Previously a British Protectorate, Botswana became an independent republic in
1966. It has a population of more than one million, concentrated mainly in the
catchment area of the Limpopo and the eastern part of the country. Botswana has
three diamond mines, and diamonds are the main export. Tourism is very
important, but the remoteness of the terrain makes it difficult for independent,
individual tourists. Wildlife is of vital importance and 17 per cent of the
country has been proclaimed as either National Parks or Game Reserves.
The
Okavango Delta is created by the Okavango River, the third largest in
Southern Africa, spreading out on reaching Botswana. After passing through the
Popa Rapids, the river creates an enormous delta of over 15 000 km˛. This
consists of a network of channels, ox-bow lakes, flood plains and islands. The
main attraction of the Delta is its beauty and solitude. Safaris centre on
fishing, walking and bird-watching or gliding through the clear water on a
“mokoro” (wooden dug-out).
Chobe is one of
the richest wildlife areas in Africa. There is an abundance of game, in
particular great herds of buffalo and elephant. Boating can be undertaken on
the Chobe River, which offers an ideal opportunity for bird-watching and viewing
game. The
Chobe National Park has one of the largest elephant populations in
Africa, estimated at over 35 000 (more than five times the entire elephant
population of South Africa).
Linyanti lies in the furthest corner of
the Chobe National Park. Secluded and uncrowded, this short trip of
swampy river frontage is reminiscent of the Okavango's permanent
waterways with papyrus-lined lagoons, reed-beds and a towering canopy of
trees. The Linyanti Swamp covers an area of almost 900 km˛, to which
follows the river and fills the area between the converging courses of
the Kwando and Linyanti rivers.
The
Moremi Wildlife Reserve lies entirely on tribally owned land, which was set
aside in 1962 to be protected for future generations. Extended in 1970, the
reserve now covers most of the north-eastern and central Okavango Delta
and supports a vast range of animals, including cheetah and wild dog, and an
abundance of bird life. Moremi includes both the Delta and the desert. There
are a number of public camp sites within the reserve. Lodges offer game-drives
and boating on the Okavango waterways.
Savuti is located at the southern end of the enormous Chobe National Park. The
expanses of uninhabited land contain an abundance of wildlife, particularly
predators, including lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, jackal and wild dog. Nearly
300 species of birds have been recorded in the Savuti during the summer season.
Accommodation is offered in private game lodges and tented camps.
Makgadikgadi Pans
was in
pre-historic times, the largest inland sea in Africa - 80,000 km˛ in extent, and up to 30 metres deep. Now, in the wet
season, this vast area of salt pans interspersed with low-lying grass islands is
the destination of herds of migrating Zebra. It has an unspoilt beauty unlike
that of any other part of Botswana.
The
Kalahari Desert is a semi-desert area comprising almost two-thirds of Botswana.
Best known as the home of the Bushmen or San people, the area has low
vegetation, bare pans and vast open spaces. There are three game reserves in the
Kalahari: Khutse Game
Reserve - opened in
1971 on Bakwena tribal land and covering an area of 2,500
km˛. The extensive mineralised pan system within Khutse provides an important habitat for wildlife
attracting herbivores to graze on the grasses of the pans, drink the mineralised
water in the rainy season and to lick salt in the dry season;
Central Kalahari Game Reserve
- the second largest game reserve measuring 52,800
km˛. Situated right
in the middle of Botswana , this reserve is characterised by vast open plains,
saltpans and ancient riverbeds. Varying from sand dunes with many species of
trees and shrubs in the north, to flat bushveld in the central area, the reserve
is more heavily wooded in the south with mophane forests; and
the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
-
situated in the south-western area of Botswana. This is a dry area with high
sand dunes and deep fossil river beds. The park is known for its huge herds of
springbok, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest and also the various predators, lion,
cheetah, hyena and jackal.
Tuli Block is about 350 km long, stretching from the corner where the Shashe and
the Limpopo Rivers meet in the east, right down to the Notwane River north of
Olifants Drift in the South West. The Tuli Block consists mainly of privately
owned farms, but the eastern section has been
declared a game reserve, known as the Northern Tuli Game Reserve.
Gaborone
is Botswana's capital. Dating back to 1887 when a village was built on the
banks of the Ngotwane River, Gaborone now has a population in excess of 150
000. Nearby places of interest include the Kolobeng Ruins, Oodi Weavers - 18 km
north of Gaborone, Pelegano Village Industries in the Gabane Village, the
Mokolodi Crafts - 15 km south of Gaborone on the Lotatse Road, and the
Manyelanong Sanctuary.
Francistown, dating back to the gold rush in 1860, is
the second largest town after Gaborone. It is well positioned and is a main
stop-over point to the Okavango, Moremi and Chobe Game Reserves.
Maun is
the gateway to the Okavango Delta and the Moremi Game Reserve. Air Botswana
flies regularly to Maun.
Kasane is a small border town in the northern
area of Botswana, bordering Zimbabwe. The new international Airport is a
gateway for visitors to the Chobe National Park.
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