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.…
The Culloden Battlefield and Visitors Center is one of the few tourist destinations in Scotland that can tug at one’s heartstrings. Although many view it as a bloodbath, Scotland’s final effort to secede from England was thwarted in April 1746 in what became known as the Battle of Culloden.
The Skye Boat Music, a well-known Scottish tune used as the theme song for Outlander, was inspired by the tale of his escape from the battle and subsequent journey to Benbecula and then the Isle of Skye.
The state-of-the-art visitor center is where your visit should begin. A superb immersive film that captures the significant developments is available at the museum. Its excellent displays provide context and first-hand stories of this critical day in Scottish history. A rooftop viewing platform offers a glimpse over the battleground as well.
Make sure you explore these grounds on your own for a while. The Cumberland Stone, which designates the location from which the English controlled the battlefield, and a number of Scottish clan gravestones and a Memorial Cairn are among the site’s highlights. A few other structures are still standing, one being the Old Leanach Cottage.
The site is not difficult to reach from Inverness—less than 15 minutes east by car—but those who would instead let someone else do the heavy lifting may want to include the attraction as part of an organized tour.
Now, people can go through the lines of battle and remember those who died in the famous conflict.…
The tranquil Loch Lomond is Britain’s largest lake, yet it’s only a short drive from Glasgow. It’s also referred to as “The Queen of Scottish Lakes” by Scottish author Walter Scott. This stunning area of Scotland is a popular day excursion from the city due to the number of trout, salmon, and whitefish that attract anglers, the water activities available, and the abundance of open space for hikers.
Popular activities in Loch Lomond include boat rides, lakeside strolls, and lengthier hikes up towering Ben Lomond (3,192 feet), which offers breathtaking views of the Trossachs National Park.
Loch Lomond Shores is the most recent addition to this area, a great shopping center with local crafts for sale, a farmers market, restaurants, and bike and boat rentals. The Loch Lomond SEA LIFE Aquarium is a big draw in this area. This family-friendly attraction features Scotland’s giant shark tank and displays of native marine life. If the weather permits, be sure to visit the rooftop.
Loch Lomond is a beautiful place to start when traveling to Fort William from Glasgow along the Western Highland Way through the Argyll countryside. At Cameron House, located at the southern end of the loch, you may experience the romance of a Scottish country house while participating in various outdoor sports, such as playing golf along the lake.…
Since the 13th century, Edinburgh Castle’s stone walls and towers have dominated the skyline. It offers stunning city views from atop a black basalt rock and a journey through turbulent Scottish history.
The beautiful Crown Jewels, the renowned Stone of Destiny (also known as the Stone of Scone), and St. Margaret’s Chapel, the city’s oldest building, which was built in 1130, are all highlights of Edinburgh Castle. Enter the castle via a drawbridge from the spacious Esplanade, where the renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo is held each August, over an old moat. The castle gates appear to be guarded by bronze statues of legendary heroes William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.
Another of Edinburgh’s most well-known landmarks, the beautiful Palace of Holyroodhouse, is located below where the Royal Mile extends down the steep slope. Along with modest stores, kilt makers, tearooms, museums, and cafés, the Royal Mile is bordered by brick townhouses and important historical sites. There are little concealed lanes between its large buildings, some more than 10 stories high on the downhill side, referred to as “winds.”
Remember to include the National Museum of Scotland in your agenda for Edinburgh. This enjoyable museum features everything from medieval antiques to exhibits related to art and science. It is one of Scotland’s top tourist destinations.…
When you think of Loch Ness, you undoubtedly imagine the legendary beast that has, according to tradition, lived there for countless ages. The loch is 23 miles long. The largest lake in Scotland’s Great Glen, Loch Ness, is a component of a canal that connects the country’s east and west coasts. The Caledonian Canal connects it with three other lochs. You can travel through the canal locks, which regulate the varying water levels, on a six-hour journey from one end to the other or short excursions.
With the historic ruins of Urquhart Castle perched on its hillside above the lake, Loch Ness is the most picturesque area of the canal and each of the lochs, which are all surrounded by some of the most breathtaking highland landscapes. The castle from the 12th century, which served as the setting for numerous historical stories, was destroyed by fire 500 years later.
The best views of the castle can be had while floating by on a Loch Ness cruise or arriving by boat. The Loch Ness Exhibition at the Drumnadrochit Hotel offers exciting facts about the geological origins of Loch Ness and the surrounding area, in addition to exhibits and reports of sightings that fuel the Nessie legend. From Inverness, reaching the castle, the canal, and Loch Ness is simple.…
Skye, the largest of Scotland’s inner isles, is particularly well-liked by birders, ramblers, and environment enthusiasts. For an island that is only 50 miles long and seldom more comprehensive than 15 miles, there is a significant variation in the island’s wild, beautiful mountain landscape, characterized by green valleys, caverns, solitary glens, sandy beaches, and rushing waterfalls.
The island is home to numerous animals, including otters, seals, at least 200 species of birds, and the remnants of ancient oak woods. Skye is easily accessible from the mainland because of a bridge. Ferries are another way to get here.
Islay, Jura, Mull, Raasay, Staffa, and others are among the other islands in the Inner Hebrides. Iona is a little more complex and requires two boat crossings, but the experience is quite rewarding. St. Columba came from Ireland in the sixth century to spread the gospel in this area, which is why it is known as Scotland’s “Cradle of Christianity.”
Its features include:
An evocative abbey ruin.
A church from the 12th century.
A memorial made of carved stone that dates to the 10th century.
The graves of more than 60 Scottish kings, including Macbeth, are located there, along with Scotland’s oldest Christian cemetery.
The strongest memory of your journey to Skye will surely be the view. Driving around Skye will allow you to see some of its most remarkable geological features, like the Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing, and the Cuillin.
When you think of Scotland, pictures of tartan-clad Highlanders, skirling bagpipes, the Loch Ness Monster, deserted castles, golf, stunning scenery, and hairy Highland cattle probably come to mind. All of these, except for Nessie, is a highly accurate preview of what visitors might expect to see there and contributes to this nation’s mystery.
Each method of exploring Scotland will provide you with life-changing experiences, whether you travel by boat, on foot through its trails, by beautiful train, or by car. History is all about you as your sightseeing excursions take you to castles and historical battlegrounds where clans fought, allow you to follow in the literary footsteps of Sir Walter Scott and Robbie Burns, or allow you to retrace the paths of great kings and queens.
Scotland’s seclusion, with its far-flung stretches of heather-covered moors, uninhabited beaches, and wild, beautiful highlands with deep glens and lochs, is another of its main draws. You’ll discover that every destination is brimming with fascinating things to see and do, whether you decide on thriving cities, storied towns, or lonely moors and islands.
The Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh
The Royal Yacht Britannia was a roving royal residence for more than 40 years, covering more than 1,000,000 miles. With this audio tour, you can tour Britannia’s five main decks and stop at the Bridge, State Apartments and Royal Bedrooms, Crew’s Quarters, and Engine Room to learn more about the royal family, their guests, and the crew.
Additionally, you can visit the Rolls-Royce Phantom V that once cruised the ship and pause in the Royal Deck Tea Room for tea and pastries. The Fingal Hotel, a brand-new addition to the site in 2019, offers luxurious lodgings in a former lighthouse tender berthed next to the royal boat.
Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle is one of the best Renaissance structures in the UK, which functioned as both James V’s palace and Mary Queen of Scots’ childhood home. Even though some older buildings still stand, the castle’s vast halls and apartments have been painstakingly renovated and furnished to reflect its appearance in the 1500s. This includes painstakingly replicating its tapestries. History Hunter activities are geared toward young explorers on the weekends and involve costumed interpreters who interact with visitors to bring the castle and its history to life.
Stirling, conveniently located between Edinburgh and Glasgow, is well-known for both the Battle of Stirling Bridge, which the legendary William Wallace won for Scottish independence and the Battle of Bannockburn, in which Robert the Bruce defeated English invaders in 1314. Excellent displays and exhibits about this significant period are available at the magnificent Bannockburn Heritage Centre.
The Wallace Monument, a 246-step tower with fantastic country views, is located halfway between Stirling and the Bridge of Allan. A few items there are rumored to have belonged to the great Wallace.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
The Wallace Monument, a 246-step tower with fantastic country views, is located halfway between Stirling and the Bridge of Allan. A few items there are rumored to have belonged to the great Wallace. Since a fire at the Glasgow School of Art destroyed a large portion of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s work, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum has emerged as the go-to location for fans of the Glasgow Style, an iconic facet of the Arts & Crafts movement and Art Nouveau styles of the early 20th century.
The Glasgow Style Gallery and the Charles Rennie Mackintosh, developed and inaugurated just before the fire, feature pieces by other well-known Glasgow School artists and many Mackintosh rooms.
One of the museum’s most well-known exhibits is Salvador Dali’s Christ of St. John of the Cross, which is on display alongside other noteworthy treasures like a Van Gogh portrait, Bronze Age tools, and jewelry from Arran and Kintyre, a 1944 Mark 21 Spitfire, and a magnificent 1901 organ used for daily free concerts.
Golf at St. Andrews
The bicycle, postage stamps, telephones, and steam engines are just a few inventions that the Scots are credited with creating. Golf, though, is arguably their most enduring creation.
Playing at the prestigious Royal and Ancient Golf Club, located in historic St. Andrews and only 12 miles southeast of Dundee, is one of the lifetime goals of devoted golfers. The famed British Open is regularly held at one of St. Andrews’ 18-hole courses, the most well-known of which is the par-72 Old Course that runs across the craggy shoreline. St. Andrews was founded in 1750 and is recognized internationally as the governing body of golf.
Although tee times are frequently reserved six months in advance, some are kept open for those without reservations by lottery two days beforehand. The grand old Clubhouse and the British Golf Museum, which chronicles the history of the “home of golf” from the Middle Ages to the present, are both well worth a visit.
Fort William & Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in Britain, is best explored from the charming hamlet of Fort William. The old fort built nearby in the 17th century is where this beach town’s ancestors came from. It is situated at the southern terminus of the Caledonian Canal. Even though it has long since vanished, the West Highland Museum still houses a substantial collection of paintings, Highland garb, and weapons.
Getting on The Jacobite steam train is a must-do. The train travels over the West Highland Line and crosses the magnificent Glenfinnan Viaduct, which was made famous by the Harry Potter film series.
Ben Nevis comes next. It is a stunning site that is simple to see from Fort William on a clear day and attracts both novice and experienced hikers. Despite its elevation, the ascent only takes about 2.5 hours to complete. The breathtaking vistas, which stretch as far as 150 miles across the Scottish Highlands and as far as Ireland, make it well worth the effort.
Riverside Museum and Tall Ship, Glasgow
The free Riverside Museum in Glasgow, one of Scotland’s most popular tourist destinations, brings together the evolution of land and river transportation in a striking new setting. Trams, locomotives, buses, vintage cars, horse-drawn carriages, ships, and other models can all be seen during a visit.
The realistic recreation of the streets of Glasgow in 1938, complete with businesses you may enter and platforms running up to every locomotive on show, is a highlight. More than 20 interactive displays and 90 huge touch panels offer pictures, memories, and movies that give the collections more profound significance.
Isle of Arran
With good cause, the picturesque Isle of Arran is known as “Scotland in Miniature.” In a mere 166 square miles, this picture-perfect island off the country’s west coast replicates the topography of the whole nation. Rolling moors, craggy mountains, sandy beaches, fishing harbors, castles, and golf courses can all be found here; they are all within a region that can be easily explored in a day or two and are all less than an hour by boat from Glasgow.
The best part is that buses connect the island’s main attractions, negating the need for a car. You might easily spend a few days exploring this tiny slice of Scotland, even if its highlights, such as Brodick Castle and Goat Fell Mountain (2,866 feet), can be seen in a day (including the ferry voyage). Additionally, you should.
