Explore Botswana’s amazing destinations
There are few places in Africa that can match Botswana for ultimate exclusivity, pure luxury, abundant wildlife and diverse landscapes. Discover a world of diverse and stunning landscapes, from the sandy vastness of the Kalahari Desert to the watery paradise of the Okavango Delta.
Botswana is an incredible place for a safari and the intertwining waterways of the delta sustain a huge variety of flora and fauna, offering excellent game-viewing throughout the year. This maze of lagoons and small islands covers 15,000 sq kms and is a haven for birdlife (a favourite for birdwatchers) and other wildlife including hippo, crocodiles, elephant and rare antelope like lechwe and the shy sitatunga. Predators including leopard and lion also abound, whilst Botswana remains one of the best places in Africa to see African Wild Dog.
To the south, the Kalahari Desert and Makgadikgadi Pans compliment a safari in the delta. The desert landscapes are home to rare desert-adapted species including brown hyena and offer guests unique experiences such as quad biking, walking with the bushman and get up close to habituated meerkats.
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Luxury Accommodation in Botswana
Botswana is also renowned for its sophisticated and exclusive eco-lodges and camps, providing comfort and service in the heart of true wilderness. These intimate camps usually accommodate between just 12 and 20 guests, making a Botswana safari an authentic and personalised experience. Many of these luxury camps feature private plunge pools, massage parlours and even small gyms. Many camps also feature family friendly accommodation and engaging kids’ clubs making Botswana one of the best countries to visit as a family.
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When is the best time to visit Botswana?
Botswana is very much a year-round destination. The contrasting landscapes during the dry season (May-Oct) and the wet season (December-March) offer a completely different perspective and there are plenty of reasons to travel at both these times. Below is a short summary of what to expect at different times of the year:
Visitor numbers begin to increase during May and June but are not quite at its peak. Temperatures are still chilly in the morning and evening before rising to a pleasant 24-28 degrees in the early afternoon – perfect for a serviced, mobile camping trip. Game-viewing is generally very good with elephant sightings around the Chobe National Park a highlight.
The peak season for Botswana when the landscape is at its driest and game congregates around the remaining water sources. Peak season also coincides with summer holidays in the Northern Hemisphere which means availability is often extremely limited. If you are planning to travel over this time, we recommended booking 12 or even 18 months in advance.
A terrific month to travel (particularly early November) as prices are slightly lower, as are visitor numbers. Game viewing is still excellent and the first rains for the season come as a welcome relief for the wildlife. It is also fascinating to see the immediate change in the landscape when the first rains do arrive, as new grass grows and the wilderness starts to transform. Maximum daily temperatures are still high (around 35 degrees).
The wet season is in full swing by early December and this is the time of year when antelope start to give birth. It is season of plenty, when there is plentiful food, plenty of newborn antelope (that all birth at the same time to minimise the risk of losing young) and that means predators are on the on lookout. One of the key benefits over this period is that there are far fewer travellers, creating a more exclusive experience.
Another highlight that occurs, during February and early March is the zebra migration when thousands of zebras arrive in the Makgadikgadi and Naxi pans. During the wet season the pans are transformed from bone dry salt pans to shallow lakes and beautiful grassland. One of our favourite camps to visit during this time is Jack’s Camp a unique camp decorated in 1940’s campaign-style furniture.
A bit of a transition month between the seasons, April remains a relatively quiet month with most camps beginning to see a rise in the number of travellers.
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