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Write a User ReviewGreat choice for top end safaris
Botswana is great. It has the flat, empty expanses of wilderness that most of us associate with Africa, but which are so hard to find nowadays with the vast population growth and land shortages which affect most African states. Driving from Namibia towards Maun it is pretty mindblowing to think that to the right of the road there is almost nothing but untouched wilderness stretching all the way to South Africa, whilst to the left of the road are the wetlands of the Okavango Delta followed by the Moremi Game Reserve, with its packs of African Wild Dogs.
Unfortunately, we were in a Honda Jazz. Small hatchbacks are not designed for Moremi, the Okagango or the Makgadikgadi Pans, so we stopped in Maun to consider our options. After two days searching in vain for a low-budget, organised camping
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trip into any one of the nearby parks, which involved me getting the car stuck in sand in the entrance to a hotel and having to be pushed out by local children, we gave up and drove to Chobe. The last hundred or so kilometres were done very slowly on a space saver spare tyre after we were eaten by a large pothole north of Francistown.My only criticism of Botswana therefore is that there is very little infrastructure for the independent tourist; the entire tourism sector is geared towards high end fly-in safaris. Having said that, it will be the first country in Southern Africa that I return to - purely because I didn't have the money to see everything the first time around. To be truthful, I spent more on petrol than on seeing animals.
The only real exception to the rule is Chobe National Park. It is readily accessible from Victoria Falls and makes a great add on if you are visiting Livingstone or the Zimbabwean side. There are hotels in every price range, and you can park your small Japanese car outside the Avis office at the airport and leave it there. While you are spotting beasts, some poor Botswanan has the unenviable task of driving it the thousand and odd kilometers back to Johannesburg on a space saver as spare tyres of that size are not available anywhere further north.
Several hotels along the road in Chobe have boat and safari vehicle trips into the park, which is great. The boat trips get you close up to elephants, hippos, various antelopes and lots of birds, whilst the jeep safaris are great for lion and all the more common species - we saw a porcupine (the only one I have ever seen), and only just missed some wild dogs. Chobe is easily comparable to good National Parks in neighbouring countries, and it is something of a shame that it gets overshadowed by Botswana's star attractions further West.
If I come into money, I'll be straight back onto the plane to Botswana to do all the things I couldn't afford to do last time around. If you're on a budget, you'll do much better to stick to South Africa or Namibia, where your money will go much further.
T Sharp
Visited:
October 2010
Reviewed: Jul 29, 2013
Deep in the Heart of the Chobi Reserve
I had to good fortune to spend two weeks in the Chobe National Park & the adjacent game reserve, and have never seen so many elephants in my life. It is a beautiful park, and is teeming with wildlife. It was also a nice respite to not have as many tsetse flies following you around. The local guides we were with were elephant experts, and had even names certain ones based on the tracks they left, and could tell elaborate stories of how they spent their days based on their comings and going. The weather was very mild for Africa standards, and the abundance of water at the time made for some great game viewing. I highly recommend this area, especially for people who don't have a lot of experience on safari, as this would be a great entry level safari. You're definitely going to see lots of wildlife.
Vivienne
Visited:
May 2011
Reviewed: Dec 23, 2013
Best time to visit Botswana
Botswana is a beautiful country. If it's wildlife spotting you're after, try the Chobe National Park - it's the country's second-largest national park. Summer lasts between November and March so I would recommend going outside of those months as it can get extremely hot. Have a look here for more advice on the best time to visit - http://www.safaribookings.com/botswana/best-time
JivZ
Visited:
June 2007
Reviewed: Nov 2, 2011
The real bush vibe
Botswana is relatively unknown to tourists, yet provides all the wildlife and scenery you expect from a safari. When booking always ask for the possibility to stay inside the parks. There are private camping areas so it will be only you, the guide(s) and the wildlife. One night when sitting around the campfire in one of the parks a huge male elephant came rushing through the bushes and passed us within 10 meters. These kind of thrills are almost impossible in other African countries.
We stayed here with a guide and a cook on a private safari, while staying as much as possible inside the parks. As sidetrips we took a flight above the Okavanga Delta and spent two days in nearby Zambia to visit the Victoria Falls including a helicopter flight. Both were fantastic experiences well worth the money.
As the infrastructure inside the parks (and sometimes also outside the parks) is not always developed, do not try to attempt to book a self-drive unless you are very experienced in off-road driving.
Mandy Dickinson
GB
Visited:
December 2024
Reviewed: Jan 31, 2025
Email Mandy Dickinson | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Botswana has wonderful wildlife and friendly people - great place for a holiday
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him as he scent marked along his territory. It had been raining and our guide said that, he is staying near the road as he does not want to get his fur wet in the long grass. Eventually as he walked away from the road he was spotted by the Impala, a great noise they all made warning of his presence. We were doing luxury camping, it was very comfortable but often very hot and washing water was in short supply. Our guide was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the wildlife and fauna but sometimes he over egged the pudding.
Jacobus Kriel
ZA
Visited:
December 2024
Reviewed: Jan 30, 2025
Email Jacobus Kriel | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Botswana is for the nature lover!! Will go back for the 3rd time soon
This time was a quick self organized tour to Moremi and south west only but again a highlight for us
Lesley
GB
Visited:
November 2024
Reviewed: Nov 26, 2024
Email Lesley | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Elephant heaven!
Our one day safari into Botswana was dealt with efficiently and quickly at the border. Our day was split between river and land. Both were enjoyable and fun. However, we were disappointed not to have seen any big cats, mainly seeing elephants, giraffe and antelope. Nonetheless, it was a good intro for someone on their first safari experience.
Caroline Mari
UY
Visited:
September 2024
Reviewed: Nov 4, 2024
Email Caroline Mari | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It is enjoyable to see animals in their natural environment
The Okavango Delta a different experience. We saw many elephants very close and hippos. The guide was very kind and careful. In Moremi we were able to see lionesses with their babies, giraffes, elephants, and some birds.
Anja Luecking
DE
Visited:
September 2024
Reviewed: Oct 12, 2024
Email Anja Luecking | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Vast wilderness and wildlife
I was a solo female traveler and felt well protected and looked after by the crew of my tour operator Xaa Safaris. I had a spacious tent with an en-suite bathroom and loved hearing the animals at night: lions roaring, hyaenas howling, elephants rumbling and hippos barking. I was great to watch the elephants strolling through the campsite in Khwai during the day, and I even encountered an elephant drinking out of a my wash basin while I was inside the tent! We saw lions a few times in Savuti and Moremi, came across a pack of wild dogs and a bat-eared fox couple and had a great leopard sighting where we spent quite some time with the animal. Apart from that we enjoyed spotting many gracious giraffes, a lot of hippos and elephants, but also saw also the rarer sable and roan antilopes and ground hornbill. It was good fun and excitement to track
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lion, leopard or hyaena.After the safari I spent a few days in Maun and went on a one day trip to Okavango delta.
I can recommend Botswana as a travel destination for its vast wilderness and wildlife. Looking forward to return and see other areas like the salt pans and Kalahari.
Nicola Cappelletti
IT
Visited:
September 2015
Reviewed: Dec 31, 2015
Email Nicola Cappelletti | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic wildlife, great landscapes but a bit too crowdy.