Botswana is a country found in Southern Africa and is a popular tourist destination for safaris of all kinds. Botswana’s landscape is primarily defined by the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta. The diverse wildlife found in this country is what makes it such a desirable safari destination. There are a variety of different safaris to go on in Botswana such as boating, canoeing, bird watching, and many more. Safaris are the perfect adventure for adults and children alike and all explorers in Botswana are guaranteed to spot a few rare and majestic animals along the way. Continue reading for a guide to the best places to go on safaris in Botswana!

Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is one of the largest inland deltas in the world. Located in Northwest Botswana, the landscape consists of swampy marshlands and flooded plains. This unique environment is the perfect home to some of the world’s most endangered species, such as the cheetah, African wild dog, lion, white rhinoceros, and black rhinoceros. For those interested in boat and canoe safaris, the best time to visit the Okavango Delta is from June to August, right in the middle of the high water season. During the hot and dry months of September and October, animals are most often found on the fringes of the area, so plan your stays accordingly. Additionally, November through April is the best time for bird watching. 

Savuti National Park

Savuti National Park is found in the western corner of Chobe and is famous for being the setting of several popular nature documentaries. This area used to be an inland sea, but the Savute Channel has been dry for several decades now. Savuti National Park is one of Botswana’s best-known wildlife areas and experiences annual migrations of zebras, hyenas, and lions. Other animals to be on the lookout for include elephants, impala, buffalo, giraffes, and wildebeests. 

Chobe National Park

Chobe National Park is known as Botswana’s first national park. It is about 4,500 square miles and is extremely biologically diverse. This park has a large offering of wildlife and has one of the largest offerings of concentrated game in all of Africa. Explorers will see lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, leopards, and hyenas during their expedition to Chobe National Park. This park is most well known for its large elephant population. Estimated to be around 50,000, the elephants that live in Chobe National Park are Kalahari elephants, which are the largest in size of all known elephant populations.

Kgalagadi National Park

The word Kgalagadi is translated to mean “place of thirst.” Kgalagadi National Park is a desert full of red sand dunes, dry riverbeds, and sparse vegetation. Rivers in this national park are said to only flow once per century. Animals such as honey badgers, pangolins, and bat-eared foxes are all frequently seen, as well as predators such as cheetahs, leopards, brown and spotted hyenas, and black-maned lions. There are a variety of different places to stay while exploring Kgalagadi National Park. There are 3 tourist lodges and 6 wilderness camps to choose from. 

Nxai Pan National Park

Nxai Pan National Park is located in Northeastern Botswana. The Nxai Pan is a fossilized lake bed and salt flats, usually teeming with wildlife. Zebras, wildebeest, gemsbok, and eland are all animals that inhabit this environment. The hot wet summer season (November to April) is the time when the park and wildlife is at its best, but the roads can occasionally be inaccessible. The most accessible time to visit is May through September, during the dry season. Another popular attraction at Nxai Pan National Park is the baobab trees, which are millennia-old trees that tourists are always eager to visit. 

There are so many reasons why Botswana is such a popular and desirable safari destination! The beautifully diverse wildlife and ancient plants are just a few of the reasons that everybody should visit Botswana and experience an African safari at least once in their lives! Acanela Expeditions has all-inclusive safaris all throughout Botswana and neighboring countries. Several different options are available for all types of explorers. These tours offer a variety of safaris as well as the opportunity to explore the local towns and cultures. Book a Botswana safari expedition for 2021 with Acanela today and receive up to 50% off!

Post written by Abby Kimball