Private Safari Travel

Destination
Botswana

Discover Botswana's iconic destinations

From the crystal-clear waters of the Okavango Delta to the large elephant herds in the Chobe National Park and the unpredictable Savute Channel, which runs dry and floods seemingly at random – Botswana is blessed with some of Africa’s most beautiful reserves and an array of exceptional wildlife.

The Okavango Delta is a magical oasis – water in the desert is a truly spectacular sight. The wide, grassy floodplains are host to a magnificent range of wild animals, including the specially adapted sitatunga and red lechwe antelopes.

Chobe National Park in Botswana is famed for having Africa’s largest single concentration of elephant, while Moremi Game Reserve is renowned for its brilliant birdlife. Also, not-to-be-missed is an exploration of the stark and dramatic landscapes of the Kalahari Desert and the iconic Makgadikgadi Salt Pans.

Okavango Delta

Explore the Okavango Delta by mokoro or motorised boat cruises (seasonal)*, on foot or on game drive. A maze of sparkling lagoons, meandering channels and overgrown islands teeming with wildlife, Botswana’s Okavango Delta lies like a sparkling jewel at the heart of the Kalahari Desert. Known as “the river that never finds the sea”, crystal clear channels spread over the thirstlands of the Kalahari with their papyrus-fringed banks and fertile floating islands. Adapted for a life in and out of water, the elegant red lechwe and shy sitatunga are found in this watery wilderness. Lion, cheetah, leopard and African wild dog share the floodplains with large herds of elephant and buffalo.

Chobe National Park

Botswana’s famous Chobe National Park is a must-see wildlife destination that includes the Savute Channel and natural beauty of the Linyanti River. Chobe covers almost 11 000 km² (6 836 square miles), was the country’s first national park and boasts the biggest concentration of wildlife in Africa. Famous for its large concentration of elephant and buffalo, which congregate along the Chobe River, Chobe National Park offers adventures such as game drives, private river cruises, excellent birdwatching and exceptional photographic opportunities.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The magnificent expanse of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is a not-to-be-missed attraction when embarking on a Botswana safari. This is the largest, most remotely situated reserve in Southern Africa, offering almost exclusive wildlife sightings. After the wet season, the reserve becomes a hive of activity for large herds of plains game such as springbok and gemsbok. Visitors will also be treated to wonderful sightings of wildebeest, hartebeest, eland, giraffe, cheetah and the legendary black-maned lion. During the dryer months, the Central Kalahari reveals wide, desolate pans, which offer exceptional photographic opportunities. The reserve is well-known for providing awe-inspiring star gazing experiences as well as for its most notable attractions such as Deception Valley, the Sunday and Leopard Pans, Passage Valley and Piper’s Pan.

Nxai Pan National Park

Nxai Pan National Park is set on the northern fringe of the Makgadikgadi basin and includes Nxai Pan, an ancient lake bed that was once part of the vast Lake Makgadikgadi. At roughly 2 580 square kilometres this incredible destination offers stark contrasts between its dry and wet seasons. In the rainy season, it is home to the seasonal Zebra Migration, where vast herds (accompanied by a slew of predators) can be seen on open grasslands, amidst the mottled shade of acacia trees. During the dry season, visitors to the Nxai Pan National Park will be treated to sightings of wildebeest, springbok, impala, gemsbok, hartebeest, giraffe, lion, cheetah, wild dog, brown hyena, bat-eared fox, and occasionally elephant and buffalo.

Makgadikgadi Pans

The Makgadikgadi Pans span 16 000 km² (9 942 square miles) and are the largest salt pans in the world. Remnants of an ancient lake, the pans are interspersed with sandy desert and occasional vegetation. One of Africa’s biggest zebra populations makes this vista of white sand and salt their home. When rains fall during the wet season, the pans are filled with water and attract large flocks of flamingos, as well as big herds of zebra, springbok and wildebeest, followed closely by predators, making for fantastic game viewing.

Mashatu Game Reserve

Known as the ‘land of the giants’, Mashatu is a vast wilderness immersed in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve of Botswana. Sharing unfenced borders with both South African and Zimbabwean national parks, this biodiverse conservation area is prolific with flourishing flora and iconic fauna. Located at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers, this privately owned expanse of 29 000 hectares (72 000 acres) is a textured landscape of dense riverine forest, craggy hills, towering sandstone ridges, boundless open plains and sweeping savannah. Mashatu is named after the locally revered Mashatu (Nyala berry) trees that fringe the river, and wildlife are drawn to this natural leafy refuge that provides shade and food. Custodian to enormous herds of elephants and dotted with ancient baobab trees, this terrain is the ultimate safariscape with leopard, lion, and spotted hyena, and offers a plethora of adventurous experiences. Guests are able to get up close and personal with wildlife and enjoy the thrill of off-road safari. This pristine African bush is the stuff dreams are made of.

Savute

Savute, a remote and wild corner of Chobe National Park, stretches from the park’s northern boundaries to the Linyanti River. The area’s main feature is the mysterious Savute Channel, which flows and dries up seemingly unrelated to the rainfall. Dry and arid for almost 30 years, animals in the area were sustained by artificial waterholes. With the Savute Channel flowing again in recent years, the region has undergone a startling transformation, reverting to its natural lush and marshy state. Large numbers of wildlife have been attracted to this rejuvenated wilderness haven.

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Contact us and we will prepare your trip according to your requirements

Roman Baláž, personal advisor, photographer and animal rescue. Call +420 734 863 169 or write to e-mail.

Office and markets for USA and Great Britain - Nico Van Zyl, General Manager. Call +44 7849 911 362 or write to e-mail.

You can also use the query form. I look forward to meeting you.

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