Explore the Wilds of Botswana – The Ultimate Safari

Botswana, a landlocked gem in the heart of Southern Africa, is a safari enthusiast’s dream. Imagine the sight of thousands of pink flamingos painting a vibrant landscape, the awe-inspiring presence of Africa’s largest elephant population, and the tranquil glide of a mokoro safari through the Okavango Delta. These are just a few of the unique exploits that await in this incredible country.

From the bustling capital of Gaborone to the remote and luxurious safari camps scattered across its wilderness, Botswana offers a diverse range of adventures. It is home to stunning landscapes, the iconic Big Five, sprawling national parks, and some of the largest mammal migrations on the continent. The people are friendly, the streets rather safe and the photos will be coveted by all your friends.

For an unforgettable African safari, Botswana is a must-visit destination. Its breathtaking landscapes and unique experiences are truly one-of-a-kind, making it an essential addition to any traveler’s bucket list.

Planning Your Trip to Botswana – The Best Safari Destination in Africa

There are always a few staples you need to consider when planning a trip. Read on to find all the information you could want.

Best Time for Game Viewing in Botswana

If you want to get your wildlife fix in Botswana, you need to become one with your calendar.
Depending on when you book your flights, you’ll have wildly different safari experiences, which could make or break your trip.

Dry Season: May to September 

Are you dreaming about a classic African safari? 
You know, the one where you drive out into the dry plains, past lazy lions, and sip on G&T’s as the sun sets?
Then, you’ll want to book your Botswana trip during the dry season. The lack of rain between May and September makes one of the best times to visit Botswana.
You’ll have a much easier time spotting the Big 5. Thirsty animals congregate around the watering holes and the 15,000 km of the Okavango Delta floods, making it prime time for a mokoro safari.

Wet Season: November to April 

The wet season (also known as the Emerald season) in Botswana is a fantastic time of year for avid birders and travellers who want a steady stream of adorable baby animals and once-in-a-lifetime safari vistas.

From November to April, you can catch a glimpse of thousands of pink flamingos at the Makgadikgadi Pans. These birds travel from Walvis Bay Lagoon in Namibia, crossing half of the continent for the breeding season.

While the rains and lush green vegetation will make spotting game in Botswana’s national parks difficult, you might witness an impala or zebra giving birth!

Further north in Chobe’s Linyanti region, you can watch the zebra migration after the summer rains. With 25,000 bodies on the move, it’s the longest recorded large mammal migration in Africa and an incredible sight to behold.

How Do You Get to Botswana?

Road and air are the most common ways to get into and around Botswana. International flights connect from Ethiopia, South Africa and Namibia, as well as Zambia and Zimbabwe. There are no direct flights from Europe, Asia or America to Botswana.

Within the country, there are many national and local airports, which makes a fly-in safari a popular choice. If entering by car, major highways and border posts connect Botswana to Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Visa & Entry Requirements for Botswana

All travelers to Botswana need:

• A valid passport with two blank pages that is valid for at least six months.
• Proof of a return ticket or onward travel documents.
• Certified unabridged birth certificate for all minors.
• A letter of consent from the other parent should the minor be travelling with only one parent.

Travelers from SADC countries, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and most European countries do not need a visa to enter Botswana. Other nationalities can check whether they need a visa here.

When in doubt, visit the Botswana consulate for up-to-date visa requirements.

Types of Safaris & Lodges in Botswana

Luxury Safaris (Lodge/Fly-in): Botswana is well-known for its high-end, exclusive safaris. You stay in luxurious lodges and permanent tented camps, often located in private concessions. Travel between camps is typically done by light aircraft, providing a “fly-in” experience that maximizes your time for game viewing and minimizes time on the ground.

Mobile Safaris: This is a more traditional and immersive style of travelling. You get around in specially converted 4×4 vehicles and sleep in mobile tented camps that are set up and taken down as you move from one location to another. Mobile safaris can range from basic participation camps (where you help set up your tent) to fully serviced luxury camps with staff to attend to all your needs. While you see the country, the next camp is already set up on site.

Self-Drive Safaris: For the more adventurous traveler, this involves driving a 4×4 vehicle yourself. It’s recommended for those with experience in off-road driving and requires careful planning, as conditions can be challenging.

What to Pack for a Safari in Botswana

Botswana is famous for the “traditional” safari experience: Exploring during the day and relaxing in luxury at night. Whether you go for luxury or self-reliance, here is a list of essentials you should carry on every trip:

Clothing

Technical safari gear will go a long way to make your trip more enjoyable. Botswana is hot and humid, with grass and trees and bugs galore. Long sleeves and pants will protect you from scratches and mosquito bites. Active wear and safari shirts are breathable and moisture-wicking, helping you not to overheat.

A wide-brimmed hat is critical to protect your head from the sun, as are sunglasses. Bring closed shoes for activities and sandals or slip-ons for around the lodge. You generally don’t have to pack an outfit for every day, since most lodges offer laundry services and clothes dry quickly if you wash them while camping.

Do take some extra socks in case your feet get sweaty and don’t forget your swimwear! 

Toiletries & Health

You know best what you need on the daily in this department. Consider that most of Botswana is quite rural, with medical attention possibly hours away. When in town, stock up on over the counter pain killers, first aid materials and consider less-used medicines like anti-diarrhoea, antacids, allergy medication and wound ointment.

We obviously cannot be held responsible for the medicine you pack.

You will definitely need sunscreen, no matter what (a good 30 SPF applied liberally and often should suffice).

Tech & Miscellaneous

Botswana’s electricity works on 230V. Sockets will either be Type D (three round pins in a triangle) or Type G (three rectangular pins in a triangle), but adapters are widely available. Do make sure that the adapter also converts voltage if your device needs a different input.

We recommend investing in a good-quality power bank to charge your phone on long drives or if the power goes out on the lodge.

You probably shouldn’t buy a proper camera just for this one trip, unless you want a camera anyway – then it’s the perfect excuse! Botswana is absolutely perfect for photography and the big cameras do make for better photos than the cell phone. If you pack a camera, be on the safe side with back-up batteries and memory cards.

There will be lots of downtime on your safari (rest is good!), so consider bringing a real book or two.

Top Botswana Travel Destinations

The Okavango Delta 

By far, the most impressive Botswana attraction (in terms of sheer wow-factor) is the Okavango Delta. Inside the waterways, you’ll find Moremi Game Reserve, one of Africa’s richest eco-systems and a geographical marvel.

Not only can you see the Delta from space, but it’s one of the few deltas in the world that don’t flow into a large body of water.

The lush marshlands of the Okavango attract huge numbers of animals, affording you a unique safari experience you won’t get anywhere else – seeing the Big 5 from a mokoro (a traditional dug-out canoe) that takes you through the shallow waters and deep channels!

Spend a night camping on the banks of the Delta, walk past herds of elephant and giraffes, or see everything from above with a scenic flight over northern Botswana.

Chobe National Park

Botswana charms nature lovers with its lack of fences. Throughout the Chobe region, life roams freely across ancient corridors between Angola, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

You can visit the national park on a day trip from Kasane or stay inside for an unforgettable luxury safari experience onboard the Zambezi Queen Houseboat.

If you have time in your Botswana itinerary, you can use Chobe as a launching point to visit Victoria Falls. It’s just a hop ‘n skip over the border to visit one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World! Chobe National Park also borders on Namibia’s Zambezi Region (previously named the Caprivi Strip).

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Kgalagadi is a safari destination for the adventurous. Straddling the South Africa and Botswana borders, the massive 3.6 million hectares park is home to the famous Kalahari black-maned lion.

Located in the southern part of the Kalahari desert, you’ll drive past red dunes, dried-up riverbeds, and curious meerkats.

Off the beaten tourist track, a safari in the Kgalagadi means you won’t have to compete with dozens of other vehicles for sightings. It’s an ideal spot for true wildlife enthusiasts who want to watch predators in their natural element.

Moremi Game Reserve 

Moremi Game Reserve is an incredible safari destination, celebrated for its unique position on the eastern side of the Okavango Delta. Moremi has an historical status: it’s the first protected area in Africa to be established by local residents, it offers a pristine and authentic wilderness experience. The reserve’s diverse ecosystem, a stunning mosaic of lush waterways, mopane woodlands, and open grasslands, attracts a phenomenal concentration of game. 

It is particularly renowned for its excellent predator sightings. Healthy populations of lion, leopard, and cheetah, live alongside the endangered African wild dog. Moremi beckons with an alluring blend of land and water-based activities, including traditional game drives and peaceful boat tours.

Khwai

Khwai stands out as an exceptional destination due to its prime location and unique offering of activities. Situated in a critical wildlife corridor between Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park, the area boasts a high concentration of animals year-round, including all the major predators and large herds of elephants and buffalo. Unlike the national parks, Khwai’s status as a private and community-run concession allows for a more flexible and immersive experience, including thrilling night game drives, guided walking safaris, and tranquil mokoro excursions. This diverse range of activities, combined with its stunning landscapes and rich wildlife, makes Khwai a must-visit for travelers seeking an authentic and action-packed journey in the heart of Botswana.

Khama Rhino Sanctuary

Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a 4,300-hectare reserve in Botswana. Established in 1992 to help save the country’s rhino population, its critically endangered residents are protected by the Botswana Defence Force.

The best way to experience the sanctuary? With a game drive or a walking safari.

If you opt to go on foot, your guide will track a rhino, and you’ll get to watch these incredible creatures from not too far off.

Besides rhinos, you might catch a glimpse of wild dogs (another engaged animal), leopard, cheetah, elephant, and aardvark.

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What Activities to do in Botswana

Game Drives: This is the most common activity, conducted in open 4×4 vehicles. Game drives typically take place in the early morning and late afternoon when wildlife is most active.

Water Safaris: Unique to the Okavango Delta and other water-rich areas, this type of excursion allows you to view wildlife from a different perspective. Get up close with birds, crocodiles and even fish.

Mokoro Safaris: A mokoro is a traditional dugout canoe, and a mokoro safari offers a tranquil, silent way to glide through the Okavango Delta’s waterways, spotting birds, hippos, and other aquatic life.

Boat Tours: Larger boats are used, particularly in the Chobe River, to view elephants, buffalo, and a wide variety of birds that congregate along the riverbanks.

Walking Safaris: Accompanied by skilled guides and sometimes armed rangers, walking safaris allow you to get closer to nature and appreciate the smaller details of the ecosystem, such as animal tracks, plants, and insects.

Horseback Riding: For experienced riders, a horseback safari allows you to get very close to wildlife without the noise of a vehicle, offering a unique and intimate adventure.

Photographic Journeys: These are specifically designed for keen photographers. They often include a specialized vehicle, a dedicated photographic guide, and sometimes the option to rent professional camera equipment.

Birding Tours: Focused on birdwatching, these safaris are led by guides with extensive knowledge of Botswana’s diverse bird species.

Botswana – Country Facts & Culture

The People in Botswana

Botswana is home to around 2.4-3 million people, with a low population density and a rich ethnic diversity. The Tswana people are the overwhelming majority (roughly 70-80 %), followed by smaller groups such as the Kalanga, Basarwa (San) and Kgalagadi, plus minorities of Asians and Europeans.

English is an official language and is used in government, business, and education, but Setswana is the national language and widely spoken.  Religiously, Christianity is predominant, but indigenous beliefs, Islam, Hinduism and traditional faith practices also play roles in family and community life.

Geography & Weather

Botswana is a landlocked Southern African country of about 581,700 km², with diverse landscapes including the dry Kalahari Desert, the lush Okavango Delta, salt pans such as the Makgadikgadi, and savannah woodlands.

The climate is mainly semi-arid to subtropical. There are two major seasons:

Wet/hot season (approx. November to March): thunderstorms, heavy but localized rainfall, especially in the north and northeast.

Dry/cooler season (April to October): clear skies, wide daily temperature ranges (hot days, cold nights in many areas). 

Rainfall varies a lot depending on region: over 600 mm/year in the wetter northeast, but under 300 mm/year in the arid southwest Kalahari.

Etiquette & Traditions

Respect, hospitality, and community are core values in Botswana’s culture. Greetings are very important — a handshake is the norm, often extended to elders first, and in some cases accompanied by linking thumbs or a light grasp of the wrist. The locals will happily teach you proper salutations in their language. 

Modesty in dress is favoured, especially in rural areas. When photographing people, always ask permission first. In more formal or traditional settings, more conservative attire is expected. 

Traditional ceremonies, dance, oral storytelling, music, and family rituals remain vital. Foods like seswaa (boiled, shredded meat), various porridge staples, and local relishes are central in traditional social gatherings. Indigenous belief systems are still interwoven with Christian practices, especially around life events — births, marriages, funerals. 

Botswana FAQs

How expensive is Botswana?

Botswana is considered one of the most expensive countries to visit in Africa. A mid-range safari in luxury mobile tents can set you back as much as USD 650 per day. That being said, the country operates on a low-volume, low-impact model. There isn’t much tourist infrastructure in the parks on purpose to keep the area pristine. The big distances and scarce resources drive up the price. But the cost is well worth the experience.

When was Botswana established?

Botswana gained independence in 1966, after having been established as a British “protectorate” nearly a century before, in 1885. 

What is Botswana best known for?

The Okavango Delta in the western parts of the country, as well as amazing wildlife spectacles and big game safaris.

Is Botswana safe?

Yes, Botswana is safe. The country is economically stable, the people are friendly and infrastructure in towns is in good working conditions. It’s important to take common precautions: