10 Best Things to Do in Botswana | Attractions & Activities
Botswana is unquestionably one of the most remarkable wilderness regions on the planet. The southern and eastern regions feature the stunning Kalahari Desert and the otherworldly pans of Nxai and Makgadikgadi. The northern and western regions encompass the spectacular aquatic environments of the Okavango Delta and Chobe River ecosystem.
This variety of terrain accommodates a multitude of activities for nearly anyone with an interest in outdoor pursuits. Regardless of whether it is your inaugural visit to Botswana or your tenth, there remains an abundance of exhilarating experiences to be had in one of Africa’s most amiable nations. Determining what to see and engage in while in Botswana is a formidable challenge, as safari opportunities abound throughout the nation. We have traversed the entirety of Africa, customising safaris in Botswana for hundreds of travellers. To assist in your decision-making, we have identified our preferred activities in Botswana:
Things to Do in Botswana
One of the nicest things you can do in Africa is perhaps to go on a safari in Botswana. From the black-maned lions of the Kalahari Desert to the rivers, lagoons, swamps and islands of the Okovango Delta and the pachyderms of Chobe, a safari in Botswana is definitely an amazing experience. And you can do this all while staying in some of the most magnificent jungle camps.
Some of the most popular game reserves and National Parks are the Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe and the Okavango Delta among others. Other popular sites are the salt pans of Makgadikgadi, the stone paintings on Tsodilo Hills
Wondering when is the best time to visit Botswana or how to organise your African adventure? Our destination specialists are here to help. Here are the ten best things to do in Botswana, hand picked by our Kabira Safaris Africa specialists, and which are bound to feature in your Botswana trip guide!
1. Embark on a Safari in Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta is maybe the most picturesque of all the safaris in Botswana. In Okavango Delta you will find a mystical labyrinth of canals, lakes and lagoons, as well as a lot of wildlife – herds of buffalo and elephants, majestic big cats and graceful antelopes.
It’s one of the best things to do in Botswana and a must-see for Africa vacations. The wetlands can be best explored by wildlife drives, walking safaris, and mokoro rides!
2. Go on a Game Drive in the Kalahari Desert
On a game drive in the Kalahari Desert you can see antelopes, wildebeest and springboks, and find limitless expanses and a sense of pure freedom!
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the world’s largest game reserve and the world’s largest sand basin. The Kalahari is a unique desert, well vegetated – marvel at the lengths of grasslands in the desert, as you go on your safari in a four-wheel drive!
3. Explore the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
Makgadikgadi Pans are among the largest salt deserts in the world. We strongly suggest you to visit Makgadikgadi in the wet season. Otherwise sparsely populated by salt landscape, large lakes grow, attracting thousands of waterbirds, including flamingos and pelicans.
4. Marvel at the Stone Rock Paintings of Tsodilo
It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has four enormous rocks that emerge from the Kalahari vegetation. Visit the Tsodilo Hills and see the Tsodilo rock art paintings on stone, almost a billion years old!
This site has been nicknamed “Le Louvre of the Desert”. No other place in the world has so many rock paintings.
5. See Elephants in Chobe National Park
Chobe is Botswana’s first national park. Chobe National Park boasts the largest elephant herds in Africa. The best way to see them is on an exhilarating boat safari, where you’ll also be able to observe hippos and buffaloes. Chobe boasts a mind-boggling 50,000 elephants and a host of predators such as lions and leopards.
Chobe was originally home to the San bushmen. You can still see several of the San paintings today, carved into the rocks.
6. Discover the Wonders of Savuti and Linyanti
The original Savuti and Linyanti area located in the west of Chobe National Park. This swampy, savanna region is off the usual road and its fragile beauty will undoubtedly captivate you during your Botswana adventure tour.
Game is present year-round in the region, with winter months being the ideal time to find it. It also has the annual migration when the animals move south to Savuti in November to utilise the grazing options in the Savuti Marsh.
7. Visit the Khama Rhino Sanctuary
In the Khama Rhino Sanctuary in Serowe you will see the Spitzmaul and the Breitmaul Rhino species. The reserve is a haven for these gentle giants and many other nocturnal wildlife.
Animal shelter came up in ’92. The objective was to support the declining rhino population and at the same time help the local people.
8. Explore Mokolodi Wildlife Park
Leave the vibrant capital city of Gaborone for the Mokolodi Wildlife Park. Long game drives let you spot giraffes, cheetahs and many other creatures.
The city has the popular photo spot of the Three Chiefs statues.
9. Discover the Sights and Sounds of Tuli Wildlife Reserve
The Tuli Wildlife Reserve sits in the east of the Kalahari desert on the Limpopo River. It impresses with a notably varied scenery of enormous cliffs and flowing trees, mixed with species-rich marshes.
See elephants, zebras and huge cats.
10. Visit the Botswana National Museum
The Botswana National Museum in Gaborone is a lovely collection of the work of local artists, crafts and paintings bringing the cultural legacy of Southern Africa alive and well worth a visit on your Botswana vacation.
The institution is multidisciplinary and also has an art gallery and a botanical garden.
Find out the top things to do in Botswana and plan your trip with our specialists at Kabira Safaris Africa. Contact us for your obligation free, tailor created tour itinerary.