About Botswana

Botswana is roughly the size of France or Kenia, at 581 730 square kilometer. The population is about 1.6 million, one of the lowest densities in Africa. The Batswana are the largest tribal group in the country, forming about 50% of the population.

Botswana is a landlocked country situated in southern Africa. The climate can be described as arid to semi-arid, with a wide range of temperatures and rainfall.

In terms of the economy, Botswana is the wealthiest non-oil-producing countries on the African continent. Tourism is becoming more significant as an earner of foreign revenue and is currently third on the list after diamonds and beef. The wildlife of Botswana is of the very best in Africa.

Formation of the Eastern Hardveld
Much of Botswana is underplayed by Karoo sediments and younger Stormberg lavas.

Tuli area
The Tuli block is quite different to anywhere else in Botswana. It is generally referred to as the ‘hardveld’, consisting of rocky outcrops and a network of dry riverbeds. Characteristics of the Tuli landscape is the abundance of inselbergs or outcrops formed from a large variety of rock types – truly a geologist’s paradise! The Tuli block is situated on the Limpopo mobile belt which can be best explained as the image of a tortoise shell, which separates the Zimbabwean craton in the north from the Kaapvaal craton in the south. The Limpopo mobile belt is the oldest known mobile belt in the world, with rocks varying in age from 2 700 million to 3 700 million years. The Tuli block is about 10km to 20km wide and about 350km long.

Makgadigadi Pans
About 3 million years ago strong easterly winds caused the formation of dunes orientated east to west across the middle Kalahari. Wetter times followed and the flow of the rivers was guided by these dunes, causing the water to flow in one direction, into a huge depression known as Lake Makgadigadi.

One has not enjoyed the full charm of Botswana without having had a taste of the magic of the Makgadigadi Pans. The Makgadikgadi Pans consist of two main pans, namely Ntwetwe and Sowa Pan, both of which are surrounded by a myriad of smaller pans. Its remoteness, inaccessibility and danger, all add to the mystique. The Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is an ideal stop-over enroute to the Okavango. Only one-fifth of the reserve comprises salt pans and the rest consists mainly of rolling grasslands which yield very nutritious grasses.


Victoria Falls

About 20 000 years ago this lake was filled to capacity and forced its way northwards and the eastwards, causing the middle and lower Zambezi to connect, an event that resulted in the formation of the Victoria Falls.  This partly drained Lake Makgadigadi.  At the same time the drier climatic period followed, which increased evaporation and decreased river flow.  The increasing evaporation eventually resulted in the Makgadigadi Pans as we know them today.

Maun

The gateway to the Okavango Delta is Maun.  There is something about this hot and dusty town that makes one simply fall in love with … It is the best place to buy Mopane Worms and it is generally accepted that you have not fully experienced Botswana unless you have eaten at least one mopane worm!

 Okavango Delta

The best season to visit the Okavango Delta is in winter, May to August. The temperature is pleasant during the day.  However, the drier and hotter it gets, the more animal activity is around water sources.  The wildlife in the Okavango Delta and Linyanti is spectacular – among the best in the world.  Huge herds of Elephants and Buffalo can be seen here as well as all the cats.  The rare and shy Sitatunga buck has elongated hooves (+/- 18 cm) which enable it to walk on floating vegetation.

The birdlife in the Okavango Delta is simply fantastic.  The African Fish Eagle is synonymous with the delta and is seen almost everywhere.  Migrant and non-migrant water birds breed in special areas known as heronries.  The most common are the Purple Heron, the African Darter, Great White  Egret to name a few.

The western side of the panhandle is the most accessible part of the Okavango Delta by vehicle.  Makore (dug-out-canoe) ride are highly recommended as it is one of the best ways to experience the delta.


The central Okavango Delta is one of the most beautiful places in Africa.  It consists of deep water channels, Palm Tree islands and stretches of dry land and floodplain that brim with wildlife.  The central delta is the most unspoilt part of the Okavango.

 The Moremi Game Reserve

It comprises almost one-third of the delta and it is completely buffered by wildlife management areas and consists of permanent swamp, seasonal swamp areas and dry land.

Kasane

Kasane is the ideal place to end a Botswana safari as it has everything to offer – and a bit more – to make the end of your holiday the highlight of the trip. A self-drive safari in Botswana usually involves a few hardships like bad, dusty roads, putting up and taking down camps, filling water cans, warm drinks when the ice melts, baboons and hyenas rading the camp etc.  Kasane is in sharp contrast, with its lush tropical feel, the bright-blue, sparking water of the Chobe River and the call of the Fish Eagle in the background.  As you settle in your luxury chair with an ice cold drink in your hand, you will feel as if you are in paradise! 

Kasane is strategically situated at the entrance to the Chobe National Park, only 80 km from the famous Victoria Falls.  There are few places in Africa where one can see Buffalo and Elephant in town – Kasane is such a place.  One can enjoy fishing, game viewing, boat rides and a trip to Victoria Falls – all within a stretch of 120 km along the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers.

Chobe National Park

The Chobe National Park consists of a variety of vegetation types and geological features, offering extreme contrasts and a wide range of wildlife experiences within the confines of one park.

There are four main tourist areas in Chobe namely: The Chobe river front, Savuti, Nogatsaa and Linyanti. 

-              Chobe River Front:  It is one of Botswana’s top wildlife destinations.  It is accessible by tar road.  It attracts thousands of animals and birds.  It is especially famous for its abundance of Elephants and exquisite sunsets.

-              Savuti:  In sharp contrast to the lush Chobe river front is the almost desert-like landscape of the Savuti during the dry season.  The most typical feature of the landscape is the dead trees – evidence of the erratic flow of the Savuti channel over the years.

 

-              Nogatsaa: When the pans in the Nogatsaa area have water, game viewing is good.  The area is not spectacular as far as scenery goes and consists mainly of Mopane woodland and mixed Cumbersome veld and some Kalahari Miombo veld, studded with numerous pans.

 

-              Linyanti:  Unfortunately, there are only 7km of river front that can be used by visitors for game drives.  This is more suited for the more adventurous visitor as the drive is long and difficult.

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