Botswana

Botswana is a land-locked country that enjoys a high standard of economic stability thanks to the discovery of the world’s richest diamond-bearing formations within its borders.

Botswana

Tourist Information for Botswana

Botswana provides a good sense of the adventure of safari. Its expansive game parks and preserves, while offering wildlife as diverse and abundant as that found anywhere else, are still largely undeveloped and untamed.

Top Highlights

Okavango Delta

The 1300km-long Okavango River, located in north-western Botswana is southern Africa’s third largest river and is a major source of water. The Okavango is a maze of lagoons, channels and islands.

The best way to experience the Okavango Delta, is to travel by mokoro (a shallow-draft dugout canoe). The water attracts great numbers, and a wide variety of wildlife including elephant, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest, giraffe, hippo, kudu and over 450 species of birds. Best months to visit the Okavango are July to September.

Moremi Wildlife Reserve

Encompassing over 3000 sq km it is a mixture of dry land rising between vast wetlands. Camps include: Camp Moremi, Mombo Camp and Little Mombo. Offers best game in the Delta and now offers the Big 5 with Rhino, just being introduced.

Chobe National Park

The park encompasses 11,000 sq kms, and a cruise or drive along the riverfront, where the bulk of the park's animals congregate is recommended. Elephants - around 73,000 of them, in herds of up to 500 - are the main attraction. You also have an excellent chance of spotting lion, cheetah, hippo, buffalo, giraffe, antelope, jackal, warthog, hyena, crocodile, otter, zebra and any number of species of bird.

Makgadikgadi / Nxai Pan

The 12,000 sq km Makgadikgadi Pans are the remains of a great lake that once covered much of northern Botswana. In December (rainy season), flamingos, pelicans, ducks, geese and other water birds flock to the area. Wildlife is plentiful, but the animals are free to wander across the savanna. Feb-Apr herds of wildebeest, antelope and zebra migrate north, and return early May, once the rain eases. The in-migration (May-Jun), gives the opportunity to see antelope (impala, gemsbok, kudu), lion & cheetah.

More Highlights

  • Gaborone

  • Kasane

  • Savuti Channel

  • Linyanti Marshes

  • Maun

  • The Kalahari

AVERAGE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE (°C) – based on Maun

JAN
32
FEB
32
MAR
31
APR
30
MAY
28
JUN
25
JUL
25
AUG
28
SEP
33
OCT
35
NOV
34
DEC
33
Country Dialling Code:
+ 267
When to Go:
Winter (late May-Aug) the days are normally clear, warm and sunny, and nights are cool to bitterly cold but is the best time to view the wildlife as they stay close to the waterholes.
Electricity:
Botswana uses 220-240 volts AC (50 Hz)
Capital:
Gaborone
Population:
1,500,765
Official Language:
English
Currency:
Pula (BWP) which is divided into 100 thebe.
Tipping:
Tipping is not required, but if you receive good service, then leave about 10%. In most places a service charge is added to the bill. Taxi drivers generally aren’t tipped.
Geography:
Botswana is a landlocked country covering 600,370 sq kms. Roughly the size of Kenya or France. Much of the country consists of a vast and nearly level sand-filled basin savannah.
Gateway Airport:
Maun (MUB)
Air:
Air Botswana, the national carrier operates scheduled domestic flights within the country.
Bus:
Bus and minibus services operate in the populated areas of eastern Botswana.