Botswana

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Okavango Delta encompasses vast wetlands and expansive drylands for a destination unlike anywhere else. Explore meandering waterways full of fish, aquatic birds and reptiles and tour thick woodland teeming with wildlife and birds. A successful rhino reintroduction programme in the region now puts the White Rhino's population at approximately 35 and the Black Rhino's at 4. Major attractions include a ride in a dug-out canoe (the traditional mokoro), game drives, speed boat cruises and fire-side boma experiences.

Chobe National Park spans floodplains, swamps and woodland with the breathtakingly blue Chobe river that forms the park's northern boundary. Consisting of 4 areas, the Chobe Riverfront, Ngwenzumba Pans, Linyanti and Savute, the park is known as one of the best wildlife and wilderness areas in Botswana. Large herds of elephants and Cape buffalo converge along the Chobe Riverfront, the woods and lagoons around Linyanti Marsh are home to lions, antelopes and hippos and the Savuti Marsh welcomes migrating zebra and a thriving collection of birds.

Lying in a remote corner of Chobe National Park, Savute is famed for the channel that sporadically flows from the Linyante River into the Savuti Marshland making it the perfect destination for wildlife and bird lovers. Sightings are next level, the Savute pride of lion are renowned for their prowess in hunting elephant and leopard and African wild dog can also be spotted along with ostrich, vultures, kites and other migratory birds. Savuti is also home to the ancient Baobab trees and unique cave paintings. The sheer diversity of this region makes it one of the most spectacular for safaris.

The Khwai region is indisputably one of Botwana’s most scenic where rivers merge with the desert’s edge and play host to a rich array of wildlife, birdlife and aquatic species. The Khwai Concession was formed by local villagers who now run ecotourism and conservation initiatives to protect the region’s abundance of precious wildlife. Visitors to the concession are invited to take cultural tours to learn about daily village life in addition to game drives, walking safaris and bird watching. Trips to the Delta and Moremi are also accessible from Khwai.

Touted as one of the greatest safari destinations in Africa, The Moremi Game Reserve is a wonderful tapestry of forests, floodplains, lagoons and waterways. The contrast between dry and wetlands support an abundant diversity of wildlife. Moremi was was the first wildlife sanctuary to be formed by an African tribe on their own lands and The BaTawana people continue to conserve and protect it. Visitors can spot the Big 5 and some 500 bird species in 4x4 drive safaris, on guided walks and in traditional mokoro dugut canoes for a truly magical safari experience.

With Zimbabwe to the north and South Africa to the south, the Tuli Block is a narrow strip of land on Botwana’s eastern border. The section to the east is known as the Northern Tuli Game Reserve and offers spectacular safari tourism in addition to a fascinating 19th Century frontier Boer War historical past. The diverse landscape features immense rocky outcrops with sturdy baobabs and is home to wildlife aplenty – perfect for game drives, walking and horse-back safaris, mountain and quad biking. Visit historic sites: Motloutse Ruins, Pitsani Koppie sites and nearby Mapungubwe.

The sight of breathtaking endless stretches of white salt at The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans is simply unforgettable. The largest in the world and visible from the moon, the salt pan accommodates a unique range of adapted wildlife including the aardwolf, brown hyena and meerkats and then when the rains come, it’s home to a flamboyance of flamingos and herds of wildebeest and one of Africa’s largest populations of zebra – chased by predators such as lion and cheetah. This stunning landscape is made for safaris, quad biking and the lack of light pollution is perfect for stargazing.

Off the beaten track yet with scenic views and an abundance of wildlife, beautiful sunsets and famous Baines Baobabs (a group of 7 ancient baobab trees named after the legendary artist explorer Thomas Baines, who first painted them in 1862) the Nxai Pan is part of the Nxai Pan National Park. Unlike the salt-encrusted pans at Makgadikgadi, Nxai Pan is a waterless, fossil pan grassland that comes to life in the rainy season when migrating vast herds of zebra are chased by predators who lurk in the shade of the acacia. Another highlight is a walk with one of the San Bushmen trackers.

Not really a desert as many of the dunes covering this vast land receive a lot of rainfall, The Kalahari Desert is a seasonal destination teeming with diverse flora and fauna, perfect for safaris and adventure travel. Black-maned Kalahari lions are a highlight; found in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Attractions also include the Witsand Nature Reserve, the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, the Eye of Kuruman - a natural fountain of fresh water, Riemvasmaak Community Conservancy, Khomani Cultural Landscape - the heritage site of Kalahari houses and the Kalahari Red Dunes.

Cushioned between the Okavango Delta and Chobe River, Linyanti is described as one of the best wildlife viewing regions in Africa due in part to its remote location. Linyanti’s swamp-river scenery, open grasslands and riverine forests draws in all manner of wildlife including big cats, wild dog, elephant and buffalo and a plethora of birdlife. Wildlife enthusiasts can enjoy 4WD, guided walking and photographic safaris, birdwatching and night drives in addition to boat and helicopter trips. Best to visit in the dry season as some roads and camps become inaccessible during the summer rains.

Many travellers use Maun as a transit point to the Okavango Delta or Moremi, but it’s well worth exploring itself. Full of character, Maun is more than just a dusty frontier town. Traditional houses line the wide banks of the Thamalakane River where red lechwe (antelope) can be spotted grazing alongside donkeys, goats and cattle. Attractions include Elephant Havens, a 35-minute drive from Maun, Okavango Craft Brewery, Nhabe Museum, Motsana Centre and the Arts Café, to name a few. Experience great dining, cultural and wildlife in magical Maun.