Botswana is the ultimate wilderness. The government made a choice years ago: they wanted "low volume, high value" tourism. This means fewer visitors, smaller camps, and vast areas of land that feel completely private. If you want to see Africa as it was 100 years ago, you come here.
There are no fences. Animals roam freely across an ecosystem that includes the world's largest inland delta and the thirstlands of the Kalahari. It is a country of extremes, where water gives life to a desert, and where the silence is only broken by the call of a fish eagle.
The Okavango Delta
This is the jewel of Botswana. Every year, floodwaters from Angola flow roughly 1,000 kilometers to create a massive oasis in the middle of the desert. The water doesn't reach the sea; it spreads out and evaporates, creating a paradise for wildlife.
The best way to explore it is by mokoro. These dug-out canoes (guided by a poler standing at the back) glide silently through the reeds. You see tiny painted reed frogs, hear hippos snorting in deep pools, and watch elephants wading across channels. On the islands, leopards hunt in the tall grass. It is peaceful, beautiful, and full of life.
Chobe National Park
If you like elephants, Chobe is the place to be. It has the highest concentration of elephants in Africa. During the dry season, thousands of them gather along the riverfront to drink and swim.
A boat cruise on the Chobe River at sunset is spectacular. You drift past herds of buffalo, pods of hippos, and crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks. The sky turns deep orange, and the silhouette of an elephant family against the sun is the classic African image.
The Kalahari and Makgadikgadi
South of the Delta lies the Kalahari Desert. It is not endless sand dunes, but fossil river valleys covered in golden grass. This is the home of the black-maned lion and the cheetah.
Nearby, the Makgadikgadi Pans are the remains of a super-lake that dried up thousands of years ago. The white salt crust stretches to the horizon. In the wet season, it fills with water and attracts flamingos and a migration of zebras that rivals the Serengeti. This is also where you can sit with habituated meerkats who might just use your head as a lookout post.
Moremi Game Reserve
Moremi covers the eastern part of the Okavango Delta. It was the first reserve in Africa established by local tribes on their own land. It combines dry land and wetlands, which means the diversity of game is incredible.
Wild dogs thrive here. These endangered predators are rare elsewhere but frequently seen in Moremi. Watching a pack hunt with their incredible coordination is a high-speed thrill.
Accommodation Style
Botswana is famous for its tented camps. But these are not ordinary tents. They are spacious suites with canvas walls, wooden decks, and often outdoor showers or private plunge pools.
Many camps are only accessible by light aircraft. The flight itself is a safari, offering views of the Delta's channels and animal herds below. Because the camps are small (often just 8-12 beds), the service is personal and the atmosphere is intimate.
When to Go
The dry winter months (May to October) are peak season. The days are sunny and warm, but nights can be cold. The Delta floodwaters are highest from June to August, making it the perfect time for water activities.
The "Green Season" (November to April) is hot and brings afternoon thunderstorms. The landscape turns emerald green, and many animals give birth. It is a fantastic time for photography and birdwatching, with lower rates and fewer other travelers.
