Botswana Places to Visit

Okavango Delta

Formed when tectonic activity and faulting stopped the Okavango river from flowing into a large inland lake - the worlds biggest inland delta the Okavango expands up to over 16,000 square kilometres during peak flooding. As the water flow takes nine months to flow the 450 kilometres from its source in Angola to the Kalahari desert the elevation drops a total of 60 meters and over 95% of the water simply evaporates. The sparsely populated route leads to the water being extremely pure belying the fact that it is sometimes called a “swamp”. This unique water system supports an astounding variety of animals from tens of thousands of elephant to the rare wild dog and more than 400 species of birds. May to October is the best time to go. although October can be brutally hot. Activities range from game viewing, fishing (the pan handle offers the best fishing), and photography. Explore the Okavango by 4 x 4, mekoro, walking safari, horse safari and if you want to splurge even by elephant. Bookings for the Okavango can be done through various travel agents. www.kerdowney.bw
 

Kalahari Desert

Lying in a sand basin that is 1.2 square kilometers big, the dunes of the Kalahari desert were stabilized by vegetation between 10 and 20 thousand years ago making this a semi arid desert.

The Makgadigadi Pans offer a unique experience (especially for those who have already ticked all the wildlife off their list). The sheer extent of quiet, solitude and sky will make an individual re-examine the priorities in their lives.  A few companies offer quad bike excursions (running the bikes carefully over exactly the same tracks each time to ensure maximum protection of the sensitive salt crust) If you are very lucky you can spot a brown hyaena or elusive aardwolf otherwise you can allow yourself to be amazed by the sheer number of stone-age sites. They also have a spectacular zebra migration. www.unchartedafrica.com

In the northwestern Kalahari next to the Okavango panhandle rise the cliff-faces of the four enigmatic Tsodilo Hills. The San has lived in the Kalahari for at least 100,000 of years and they consider these hills a special mystical place where the first spirit knelt when it completed the creation of earth and from where the spirits of their deceased still rule the world. It is also of special interest due to the old paintings depicting hunting, animal and human figures that cover 9km of rock. The Tsodilo art is like nothing else. Stylistically, geographically and iconically it stands apart. (the nearest known rock art site to Tsodilo is over 200 km away.) The site has also yielded archeological artifacts indicating that this area was mined between AD 800 and 1,100. Tsodilo can be reached only by aircraft or 4 x 4 vehicle. www.go2africa.com/botswana/tsodilo-hills

Chobe

In the northernmost corner of Botswana, at the top of the Okavango lies Chobe National Park. It is fed by the Chobe river which eventually joins the Zambezi before it spills into the gorge at Victoria Falls. This park is the second largest in Botswana – but it has one of the largest concentrations of game anywhere in Africa. Famous for the large herds of Elephant (well over 100 000 at last count!) there are many lodges to choose from . The areas of Savute and the remote Linyante www.chobe-national-park.com/

6 May 2008