Top 5 Things to Do in Botswana

If you’re looking to spot some amazing wildlife in Africa, then you’d be hard pushed to find a better destination than Botswana.

Located in Southern Africa and sparsely populated, this huge country boasts some incredible national parks and a huge array of wildlife, from elephants to lions, hippos to giraffes.

Being both a stable and safe country politically, Botswana’s economy is doing pretty well thanks to its natural resource industry and, as such, national parks here are well established and regulated, making them easy to access and enjoy.

From one of the world’s most impressive delta systems, to incredible desert landscapes and African bushlands, Botswana’s topography is as varied as it is vast.

In fact, the words “incredible” and “impressive” don’t even cut it when looking to describe the experience of travelling here.

So to get you all inspired and booking your trip to this country asap, here’s the best things to do in Botswana…

 

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So, What Are The Best Things to Do in Botswana?

It may come as no surprise to you given my intro that the best things to do in Botswana are almost entirely based around wildlife and the natural landscape.

Rather than having lots of smaller parks, Botswana has small number of huge national parks which form the backbone of this list.

This means the number of top things to do in Botswana appears limited, but is actually full of potential!

2 of the most incredible places to visit in Botswana are Chobe River National Park and the Okavango Delta, both of which span huge swaths of this wild country.

Also on this list of the best things to do in this country are the Makgadikgadi Pans, as well as the Kalahari desert.

But outside of these big-ticket items, just travelling through Botswana is honestly one of the most amazing things to do.

Huge natural landscapes greet you at every turn and road tripping across this vast country will likely allow you to see a lot of wildlife without even having to enter a national park!

This is because many of the reserves in this country are joined together, meaning they provide some incredible wildlife corridors.

And it pays off; the amount of animals you can see almost anywhere in Botswana is astounding.

So it goes without saying, that road tripping is definitely one of the best things to do in Botswana – even making your way between destinations in this country is all part of the epic travel experience.

As such, for the purpose of this article, I’m going to focus on my 2 favourite destinations in Botswana (which also happen to be the most 2 popular) namely the Okavango Delta and Chobe River National Park.

Oh, and if you need to choose between these 2 destinations, check out this article I wrote that compares them.

 

Where Are These Located?

Both Chobe River National Park and the Okavango Delta are situated in the north of Botswana, which means visiting them both during your time in this country is highly possible.

Driving from one to the other sees you travelling through exactly one of those amazing wildlife corridors too, which means together they provide an all-round incredible experience.

The Makgadikgadi Pans are also not too far away and can possibly be combined to make a longer trip if you’re up for some serious driving.

However, the Kalahari Desert is miles away!

Tucked down in the southwest corner of the country, this is a huge area that’s far less accessible and easy to reach.

Making up part of the massive Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which actually stretches into neighbouring South Africa too, visiting the Kalahari Desert, and the indigenous communities that live here, is often enough of an adventure all by itself.

 

Getting to the Best Places in Botswana

As I said above, I’m focusing this article on the best things to do in Botswana around Chobe River National Park and the Okavango Delta, because these 2 places are located near each other, are easily accessible, wildly popular and utterly amazing.

If you’re looking to self-drive in Botswana, many people hit up both these biggies as part of a longer road trip across from Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe / Zambia border to Namibia, skirting the north of Botswana enroute.

Because both Chobe and the Okavango are situated in the north, along that wildlife corridor, they are great destinations to visit as part of this journey.

They have good road connections, ample accommodation options and are easy to access.

For these reasons too, many African overland tours that cover countries in Southern Africa over a period of weeks, also take a similar route through Botswana, which is why these 2 huge national reserves really are the focus of tourism in the country.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a smaller safari adventure then, given the proximity of Botswana to South Africa, many 5 – 7 day adventures from Cape Town or Johannesburg also head out to the Okavango and Chobe, looping through the Makgadikgadi Pans on the way there or back.

If you want to get to the Kalahari Desert you are best to take a standalone trip, many of which can again be picked up from Cape Town in South Africa.

Due to the more complicated access and remote nature of this area, trips to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park tend to be a little more pricy.

If you’re interested in an unforgettable, well-priced tour in Botswana with guides you can trust, then email me at [email protected] and I’ll send you my top recommendations – simple!

Alternatively, I’m currently offering my readers an exclusive discount on all Absolute Africa tours (who I’ve travelled to Botswana with twice), meaning you can now enjoy even more in this amazing continent for even less!

Simply send this top African overland tour company an email to [email protected], quoting the discount code BWSP, and start planning your incredible trip with them today!

 

So now I’m moving forward to concentrate on what I would list as the 2 best things to do in Botswana.

 

More about Chobe River National Park…

Chobe River National Park is a fabulous introduction to safari experiences in Botswana and, as such, often forms many visitors first taste of it all.

Set along a huge body of flowing water, the Chobe River (no surprises there!), this national park is located near the town of Kasane, just an hour or so drive from the Zambia / Zimbabwe / Botswana border.

Another reason, why so many people head here after Victoria Falls!

Chobe River National Park is most famous for its elephant populations which are huge, so if you’re dying to see some of these big guys, this is one of the best places to head in the whole African continent – no surprise therefore that it’s on my list of the best things to do in Botswana!

Besides elephants, you’ll also get the opportunity to see lions, giraffes, warthogs, hippos, buffalo, zebras and a huge range of antelopes and birds.

In fact Chobe has one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife in Africa.

Botswana’s first national park and its third largest, most people spend 1-2 nights in Chobe Park, taking advantage of the different safari opportunities it has.

Most popular are morning game drives, where the possibility of seeing the big cats after their night of hunting is highest.

Theses safari usually start around dawn, so you can see animals before they take cover during the heat of the day, and last until late morning.

The tours are usually conducted in small group numbers riding in open-sided safari vehicles.

They can be booked with the park either on arrival, or better, in advance during high season.

In addition, sunset river cruises are a great way to spot wildlife in and around Chobe River and provide a wonderfully different sort of wildlife experience.

Camping is available in a range of sites around the edge of the park, as well as in the town of Kasane, and there’s more luxurious safari accommodation available in many places too.

To learn more, check out my article about the best time to visit Chobe River National Park.

 

More About the Okavango Delta…

Moving west from Chobe River National Park towards Namibia, you’ll then encounter the mighty magnificence of the Okavango Delta, undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Botswana, if not the whole continent!

This huge floodplain provides a totally different safari experience to Chobe River National Park, which is another reason why they make a great travel combination.

Located near the town of Maun, this large wetland area is usually best enjoyed as a 2 day remote excursion, which will see you departing Maun to camp within the Delta itself with local people.

Maun is well set up for travellers, so you can find accommodation, supplies, food, fuel and much more here. If you have a vehicle, you can leave it in Maun and then head out on your delta experience.

Likewise, if you’re travelling with a tour or an overland company, the main vehicle will stay in Maun and you’ll just take the bare necessities for a few days out in the wild!

A key part of any time in the delta is experiencing the amazing local polers and traditional mokoro canoes, which are still used as the main mode of transport here.

Local people know how to move quickly and safely through the reeds and they also know the changing landscape too, as the shifts in geography here are extreme and quick dependent on the season and water levels.

To give you some idea of the scale, Wikipedia states that “each year, about 11 cubic kilometres (2.6 cu mi) of water spread over the 6,000–15,000 km² (2,300–5,800 sq mi) area” which means this landscape can look vastly different depending on what time of year you visit it.

Regardless, any trip to the Delta usually involves a few days camping out on its islands within the watery plains right among the wildlife.

Hearing the sounds of hippos grunting from your tent in the morning is not usual and walking safaris conducted with local guides around the campsite will bring you into contact with a whole heap of amazing wildlife, as well as plants and birds.

Scenic flights from Maun are also a great way to experience the Okavango Delta and will truly convince you this is one of the best things to do in Botswana.

Although a bit of a splurge, it’s only from the height of an aircraft that you can truly comprehend the size of this enormous landscape.

To learn more about this place take a look at my article dedicated to the Okavango Delta.

 

When to Visit Okavango Delta and Chobe River?

So, as you will have guessed from my info about the Delta at least, visiting Botswana during different times of the year can lead to wildly different experiences.

Probably the best time to visit the Okavango Delta is during the months of March through May.

This is when the summer rainy season has ended, meaning you won’t get soaked, but the water levels are not yet at their highest, meaning you’ll still get to see the lush green scenery and plenty of wildlife.

In addition to this, during these months the sweltering heat of the high summer months has passed.

March, April and May are also good times to visit Chobe River National Park  (it’s essentially winter there then too) again because temperatures are more reasonable and it’s dry, meaning less humidity!

However, this park has a longer peak season, which extends into September and October, to coincide with the high Southern Africa safari season in general.

Things can start to get a bit dusty once you hit September and October as the rains are long gone and the temperature hotting up, but being set along a body of water, it’s easy to spot animals in Chobe at almost any time.

 

 

Mini Travel Guide to Botswana

 

How Long to Spend There?
I’d suggest at least 5 days in Botswana to ensure you have the chance to visit both Chobe River National Park and the Okavango Delta.

Ideally, you’ll spend 2 nights in both, with a night in Maun in between, but if you’re pushed on time, you can probably get away with visiting Chobe for just 1 night.

Remember this country is big and travelling between destinations takes a lot of time, which you’ll need to factor in as well.

 

Top 5 Packing Items for Botswana

#1 Good Camera – Don’t even think about coming to Botswana without a good travel camera to capture the best of this country. The Sony A6000 mirrorless ticks my box every time!

#2 Walking Shoes / Boots – These are highly recommended for walking safaris in the Okavango Delta and for early morning or evening game drives in Chobe, when the temperatures can really drop. Keen Targhee’s II always get my vote!

#3 Birkenstocks – And talking of footwear, a good pair of sandals are king in Botswana. I love my Arizona Birkenstocks which were perfect for keeping my feet cool and supported at the same time. Literally wore them every day in this country!

#4 Waterproof Windproof Jacket – I visited Botswana in the dry season, but was amazed how cold it got at night, especially when camping. Having my North Face lightweight, windproof and waterproof jacket saved me!

#5 South African Power Adapters – Botswana primarily uses South African power outlets, which are pretty unique, so make sure you come prepared with a suitable Skross adapter.

 

Travel Insurance for Botswana

World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while travelling and claim online from anywhere in the world.

Alternatively, if you’re a long-term traveller, digital nomad or frequent remote worker seeking travel health cover, check out Safetywing’s Nomad Insurance policies.

 

Travel Money in Botswana

When it comes to paying for things in Botswana, it’s great to know that accommodation and tours can generally be paid for by card.

ATMs are also available in most major towns.

Whether you use ATMs or pay by card however, you’ll want to ensure you’re not being charged overseas transaction fees or getting poor exchange rates, which is why I always take my Wise card away with me wherever I travel.

The easy way to spend abroad with real exchange rates, no markups and no sneaky transaction fees, you can use your Wise card just like a debit card here, and it links easily with Google and Apple pay. Get yours here.

 

Top Botswana Tours

If you’re interested in an unforgettable, well-priced tour in Botswana with guides you can trust, then email me at [email protected] and I’ll send you my top recommendations – simple!

Alternatively, I’m currently offering my readers an exclusive discount on all Absolute Africa tours (who I visited Chobe with), meaning you can now travel even more in this amazing continent for even less!

Simply send this top African overland tour company an email to [email protected], quoting the discount code BWSP, and start planning your incredible trip with them today!

Otherwise, why not check out these more comfortable options.

 

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And that’s my guide to the best things to do in Botswana.

Have I convinced you to book a trip to this amazing country yet?