joining the safari.

Trip planning advice

The wildlife in this area is not seasonal as in other areas of Botswana, so animals can be seen all year round.

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