What to expect on Safari in Botswana? – A different experience than a safari else where in Africa. – Remote wildlife Area
What to expect on Safari in Botswana? – Whether in the wide expanses of the Kalahari Desert and the Makgadikgadi Pans or among a network of channels and lagoons in the Okavango Delta Botswana, the scenery is distinctive. The pace of safari is gentler, with time spent slowing down and enjoying the smaller details. Wildlife sightings may not be as frequent as on a South African safari or in East Africa but they are more exclusive, most often only shared with those on your safari vehicle.
Botswana is an exclusive safari destination and tourism is strictly regulated. As a result, prices may appear higher than elsewhere in Africa, but the experience is unfailingly of a high quality, most often in very remote and untouched parts of the country. The most beautiful destinations in Botswana can only be reached by light aircraft, which also influences the cost of your safari, although it adds to the experience.
Your day will start with a wakeup call around 5 am (depending on when you travel), with tea/coffee and a morning light snack. The mornings are the best opportunity to see game interactions and some of the nocturnal animals are still active. The game activity usually lasts up to 3-4 hours depending on what you see along the way. The safari vehicles tend to be open 4×4 Land Rovers, which offer superb game viewing opportunities, but the roads are bumpy, so the drives can also be quite exhausting. All game drives are carried out by professional guides.
Morning activities are usually over by late morning and guests return to camp for a full breakfast/brunch. The next few hours are spent relaxing, as wildlife activity over the midday and early afternoon period is usually very limited. You can even catch up on a few hours’ sleep to recover from the early morning wakeup call! At around 3.30 pm, the evening’s activities start with an afternoon tea and light snacks. The game activity starts before sunset, providing you with another opportunity to see more game in the daylight.
You will then return to the camp before dark and sit around the fire enjoying a drink while waiting for dinner to be served. Drinks after dinner back around the fire are usually offered, but most people find they are too tired from all the fresh air and are in bed by 10 pm!
You will enjoy a wide variety of meals during your safari stay, and all camps attempt to include an ‘African’ flavour in their menus. Many camps and lodges are booked on a fully inclusive basis, but it is important to note that with respect to drinks, this is based on local beverages and not premium brands. If you have any specific dietary requirements, please let your consultant at Travel Butlers know when you confirm your booking, and where possible your dietary requirements will be met.
Camps and lodges in the Okavango Delta are generally situated on private concessions. This means that guests are able to participate in a wider range of activities, including game drives, nature walks, boating excursions or trips in traditional canoes known as Mokoro. In areas where lodges can be easily accessed by land game drives can continue after dark, providing a glimpse of the nocturnal activities of Botswana’s wildlife.
Lodges in the more remote areas of Botswana do not have electricity and rely on generator power for lighting and refrigeration. Generators may often be switched off at night, which means that air conditioning may not function during this time. Should you have any medical requirements that call for a 24-hour electricity supply, most lodges will be able to oblige, with the exception of some tented camps or mobile operations.
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