(1) Chobe National Park: This beautiful National Park contributed to our 1st sighting of wild Lions! (And also the 1st clear sighting of wild Hippos).
(2) Okavango Delta: Though the overall water levels are drastically down due to all the dams in Angola and other regions, it is still a beautiful area.
What I did not like …
Not particularly a fault of Botswana, but the zero degree temperatures in the mornings finally brought me down with Flu while in the Okavango Delta region 🙂
Also, Debit/Credit cards (VISA/MasterCard) which works in other African countries, were not working for me in Botswana. Not sure why.
Location in the World map …
Some interesting tidbits about Botswana …
Timeline: British Rule –> Independence in 1966
Although lightly populated (relative to its vast area), Botswana has prospered since its Independence and is comparatively well off when compared to its neighbors. The Economy relies on Mining (Botswana supplies much of the World’s Diamonds), Cattle Ranching and Tourism. Botswana is heavily reliant on South Africa for Rail, Air, and Sea links. The Okavango Delta in the northwest of the country is a major attraction, the water levels rising and falling annually with the rivers originating in the Angolan highlands. As a country that always struggles with shortage of water, the word for Botswana’s currency unit (one of the strongest currencies in Africa) is the same as that for rain.
Botswana is a land-locked country in Southern Africa.
The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy Savannah in Southern Africa extending for 900,000 square kilometers, covering much of Botswana, as well as parts of Namibia and South Africa.
70% of Botswana is the Kalahari Desert!
Botswana-Zambia border is the World’s shortest border, connected via a bridge.
Botswana is one of the most sparsely-populated countries in the World.
Formerly one of the World’s poorest countries, it has transformed itself into a more “middle-class” country.
Tswana ethnics group comprises 80% of the population.
“Botswana” == “Land of Tswana”.
Botswana got its Independence in 1966.
Largest population of Elephants is in Botswana! (Over 130K).
Botswana has a size similar to France. France has 67M people and Botswana has only 2.6M!
The Makgadikgadi Salt Pan is one of the largest salt pans in the world. Over 10K Sq.Km. Nothing in sight for kilometers and kilometers.
The Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta in the World, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Botswana is one of the largest Diamond producers in the World.
Botswana is Africa’s oldest continuous Democracy
My 1st impressions:
Cows, cows and more cows … 🙂 There are highway signs asking motorists to look out for Cows.
Did not see any stray dogs in South Africa and Namibia. But have seen a few here.
Largest City: Gaborone
Capital: Gaborone
Population: 2.6 Million
Language: English
GDP: 44 Billion USD
Ethnicity: Tswana (80%)
Religion: Christianity (80%)
Currency: Botswanan Pula (BWP). 1BWP == 6.13 INR.
National Animal: Zebra (Should it not have been the Elephant!? 🙂 )
My Experiences
Well-named Beer … 🙂 “Okavango”Botswana Flag … A simple flag. Two more things: (1) At this time of the year, did not notice much (Hardly any, actually) mosquitos in South Africa and Namibia. But Botswana promises to be different. Started using repellents 🙂 (2) Botswana is definitely not as strict against Plastic as parts of South Africa and the whole of Namibia. Hardly saw any plastic garbage in those countries (Except in Langa Township of Cape Town). But definitely, not the case here in Botswana 🙁The 4-wheel drive in the early morning to the canoe pickup point … It was really chilly!The fiberglass Canoes we used in the Okavango Delta. Earlier wood used to be used for these Canoes. Preserving wood nowadays. Okavango Delta, Botswana.Bought these 2 nice Wicker items from the local Tswana ladies … Okavango Delta, Botswana.Termite mounds are formed near Eleohant dung. It is typically a 15yr life for a Termite King/Queen. Each mound or nest takes years to build! Lasts 30+ years. These Termite mounds are like underground cities. Okavango Delta, Botswana.Us walking in a single file … During the Jungle Walks. Okavango Delta, Botswana.A male Hippo which lost a battle with a fellow Hippo and died … A week old carcass. Our Tswana guide told us that he did see a deeply injured Hippo a few days back. Okavango Delta, Botswana.Aadvaark hole … With all the termites around, there is a lot of food! Okavango Delta, Botswana.Rules and Regulations being explained by the Camp Manager … No leaving the camp on your own. Keeping the tents fully closed/zippered (To prevent creepy things from entering!). Etc. Okavango Delta, Botswana.Sunset … Okavango Delta, Botswana.Footprints found by “George of the Jungle” 😁 Lion, Elephant & African Buffalo … A day old, as per the Tswana Guide. Okavango Delta, Botswana.The staff at the Camp regaling us with Tswana songs at the campfire, after dinner. Okavango Delta, Botswana.“Fall/Autumn Colors” of Botswana 🤭 … 🏃♂️🏃♂️🏃♂️The 1.5hr Canoe ride to the Okavango Delta Camp in the Jungle … The water is quite shallow, maybe 2-3 feet in depth. Okavango Delta, Botswana.Our Okavango Delta Camp had these posters from Africa-based movies 🙂 Maun, Botswana.“Okavango” seems a major beer company here … Nice beer! Maun, Botswana.Scenery of the Okavango Delta, Botswana. The water levels are not what it used to be, before the Angolan dams came into being.Giraffe Family … Notice the 2 small babies. Okavango Delta, Botswana.Kids from a nearby Village … They seemed very happy to see foreigners … 🙂 Okavango Delta, Botswana.The 4-seater (Pilot and 3 passengers) helicopter we used for the “Scenic Flight” over Okavango Delta, Botswana.Okavango Delta, Botswana. Largest Inland Delta in the World. UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the helicopter ride. Angolan rivers feed this huge Delta in the Kalahari Desert regions of Botswana, from which there is no outflow into the Sea, as is typical. We had to be taken in 4x4s for 2.5 hours, followed by 1.5 hours of Canoeing just to reach our Camp! There were Sunrise, Noon, Afternoon and Sunset walks. Strict rules are enforced as the region is really Wild. Elephants, Hippos, Black Mambas, Giraffes, Crocodiles, Buffaloes, Lions Etc. all roam freely. As many local forest security staff was there as there were cooks and porters 😳 Never seen wild Hippos so close before. Apparently, like with an Elephant, you cannot outrun a Hippo either! Alas, dams in Angola are cutting off the water that flows into the Delta. How many more years the region can thrive … Time will tell.Elephants of Okavango Delta, Botswana. Botswana has the largest number of Wild Elephants. The one on the bottom-right came charging at our 4×4 and then as suddenly, stopped (When it saw me? 💪🤭) … It was part of a group (I.e. Not a Loner) and there were no babies around 🤔Hippos everywhere … Okavango Delta, Botswana.Botswanan Pula (BWP). One of the stronger currencies in Africa. 1 BWP == 6.15 INR.An old Baobab tree … Nata, Botswana.Baobab tree’s fruit … It has a Citrusy flavor. Nata, Botswana.I liked this lighted display … If there is one word that jumps to the mind in Botswana, it is “Elephant” 🙂 Elephant Sands Lodge, Botswana.The Bar area of the Elephant Sands Lodge, Nata, Botswana.Watering Hole … Right within the Elephant Sands Lodge! Elephants keep walking back and forth to the Watering Hole.Campfire … Elephant Sands Lodge, Nata, Botswana. We swapped funny travel stories 🙂Elephant Sands Lodge, Nata, Botswana. Elephants literally roam freely, between the chalets! At around 7pm yesterday, I was walking towards the Reception/Bar area and another group member was walking towards me (Chalets side). Suddenly, a huge black shadow of a massive male Elephant crosses between us, not 10m from us 😳, going to the artificial Watering Hole of the Lodge 😱 What a scare that was … Through the night, one could hear the sounds of the Elephants. Right now, 6am, I am at the Bar area (for the WiFi) and there are 2 Elephants right in front, having a drink.How close were we to the Elephants? Nata, Botswana.The Beer … 🙂 Elephants drink Water. “George of the Jungle” drink Beer (Alas, they gave a Namibian beer!). Nata, Botswana.Having a drink (I had Beer) watching the Elephants at Sunset … Nata, Botswana.Hmmmm … A Lion was here! Alas, could not see one. Nata, Botswana.Sunset in the Nata region, Botswana.Nata, Botswana. There is a Botswana Police checkpoint before entering the protected area. There was Elephant dung all over the region, a testament to how many Elephants were around. Never seen so many Elephants, that too at such high frequency! I think we saw 100K of the 120K total Elephants Botswana has 😉 There were many Watering Holes, most of them natural ones, but I noticed that most of them hardly had any water. When my Parents lived in the Wayanad District of Kerala, while visiting them from Bengaluru side, seeing Wild Elephants was quite common in the Bandipur, Mudumalai and Kerala Wild Reserve region. But nothing like this. Hundreds and hundreds of Elephants! 😳Morning 06:13am Coffee View 😁Impalas … Chobe National Park, Botswana.Giraffes … With the Chobe River in the background. I noticed that the Giraffes here seemed way bigger than the ones in Etosha National Park, Okavango Delta Etc. Chobe National Park, Botswana.Hippos munching away … Man, they eat a lot! Chobe National Park, Botswana.Chobe National Park, Botswana. At 11500 Sq.Km., though not as big as some of the other parks in this part of Africa, Chobe did give a nice buffet, including the elusive Lions 👍 Giraffe. Lion. Hippopotamus. Elephant. African Buffalo. Kudu. There was this pride of Lions (2 Females, 1 Male, 3 Cubs) chilling beside the Chobe River. Then, after 20min or so, the adults got up and went into the bush towards some Impalas …A huge selection of “Okavango” Beer …Tried this Tamarind drink … That is unique!For our last night of cooked dinner, Moyenda made a feast 🙂
The 4-Nation Junction! Namibia/Botswana/Zambia/Zimbabwe … About to cross from Botswana to Zambia 🙂Sunset in Chobe National Park …
