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Botswana Destination Tours And Adventures Southern Africa
o Witness the annual migration of thousands of wildebeest and zebras in the flat, salt-baked expanse of the Makgadikgadi Pans. o Visit the Tsodilo Hills. Marked with an array of rock paintings, the isolated hills are rich in cultural history and sacred to Bushmen who live in them. o Ascend onto the back of an elephant for an unforgettable safari ride on one of the most majestic giants of the wild. o For pure golfing pleasure, Botswana boasts award winning golf courses, making it a hot, up and coming destination on the golfer’s calendar. o Observe the wonder of charging buffalo, and hippos that gracefully surface for air in the Chobe National Park. o Relax in a dugout canoe, steered by a local expert as you tour the unique and opulent Okavango Delta; a region of wetlands, wildlife and stunning lagoons. o Discover the wonders of the Moremi Wildlife Reserve where floodplains and forests abound, and exotic birds, giraffes, wildebeest and lion roam free. o Enjoy a wild 4x4 adventure in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Remote and virtually unexplored, you may even spot some of the country’s few remaining Bushmen. Makgadikgadi Pans is one of the largest salt flats in the world, the Makgadikgadi Pans was once an ancient superlake. The extensive wide-open vistas make it a popular attraction for quad biking. In the rainy season the pans are transformed into sheets of water, making the roads inaccessible by car. Visitors can still get to the Makgadikgadi Pans by light aircraft, where there are a number of unforgettable safari adventures to choose from. The impact of the rain turns the dry pans into a life-giving oasis, featuring interesting natural phenomena such as: o Annual migration of zebra and wildebeest to the water source. o Flamingos and Pelicans congregate creating a stunning colourful spectacle. o Hundreds of thousands of birds across 600 different species flock to the country. Many rare specimens can be found, making it a bird lovers’ paradise. Best Time: May to November (December to March for the bird migration) Restrictions: Some age restrictions on longer safari tours Tsodilo Hills Botswana’s Tsodilo Hills are made up of four large rocks that rise sharply, standing as tall as 400m above the bushveld. Boasting thousands of San Bushman Paintings, the Tsodilo Hills are thought to be the world’s most historical site with its highly important collection of rock art. Estimated to be over 20,000 years old, some paintings can be found on cliff faces where it remains a mystery as to how the artist managed to get up there. The area is said to hold a heavy spiritual atmosphere leaving some visitors feeling uncomfortable while others embrace its magical trance. The walking trails cover some really interesting paintings such as: o Zebra on a small outcrop – used today as Botswana’s National Museum and Monument logo. o Whales and Penguins – suggest that the San may have had contact with other people groups. Best Time: All year round Restrictions: None Elephant Safari Ride Botswana’s elephant safari rides are truly spectacular. Visitors travel in groups of up to 10, and mount the giant creatures two at a time. The seats are comfortable and secure, offering prime game viewing without the noise and restriction of a vehicle. Although elephants walk slowly and gracefully, they cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time, sweeping past opulent woodlands, undulating meadows and open plains. Popular elephant safari rides include: o 3-days in Chobe National Park – Stay at the beautiful Savute Safari Lodge located in the Chobe National Park, and discover a wealth of unmatched game viewing. o 4-days in Okavango Delta – Abu Camp offers stylish furnished tents. Discover a unique opportunity to witness magnificent views from the back of an elephant. o 5-days in Chobe National Park – The Chobe Savanna and Savute Safari Lodges are the ideal accompaniment to this outstanding elephant safari. Best Time: May to November Restrictions: 10kg max luggage weight on flight into Abu Camp. Golf Golfing enthusiasts will find a number of fantastic packages available in the south-easterly region, particularly around the cosmopolitan Capital City – Gaborone. Set in the backdrop of African bushveld and the glistening sand of the Kalahari, Botswana offers one of the best golfing opportunities in Southern Africa. Situated 15km from Gaborone and 28km from the Mokolodi Game Park, Phakalane Golf Estate is the country’s rising star. The international award-winning golf course offers world-class 5 star luxury accommodation in the hotel resort, as well as stylish self catering accommodation with spacious rooms. After a round, golfers can enjoy a chilled drink or a delicious meal in the decadent clubhouse. Best Time: All year round. Restrictions: None. Chobe National Park The second largest national park in Botswana, Chobe has one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife in Africa and is often described as one of the best game viewing areas in Africa. The Park’s key features include: o Elephant population – roughly 120,000 elephants roam the Chobe National Park – the highest concentration in Africa and the largest continuing surviving population on earth. o Savuti marsh – 3-4 days are sufficient to spot nearly all major species: giraffe, elephant, zebra, impala, tsessebe, roan, sable, wildebeest, kudu, buffalo, waterbuck, warthog, eland as well as predators including lion, hyena, jackal, bat-eared fox, cheetah and wild dog. o Linyanti swamps – A paradise in the north-west with lagoons, riverine forests, rolling grasslands and inland wooded areas. The Linyanti is home to elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, impala, roan, sable, lechwe and aquatic sitatunga antelope, and predators such as lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena and wild dog. Access is rugged and the Linyanti safari camps can only be reached by light aircraft. Mosquitoes are prevalent throughout the park and visitors are strongly advised to take anti-malarial prophylactics. Best Time: All year round. Restrictions: None. Okavango Delta Gently flowing, mysterious and beautiful, the Okavango Delta is a network of lagoons, lakes and hidden channels. Covering an area of over 17,000 square km, the Okavango’s water is clean and pure and is a sanctuary for scores of birds and wild animals who depend on it for survival. Key attractions include: o Dugout canoe ride – experienced tour guides will take you on an unforgettable journey past palms, tranquil crystal pools and forest glades. o Wildlife viewing – the mainland and islands are home to lion, elephant, hyena, wild dog, buffalo, hippo, antelope and crocodiles as well as smaller creatures including warthog, mongoose, monkeys, bush babies and squirrels. o Fishing – you’ll find plenty of fish all along the Delta, however the larger species can be found only in the deeper waters on the north side in the Panhandle. Best Time: May to October Restrictions: Access by light aircraft only in rainy season, limited road access by 4WD vehicles in dry season. Central Kalahari Game Reserve The largest game reserve worldwide, the Central Kalahari covers a staggering 52,800 square kilometres. The scorching climate and rugged terrain have made it the road less travelled, yet for those that dare, it is untamed Africa at its best. The Reserve began as a refuge for the San Bushmen who have survived the Kalahari for the past 30,000 years. Key activities include: o Deception Valley – prime game viewing of gemsbok, springbok, wildebeest, lion, cheetah and jackal after the rainy season. o Kalahari Bushmen – Learn survival techniques like finding water-filled tubers in the sand and how to catch an ostrich. Listen to funny stories animated by their actions. o Starry nights – witness the splendour of Kalahari nights where the stars fill the expanse of the sky and are larger and brighter than one could ever imagine. The Kalahari is a malarial area. Visitors are strongly advised to take anti-malarial prophylactics. Best Time: November to April Restrictions: None Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Felicia Loland www.africasouthernadventures.com |
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