Botswana Travel Guide

Top Experiences in Botswana

Chobe National Park. This national park is known for its biodiversity, giving guests a chance to spot elephants, lions, leopards, hippos, zebras, and more. Go for a game drive, cruise down the Chobe River, and camp within the park for an unforgettable experience. If you want to see African elephants up close, this is the best place in Botswana to do so.

Moremi Game Reserve. Often referred to as the “Garden of Eden”, Moremi Game Reserve is a wildlife haven located in the northeastern part of the Okavango Delta. Its mix of floodplains, lagoons, and acacia forests make it an excellent place for big game sightings. Tour Moremi on a game drive and travel the wetlands on a traditional canoe called a Mokoro.

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. Tour the surreal landscape of one of the world’s largest salt flats. During the dry season Makgadikgadi offers a tranquil escape into solitude and a glimpse into a different kind of wilderness. During the wet season, look for wildlife migrating to the area. Be sure to also visit Kubu Island within the salt pans to see Baobab trees surrounded by granite rock. And don’t miss the Nata Bird Sanctuary, where you can find over 165 different bird species, including pelicans and flamingos, at certain times of the year.

Nxai Pan National Park. Part of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, this area consists of grassy pans with acacia trees, as well as a cluster of Baobab trees thought to be over 1,000 years old. While some African wildlife (lions, giraffes, jackals, ostrich, and more) make this park their permanent residence, the highlight is during the wet season when thousands of zebras migrate here, along with elephants and other wildlife.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve. A more remote reserve that offers excellent wildlife viewing, especially in the northern regions. Some safari packages include interactions with the local San Bushmen who provide insights into their culture and knowledge of the land.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park. This national park is located in southern Botswana and stretches into South Africa. The main draw to the park is wildlife viewing, which can include lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, ostriches, meerkats, and more.

Tented Camps. For a thrilling and immersive night in the Botswana wilderness, camp under the stars in one of the national parks or game reserves. Zip up your tent and listen to the sound of the nocturnal African wildlife.

Stay in a Safari Lodge. For a more luxurious stay with a chance to spot wildlife from your room, spend a night at a safari lodge. Often located within or just outside the parks, guests may find themselves having up-close encounters with wildlife that roam through the property or converge by a nearby waterhole.

Scenic Helicopter Flights. Helicopter tours offer visitors a chance to see the beauty of Botswana’s diverse landscapes, such as the Okavango Delta, from a birds-eye view.

Learn about San Bushman Culture. Meet the local San Bushmen and learn about their history, traditions, lifestyle, and how hunter-gatherer communities survive in Botswana.