7 Reasons why you should travel to Botswana

The Okavango Delta stands as one of Africa's last great freshwater wildernesses. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an inland delta where the Okavango River spreads across up to 15,000km² of Kalahari sands, creating a seasonal maze of floodplains, lagoons and palm islands. What makes the Okavango Delta truly unique is its paradox: floodwaters peak during the dry season (June to September), transforming parched landscapes into wildlife-rich wetlands just when animals need it most. 

You can glide through narrow channels in a traditional mokoro canoe at sunrise, then track lions on a game drive that same afternoon – few places offer such diversity of safari experiences in a single location.

This habitat diversity supports extraordinary wildlife densities, making Moremi one of Africa's most productive game reserves for lions, leopards, wild dogs, elephants, buffalo and over 500 bird species. 

For photographers and wildlife enthusiasts wondering "what animals can you see in Botswana?", the predator viewing alone justifies the journey. Botswana is home to the Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino), although you’re unlikely to see them all in one location. You’ll also find rare and seldom-seen species such as pangolins, aardvarks and servals.

Botswana also supports some of Africa's healthiest populations of African wild dogs (also known as painted dogs), with packs regularly denning and hunting in the northern Okavango concessions and Moremi Game Reserve. Lions thrive here too – including the tree-climbing prides of the Okavango and the large concentrations around Savute in Chobe National Park. Leopards are frequently spotted, particularly in the Khwai area, where riverine woodland provides ideal habitat. 

Chobe National Park in Botswana boasts one of the highest concentrations of elephants in Africa. From rich riverine habitats to vast dry savannahs, names like Chobe, Savute, and Linyanti are imbued with the spirit of safari legend. Of the many safari wonders on offer in Africa, time spent in the company of elephants is always something to be treasured. 

Beyond the famous riverfront, Chobe encompasses diverse ecosystems: the Savute section is renowned for dramatic predator-prey interactions where lions have been documented hunting elephants, whilst the remote Linyanti region offers excellent wild dog and leopard sightings.

Botswana's Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan salt pans offer safari experiences unlike anywhere else in Africa. These vast, flat expanses – remnants of an ancient super-lake – transform seasonally from blindingly white lunar landscapes into shallow wetlands that attract enormous concentrations of flamingos, pelicans and migrating zebra and wildebeest. You can spend time with habituated meerkat families, sleep under limitless star-filled skies in seasonal camps, and meet Bushman communities whose ancestors have known these pans for millennia.

Botswana's guides rank among Africa's finest. Many have grown up in these landscapes and bring exceptional tracking skills, ecological knowledge and storytelling ability to every outing. In certain concessions, particularly those operating in partnership with local communities, you'll be guided by Bushman trackers whose people have moved through these territories for thousands of years. Their ability to read tracks, interpret behaviour and find wildlife using traditional methods adds profound depth to your safari. This cultural dimension addresses a key question many travellers have: "What is Botswana famous for?" Beyond wildlife, it's the living cultural heritage that makes Botswana truly distinctive.

Botswana pioneered a "high value, low volume" tourism approach that keeps visitor numbers deliberately low whilst protecting vast wilderness areas. Unlike other African countries where parks can feel crowded, Botswana limits the number of beds in each concession and restricts vehicle numbers at sightings. The country has set aside approximately 17% of its land for wildlife protection, and many lodges operate through partnership agreements with local communities, ensuring tourism revenue flows back to villages. This means you'll often have wildlife encounters entirely to yourself, and your visit actively contributes to conservation that works: wildlife populations  are protected, communities benefit economically, and wilderness areas remain pristine.

Few African destinations pack such variety into a single country. A typical Botswana safari itinerary might combine the water-based activities of the Okavango Delta, the predator action of Moremi and Khwai, the elephant spectacle of Chobe National Park, and the stark beauty of the salt pans. You can glide silently in a mokoro, track lions on foot with expert guides, cruise the Chobe River at sunset, sleep under stars on a mobile safari, and ride quad bikes across ancient salt flats – all within one journey.

This diversity also makes Botswana surprisingly family-friendly. Many camps welcome children and offer dedicated family units or private vehicles, while activities like mokoro trips, river cruises and meerkat encounters engage younger travellers without compromising the safari experience. Whether you're a first-time safari-goer, a seasoned Africa traveller, or a family seeking an adventure together, Botswana's range of experiences means there's something meaningful for everyone.