Situated in the southern reaches of Africa, Botswana is renowned for its pristine wilderness areas characterised by deep lagoons, wetlands, lush palms, rugged hills and desert plains. The country’s primary tourist drawcard is undoubtedly the vast red expanse of the Kalahari Desert and its remarkably beautiful Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta in the world. These natural wonders provide a tranquil haven for an abundance of African wildlife to thrive. Other highlights include the impressive Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, where visitors are privy to massive zebra migrations during the flood season; the Savuti plains, which host a significant pride of lions; and the Tsodilo Hills, where 4500 rock paintings form a unique record of human settlement over many millennia.
The Chobe River forms the northern boundary of Chobe National Park and is one of southern Africa’s most rewarding wildlife riverfronts, especially in the dry season when animals concentrate along its banks. Elephant herds gather in large numbers at the water’s edge, hippos crowd the channels, and buffalo move regularly through the floodplain grasslands, while lions range through the wider system and may hunt buffalo in the surrounding landscape. The river also supports exceptional birdlife across reeds, sandbanks, and woodland edges, and visitors typically explore it through guided game drives on designated park tracks as well as boat safaris that bring them level with elephants and hippos along the shoreline.
Situated in the northeastern part of Botswana among a massive territory of national parks, reserves and conservation areas, the Nogatsaa area inside Chobe National Park boasts stunning wild scenery and an array of animals. The remote landscape, characterised by open grasslands, pans and waterholes, is scattered with lookout hides where visitors can see hippos, crocodiles, elephants, impalas, water buffalo, reedbucks, gemsboks, roans, the rare oribi antelope, and baboons, as well as a huge variety of birdlife. There are wonderful game viewing opportunities, which can be enjoyed easily on foot, four-wheel drive, or by boat. After a thrilling day of African adventure, visitors can cool off at lodge pools, hear traditional stories around the fire (boma), and do some first-class stargazing in the crystal-clear night skies.
Savuti, also known as Savute, lies in the heart of Botswana’s renowned Chobe National Park and is one of the country’s most fascinating wildlife destinations. This dynamic wilderness features vast open savannahs, ancient rocky outcrops, and the remnants of a historic marsh fed by the enigmatic Savuti Channel. Famous for its unpredictable wet and dry cycles, the landscape is constantly changing, creating unique habitats for a remarkable variety of wildlife. Wild dogs hunt along the dry riverbed where crocodiles once swam, highlighting the area’s ever-shifting nature. Visitors can encounter large herds of elephants, Cape buffalo, zebra, and wildebeest, as well as predators such as lions, cheetahs, hyenas, black-backed jackals, and bat-eared foxes. Savuti is also home to abundant birdlife, antelope species, tsessebe, kudu, and many other iconic African animals.
Situated in the northwestern area of the Okavango Delta, the Panhandle is a stretch of the Okavango River that follows a more-or-less straight course for approximately 70 kilometres before entering the wetlands. This deep channel serves as the main water source feeding the delta and offers excellent tiger and bream fishing, while the surrounding woodlands and the river’s shallow waters teem with a myriad of birds. The Okavango Panhandle is dotted with several villages and serves as a gateway to the scenic Tsodilo Hills, some 40 kilometres west, with their various tribal cave paintings, some dating back as far as 20 000 years. Visitors can enjoy excellent fishing, first-class birding, boating on the Okavango River and game viewing in the Mahangu National Park.
