BOTSWANA
Botswana's unspoiled wilderness offers the chance to safari with very few other humans around. For those who like the idea of going into the wilds, this could be your dream destination. From the lush Okavango Delta to the Kalahari Desert, Botswana offers unique beauty, incredible game populations, 
wonderful birding and a variety of activities for visitors.
Botswana is about the size of the state of Texas and sparsely populated. The Tropic of Capricorn bisects this landlocked country which is predominantly desert and has a sub-tropical climate. Nearly 40% of Botswana has been set aside as massive private reserves and national parks.
Shortly after independence in 1966, diamonds were discovered in the Kalahari and the economy got a jump-start. Today, Botswana is considered one of Africa's success stories with a growing economy, political and social stability. The government has encouraged high quality, low impact tourism and the industry now employs 45% of the people who live in the northern part of the country. Recently made popular by "The Ladies Detective Agency" series of books by Alexander McCall Smith, Botswana is a top safari destination.
The Okavango River flows from the highlands of Angola into Botswana forming the famous Okavango Delta. This is the largest untouched inland delta in the world covering over 9,000 square miles. Surrounded by the parched Kalahari Desert, the seasonal undulating waterways provide habitat for a myriad of animals, birds, fish and plants. Many safari camps here offer both land and water activities. You can safari by mokoro, a dugout canoe propelled by a "poler" guide, to get a close up view of the shallow reed and papyrus filled channels and explore the islands.
The Kalahari Desert covers over 80% of Botswana. The San Bushman, known for their hunting and gathering in this area since ancient times, reside in villages and serve as guides in some safari camps. Learning more about their history and cultural significance in this area is a highlight for most visitors. The Makgadikgadi Pans is the place to experience an endless canopy of blue sky over the ancient lake bed. The isolation and silence of this place is awesome. Massive baobab trees, some reputed to be 3,000 years old, serve as directional guideposts and are a source of legends.
The capital city Gaborone is located in the southeast corner of the country. Maun serves as the gateway to the Okavango Delta with an airport that is busy with charter air traffic to the area safari camps. Francistown was the site of Southern Africa's first gold rush and was strategically established near the "Cape to Cairo" railway.
English is the official language and Setswana is the most widely spoken African language. More than half the population is of people of the Bantu heritage. Botswana has a high literacy rate and education programs are offered to both boys and girls.
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When to go to Botswana
The months of May to November are the dry season and considered by some to be the best time to safari in Botswana. Temperatures in June and July are the coolest with daytime highs reaching 75 F. January and February are the wettest months.
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Passport & Visa
A valid passport is required to enter Botswana. Visas are not required for stays of up to 90 days. For further information:
The Embassy of the Republic of Botswana in Washington, D.C.
U.S. State Department - Botswana
You may also contact the Embassy of the Republic of Botswana, 1531 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202/244-4990) or nearest Honorary Consulate: Los Angeles (213/626-8484) or Houston (713/680-1155).
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Medical Information
Before traveling to Africa, please consult with your physician. No mandatory vaccinations are required to visit Botswana. You will need a malaria prophylaxis. For further information:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Botswana
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Highlights
The Okavango Delta is the "must see" of Botswana, a phenomenally beautiful wilderness oasis in the midst of the Kalahari Desert. Covering an area of 9,300 square miles, this is one of the largest inland deltas in the world. The permanent wetlands are enhanced each year when the floodwaters from the Angola highlands flow southeast into the Delta ecosystem. This is an incredible wildlife and wilderness sanctuary with islands and floodplains, water channels and lagoons. You can safari by boat and mokoro through the waterways giving you a different viewing experience of the area.
The Moremi Game Reserve is located in the eastern section of the Okavango Delta. Throughout the Moremi there are large private areas that are managed as high quality, low-volume tourism concessions as required by the government. Only guests of the small safari camps located here have the privilege of exploring the great diversity of plant and wildlife. You will rarely see another human other than the ones you are with! Game viewing is excellent year-round by boat, mokoro or vehicle. Night game drives and wildlife hides are offered at most camps.
The Linyanti Wildlife Reserve is a private concession area bordered on the north by the Linyanti River and on the east by Chobe National Park. There are no fences between these areas so the animals can move freely. In contrast to the watery Okavango Delta, this scenic area boasts grasslands, forests and woodlands along with the marshy areas near the river. The Savute Channel, which is known for abundant game, has been dry since 1980. The Linyanti is a vast area of 275,000 acres and home to only a few small safari camps. You can be sure of exclusivity and the luxury of remote wilderness where you feel like you're the only guests.
Chobe National Park features a large portion of Botswana's elephant population which is currently estimated to be 120,000. The Chobe elephants are known for their legendary size. This is classic big game country where you will also see lion, spotted hyena, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, impala, kudu, warthog, baboon and vervet monkey.
Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is a relic of one of the world's largest super-lakes, which dried up thousands of years ago. Some say these shores were the setting for the mysterious transition from ape to man. This prehistoric lake basin area feels like it's out of a film, complete with shimmering mirages in the heat of the sun as you scan the endless horizon. Although nothing grows on the saltpans, the areas around them are transformed into lakes and grasslands during the seasonal rains. This is a wonderful area for birding and observing meerkats, brown hyena, spring hare and jackal. The giant baobabs here have served as directional signposts for centuries.
Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) dominates the center of Botswana and was intended as a sanctuary for the San Bushman. Until the late 1980s very few visitors came here. Mark and Delia Owens, a
young American couple who came to Deception Valley in 1974 spent seven years living in this unexplored area. Their best selling novel, "Cry of the Kalahari" is passionate accounting of their adventures. CKGR is a great choice for a desert safari experience for those interested in a remote setting, and the opportunity to encounter the San Bushman. The San, whose ancestors have been in this area for 30,000 years, have a rich cultural life of music, dance, art, crafts and healing with their gatherings from this area.
Click here for Botswana scheduled departure safaris, mobile safaris, camps and lodges.
