We create tailor-made safaris to pristine wilderness areas in Southern and East Africa
We create tailor-made safaris to pristine wilderness areas in Southern and East Africa
Botswana is a land locked country bordering Namibia in the west, Zambia in the north, Zimbabwe in the east and South Africa in the south. This makes it easy to combine with any of these 5 countries. Below are some of the amazing wilderness safari areas in Botswana that should be on your bucket-list for your next safari to Africa.
Situated in the northwestern corner of Botswana, the Okavango Delta is a World Heritage Site as it is the largest inland delta in the world. The magnificent Okavango River sprawls out over the dry sands of the Kalahari Desert forming this flourishing waterlogged oasis featuring countless meandering waterways and crystal clear lagoons studded with water lilies, as well as fertile floodplains and reeded islands inhabited with abundant wildlife. The Okavango Delta stretches over 15000 square kilometres. Visitors can enjoy a number of wonderful activities such as game viewing, fishing, bird watching or taking an authentic guided Mokoro excursion through this wetland paradise in a traditional dugout canoe. Commonly spotted animals include: lion, rhino, leopard, giraffe, hippos, elephants, crocodiles and countless species of bird.
The Kwando-Linyanti river system is home to a series of private game reserves, known for their exotic animal species and luxury safari options. An abundance of wildlife roams freely between the woodland habitats, ancient floodplains and forests that make up these lush, unfenced reserves. The big game in this area increases dramatically during the dry season when the area hosts large herds of impala, blue wildebeest, giraffe and buffalo as well as the world’s highest density of elephant. Several packs of wild dog are found in the area and lion, leopard and cheetah are frequently sighted. Night drives allow for the discovery of nocturnal creatures such as civets, genets, honey badgers and spring hares. This vast, untamed wilderness is the perfect location for those seeking a unique African adventure in an exclusive and remote big game habitat.
What makes the Duba Plains Reserve unlike any region in Africa (and completely unique in fact) is the topography influenced by localised fault lines. It is raised relative to surrounding areas, which provides for areas of open plains. This area is also surrounded by water, almost ring-fencing the entire 77 000 hectare reserve! As the waters of the Okavango Delta flow from the north, the Duba Plains Reserve is the first landmass they meet. As the waters slow rich the sediments are deposited which allow for rich, succulent and nutritious grasses to grow. This is therefore the perfect environment for wildlife with a rich abundant food source and plenty of water everywhere. Where much of northern Botswana sees a spread of animals during the rainy season as the surrounding waterholes fill, we see little or no dispersion here. Predator populations remain very healthy. The larger lion populations have since split into smaller but more numerous prides with the region dominated by two males. There are five leopards regularly seen. This marshy eco-system means it is not the ideal habitat for cheetah – more regularly seen at our Selinda Reserve. Birdlife is exceptional due to the abundance of water and ideal habitats.
The Selinda Spillway dominates the Selinda Reserve’s ecosystem. This is a waterway derived primarily from the Okavango Delta in the west that floods annually. From the east, floodwaters from the Selinda Spillway and Linyanti feed the lagoon. The region has a diversity of habits and wildlife and boasts some of the best wild dog sightings in Botswana, with local packs denning on the reserve for the past few years. Research monitoring estimates that the area has the highest population of elephant bulls in the world, with large herds seen throughout the year - peaking throughout July to November. Large buffalo herds of up to 1000 animals also move to the region once the floodwaters of the Spillway subside in August to graze on the rich grasses of the exposed flood plains. Dominant male lions look after resident lion prides and the leopards are healthy and seen regularly throughout the reserve.
Meandering through the spectacular Caprivi Strip in northwest Namibia, the Kwando River rises from the central Angolan highlands forming the boundary between Namibia, Zambia and Angola. The area surrounding the Kwando River is known for its protected game reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. It offers excellent game viewing with the perennial waters of the river attracting plentiful wildlife including large herds of elephant, hippos, crocodiles, red lechwe, turtles, zebra, impala, spotted-necked otters and over 400 species of bird. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing stay at one of the many lodges set on the banks of the river and soak up the spectacular views of wild Africa. Popular activities include: game viewing, bird watching, fishing, and camping.
Situated in the east of the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve ranks as one of the most beautiful reserves in Africa. It covers more than 4871 square kilometres of pristine wilderness, and the varied terrain includes savannah, winding waterways, and dense forest. This diverse ecosystem supports an incredibly wide spectrum of wildlife, ranging from large herds of buffalo, wildebeest and zebra, to the rare sitatunga and lechwe antelope, lion, cheetah and packs of wild dog in the open grasslands. The birdlife is prolific and includes most of the 550 bird species recorded on Botswana’s national bird list. A range of luxury lodges in the reserve offers visitors the perfect base to experience this corner of paradise.
Renowned for its impressive, shifting migratory population of more than 50 000 elephants, Chobe National Park is situated in the far northeast of Botswana, bordered to the north by the mighty Chobe River. It is the second largest national park in Botswana featuring four distinct ecosystems: the Savuti Channel in the west; the Linyanti Swamps in the northwest; the arid hinterland in between and Serondela in the extreme northeast with fertile plains and thick forests. This diversity of habitats provides a sanctuary to an astonishing array of African wildlife. In addition to spotting Chobe's great pachyderm herds, you are likely to spot lion, leopard, hyena, wild dog, impala, waterbuck, kudu, zebra, wildebeest giraffe, and warthog. The park is also famous for its wonderful riverboat safaris, making Chobe an essential destination for any avid safari enthusiast.
Welcome to Khwai Private Reserve, 440 000 acres bordering onto both the Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park in northern Botswana. It is an innovative community based joint venture partnership that adjoins onto the world famous Okavango Delta eco-system. The Reserve was established to create a meaningful bridge between the tourism industry and local villagers, ensuring significant economic income for local communities, first world environmentally sensitive practices and a superb safari experience. The massive Khwai Private Reserve comprises of some of the most fantastically diverse habitats in northern Botswana, including riverine woodlands, floodplains, open savannah, mopane woodland, rivers and lagoons. This range of habitats results in a range of wildlife, including elephant, lion, leopard, wild dog, cheetah and of course the eponymous sable antelope.
Situated in northeastern Botswana, the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park covers an impressive 3900 square kilometer area and is brimming with natural wonders including the largest tree in Africa, a world famous 5300-year-old Baobab. Game viewing is at its best during the wet season when the plains teem with an extraordinary diversity of wildlife. The rains transform the salt pans into a magnificent lake attracting an abundance of wildlife and, most spectacularly, large flocks of gloriously pink flamingos. The area is renowned for its massive herds of wildebeest and zebra which migrate to the park en masse followed by a variety of predators including lion, cheetah and hyena. Popular activities include game drives, bird watching, exploring the salt pans on 4WD or quad bikes, tours of Gweta Village, and fascinating bush walks to historic sites guided by experienced Bushmen trackers.
Adventurous travellers seeking a truly remote African safari will be thrilled to discover it in central Botswana. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the second largest game reserve in the world and one of the least visited, nothing can prepare you for the sheer wonder of exploring this vast reserve with its wild, untouched beauty. The landscape is dominated by sand veld, acacias, and Kalahari apple-leaf, interspersed with grasslands and dotted with occasional sand dunes, pans and fossil river valleys. While the reserve is home to an impressive variety of wildlife, there is one animal that is rather obviously absent, the human being. It is this lack of human traffic, combined with the park’s lack of infrastructure, that makes for a challenging and marvellously authentic African experience. Visitors need to be entirely self-sufficient but those willing to make the effort will be richly rewarded.
Mashatu Game Reserve in the south eastern extreme of Botswana offers a unique portfolio of adventure safari experiences on a reserve known as the Land of Giants, named after the largest herds of elephant on private land in Africa. In addition to the camps (luxury villas, luxury all-suite and tented) and excellent daily sightings of all the African predators (lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, jackal and African wildcat), Mashatu is unquestionably the adventure safari destination for energetic travelers and multi-generational families. With five diverse ways to experience Africa’s wildlife, Mashatu offers, to complement the vehicle safaris conducted by guides with an average of 14 years’ experience on Mashatu; activities including the world-class photographic experience including an underground elephant hide, videography safaris, mountain biking safaris, horse safaris and walking safaris. The single fastest growth is in the photographic experience where excellent ‘Tuli’ light has engendered interest in Mashatu from all over the world. All our adventure experiences cater for the safari-goer who yearns for a more active and intimate safari holiday.