Author: author5

You can expect big cats and fast prey on a Botswana wildlife safari. Game drives in Botswana are like no other found in Africa. The regions of northern Botswana support high densities of diverse game populations and with the ability of safari vehicles to drive unrestricted -off road, treading virgin paths, drives at night, with few (if any) other vehicles -make a visit to Botswana the absolute best destination for a top quality all around original African safari.

The wildlife is exactly what you would expect to see on the savannah plains throughout southern Africa, however, what makes this country unique is the sheer number and frequency that you come across sightings this extraordinary. On a Botswana wildlife safari pride of lions patrol the land, the same land leopard lounge in trees patiently waiting for easy prey, hyenas scavenge with might, elephants maraud in large numbers (the largest herds on earth!) next to suspicious grazing antelope, whom have all congregated around the life pulse of the Okavango Delta.

Because of the Okavango and Chobe Rivers, nearly all southern African species can be found in northern Botswana. Even the rare puku, red lechwe, mountain reedbuck and sitatunga antelopes thrive in Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park. Other wildlife rarities include the African wild dog (thriving in good numbers), pangolins, and aardvarks.

A Botswana wildlife safari is virtually like stepping into the old and wild Africa; an Africa where an incredible collection of animals dwell in natural environments. This is the chief reason why Botswana is cherished by animal lovers. The chance to see, within yards, the Big Five -lion, leopard, elephant, black rhino and buffalo, amongst giraffe, zebras, wildebeest, and hippo. Botswana has wildlife in abundance!…

Having lived in the Okavango Delta over twenty years ago, I was keen to take my own family on safari to Botswana to show them just how beautiful and breathtaking this country is.

Botswana offers quite a bit of choice for a family safari with relatively young children. The great thing is that many of the camps will only take one or two families on an exclusive use basis – which allows greater flexibility both with taking children of a younger age as well as in terms of activity. There is so much to do! Top of the pops goes to a camp which is closed to your family in the Okavango Delta. Here you have the most amazing Botswana guide who teaches your children how to read the night sky, which direction the marks in the sand are heading towards and which animal it belongs to, the medicinal properties of trees and plants, how to fish, how to canoe – the list is endless! At the end, the children get their special ranger certificate to say they are bushwise (but they have to earn it first!)

Then, we headed into the Kalahari desert where you can quad bike, sleep out beneath the stars, learn about the San or Bushman people and see habituated meerkats which is really great fun! We visited two camps in the Kalahari desert in completely different regions. It all depends upon the time of year that you travel – but we saw abundant lions and we learnt so much about the Bushmen or San people and about the plants they use and how they catch wildlife. Being a family of riders, we wanted to ride and canoe. You can either horse ride in the Delta for a couple of days at the beginning or, as we did, stay in a wonderful camp in the Selinda concession. Here we went on a riding safari on the most fabulous horses – completely at the pace of the least experienced rider – although the more experienced riders could go on ahead – which was great fun. A herd of kudu came snorting out of the island and a pack of wild dog chased them ahead. Seeing this on horseback was absolutely sensational. Our guides were some of the best in the field, too! We then spent time canoeing, which is absolutely silent and the bird life is fantastic. We also went fishing as each person tried to get the biggest catch!

The next camp we stayed in was one in Maremi, where I think has probably the nicest camps in the region. Here there is greater wildlife and they generally accept children of all ages so you can build on your experience and knowledge and see all the big mammals and there is even a swimming pool to cool off. Finally finish off for either some rest and relaxation or more adventure activities at Victoria Falls. Anything from bungee jumping, to canoeing, white water rafting, horse riding, riding on the back of an elephant, to fishing or simply chilling out a bit. Either way, a family safari to Botswana really does offer everything and has all the ingredients for a truly successful family safari to Botswana.…