Know Before You Go: Botswana Safaris
What are the best safari destinations in Botswana?
Botswana is one of Africa’s top safari destinations, known for its diverse landscapes, abundant wildlife and conservation-first ethos. From peaceful mokoro excursions in the Okavango Delta to predator-packed game drives in Chobe National Park, each region offers unique rewards. A safari in the Central Kalahari unveils desert-adapted species and the rich traditions of the San people, while the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans erupt with life during Southern Africa’s largest zebra migration. Together, these ecosystems—from wetlands to savannas to salt pans—form one of the most wildlife-rich safari circuits in Africa.
What are the differences between Botswana's top safari destinations?
Region | Landscape | Notable Wildlife |
|---|---|---|
Chobe National Park | Riverfront, floodplains, woodland, savanna | Elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, sable, African wild dogs |
Linyanti Wildlife Reserve | Wetlands, riverine forest, grasslands, seasonal pans | Elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, sitatunga, zebra migration |
Okavango Delta | Seasonal inland delta, channels, islands, lagoons | Hippos, crocodiles, elephants, lions, leopards, over 560 bird species |
Central Kalahari Game Reserve | Arid savanna, fossil riverbeds, dunes | Black-maned lions, cheetahs, springbok, gemsbok, brown hyenas |
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans | Salt flats, grasslands (wet season), semi-arid desert | Zebra migration, wildebeest, meerkats, flamingos (wet season) |
Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park offers access to the largest elephant population on Earth, with up to 50,000 elephants gathering along the riverfront during the dry season.
Location: Northern Botswana, along the Chobe River near the borders of Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Size: ~4.5 million acres
Wildlife Highlights:
Signature species: Elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, sable and roan antelopes, red lechwe, puku
Predators: Lions, leopards, African wild dogs
Birdlife: Over 460 species, including African fish eagles, kingfishers, herons and storks
Ecosystems:
Chobe Riverfront: Best dry-season game concentrations; large herds at water’s edge
Savute: Known for predator dynamics and seasonal zebra migration
Linyanti Swamps: Seasonal floodplains supporting rare antelope and bird species
Ngwezumba Pans: Remote wilderness, less-visited, with seasonal waterholes
Linyanti Wildlife Reserve
Linyanti provides seclusion, exceptional predator viewing and habitats that attract both wetland and savanna species.
Location: West of Chobe National Park; private 125,000-hectare concession
Setting: Woodlands, floodplains, riverine forests and seasonal pans
Wildlife Highlights:
Signature species: Large elephant herds, especially in dry months
Predators: Lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas
Rare antelope: Sable, roan, and sitatunga
Zebra migration: Passes through in winter (May–July)
Birding: Bee-eaters, raptors, kingfishers, waterbirds
Key Features:
Savute Channel: A dynamic, seasonal watercourse that draws wildlife year-round
Low visitor density: Private conservancies and limited camps ensure an exclusive safari experience
Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta is one of Africa’s richest ecosystems, where annual floods create a patchwork of lagoons, channels and islands teeming with life.
Location: Northwestern Botswana
Designation: UNESCO World Heritage Site
Flood Cycle: Seasonal flooding from April to October
Wildlife Highlights:
Signature species: Elephants, hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, lions and leopards
Birds: Over 560 species, including carmine bee-eaters, jacanas, fish eagles and kingfishers
Seasonal Experiences:
Dry season (May–October): Peak wildlife concentrations along waterways
Green season (Nov–March): Calving season; lush scenery and predator activity
Activities: Mokoro (dugout canoe) excursions, birdwatching
Central Kalahari Game Reserve
The Central Kalahari offers remote, crowd-free access to arid savanna, fossil riverbeds, sand dunes and desert-adapted wildlife.
Location: Central Botswana
Size: 20,400 square miles—the second-largest game reserve in the world
Wildlife Highlights:
Signature Species: Springbok, gemsbok (oryx), ostriches, bat-eared foxes
Predators: Black-maned Kalahari lions, cheetahs, brown hyenas
Cultural context: Home to the San (Bushmen), with traditional tracking knowledge
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
The Makgadikgadi Pans—vast salt flats in northeastern Botswana—shift dramatically with the seasons, turning from stark and dry in winter to lush and wildlife-rich after the summer rains.
Location: Southeast of the Okavango Delta, part of the Kalahari Basin
Size: ~10,000 square miles; one of the world’s largest salt flats
Wildlife Highlights:
Dry season (May–Oct): Meerkats, springbok, brown hyenas, migratory birds
Wet season (Nov–April):
Wildebeest, black-maned lions
Breeding flamingos in ephemeral lakes
Notable Features:
Stargazing: Zero light pollution; exceptional night skies
Photography: Wide-angle landscapes, salt-crusted vistas, seasonal wildlife contrast
