Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya—“The Smoke That Thunders”—Victoria Falls is one of the world’s great natural landmarks. Straddling the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe, it forms a vast curtain of water that fills the air with mist and sound. The Zimbabwean side grants the most dramatic views, where mist rises like ghostly curtains and rainbows arc through the spray. Measuring about 1,708 metres across, it is regarded as the largest single continuous sheet of falling water on Earth. The adjacent town of Victoria Falls provides a convenient base for exploring the region, with a wide range of activities from scenic flights and microlight trips to white-water rafting, bungee jumping, kayaking, and safaris into Chobe National Park.
Tucked away in the northeastern corner of Botswana, on the banks of the famous Chobe River, the scenic little town of Kasane rests on the doorstep of the spectacular Chobe National Park. There are no boundary fences separating the village from the park and game such as elephant and hippo are often spotted roaming around the town. If on the lookout for elusive game, pay a visit to the Sedudu Valley Road, where large dead trees provide temporary homes for leopards. Within Kasane, an ancient baobab tree stands on display, once serving as a local prison. Visitors can look forward to a multitude of activities including: enjoying a game drive through the park, taking a sunset cruise down the Chobe River, visiting a local village or jumping on a day trip to the breathtaking Victoria Falls.
Set on the banks of the beautiful Thamalakane River in northern Botswana, Maun is the third-largest town in this spectacularly scenic southern African country. Maun is the starting point for most expeditions into the Okavango Delta and as a result, has developed into a bustling metropolis that is considered Botswana’s tourism capital. Area attractions include a renowned riverboat that offers cruises up and down the Thamalakane River; the forest groves of the Maun Game Reserve; and Moremi Game Reserve, home to hippos, lions and rhinos. Maun also serves as the jumping-off point for many safaris and air charters as well as offering private 4x4 rentals. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Nhabe Museum exhibiting the local history, art and culture of the Ngamiland region.
Situated in the east of the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve ranks as one of the most beautiful reserves in Africa.
It covers more than 4871 square kilometres of pristine wilderness, and this varied terrain includes savannah, winding waterways, and dense forest. The diverse ecosystem supports an incredibly wide spectrum of wildlife, ranging from large herds of buffalo, wildebeest and zebra, to the rare sitatunga and lechwe antelope, lion, cheetah and packs of wild dog in the open grasslands. The birdlife is prolific and includes most of the 550 bird species recorded on Botswana’s national bird list. A range of luxury lodges in the reserve offers visitors the perfect base to experience this corner of paradise.
Situated 300 kilometres southwest of Maun and just north of the Trans-Kalahari highway, which runs from Lobatse in Botswana to Walvis Bay in Namibia, the small town of Ghanzi is sometimes referred to as the 'Capital of the Kalahari'. It serves as the administrative centre of the Ghanzi district which covers a vast area of cattle ranches and farmland in the west of Botswana. The Ghanzi area has a number of lodges that focus on cultural tourism as well as wildlife viewing - here you can experience the fascinating world of the San Bushmen as they explain to you how they forage, hunt and find water in this harsh environment.
Flanked by Ghanzi in the north and Sekoma in the south, the quiet Kalahari Desert town of Kang provides a relaxing base from which to explore Northern Botswana, Namibia, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and the Central Kalahari Park. The remote village is strikingly scenic, providing many interesting hiking and photographic opportunities in its vast stretches of flowering plains, ochre desert hills and enormous, strangely-shaped baobab trees. One of the major drawcards of the area is the variety of thrilling game drives offering the possibility of spotting cheetah, leopard and many different types of game species. After an exciting day on safari, don’t miss the opportunity to take a refreshing dip in one of the swimming pools at Twee Rivieren, Kalahari Tent, Mata Mata and Nossob camps at the nearby Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
