10 Reasons to visit Botswana

1. Explore the watery Okavango Delta by land & water

One of the big reasons to visit Botswana for me is the variety of ways you can enjoy game viewing, especially in the Okavango Delta.. From an exciting game drive in an open 4×4 vehicle, to bush walks on the islands. And from mokoro trips along quiet channels to boating through deeper waterways, there is plenty of variety.

The Delta’s annual flood arrives during Botswana’s dry season, fed by rains far away in the highlands of Angola. But not every camp offers every activity, and water levels vary. Choosing the right combination of camps makes all the difference.

2. Watching elephants from a boat on the Chobe River

What could be better than cruising along the Chobe River as the sun sets, drink in hand, with a glorious view of the largest land animals on earth? Chobe is especially well known for its elephants. As the dry season progresses, elephant herds make a beeline for the river to drink, bathe and feast off the sweet grasses on the islands in the river.

A boat safari gives you a different perspective from a game drive, with hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds adding to the interest. We prefer some of the smaller which allow you to get closer to the banks and thus the wildlife.

For a longer stay on the water, consider a stay on a Chobe houseboat such as the luxurious  Zambezi Queen or the smaller Chobe Princesses.

Insider Tip: We recommend staying in the Park at Chobe Game Lodge or at least at a safari lodge which has its own dedicated smaller boat.

3. Enjoy a True Sense of Wilderness

Alongside a wish to see magnificent wildlife is the desire to experience a real sense of wilderness: wide horizons, few people and time to stop and take it all in. There can be few better places for that than Botswana. (Botswana has an estimated population density of only 4-5 people per square kilometre.)

Its remote private concessions, often with small safari camps spread across large areas, can offer a particularly peaceful safari. That doesn’t mean every sighting is yours alone: popular parts of Chobe National Park and Moremi can be fairly busy. But this is nothing compared to some of the national parks of East Africa.

And where you stay matters as much as which country you choose.

4. Glide through the Delta by Mokoro

A safari by mokoro sums up the quieter side of the Okavango Delta for me. Imagine the joy of gently meandering through the exquisite backwaters of this watery paradise, with only the call of the fish eagle to break the tranquility.

Traditionally carved from a tree trunk, these shallow canoes are now commonly made from fibreglass to help conserve trees. Your guide propels the mokoro with a long pole, leaving you free to notice water lilies, tiny frogs and birds that are easily missed from a vehicle. Think gentle exploration rather than chasing big-game sightings. Mokoto trips depend on suitable water levels and your camp’s location.

Note: They are often a seasonal activity, only possible when the seasonal flood comes in from June onwards.

5. Quad-biking across the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Some of the best trips we’ve had are those with totally different thrills along the way. One day you could be gliding through the Delta in a mokoro; a few days later, you could be on a quad bike exploring the extraordinary Makgadikgadi salt pans

The sheer space is the attraction here: shimmering white ground, enormous skies and very little to interrupt the horizon. Guided quad biking is a dry-season activity only, offered by selected camps when the salt pan surface is suitable. After rain, the pans are a very different proposition!

6. Sleep under Canvas on a Mobile Safari

Mobile camping is not exclusive to Botswana, but it is one of the best places to enjoy it. Travelling between wildlife areas with a specialist mobile safari operator lets you explore by day and sleep under canvas in designated campsites, with the sounds of the bush around you.

The style varies tremendously, from participatory trips where you help with camp chores (not our thing!) to fully serviced safaris with spacious tents and private bathroom facilities. Simply put, there’s a style of mobile camping to suit most people.

You may wonder how your guide and cook have produced such amazing meals in the middle of nowhere.

Note: Routes, campsites and driving all follow local park and concession rules; this is not unrestricted off-road travel. But it is a gloriously wild adventure as there are no fences.

Check Out our Article on: Different Types of Mobile Safari Camping

8. Adventure Safaris at Mashatu

Adventurous safaris are possible all over Africa, but some of Botswana’s reserves offer a particularly good choice. . Mashatu Game Reserve, in the southern Tuli region, is a fine example and epitomize this freedom, with guided walking, mountain biking and horseback safaris on offer alongside its game drives.

It is a wonderfully different landscape from the Delta: rocky outcrops, striking baobabs and dry riverbeds. Photography hides add another perspective. Activities depend on your camp, availability and suitability, with riding experience particularly important for horseback safaris among big game.

9. Learn from San Guides in the Kalahari

A walk with a San (bushmen) guide can change the way you look at the Kalahari Desert. The San people of are one of the last great nomadic peoples of the world. Their hunting and tracking skills, to provide meat for their families in this harsh dry climate, are legendary.

What seems like an empty landscape begins to reveal tracks, useful plants and the small clues that tell a much bigger story.

Selected camps in the Central Kalahari and also the Makgadikgadi  area arrange guided experiences in which San hosts share their knowledge and cultural traditions.

These are living cultures, with diverse communities and contemporary lives. Choose an experience led by the people sharing their knowledge, and let them set the tone for questions and photographs.

10. Canoeing or Boating on the Selinda Spillway (when conditions allow)

This part of my safari was really special: no engine noise, just my canoe and the African wilderness!

The Selinda Spillway is a seasonal waterway linking the Okavango and Linyanti systems in high-water years. Canoeing may be possible from selected camps when water levels and local conditions allow, but it is not something that’s available every season.

If paddling is high on your wish list, let us check the most suitable options for your dates.

Plan your own Botswana Safari with Us

You don’t need to squeeze all ten reasons to visit Botswana into one trip. The trick is to combine contrasting areas, choose camps that offer the activities you enjoy, and get your timing right.

1. Tell us your dates, approximate budget and who is travelling.

2. Share your priorities, whether that’s elephants, wild dogs, water activities or a little adventure.

3. We’ll help you choose a combination of regions and camps that makes sense for you.

Talk to Cedarberg Africa about your Botswana safari.

“10 Reasons to visit Botswana” was written by Milandi of Cedarberg Africa

Milandi Joubert joined Cedarberg Africa in 2002 and has worked across both our UK and South African offices. Having travelled extensively through our African destinations, she brings first-hand experience and a love of exploring by boat, plane or on foot to her safari planning.

Feel free to contact us if you want us to plan a Botswana safari.