Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Botswana.
Botswana is a first-rate safari destination and a leader in low-impact, upmarket tourism in one of Africa’s last wilderness areas. The beauty of the Okavango Delta can be discovered on an unforgettable game drive or mokoro trip. Elsewhere, Chobe National Park, Moremi Game Reserve and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve combine stunning landscapes with exceptional wildlife.
Pros & Cons
Wildlife
Botswana has an abundance of big African animals such as elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo and zebra. Big cats are prevalent, with plenty of lions, leopards and cheetahs to spot. Rhino is making a comeback here, although they remain difficult to see. You can find endangered antelopes (including wetland-adapted sitatunga and red lechwe) and African wild dogs in some of the country’s northern parks.
Activities
The most popular activities are guided game drives where you look for wildlife and go bird watching. Botswana is also excellent for self-drive safaris and game drives, although they’re not permitted in some of the private concessions of the Okavango Delta. Cruising through the Delta’s waterways in a mokoro (dugout canoe) is a highlight. Walking safaris and night drives are possible in some of the private or community concessions.
Weather & Climate
Humidity won’t trouble you in Botswana, but there are big changes in temperature from day to night. Winter (April to October) is the Dry season and has almost no rainfall. It starts off cool but gets very hot toward the end. From June to August you’ll need to rug up at night. Summer (November to March) is the hot Wet season, with heavy rains expected in January and February. Temperature extremes are greatest in the Kalahari.
Best Time To Visit
Botswana’s parks are best explored under the clear skies of the Dry season (April to October), when wildlife gathers around the remaining sources of water. You can still see plenty of animals in the Wet season (November to March), but they can be hard to spot in the thick vegetation, and the heat can be intense.
