Why Botswana is So Exceptional

Botswana is a beautiful country, full of unfenced game reserves, friendly people, and incredible natural beauty. It’s an unforgettable country where you can see the Big Five all in one place, including the largest population of elephants in Africa. Paddle along the Okavango Delta in a "mokoro" (dug-out wooden canoe), and sleep as close to wildlife as you ever thought possible. There is so much to do here, from bird watching and bush walks, to game drives and river cruises. All things considered, Botswana is truly an underrated safari destination, offering an exclusive travel experience that’s in a class of its own. Botswana: The Best for Safaris Botswana is arguable one of the best safari destinations in the world. With a multitude of sprawling national parks and pristine game reserves, Botswana offers the chance to spot a wide range of wildlife, including lions, rhino, cheetah, antelope, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, and other plains game, as well as 450 species of birds. Forget fences, Botswana offers a raw, authentic experience in open camps, where wildlife wanders into the site throughout the day and night. Imagine lying in bed and listening to the call of the hyena as they scuffle about outside, or safely witnessing an African elephant grazing just steps away from your lodge. These are just a few things you can expect from a magnificent Botswana safari.

Game View From the Air In Botswana, holiday travel is often done by light aircraft. This gives you the opportunity to spot incredible wildlife from the air as you fly into camp, not to mention, catch breathtaking views of the savannah. Most lodges are located close to airfields, and some even have their own airstrip on site, making access easier than ever.

Small Lodges: Intimacy is Key Botswana’s accommodation consists of a carefully curated collection of small safari camps and game lodges, each completely private and set in its own piece of the game reserve. The main safari destinations in Botswana, namely, the regions of Chobe, Linyanti, Savuti, Tuli Block, the Kalahari, and the Okavango Delta, offer limited accommodation to ensure the camps have as little impact on the environment as possible. Due to strict guidelines by the government of Botswana, most of the lodges consist of tented camps. Many camps, however, still offer luxury, and feature a lounge, library, viewing deck, swimming pool, and even a cocktail bar!

Commitment to Preservation The Botswana government runs a strict low-volume tourism policy. By limiting the amount of tourists to the area at any one time, they ensure that their wildlife and natural resources are protected and preserved for generations to come. The parks and reserves are situated far from the city centres, which ensure that their surroundings remain non-residential. Because the experience of a Botswana safari is so exclusive, visitors become part of something truly exceptional. Swap Skyscrapers for Savannah Plains Due to the large size of the reserves and the limited visitor policy, you are unlikely to come into contact with many people while you’re out on your game drive. Coming across other cars is rare in these remote locations, which means you get to enjoy the wildlife all to yourself without any distractions. Forget cell phone reception and internet connections. In Botswana, mother nature is at her most raw and prolific. You’ll never find an experience quite like it.

Safaris Help the Locals Tourism in Botswana has had a positive impact on local communities. Not only does increased tourism provide more jobs and income to the locals living around the reserves and parks, but the infrastructure has been improved greatly. Roads have been tarred while shops have been built in places where there was once nothing but a dirt road. This means that both locals and tourists can travel easily between major sites safely and easily. Unforgettable Nature Activities In addition to top-notch game drives, there are plenty of activities on offer in Botswana. Watch the migration of zebra in Makgadikgadi National Park, look out for powerful hippos lurking around your mokoro along the Okavango Delta, brave a bush walk through the open plains of Botswana, and enjoy game viewing from the comfort of a small luxury cruise along the legendary Chobe River. Botswana’s best national parks book up early, so make sure you plan your Botswana safari well in advance.

For more information on Botswana tours, visit our website at www.goway.com.

By Kirsty Perring