Why Botswana? The vast isolation of remote reserves, a remarkable flatness that stretches as far as the eye can see. A natural beauty of extraordinary wildlife in the Kalahari Desert and the fan-like waters of the Okavango Delta.
~ Botswana’s diverse geography and flat terrain make it one of the most intriguing destinations to visit. The savanna varies from the dry areas of the southwest to the large northern salt pans of the Makgadikgadi.
~ Okavango Delta one of the world's finest natural wonders, an inland oasis created by the summer rains of the Angolan highlands. In 2014 the Okavango became the 1000th UNESCO world heritage site. Seasonal months bring amazing diversity and dark afternoon thunderstorms are a spectacular sight.
~ Okavango Delta one of the world's finest natural wonders, an inland oasis created by the summer rains of the Angolan highlands. In 2014 the Okavango became the 1000th UNESCO world heritage site. Seasonal months bring amazing diversity and dark afternoon thunderstorms are a spectacular sight.
~ In summer wildlife are able to drink from various waterholes and shelter in the undergrowth, away from the midday heat. The Tswana people make up a majority of Botswana’s population with the official language being English.
~ Setswana is widely spoken with other languages including Kalanga, Sara, Ndebele and certain areas of the country Afrikaans. The San people known as Bushmen or Basarwa are indigenous hunter and gathers, living in various parts of Botswana and Southern Africa today.
~ Setswana is widely spoken with other languages including Kalanga, Sara, Ndebele and certain areas of the country Afrikaans. The San people known as Bushmen or Basarwa are indigenous hunter and gathers, living in various parts of Botswana and Southern Africa today.
WHEN TO TRAVEL
Okavango Delta waterways and beautiful clear days, each season has its own individual characteristic. This is what makes Botswana unique, varying contrasts of ecosystems that enable wildlife to be viewed year round.
Seasons are generally divided into two, however like Malawi there is a transition season. Green season, the Okavango floodplains are at their lowest and in some areas are replaced by a grass like green. Predators prey on the young making for great interaction and photography. The contrast of the thunderstorm clouds, backdrop against the landscape darkening the mood.
Summer days in Botswana are hot and temperatures can reach 38 degrees, with the night temperatures being cooler. Migratory birdlife make for excellent sightings and photographic opportunities. During the drier winter months there is virtually little or no rain and low humidity, in the Kalahari days are more extreme. With colder mornings to warm days and freezing nights.
REGION FOCUS
Exceptional wildlife photography, arid desert plains, majestic waterways and islands. The Okavango a wetland oasis within a desert, ancient valleys and white salt pans.
An area of untamed beauty and wildlife opportunities, each of the regions in Botswana have a special uniqueness that will never be forgotten. Chobe National Park in the north has the highest concentration of elephant, lush floodplains and the Chobe river are a major feature in dry season. The Okavango Delta one of the most amazing phenomenas in the world a wildlife sanctuary of waterways, lagoons and varying channels.
Angolan highlands bring annual floodwaters to create this desert oasis, the ecosystem supports an array of wildlife. Central Kalahari is vast, arid and flat, the desert dunes are covered in a scrub like appearance. Summer rains bring the desert to life with a contrast of plains game, newborn calves and darkening storm clouds. Nomadic San, Bushmen and Basarwa resident in the area for thousands of years still pass on age old traditions to younger generations.
Intimate island camps, with pods of grunting hippos and playful elephants.
Changing seasons, waterways of the delta floodplains gradually start to fill. Wildlife is abundant on the water’s edge, mokoros glide along with only a touch of sound.
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One of nature’s natural wonders a wetland oasis, a wildlife sanctuary and raw untouched beauty. This epic journey of water that travels down the Okavango River through Caprivi originates from the Angolan highlands. A mere distance of 1300km before spanning out to what makes the fan like shape we see today. The delta covers and area of approximately 15,000 and can extend up to 22,000 square kilometres during the wet season, it comprises of meandering waterways, grass edged lagoons, various shaped islands and lush vegetation. With the earths geographic make up the Okavango is situated on an area of faults, giving us three prominent features, the panhandle, the delta and dry land.
Each of these has a different wildlife or cultural aspect, which is attractive to the human eye for certain times of the year. Large herds of elephant and buffalo are seen in the Okavango along with the black and white rhino, that have recently been introduced into the Moremi game reserve area.
Hyena lurk around at sunset, especially Abu Camp, in search of some opportunistic moments.
Each of these has a different wildlife or cultural aspect, which is attractive to the human eye for certain times of the year. Large herds of elephant and buffalo are seen in the Okavango along with the black and white rhino, that have recently been introduced into the Moremi game reserve area.
Hyena lurk around at sunset, especially Abu Camp, in search of some opportunistic moments.
Fascinating termite mounds, leopards and mopane woodlands.
Remote wilderness and a quietness greets you on arrival at Linyanti’s airstrip. The landscape and mopane woodlands are a haven for wild dog, lions and leopard waiting patiently for their prey. The Linyanti river, a spectacular arena for hippos, elephants and a beautiful African sunset.
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The Linyanti wildlife reserve borders the Chobe National park in the north, its enormous area of 125,000 hectares and remoteness, creates a sanctuary for wildlife. The Savute Channel and the Linyanti river are major water sources. The Linyanti river is perennial and supplies swampy marshes, lagoons and channels all year round. Cathedral mopane woodlands, riverine forests and sausage trees are just a few varities that make up this lush vegetation.
You will often see red lechwe and sitatunga in these marshy areas while elephants predominantly visit in the drier winter months. Linyanti is a home to a wide range of predators such as lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena. The endangered wild dog stronghold is a major feature, including the striking roan and sable antelope that are often seen eating in their preferred broad leafed woodlands.
Birdlife is abundant all year round with a variety of species, the crested francolin, arnott’s chat, red necked falcon, egyptian geese and red billed hornbills.
You will often see red lechwe and sitatunga in these marshy areas while elephants predominantly visit in the drier winter months. Linyanti is a home to a wide range of predators such as lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena. The endangered wild dog stronghold is a major feature, including the striking roan and sable antelope that are often seen eating in their preferred broad leafed woodlands.
Birdlife is abundant all year round with a variety of species, the crested francolin, arnott’s chat, red necked falcon, egyptian geese and red billed hornbills.
Blanket of stars, a desert with a touch of the unknown.
Meerkats, San bushmen and black-maned lions, are only a few mammals that call this expansive desert reserve home. Bright stars blanket the sky in the cool of night and in seasonal months, days are alive with wildlife.
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Central Kalahari Game reserve in the centre of Botswana, is an area of 52,800 kms square, and the second largest game reserve in the world. The striking characteristics of sand dunes, arid desert plains, salt pans, ancient river beds and nomadic bushmen, are only a few of the features that make up this vast wilderness. A magnificent contrast to the northern area’s of Botswana.
Rainfall is nearly non existent with summer thunderstorms being the exception, as they are brief and erratic.
Significant wildlife populations are in the Kalahari, impressive herds of springbok, gemsbok and red hartebeest. Plains game move seasonally between the dunes and valley, with winter game concentrating around waterholes. Smaller mammals such as the meerkat, bat eared - cape foxes and desert pygmy mouse can also be seen.
Predators like the Kalahari’s black maned lion are found especially in the northern regions and are attracted by the huge amount of plains game after the summer rains. Additional wildlife to be seen are honey badgers, cheetah, wildebeest and zebra.
Rainfall is nearly non existent with summer thunderstorms being the exception, as they are brief and erratic.
Significant wildlife populations are in the Kalahari, impressive herds of springbok, gemsbok and red hartebeest. Plains game move seasonally between the dunes and valley, with winter game concentrating around waterholes. Smaller mammals such as the meerkat, bat eared - cape foxes and desert pygmy mouse can also be seen.
Predators like the Kalahari’s black maned lion are found especially in the northern regions and are attracted by the huge amount of plains game after the summer rains. Additional wildlife to be seen are honey badgers, cheetah, wildebeest and zebra.
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