Botswana
Botswana is the envy of the continent: a land of staggering beauty, exceptional biodiversity, and spectacular game. The famed oasis of the Okavango Delta is a lush and sprawling wilderness, one of the last pristine wetlands left on earth. From above, it is a web of waterways and open grasslands, dotted with palm islands. The drier Selinda and Linyanti regions are a patchwork of floodplains and marshes, lined by magnificent riverine forests and driermopane woodlands. At the heart of Botswana lies the immense, ancient Makgadikgadi Salt Pan, offering contrasting and varied experiences. These diverse, and remote areas of Botswana offer truly prolific and diverse wildlife viewing experience whilst private concessions, accessible only by air, allow for for perfect safari solitude.
The Okavango Delta
The World’s largest inland Delta, covering 16000 square kilometers, is a unique wetland that naturally supports and sustains a vast medley of wildlife. This emerald paradise is adorned with game-rich islands and floodplains, and visitors can anticipate an extraordinary array of flora as well as spectacular vistas.
Specially-adapted vehicles offer the more traditional game-viewing experience, both day and night, and guided walking safaris allow adventurous guests to walk in the footsteps of the Delta’s giants. Gliding through the waterways by mokoro (dugout canoe) visitors may explore the reed-lined channels from a unique and peaceful perspective.
The Selinda and Linyanti
These adjacent wildlife areas are well known for their ever-changing vistas, from dry pans and open plains to riverine and woodland habitats. Famed for the great elephant herds that migrate here during the dry season, the Linyanti also showcases an abundance of antelope species and an impressive array of birdlife including the crimson migrants, the Carmine Bee-Eaters. Particularly well known for its lion and wild dog population, this area is roamed by many other predators as well, from the graceful cheetah, to the elusive leopard, to the sly hyena.
These pristine sanctuaries are perfect for traditional safari excursions in open 4×4 vehicles, and there are also boating options, opportunities for seasonal fishing, walking safaris and nocturnal forays beneath the dazzling African skies, in search of the more secretive creatures of the night.
Makgadikgadi and the Kalahari Desert
In stark contrast to the Okavango oasis, these two desert regions are surprising in their outstanding beauty and rich historical beginnings. Ostensibly, dry, endless, stark and unforgiving, the area comes alive with animals sustained by the waterholes that dot the vast salt pans.
Quad bike excursion over moonscape salt pans, opportunities to explore archaeological sites, close interaction with habituated meerkats and star gazing make this area a fascinating addition to one’s itinerary. Home to the San Bushman, visitors are able to gain insight into these fascinating people.
A superbly executed trip with a phenomenal guide. Africa Bound Safaris is a rare company where a meticulous planner and an extraordinary guide amplify one another’s gifts.