Botswana Travel Guide

Game viewing

It is the north-west corner of the country that is the most sought-after by wildlife enthusiasts because it is here that the Okavango River drains inland from Angola to form the Okavango Delta - the largest inland delta in the world - which provides sustenance to a rich profusion of wildlife. The favored way to travel through the Delta's channels is on a makoro, a dug-out canoe, poled by a local guide, which gives a close-up wildlife viewing experience, but this is best done during the dry season (April to October) when the grass is short. Within the delta itself is the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, a primary game-viewing destination in a pristine wilderness area, while the Chobe National Park, also in the north, is particularly well known for its enormous elephant population.

Fishing

Botswana's Okavango River calmly swirls between shore banks before dissipating into the desert delta. The river's tiger fish won't go so peacefully. Each year in October lowering water levels in the delta push the river's fish into the main channel. Each rung on the food chain benefits from the subsequent feeding frenzy of concentrated prey. Fishermen are the luckiest. Angling for the tiger fish in this season is relatively easy, but hooking and landing the ferocious fish is different. They are some of the toughest fresh water fighters in the world and also what makes Botswana fishing worth a river safari.

Visitors can opt for om-shore camps and lodges that offer daily fishing outings. These vary widely in price but are usually much cheaper compared to fish lodges around the world. Another option is to board a houseboat and spend all day and night on the water. Fishing dries up with the water in January and February when the river is too low.