Botswana's diverse cuisine is reflected in safari food, including traditional dishes like seswaa and morogo with meat and veggies. Fresh, flavorful ingredients are used, with local fruits and vegetables incorporated daily. Food allergies or dietary concerns can be accommodated with notice. Multi-course meals showcase local flavors and techniques, such as stews, curries, and grilled meats and veggies. Satisfy your appetite after wildlife viewing with delicious meals in Botswana.
Botswana offers diverse transportation options based on location and purpose. Urban transportation includes buses, taxis, and mini-buses while trains offer scheduled routes. Private vehicles are more prevalent in rural areas. For those looking for adventure, road, air, and boat transportation can be used, especially in the Okavango Delta region. During tours, open air 4x4 vehicles with all-round visibility are common. However, there may be some exceptions due to certain environmental conditions, such as dust and heat, where closed vehicles with viewing hatches are used in temperate climates.
Green Season - ***Save by travelling to Botswana in the green season!***
MONTHS: January, February, March & December
Botswana typically has empty blue skies and boasts an enviable 300 days of dazzling sunshine a year. Around December, life-giving summer rains begin to fall, marking the start of the green season. The bulk of rain falls over January and February and the landscape stays beautifully lush and green until about April. If you want to experience all the drama of Botswana's legendary game viewing without the crowds, consider a safari between December and March. You will not only pay lower rates, but the lower visitor numbers should mean plenty of green season surprises. Although it is the warmest and wettest season, Botswana’s beauty and the light conditions during this time of year, offer excellent phographic opportunities.
Shoulder Season - ***Most lodges offer discounted rates***
MONTHS: April, May, June & November
It takes several months after the rainy season has started for the Delta to get filled. Most of the water travels down from the Angolan highlands. Once the rains stop between April and May, the floodplains fill up. It is a time of transition - temperatures start to tumble and migratory birds move on. In certain places the game starts to congregate in areas where they know there will be water. The scenario in early November is the opposite. Temperatures reach their peak and everything is at its driest. Large herds are still seen as they wait for the rains to arrive. The shoulder months are times of transition, offering glimpses of green and high season.
High season - ***High rates during this period, but excellent game viewing***
MONTHS: July, August, September & October
This is Botswana’s winter and it is a dry, cool period. Known as “high water month”, the newly fallen rain finds its way down through the labyrinth of channels and lagoons and fills the Delta to its maximum. In the game congregate areas, vegetation is either grazed or dies back, offering great game sightings. This includes seeing some of the main predators and even the wild dog that den during the dry season months.
This mix of seasons makes Botswana a truly year-round destination.
Tap water is generally safe to drink throughout southern Africa. However, bottled and filtered water is readily available. Water will be provided in the safari vehicle and at camp.
Cellular phone coverage and internet connection is readily available in towns and cities. The majority of wilderness locations and lodges do not have phone coverage. Most lodges and camps offer limited Wi-Fi connectivity. Please check with us to find out whether you will have Wi-Fi access or roaming services at the camps or lodges you book.
Chobe National Park, one of Botswana’s shining jewels, is known for its abundant wildlife concentrations. Apart from rhino, Chobe National Park has the four other big five animals while its rich birdlife amounts to over 450 bird species. We have listed some of the well-known wildlife species below.
Animals
Birds
The Okavango Delta is lush and filled with remarkable wildlife. It has around 1500 plant species, 530 bird species, 160 mammal species, and 155 reptile species.
Animals
Birds
The local currency in Botswana is Pula. In addition, SA rand, US dollars and Euros are widely accepted at lodges and hotels throughout the country. All credit cards are accepted at hotels.
Botswana is a malaria risk area - please consult your physician/travel clinic before you travel for advice on precautions against malaria. You do NOT need a yellow fever vaccination to enter Botswana, unless you are travelling through an endemic country (or been in transit for 12 hours or more in such a country). You will then be required to present a yellow fever vaccination certificate. We recommend that you check the latest health information before departure.
