Thanks to the huge wildlife that Botswana offers, the African country is one of the greatest safari destinations in Africa.
It’s where the big cats run free and African endangered dogs and rhinos can be found. However, if Botswana is known for something worldwide, it’s because here you can find more elephants than anywhere else in the continent.
Botswana is also the land of the Okavango Delta and the Kalahari Desert, where one of the largest concentrations of rock art in the world is located.
If we combine these beautiful African landscapes with the wildlife that inhabits them, we conclude that we are in one of the most amazing places on the planet.
Therefore, not surprisingly, Botswana has been elected by the Lonely Planet as the best country to travel to in 2016.
Kalahari Desert
Always in the shadow of its neighbor Namib Desert, Kalahari extends east of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. It is known as the red desert by the color of its sand and despite its extreme conditions, the Kalahari is inhabited by rodents, antelopes, giraffes, lions and meerkats among others. Further north, where the climate is more humid, rains gives way to the bush savanna. In an area that is about ten square kilometers big, more than 4,500 paintings made by the San community are preserved. Some are 24,000 years old and were an offering to the gods.
Okavango Delta
It is one of the few deltas in the world that has no outlet to the sea. The region, described as the “diamond of the Kalahari” is an oasis in contrast to the general aridity of the country. Herds of buffaloes run in its waters, herds of elephants roam its vastness and giraffes walk among the acacias. They are all unique sights of a small universe that for six months is flooded with water. This is also the main reason why the Okavango Delta is so well preserved.
Chobe National Park
This is where one of the densest populations of wildlife on the continent is concentrated. The experience of sailing at sunset on the calm waters of the Chobe River, which divides Botswana from Namibia, with flocks of birds across the sky and herds of elephants wandering around is undoubtedly one of the most memorable experiences you can live in Botswana. Chobe is famous for its abundance of elephants, especially in the winter evenings when they go drinking.
Gaborone
Despite being the country’s largest city, it is very discreet as it’s one of the least populated capitals in Africa. The main reason to visit Botswana are the safaris, but it is worth knowing Gaborone. This is a city full of government buildings, shopping centers and residential neighborhoods. It also has interesting museums and delicious restaurants.
Photos: Iwh50, Justin Jensen, David Schenfeld, Joachim Huber, Michael Jansen, Andrew Ashton, Wendy, Ross Huggett, Mario Micklisch.
