Botswana safaris tips 2023
High quality Botswana safaris by SundownerSafaris: Botswana’s landscapes are captivating, but nothing compares to a morning hot air balloon safari. Okavango Delta is the most popular location for a hot air balloon ride in Botswana. Most tourists often regard Okavango Delta as one of Africa’s most pristine natural environments. Even when it’s dry, it’s a sight to behold, but when it floods, the delta takes on a new level of enchantment. You can watch zebras, lions, tigers, leopards, and baboons during this period. It is also a popular destination for bird watchers. When the delta’s water levels go up, there’s more wildlife concentration on the high ground creating a better viewing angle. Your hot air balloon tour starts before sunrise when the sun’s rays are still visible. As you float lazily above Okavango’s vistas, you get a spectacular look at Botswana’s beautiful wildlife and scenery. You’ll have one hour in the air to take in the exciting views and sounds of a hot air balloon excursion. Find even more information at Botswana safaris.
The Moremi Game Reserve is also regarded as one of the best reserves to spot the renowned African Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo) thanks to the recent re-introduction of both black and white rhino into the area. If you’re an avid bird lover, you are in for quite a treat as Moremi Game Reserve’s birdlife is truly unrivalled with over 500 species to admire. July through to October is the best time to visit this amazing part of Botswana, with 4×4 safaris combined with water-based traditional mokoro trips being the best and most unique way to see the abundant wildlife and birdlife the Moremi Game Reserve has to offer.
Botswana has a huge advantage over the rest of the world when it comes to attracting tourists: the wildlife. The array of animals that reside in or pass through the country is phenomenal. Ranging from endangered animals such as wild dogs and rhinos to the numerous and thriving bird life that inhabits the area. The natural landscapes are impressive too from the vast and imposing Kalahari Desert to the sublime serenity of the Okavango Delta. The terrain here can feel vast and empty in some areas or dense and teeming with life in others but it is always a thing of beauty. The landscape is at once recognizable as African and will live up to all of your pre-trip expectations.
Bordering South Africa and Zimbabwe at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers, the Tuli Block is a beautiful wildlife rich area located in eastern Botswana. Boasting dramatic rocky scenery, towering baobab trees and thick riverine forests, it is a magnificent corner of Botswana that’s unlike the rest of the country. The Tuli Block was once an area of private farms, but a few decades ago the land was transformed into a well-managed conservation area and wildlife sanctuary. Now the Tuli Block encompasses several reserves, including Mashatu Game Reserve and the Northern Tuli Game Reserve – One of the largest privately owned game reserves in Southern Africa. Besides offering wildlife and nature lovers an exclusive African safari experience, one of the Tuli Block’s greatest allures is its prolific wildlife, with incredible sightings guaranteed year-round. There are large herds of elephant, several species of antelope, plenty of lion, leopard, wildebeest, and even cheetah. The Tuli Block is also one of Southern Africa’s bird watching hot spots with at least 350 species recorded. Due to it being private land, thrilling guided walking safaris and night drives can be enjoyed when visiting the Tuli Block. It also boasts several excellent and exclusive lodges and camps to stay at.
This game reserve is the third largest in Botswana but it has one of the largest concentrations of rare game animals in the continent of Africa. The national park takes its name from the Chobe River which, at first glance is guaranteed to take your breathe away. As well as being a beautiful sight, the river supports an ecosystem of rare and exotic creatures including birds, elephants, lions, giraffes, baboons and buffalo. During the winter season it is possible to see a herd of hundreds of elephants at a time; a truly once in a lifetime experience.
Unlike most river deltas the Okavango River empties onto open land, flooding the savanna and creating a unique and ever-changing inland delta. The Okavango Delta is affected by seasonal flooding, with the delta floods covering over 6,175 square miles/ 16,000 square kilometers every year. The Delta’s peak flood season takes place during May – October (with water levels being at its highest during June – August). The Delta’s peak flood season coincides with Botswana’s dry season, which in turn coincides with great migrations of plains game from the dry hinterland. During the Okavango Delta’s dry season, around 260,000 mammals are estimated to congregate around the delta, resulting in pristine wildlife sightings and encounters. The Delta is also known as a world-famous stronghold for predators and an exceptional birding site, home to approximately 530 bird species.
The Republic of Botswana is in the heart of Southern Africa. In the years before its independence from the British in 1966, Botswana was one of the poorest and least-developed states in the world, but the discovery of massive diamond deposits and investment into a strong tourism industry has turned it into a shining success story. For travelers with limited time, wilderness safaris in Botswana is a great option as you can easily be transported via light aircraft transfer from one camp to another in between game drives. Most Botswana-only safaris start in Maun or Kasane, but many of our clients opt to add Victoria Falls or Cape Town to a Botswana safari. Find many more information at sundownersafaris.com.