Botswana Safaris and Tours
Introduction
Botswana is unique and diverse and by far one of the most exciting safari destinations on the planet. It's wild and unspoilt and offers incredible game viewing opportunities. The contrast between the arid desert and wetland paradise, the Okavango Delta, is Botswana's most extraordinary feature. Botswana offers a world of exciting game viewing activities and contrasting regions. Many attempts have been made by writers to describe the fascinating beauty of the Okavango Delta with its breathtaking scenery and vast concentrations of wildlife.
How to Get there
Most safaris in Botswana start and end at either Maun Airport or Kasane Airport. Expert Botswana can arrange scheduled flights for guests with Air Botswana. Daily scheduled flights operate between Johannesburg and Maun and on certain days there are flights between Johannesburg and Kasane. Air Botswana also flies between Windhoek (Namibia) and Maun. Private charters can also be arranged for guests by Expert Botswana.
Game Viewing
For many visitors Botswana offers the most rewarding safari experience due to its diverse variety of wildlife, spectacular scenery and natural environments. The country offers approximately 550 different bird species, over 170 mammal, 80 fish species and well over 3000 recorded plant species. The best lion-viewing occurs in the central and northern regions of the Okavango as well as in the Moremi and Savuti Marsh, along the Linyanti, Kwando and Chobe Rivers. Large concentrations of elephant can be found in the Chobe, Linyanti and Savuti regions, the largest population in Africa can be found here. The Okavango Delta is famous for its lion-buffalo interaction. The rest of the cats, leopard and cheetah occur year round in protected areas such as the Moremi Game Reserve and the Okavango Delta. Cheetahs are also found in the Savuti Marsh and Savuti Channel.
Seasons and Climate
Most of Botswana lies within the tropics, hence some refer to the climate as tropical, however, it would be more accurate to say it is continental semi-arid. Botswana is a dry country and rainfall is generally low and unpredictable. The Okavango Delta is an oasis in this dry and arid country. The summer season is from October to March and is usually hot and wet. Approximately 80% of the rainfall occurs during the months of December to February, also called the rainy season and average temperatures range from 26°Celsius reaching highs of over 40° Celsius. From March to May the day time temperatures become more bearable with cooler nights. The dry winter months are more pleasant, June through to August; the day time temperatures are mild to warm however early mornings and evenings are cold with temperatures dropping below freezing point in some parts of the country.
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is located in the heart of Botswana. The reserve is characterised by extensive open plains, saltpans and ancient riverbeds. The reserve offers good game viewing; a variety of grass, acacia, thorn trees and other drought-resistant plants cover most of Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
- The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the largest conservation area in Botswana and the second largest piece of protected desert land in the world, covering 5 million hectares.
- It is home to the traditional San Bushmen.
- The Central Kalahari Game Reserve offers one of the most remote safari experiences in Africa.
Click here for more information for the Central Kalahari
Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park is situated in the North of Botswana and the Chobe river is undeniably one of the most beautiful and unspoiled rivers of Africa. The park covers an area of approximately 10,566 square kilometres of grassland, mopane and acacia terrain in the far north. It is home to an abundance of wildlife. The riverfront is popular for its enormous herds of Elephant and Buffalo that concentrate to drink from the river in the dry season.
- Chobe National Park is Botswana's premier national park and the second largest in the country.
- The region is home to the largest population of elephants in the world.
- Due to its proximity to Victoria Falls it makes Chobe a very popular and easily accessible destination.
- Guests can enjoy spectacular sunset cruises along the Chobe River.
Click here for more information for the Chobe National Park
Linyanti Savuti Area
The Savuti Channel was dry for a number of years; the area was dry and characterised by open grassland, mopane and acacia woodland; home to large varieties of wildlife and renowned for its exhilarating predator activity. In 2008 the waters returned to the Savute Channel and it once again became a deep clear water channel offering an abundance of wildlife. The area is considered one of the continent's last wild and untouched wilderness areas. The Savuti Marsh area is legendary for featuring in a number of well known wildlife documentaries, especially the National Geographic films by Dereck and Beverly Joubert.
- The Savuti area is renowned for its predator activity.
- Large herds of elephants can be found in the region.
- The camps in the private concessions offer a private and exclusive safari experience.
Click here for more information for the Linyanti Savuti Area
Makgadikgadi Pans
The Makgadikgadi Pans is situated in the central region of Botswana and covers an area of approximately 12 000 square kilometres and is home to the largest salt pans on the planet. Less than 10,000 years ago, climactic changes caused the lake to evaporate, leaving only salt deposits. For most of the year the area is dried up, however, as soon as the first rains fall, the region plays host to a magnificent display of animal life. The water encourages one of Africa's great migrations.
- The area offers a unique safari experience, from breathtaking scenery to romantic starlit bush dinners.
- Learn about the inquisitive nature of the meerkat (Suricate) and enjoy thrilling quad bike rides while exploring the desert.
- Walk with San Bushmen Trackers for a cultural adventure.
- Experience the unique desert wildlife, such as the elusive and rare brown hyena.
Click here for more information for the Makgadikgadi Pans
Moremi Game Reserve
The Moremi Game Reserve has an intriguing and proud history; years ago the area was the traditional hunting grounds of the Batawana people; they proclaimed the reserve in 1963 and during later years the renowned Chiefs Island was added. The area is known for enormous concentrations of plains game and large predators, lions in particular, providing undeniably the best big game viewing in Botswana.
- The Moremi Game Reserve forms part of the world famous Okavango Delta.
- Chiefs Island is the largest landmass in the Okavango Delta offering incredible game viewing all year round.
- The Moremi Game Reserve covers approximately 5 000 square kilometres or prime African wilderness.
Click here for more information for the Moremi Game Reserve
Nxai Pan National Park
The beautiful Nxai Pan National Park is adjacent to the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and is approximately 2,578 km² in size. The highlight of the Nxai Pan is the water hole, situated in the centre of the park in a large grassy plain. Apart from the abundance of wildlife, Kudiakam Pan is also significant as the site of 'Baines' Baobabs', a clump of seven Baobab trees, known as the 'seven sisters' or the 'sleeping sisters' commemorated on canvas by painter and explorer Thomas Baines on 22 May 1862.
- Nxai pan is renowned for its huge springbok population.
- After the first rains an abundance of game migrate to the region offering spectacular game viewing including gemsbok, elephant and zebra.
- The area promises prolific birdlife.
Click here for more information for the Nxai Pan National Park
Okavango Delta
Situated in Botswana, the Okavango Delta is world renowned for offering some of the best and most exciting wildlife safaris in Southern Africa. The Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta in the world and southern Africa's finest wetland; it is characterised by beautiful floodplains, small secluded islands, winding waterways and magnificent scenery. Apart from the beauty of the Okavango Delta, game viewing is outstanding year round.
- The Okavango Delta is undeniably one of Africa's top natural wonders.
- Remote and unspoilt; the Okavango is world renowned to offer the best wildlife viewing on the planet.
- It holds some of the highest biodiversity of wild habitats in the world.
- It offers a haven for bird watchers and keen photographers.
Click here for more information for the Okavango Delta
Tuli Block
The Tuli Block is unlike any other region in the country, offering remarkable natural beauty, vast skies and rich history. The area consists of 12 000 hectares of the largest privately-owned game conservation area in Southern Africa. Known as "the land of the giants" with enormous trees on the banks of the Limpopo River, beautiful riverine forests, rocky landscapes, carved from ancient granite and basalt rocks by numerous river systems over millions of years, the Tuli block, has without a doubt, it's own kind of splendour.
- Renowned for offering adventurous horse safaris.
- Fantastic bird-watching with more than 350 bird species.
- The area has a large elephant population.
- Magnificent scenery, beautiful trees, sites of archaeological and spiritual significance and fascinating geology.
Click here for more information for the Tuli Block
Top Safari Camps in Botswana
We have travelled to all of Botswana's wildlife areas and visited the vast majority of the camps. Below are our suggested camps to include in an incredible itinerary.
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Okavango Delta
Duba Plains, Little Vumbura, Footsteps, Shinde Camp and Khwai Tented Camp.
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Linyanti Savuti Area
Selinda Camp, DumaTau Camp and Zarafa.
- Chobe National Park
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How to plan your Botswana Safari
Welcome to the Expert Botswana website! Where our aim is help you plan and arrange a life changing and memorable Botswana Safari. The easiest way to start planning your Botswana Safari is to review the pages Botswana Safari Basics and Safari Price Guide. These pages aim to point you in the right direction as regards to the costs of a safari to Botswana, and what you should be considering when choosing which safari camps to visit.
Once you have had a chance to review the prices of the camps, we encourage you to contact us, and either Brett or Chris, will be happy to start the planning process with you!
Botswana is a pristine wilderness area, and to see how beautiful the camps are please start by exploring Botswana's most famous wildlife areas, including the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, and the Linyanti Savuti Area.
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