Botswana ✓ VISITEDBotswanaROAMSUN

Botswana✨ 10 best things to do in Botswana

Things to do in Botswana

1. Glide by mokoro in the OkavangoSit low in a dugout canoe as a poler guides you through papyrus channels and water-lily lagoons.
2. Watch elephants on the ChobeTake a sunset boat cruise as huge herds of elephants come down to drink and swim.
3. Sleep under the stars on the salt pansCamp on the vast, silent Makgadikgadi Pans, where the night sky feels endless.
4. Meet the meerkatsSit quietly near habituated meerkat colonies on the edge of the Makgadikgadi as they stand guard in the morning sun.
5. See rock art at Tsodilo HillsWalk among thousands of ancient San paintings in a UNESCO-listed landscape called the 'Mountains of the Gods'.
6. Go on a game drive in MoremiSearch for lions, leopards, wild dogs and buffalo in one of Africa's richest wildlife reserves.
7. Take a scenic flight over the DeltaSee the maze of channels and islands from above, with herds crossing the floodplains below.
8. Explore the Central KalahariDrive through one of the world's largest game reserves to find black-maned lions and desert-adapted antelope.
9. Stand among Baines' BaobabsVisit a famous cluster of ancient baobab trees on the edge of a white salt pan.
10. Visit a kgotla in a villageLearn about Botswana's traditional community meeting place and its role in local decision-making.

Botswana🗺️ Where to visit in Botswana

Where to go in Botswana

• 
  Okavango DeltaNorth · inland delta & wildlifeA vast seasonal wetland in the desert, teeming with wildlife and best explored by mokoro, boat or small plane.
• 
  Chobe National ParkNorth · elephants & riverFamous for its huge elephant population and spectacular river safaris near Kasane.
• 📍
  Moremi Game ReserveOkavango · safariThe protected heart of the Delta, combining dry land and wetland for superb game viewing.
• 
  Makgadikgadi PansNortheast · salt pansAncient salt flats that host zebra migrations in the rains and lunar landscapes in the dry season.
• 
  Central Kalahari Game ReserveCentre · desert wildernessA remote expanse of grassland and fossil riverbeds for self-sufficient adventurers.
• 
  Tsodilo HillsNorthwest · rock artSacred hills holding thousands of rock paintings and a deep spiritual meaning for the San.
• 
  MaunNorth · gateway townThe lively jumping-off point for Delta trips, with scenic flights and mokoro excursions.
• 📍
  GaboroneCapital · cultureA relaxed capital with a national museum, craft markets and nearby nature reserves.

Botswana🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Botswana

Best time to visit Botswana

Botswana is semi-arid, with hot, rainy summers and dry, sunny winters that can be very cold at night in the desert. The north is wetter and greener, while the Kalahari in the centre and southwest is dry for most of the year.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Gaborone (approximate averages).

Botswana🎉 Festivals & events in Botswana

• March–April
  Maitisong FestivalGaborone's long-running arts festival showcases music, theatre and dance.
• August
  Kuru Dance FestivalSan communities and guests gather near D'Kar to share traditional dance, music and storytelling.
• 30 September
  Botswana DayIndependence is celebrated with parades, traditional dance and national pride across the country.
• July
  President's DayA public holiday weekend marked by cultural events and celebrations.

Botswana🧭 Botswana itinerary ideas

How many days in Botswana?

Botswana🎒 Backpacking Botswana – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $50–80 a day

• Botswana is expensive for safaris, so join group overland tours or self-drive in a well-equipped 4x4 and camp to keep costs down.
• Maun and Kasane have campsites and simple backpacker lodges that arrange affordable mokoro trips and boat cruises.
• Book a mokoro trip from Maun into the community-run areas of the Delta, which is far cheaper than flying into private camps.
• Local combis (minibuses) and long-distance buses link the main towns cheaply, though they do not reach the parks.
• Stock up on food and water in larger towns, as supplies are limited and expensive in remote areas.

Botswana🛡️ Safety & money in Botswana

Emergency: 999 police · 997 ambulance · 998 fire

Botswana🛬 Getting to Botswana

Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone has regional flights, while Maun and Kasane airports serve safari travellers, usually via Johannesburg. Many visitors also arrive overland from South Africa, Namibia, Zambia or Zimbabwe, with Victoria Falls a short drive from Kasane.

✈️ Cheap flights to Botswana: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Botswana💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Botswana

• The Okavango River never reaches the sea – it spreads out and evaporates into the Kalahari Desert.
• Botswana is home to one of the largest elephant populations in Africa.
• The national currency, pula, means 'rain', a precious resource in this dry country.
• The Kalahari is not a true desert in the strictest sense, as it receives too much rain and supports grasses and trees.
• Botswana is one of the world's leading producers of diamonds by value.

Botswana❓ Botswana travel FAQ

Botswana travel questions