Botswana is a land of untamed wilderness, natural landscapes and dramatic contrast. The array of animals that reside in or pass through the country is phenomenal, as well as the bird life that inhabits the area. The country feels vast and empty in some areas or dense and teeming with life in others but it is always a thing of beauty. It remains refreshingly untouched, providing an authentic and unique safari experience.
TOP 8 PLACES TO VISIT
1.OKAVANGO DELTA
The unspoiled wilderness with terrain ranging from dry grasslands to swamps is one of the most inspiring wilderness locations in Africa. Safaris and game watching are the most popular activities in the park and possible animals to be sighted include cheetahs, zebra, giraffes, elephants, crocodiles and rhinos to name only a few.
2.MOREMI GAME RESERVE
The reserve was voted the best game reserve in 2008 on the African continent. Originally founded by local residents and situated on the east side of the Okavango Delta, the reserve offers some of the most stunning scenery in the country and boasts an equally impressive ecosystem. The park also has a number of great campsites.
3.GABANE
Situated not far from Gaborone and a great location for exploring the hills on foot. The industrious village has a number of small manufacturers such as glassworks, metal and pottery on the aptly named Pelegano Village Industry. The pottery factory is worth a visit due to its shop selling wares such as crockery, vases and other handcrafted decorative items.
4.KASANE
Between the Four Corners of Africa; where Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Zamibia meet, this is where you will find the town. With the Victoria Falls and the Chobe National Park nearby, the town is the ideal place to stay. A huge Baobab tree that was once used as a prison due to its trunk that is so large a human can enter and a snake park that houses around 50 snakes from 17 different species is the main attractions of the town
5.FRANCISTOWN
The town was named after a British man called Daniel Francis. Francistown the oldest and second largest in Botswana was built on gold mining before Europeans came and looked to prosper from it themselves. The main sights in the town include the Supa Ngwao Museum which documents the life and culture of the Kalanga people through various exhibits and a refuge for orphaned wild animals called Birds and Game Botswana.
6.JWANENG
The town’s is built on the richest diamond mine in the world therefore its name literally means the place of small stone. In just one year the mine produced over 13 million carats from a whopping 10.5 million tons worth of ore. The mine also supports the nearby Jwana Game Park which recently introduced two white rhinos.
7.TSODILO HILLS
These imposing rock formations of varying shapes and sizes appeared almost suddenly out of the ground in the northwest Kalahari. The hills are a Unesco World Heritage site and are home to 4000 cave paintings spread out over 200 locations. The cave paintings, along with other evidence, suggests that the hills were first inhabited over 30,000 years ago.
8. KUBU ISLAND
The island is actually a dry granite rock island engulfed by a white sea of salt in the Makgadikgadi Pan. The Island is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Botswana. All proceeds from the protected “national monument” are going towards helping the local community.
OTHER PLACES TO VISIT
- Maun
- Gaborone
- Chobe National Park
- Central Kalahari Game Reserve
- Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
- Kalahari Desert
- Nzai Pan National Park
- Linyanti Wildlife Reserve
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park
- Chobe River
- Khama Rhino Sanctuary
- Tuli Block
- Savuti National Park
- Three Chief’s Statues
- Khwai River Bridge
- National Assembly Building
- Kuminda Farm
- Christ the King Cathedral
- Krishna Balaram Palace
- Sri Balaji Temple
- Trinity Church
The best way to get around in Botswana is by Combi’s, Taxis or Buses.
The best time to visit them is from May to September, during the Dry season and winter. The Okavango is flooded from June to October. Wildlife viewing is good year-round, but this can differ for some parks.
