Botswana holidays and safaris
Introduction
Most of Botswana is a roadless wilderness, with vast tracts of space given over to wildlife and dramatic scenery, making it ideal for people on a Botswana safari or wildlife holiday, or simply looking to experience something particularly memorable.
The Okavango Delta, described as 'the river that never finds the sea' is the world's largest inland delta; rising in central Africa, the Okavango river simply dissipates into the Kalahari sands. Paddle a mokoro, traditional canoe, through the maze of waterways and islands to get close to the wildlife that makes its home here.
Other wildlife holidays in Botswana centre on Chobe National Park, which is home to huge numbers of elephant. A sunset cruise along the Chobe River will also bring you into close contact with crocodile, hippo, gazelle, giraffe and other plains game as well. The Moremi Game Reserve is also considered one of Africa's great, pristine wild spaces.
The Makgadikgadi Pans are the dried bed of a ginormous super-lake that covered much of the country at one point. These days the water has evaporated leaving spectacular, surreal saltpans that stretch as far as the eye can see. During the rainy season the pans are transformed into a wonderful watery landscape full of birds and wildlife.
Elsewhere, the Kalahari comprises the vast majority of the country. The last remaining San Bushmen live here; head to the Tsodilo Hills, which are considered sacred, to see 4,000 rock paintings daubed on cliffs by the ancestors of the current population.
At a glance
Flying time from UK
11 hours
Time zone
GMT +2
Currency
Pula (P) = 100 thebe
Language
English and Setswana
Travel advice
(UK/US) None
Special offers in Botswana
cruise offer
Special fly-cruise fares
Combining South Africa's city and coast with a luxury Botswana river cruise on the wildlife-rich Chobe River and a journey aboard the opulent Rovos Rail, this tour is the perfect introduction to Southern Africa. We've even included a stay at that most impressive of natural wonders – Victoria Falls.
Top itineraries in Botswana
Explore the best of Botswana's stunning wildlife on this tailor-made tour staying at comfortable and well located lodges in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park.
This luxury safari brings you the best of Botswana. The package includes stays at two luxurious tented camps in private concessions in the Okavango Delta, as well as a luxury lodge in Chobe with a full spa.
Top places to stay in Botswana
Set amongst the verdant fields of a working farm in the Kalahari Desert, it’s not difficult to see why the lodge is often referred to as an oasis. The farmhouse is entirely self-sufficient with fresh vegetables, cheeses and meats produced year-round.
Set on its own island in the heart of Botswana’s Okavango delta, &Beyond’s Xaranna camp offers luxurious solitude amongst a teeming ecosystem of elephants, lions, hippos, leopards and cheetahs.
Where to go in Botswana
The Okavango Delta is a surprising and lush oasis in an otherwise arid country, dominated in the most part by the Kalahari Desert. This area of shallow reed beds and flowing channels is best explored by boat, an experience that allows you to drift silently through the waterways, watching wildlife. …
Botswana's four national parks protect huge swathes of the country's richest and most abundant habitats, making them places where Africa's threatened native wildlife can thrive. Chobe National Park and nearby Makgadikgadi Pans National Park shelter some of Africa's most arresting spectacles and div…
Botswana's game reserves allow you to walk among some of the most diverse wildlife habitats on the planet. From the verdant water-wilderness of the Okavango delta to the dry arid expanse of the Kalahari these reserves cover a vast range of different habitats in some of the ultimate safari experienc…
When to go to Botswana
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The Tropic of Capricorn passes right through Botswana's centre and the country experiences surprisingly variant weather. Winter months (June to early-September) are dry, clear and sunny. Daytime temperatures are pleasant, around the early 20s but nights can be very chilly with temperatures dropping well into single figures. This is the best season to see wildlife, which collects around shrinking waterholes and is easily spotted wandering over dry plains. By contrast, summer is wet and humid, with temperatures reaching well into the 30s. The end of summer (February and early-March) is excellent bird watching time, but don't expect to see too …
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