Joanna James
Located in Southern Africa, the nation of Botswana offers much to experience for intrepid travellers exploring this diverse land. One of the best destinations for wildlife safaris in Africa, the country's key attractions include game reserves or sanctuaries like those listed below.
One of the most picturesque reserves you are bound to come across, the Moremi Game Reserve features diverse landscapes to explore from wetlands and acacia forests to lagoons and mopane woodland. Amongst the waterways in this area, you will find two islands namely Mopane Tongue and Chief's Island. On a visit here you have the chance of seeing buffaloes, elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, hyena, lions, leopards, wildebeests, zebras and more. The Moremi Game Reserve is also home to varied species of birds including the malachite kingfisher, African fish eagle and green-winged pytilia.
A vast site offering much to see, the Chobe National Park is another one of the key spots for game drives in Botswana. The Savuti and Chobe rivers flow through the park which features grasslands, marshlands and savannahs amongst the various landscapes which are home to equally diverse wildlife. A highlight is definitely the thousands of elephants that are to be found here which are large though have relatively small tusks. There is also a thriving buffalo population at the Chobe National Park where one may spot other species such as the wildebeest, lion, zebra, waterbuck, giraffe and if you're lucky, the leopard and cheetah too.
The Mokolodi Nature Reserve is an ideal place for a wildlife adventure for those staying at Gaborone hotels in Botswana; the country's capital makes an ideal base and properties here including the one belonging to Avani Hotels & Resorts are within a 30-minute drive away. There is much to spot on a game drive be it elephants, warthogs, hippos, baboons, rhinos, jackals or a few leopards and cheetahs too. Amongst the highlights at the Mokolodi Nature Reserve is the chance to visit the Reptile Park and Sanctuary, embark on a night drive and enjoy activities such as rhino and giraffe tracking.
In northern Botswana you will find what is sometimes referred to as "the jewel of the Kalahari"; the stunning Okavango Delta is a massive expanse of water which can be explored by boat, in particular, a traditional wooden canoe known as the "mokoro". Apart from boats, one can also make use of a 4x4 vehicle to explore this area. On your journeys, you have a chance to witness diverse wildlife be it elephants, crocodiles, hippos, leopards, giraffes, lions, wildebeests or fish eagles.
The second-largest game reserve on the planet, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve encompasses a sizable part of central Botswana. Those exploring the reserve can look forward to spotting the Oryx, springboks, giraffes, wildebeests, red hartebeests, kudus, cheetahs and black-maned lions. When it comes to birds, species such as the kori bustard, ostrich and cape turtle dove can be seen, while non-animal highlights here include fossilised river valleys such as the Passarge Valley and Deception Valley.
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