Despite recent and surprisingly rapid modernization, Botswana’s cities provide little in the way of tourist attractions. However, what the cities lack in excitement, the surrounding wilderness areas more than make up for in outstanding natural beauty. The country’s primary tourist draw card is undoubtedly the vast red expanse of the Kalahari Desert and its remarkably beautiful Okavango Delta - the largest inland delta in the world provide a haven for an abundance of African wildlife. 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 large prides of lions; and the Tsodilo Hills where 4500 rock paintings form a unique record of human settlement over many millennia.
Situated in the northwestern corner of Botswana, the Okavango Delta is a World Heritage Site as it is the largest inland delta in the world. The magnificent Okavango River sprawls out over the dry sands of the Kalahari Desert forming this flourishing waterlogged oasis featuring countless meandering waterways and crystal clear lagoons studded with water lilies, as well as fertile floodplains and reeded islands inhabited with abundant wildlife. The Okavango Delta stretches over an impressive15000 square kilometres. Visitors can enjoy a number of wonderful activities such as game viewing, fishing, bird watching or taking an authentic guided Mokoro excursion through this wetland paradise in a traditional dugout canoe. Commonly spotted animals include: lion, rhino, leopard, giraffe, hippos, elephants, crocodiles and countless species of bird.
Set in the enthralling Okavango Delta, the Duba Plains Private Reserve is one of the best places to start your exploration of the wild areas of Botswana. The landscape is characterised by vast plains dotted with fig, ebony, and garcinia trees and traversed by a network of pristine waterways. Visitors can look forward to leisurely boating excursions along the tranquil rivers of the Delta, thrilling game drives, and mystical night drives in the African bush to spot a wealth of nocturnal wildlife. Commonly spotted species include hippo, blue wildebeest, hyena, giraffe, elephant, lechwe, buffalo, tsessebe, and warthog. Visitors can spot up to 200 species of bird, take horse riding safaris through the untouched grasslands, and enjoy a glass of wine under the African night sky.
Situated in northern Botswana, the Selinda Reserve is a 130 000 hectare private wildlife reserve. Sandwiched between the beautiful Savute Channel, the awe-inspiring Chobe National Park, and the sensational Okavango Delta, this sanctuary is well off the beaten track and offers visitors an exclusive wildlife viewing experience. The varied landscape hosts a wide variety of species in diverse habitats, including rare roan and sable antelopes, endangered African wild dogs, lions, cheetah, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and large elephant herds, as well as numerous bird species (including the mighty African Fish Eagle). Take a night drive to see nocturnal species at their best. Visitors can look forward to wonderful canoe safaris, guided bush walks, and 4X4 game drives.
