Last Updated on: 8th February 2025, 01:09 am
Botswana is famous for its amazing wildlife and is considered to be one of the top places to go on a safari in Africa. I recently spent two weeks camping in Botswana in some of the country’s best national parks and game reserves for game viewing.
If this is your first visit to Botswana, here are some of the best national parks and game reserves you need to visit:
Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park is located in northern Botswana and is considered one of the best game parks in the country. It covers 11,700 square kilometres, making it Botswana’s third largest national park.
This park is incredibly diverse, ranging from desert plains to lush wetlands, and it’s home to the big five: Buffaloes, Elephants, Leopards, Lions and Rhinos, making it a perfect safari destination in Africa, especially for first-timers.
For those who are particularly keen on seeing elephants, Chobe National Park, often referred to as ‘The Land of The Giants,’ is an absolute must-visit destination. With an estimated 120,000 elephants, it is the largest concentration of elephants in Africa.
Additionally, Chobe National Park boasts a rich variety of wildlife and birdlife along the Chobe River. With over 450 bird species, the highest density in Southern Africa, it’s also a fantastic destination for birdwatchers.
Best Tours To Take In Chobe National Park
If you’re planning a visit to Chobe National Park, and you most definitely should, there are a couple of tours and activities I’d recommend.
Obviously, you must go on a game drive. The best time is early in the morning, although having said that, my guide from Africa’s Best Adventures spotted a leopard just before midday on our way back to camp.
Another popular choice is a sunset cruise along the Chobe River. This cruise is highly recommended and offers a chance to witness elephants swimming – that was a first for me. You’ll also see plenty of crocodiles, buffaloes and hippos along the way.
Sit up on top of the boat for the best viewings, but bring a fleece as it gets pretty chilly out there.
Another fun option is to combine your visit to Chobe National Park with a trip to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, as the park’s main entrance is conveniently close to the land border.
Where To Stay At Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park provides various accommodation options, including cosy lodges, tented campsites, and even regular campsites if you bring your camping gear or a roof-tented car.
I stayed at the campsite of the Chobe Safari Lodge. We had a lovely site overlooking the Chobe River.
Of course, if you aren’t a fan of camping, there are some lovely rooms within the lodge. And it has a pool and free Wi-Fi.
For other accommodation ideas, check here.
Okavango Delta – Moremi Game Reserve
Moremi Game Reserve isn’t as big or famous as Chobe National Park, but it’s located within the fascinating Okavango Delta, so it’s a must-visit on any Botswana itinerary.
The Okavango Delta, “the river that never finds the sea, “is a swampy delta considered one of Africa’s seven natural wonders. In 2014, it became a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s said to be the largest inland delta in the world and also features several different landscapes like woodlands, forests, floodplains, and lagoons.
It’s an excellent place for spotting wildlife, with many animals, including the Big Five, and it’s also home to many African wild dogs. This was my first ever encounter with wild dogs!
Some animals, like the red lechwe and shy sitatunga antelope, are specially adapted to the semi-aquatic lifestyle of the Okavango Delta.
With over 530 bird species, it’s not surprising that this is also a popular destination for birdwatchers.
Tours Within Okavango Delta
One of the highlights of visiting Moremi Game Reserve is the Mokoro ride, a traditional canoe trip through the Okavango Delta, giving you a close and unique experience with the wildlife.
There are cheaper tours to be found locally. However, there was apparently an incident with a hippo and a mokoro when I was there, so be sure you pick up a reputable guide and don’t get too close to those hippos.
Where To Stay In Moremi Game Reserve
I camped at South Gate. The sites are unfenced and pretty basic but an incredible spot for wildlife. Elephants munched on the mopane trees beside us, a hyena circled my tent, and a pride of lions strolled through the campsite, and that was just one night. You can make reservations through Kwalate Safaris to book the South Gate campsite.
For somewhere a little more comfortable, try the Khwai River Lodge. It looked beautiful. I only popped in briefly, as I heard wild dogs were nearby and wanted to check where they were with the hotel guides.
Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
Makgadikgadi means ‘place of many pans’ and is one of the world’s most extensive salt flats.
This park covers 30,000 square kilometres and is part of the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans National Park. It stretches from the Boteti River in the west to the Ntwetwe Pan in the east.
However, due to low rainfall in this part of the world, the Boteti River rarely flows to capacity – but does have many pools that attract bushbuck, waterbuck, crocodiles and hippos.
These pans used to be a big lake but now are mostly dry, with only some grassy areas and islands with baobab trees.
During the dry season, game viewing alongside the Boteti River is the best place for wildlife spotting as it’s one of the only places with water in the park. You can drive along the riverbed or the banks to see the animals when the river is high.
It can be a bit challenging, with some tricky driving up and down the riverbanks. It is essential to have a 4×4 when driving in the Makgadikgadi National Park. This was one of the spots we had to rescue a car stuck in the deep sands.
Where To Stay At Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
The most popular campsite in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is Khumaga, close to the Boteti River.
There are only ten sites at Khumaga, an unfenced campsite just a few kilometres from Khumaga Gate. The bathrooms are clean and well maintained, with hot showers and flushing toilets.
All the sites are relatively large and have braai (barbecue) areas, and there’s non-potable water available. There isn’t much privacy between sites, and you sometimes get noise from the village across the river. However, it’s in a great location to drive along the river and explore the park.
When I stayed in July, many monkeys were at the site, so be careful with your belongings, especially food.
Book here for reservations for Khumaga camp site.
For somewhere a little more comfortable, try the Planet Baobab.
Nxai Pan National Park
The Nxai Pans National Park is located to the north of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.
The park’s name comes from the shape of a curved stick called ‘Nxa,’ which the San people used for digging out springhares. The park’s landscape resembles this stick. This park falls within the traditional territory of the San, also known as Bushmen.
Nxai Pans National Park is located along the migration route of large animal herds that move between the Okavango Delta, Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, and the grasslands surrounding the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.
You can always spot various animals in the park, including giraffes, lions, impalas, jackals, kudus, springboks, and bat-eared foxes.
During the rainy season, which occurs from December to April, oryx antelopes, elephants, and thousands of zebras enter the park.
Nxai Pan is also renowned for its abundant springbok population, and when the rains begin, gemsbok, elephants, and zebras migrate to the area.
This is when thousands of zebras gather to give birth, and you can witness vast herds of giraffes, sometimes up to 30 individuals in a group.
These large animal concentrations naturally attract predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, jackals, spotted and elusive brown hyenas, and the endangered wild dog.
During the dry season, some species migrate to other areas, but a waterhole with an artificial water supply ensures the presence of resident wildlife, offering good game viewing year-round.
Although, when I visited the park in July, it was relatively quiet. Well, it seemed quiet after Khumaga, where I had been spoiled by the vast numbers of zebras, elephants, wildebeest, and other animals I had seen along the Boteti River.
However, my guide had visited the park just a week earlier and had seen more wildlife in Nxai Pans than at Khumaga, even spotting an aardwolf. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as fortunate in my sightings.
Nonetheless, I was fascinated by the park’s sheer beauty and saw several cute bat-eared foxes, a first for me.
Where To Stay At Nxai Pan?
I camped at Nxai Pan South Camp. It was the first time I had ever seen an elephant-proof toilet. I also saw an elephant walk through my campsite for the first time. Unfortunately, he decided to do his business right by my tent!
For somewhere a little more comfortable, try the Kwando Nxai Pan Lodge.
How Safe Is Botswana For Tourists?
Botswana is one of the most stable countries in Africa. In contrast to its neighbouring countries, tourism is well-developed in Botswana and somewhat distanced from crime across Africa.
For those seeking an African safari experience, Botswana stands out as the safest choice in Africa. Besides being the top pick for safety, it also delivers one of the most fulfilling safari experiences.
Did You Know?
Botswana is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. The country is slightly smaller than the state of Texas, USA or somewhat larger than France.
What Is The Best Time To Travel To Botswana?
The best time to visit Botswana is during the dry season, which falls between May and October. Temperatures range between 75°F and 95°F, so you’ll enjoy warm, sunny days but can drop to freezing at night!
Would I Recommend Botswana?
I loved it and hope to return one day and see more of this beautiful country.
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