OKAVANGO DELTA & MOREMI WILDLIFE RESERVE  

Biggest inland delta in the world!

The Okavango Delta occupies an area of 18.000 square kilometers in the northern part of Botswana. The water travels for 1.200 km from the highlands of Angola until it reaches the panhandle. From here, it takes four months to flood the Okavango Basin, the largest wetland in Africa.

Okavango Delta is a wildlife sanctuary, nearly 200 species of mammals, 150 different reptiles, 71 fish species, and over 400 types of birds cohabitate in this vast expanse. There are not many places left in the world that are so pristine, where the clock stops, and nature just takes over.

There are two seasons in Botswana: wet & dry. The wet season happens during the summer months (October - April) and the dry season during the winter months (May - September). Ironically the dry season is when the Okvanago is flooded, and the wet season corresponds to the rains. The rainy season is also an ideal time to visit this area; it offers a different kind of beauty.

There are over 30 safari camps within the Okavango. All of them are working in private as well as joint efforts to ensure they benefit the areas where they are working.

A recommended visit to the area would include a water-based camp, where you can enjoy morning and afternoon boat cruises or mokoro (traditional canoe-like vessel) rides through the channels of the Okavango.

Another must-stop is the Chief's Island within the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, where some of the best game viewings in the country can be found. It is located in the center of the Okavango where loads of wildlife remains in the Chief's Island after massive floods. Sightings are a daily occurrence in this area, making it the 'Place of Plenty".

CHOBE NATIONAL PARK, LINYANTI & THE SAVUTI MARSH 

Elephants & cats!

Chobe National Park is home to one of the biggest concentrations of Elephants in Africa. The Chobe River arrives from the highlands of Angola then diverts into the Zambezi before being part of the Victoria Falls.

The river offers an excellent opportunity for water activities as you observe the big herds of elephant and buffalo coming to drink in the river banks. It extends over 1.700 square kilometers in the northeastern part of the country.

The Chobe River is a source of water year-round, which ensures good sightings in the area about anytime. You will come across loads of giraffe, zebra, lechwe, impalas, elephants, and predators around this stream of water. Hippos and crocodiles are also plenty in this River!

It being a National Park is a bit more restricted to the activities and times of visit. Also, its proximity to the Victoria Falls means there is a higher number of visitors that make it to the area.

There are several Camps within the National Park as well as Houseboats on the River that offer a unique way to visit Chobe.

The Linyanti and the Savuti Marsh hold the biggest pride of lions and some of the most savage encounters. The presence of cats in this area makes it popular and extraordinary. It is also a great place to spot the wild dogs (the painted wolves)!

The camps are within the private concessions meaning you will not encounter lots of other visitors. They offer the game drives, walks, some boating & mokoro.

For the more adventurous travelers, the Selinda Spillway also offers the option of a canoe and walking trail hand in hand with one of the best safari operators. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but there are also stunning camps in the area.

MAKGADIKGADI SALT PANS 

Second largest Salt Pans in the world

Not a doubt, this will be one of the most impressive and surreal landscapes you will ever see. The direct translation to Makgdaikgadi is "dry, dry," a clear indication of what we are going to find out here.

Makgdaikgadi occupies an area of 30,000 square kilometers, and it used to be a super lake, the size of Switzerland. These are the second biggest pans in the world after the famous Uyuni Salt Pans in Bolivia. While they are at their peak during the dry months, the wet season also grants your safari experience with the zebra migration!

Makgdaikgadi has fewer visitors than the Northern areas, and you should, therefore, never leave Botswana without visiting this place. Through the vast open pans, you will be able to even see the curvature of Earth, the shimmering stars right above you, from horizon to horizon. The silence in this place cannot be compared with many areas of the world; it will make you feel true remoteness and isolation.

There is also a wide variety of activities in the Makgadikgadi, one of the most special (if not the most!) is the option of meeting the Khoi San Bushmen. The community is believed to be one of the oldest civilizations and only about 100.000 are left. They will take you on a walk explaining how they survive in a harsh environment that habituates the desert species such as meerkats, brown hyenas, aardwolves, and aardvark, among others.

From December one can witness the second biggest migration of the world with thousands of zebra and wildebeest running across the Makgadikgadi. During this time, there will be another of the greatest spectacles on Earth, the arrival of the flamingos that come to nest in the pans. The only way to visit them is by helicopter to avoid disrupting them as they protect their eggs.

There are some unique camps in this area that will transport you back in time to the 1940s. They offer a wide variety of activities: Walks with the Khoi San Bushmen, game drives, horse safaris, quad-bike rides (seasonal) to explore the pans, visit with semi-habituated meerkats and to giant Baobabs among others.

Makgdaikgadi is genuinely a magical set, not as explored as the Northern Areas. Its expanse and remoteness will be so different from anything you have ever experienced before.