Destination : Botswana
Botswana is a landlocked country surrounded by Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe – with a population of just over two million people. Slightly larger than France, the landmass covers 581 730 square kilometres, most of which is desert. The northern regions however, form a striking contrast with the dry Kalahari, where the stunning wetlands of the world-famous Okavango Delta and the diverse habitats of the Chobe and Linyanti add to the wealth of this wonderfully diverse country. The capital city is Gaborone while Maun and Kasane are the safari “hubs”.
Photo credit: Wildneress Safaris / Dana Allen
Okavango Delta
Little Vumbura
Little Vumbura is a glorious little tented camp nestled in an ancient Okavango Delta forest, not far from its sister (and larger) camp – Vumbura Plains Camp. As it is situated north of Mombo in a private reserve, and borders the Moremi Game Reserve, it offers an array of activities on either land or water. This area can only be accessed by aircraft, and if the water levels are high in winter, a mokoro / boat will transfer guests to the camp.
Little Vumbura (and Vumbura Plains) are part of a community participation project that brings the benefits of eco-tourism to the communities that live in around the Okavango Delta, thereby bringing them to the fore of mainstream tourism.
Other Suggestions
*Kalahari Game Reserve
Shinde
Duba
**Chobe National Park
***Makgadikgadi Pan
*Kalahari Game Reserve
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the ultimate in ‘remote’ safari destinations. It covers over 50,000km², most of which is inaccessible. It was, until very recently, closed to the public, although there have always been small groups of Bushmen living in the reserve. Even now, this region is seen by only a handful of visitors every year. The best-known account of the area was the haunting book, Cry of the Kalahari, written by American biologists Mark and Delia Owens about their research in Deception Valley.
© Wilderness Safaris: Mike Myers
**Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park, in northern Botswana, has one of the largest concentrations of game in Africa. By size, it is the third largest park of the country, after the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and the Gemsbok National Park, and is the most diverse. It is also the country’s first national park.
***Makgadikgadi Pan
The Makgadikgadi Pan, a salt pan situated in the middle of the dry savanna of north-eastern Botswana, is one of the largest salt flats in the world. The pan is all that remains of the formerly enormous Lake Makgadikgadi, which once covered an area larger than Switzerland, but dried up several thousand years ago.
© Photograph supplied by UASC: Quad bike to Kubu Island
