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Africa 09Pg78
21/7/08
15:06
Page 78
Botswana
Botswana has long been heralded as the jewel in Africa's crown and is nature at its very best. It is also the land of truly memorable sunsets. Vast expanses of untamed wilderness teeming with wildlife create what is perhaps the ultimate safari destination, with the shimmering beauty of the Okavango Delta and neighbouring Chobe National Park being high on most visitors' wishlists. Great herds of elephant and antelope roam freely between the red sands of the Kalahari, home to the San Bushmen, and the grand channels of the Okavango Delta, Linyanti and Chobe Rivers. Botswana's abundance of predators adds to the intensity of the gameviewing experience.
ANGOLA
Kasane
Botswana Travel Tips
Victoria Falls Livingstone
Chobe National Park Moremi Game Reserve
Hwange National Park
Okavango Delta
ZIMBABWE
Maun
NAMIBIA BOTSWANA
* Time GMT + 2 * Flying Time from UK Approx. 10 hours * Language English * Currency Botswana Pula (BWP). £1 = 9.80 BWP approx * Visa Requirements Not required by British Citizens holding a British or EU passport and travelling on holiday to Botswana. Passports must be valid for 6 months. * Tourist Office Botswana Tourism, Old Boundary House, London Road, Berkshire, SL5 0DJ More useful information can be found on pages 112/3
Mashatu Game Reserve
Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Gaborone
Chobe The ease of access from both Livingstone and Victoria Falls means that Chobe is ideally located for most visitors. It is also the northern gateway via Kasane Airport, to the Okavango Delta and Savute. Chobe can either be enjoyed as the focus of your visit or a place to relax before or after the Delta. The Chobe River borders the park, providing a unique experience of leisurely coasting close to the banks, often populated by huge herds of elephants, antelope and a myriad of different birds. This is the place to get up-close and watch elephants cavorting in the river channels. Fishing in the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers is superb and both are known for their tiger fish.
Savute In the southern stretch of the Chobe National Park lies Savute; a dry parched terrain famed for its multitude of animals. Dry season gameviewing, from April to October, reveals droves of bull elephants bullying each other around half-empty waterholes while thirsty warthog, kudu and impala wait in the skimpy shade. When the rains come, they bring hundreds of birds and a feast for lions and hyenas as thousands of migrating zebra assemble in a chaotic pattern on the marsh. Best months for viewing these migrations are November/December and February/March.
Okavango Delta (Moremi) From its origins in the highlands of Angola, the Okavango River descends to the desert of northern Botswana, where it fans out as the world's largest inland delta. Hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, giraffe, lions and the continent's largest elephant herd find refuge and replenishment in the ebb and flow of fresh water into the Delta. The seasonal floods, during May to September, make this a phenomenon. Here, the floods cover vast areas of savanna and attract herds from the surrounding dry lands. If you want to experience waterbased activities it is important to pick your camp carefully, depending on when you visit. Please see camp descriptions on pages 80-81 for details. It is also wise to combine a couple of camps in order to experience the full potential of the region. The Okavango is at its best between April and October. Kalahari The Kalahari is the epitome of space, tranquillity and ancient ways of life. Discover the traditions and amazing existence of the San Bushmen, Southern Africa's original people. Gain knowledge of this harsh environment through the eyes of these hunter-gatherers who live in harmony with their surrounds.
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