Botswana is an arid environment that depends highly on the rains each year to provide grazing for its wildlife and cattle. Desert animals like the gemsbok and springbok survive well in these dry harsh conditions.

You could time your trip to hit the migration of zebra in the Kalahari region during the rains. At this time of year, November through March, the Makgadikgadi Salt pans turn into salty shallow lakes, reflecting like mirrors the cumulus clouds above, creating surreal landscapes.

Unlike most rivers, the Okavango River, stops its journey to the sea, and creates the unique Okavango Delta. As it fans out over a vast flat area of desert, it creates a rich wildlife oasis unlike any other.

The animals of the Kalahari have evolved to live a good part of the year without water. Even large mammals like the brown hyena, gemsbok and springbok, can live without drinking water for months on end – they draw all their water from moisture in their food. We’ll help you choose the right time of year to find all the wildlife including meerkats, brown hyena, and a great variety of insects and birds.

‘One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.
Henry Miller

 

 

 

 

What to visit and explore in Botswana

The following features are found in this bountiful region:

  • A Fish Eagle at Chobe National Park

Chobe National Park

Chobe can be broken into four areas; The Serondela area (or Chobe riverfront) features lush floodplains and dense woodland of mahogany, teak and other hardwoods now largely reduced by elephant pressure. Chobe waterfront is the most visited park section, partly because of its proximity to the Victoria Falls. The town of Kasane, situated just downstream, is the most important town of the region and serves as the northern entrance to the park. The Savuti Marsh area is the western side of the park, and is fed by the Savuti channel and is currently flowing again, this started in 2010 and [Read more...]

  • Firemaking at The Bushman

The Bushman

The first indigenous people of southern Africa, whose territory spans most areas of Southern Africa traditionally, are referred to most commonly as Bushmen, the San Khoi o San people. These people were traditionally hunter-gatherers, part of the Khoisan group and are related to the traditionally pastoral Khoikhoi. In the 1950’s to the 1990’s as a result of government programs their lifestyle has changed forever. For people traveling today to Botswana and Namibia, you may choose to have the opportunity to meet and interact with a Bushmen family. Jackson’s African Safaris try our best to ensure this is done in a [Read more...]

  • Capital: Gaborone
  • Official languages: Setswana, English
  • Currency: Pula (BWP)
  • Time zone: Central Africa Time (UTC+2)
  • Drives on the: left
  • Calling code: +267
  • Motto: “Pula” – “Rain”