PLANNING FOR A BOTSWANA SAFARI.

The key to a successful safari in Africa is research and planning wisely to meet your own expectations - whether it be a photographic, walking, horse-back, elephant-back, fly-in or overland safari. Botswana offers the traveller all these great adventures - plus indulgent luxury and splendour in some of the most isolatd and magnificent wildlife regions in Africa.

LANDSCAPE

Botswana is a surrounded by South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe and is landlocked. The Kalahari Desert in the southern and western region occupies more than two-thirds of Botswana’s land area. The northeast is largely made up of undulating grassland scattered with granite outcrops, with some amazing geological formations. The Okavango in the northwest forms the world's largest inland delta, a labyrinth of swamps and lagoons create a habitat for wildlife like no other.

MAUN

This unique town on the edge of the Okavango Delta is little of little appeal to tourists other than being the gateway to the private concessions and the Moremi Reserve. Unless you have to spend a night in Maun, there is no real need to spend any time here. There are some curio shops outside the airport terminal building. All the major schedule flights meet connecting charter flights into the Okavango Delta, Moremi Reserve or Kalahari Desert destinations. Many of these light aircraft flights fly relatively low over the wildlife wilderness and are a wonderful orientation of the expanse of this exquisite area. – From the air one often encounters some of the great herds that thrive in the lush habitat. For budget minded travellers who are unable to get into Moremi Reserve camps, you can sample the delta experience from Maun. Boats and guides can be hired single-day or several-day trips, camping along the bank as you go. Mobile safaris are also available with camping at Moremi Reserve's public sites.

OKAVANGO DELTA

The most thrilling area in Botswana is the Okavango Delta. Contrasting from most rivers, which run toward the sea, the Okavango fans inland, arising into a 10 000 square kilometre complex of islands, inland lakes and channels. The Okavango River springs from the highlands in Angola and flows into the sands the Kalahari Desert, where it is trapped and eventually evaporates. The classical experience in the delta is to sit in a traditional Mokoro canoe and navigate between the water lilies and papyrus fringed banks. You are immersed in the world of hippo, prolific birdlife and can approach wildlife without the disturbance of motorized means of locomotion.

Opportunities to observe animal life in their natural state are outstanding, in particular in the region of delta’s outer edge. The section of the delta that falls within the Moremi Wildlife Reserve is particularly special. Moremi only has removable buildings, only reed bungalows and temporary tented campsites.

When selecting a destination, it's essential to establish what kind of experience you would like. The camps are defined as either wetland or dry-land concessions.

Some camps, although sited on the edge of the Okavango, may only offer land activities, which are in the form of game drives and limited walking safaris. They specialize in offering very good encounters with some of the Moremi’s big five, predators, giraffe and the abundant antelope and birdlife (550 species).

Wetland camps are usually located within the central delta; focus largely on water based activities. Animals and birds are encountered more on islands than the dry land portion of their concession. A selection of concessions on the edge of the Okavango provides both wetland and dry land activities: This incorporates both game drives and mokoro and boat rides, this often provides a greater variety of animals, birds and habitat.

To get the best all round safari experience in the Okavango, we suggest spending two nights in a wetland camp followed by three nights in a combination camp.

Wildlife is the major attraction in the delta. Recently some cultural interaction opportunities have been created for visitors to visit local villages and experience something more of indigenous inhabitants of the Okavango.

OKAVANGO & MOREMI | CHOBE | LINYANTI | SAVUTE