Botswana consists largely of the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta, with its islands and lagoons. The Makgadikgadi Salt Pan and Okavango River attract migrations of zebra, wildebeest and flocks of flamingoes, while Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve support huge herds of elephant and buffalo. Botswana is famous for hippo-killing lions, guided mokoro safaris, relaxed walking safaris and mobile safaris.

Makgadikgadi Pans	Makgadikgadi Pans Comprised of three great salt pans (the largest on earth) the vast Makgadikgadi Pans are like no other landscape on earth. They represent all that's left of a vast lake. Especially during the sizzling heat of late winter days, the stark pans take on a disorienting and ethereal austerity. Heat mirages destroy all sense of space and direction, imaginary lakes shimmer and disappear, ostriches take flight and stones turn to mountains and float in mid-air. As the annual rains begin to fall in the late spring, depressions in the pans form temporary lakes and fringing grasses turn green with life. Herd animals arrive to partake of the bounty, while water birds flock to feed on algae and tiny crustaceans.
Mokolodi Nature Reserve	Mokolodi Nature Reserve Mokolodi Nature Reserve is home to giraffes, elephants, zebras, baboons, warthogs, hippos, kudu, impala, waterbucks and klipspringers. The reserve also protects a few retired cheetahs, leopards, honey badgers, jackals and hyenas, as well as over 300 different species of birds. Mokolodi also operates a research facility, a breeding center for rare and endangered species, a community education center and a sanctuary for orphaned, injured or confiscated birds and animals. They also accept volunteers, with a maintenance fee levied according to the length of the program.
Moremi Game Reserve	Moremi Game Reserve Botswana's real wildlife treasure trove covers one-third of the Okavango Delta. Moremi is a diverse habitat where the desert and delta meet, and consists of forests, lagoons, floodplains, pans and woodlands. Hippos, crocodiles and buffalo are common. There are more than 500 species of birds, including the African fish eagle, ibis, and slaty egret.
Okavango Delta	Okavango Delta Described as 'the river which never finds the sea', the Okavango disappears into a 5,850 sq. miles maze of lagoons, channels and islands in north-western Botswana. It's the largest inland delta in the world, and it teems with wildlife. Most obvious are the birds - thousands upon thousands of them - but there are also elephant, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest, giraffe, hippo and kudu. In the center of the delta, the Moremi Wildlife Reserve totals around 1,170 sq. miles, and is officially cordoned off for wildlife preservation.
The Tsodilo Hills	The Tsodilo Hills The four Tsodilo Hills rise abruptly from a rippled, oceanlike expanse of desert and are threaded with myth, legend and spiritual significance for the San people. More than 2,750 ancient rock paintings have been discovered at well over 200 sites. The Tsodilo hills are now a national monument and all visitors must report to the headquarters at the Main Camp.

From classic tented camps, to mobile safaris, to luxurious lodges, Botswana offers a wide range of accommodations.

Jack's Camp	Jack's Camp Jack’s Camp is located in the harsh, mesmerizing Kalahari Desert. In the wet season, shallow dry lakes (pans) fill with water, attracting huge flocks of flamingos, and migrating herds of zebra and wildebeest. Jack's Camp offers an incomparable Kalahari Desert experience, and the opportunity to walk with local San trackers. The camp is sited among a glade of palms, under shady acacia trees. Large tents offer maximum privacy and perfect views. Jack’s Camp continues to use original 1940’s safari equipment, including Persian carpets, bone handled silver and pure cotton sheets.
San Camp	San Camp San Camp squats serenely in a reef of palm at the edge of the world.You can see the curve of the earth here. Turn 360° and nothing crosses the eye but the bowl of the sky. It is the nothing-ness that attracts. This is God's own minimalism. A safari to San Camp is also a complete desert experience focusing on species unique to the area such as aardvark, gemsbuck and springbuck. Jack's Camp and San Camp are unique in that they are the only permanent camps to offer a chance to explore and understand the Kalahari.
Nxabega Safari Camp	Nxabega Safari Camp Nxabega Safari Camp is situated in Botswana's Okavango Delta, on the western border of Moremi Game Reserve. The Okavango Delta is one of the planet's most extraordinary wild places. Nxabega means "Place of the Giraffe" in the language of the river bushmen, the Bayei. Near the end of the rainy season, a host of wildlife is drawn to the perennial, crystal-clear water. Sable, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, lion and elephant drift through the Kalahari woodlands. Nxabega has excellent wildlife viewing opportunities all year round. The camp offers a unique combination of poling in a mokoro (dugout canoe) and boating, with guided wilderness walks and wildlife viewing on evening game drives. Lion and hyena are routinely seen in camp at night, and birding is exceptional.
Sandibe Lodge	Sandibe Lodge Sandibe Lodge is adjacent to the Moremi Game Reserve, in one of the most beautiful parts of the Okavango Delta. The lodge is nestled between permanent water and grass-swept plains. Herds of elephant and buffalo wander among vigilant predators. The plains stretch off into the distance, etched with silhouettes of palm trees and ancient Baobabs. San guides escort guests on bush walks, and provide an opportunity for guests to witness traditional hunter/gatherer bush skills. Sandibe features elegant bush dinners, day and evening game drives, and mokoros (dugout canoes), poled by experienced guides.
Selinda Camp	Selinda Camp Selinda Camp is adjacent to the Okavango Delta and Linyanti Swamps. Set in the old African tradition, Selinda Camp offers excellent views of passing herds of game. Each spacious tent is tastefully appointed with hand-tooled furnishings. Superb cuisine and African hospitality make Selinda Camp an essential part of any safari. Safari experiences range from professionally guided game drives, to an adventurous three-day walking safari. Selinda Camp is famous for its cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs, and hippo-killing lions.
Mobile Safaris	Uncharted Africa Safaris Uncharted Africa Safaris are without doubt the most luxurious mobile safaris in Southern Africa. Moving from camp to camp, sleeping in traditional and spacious East African style tents appointed with 1920’s luxury blending bygone comfort with rugged panache, you will experience real Africa in unreal comfort. Uncharted Africa pioneered the concept of sensitive cultural safaris and visits to the Bushmen communities. Uncharted offers fabulous voyages into the Okavango Delta, Central Kalahari, Moremi Game Reserve, Nxai Pans and Tsodilo Hills, which promise you exclusivity, exhilaration, and enough fun-packed adventures for three life times.

Botswana is named for the Tswana people. Tswana songs, based on a five-tone scale, are performed by both amateurs and professionals, and may be sung with or without instruments. Singing and dancing are frequently accompanied by instrumental music, produced by the musical bow, flutes, drums, and guitar. Botswana has been influenced by music from South Africa, Zaire and Zimbabwe.

Daily Life	Daily Life In most rural villages, mothers carry their babies on their backs, in a fabric sling. Married women cover their heads with a kerchief. Women of the Herero group continue to wear long skirted, colorful dresses. A matching headdress is arranged to indicate the woman's marital status. Men wear overalls to protect their clothing, and often wear hats. Bogobe (porridge) is a staple food of Botswana. It is served soft and thick for midday and evening meals, and is accompanied by a relish of onions, chicken stock, and tomato sauce. Motogo (soft porridge) is eaten for breakfast. Fruits and vegetables are eaten in season. Goats and chickens are raised for meat, and cattle are slaughtered on special occasions. Most family meals include eating from common bowls and plates. Children share a bowl, and visitors receive separate plates. Drinks are never shared. Smelling food before eating it implies something must be wrong with it.
Tswana Woman	Tswana The Tswana people moved into eastern Bostwana around 1800. They tended cattle, and grew crops such as millet and sorghum. When the Ndebele invaded the region, many Tswana fled into the Kalahari Desert. The Tswana are the largest ethnic group in Botswana, and dominate the country politically. Tswana women grow subsistence crops, and Tswana men spend much of their time herding livestock. Often the men migrate to industrial areas, where they are employed as laborers in mines. Greetings are important to the Tswana, and failing to greet someone is considered rude. The Tswana use formal greetings, accompanied by a handshake. A common greeting is Dumela Rra,O tsogile jang? Dumela Mma, O tsogile jang? (Greetings sir, how did you awake)? The response is Ke tsogile sentle! (I awoke well).
San Children	San (Bushmen) The San people live mainly in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana and Namibia. They are also known as the Khoisan, and speak a language characterized by clicking sounds. The San continue to live as hunter-gatherers and are organized into small groups of about ten families. Women gather wild plants and fruit, which provide most of the nourishment. Men supplement the diet by killing animals with light bows and poison-tipped arrows. The San are skilled painters, and engrave pictures on the walls of their caves. They have lived in southern Africa for thousands of years. Many have recently begun working as farm laborers. As a result, their cultural heritage has been altered.

Botswana offers the opportunity to observe the ever-changing miracle of the Okavango. In the wet season the dry desert pans fill with water, forming one of the most important wetland sites in Africa, attracting huge flocks of flamingos, and migrating herds of zebra and wildebeest. Chobe National Park and the Moremi Game Reserve are home to leopards, cheetahs, and hippo-killing lions.

Vegetable Ivory Palm	Flooded Grasslands and Savannas The Okavango Delta, and associated flooded grasslands and savanna habitats, are among the most important biological sites in Africa. Besides a rich diversity of birds, this region supports significant populations of large mammals, such as the African elephant.
Thornicroft's Giraffe	Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands This habitat features diversity of large mammal populations that make up the well-known savanna fauna. Much of the region remains sparsely settled and the resulting human population pressures are minimal.

• How do I get to Botswana?
  
  
  Botswana is easily accessible by scheduled flights from Johannesburg (South Africa), Windhoek (Namibia) and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe). Frequent flights link Johannesburg to Gaborone, Maun and Kasane - the gateways to the National Parks, and wilderness areas. We can pre-book and package all of your regional/internal flights and transfers.
  
  
• What types of wildlife will I see?
  
  
  Botswana is blessed with some of Africa's most beautiful subtropical wilderness reserves, generally teeming with animals including kudu, impala, giraffe, lion, elephant, hippo, African wild dog, red lechwe (antelope) and numerous bird species. It is a land of awesome contrasts, and travelers are guaranteed exceptional game-viewing opportunities.
  
  
• What should I wear?
  
  
  You will require comfortable, casual and semi-casual clothes for your safari to Botswana. Please note that bright colors are not suitable for game-viewing. It is best to have some warm clothing for early-morning and evening game-drives, especially in winter.
  
  
• How safe is Botswana?
  
  
  Your safety is of paramount importance, and even though Botswana is a safe destination, it is wise to take certain standard security precautions. Please carry a record of your passport number, airline tickets and travelers cheques, and ensure that these items are kept in a safe place. Make use of your hotel safety deposit box for expensive items and never leave baggage or personal items unattended, especially at airports.
  
  
• What kind of medical precautions do I need to take?
  
  
  Please consult your physician or health department for the latest health and anti-malaria precautions.
  
  
• Which is the best time to visit Botswana?
  
  
  Botswana offers superb game-viewing and safari activities throughout the year. The winter months (May to September) are dry, with warm and sunny days (79°F average) but temperatures do drop to below freezing at night. The summer months (October to April) are hot (77°F - 113°F), although welcome relief is received from magnificent afternoon showers.
  
  
• When is the rainy season?
  
  
  The main rains fall between December and March, but often just in the form of brief thundershowers that last an hour or two before the sun re-emerges. The sunlight after an African storm is incredibly intense and superb for wildlife photography. The summer rains also bring spectacular migrant birds to Botswana.
  
  

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