Botswana Travel Guide: Wild Beauty & Delta Dreams

Intro to Botswana Travel Guide

A land of timeless skies, untamed wildlife, and uncharted luxury — Botswana is Africa’s quiet triumph. With one of the world’s largest inland deltas, protected wilderness that stretches for days, and a deep-rooted cultural heritage, Botswana rewards slow, immersive travel.

Whether tracking wild dogs in the Okavango, cruising past elephants on the Chobe, or sleeping beneath stars in the Kalahari, Botswana is an invitation to disconnect and rediscover the world through nature.

Start planning your journey with our complete Botswana Travel Guide — featuring regional breakdowns, safari circuits, and expert travel tips.

States and Territories of Botswana

Central District | Chobe District | Ghanzi District | Kgalagadi District | Kgatleng District | Kweneng District | Ngamiland District | North-East District | South-East District | Southern District

Botswana by Region – Where to Go

Botswana has 10 administrative districts, each offering distinct safari routes, landscapes, and cultural touchpoints. Use this regional guide to map your perfect itinerary.

Central District

Serowe & Palapye – Cultural strongholds and colonial history at the heart of Botswana’s tribal heritage.
Makgadikgadi Pans – Vast salt flats, baobab groves, and surreal desert beauty.

Chobe District

Kasane – Safari town hub with boat access to Chobe National Park.
Chobe Riverfront – Legendary for dense elephant herds and river-based game viewing.

Ghanzi District

Ghanzi – Gateway to the Kalahari with San communities and desert-adapted wildlife.
Central Kalahari Game Reserve (north) – Remote wilderness for self-drive adventures and quiet camps.

Kgalagadi District

Tsabong – Near the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park’s southern entrance.
Khawa Dunes – Ideal for off-road driving and desert festivals.

Kgatleng District

Mochudi – Cultural village home to the Bakgatla people and traditional art.
Oodi – Famous for handwoven baskets and local cooperatives.

Kweneng District

Kanye – Historic village in the hills, close to natural rock formations.
Molepolole – A spiritual and cultural center with traditional healing sites.

Ngamiland District (North-West)

Maun – Botswana’s adventure capital and launch point for the Okavango Delta.
Moremi Game Reserve – The jewel of the delta with predator-rich floodplains.

North-East District

Francistown – Former gold town with heritage sites and gateway to Zimbabwe.
Tachila Nature Reserve – A conservation area close to the city.

South-East District

Gaborone – The capital blends diplomacy, culture, and business.
Oodi Hills – Scenic landscapes just outside the city.

Southern District

Lobatse – Colonial architecture and meat industry roots.
Moshupa – Picturesque village framed by balancing boulders and granite ridges.

Top Places to Visit in Botswana

From the famed Okavango to hidden Kalahari gems, these are the most iconic and inspiring places to visit in Botswana — grouped by travel experience.

Safari Icons and Riverfront Reserves

• Okavango Delta (Ngamiland) – A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Earth’s most unique ecosystems. Explore by mokoro (dugout canoe), 4×4, or fly-in safaris. Wildlife includes lions, leopards, and endangered sitatungas.
• Moremi Game Reserve (Ngamiland) – This protected core of the delta offers year-round game viewing, predator activity, and lush floodplains. It’s a favorite for high-end mobile safaris.
• Chobe National Park (Chobe) – Home to the world’s largest elephant population, Chobe River safaris deliver jaw-dropping animal scenes with dramatic sunset backdrops.

Desert and Salt Pan Landscapes

• Makgadikgadi Pans (Central) – A lunar-like salt desert where zebra migrate across cracked crusts and meerkats pose under open skies. Stay in eco-lodges or camp beneath ancient baobabs.
• Nxai Pan National Park (Central) – Seasonal waterholes attract thousands of zebras and springbok — and lions follow. The Baines’ Baobabs are a photographic treasure.
• Central Kalahari Game Reserve (Ghanzi) – One of the most remote reserves in Africa, with black-maned lions and San bushman experiences. Raw, quiet, and vast.

Cultural Towns and Southern Trails

• Serowe (Central) – Historical seat of Botswana’s Khama dynasty with cultural museums and tribal storytelling.
• Francistown (North-East) – A mining town with colonial roots, craft markets, and local reserves nearby.
• Gaborone (South-East) – Botswana’s modern face, with art galleries, hill hikes, and cultural institutions like the National Museum.

Discover top-rated Botswana tours and experiences, and explore the best things to do in Botswana — from delta canoe rides and lion tracking to salt pan sleepouts and San bushwalks. Book early for exclusive access and flexible cancellation.

How to Choose Where to Go in Botswana

Botswana is a low-impact, high-value destination. Most travelers focus on 2–3 key areas due to cost and remoteness. Here’s how to choose:

• For Classic Safari & River Wildlife: Combine Chobe and the Okavango Delta via Maun or Kasane.
• For Remote, Desert Adventure: Explore the Central Kalahari and Makgadikgadi for starry nights and vast silence.
• For Cultural Insight: Visit Serowe or Ghanzi to learn about Botswana’s tribal legacies and San traditions.
• For Budget or Independent Travel: Gaborone, Francistown, and the pans offer more accessibility and local transport.

Efficient pairings include:

• Chobe + Delta + Makgadikgadi (fly-in)
• Kalahari + Serowe + Francistown (road trip)
• Gaborone + Southern towns + Mokolodi Nature Reserve (short stays)

How to Get Around Botswana

Botswana is vast and mostly rural — so transport choices depend on time, budget, and route.

• Fly-In Safaris: The fastest way to reach remote parks. Light aircraft flights run from Maun and Kasane to private camps and airstrips.
• Self-Drive: Ideal for experienced overlanders. A 4×4 is essential for parks and pans. Roads are unpaved outside cities.
• Guided Tours: Common for mid-to-luxury safaris, with transfers, meals, and activities included.
• Public Transport: Buses connect major towns like Gaborone, Maun, Francistown, and Serowe. No public access to most parks.
• Car Rentals: Available in cities and at airports. Plan fuel stops — distances are long and stations scarce in remote areas.

Kasane and Maun are top entry points for park access. Always check park rules, road conditions, and weather forecasts before setting out.

Travel Budget and Costs in Botswana

Botswana emphasizes quality over quantity. Costs reflect exclusivity, conservation fees, and logistics in remote areas.

• Budget: $60–100/day — limited options, mostly around towns or self-camping
• Mid-Range: $250–400/day — lodges, guided safaris, some fly-in links
• Luxury: $700–1,500+/day — private tented camps, flights, full-service safaris

Sample Prices:

• Light aircraft flight (one-way): $150–350
• Park entry: $10–30/day
• Budget guesthouse in Maun: $50–80/night
• Luxury lodge (all-inclusive): $800+/night
• Local meal: $4–10

Money-Saving Tips:

• Travel in green season (Nov–March) for lower rates
• Choose overland tours over fly-ins
• Focus on one region to reduce transport costs
• Camp at public sites in Makgadikgadi or Khutse Reserve

Best Time to Visit Botswana

Botswana’s seasons shape your experience — from flooding deltas to dry desert heat.

May to October – Dry Season (Peak Safari)

• Clear skies, cool nights, and thinning vegetation improve wildlife visibility.
• Okavango is in full flood; game gathers at rivers and pans.
• Best for Chobe, Moremi, and Central Kalahari safaris.

November to March – Green Season (Low Cost)

• Rain brings greenery, migratory birds, and newborn animals.
• Wet roads may limit access to remote parks.
• Great for budget travelers and photographers.

April & November – Shoulder Months

• November: start of rains, elephant concentrations still strong.
• Good compromise of value and wildlife.
• April: end of rains, blooming landscapes.

Must-See Experiences in Botswana

These unforgettable things to do in Botswana highlight its wild soul, thoughtful tourism model, and living traditions.

Glide Through the Okavango Delta

Explore the flooded delta by mokoro — a traditional dugout canoe steered by local polers. Expect serene channels, papyrus walls, and close-up views of hippos, birds, and elephants.

Cruise the Chobe River at Sunset

Board a riverboat from Kasane and float past elephants, buffalo, and crocs while sipping sundowners. Chobe’s golden hour is pure safari magic.

Sleep Under the Stars in the Kalahari

Camp deep in the Central Kalahari for total silence, epic starscapes, and the distant roar of black-maned lions.

Walk with San Bushmen

In Ghanzi or Deception Valley, join San guides to learn survival skills, foraging, storytelling, and the spiritual meaning of the land.

Watch the Zebra Migration

Each rainy season, thousands of zebra move from the Boteti River to Makgadikgadi and back — Africa’s longest terrestrial migration.

Track Predators in Moremi

Game drives in the heart of the Okavango often reveal leopards in trees, wild dogs on the hunt, and hyenas slinking through dusk.

Explore Baines’ Baobabs

This iconic cluster of giant trees on a salt pan island is both photographic and spiritual. Camp nearby for haunting sunset views.

Visit Gaborone’s Art Scene

Explore the Thapong Visual Arts Centre and local galleries in the capital — a modern counterbalance to the wilds.

Best Travel Itineraries in Botswana

Here are curated travel routes to help build your trip by interest and timeframe.

7-Day Delta & Chobe Explorer

• Day 1–2: Arrive in Maun, overnight lodge
• Day 3–4: Moremi mobile safari or lodge stay
• Day 5–6: Fly to Kasane, river cruise and Chobe game drives
• Day 7: Return to Maun or cross into Zimbabwe

10-Day Wild North Adventure

• Day 1–3: Fly into Maun, Okavango Delta by mokoro
• Day 4–5: Moremi or Khwai region 4×4 safaris
• Day 6–7: Road or flight to Savuti (dry plains & big cats)
• Day 8–10: Chobe Riverfront lodges + boat safaris

12-Day Desert + Culture Loop

• Day 1–2: Gaborone cultural walks + art
• Day 3–4: Drive to Serowe and Khama Rhino Sanctuary
• Day 5–7: Kalahari camping with San bushmen
• Day 8–10: Makgadikgadi salt pan sleepout
• Day 11–12: Return to Maun or connect to Kasane

Each route can be scaled up or down with added fly-ins, extensions to Namibia or Zimbabwe, or custom stopovers.

Local Cuisine and Culinary Experiences

Botswana’s food reflects its cattle heritage, seasonal farming, and desert simplicity. Meals are communal, hearty, and often meat-heavy.

Famous Dishes

• Seswaa – Slow-cooked shredded beef, often served with maize porridge (pap)
• Bogobe – Sorghum or maize porridge, plain or flavored with sour milk
• Morogo – Leafy greens sautéed with onion or tomato
• Vetkoek – Fried dough stuffed with mince or jam
• Phane – Dried caterpillars (protein-rich delicacy), typically fried

Where to Eat

• Gaborone: Try Main Deck or Sanitas Tea Garden for modern Motswana meals.
• Maun: The Duck Cafe for riverside dining and local specials.
• Kasane: The Old House for riverfront eats and safari lodge cuisine.
• Camps: Most safari lodges offer full board with Western and local menus — some include traditional dinners with music and firelight.

While not a food tourism hotspot, Botswana’s culinary culture reveals plenty about resilience, community, and seasonal living.

Travel Safety and Cultural Etiquette in Botswana

Botswana is among the safest and most stable countries in Africa — with excellent conservation ethics and welcoming locals.

Safety Guidelines

• Crime is low, especially in rural or safari zones. Exercise basic caution in cities.
• Stick with guides in wildlife areas — elephants and hippos wander freely.
• Roads can be sandy, unlit, and remote. Carry spares, water, and GPS.
• Malaria risk exists in the north — take antimalarials and use nets/repellent.

Cultural Etiquette

• Greeting elders with a handshake and nod shows respect.
• Dress modestly in villages or towns — especially women.
• Ask before taking photos of people or homes.
• Be patient — Botswana operates on a slower, relationship-based rhythm.
• Tipping is customary in lodges and for guides (around 10%).

English is widely spoken, but basic Setswana greetings like Dumela (hello) go a long way.

Where to Go Next – Pair Botswana with These Destinations

Botswana shares seamless safari circuits with several neighbors:

• Zimbabwe: Just across the Chobe River — extend to Victoria Falls or Hwange.
• Namibia: Explore the Caprivi Strip or Etosha after a Delta trip.
• South Africa: Fly from Gaborone or Maun to Johannesburg for urban contrast.
• Zambia: Cross from Kasane to Livingstone for Victoria Falls and cultural depth.
• Mozambique: Via southern border, add Indian Ocean beaches post-safari.

Looking for more? Check out more travel guides to help complete your itinerary for the region.

Journey Through Zimbabwe’s Wonders | Namibia Desert & Dune Adventures | Explore South Africa’s Diverse Landscapes | Zambia Safari & Waterfall Escapes

Final Planning Checklist for Botswana

• Lock in your itinerary early — camps book out 6–12 months ahead
• Secure fly-in routes or self-drive plans and permits
• Get yellow fever proof (if entering from a country with risk)
• Pack neutral clothing for safaris (avoid blue/black due to tsetse flies)
• Bring refillable bottles — many lodges offer filtered water
• Buy a local SIM (Mascom or Orange) if traveling independently
• Travel light — most safari flights have strict luggage limits
• Carry USD or BWP for tips, park fees, and small expenses
• Learn about low-impact travel — Botswana emphasizes sustainability

Inspired to explore Botswana’s vast wilderness and deep traditions? Visit our homepage for expert trip guides, tour suggestions, and planning tools for Africa’s most exclusive safari destination.