Why Botswana Should Be At The Top Of Your Travel Bucket List

People tend to lump the whole of sub-Saharan Africa together. Though there is a lot of poverty in the region, one place where it is comparatively rare is Botswana. The country is something of a success story. Back in 1960, it didn’t have any paved roads and was run by a federation of tribes which worked and traded together. But it managed to transform itself over the next fifty years into one of the richest countries in the region. It’s a real African success story and a beautiful country. Here’s why it should be right up there with Venice as a place you should visit.

Peacefulness

Botswana is an incredibly sparse place. It was thought of as the “road to the interior” of Africa by the colonists and was never seriously settled. As a result, the country really only has two main cities, Maun and Kasane, and beyond this is just mile after mile of wilderness.

Here, technology struggles to keep up with nature. When you’re out in the Botswana savannah, there’s rarely any signal. This is just about as close to nature as it is possible to get in the modern world.

If you go right into the heart of the country and stay in one of the many lodges that dot the landscape, you’ll still be treated to noise. It’ll just be the noise that humans have been listening to for thousands of years. You’ll hear the low rumbling of elephants, the sound of crickets, and even fish if you stay near one of the country’s many water sources.

The Okavango Delta

The most famous natural wonder in Botswana is the Okavango Delta. It’s essentially a vast 16,000 square kilometer area fed by flood waters from nearby rivers. And, because it’s such a reliable water source, it attracts wildlife from all around. Safari at the Okavango Delta in Botswana is one of the best in the whole of Africa. In fact, the area is so beautiful, that it was recently recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site.

Exploring the delta is a treat. Most people go by a canoe called a mekoro, where you’ll be punted along by a local guide.

Elephants At Chobe National Park

Botswana has its own national park, the Chobe national park, established back in 1968. It lies on the Chobe River which regularly bursts its banks and floods the surrounding area during the wet season. It also happens to be one of the best places in the whole of Africa to spot the largest land mammals in the world: elephants. There are more than 100,000 elephants in the park, and it’s not unusual to see them roaming in large herds, babies in tow.

You’ll also get to see their only predator: lions, as well as plenty of different species of birds in the air. If you’re a bird spotter, remember to take your binoculars.

Botswana also plays host to exclusive and luxury accommodation, thanks to its focus on the tourism industry. Visitor experience is a matter of national pride here.

Convinced to visit Botswana?