Botswana
Perhaps the most stunning of all African Safari destinations
It’s not as developed infrastructurally speaking as other destinations like Kenya or South Africa adding to the allure and magic.
It’s a destination that truly beckons the soul to experience the oneness of nature.
Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a remarkable river system that begins with rainwaters from the Angolan Highlands. During the rainy season, these waters flow down various tributaries, ultimately forming the Okavango River, which fans out into the Delta. This creates a spectacular transformation—an expansive floodplain teeming with life. The waters, with no outlet, are contained in the Delta eventually being soaked into the earth or being evaporated returning the Delta to its dry state awaiting next year’s rain cycle. The Flood provides a time of plenty for all living things while during the dry season, the waters seem to evaporate just as quickly as they came in.
The Delta is carved into various concessions and reserves managed by various safari operators with varied habitats and wildlife viewing opportunities. We highly recommend seeing the concession map in the link to get an appreciation and understanding of the magnitude of the area and operations.
The various concessions not only protect this very valuable sanctuary but provide for a means of a very eco centric model for safari enthusiasts to visit and experience the magic of the Delta for themselves. The floodwaters normally start trickling into the northern Delta around March reaching the southern Delta during the peak travel season. The Concessions are defined by the water and noted as purely water based, land based or a combination of both.
Travel Seasons
May
This month specifically is a great time to visit the Delta, especially the northern Delta. The weather is turning cooler. The floodwaters have arrived in the northern Delta Concessions such as NG 23, NG24 and NG25 forming islands navigated across water channels. The variety of wildlife and birds on display is mesmerizing. The lodging rates are considerably lower while being able to take advantage of long stay specials. Yes, we recommend May as the ideal month to visit.
Jun - Sept
Peak travel season given its winter in the Southern Hemisphere. The weather is cooler, and the Delta is filling in with floodwaters. Botswana, being one of the more expensive destinations, becomes even more costly during this time with the price for lodging across the different concessions ranging significantly.
Oct - Jan
October commences the start of the dry season that takes hold quickly. With summer fast approaching, the weather turns hot and dry. Animals start to congregate in the few remaining water holes. For those that don't mind this environment, this is another good time to visit.
Lodging
May
Our recommendation centers around the established safari operators - namely Great Plains (GP) and Wilderness Safaris (WS). GP operates NG23 also called the Duba Concession made famous by the lion/buffalo encounter NatGeo specials. For the luxury option, go with Duba Plains else Duba Explorer is very good too! WS operates NG 24 and NG25. For a wet stay, go with NG25 housing Jao Camp while NG24 houses Vumbura Plains for a combination wet/dry experience.
Jun - Sept
We like the May options while recommending the Chitabe concession (NG31) along with the Khwai, Kwara and Kwedi Concessions on the eastern flank providing greater opportunities to spot wild dogs. Other options at the premium luxury level center around the Moremi Game Reserve with lodging options such as Wilderness’s Mombo Camp and Xigera Safari Lodge. There are a multitude of other camps at varied price levels spread across the various concessions that can meet every traveler’s budget.
Oct - Jan
Even though we visited the andBeyond Concessions, we would recommend the June - September options.
Selinda, Linyanti, Chobe
As much as the Okavango River flows into the Delta, there is a channel that flows east forming the Selinda Spillway into the NG16 or Selinda Concession. The Kwando river merges with the Spillway at the Linyanti swamp forming the Linyanti River into the NG15 or Linyanti Concession. A tributary known as the Savuti Channel feeds into the Savuti Marsh. As the river progresses east, it becomes the Chobe River fronting the Chobe National Park as the boundary to neighboring Namibia eventually merging with the mighty Zambezi.
Selinda and Linyanti Concessions are very large with a varied landscape and a wide varity of wildlife including an opportunity to spot wild dogs.
An honorary mention goes out to the Kwando Concession operating to the north of the Selinda Concession with the Kwando river forming the eastern boundary. Kwando is especially known for its wild dog sightings. In fact, during our stay in Selinda, we came across a pack on the northern fringes that soon crossed into Kwando.
Chobe National Park is one of the largest Parks in all of Africa known as hosting the largest population of elephants along with a variety of other wildlife amongst a varied landscape from riverfront to bush.
Travel Seasons
Feb - May
Depending on the rain in the Angolan highlands, the Selinda Spillway starts seeing water as early as April which makes May a very good month to visit to be on the cusp of peak vs off peak pricing. The weather is turning cooler especially during the nights and mornings.
Jun - Sept
As with the Delta, this is peak season for which you can expect to pay peak pricing similar to that of the Delta.
Oct - Jan
The dry season during which the Spillway and neighboring channels are likely dry. The vegetation is already brown or turning brown with the weather turning hot. It’s definitely a different experience from the wet season for those that wish to give it a try.
Lodging
Selinda / Linyanti
You can't go wrong with either Great Plains or Wilderness Safaris:
- Great Plains operates the Selinda Concession with luxurious camps such as Zarafa and Selinda and more economical camps including Selinda Explorers.
- Wilderness Safaris operates Duma Tau and Kings Pool in the Linyanti Concession.
Chobe National Park
Although we encourage you to become aware of the wide array of lodging options, we really like the two andBeyond mobile camps inside the Park - Chobe Under Canvas located at the Chobe riverfront and Savute Under Canvas located near the Savute area known for its lion sightings.
More Destinations
With a large swath of the country protected for national parks and reserves, there are several other considerations to make note of.
- Makgadikgadi Pans National Park & Nxai Pans National Park alongside Nata Bird Sanctuary provide for more than 4000 sq km of shimmering salt plans, zebras and baobabs. Ideal time to visit is the winter season (June – Sept); However, it’s worth noting about the zebra migration where they journey between the Pans and the Chobe River in search of fresh grazing. They migrate south to the Pans around November and as the Pans dry up, they migrate north to the Chobe River around April. A visit around this time showcases the epic beauty of the world’s second largest zebra migration.
- Mashatu Game Reserve, spanning 42,000 hectares within the Northern Tuli Game Reserve is located in the southeast corner of Botswana straddling the South Africa and Zimbabwe borders along the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers. Often considered a hidden gem with diverse landscapes, amazing wildlife spotting opportunities and several lodging options to choose from, Mashatu Game Reserve is generally not on safari goer’s radar but should be.
- Other destinations include the Central Kalahari Game Reserve & the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, etc.
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