Review about Makgadikgadi Pans National Park by Patrick Smith
The Makgadikgadi pans are an unearthly, perception-bending stretch of cracked gray flatness like the bottom of an evaporated ocean.
It was here where I got my first wildlife sighting. In the late afternoon I noticed two figures in the distant, quivering heat. When I raised my binoculars, I was astonished to discover these weren't a couple of wayward campers, but two gigantic, shoulder-tall maribou storks foraging along a muddy break in the pan. The sight of the huge birds moved me with a peculiar, disarming force: as if to remind me, suddenly and wholly: this is Africa!
Review about Okavango Delta by Patrick Smith
The Okavango River pours into northern Botswana from Namibia and Angola, then fingers into an immense sprawl of ephemeral marshland and forest containing one of the continent's most spectacular and diverse concentrations of wildlife. The geography is wondrously ambiguous -- deeply tropical at one turn, dryly wooded at the next.
Perhaps most startling of all the country's wildlife, if lacking the glamor of the larger mammals, are its birds, and the Okavango is the best place to see them. The country is held in high regard by birders worldwide, but the sheer volume of species in the Delta is overwhelming. Tent-side one morning, a scan of shallow riverfront resembled a field guide into which one of each endemic species had been dropped by an overanxious illustrator: storks, eagles, hornbills, vultures, and no fewer than a dozen of Botswana's prettiest creature (and also its national bird), the liliacbreasted roller. No less common here than a pigeon in Trafalgar Square, the roller is a brilliantly appointed avian with iridescent, powder blue wings.
Review about Chobe National Park by Patrick Smith
Chobe was, in parts, the most touristed and commercialized of the areas we saw. There are areas of the park that I would not return to because of the crowds and zoo-like feel of the wilderness.
One exception was the gorgeous Savuti area. Savuti's exotic-sounding name is matched by its sense of isolation and eerie beauty. This is a harsh, jagged region of primordial vistas that seem to belong in another epoch.
The campground showers here are built like bunkers, to keep thirsty elephants from wrecking them. At night, the walks from tent to toilet are made in pairs, flashlights blazing.
Setting up our camp one afternoon, I heard a sudden thrashing of branches just to my left. As I watched, an elephant walked out of the trees not forty feet away, trundling past my tent and into the next clump of trees.
SG
35-50 years of age
Review about Okavango Delta by Kelly Cheng
Just a unique natural wonder of the world, period.
SG
35-50 years of age
Review about Chobe National Park by Kelly Cheng
The most accessible herds of elephants by the river.
The Safari Defined
Texas-sized Botswana forms the wedge-shaped heart of southern Africa, resting like a pocketed jewel amidst South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
It's peaceful, prosperous, and splendidly beautiful. Over thirty percent of Botswana's territory -- more than any other nation on earth -- has been set apart as protected parkland, guarded against poaching by a military that fortunately has little else to do. And it's here where you'll find nothing less than the planet's most superb safari opportunities.
The government encourages high-cost but low-impact tourism, avoiding the commercialization of places like Kenya and Tanzania, where vanloads of package tourists converge on animals and battle for the best view.
This is the closest you'll find to the Africa you imagined as a child -- wild and untouched.
PL
20-35 years of age
I will definitely come back soon!
I didn't know what to expect when I was crossing the border from Zambia to Zimbabwe. But Zimbabwe turned out to be such a tranquil and peaceful country. I regret I didn't have more time to stay there for longer but I am already planning to come back.
The country is so beautiful and picturesque! Clearly it's a must see.
You will appreciate much less crowded parks, great food at significantly lower price than in the neighboring countries.
And don't forget about their biggest pride! Victoria Falls is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world and it really deserves this title!
US
50-65 years of age
Botswana is a beautiful place just teeming with wildlife and birds.
While in Botswana I saw the big five animals and watched a cheetah stalk and chase its prey. Lions were just lying by the road and took no notice of us as we shot numerous photos. We watched elephants cross the river in the morning and return in the evening. I think we saw all of the animals at one time or another. We were there for 14 days but our accommodations were tents that were moved from location to location. Camping gave us the opportunity to get into areas unfrequented by other tourists. There were 8 in our group and we had 3 vehicles that were wide open so we could get the best shots of the animals.
Our vehicles went off in different directions each day but if an unusual siting occurred our guide used a radio to tell the other guides.
We didn't see other tourists since we were not staying in lodges. We were all by ourselves. Our food was wonderful and I still marvel at how they were able to cook such delicious meals. The weather was perfect. Cold in the morning and evening but very warm during the day so we came back into camp after lunch to shower and such and went back out at 3pm. We had very primative camps but that made it fun. I highly recommend Botswana. It is an amazing place and the people were very friendly.
SG
35-50 years of age
Breathtaking Okavango, like a painting!
The aerial view of Okavango Delta was unexpectedly breathtaking. The patterns made by the islands, waterways, vegetations were like a constantly changing large canvas of painting by nature. It was a sheer joy watching giraffes, herds of elephants and buffaloes wading in the water.
I had 2 nights of bush camping, coming and going by the local canoes called mokoros. During the bush walks, we had to keep a safe distance from animals, so we could not get as close to them as in a vehicle. A pangolin visited our camp site at night.
We didn't feel very safe in a camp site in Maun. We were told to keep all our belongings in the truck, just had only the necessities in our tents. We were told that tents were slashed and stuff stolen in the middle of the night previously.
The river safari was a special experience, to watch herds of elephants, crocodiles, hippos and buffaloes by the river bank from the water. The land safari was less impressive though.
US
20-35 years of age
Review about South Luangwa National Park by Amanda Gardner
Excellent wildlife viewing, not crowded. Great access to Mozambique and Malawi.