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Botswana is a land of great natural diversity: from the dry Kalahari Desert to the swampy Okavango Delta. The landlocked country is also one of Africa’s best safari destinations. Travel down the Okavango Delta in a traditional Mokoro canoe, visit thousands of elephants in Chobe or go “Out of Africa” in an airplane safari. If you are after a taste of African wildlife, Botswana offers you a very fulfilling five course meal.
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HIGHLIGHTS: |
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KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER NP
The “place of thirst” in the Kalahari Desert, is one of the best game parks in the country. It is home to the unique black-maned Kalahari lion and many migrating mammals. |
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OKAVANGO DELTA
Fly over the largest inland delta in the world by fixed wing or helicopter or explore it the traditional way: by Mokoro, a wooden canoe. No matter how you explore the Okavango, prepare for spectacular wildlife encounters that will stay with you for the rest of your life!
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CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
Enjoy a (boat) safari in Botswana’s oldest and arguably most impressive national park. Especially worth visiting is the Savuti area where lions have perfected the skill of catching adult elephants. |
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MAKGADIKGADI PANS
Drive a quad bike through the biggest salt pan in the world. In the wet season this evaporated lake also boasts one of the greatest zebra populations in Africa. In winter there is a massive migration of animals to nearby Nxai national park. |
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TSODILO HILLS
Once a sacred place of the San, Tsodilo Hills is now a World Heritage Site. it is one of the best sites for people who are interested in rock art by the “bushmen”. |
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NXAI NATIONAL PARK
Just north of Makgadikgadi lies Nxai. The park is mostly known for a group of impressive baobab trees. They are now named Baines Baobobs after the pioneer and artist Thomas Baines who first immortalised them on canvass. |
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FAST FACTS:
Area: 600,370 km2 or 224,606 sq mi
(about the size of Ukraine, slightly smaller than Texas)
Capital: Gaberone
Anthem: Fatshe leno la rona (This Land of Ours)
Currency: Pula (BWP)
Dialling code: +267
Time zone: London (Greenwich) + 2 hrs; New York + 7; CET Winter +1; CET Summer +0; China -6 hours; Sydney -8
There is no summer or winter time.
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Population
There are about 1.6 million people in Botswana. Inhabitants of the country are called Batswana. The biggest ethnic groups are the Tswana and Kalanga. There an estimated 10 thousand remaining San hunter-gatherers living in Botswana. The official languages of the country are English and Setswana. |
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Infrastructure/roads
The major towns in Botswana are linked by highways and tarmac roads. The roads are generally well maintained and in good condition. From Johannesburg you enter Botswana near the capital of Gaberone. The Trans-Kalahari Highway takes you from Gaberone to Ghanzi. The main airport is in the capital Gaberone. It offers regional and connecting domestic flights. |
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Climate
The Batswana people didn’t call their currency “pula” (rain) for nothing. Precipitation is a valuable thing in the country that is about 70 percent desert. Rain mostly falls during unpredictable summer showers (November to March) when temperatures can rise to over 40 degrees Celsius. These showers are very regional. In general rainfall is scarce with an annual average of 650 mm in Chobe to 250mm in the Kalahari.
During the mild winter months from May to August there is virtually no rain. Winter nights can be icy cold though, so bring warm pyjamas. Because the winters are bone-dry it is an excellent time for spotting wildlife: all the animals gather around the waterholes and dams. |
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DID YOU KNOW?
The Makgadikgadi Pan in north-eastern Botswana is one of the largest salt pans in the world. It seems uninviting to wildlife but during the rainy summer season the pan witnesses a spectacular migration of birds and mammals, including one of Africa's largest zebra populations. |
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Makoro
The most pleasant mode of transport in the Okavango Delta is the Makoro, a traditional wooden canoe.
Photo: ZippingZebra.com
 Elephant approaching a safari verhicle in the Okavango Delta
Photo: ZippingZebra.com
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Specials
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This safari takes you into the best game parks of Botswana – while sitting behind the wheel of a fully equipped 4x4! Experience the vast African wilderness with your personal safari guide and have bush braais under the African sky while listening to the sound of the wild. This exclusive experience can be yours for ZAR 18,100 per person. |
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Scheduled tours
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Special Discount! Book before 30 September for only ZAR 8,225!! This 20 day overland tour takes you from Cape Town past all the highlights of Namibia and Botswana to the impressive Victoria Falls. This tour is a delight to the adventurer who wants to explore the “real Africa”. |
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Scheduled tours
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Special Discount! Book now before 30 September and only pay ZAR 5,900! Imagine to be able to mention the words “Victoria Falls”, “Okavango Delta”, “Chobe” and “Himba Tribe” in one holiday story. You can after this 14 day organised tour that shows you the best of Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe (accommodated tour also available) |
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Enabled Tours
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{vozmestart}Wild about wildlife? Don't let a wheel chair get in your way! This Enabled Tour takes you to the best game parks the region has to offer in an unfenced, unrushed safari experience of a liftime. Highlights include the Okavango Delta and Kruger National Park. Many nights are spent in especially designed modern en-suite safari tents. From only ZAR 40,600. |
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