Botswana

Overview

Botswana is world-renowned as a luxury safari destination, offering an unparalleled mix of wilderness, exclusivity, and top-tier hospitality. The country is particularly celebrated for its pristine and diverse ecosystems, most notably the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This vast inland delta is a haven for wildlife, featuring a complex network of waterways, lagoons, and islands, that supports a huge array of species, including the Big Five.

Luxury safaris in Botswana are a highly personalized experience, with many of the lodges and camps situated in private concessions. This ensures not only fewer tourists, but also access to areas that allow for activities that are not permitted in national parks, like night drives and off-road game viewing. Many of these lodges are also eco-conscious without compromising on quality. The country’s commitment to low-impact, high-value tourism means that even the most remote and luxurious lodges are able to minimize their environmental footprint while still contributing to local conservation efforts. This ensures that Botswana remains an unspoilt environment for future generations of both wildlife and tourists​.

Seasonal weather

A semi-arid climate is characterized by hot summers and mild winters.

Fly to

Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (Gaborone)
Maun International Airport (Maun)

Languages

Setswana and English

Currency

Pula (BWP) and USD

Botswana’s National Parks and Reserves

Botswana’s national parks and reserves provide some of the most unspoiled and diverse safari experiences in Africa, each offering a unique glimpse into the country’s extraordinary wildlife.

Chobe National Park

Chobe National Park, located in northern Botswana, is best known for its remarkable biodiversity and dense concentrations of wildlife. The Chobe River, which winds through the park, sustains large herds of elephants, a variety of bird species, and numerous predators.

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Okavango Delta

The iconic Okavango Delta is a UNESCO World Heritage, whose landscapes include vast wetlands, drylands, winding watercourses, palm-lined islands and dense woodlands. Its abundant wildlife makes it one of the world’s most transcendent safari experiences.

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Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Central Kalahari Game Reserve, in the Kalahari Desert, is a bold contrast to Botswana’s other safari destinations. Wildlife sightings are rarer yet all the more remarkable, especially following the rains when vibrant flowers bloom and animals grazing on lush green grass.

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Moremi Game Reserve

Lying on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve was established in 1963. Named after Chief Moremi III by his widow, Elizabeth Pulane Moremi, it was created specifically to protect the area from excessive hunting and is now home to a vast array of species.

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Mashatu Game Reserve

Mashatu Game Reserve, situated in Botswana’s Tuli Block, is a premier safari destination known for its riverine forests, savannahs, and rocky outcrops.

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Linyanti

Linyanti, a remote wilderness, features vast grasslands, floodplains, and woodlands. Where the Linyanti River meets the Savuti Channel, it forms a rich ecosystem with diverse wildlife, highlighted by the tranquil Linyanti Swamp.

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Makgadikgadi Pan

Makgadikgadi Pan, one of the world’s largest salt pans, is a surreal and starkly beautiful place to visit. It is all that remains of Lake Makgadikgadi, and during the wet season, the pan transforms into a haven for migratory birds and wildlife, including flamingos and zebras.

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Plan Your Trip

Speak to a member of the team, and start planning your safari trip of a lifetime.

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Plan Your Safari

Are you ready?

Botswana offers an incredible array of travel experiences, where unparalleled wildlife encounters meet untouched wilderness and a deep sense of tranquility. The Okavango Delta is a must-visit destination, offering mokoro (canoe) excursions, game drives, and walking safaris across its intricate waterways and lush islands. For exceptional big-game viewing, Chobe National Park is famous for its high number of elephants and predator sightings.

Beyond the classic safari, Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pan provides a surreal landscape for quad biking, horseback safaris, and cultural experiences with the San Bushmen, who share their traditional knowledge and deep connection to this unique environment. The Linyanti region offers exclusivity and an intimate safari experience, with its diverse habitats attracting everything from wild dogs to rare bird species. Finally, a visit to Botswana is made complete by its commitment to eco-tourism and low-impact travel, ensuring that each journey leaves both the land and its visitors enriched.

Experiences

The Big 5

Botswana is home to the Big 5, which includes lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinos. You can spot these in areas like the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, and Moremi Game Reserve.

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Night Drives

Many of Botswana’s lodges and camps that are situated in private concessions offer night drives, allowing guests to see nocturnal wildlife.

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Big Cats

Lions, leopards, and cheetahs are all commonly sighted in the Linyanti region, the Okavango Delta, and other major reserves.

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Birdwatching

Botswana is home to over 500 avian species, ranging from birds of prey like bataleurs, hawks, and eagles, to more placid iconic African birds like ostriches and flamingos.

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Fly Camping

Explore the more remote areas of Botswana, with a raw and immersive wilderness experience, often combined with walking safaris and stargazing.

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Boat Safari

Drifting along the waterways of the Okavango Delta by boat is a quintessential Botswana experience, where you can see hippos, crocodiles, and various other species up close.

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Walking Safari

Walking safaris are popular at many of the country’s private concessions, allowing guests to experience the bush at ground level​ under the guidance of a knowledgeable ranger.

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Scenic Flights

Helicopter tours and scenic airplane flights provide a stunning bird’s-eye view of Botswana’s various regions, with options to visit remote areas only accessible by air.

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Stargazing

Remote regions such as the Kalahari and the Okavango Delta offer superb stargazing opportunities due to their lack of light pollution.

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Horseback Safari

Enjoy Botswana’s varied landscape on horseback, from the verdant banks of the Delta to the arid salt pans of Makgadikgadi.

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Photographic Safari

With its combination of stunning countryside and abundant wildlife, Botswana is one of the world’s great photography destinations.

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Cycling

Some safari camps have bicycles available for guests to use to explore the surrounding areas and local villages.

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Wildlife Conservation

Botswana has one of the highest conservation land ratios in the whole of Africa, and many camps and lodges offer guests the opportunity to contribute towards local conservation.

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Cultural Tours

Cultural interactions, particularly with the San people are a highlight, offering insights into traditional ways of life​.

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Spa & Wellness

Luxury lodges in Botswana often feature spa and wellness facilities, allowing you to relax and rejuvenate after a day of adventure.

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A group of guests enjoy an evening drink against a stunning dusk backdrop

Plan your Safari

Each lodge has unique activities. Our Personal Travel Designers can talk you through them.

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Need assistance?

Contact a friendly travel specialist and discover your next vacation destination.
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