Top Tips for Planning a Trip to Botswana

Where is Botswana?

Botswana is in the Southern half of the African continent. The landscape consists of dry desert terrain and swamplands - the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta. Botswana has the world's largest inland delta, which teems with an overabundance of wildlife.

Botswana is also a country defined by open savannas. Visitors are presented with spectacles of migrating mammals and predators. Botswana offers tourists a natural safari experience, more so than some of its more popular African rivals.

Botswana is one of the most beautiful countries on the African continent. It is home to many species of wildlife, such as rhino and wild dogs. It is also a bird-watcher's paradise.

The Moremi and Okavango have one of the largest populations of the endangered African wild dog. These packs roam across large territories. Sitatunga, red lechwe, and puku are found in the Moremi, Okavango Delta & Chobe areas.

 Camping Safari and Self-Drive Botswana

Most visitors to Botswana self-drive and camp. Some enjoy a lodge & tented camp, but most visitors prefer to camp and drive. Over 17% of the country has been set aside for game reserves and national parks.

These include the beautiful green Okavango Delta in the north to the red sandy dunes in the south. Vast areas of wilderness have been preserved so that travelers can enjoy a natural experience. Many areas have been set aside in the national parks and game reserves for camping.

Road trippers and campers will often only have the very basic facilities. Many of the camps  are quite undeveloped. Some camping sites offer formal ablution blocks.

It is advisable to stock up on food to last your entire stay. Each visitor will need at least 20 liters of water. Desert destinations will require more. Petrol and other essential supplies are a necessity. Find out more about the essentials of a self-drive through Botswana before you visit.

8 Memory-Making Spots to Visit in Botswana

1. Chobe National Park Game Reserve

Chobe National Park gets its name from the meandering Chobe River. Enjoy a riverboat safari, which is a must-see experience for travelers staying in luxury safari lodges. Sip cocktails on a gorgeous sunset boat cruise. View one of Africa's most breath-taking sunsets.

Chobe National Park is most famous for its large herds of African elephants and Cape buffalo that congregate on the banks of the river. The surrounding woods and lagoons teem with abundant wildlife. Some of these are antelope, hippo, and lion.

The grasslands of the Savuti Marsh are most famous for predators, male elephants, and birds during the wet season.

Intrepid travelers can enjoy a wildlife safari. Animals found here include male elephants, buffalo, Burchell's zebra, sable, roan, kudu, within the Chobe National Park. Lion, wild dog, cheetah ,and leopard are often spotted in the area.

2. The Okavango Delta

Did you know that the Okavango Delta is the world's largest inland river delta? The Okavango is in the northern part of Botswana. The environment is a rich and diverse eco-system. Enjoy a spectacle of thousands of plant and tree species that support the diverse and often rare wildlife found here.

The waterways of the Okavango are lined with thousands of lilies, open grassy plains, islands, and palms trees. Ancient baobab trees, acacia, wild sage, and mopane forests make this a wonderful spectacle.

The Okavango floods seasonally and becomes home to a concentration of wildlife. Although the general wildlife is in abundance, the Okavango is also famous for the rare red lechwe. Large herds of red lechwe can be seen wading through the water.

The sitatunga is more difficult to spot. Keep an eye out for the rare and unusual topi, sassaby, tiang, or tsessebe. The Moremi Game Reserve is in the central and east areas of the Moremi. Hire a dugout canoe and explore an area spilling over with hippo, elephant herds, and crocodile.

Moremi Game Reserve dry land safaris enable visitors to explore African wildlife up close and personal. Game comprises leopard, lion, giraffe, and rhino.

3. Linyanti, Selinda, and Kwando

If you are a genuine fan of safaris, then the wide open plains of northern Botswana are the perfect draw card. Enjoy the wide open spaces that offer a diversity of wildlife.

During the dry season, the waters of both the Kwando and Linyanti rivers serve as important migration points for wildlife from much of northern Botswana. Game includes large herds of buffalo and elephant, wildebeest, and zebra.

Virtually all naturally occurring antelope and predators can be seen depending on the season, and food and water availability. These include waterbuck, reedbuck, giraffe, impala, kudu, and with any luck the rare and shy sitatunga, and accompanying lion, hyena, leopard, cheetah, jackal, serval, and caracal.

The area is largely unspoilt, with only a few lodges dotted here and there. For travellers seeking an unspoilt private safari experience, visiting Linyanti, Selinda, and Kwando is a must. The Linyanti and Kwando rivers feed the entire area, converging into the Selinda Spillway.

4. The Kalahari Desert

Include the Kalahari Desert when planning tailor-made travel ideas. The Kalahari Desert is an expansive semi-arid savanna which is in Southern Africa. The Kalahari stretches for 900,000 square kilometers, covering much of Botswana.

It also covers parts of South Africa and Namibia. Activities include game drives, walking safaris, cultural experiences, and more for adventurous travelers or first-time safari enthusiasts. This Southern African marvel cannot be missed for a truly exceptional experience.

5. The Tsodilo Hills

The Tsodilo Hills holds a special place in the hearts of the Hambukushu people. They have been home to the Bushmen for thousands of years. For history buffs and lovers of all things cultural, the thousands of rock paintings are a must-see spectacle.

Of special interest are the four large rocks jutting out of the desert. Bushmen inhabit a small nearby village. The rocks symbolise a male, female, and child.

6. The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in the Heart of the Dry Savanna

Discover one of the largest salt flats in the world at Makgadikgadi on your Botswana Safari. There is an abundance of wildlife. These include buck of every description, and a plethora game. Enjoy safari rides, game drives, and for bird lovers, the area is literally teeming with bird life. Trained guides will offer a safe tour and bush walks of the Gweta.

7. Find Black-Maned Lions in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

The unforgettable red dunes and dry rivers are all memory-makers. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park presents a vast wildlife preserve. It is in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana and South Africa. The Park borders Namibia in the west.

Keep an eye out for the black-maned Kalahari lions and other predators. The area includes many migrating herds, including springbok and wildebeest.

Enjoy a stay at one of the many camps. Be sure to enjoy some of the famous game-viewing drives. Guided walks are offered to visitors.

8. Tuli Block: The Land of the Giants

Tuli Block is a strip of land along the eastern border of Botswana. The landscape consists of huge trees on the banks of the Limpopo. The forest is home to fever trees and rocky outcrops carved out rocks.

These rocks have been there for millions of years old. The area is home to teeming wildlife and bird life. Lucky game spotters might even catch a glimpse of the world-famous Tuli leopards.

Did You Know Botswana is a Low-Risk Malaria Area?

Even though Botswana is a low-risk area, you can never be careful enough when it comes to mozzies! Malaria kills. You need to protect yourself against bites.

Using common sense is perhaps your best prevention when planning a Botswana safari. Be sure to make your safari a pleasurable experience. There is more to consider than road conditions and a rainy season when planning your trip to beautiful Botswana.

Botswana is not one of the high-risk countries for malaria. This does not mean you shouldn't take every precaution possible to prevent getting this disease. There is no such thing as a completely malaria-free African safari experience, although there are some destinations that are lower-risk than others.

There are also certain seasons that have a lower risk than others. Do your homework when planning a trip into Africa and make the most of your safari experience by visiting at the perfect time of the year. With a few small steps, you can ensure your safety as you travel.

Wear mosquito patches to avoid mozzies buzzing around you and biting you while you're in Botswana. Don't let mosquitoes spoil your African safari experience!

7 Smart Tips to Reduce Malaria Risk for First-Time Safari Travellers

1. To reduce the risk of malaria, it is best to travel to Botswana and the Okavango Delta during the drier winter months. Mosquito activity wanes from May to October every year.
2. Did you know that less populated areas have a lower risk of malaria transmission? This is the case even if there is water. The female biting Anopheles mosquito transmits malaria from person to person. Lower populated areas mean a lowered risk of getting malaria.
3. Areas that have a lower malaria risk include: The Kalahari, the Makgadikgadi Pans, the Okavango Delta, and Moremi Game Reserve. Consider visiting these and enjoy local game parks, boat trips, a luxury lodge, and much more.
4. Avoid the risk of getting malaria by taking the proper medication and preventative measures. Find out everything you need to know about how malaria prophylaxis works for you.
5. Wherever possible, wear lightweight, loose, long-sleeved pants and shirts. Mozzies can still bite through clothing. The looser the better.
6. Always use insect repellent. Mozzie Skin Patches are easy to use and safe for everyone over the age of 18 months. They last up to 36 hours!
7. Preventative measures also include sleeping with mosquito nets and closing your doors between sunset and sunrise where possible.

Stock Up on Mozzie Skin Patches at our shop Before Go on Your Great Botswana Adventure!

Preventative methods are key to keeping malaria at bay. Before your great African Botswana safari, ensure you pack in an emergency kit, including your Mozzie Skin Patches and clean bottled water.

Our patches are a great way to stop the buzzing in its tracks. They are 100% natural and last for up to 36 hours, and everyone can wear them. Make your Southern African adventure to Botswana a memorable and comfortable experience.