Botswana: The Gem of Africa

Explore Botswana's captivating beauty, rich culture, and abundant wildlife. Discover mystic waterways, vast desert pans, and lush forests teeming with life for an exclusive safari experience. Immerse yourself in the proud heritage of the Batswana people, embracing their warm hospitality, customs, and traditions. With its sparse population, Botswana offers a rare escape from crowds, providing the epitome of luxury. Embark on an extraordinary safari adventure where the untamed spirit of Africa meets opulence. Customize your journey with African Travel's safari specialists and indulge in the wonders of this beautiful destination.

"Botswana is my favorite because it's so wild and untouched. Every time I return from Africa, I discover something amazing, but in the case of Botswana it really is heaven on earth." - Suzannah Zani, Safari Specialist 

Where to Enjoy

Botswana exhibits its exclusivity to an exceptionally high standard. The country has based its tourism industry on attracting discerning travelers who are willing to pay more for the privilege of visiting the remoter areas of the country rather than trying to attract as many people as possible which would inevitably retract from the experience. With this in mind many of the lodges, particularly in the Okavango, are only accessible by small plane which pushes that exclusivity up even higher. It is all about being at one with nature, having a minimal impact on the environment and yet seeing it in style and with the luxury that guests expect from exclusive lodges.

The Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is one of the last remaining unspoiled wilderness areas of Africa and is home to outstanding land and water safaris. Fed by the floodwaters of central Africa, these waters fan out and form a wetland system of beautiful palm-fringed channels, lagoons and islands that support a wealth of fauna and flora alike. There is nowhere on earth that comes remotely similar to this wonderful ecosystem, so much so that it became the 1,000 UNESCO’s World Heritage site in 2014.

Moremi Game Reserve

What you will discover soon after arriving at Moremi Game Reserve, is that it isn’t just about crossing off the Big Five on your list, or finally spotting that rare bird. In Moremi, you have to take in the full package: broad skies, amazing sunsets, constantly changing colours, a warm African breeze, lily padded waterways and some of the best game viewing you will ever experience. Chief’s Island is one of the richest and most diverse ecosystems in all of Africa. This, all together, is what will make you want to come back to Botswana as soon as you start your way home. The choices of exclusive camps are astounding here, for unrivalled access with the ultimate flexibility, Xigera Safari Lodge is the premier lodge in the area.

Chobe National Park

Often referred to as the “Land of the Giants”, Chobe National Park is a Big Five safari destination that is most famous for its huge concentration of Elephants. The park is home to the largest elephant population in the world, currently estimated to exceed 120,000. Elephants love water so it is no surprise that the Chobe River is frequently visited by large herds seeking a refreshing drink and dip in the cool waters. It is a photographers dream, presenting the opportunity to photograph elephants bathing, diving under the water and babies simply playing and having fun. Chobe is best explored from the comfort of a safari vehicle or on a thrilling boat safari. Chobe Safari Lodge has their own private waterholes which offer some magnificent views of these majestic creatures. What could be better than cruising down the Chobe River as the sun sets, drink in hand, with a glorious view of the largest land animals on earth? 

Linyanti Wildlife Reserve

Linyanti Wildlife Reserve bordering Chobe National Park is another exciting destination on the safari and two camps that have been recently renovated are especially appealing. Set on a lagoon on the Linyati River between two “elephant highways” the newly renovated DumaTau allows a wonderful opportunity to get close to nature and observe the smaller things. No matter where you stay don’t miss a Queen Silvia barge cruise, spy wildlife from a sunken hide, slow the pace and try catch and release fishing and visit the ancient Savute Channel. 

Kalahari Desert

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the second largest reserve in the world and by far the most remote reserve in Southern Africa. The area is also home to the San people, an ancient hunter-gatherer society that has transcended the ages with their excellent hunting skills and ability to adapt to the harsh environmental challenges presented by this enormous desert. One of the highlights of this reserve is Deception Valley, formed by four fossilised river systems and where its sweet grasses attract large herds of herbivores unseen in the delta and in turn, hungry predators, including the famous black-maned lions, spotted and brown hyena, sociable suricates as well as cheetah, wild dog and leopard.

Makgadikgadi Pans

To explore the Kalahari Desert consider the Platinum Botswana safari and basing yourself in the Makgadikgadi Pans. The surrounding area features abundant lion, zebra and wildebeest, leopard, cheetah, Brown and Spotted hyena- but the best wildlife experience is the habituation program with meerkats. Wake up early in the morning and walk to their borough to watch them appear to warm their bellies in the cool morning. TIP: Be patient and sit still. Eventually the meerkats will feel comfortable to come out and you can observe them go about their business.

Guests can also explore this vast and mysterious area on horseback, just as the earliest explorers, hunters and missionaries did. While bird watchers can find both the greater pink flamingos and the lesser pink flamingos, coming to this place to mate and to lay their eggs in conical nests, built with the clay of the ground; this is one of the most important breeding sites in the world for flamingos.

Nxai Pans National Park

Nxai Pan is situated on the northern fringes of the ancient Makgadikgadi Lake basin and are ancient salt lakes, the flat ground is perfect for a and is home to the famous Baines Baobabs trees, a cluster of millennia-old baobabs. During the green season the area is covered in lush green grass, attracting huge concentrations of Burchell's zebra, blue wildebeest and springbok. Predators are well represented with lion, cheetah, hyena and wild dogs. A particular delight are all the smaller animals such as honey badgers, bat-eared foxes, African wildcats, banded mongoose, spring hare and porcupines. 

Mashatu Game Reserve

Discover Mashatu Game Reserve, an enchanting sanctuary in Botswana's Tuli Block. Encounter diverse wildlife and Africa's giants in a sprawling landscape with towering baobabs. With unrivaled wildlife sightings across 29,000 hectares, Mashatu is a testament to Botswana's commitment to preservation. Let Africa's untamed heart captivate your soul in this natural paradise.