14 Attractions Await You in Botswana, Africa.
If you are comfortable sitting for hours in an all-terrain vehicle that rides through really bumpy and uneven and unpaved roads, then, that’s what awaits you on your wildlife safaris in Botswana, Africa.
Every African country, small or big, is worthy of visiting:
- Watch incredible wildlife
- Meet natives of a totally strange culture and beliefs
- Eat some of the unheard of food in the world
- Drink weird drinks
- Take a nature-walk on a landscape that you have not seen or visualized before
- Canoe down crocodile-infested canals surrounded by deciduous forests
- Dance with native tribes
These are the activities that await you in Botswana.
Where is Botswana?
I am sure you might have come across the name of Botswana often but never bothered to look where exactly it is located.
As you can see from the map, Botswana is a rather large African country surrounded by several other African nations that include South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Angola.
In addition, as seen from the map, Botswana has fewer cities and towns when compared with its bordering countries.
Here is another map showing more African countries along with Botswana.
How to reach Botswana?
It seems you have to reach Johannesburg in South Africa first and then fly to Maun in Botswana. Alternatively, fly to Livingstone in Zambia but bordering Botswana. In fact, it is a better route as you can see the most spectacular Victoria Waterfalls in Zambia and then drive down to Gaborone, the capital of Botswana.
Now let us go over the big list of places to see and the activities to indulge in Botswana. It is just an overview of the attractions in Botswana.
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The most thrilling Kalahari Desert
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Okavango Delta
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- A big habitat for wild animals of Africa. This river delta comprises 17,000 km is said to be the largest inland river delta in the world. A thrilling canoe ride on the river is an unforgettable experience. If you have sharp ears and like a quiet boat ride, you can listen to the threatening sounds of wild animals during your smooth canoe ride down the river. The Okavango Delta begs you to stay in one of the forest lodges overnight to go on a night safari in one of the most exclusive safari destinations in all of Africa. Here is where you can spot the rare red lechwe and tsessebe. Both are modified versions of Springbok.
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Central Kalahari Game Reserve (spot Giraffes, hyenas, and wild dogs)
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- Your tour of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve can test your power of endurance as the weather is harsh and the terrain rough. If you happen to tour Botswana anywhere between December and April, hang out patiently to watch the spectacular zebra migration.
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Deception Valley and Passarge Valley
are on your path that can be identified with several pitched up canvas tents, the typical site of African campsites.
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Piper’s Pan
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is a vast expanse of grassland that is loved by the legendary Springbok
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- and the rarely sighted Gemsbok.
- Whoops! That a real beast of an animal-eh?
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Moremi Game Reserve
-Here the wildlife watching goes to the next level from casual animal safaris in Africa. The giant African elephants outnumber the elephants in other African game parks.
In addition to the elephants, you can watch rhinos, hyenas, aquatic antelopes (very rare wild animal), wild dogs, and of course birds that will take your breath away. They all thrive happily in the different landscapes of this region such as savannah woodlands, flooded plains, reed beds, and wetlands.
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Chobe National Park Safari
This is another famous African Safari destination where the African elephants live in large herds. If you are taking a guide who invariably accompanies you in African safaris, insist on showing the following African Wildlife observation spots.
- Linyanti Marsh
- Chobe Riverfront
- Savuti
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Kubu Island, Botswana, Africa
This what you will see in Kubu Island, Botswana.
If this tree called Baobab interests you and scale-ridden rocks, then, you can take time off to visit the Kubu Island where I think the word ‘island’ is a misnomer.
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Tsodilo Hills, Botswana, Africa
I wonder why the UNESCO has decided to protect this site that is nothing but rocks containing some paintings. As many as 4500 rocks were studied that have some artwork or other on them spread over 400 places across this hilly and rocky area.
Though this is not that much exciting, still, it is one the attractions in Botswana that awaits a tourist.
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Gcwihaba Caverns
If you are not claustrophobic, you can explore the Gcwihaba Caverns. Caverns are large caves with a chamber inside. They are worth visiting if you are the type that boasts of courage displayed in a strange land.
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Lake Ngami, Botswana, Africa
The lake has been a sort of an enigma to geologists and geography professors for its appearance, disappearance, and reappearance. It is fed by the Taughe River during the rainy season. From what I saw on the web, the lake looks more like a marshland to me that is also evident from the fact that a large range of avifauna are found here that includes flamingos, terns, seagulls, pelicans, and ibises.
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Mashatu Game Reserve
It is more of a trekking and biking area where you can spot elephants and wild dogs.
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Linyanti Wetlands,Botswana
Wetlands in Africa are generally season (July to October) dependants. They are the perfect spots for a range of wildlife watching as the animals and birds come in search of water and prey. For us the visitors, they are prey to our cameras.
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Selinda Reserve, Botswana, Africa
It’s a large area comprising 30,000 acres and the entire area is privately owned. You can watch wonderful wild animals in this sanctuary such as wild dogs, buffalos, wildebeest, hippo, zebras, hyena, impala and the typically African steenbok, a family member of deer species.
So, that’s Botswana attractions for you. I think you need a minimum of seven days of holidaying as sometimes, you may have to wait more than a day to watch the elusive wild animals.
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2 comments
Informative post and great pictures.
awesome wild life travel diary thanks to share