Botswana Safari Adventure |
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Locals in Maun, Botswana take bets on when the waters will reach them each year.
It's scarcely surprising as this is the gateway town to the Okavango Delta, a vast network of wetlands in the north west of Botswana and its 'jewel in the crown'. The arrival of the floods is crucial to the Okavango Delta's fragile ecosystem and by far the most significant event in the Okavango Delta's annual safari calendar. Their maxim is: the wetter, the better. That's because where the game goes depends entirely on the water levels - and when these are high the game-viewing will be at its best. That's some prospect as the Okavango Delta is widely regarded as one of the last great wilderness areas in Africa, teeming with birds and mammals in the world's largest inland river delta. Fish and birds, hippos and crocodiles, co-exist with herds of zebras and buffaloes, elephants and lions. The Okavango Delta has, quite deliberately, been fashioned to be Africa's most upmarket safari destination, high on wildlife, short on human crowds and with luxury lodges that are decidedly upmarket affairs. Located on lagoons and remote islands, these are usually small and offer the ultimate in personal service. Wildlife pioneers, apparently, like being pampered in luxury. But the Okavango Delta is not Botswana's only treasure. In the far north, where Botswana meets Zambia is Chobe National Park. Chobe National Park has the largest population of elephants in the world. Chobe National Park is also a fisherman's paradise with more than 90 species found in Chobe River. Close to Victoria Falls, it's easy to plan a short trip to Chobe National Park from a Falls base and a great time to do so is during the rainy season, from November, when you can witness the zebra migration south. A Botswana holiday whether it's spending all your time in a luxury lodge or on a Botswana safari visiting the Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta will leave you wanting more. There are no direct flights from the UK into Botswana - visitors get there from Johannesburg or Windhoek in Namibia - and therein may lay the country's best chance of maintaining its wilderness status. A Botswana holiday, in particular a Botswana safari, will not disappoint.
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