Top places to visit in Botswana

A safari highlight and exciting national park for any safari lover: Chobe National Park is not only the oldest national park in Botswana, but also one of the most varied in landscapes, wildlife, and activities. From riverfront to marshes and woodlands, you can explore different ecosystems providing habitat for an equally diverse number of wildlife species. While it is most famous for its large herds of elephants and buffaloes coming to the Chobe River to quench their thirst, you can in fact see all of the Big Five here. The well-known Savuti Region is part of Chobe National Park and best-known for its very high number of wildlife. Chobe is a great place to not only go on classic game drives in 4x4 vehicles but explore the park on sunset or photographic boat cruises as well. You can visit Chobe any time of the year and have a great experience.

The rugged vastness of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) makes it one of a kind and attracts adventurous travellers looking for an experience off the beaten track. The CKGR covers almost 10 percent of Botswana’s total land area – at no time will it feel crowded. Wildlife sightings are best during the green summer months when large herds of antelopes migrate into the Kalahari, followed closely by predators. With a bit of luck you can even see the famous but rare black-maned Kalahari lions as well as cheetahs hunting on the wide open plains. The dry season brings to light the harsh character and untamed wilderness of this beautifully undeveloped space. Watch the starry night sky as you sit around the campfire in your remote mobile camp, making you feel tiny in this grand Kalahari Game Reserve.

If you are seeking true wilderness and a remoteness that is unparalleled to anything you have ever experienced, you will find it in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. This peace-park stretching across the border of South Africa and Botswana is not your standard holiday destination, but instead offers adventures that will truly let you take a break from the rest of the world. There are only few lodges on the Botswana side of the park, and you should be self-sufficient to enjoy your camping experience. The rugged 4x4 roads require experienced off-road drivers. What you get in return for the lack of amenities is the experience of a true adventure in untouched nature, surrounded by untamed wildlife on our Kgalagadi safari tours. It is also the only place in Botswana where you can see the red dunes of the Kalahari.

The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans is one of the places in Botswana that will warrant a return visit: As the season changes from dry to green, it undergoes an astonishing transformation. The dry and barren salt pans fill with water, attracting large numbers of birds, antelopes, hyenas and other wildlife in search of green pastures. The area is famous for the annual zebra migration of zebras and wildebeest. During the dry season, you can sleep out on the pans, surrounded by sheer nothingness, covered by a blanket of stars. The Makgadikgadi complex of salt pans includes the Nxai, Nwetwe, and Sua Pans and it is here where you will find the famous Baine’s Baobabs as well as Kubu Island. If you’re a keen photographer, you should have your batteries charged: Makgadikgadi sunsets may well be the most beautiful you have ever seen.

On the eastern side of the Okavango Delta, you find the Moremi Game Reserve the safari destination of Botswana. There are few places where you will see such a diverse range of animals from the Big Five lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino to various antelope species, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, hyenas as well as many types of birds and even the rare African Wild Dogs. The landscapes range from open plains to woodland and meandering waterways in the lagoons and swamps. Safari activities to enjoy in Moremi are just as varied: classic game drives, mokoro excursions in traditional dug-out canoes as well as night game drives and bush walks in the Khwai Community Area just outside the reserve. Moremi is one of the top places to visit in Botswana for any wildlife enthusiast.

The Okavango Delta is one of the most awe-inspiring wilderness locations in Africa, if not the entire planet. The Delta is a truly unspoiled wilderness with terrain ranging from dry grasslands to swamps. Safaris and game watching are the most popular activities in the park and possible animals to be sighted include cheetahs, zebra, giraffes, elephants, crocodiles and rhinos to name only a few. Trips should be properly planned because, although the terrain here is always stunning, the seasons can dramatically effect your chances of seeing certain animals.

More than 4500 ancient rock art paintings ranging from the Stone Age to the 19^th century can be seen at Tsodilo Hills world heritage site, west of the Okavango Delta panhandle. If you want to get an insight into the life and culture of ancient Southern Africa, there is no better place than Tsodilo Hills. You can explore some of the 350 sites of this ancient open-air gallery on guided tours together with a local guide who will share their knowledge about the San as well as Hambukushu art. The paintings show animals, humans as well as geometric shapes. A fascinating attraction for culture lovers and historians. During the cooler winter months, you can also go on hikes in the area.