Although Botswana may not be at the top of your bucket list (and admittedly wasn’t at the top of mine until 6 months ago, either), you’ll wonder why not as soon as you lay eyes on this incredible country and its curious mix of desert and wetlands, its warm and hospitable people, its density of exotic African wildlife, and its nearly overwhelming number of national parks.
Amazingly, 80% of Botswana falls within the arid Kalahari Desert (water is such a valuable commodity that the country’s currency, pula, is the Tswana word for rain), but there are still centres of diverse wildlife around the lush banks of the Chobe River and along the oasis-like Okavango Delta which have made Botswana home to one-third of all of Africa’s elephants, the largest concentration on the continent.
And, with no sacrifice to accessibility (the country’s official language is English and nearly everyone speaks it), Botswana is undeniably authentic and has somehow managed to avoid the tourist crowds prolific in other African destinations. Whether you’re after wildlife sightings, cultural experiences, unspoilt scenery, or just “the real Africa”, you’d struggle to find a better place than beautiful Botswana.
Read more about our travels through Botswana:
ON SAFARI IN CHOBE NATIONAL PARK, BOTSWANA
ELEPHANT SANDS: BOTSWANA’S COOLEST CAMPSITE
ADVENTURING THROUGH BOTSWANA’S OKAVANGO DELTA BY LAND, WATER & AIR
