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QWie
ZA
Visited:
May 2011
Reviewed: Jan 30, 2012
20-35 years of age
Great wildlife and bush experience but expensive and not as diverse as neighboring countries.
Great choice for top end safaris
Botswana is great. It has the flat, empty expanses of wilderness that most of us associate with Africa, but which are so hard to find nowadays with the vast population growth and land shortages which affect most African states. Driving from Namibia towards Maun it is pretty mindblowing to think that to the right of the road there is almost nothing but untouched wilderness stretching all the way to South Africa, whilst to the left of the road are the wetlands of the Okavango Delta followed by the Moremi Game Reserve, with its packs of African Wild Dogs.
Unfortunately, we were in a Honda Jazz. Small hatchbacks are not designed for Moremi, the Okagango or the Makgadikgadi Pans, so we stopped in Maun to consider our options. After two days searching in vain for a low-budget, organised camping
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trip into any one of the nearby parks, which involved me getting the car stuck in sand in the entrance to a hotel and having to be pushed out by local children, we gave up and drove to Chobe. The last hundred or so kilometres were done very slowly on a space saver spare tyre after we were eaten by a large pothole north of Francistown.My only criticism of Botswana therefore is that there is very little infrastructure for the independent tourist; the entire tourism sector is geared towards high end fly-in safaris. Having said that, it will be the first country in Southern Africa that I return to - purely because I didn't have the money to see everything the first time around. To be truthful, I spent more on petrol than on seeing animals.
The only real exception to the rule is Chobe National Park. It is readily accessible from Victoria Falls and makes a great add on if you are visiting Livingstone or the Zimbabwean side. There are hotels in every price range, and you can park your small Japanese car outside the Avis office at the airport and leave it there. While you are spotting beasts, some poor Botswanan has the unenviable task of driving it the thousand and odd kilometers back to Johannesburg on a space saver as spare tyres of that size are not available anywhere further north.
Several hotels along the road in Chobe have boat and safari vehicle trips into the park, which is great. The boat trips get you close up to elephants, hippos, various antelopes and lots of birds, whilst the jeep safaris are great for lion and all the more common species - we saw a porcupine (the only one I have ever seen), and only just missed some wild dogs. Chobe is easily comparable to good National Parks in neighbouring countries, and it is something of a shame that it gets overshadowed by Botswana's star attractions further West.
If I come into money, I'll be straight back onto the plane to Botswana to do all the things I couldn't afford to do last time around. If you're on a budget, you'll do much better to stick to South Africa or Namibia, where your money will go much further.
JacoBrits
ZA
Visited:
April 2010
Reviewed: Jan 29, 2012
35-50 years of age
~lustedtowander~
US
Visited:
September 2011
Reviewed: Jan 27, 2012
35-50 years of age
The wilderness areas of Botswana offer a classic safari experience.
Wildlife conservation in Botswana has been largely successful. With the exception of a network of 'veterinary fences', parks are not fenced and animals can travel freely. Thus, the country feels wild and open. The desert parks of the Kalahari are vast and quiet, and the harsh red landscape demands a taut awareness. In contrast, the abundance of wildlife in the lush Okavango Delta makes for an extraordinary experience. Elephants move through camp during the day, and lions prowl at night.
The people of Botswana are friendly and hospitable. If you travel to this place, bring with you an easy attitude. Let's keep Botswana a classic safari destination!
NC Buzzman
US
Visited:
February 2011
Reviewed: Jan 27, 2012
35-50 years of age
The people of Botswana are some of the most friendly and helpful we have ever met on our travels and this coupled withe the amazing landscape filled with amazing game and birds makes Botswana our top safari destination. The care and service provided by Wilderness Safaris in all their camps was first rate and all the rest of our travels will be measured by their dedication and service. We are already planning our return!
giapia
Visited:
September 2011
Reviewed: Jan 23, 2012
Beautiful earth, nice people, lots of elephants andhyppos, but a few cats (too much water)
PhotographybyBrianLauer
US
Visited:
May 2011
Reviewed: Jan 11, 2012
Email PhotographybyBrianLauer | 20-35 years of age
Alan J Castle
Visited:
September 2009
Reviewed: Jan 6, 2012
One of the very best safari destinations in southern Africa
The huge variety of habitats from the unique Okavango Delta to the Central Kalahari Desert, and ultimately the majestic Mkgadikgadi make Botswana one of the most interesting wildlife/nature destinations in the world.
Accommodation varies tremendously from luxury safari camps offered by Wilderness in the Okavango to the most basic camp sites like those in Kwai Community Reserve in Moremi where there are literally no facilities at all, giving the very best bush experience you can imagine for the seasoned explorer. For such places you'll need roof tents as the animals will definitely visit you, especially at night.
The best time to go is in September, before the rainy season makes quite a few places too difficult to get to, and if you are 'going it alone' you'll need a 4 wheel drive vehicle with all the kit, including all camping equipment, water, food (no meat allowed in the reserves), fuel, at least two spare wheels, tools etc, etc.
Botswana is a "trip of a lifetime," but one that I need to repeat, because, the people and the land have gotten under my skin. For the first time, I "get" Africa. Photos and movies can't do it full justice. Its not really sightseeing so much as it's an experience, unlike any that I've ever had before.