Get to Know Botswana
Step1
Know that most of Botswana is made up of the Kalahari Desert, which can be very uninviting to tourists.
Step2
Expect it to be hot. October to April is unbearably hot and humid, June to July is cold enough for a sweater, and nights in Botswana year-round are quite cold.
Step3
Leave the dictionary at home because English is the official language.
Find Your Way Around Botswana
Step1
Fly into Johannesburg and travel overland to avoid the high cost of flying within Africa.
Step2
Conside the train for a reliable and inexpensive way to travel between major cities of Francistown, Gaborone and Lobatse.
Step3
Thumb a ride. Hitchhiking is the norm in Botswana, and a set charge of about 5 cents per 10 km is charged.
Find Accommodations in Botswana
Step1
To book accommodations, contact Botswana Tourism by visiting their Web site (see Resources below).
Step2
Consider the self-catering accommodations, which offer camping en route to the major cities.
Step3
Choose a working farm as a base camp for your safari and enjoy a farm-fresh breakfast before departing on your day's adventure.
Step4
Cycle with the giraffes at Mashatu Game Reserve, which has become known for its unique mountain biking tours. A luxury lodge and camping facilities are located on the reserve.
Step5
Sleep with the elephants. Accommodations ranging from campsites to eco-lodges dot the roads near national parks and game reserves. Lodges and campsites within the reserves are also available, but can be hard to reach in some areas.
Learn Local Information
Step1
Take a safari. Most trips to Botswana will include one or several safaris. Guided tours will include transportation and accommodations.
Step2
Visit the capital city of Gabarone, where history museums tell the story of Botswana.
Step3
Feel safe in peaceful Botswana. Despite many of the citizens living below the poverty line and the rapid spread of HIV, the country had remained free of war and civil unrest.
Comments
matchgirl said
on 12/6/2006 When my daughter graduated from college, she asked if we could take a safari and we went to Chobe Game Park in Botswana. My husband initially thought it would be "like visiting the zoo" but now thinks that it was the BEST vacation we have ever taken. (We went back for a second time!) The guides were outstanding! And seeing the African wildlife up close was AMAZING! We woke early for the first trek of the day because animals are on the move early. We traveled in open jeep like vehicles and had good views of the game. What really amazed was the keen eyesight of the native tracker. He would say "there are giraffes at 2 o'clock" and we would raise the binoculars in vain and then 2-3 minutes later we would see them. We went to the Chobe river late in the afternoon to observe the elephants crossing back from the other side. And we watched as a pride of three lionesses reunited with their cubs. The tracker had noticed that the tall grass had been bent slightly, earlier in the day and predicted that as it neared dusk, we would find them. And we did! One realizes that the rangers are doing their jobs, checking on the game and the guests are along for the ride, rather than "taking tourists" out to see the game.
Be sure to take a camera with a telephoto lens, or a video camera, lots of film (it can be very expensive to buy in Africa) and a good pair of binoculars.
I highly recommend a safari in Botswana!