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.
Kasane Forest Reserve, located in northern Botswana, is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers. This pristine reserve is adjacent to Chobe National Park, one of Africa's premier wildlife destinations.
The forest reserve is characterized by dense woodland, open grasslands, and the Chobe River, which attracts a rich diversity of animals, including large herds of elephants, buffalo, and a variety of antelope species. Predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas are also commonly spotted. Birdwatchers will find Kasane Forest Reserve particularly rewarding, with over 450 species recorded in the area.
The reserve offers a peaceful retreat with opportunities for game drives, boat safaris, and birdwatching, all set against the stunning backdrop of the African wilderness. Its proximity to the town of Kasane makes it easily accessible for travelers seeking an immersive wildlife experience with the convenience of nearby amenities.
Mababe is a small rural settlement located in the eastern part of Botswana’s North-West District, set on the vast, wild plains of the Mababe Lower Depression. Jaw-dropping vistas of yellow bushveld, sparkling rivers, and bright green forests attract nature photographers and plant enthusiasts, as well as hikers. However, it is the area’s wildlife that is its major drawcard: visitors can look forward to seeing large herds of buffalo, a good number of lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes, and cheetahs. A range of guided walks, game drives, and other activities are on offer.
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.
Adventurous travellers seeking a truly remote African safari will be thrilled to discover it in central Botswana. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the second largest game reserve in the world and one of the least visited, nothing can prepare you for the sheer wonder of exploring this vast reserve with its wild, untouched beauty. The landscape is dominated by sand veld, acacias, and Kalahari apple-leaf, interspersed with grasslands and dotted with occasional sand dunes, pans and fossil river valleys. While the reserve is home to an impressive variety of wildlife, there is one animal that is rather obviously absent, the human being. It is this lack of human traffic, combined with the park’s lack of infrastructure, that makes for a challenging and marvellously authentic African experience. Visitors need to be entirely self-sufficient but those willing to make the effort will be richly rewarded.
