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Areas of Interest | Best Time to Travel | Climate | Currency | Electricity | Entrance Fees | Flights | Health | Information | Roads-Transport | Topography | Visas | What to Pack |
The winter months, i.e. June to September are the best to experience the game in Botswana and the fabulous swamps for a couple reasons; 1 The temperature has cooled to bearable levels. 2 The swamps are filled with the floodwater and the inland has dried up sending the herds of animals to the permanent waters of the perennial rivers and waterholes. This is however also the peak season and prices increase dramatically. Low season November to May still offer a great experience but not quite the same as the dry season. The shoulder season i.e. October and November can be very rewarding if you can brave the heat. The country is on the whole very dry with rainfall between Summer is from September to April with May to August being the winter months. Temperatures in the summer can rise up to 40% and in winter they are in the middle twenties during the day but the nights can become quite chilly. The wet season is during the summer months and from January to April which results in the open plains and pans growing a healthy covering of grass which makes game spotting that much more difficult. As the rains pool and fill the water holes the animal concentrations disperse and game viewing is not as spectacular as in the dry winter months when the game congregate together at the few perennial water sources such as the Chobe, Linyanti, Kwando and Okavango Rivers. The winter months see the grasslands dry up and become almost desert like and game viewing is at its very best when huge herds of elephant, buffalo, wildebeest and zebra can be seen together with the accompanying predators. On the other hand the rain falling in the Angolan highlands put south and flood the Okavango Delta from about May to early October resulting in the swamps with reed lined waterways the area is famous for.
The unit of currency is the Pula. Visitors to the region can however happily use US dollars and indeed most lodges set their prices using this currency. This has the result in making this a very expensive destination for those with weak currencies when compared to the US Dollar but the experience is one of the true wilderness experiences in the world. Only in the main cities such as Gaborone, Maun and Francis Town can you count on being able to draw money and change currency. At most of the private lodges Visa, Master Card and Diners Club cards are accepted, but not American Express. Power is AC220 V and in the remote camps this is provide by generators that give 32volt lighting for nighttime use. All National Parks have entrance fees per person and fees for vehicles entering. These fees are included in most of the packages to the private lodges in the area but self-drive clients will be expected to pay the fees on entry in cash. South African Airways and Air Botswana fly into Gaborone with Air Botswana flying into Maun and Kasane from Johannesburg. Most camps have airstrips that are served by the many charter companies that serve the area flying out of Maun or Kasane. You can also fly into Livingstone and Victoria Falls with road transfers into Kasane, a mere 70km journey. All camps have filtration systems and the water is drinkable in most places with the exception of the larger towns where it is advisable to drink bottled water. Botswana is the worst hit country in the world with over 33% of its inhabitants being infected with the HIV virus. Insurance Clients are urged to ensure, prior to arrival, that they are sufficiently insured against all possible risks including death, personal injury, medical expenses, baggage loss, theft and cancellation or curtailment of tour. It is essential due the remoteness of most of the camps to have medical evacuation insurance. Speak to your travel agent or order from our website. Botswana is one of the few success stories in Africa, politically, economically and eco-tourism wise. Over 30% of the country has been set aside for wildlife and the tourism companies have to manage their operations within very strict guidelines and carrying capacities in keeping with Botswana's decision to follow a policy of high quality/low volume tourism. Local communities benefit as the tourism companies have to train and employ local people and have to pay large amounts to the communities and government for the privilege of being their. This all results in a sustainable industry that already employs 45% of the peoples living in northern Botswana. The roads in Botswana are few and far between. The main roads linking the cities and large towns are tarred but secondary roads are little more than gravel tracks most of Botswana is only accessible by 4x4 vehicles. Due to the lack of sign posting it is essential that all visitors are equipped with GPS to access the lodges and camps in the National Parks and wildlife reserves. Most the camps in the Okavango Delta are only accessible by charter plane out of Maun and Kasane. Botswana is virtually the same size as France, Kenya or Texas. It is situated in the centre of Southern Africa having Namibia on its West, Angola and Zambia to the north, Zimbabwe on its east and South Africa covering the eastern and southern borders. The country is very flat and arid, being three quarters desert with the eastern section, where most of the population lives, having a slightly wetter climate. This serves to emphasise the uniqueness of the Okavango Delta, a wetland in desert. The Okavango River starts in the highlands of Angola and fans out into the Delta that has become world famous for its reed-lined waterways, its game and its unspoilt wilderness experience.
No visas are required for South African Passport Holders.
Nationals of the following countries do not require visas for stays not exceeding 90 days:
All Commonwealth Countries (except) Ghana, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Greece, Iceland, Ireland Rep. Italy, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Samoa (western), San Marino, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, USA and Yougoslavia.
Cost: Pula 25 Generally, casual comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year. The most practical items to pack for safari are: Blouses with long sleeves (even in summer, they will protect you from the sun and from mosquitoes), shorts or a light skirt, jeans or safari trousers for evenings and cooler days, fleece or sweater and a warm jacket for game drives (necessary, even in summer), comfortable walking shoes, sun block, sunglasses, hat, insect repellent, binoculars and a camera, light, compact raincoat is a good idea for the summer, swimsuit, towel, torch and sleeping bag for camping safaris (sleeping bags can be hired from most safari operators), Elegant casual outfit for dinner and/or cocktails at the smarter hotels and restaurants - men are generally expected to don collar, jacket (sometimes even a tie) in cocktail bars and restaurants after 18:30, except in the warmer parts of the country and at the game lodges. Layers are most practical for the fluctuating day/night temperatures of Botswana. Dull and/or neutral colours are more suitable for safari, white is not practical. It is best to pack hardy, durable clothing. If you are travelling with an organised safari, it is important to check what your weight limit is. Generally you will need to restrict your luggage to 10-12 kg (packed in a soft bag) plus a reasonable amount of camera equipment. Okavango Delta The Okavango River has its origins in the highlands of Central Africa where from May to early October the river floods, spilling into the fan shaped Okavango Delta. The water courses through this huge, 10 000 square kilometres of flood plain and dissipates in the sands of the Kalahari. Floods pour down into the Okavango River and flow on through a vast network of narrow waterways, lagoons and broad expanses of the Okavango Delta. Okavango is frequently called a swamp, but mostly its waters are beautifully clear and blue. Each summer, most of the Okavango waters are soaked up by the desert, or evaporate. In good years, a fraction may remain to flood Lake Ngami in the south and feed the Boteti River, which runs into Lake Xau in the west and eventually into the huge depression of the Makgadikgadi Pan. The floods cover vast grass flats making thousands of islands out of tree-covered ridges of land. Thick papyrus grows everywhere and, in the northern parts of the delta, chokes the waterways so that they are impenetrable except by canoes. From October to April the flood levels drop and the floodplains turn into savannah grasslands. There are sections of the Delta that are permanent and offer a year round Delta experience in other areas the mokoro experiences are best from May to October when the water levels are high. Giant Umbrella Thorns and Ilala Palms dot the expansive plains to create a magnificent savannah landscape alongside the marshes and floodplains of the Delta. Ebony, marula, knobthorn, garcinia and fig trees dominate Okavango forests. Large herds of Buffalo, lions main prey in the region, Lechwe, Sable and all the plain's game dot the savannah and Elephant feed on the islands. Activities in the Delta include game watching in vehicles, boats, mokoro excursions, walking safaris, bird watching and getting away from it all.
Bordered on the north by the Chobe River, a perennial river fed by the floodwaters of the Zambezi and its drain off during the dry season. The river is world renown for the large concentrations of game that pack its banks during the dry season resulting in one of the wildlife spectacles of Africa. South of the river the vast endless landscapes, open plains, ancient baobab trees and woodlands dominate the landscape and are home to the largest concentration of elephants in the world numbering approximately 45000 individuals. Further south the Savuti area is an area of sweeping expanses of savannah brooded over by rocky outcrops the guard the edges of the now dry marsh. The Savuti Channel, with its origin in the Linyanti Swamps, last flowed in 1982. Due to tectonic movement in the earth's crust in the region of its source the channel was cut off and has never flowed since with the channel becoming excellent grasslands with waterholes sustaining large amounts of game. Along the channel you will find mopane and acacia forests. The Savuti area is well known for its lions. Linyanti Region This area consists of 125 000 hectares of prime wildlife countryside. The Linyanti Reserve is bordered in the north by the Linyanti River, which is called the Kwando River in its Namibia its northern neighbour, and the Chobe River in the east. Two thirds of the Savuti Channel is situated in this reserve. Most of the area is characterised by open grassland, riverine forest, mixed terminalia woodland and the dry Savuti Channel. The region's key feature is the Linyanti River and its marshes. Massive lagoons and steadily flowing rivers abound in reed and papyrus swamps, which are home to numerous, and diverse bird species. The area is most noted for its very large concentration of elephant populations, which move to the Linyanti River at the start of the winter months and only retrace their steps inland once the rains arrive in October.
The gentle waters of the Okavango Delta course through the harsh sands of the Kalahari Desert, bringing life to this vast landscape. The unique diversity of the habitat, unrivalled in Africa, is know for its beauty and profusion of wildlife, home to some of the greatest herds of Sable and Roan antelope, side by side with Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Zebra Giraffe and Lechwe. Towering forests of ancient Mopane trees and open savannah mingle with seasonal flood plains, lagoons and riverine vegetation. The varied habitat also attracts most of the 550 bird species of Botswana, making this a bird watchers paradise. Many travellers regard the Moremi Wildlife Reserve as the most spectacular and beautiful game park in Southern Africa. It covers more than 1000 square kilometres of grassy flood plains in the northeastern corner of the Okavango Delta. Apart from savannah, the terrain includes winding waterways with banks of reeds, palm-covered islands, thick forest and lush, lily-covered lagoons where hippos bathe and sport. With such a wide variety of vegetation comes an incredibly wide spectrum of wild life. Huge herds of impala and tsessebe are always in the area, while in the dry season large herds of buffalo, wildebeest and zebra flock into the park from the Kalahari in search of food and water. The rare sitatunga and lechwe antelope live in the papyrus banks of the waterways. Lions, cheetahs and packs of wild dogs hunt in the open grassland. Unlike most other game parks, Moremi allows visitors to approach game on foot.
Two big fossil lakebeds flank the main road from Francistown to Maun - the Makgadikgadi Pan on the southern side and the Nxai Pan in the north. Makgadikgadi is believed to be the largest salt pan in the world. When dry, which is most of the time, it is 6 500 square kilometres of glaring saline sand, white and absolutely flat. When the waters of the Okavango spill down the Boteti River after good summer rains, the whole area of the pan is flooded to a depth of a few centimetres, providing rich feeding for aquatic birds. Flamingoes and countless pelicans descend on Makgadikgadi. Great herds of big game - wildebeest, zebra and springbok - water here and herds 10 000 strong can sometimes be seen on the plains besides the pan. In the pan itself, animals stand out in startling fashion on the white salt, their legs shimmering and elongated through mirage caused by heatwaves and glare. Both pans have been designated national game reserves. At Makgadikgadi the main road run along the edge of the pan, which makes for easy viewing. At Nxai, a road has been built leading from the main road over a high sand ridge. Nxai is a much smaller depression than Makgadikgadi. Down in the pan small clumps of trees dominate a sea of grass cropped short by the game. There are nearly always giraffe, springbok, bat-eared foxes and hartebeest in the area. In the rainy season migratory herds of gemsbok, wildebeest, buffalo, eland, zebra and elephant swell the numbers and as many as 5 000 head of game have been seen in the pan at one time. Near Nxai is another pan, Kgamakgama, where there are baobab trees and palms. In recent years both Makgadikgadi and Nxai have begun to be mined for salt, soda ash, sodium sulphate and bromides. Kgalagadi Transfontier Park - (formerly the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park) The most remote of Botswana's game reserves takes its name from the magnificent gemsbok, also known as the oryx, an antelope with majestic, slender horns so sharp they command respect even of lions. The Gemsbok National Park covers more than 11 000 square kilometres of desert in the extreme southwest of the country, an area where the annual rainfall seldom rises above 125 millimetres. It is home to huge herds of gemsbok and other antelope, like the eland, which are capable of living for long periods without water, obtaining moisture from roots and succulent plants. It is also home of the famous black-maned lions, as well as smaller members of the cat family. The park is the oldest in Botswana, having been established in the 1930s. Today, the Gemsbok National Park forms Africa's first trans-frontier park with the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa, facilitating the seasonal migration of wildlife in search of water, and movement of free-roaming predators. The new 38000 km2 park, known as Kgalagadi ('land of thirst'), represents an increasingly rare phenomenon in the world: a vast ecosystem relatively free of human influence. Central Kalahari Game Reserve Larger than Belgium or Switzerland, the 52800 square kilometre Central Kalahari Game Reserve, which was set up in 1961, is the largest game reserve in the world. Situated right in the very centre of Botswana, this reserve is characterised by vast open plains, salt pans and ancient riverbeds. Varying from sand dunes with many species of trees and scrubs in the north, to flat bushveld in the central area, the reserve is more heavily wooded in the south, with mopane forests to the south and east. Rainfall is sparse and sporadic and can vary from 170 to 700 millimetres per year. The people commonly known throughout the world as Bushmen, have been resident in and around the area for probably thousands of years. They now live in settlements, some of which were situated within the southern half of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The Deception Valley area of the park is where Mark and Delia Owens were undertaking research mainly on brown hyena. The name "Deception" comes from a pan in the area of which the dry surface at times appears convincingly full of water until one gets right to the edge. The main wildlife concentrations are to be found in the tourist areas in the northern half of this vast reserve but it is possible for adventurous and completely self-contained visitors to travel through the reserve between Khutse on the southern boundary to the northern section - a journey which takes minimum 2 days of 4x4 wilderness travelling. Undeveloped campsites are available for overnight stops at Molapo, Gope, Bape and Xaka. Those visitors wishing to travel trans-Kalahari should note that, apart from being self-contained with all fuel, food and water, they should only travel in a group of 2 or more vehicles with basic spares and survival aids. Game viewing for animals, which include giraffe, brown hyena, warthog, wild dog, cheetah, leopard, lion, blue wildebeest, eland, gemsbok, kudu, red hartebeest and springbok, is best between December and April, when the animals tend to congregate in the pans and valleys.
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Chobe
Moremi Wild life Reserve
Makgadikgadi Pans
