Botswana invites you to embark on a journey of discovery amidst its natural wonders and vibrant culture.
Whether exploring the Okavango Delta or encountering wildlife in Chobe, Botswana promises
an unforgettable African adventure.
Beach Resorts:
n/a
Spa Resorts:
Some lodges and camps offer spa facilities;
any time of year is suitable.
Travel Adventure Locations
Mountain Locations:
Tsodilo Hills for cultural and historical significance.
Seaside Locations:
n/a
Cultural Travel Locations:
Explore traditional villages and cultural performances
to experience Botswana's rich heritage.
Ethnicity and Languages:
Predominantly Tswana-speaking, with Setswana
as the national language; English is widely spoken.
Average Weekly Budget for Accommodation:
Hostel: $150 - $250 per week
Hotel: $400 - $800 per week
(Depends on season, location and category)
Average Daily Budget for Food:
Street Food: $5 - $15
Restaurant: $20 - $40
(Depends on season, location and category)
Best Season to Visit:
The best time to visit Botswana is during the dry winter season
(May to August) when wildlife congregates around water sources,
making for excellent safari experiences.
Brief Travel Information about Botswana
Drinks
Bojalwa ja Setswana: Traditional home-brewed beer made from
sorghum or maize, brewed for special occasions and ceremonies.
Khadi: Sour milk, traditionally fermented and enjoyed as a
refreshing beverage, sometimes mixed with tea.
Palm Wine: Locally known as "tswana", palm wine is tapped from
the palm tree and consumed fresh or allowed to ferment slightly.
Mosi: A popular commercial beer in Botswana, brewed locally
and widely enjoyed across the country.
Stoney Tangawizi: A ginger beer with a strong ginger flavor,
popular as a non-alcoholic beverage.
Mageu: A fermented maize drink, slightly alcoholic, and enjoyed
as a traditional beverage.
Ginwala: A traditional drink made from a mix of sour milk and
sugar, sometimes flavored with spices.
Mokuru: A traditional herbal tea made from the leaves of the
mokuru plant, believed to have medicinal properties.
Dingaka: A traditional herbal infusion made from a blend of
medicinal herbs, often served hot or cold.
Mosi-o-Tunya: Another local beer variety, named after Victoria
Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya in the Lozi language), brewed with local
ingredients.
Foods
Seswaa: A traditional dish of pounded beef or goat meat, cooked
slowly until tender, and often served with pap (maize porridge).
Morogo: A type of wild spinach or leafy greens, sautéed with
onions and tomatoes, sometimes mixed with beans or maize.
Bogobe: A thick porridge made from sorghum or maize meal,
similar to South African pap, often served with meat or vegetables.
Phane: Mopane worms, a traditional delicacy usually dried,
cooked, and served with a sauce. Rich in protein and popular in
rural areas.
Seswaa le dikgobe: Seswaa served with samp (dried corn
kernels that have been stamped and chopped until broken).
Mogodu: Tripe (cow stomach lining) stewed with onions,
tomatoes, and spices, often served with pap or dumplings.
Dikgobe: A dish made from beans, often cowpeas, cooked with
onion, tomatoes, and spices, sometimes with maize.
Serobe: Traditional Botswana tripe dish cooked with onions,
chilli, tomatoes, and spices.
Madila: A traditional dish of groundnuts (peanuts) cooked with
maize, beans, and meat.
Setswana Sausage: Spiced sausage made from beef, goat, or
game meat, often served grilled or fried with vegetables or pap.
Botswana Cusine and Beverages
The following dishes and drinks highlight the rich culinary traditions
and flavors of Botswana, reflecting a blend of local ingredients and
cultural influences
Okavango Delta: The Okavango Delta is a mesmerizing oasis in
Botswana, known for its intricate network of channels, lagoons, and
islands. This UNESCO World Heritage site transforms annually with
seasonal flooding, attracting an abundance of wildlife such as
elephants, lions, and hippos. The delta is a paradise for
birdwatchers, with over 400 species including rare and endemic
birds like the Pel's fishing owl.
Chobe National Park: Located in northern Botswana, Chobe
National Park is renowned for its immense elephant population,
considered one of the largest in Africa. The park encompasses
diverse ecosystems, from floodplains to woodlands, supporting a
rich variety of wildlife. Visitors can embark on boat safaris along the
Chobe River, witnessing elephants bathing and herds of buffalo
grazing along the banks. It's also a haven for predators like lions
and leopards.
Moremi Game Reserve: Situated on the eastern side of the
Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve offers some of
Botswana's most pristine wilderness. This protected area boasts
both savannah and forest landscapes, providing habitats for a wide
range of wildlife, including endangered species like the African wild
dog and rhinoceros. Game drives and guided bush walks allow
visitors to explore the diverse terrain and encounter the reserve's
abundant fauna and flora.
Central Kalahari Game Reserve: The Central Kalahari Game
Reserve is one of the largest and most remote game reserves in
Africa, covering vast expanses of desert and grasslands in central
Botswana. Despite its arid environment, the reserve supports a
surprising variety of wildlife adapted to desert life, such as oryx,
springbok, and the elusive brown hyena. Visitors can experience
the stark beauty of the Kalahari Desert and witness ancient
Bushmen rock paintings, gaining insights into the region's rich
cultural and natural history.
Makgadikgadi Pans: The Makgadikgadi Pans are a surreal
landscape of vast salt pans in northeastern Botswana, remnants of
an ancient lake that once covered the area. These expansive flats
transform during the rainy season, attracting wildlife such as
migrating zebras and wildebeests. The pans are also home to
unique desert-adapted species like meerkats and brown hyenas.
Visitors can camp under star-studded skies and witness the
spectacular sight of vast salt pans stretching to the horizon.
Tsodilo Hills: Tsodilo Hills hold deep spiritual significance for the
indigenous San people and are often referred to as the "Louvre of
the Desert" due to their rich collection of ancient rock paintings.
These UNESCO World Heritage-listed hills rise abruptly from the
Kalahari plains in northwestern Botswana, offering visitors a
glimpse into a cultural and archaeological treasure trove. The rock
art, dating back thousands of years, depicts scenes of hunting,
ritual dances, and spiritual beings, providing a window into the
beliefs and practices of Botswana's earliest inhabitants.
Gaborone: As the capital city of Botswana, Gaborone blends
modern urban development with the country's cultural heritage. It
serves as a hub for government, commerce, and education,
featuring landmarks such as the National Museum and Art Gallery,
showcasing Botswana's history and contemporary art. The city's
bustling markets, vibrant nightlife, and nearby game reserves make
it a gateway for exploring the country's natural and cultural
wonders.
Khama Rhino Sanctuary: Established to protect Botswana's
endangered black and white rhinoceros populations, the Khama
Rhino Sanctuary offers a sanctuary for these majestic creatures in
a semi-arid landscape. Located near Serowe, the sanctuary also
supports a variety of other wildlife, including giraffes, zebras, and
numerous bird species. Visitors can participate in guided rhino
tracking excursions and learn about conservation efforts aimed at
safeguarding these iconic animals.
Linyanti Wildlife Reserve: Situated in northern Botswana along
the Linyanti River, this private reserve is celebrated for its exclusive
and intimate safari experiences. It is renowned for its large elephant
herds, buffalo, and prides of lions that roam the riverbanks and
floodplains. The area is also a haven for birdwatchers, with
numerous waterfowl and raptors frequenting its lush wetlands.
Luxury lodges and tented camps offer unparalleled views of the
surrounding wilderness, making it a premier destination for wildlife
enthusiasts.
Nxai Pan National Park: Nxai Pan National Park is part of the
larger Makgadikgadi Pans complex and offers a distinct desert
landscape characterized by vast salt flats and acacia woodlands.
During the rainy season, the pans transform into a verdant oasis,
attracting large herds of zebras and other grazers. The park is
renowned for its spectacular baobab trees, which dot the landscape
and provide shelter for wildlife. Visitors can enjoy guided game
drives and cultural interactions with the local communities, gaining
a deeper appreciation for Botswana's natural and cultural heritage.
Interesting Places to Visit Botswana
Botswana's journey to independence in 1966 stands as a
testament to its unique path towards becoming axflourishing
democratic republic, marking a pivotal moment in its history without
the turmoil that marred many other African nations during
decolonization. This peaceful transition laid the foundation for
Botswana's remarkable development trajectory.
Economically, Botswana has emerged as one of the world's
foremost producers of diamonds, harnessing its natural
resources to fuel substantial economic growth and stability. This
diamond wealth has not only bolstered its economy but also
provided resources for investments in education, healthcare, and
infrastructure, elevating living standards across the country.
At the heart of Botswana's natural wonders lies the majestic
Okavango Delta, celebrated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
This sprawling inland delta system is a marvel of ecological
diversity, teeming with wildlife and sustaining communities with its
intricate waterways and lush landscapes.
Culturally, Botswana is a mosaic of traditions, prominently
represented by its diverse ethnic groups such as the Tswana
people, who contribute to the vibrant tapestry of the nation's
cultural heritage. This rich cultural tapestry finds expression in
traditional music, dance, and oral histories that resonate throughout
the country.
Botswana's commitment to preserving its natural heritage is evident
in its extensive network of national parks and reserves,
including iconic sanctuaries like Chobe and Moremi. These
protected areas serve as vital havens for wildlife conservation,
drawing visitors from around the globe to witness Africa's untamed
beauty.
In the capital city of Gaborone, modern architectural marvels
harmoniously coexist with bustling traditional markets, creating a
dynamic urban landscape that reflects Botswana's evolving identity
and aspirations.
The vast expanse of the Kalahari Desert blankets much of
Botswana's terrain, home to the resilient San people whose ancient
traditions and knowledge of the desert's secrets have endured for
millennia. Their deep connection to the land underscores
Botswana's rich cultural diversity and historical continuity.
Politically, Botswana maintains a stable environment conducive to
sustained economic growth and development, underpinned by
a commitment to democratic principles and good governance. This
stability has fostered an environment conducive to investment and
innovation, propelling Botswana's emergence as a regional
economic powerhouse.
Moreover, Botswana's proactive stance on environmental
conservation and eco-tourism underscores its dedication to
sustainable development. Initiatives to protect natural habitats and
promote responsible tourism practices are integral to Botswana's
vision for a balanced future where nature and progress thrive hand
in hand. Botswana's story is one of resilience, progress, and
cultural vibrancy, where the harmonious coexistence of tradition
and modernity continues to shape its identity on the global stage.
Interesting Historical Facts about Botswana
Situated in Southern Africa, Botswana is renowned for its pristine
landscapes, diverse wildlife, and vibrant culture. As one of Africa's
most stable countries, it beckons travelers with its enchanting safari
adventures and warm hospitality.
Botswana