Things to see and do in Botswana

Attractions in Botswana

Cruise along the Chobe River

The languid and life-giving Chobe River is both exceptionally beautiful and bursting with wildlife. Probably the best place in Africa to see elephants swimming, you'd also be hard pushed to find a better spot for an evening boat cruise and a sundowner or three with hippos belly laughing all about you. To take the experience to another level, book a Chobe houseboat holiday.

Experience the beauty of Moremi Wildlife Reserve

Botswana's Moremi Wildlife Reserve lies in the centre of the Okavango Delta. The reserve encompasses a wide range of habitats – from wetlands, floodplains and reed beds to forests and savannah woodlands. The fauna inhabiting this pristine park is abundant and equally diverse, ranging from exotic birds, zebras, buffalo, wildebeest and giraffes to hippos and lions.

Get lost in Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park

Encompassing ancient animal migration routes between Botswana and South Africa, this enormous desert park is bigger than the Netherlands and famed for its big cat population, particularly lion and cheetah. Other attributes include incredible night skies and overpowering stillness. It's still a relatively underexplored park, and a special place for wild camping.

Go on a game drive in Chobe National Park

Chobe National Park is Botswana's flagship park and easily combined with a visit to Victoria Falls just across the border into Zimbabwe or Zambia. The park itself is vast, wild and home to more than 100,000 elephants, sometimes seen in herds of up to 500. There are also plenty of predators, including leopard, lion and the critically-endangered African wild dog.

Paddle around the Okavango Delta

The oasis of the Okavango Delta is one of Africa's most iconic destinations and not without good cause. Positively teeming with wildlife and birdlife, this region of vast grass flats, low tree-covered ridges and narrow and intricate waterways is best explored in a mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe. This rustic means of transport takes you closer to the delta's staggering biodiversity.

Roar across the Makgadikgadi Pans

Traverse one of the world's largest salt pans on a quad bike to make the most of the awe-inspiring vistas and sense of isolation. Come at the right time of year and you'll also see southern Africa's most spectacular zebra and wildebeest migrations. The barren landscape is occasionally punctuated by strange and picturesque islands of baobab trees. You might spot the rare brown hyena here.

Sleep with the rhinos at Khama Rhino Sanctuary

Established in 1992, this community-based wildlife project is a shining example of Botswana's sterling conservation work and its emphasis on sustainable tourism. The peaceful sanctuary provides a safe haven for both white and black rhino, previously wiped out across most of the country, and there are onsite chalets and camping facilities.

Trek in the sacred Tsodilo Hills

Tsodilo Hills is a UNESCO World Heritage Site held sacred by Botswana's San Bushmen. Known to have been inhabited for at least 100,000 years, these dramatic, isolated hills are decorated with thousands of fascinating ancient rock paintings. A number of different hiking trails showcase both the stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage of these ancient landscapes.

Venture into Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Remote, enormous and virtually unexplored, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is a refuge both for iconic wildlife and the country's few remaining Bushmen, nomadic hunter gatherers indigenous to southern Africa. Often referred to as one of Africa's last true wildernesses, roaring lions may be the only sound to puncture the overpowering desert stillness here.

Tourist offices

Botswana Tourism Board