Botswana
Unique and utterly unspoilt
Summary
Indulge in Botswana Africa with a five-star twist. With a low impact tourism policy and some of the greatest wealth on the continent, Botswana offers the discerning traveller a unique opportunity to experience an African safari in style amongst a selection of high end lodges. Here you’ll also discover Africa’s largest elephant population and the incomparable Okavango Delta, best explored from a traditional ‘mokoro’ or dugout canoe.
Highlights
- Explore Botswana’s incredible Okavango Delta on horseback, by helicopter, in a traditional canoe or by hot air balloon.
- Indulge in some of Africa’s most luxurious safari lodges and safari camps often catering for intimate groups of 10-20 guests.
- Cruise on the Chobe River in Chobe National Park on a luxurious houseboat for a unique river safari travel experience.
- Paddle right up to a lodge’s riverside bar or boma for a sundowner or evening of celebrations under the clear African night sky.
- Solid infrastructure thanks to the African nations’ financial and political stability means safe and easy travelling.
$USD 1,300-3,200 Per person, per day
Safari camps or hotels, inter-camp flights, game drives, ground transfers, guided excursions, most meals, park fees. Seasonality affects the price of accommodation and travelling in low season may reduce the price. Single supplements may also apply.
Elephants are so plentiful that our guide would simply wave a hand nonchalantly whenever we saw one and say, 'A. B. E.' (Another Big Elephant)
Stephanie Merrit, The Guardian
When to travel
Botswana’s dry season, from May to October, offers clear skies, little rain, fewer mosquitoes and excellent game viewing. Discover the best time to travel to Botswana. See monthly average temperatures and rainfall below for tourism capital Maun. Please note, each countries geographic terrain varies and therefore so does the weather so talk to us to find out the best time to visit specific destinations within Botswana.
- 30°c
- 25°c
- 20°c
- 15°c
- 10°c
- 5°c
- 0°c
- 100 mm
- 80 mm
- 60 mm
- 40 mm
- 20 mm
- 0 mm
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sept
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
- Birding
- Okavango Delta
FAQ
1. How do I get to & around Botswana?
Arrive into Johannesburg South Africa via any of the main airlines and you will find many connecting flights or charter flights to take you to the heart of the Okavango Delta or Chobe National Park.
Many of the remote Delta safari camps require light plane access. It’s a fantastic way to get around the country and see Botswana from a unique vantage point.
2. How long should I spend in Botswana?
When travelling to Botswana allow one week to experience the Okavango Delta and a brief visit to Makgadikgadi salt pans. But why not add a few more days to experience travelling to Linyanti or Selinda or cruise in a luxurious houseboat on the Queen Zambezi. Bookings are required in advance as most camps are small and intimate. Botswana is considered expensive, so this is worth taking this into consideration when thinking about your budget.
3. Will Botswana suit my travel style?
If you are after a African safari experience like no other, Botswana is a great destination offering superb animal watching opportunities, high comfort and incredibly diverse landscapes. In fact, you’ll find some of Africa’s most luxurious experiences in Botswana so perfect for anyone who loves the finer things in life. Wildlife seekers can discover Africa’s largest elephant population due to clever conservation initiatives.
4. What attractions and experiences can I find in Botswana?
You will find some amazing attractions and natural African landscapes in Botswana including Chobe National Park, Kalahari Desert, Okavango Delta, Tsodilo, Khama Rhino Sanctuary and Moremi Reserve. Here you can find some of the world’s unique bird species, take a horse riding safari, spot rare wildlife and take a trip down the Okavango in a traditional Moroko canoe.
5. What is the overall vibe of Botswana?
Solid infrastructure thanks to the African nations’ financial and political stability means safe and easy travelling. Trained chefs cook food on the camps and you will eat very well, note that is often western style food so get your local African food fix in one of Africa’s capital cities.
6. What essential information should I know before visiting?
Visas: Australian citizens do not need visas to visit Botswana for up to 90 days.
Health: Anti-malarials are required. We recommend visiting your travel doctor for the latest information on travel vaccinations.
Language: English is an official language in Botswana along with Setswana, in all camps you will find English commonly spoken.
Currency: Pula is the local currency. Pula literally means “rain” in Setswana because rain is very scarce in Botswana — home to much of the Kalahari Desert — and therefore valuable and a blessing. We recommend travelling with some US dollars, especially for tipping.
Accommodation: Many lodges are boutique with up to 12 rooms each so it is wise to book well in advance, ideally 12 months to avoid missing out.
Are you ready for the journey of a lifetime?
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