Botswana safaris tips 2023: Botswana’s landscapes are captivating, but nothing compares to a morning hot air balloon safari. Okavango Delta is the most popular location for a hot air balloon ride in Botswana. Most tourists often regard Okavango Delta as one of Africa’s most pristine natural environments. Even when it’s dry, it’s a sight to behold, but when it floods, the delta takes on a new level of enchantment. You can watch zebras, lions, tigers, leopards, and baboons during this period. It is also a popular destination for bird watchers. When the delta’s water levels go up, there’s more wildlife concentration on the high ground creating a better viewing angle. Your hot air balloon tour starts before sunrise when the sun’s rays are still visible. As you float lazily above Okavango’s vistas, you get a spectacular look at Botswana’s beautiful wildlife and scenery. You’ll have one hour in the air to take in the exciting views and sounds of a hot air balloon excursion. Discover additional information on wilderness safaris Botswana.
Boasting sand dunes, salt pans, and a thriving diversity of wildlife, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is one of the best parks to visit in Botswana during the rainy summer months (November – April). Regarded as one of the largest parks in Botswana, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park covers an estimated area of 14,670 square miles/ 38,000 square kilometers. Its size is largely due to the fact that it encompasses two previously separate parks: The Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa and Gemsbok National Park in Botswana. While you won’t find the entire African Big 5 here, migrating herds of wildebeest and other antelope attract large numbers of predators and raptors – resulting in some pretty spectacular sightings. The protected area that makes up the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is unfenced, which allows the wildlife to follow their ancient migration routes.
Maun is often used by tourists as a stepping stone for the Okavango Delta but it has enough about it to merit a few nights stay. The hotels, restaurants and tourist amenities here are some of the best in the country, largely due to the fact that the city is the main tourist stop in the country. Whilst the town itself does not have much going for it, it still attracts a wide range of people from luxury safari travelers to volounteers. There are some great campsites that are located by the river, providing a great place to stay for a few nights.
Bordering South Africa and Zimbabwe at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers, the Tuli Block is a beautiful wildlife rich area located in eastern Botswana. Boasting dramatic rocky scenery, towering baobab trees and thick riverine forests, it is a magnificent corner of Botswana that’s unlike the rest of the country. The Tuli Block was once an area of private farms, but a few decades ago the land was transformed into a well-managed conservation area and wildlife sanctuary. Now the Tuli Block encompasses several reserves, including Mashatu Game Reserve and the Northern Tuli Game Reserve – One of the largest privately owned game reserves in Southern Africa. Besides offering wildlife and nature lovers an exclusive African safari experience, one of the Tuli Block’s greatest allures is its prolific wildlife, with incredible sightings guaranteed year-round. There are large herds of elephant, several species of antelope, plenty of lion, leopard, wildebeest, and even cheetah. The Tuli Block is also one of Southern Africa’s bird watching hot spots with at least 350 species recorded. Due to it being private land, thrilling guided walking safaris and night drives can be enjoyed when visiting the Tuli Block. It also boasts several excellent and exclusive lodges and camps to stay at.
The Tsodilo Hills appear almost suddenly out of the ground in the northwest Kalahari. These imposing rock formations of varying shapes and sizes are made to love even more impressive by the relative flatness of the surrounding land in the Kalahari. The Tsodillo Hills are a Unesco World Heritage site and are home to an amazing 4000 cave paintings spread out over 200 locations. The cave paintings, along with other evidence, suggests that the hills were first inhabited over 30,000 years ago.
One of the largest inland deltas, the vast and virtually untouched freshwater wetland that is the Okavango Delta is deemed one of the world’s premier wilderness areas. The Delta is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was voted one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa in 2013. The Delta covers between 6 and 15 000 square kilometres of Kalahari Desert in northern Botswana and owes its existence to the Okavango (Kavango) River. The Okavango River cuts through the center of the Kalahari Desert, creating a unique inland water system that gives life to a vast diversity of birdlife and wildlife as well as the Okavango Delta’s dynamic ecosystem.
The Okavango Delta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s largest inland deltas. It’s also considered one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders. The river flows into a basin in the Kalahari Desert, where it then dissipates, creating an oasis in the middle of the dry landscape. The delta is home to a good deal of wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles, and elephants. You can explore the Okavango Delta by mokoro (dugout canoe), safari game drive, or on foot. The delta is ideal for luxury travel and those interested in getting off the beaten path and experiencing a more authentic African safari. Discover extra information at sundownersafaris.com.