Things to see and do in Botswana
Attractions in Botswana
Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Vast, remote, and hauntingly beautiful, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is one of the largest protected areas in Africa. It's a place of open skies, red dunes, and fossil river valleys teeming with wildlife—including lions, oryx, giraffes, and cheetahs. This is a true wilderness, where self-sufficiency and solitude are part of the appeal. The best time to visit is during the rainy season (January to April) when the desert blooms and animals gather on the pans.
Chobe National Park
Renowned for its massive elephant population, Chobe is Botswana's most accessible and popular national park. Game drives and boat safaris reveal not only elephants, but hippos, buffalo, lions, and abundant birdlife. The park is especially spectacular during the dry season (May to October), when animals congregate along the riverbanks in large numbers, drawn to the Chobe River as other water sources disappear.
Gaborone
Botswana's capital may not have the wild allure of the north, but it offers an insight into modern Tswana life. Visitors can explore markets, museums, and monuments like the Three Dikgosi (Chiefs) Monument. The nearby Kgale Hill offers sweeping views over the city, and the Gaborone Game Reserve provides an easy dose of wildlife without leaving town.
Kasane
Tucked into the far northeast corner of the country, Kasane is perfectly positioned on the edge of Chobe National Park and near the borders of Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Namibia. Elephants roam freely through town, and the Chobe River offers some of the best boat safaris in southern Africa. It's also a popular base for day trips to Victoria Falls, just across the border.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park
Located in the southwest, this semi-arid wilderness straddles the border between Botswana and South Africa. It's known for its dramatic red dunes, dry riverbeds, and excellent predator sightings—especially black-maned lions. While access from the Botswana side requires serious 4x4 experience and self-sufficiency, the reward is an untamed and uncrowded experience.
Khama Rhino Sanctuary
Located near Serowe in central Botswana, Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a community-run reserve established to protect the country's remaining white and black rhinos. It also hosts zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, and numerous bird species. The sanctuary is compact and easy to explore by self-drive or on guided game drives. With affordable accommodation and campsites, it's a popular stopover for travellers heading north from Gaborone.
Makgadikgadi Pans
Once an ancient lake, the Makgadikgadi salt pans stretch to the horizon like a shimmering white desert. In the dry season (May to October), it's a surreal landscape of cracked earth and endless sky—perfect for quad biking, meerkat encounters, and nights spent under the stars. After the rains arrive (November to April), the pans flood slightly and come alive with migratory birds, including flamingos, and the arrival of zebra and wildebeest herds.
Maun
Often referred to as the gateway to the Okavango Delta, Maun is a dusty frontier town with a laid-back vibe and an unmistakable sense of adventure in the air. While the town is modest, it's the jumping-off point for scenic flights, mokoro trips, and safaris into one of Africa's most spectacular wilderness areas. With its mix of safari outfitters, craft shops, and wildlife wandering nearby, Maun feels like a place where the wild is never far away.
Moremi Wildlife Reserve
Tucked within the Okavango Delta, Moremi offers some of Botswana's best game viewing. It combines lush wetlands with mopane woodland, attracting an incredible variety of wildlife—from elephants and leopards to wild dogs and over 400 bird species. It's accessible by 4x4 or light aircraft, and is a popular destination for both self-drivers and luxury safari-goers. Moremi is a year-round destination, though July to October is ideal for spotting wildlife along water channels.
Nxai Pan National Park
Part of the greater Makgadikgadi system, Nxai Pan is a strikingly flat expanse dotted with baobab trees and seasonal grasslands. The park is known for its summer game—especially zebras, which migrate here during the wet season (December to March). It's also a great spot for cheetahs and lions, with fewer visitors than other parks, giving it an off-the-beaten-track feel.
Okavango Delta
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's largest inland deltas, the Okavango is Botswana's crown jewel. It's a lush maze of lagoons, channels, and islands that support an astonishing diversity of wildlife. Safari here means gliding silently in a mokoro past herds of lechwe, or watching elephants bathe at sunset. It's a place of deep tranquillity and raw beauty.
Tsodilo Hills
Dubbed the "Louvre of the Desert", this UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to over 4,000 ancient rock paintings. Sacred to the San people, the Tsodilo Hills rise dramatically from the surrounding flatlands, offering not just cultural significance, but breathtaking views and a sense of quiet reverence.
