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Situation
A land-locked country bordered by South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe,
Zambia and Mozambique
Climate
A semi-arid country that is hot and dry most of the year but with
erratic, unpredictable and highly regional rainfall in the summer
months (November-March).
Languages
Official Language: English. National Language: Setswana
Currency
Botswana’s unit of currency is the Pula (P) which is divided
into 100 Thebe (t).
Health Precautions
Prophylactics/anti-malaria medication is a necessity for visitors
to Botswana.
Highlights
Chobe, Savute, the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve and Central
Kalahari National Park
Best Known for:
Mokoro excursions in the Okavango Delta and the best river game viewing experience
anywhere in the world. |
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Botswana:
Discover one of the most breathtaking contrasts on earth amidst
this sprawling wilderness, where the arid desert of the Kalahari
gives way to the miracle of the Okavango Delta. This is wild Africa,
and your pioneering spirit will soar as you explore off the beaten
track to experience the true African safari.
In
the heart of Botswana, the floodwaters of the Okavango
River spill out over the Kalahari desert sands, creating a 15
000 square km water wonderland - the largest inland river delta
in the world. This fan-shaped jewel gives life to Botswana’s
arid interior, with its mosaic of channels and islands forested
with palms and its floodplains teeming with wildlife. Here, fish
and birds, hippo and crocodiles, co-exist with herds of zebra
and buffalo, elephant, lion and the wild dog. This biodiversity
enables the Okavango Delta to offer remarkable land and water
experiences. You can track game on safaris by open landrover,
or on foot, or explore floodplains by mokoro (dugout canoe), in
the company of licensed guides. Motorised boats are used to explore
the permanent river channels.
Access
to Botswana’s dazzling array of safari camps is easiest
by light aircraft (either scheduled or private charter) and landing
on remote bush strips is an integral part of the thrill. For the
adventurer, guided or self-drive safaris by four-wheel drive vehicle
allow you to explore Botswana’s wildlife high-spots at leisure
- from Chobe and Savute in the north, to Moremi in the Okavango
Delta, the arid Makgadikgadi, Nxai Pan and Central Kalahari in
the centre, and finally, the Tuli Block in the south-east. In
concession areas vehicles are able to travel off road and walking
safaris and night drives are highlights, whilst in national parks
there are more stringent regulations.
Wilderness Concessions:
From the outstretched hand of the Okavango Delta, Botswana’s
wilderness stretches in every direction. In the remote north-west,
the Kwando, Linyanti and Selinda concessions offer opportunities
to explore untouched wilderness off the beaten track. Access to
these 3 areas is by air, from either Maun or Kasane.
Chobe National Park:
To the north-east of Botswana lies Chobe National Park, one of
southern Africa’s greatest wilderness areas, spanning 12
000 square km and home to at least 35 000 elephant. The Chobe
River front affords some of the best elephant viewing on earth,
whilst further south in the unique Savute ecosystem, thousands
of plains zebra frequent the marshes after the rainy season, bringing
a feast for predators.
South of the Delta, Nxai Pan is famous for its giant baobab trees,
whilst the haunting Makgadikgadi Pans present a landscape frozen
in time, its dry salt pans once a great lake. In the wet season,
the pans fill with water, and flocks of flamingo and herds of
wildebeest and zebra miraculously appear.
The Central Kalahari National Park is a vast, arid and uninhabited
region, which is home to a proliferation of birdlife, as well
as the black-maned Kalahari lion and other wildlife.
With its great herds of elephant and towering baobab trees, Mashatu
Game Reserve in the Tuli Block, has long been known as the “land
of the giants”.
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