| Botswana is a small country with a big heart. The | | | | is the Okavango Delta. This, the largest inland delta in |
| population is very sparse and most of the country is | | | | the world is a treasure trove of scenic waterways, |
| semi-desert but Botswana sports a gigantic array of | | | | romantic lagoons, forests and plains that stretch to the |
| wildlife. If you are thinking about taking a safari in | | | | horizon. Nature has her playground here with |
| Botswana you are really in for a treat. The country | | | | thousands of species of birds and animals all sharing |
| boasts some of the best game parks and nature | | | | the magnificent landscape under the enormous African |
| reserves in the world. | | | | sky. |
| How to travel | | | | The delta is only about five thousand years old. |
| The magnificent scenery of Botswana is gorgeous | | | | Formed when the great Okavango river was blocked |
| from any angle. Whether you soar over the thundering | | | | from the ancient Makgadigadi lake, the delta is the site |
| herds in an aeroplane or drift along in a dugout canoe, | | | | of the slowest moving flood in the world. The flood |
| the sweeping beauty of your surroundings is sure to | | | | begins in Angola during April and it only reaches the |
| take your breath clean away. | | | | bottom end of the delta during July. This strange, |
| - The moroko is a dugout canoe which is 'poled' along, | | | | leisurely flood is the result of the flatness of the |
| much like a gondola in Venice. Unlike a trip through the | | | | landscape. In fact, the entire landscape only drops 60 |
| ancient city though, there is no traffic or pollution and | | | | metres over the course of 450 kilometres! |
| you are surrounded by unspoiled African wilderness. If | | | | Chobe National Park |
| you are in more of a hurry though you can take a | | | | The Chobe National Park is the second largest national |
| motorboat along the main waterways and lagoons but | | | | park in Botswana. It is world famous for its abundant |
| only the moroko can slide silently through the quiet | | | | elephant population. The Chobe elephant is, in fact, the |
| backwaters of this wild watery wonderland. | | | | largest of the entire species. The Chobe National Park |
| - 4X4 adventures are a fun way to explore the main | | | | also contains an enormous variety of wildlife, some of |
| islands and you can even take night drives through | | | | it completely unique to the park. |
| private concession areas if you want to experience | | | | Moremi Game Reserve |
| something a bit more unique. | | | | If you visit Africa to see her beauty, then the Moremi |
| - There is always more than a hint of romance to the | | | | game reserve is an essential stop. Besides the variety |
| idea of flying; the sweeping views you have always | | | | of birds and animals, here you will witness some of the |
| seen in the cinema but never imagined you could do in | | | | most breathtaking landscape in Africa. No |
| real life. The Game Viewing flights over the parks of | | | | photographer (no matter how amateur) could miss the |
| Botswana are every bit as exciting and romantic as | | | | opportunity to capture the lily-covered valleys or the |
| you could hope for. Helicopter flights are a really wild | | | | infinitely photogenic forests and plains of Moremi. |
| adventure while light aircraft sweep over the massive | | | | Kalahari Central |
| herds of migrating animals and off into the sunset. | | | | The largest game reserve in Botswana is the Kalahari. |
| - If you are in need of a taste of something truly exotic | | | | This enormous stretch of wild countryside is |
| then an Elephant Ride Safari may be the only way for | | | | completely arid during the dry season but is flooded |
| you to travel. This is a truly original and quite | | | | with life-sustaining water during the brief rainy season. |
| unforgettable experience since the gentle sway of the | | | | The rains bring all manner of wildlife to drink and romp |
| elephants walk and your height above the ground will | | | | in the refreshing ponds and lakes that form in the pans |
| give you a view that is unparalleled by anything else in | | | | and valleys. |
| this world. | | | | Makgadigadi Pans National Park |
| - The traditional way to go on safari is of course to | | | | On these, the largest saltpans in the world, immense |
| trek on foot. You will have the unique opportunity to | | | | herds of game migrate for the rainy season while |
| track and stalk live animals with the help on an expert | | | | flocks of water birds fill the skies and waters. The |
| guide. Of course, unlike in the old days, the favourite | | | | waters that fill the normally arid pans are a mere hint |
| kind of shooting done nowadays is with a camera so | | | | at the massive lake that covered the entire area five |
| be sure to pack plenty of extra film and memory | | | | thousand years ago. The animals that fill the plains |
| cards! Getting up close to nature in this way is an | | | | though are as magnificent now as there ancestors |
| old-fashioned, grass-roots, real adventure. | | | | were when the great lake was filled by the ancient |
| Okavango | | | | Okavango River so long ago. |
| The primary attraction of Botswana safari expeditions | | | | |