Top 7 Things to Do in Botswana

The vast Kalahari paints a dusty picture scattered with unique wildlife and covers approximately 70 percent of Botswana.

The arid terrain is home to a mix of game such as wildebeest, giraffe, and zebra, as well as the iconic Big Five, among them elephant, lion, and buffalo. Exciting sightings include aardvarks, badgers, jackals, and the much-loved meerkat.

From north to south, the Kalahari sprawls out in front of you, a mostly flat canvas painted with small hills, or kopjes, dry riverbeds, and pans. It makes for a spectacular and vastly different safari experience in a country teeming with incredible wildlife.

Best Attractions in the Kalahari: Zebra migration • Meerkat sightings • Walking the Makgadikgadi Pans • Interacting with the San tribes

Viewing wildlife at eye level or sitting atop the silent waters of the Okavango Delta is a unique way to experience an aquatic safari in this prime safari location.

Nestled in a mokoro, a dug-out canoe, your poler will glide you across the channels of the delta, through reeds and past grassy getaways for creatures big and small. Quietly gaze on a buffalo in the distance perhaps or marvel at the tiny reed frog next to you.

A motorized boat ride early in the morning or late afternoon will give you a chance to navigate deep into the delta to uncover favorite spots for a lazy lion, hungry elephant, or cheeky crocodile.

Best Places for an Aquatic Safari: Moremi Wildlife Reserve • Chief’s Island • Xugana Island

Learn more: Okavango Delta Safaris

Located on the banks of the Chobe River and across the border from famous Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, including Chobe in a Botswana itinerary is a must, with an option to explore its diverse safari scene.

The Chobe National Park is well known for its immense number of elephants, while other Big Five such as lion, leopard, and buffalo can also be seen. The terrain is slightly rocky, with forested areas and a few open plains. Guided bush walks are offered, a thrilling way to explore Chobe Game Reserve.

While a safari drive in an open 4x4 vehicle is the best way to experience Chobe, sitting in a tender boat on the Chobe River admiring buffalo, hippo, crocodile, and elephant crossing the water is an absolute treat. Combining land and water safari adventures makes for an all-round Chobe experience.

Best Experiences in Chobe: 4x4 safari drive • Boat safari • Guided safari walks

Experiencing Botswana’s incredible safari landscape while on a game drive or by water in the Okavango Delta is pretty impressive, but viewing it from above is simply stunning.

Aerial views over the Okavango Delta give visitors a bird’s eye view of the “five fingers” of the delta, the intricate channels, and seemingly remote islands dotted with incredible wildlife. Learn the best time to visit Botswana to see wildlife during your safari experience.

Fly over the arid landscape of the Kalahari, spot remote villages near Maun, and challenge yourself to seek out magnificent wildlife in the swamps of the Linyanti. A truly unique perspective of an incredible safari destination.

Best Places for Aerial Tours: Okavango Delta • Makgadikgadi • Chobe River • Maun

Learn more: 7 Reasons You Should Choose Botswana For Your Safari

Botswana’s rich culture is expressed throughout the country, in wildlife destinations and urban hubs, with traditional villages set in remote locations throughout the country.

Combine a safari with a guided visit to tribes embracing rich traditions just outside towns such as Maun or on islands such as Impililia. Walk through daily routines and share in their simple yet dynamic existence.

As part of a safari stay, spending time with locals will educate and enhance your overall Botswana experience.

Best Places to Visit the San People: Impalila Island • Maun •  Savute Marsh, Chobe • Makgadikgadi • Kubu Island • Moremi

Take to the shores of the Chobe River or Okavango panhandle with your fishing pole in hand to catch a tiger fish.

The thrilling experience of catch and release will have you and your guides visiting the best locations for tiger fishing, as you patiently navigate the waters of Botswana’s roaring rivers and quiet channels.

Ranging in size and weight, every catch is a win, and spending time engaged in an adventure quite different from a safari is most memorable.

Best Places for Tiger Fishing: Chobe River • Okavango Panhandle • Zambezi River

The vast salt pans of the Makgadikgadi in the northeast of the Kalahari are some of the most picturesque and at the same time haunting sights to behold in Botswana.

The pans see thousands of zebra migrate and gather at scattered water holes in January, the previous month’s rain quenching the dusty white surface. The dry season sees herds of elephant, wildebeest, and the inquisitive warthog running about.

Safari vehicles will drive visitors far out onto the pans, where there is a chance to get out and walk on this arid landscape, taking in the beauty of the surrounding nothingness.

Best Salt Pans to Visit: Makgadikgadi National Park • Nxai Pan National Park

Learn more: 8 Best Places to Visit in Botswana on Safari

Botswana offers visitors a chance to indulge in incredible safaris, meet local villagers, and behold scenery that takes your breath away. Forested national parks, weaving waterways, and lush marshes contrast the dusty salt pans of the Kalahari, creating a diverse canvas on which to explore.

From land-based adventures in Chobe National Park to soaring above the intriguing Okavango Delta on a fly-in safari, you can gain inspiration for your trip with our Botswana safari tours and vacations sample itineraries. You can also find more ideas on what to do, where to go, and when to visit with our Botswana safari guide.