Grazing elephants on the banks of the Okavango Delta, motionless crocodiles with open mouths on sandbanks, hippos sheltering from the sun in the water and flapping their ears. Welcome to one of the wildest and most spectacular places on earth: Botswana.
In this article, we introduce you to three pristine regions of this breathtaking country: the Okavango Delta, the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and Linyanti. Visitors will rarely encounter their own kind, instead they can expect sustainable individual tourism with high-quality and lovingly managed lodges.
The Okavango Delta is probably the epitome of African wilderness. With a network of river arms, lakes, floodplains and a marshland landscape, it forms a lush natural paradise for animals and plants. At full water level, it is the largest inland delta in the world with an area of over 20,000 square kilometers and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014.
The high density of animals and over 1,300 plant species in the wetlands make the Okavango Delta a Garden of Eden. For visitors, this means breathtaking and unforgettable encounters with huge herds of elephants, prides of lions dozing off, grazing buffaloes and zebras as well as the rare African wild dogs. Crocodiles and hippos bask on the banks. The air is filled with the twittering of birds and sounds that are etched in the memory as the sound of Africa.
Jao Camp is located in the heart of the Okavango Delta on a remote island. When the water level is high, the camp can only be reached by boat. Visitors are guests in the habitat of huge herds of antelope, grunting hippos and imposing elephants. The day begins and ends in the wild nowhere of Botswana and is peppered with safaris, bush walks and trips in the traditional mokoro, the dugout canoe.
Nevertheless, guests do not have to do without any amenities. Jao Camp offers luxury at the highest level and impresses with striking design elements that create a connection between man and nature.
They are as unique as they are rare: the Makgadikgadi salt pans. Alongside the Uyuni Salt Desert in Bolivia and the Great Salt Desert in Utah, it is one of the three largest salt pans in the world. There was once a lake here, which dried up several thousand years ago. Today, the region is known for its seemingly endless expanses and ancient baobab trees.
Only a few animal species are adapted to the hot climate during the dry season. However, meerkats, oryx antelopes and black-backed hyenas bring the salt desert to life. In the rainy season, however, the Makgadikgadi salt pans turn into lakes and with them the surrounding area into fertile land. They are an important component for migrating animals in search of food, such as wildebeest and zebras, which are followed on lithe paws by hungry big cats.
In the eternal cycle of nature, the animals move on to other food sources, such as the Okavango Delta, in the next dry season.
For visitors, a stay during the dry season is by no means associated with boredom. Instead of game drives in a jeep, exciting quad biking tours through the desert are on the program. Immerse yourself in the boundless expanse and let the warm wind blow around your nose. During a stopover with the engine switched off, the silence is very loud - and so calming.
The experience in the Makgadikgadi salt pans is even more intense during an overnight stay under the stars. No artificial light disturbs the view, making it particularly clear and bright. Visitors set up camp in the middle of the desert without a tent or mosquito net and make themselves comfortable under the endless canopy of the sky.
The ancient and nature-loving San people live and work in the Makgadikgadi salt pans. A community visit gives guests an authentic insight into their way of life. How do they find water in the desert? What hunting techniques do they use? Visitors will also have a lot of fun repeating some San words and trying out the clicks and clicks of the language.
At Jack's Camp, the style of the 1940s meets the vastness of the Makgadikgadi salt pans. Visitors immerse themselves in desert life without sacrificing comfort. The guest tents offer a generous 270 square meters of space, of which 135 square meters are dedicated to an outdoor deck with pool, outdoor shower and a spectacular view of the salt pans.
San Camp is located on the edge of the Nwetwe pan . The airy white tents are surrounded by desert palms, nothing else. Silence, vastness and wilderness form a trio that makes you forget everyday life. The camp offers a high level of privacy, with only seven high-quality tents available. This means: no crowds of tourists, no overcrowded off-road vehicles. Instead: you, the desert and the nature-loving San people.
Linyanti is located in the far north of Botswana on the border with the Caprivi Strip, Namibia. With its dense papyrus and reed swamps, palm groves, mopane forests and floodplains of the Linyanti River, this fertile and lush area is an Eldorado for wildlife.
Because food and water are plentiful, Linyanti attracts wildlife of all kinds: elephants, lions, hippos, African wild dogs as well as huge herds of buffalo, zebra and wildebeest, to name but a few. There are no fences in the region's private reserves, which means that the animals can roam freely. There are elephant corridors here, for example, where experienced herd leaders have been guiding their herds safely to the water sources for generations.
The DumaTau is located right between two such "elephant highways". Pulse-quickening encounters with the gray giants in the camp are almost part of everyday life. The private terrace is also a real premium spot for watching herds of elephants crossing the river, for example. With a bit of luck, guests can see the animals from just a few meters away, although DumaTau means "lion roar" in Setswana. But don't worry, there are also plenty of elegant cats of prey such as lions and leopards. The camp is located directly on the banks of the river and has a 45-kilometre stretch of the same river, offering excellent opportunities to spot animals of all kinds not only in the camp but also on a game drive.
DumaTau also offers seclusion and privacy. Only eight tented suites, furnished with handmade mosaic tiles, acacia wood and local textiles, create a retreat for families away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
In our opinion, Botswana is an excellent destination for a family vacation. The country enchants with its unspoiled nature, high-quality individual tourism and exclusive safari camps. After South Africa, the "starter country" for family vacations on the African continent, Botswana is ideally suited for families who want to take the next step into the wilderness:
1. tailor-made family safaris
Many camps in Botswana offer private safaris in which only your own family takes part and no other guests. This allows a guide to respond to all individual needs and questions and adapt the safari to the rhythm of young and old.
2. animal observations to amaze
The Okavango Delta and Linyanti are an excellent place to observe lions, elephants, wild dogs and co. due to their fertile and lush nature. Children and parents alike are amazed by encounters that put any documentary in the shade.
3. adventure without excessive demands
Instead of hours of tiring drives, many lodges offer flights. On a fly-in safari, for example, guests fly from lodge to lodge in a small plane. This is a more relaxed way to travel and small children are not overwhelmed.
4. high-quality lodges with a family focus
Many lodges (such as the ones we have mentioned) are fully geared towards the needs of families. Family tents offer extra space, meals are delicious even for young palates, the days can be arranged flexibly and there are often special activities for children and young people.
5. untouched nature and genuine exclusivity
Botswana focuses on sustainable luxury with few guests. Families who want to spend time together in nature far away from mass tourism can completely leave everyday life behind them here.
6. mokoro trips and bush walks
The best way for families to experience the safari experience is on bush walks or a trip in a mokoro. Direct contact with the wilderness heightens all the senses. Many accommodations also offer child-friendly bush walks with tracking and nature studies.
The best time to visit Botswana is during the dry season from May to around the beginning of October. Due to the infrequent rain, the animals gather at the waterholes and can easily be tracked down. Temperatures reach 25 to 35 degrees Celsius.
The rainy season lasts from the end of October to April and is just as worth a visit: the Kalahari blossoms in bright colors and nothing resembles a desert anymore. During this time, animals also give birth to their offspring, which bring much joy and delight to the safari guests.
Botswana is considered one of the safest travel destinations in Africa. The domestic political situation is stable and the crime rate is at a low level.
Air travel within the country is excellent and the infrastructure for small aircraft is outstanding. In the Okavango Delta alone, there are over 30 airstrips from which the lodges can be easily reached. Guests reach their destination without nerve-wracking car journeys and can marvel at the landscape from the air.
All the camps we work with are prepared for medical emergencies, so visitors don't have to worry about care. However,as the risk of malariain Botswana variesdepending on the region and season, we recommend seeking advice on malaria prophylaxis at an early stage.
For further information on travel safety and health in Botswana, please contact our staff or visit the website of the Federal Foreign Office.
Botswana not only impresses with its extraordinary natural wealth. It is, as the saying goes, the country and its people that characterize a family vacation. The culture of the San, the oldest population group in southern Africa, is particularly fascinating. Their deep-rooted connection to nature is reflected in ancient hunting techniques such as endurance hunting, click sounds in their language, the gathering of nuts, roots and berries and a wealth of knowledge about medicinal plants and wild animals. Encounters with San communities provide respectful insights into their way of life, and we attach great importance to authentic offerings.
Botswana is committed to sustainable tourism and the principle of "high value, low impact". This means regulated visitor numbers and a high level of quality and comfort. Thanks to this strategy, protected areas such as the Okavango Delta or the Magkadikadi salt pans can survive. The habitats of animals and plants are preserved, which attracts visitors and in turn helps the country to promote nature conservation with part of the revenue.
Many lodges and camps work closely with local communities, promote educational projects and rely on ecological construction methods and solar energy. In this way, sustainability is practiced and passed on to guests without pointing a finger. During their stay, children and adults alike learn how important it is to treat nature and culture with respect.
Botswana impressively demonstrates that tourism does not have to be at the expense of nature. Anyone who travels to this beautiful country automatically makes a financial contribution, which flows directly into nature conservation and social projects, among other things. Thanks to the resulting conservation concepts, tourists (and locals) benefit from a rich natural environment that creates unforgettable experiences and provides valuable impetus for a more conscious approach to the environment.