Best Botswana safaris by sundownersafaris.com: The Makgadikgadi Pans provide visitors with a unique opportunity to enjoy a morning in the company of a native meerkat colony. Because humans aren’t a threat to them, meerkats will continue foraging in the grassland for scorpions and other delectable bites. The successful taming of these little desert creatures relies heavily on the commitment of a full-time meerkat man, who monitors the pack daily and assists visitors in locating them. The guide drives you to the nesting zone in the early morning before the birds can emerge from their dens. As the sun rises, they warily peek out of their dens on a low sandy slope. Once they determine it’s safe to climb up, they scurry to the highest peaks of the hillside to look for potential threats and food sources. At some point, the entire colony, including the young birds, begins chattering and wrestling while tourists sit or kneel among them. It’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity to get close to the social and resilient desert creatures. Discover additional information on Botswana safaris.
Birdlife in the Kalahari is surprisingly exceptional, especially during Botswana’s rainy summer months between December and April. Avid birders can enjoy incredible sightings of flamingos, secretary birds, martial eagles, great white pelicans, and giant eagle owls. Established in 1992, the Khama Rhino Sanctuary was set-up in an effort to help save Botswana’s endangered rhinos from extinction as well as to re-introduce wildlife into the area so that the local community could benefit from tourism. To this day the Khama Rhino Sanctuary plays a vital role in the conservation of one of the most endangered species in the world. Both white and black rhino can be found at the Rhino Sanctuary. In addition to rhinos, the sanctuary is home to several endangered and rare species as well as a variety of wildlife, including the beloved Wild Dog, caracal, aardvark, leopard, cheetah, elephant and more.
All of these natural attractions come at a cost however and Botswana is currently one of the most pricey destinations for tourism in Africa. Some of the luxury accommodations here is priced so high that it is often the super-rich that travel here or once in a lifetime trips such as honeymoons. However, for the travel savvy, self drive tours are an affordable and often more rewarding way to explore the stunning country of Botswana. The Okavango Delta is one of the most inspiring and awe-inspiring wilderness locations in Africa, if not the entire planet. The Delta is a truely unspoiled wilderness with terrain ranging from dry grasslands to swamps. Safaris and game watching are the most popular activities in the park and possible animals to be sighted include cheetahs, zebra, giraffes, elephants, crocodiles and rhinos to name only a few. Trips should be properly planned because, although the terrain here is always stunning, the seasons can dramatically effect your chances of seeing certain animals.
Technically part of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Nxai Pan was created as an extension to expand the conservation area. Situated within Nxai Pan you’ll find the magnificent and highly sought-after wilderness and safari destination, the Nxai Pan National Park. While the spectacular scenery and vast landscapes is one of the area’s main draws, boasting remarkable sand dunes, towering baobab trees, and of course the salt pans themselves, Nxai Pan and Nxai Pan National Park has so much to offer. During Botswana’s rainy season (from November to April), the lakebed becomes beautifully lush and green, playing host to an incredible variety of wildlife that migrate through the area. When flooded, the pans also offer exceptional birding and vast game-viewing opportunities. Another wet season highlight is the great annual zebra migration which sees thousands of zebras move through Botswana’s Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan National Parks. Although the Great Migration in the Serengeti and the Masai Mara is the most famous and biggest land migration in the world, Botswana’s zebra migration is actually the longest migration as well as the second largest migration of wildlife in Africa.
The city of Gaborone is the largest in Botswana and also its capital. The modern buildings of Gaborone set against the tropical backdrops of this African nation are an unusual sight and despite its size, there are not too many reasons to visit the city. The large residential areas are supplemented by a few decent hotels and restaurants. The modern feel of the city is reinforced by its lack of history but it is certainly paving the way for the countries future and for this reason it is a good place to experience the vibe of 21st Century Botswana.
The renowned Chobe National Park lies within Botswana’s Okavango Delta and covers four distinct eco-systems. Chobe National Park is home to over 120,000 African elephants, making it one of the top places on the planet to see these huge mammals in their natural environment. The best time of year to enjoy spectacular sightings of these gentle giants of the African bushveld is during Botswana’s cooler, winter months (dry season) between May and September when enormous herds congregate on the banks of the Chobe River.
The Republic of Botswana is in the heart of Southern Africa. In the years before its independence from the British in 1966, Botswana was one of the poorest and least-developed states in the world, but the discovery of massive diamond deposits and investment into a strong tourism industry has turned it into a shining success story. For travelers with limited time, wilderness safaris in Botswana is a great option as you can easily be transported via light aircraft transfer from one camp to another in between game drives. Most Botswana-only safaris start in Maun or Kasane, but many of our clients opt to add Victoria Falls or Cape Town to a Botswana safari. Read even more info at sundownersafaris.com.