Whether it is effortlessly gliding through the Okavango Delta on a mokoro or relearning the extensive skills of our ancestors on a walk with the San Bushmen, Botswana is a country that will leave you with a long list of lifetime memories. A harsh and barren desert is a place of extreme natural beauty and contrasts. And a glistening waterway is always a sanctuary to abundant wildlife. So when these two extremes combine, you have a truly spectacular and very unusual setting. This is the Okavango Delta, an inland delta where the water evaporates into the desert long before it ever reaches the sea. But before it dies a sunny death, the crystal-clear waters create a vast magical desert oasis that spreads across the grassy floodplains and forms a myriad of channels and islands that host a magnificent variety of wildlife, including the specially adapted Sitatunga and Lechwe antelopes.
But it is not just the Okavango Delta that is spectacular. The Chobe National Park is considered to be the home of the largest concentration of elephants in the wild. The Savute Channel is an unpredictable and moody place that swings from flooding to running dry, seemingly at random. The Moremi Game Reserve is famous for its brilliant birdlife. The vast Kalahari Desert is where traditional San Bushman live a hunter-gatherer lifestyle amongst the fierce dark-maned Kalahari Lions. All of which creates an unforgettable safari experience in a country blessed with some of Africa’s most beautiful subtropical wilds teeming with wildlife in vast stretches of untouched, unfenced and untamed wilderness.
Best-known for its large herds of African Elephants and located in the north of Botswana is the Chobe region. Chobe has one of the biggest concentrations of game in Africa and a diverse array of wildlife. Including the Savute Channel and the Linyante River, Chobe National Park is a must-see wildlife destination.
Located in northern Botswana and home to woodland habitats and unusual watercourses. In the dry winter month’s you can find the highest number of elephants here. The area includes the Savute Channel and the Linyanti River. Here you will also find the most extraordinary lodges.
Located deep and central in Botswana, the Makgadikgadi Pans are the largest salt pans in the world. There is great game viewing at the Makgadikgadi Pans and see the animals on their way to the water. Little wildlife can exist here during the dry summer but after the rain the animals, including one of Africa’s biggest zebra population, emerge.
One of the most incredible wilderness sanctuaries in Africa is The Okavango Delta. It has over 400 bird species and wildlife, also those species that are not seen very often seen elsewhere. Visiting the Okavango Delta is an experience of a lifetime and has something to offer for all travellers. The Okavango Delta is not only an UNESCO World Heritage Site but also one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.
Botswana is mostly covered by the Kalahari desert: a vast, unspoilt wilderness which is an incredible contrast compared to the rest of Botswana. When it rains in summer, the desert comes to life and creates amazing wildlife viewing. Despite the dryness, the Kalahari supports a range of flora.
There is no perfect time to visit Botswana, wildlife viewing at most camps is good all year round. For slightly higher chances of better game viewing we would recommend travelling from April to October. From December to February there are heavy rains and therefore not necessarily good for game viewing, but this is an excellent time for bird viewing.
The Chobe River forms a natural boundary between Botswana and Namibia and this little stretch of untamed water is a slice of paradise in the African wilds. Although some refer to it as "The Galapagos of Africa", we doubt that Charles Darwin saw many elephants bathing in the waters off Galapagos – a delightful sight that is synonymous with Chobe National Park. Experience the thrill of a unique African safari from the deck of your private suite aboard a luxury 148 ft. boat. Enjoy the tranquillity of the wilderness with all the comforts as you cruise the expanse of the Chobe River. Watch the animals gather at the water’s edge at dusk while you sip on a gin & tonic on the pool deck. Settle down to dine in style, go game viewing from the smaller boat or try to land the mighty tiger fish. You will enjoy water-based wildlife excursions, 4×4 gamedrives in Chobe National Park, experience a boma dinner in the heart of the African wilderness and have the opportunity to visit a local village. Here, you are on safari all day long but in the lap of ultimate comfort and style.
Ever since the first man laid eyes on a bird, he envied his feathered friend’s ability to fly. We as humans have long sought after the freedom and joy our winged friends are blessed with and hot air ballooning is one of the oldest forms of human flight that finally granted us the same access to the sky. Arguably there can be no better way to take in the landscapes and uninterrupted views of the picturesque countryside than by seemingly floating above it in a bubble. An early morning start is required but it is well worth getting out of a warm bed in the dark once you have gently lifted off the ground and are leisurely floating along with the wind as the sun makes its first appearance. As the sun grows in height, the warm rays of first light spread their arms from horizon to horizon and Mother Nature is revealed in all her magnificent beauty, bathed in the gentle glow of the morning sun. All this while animals go about their business completely oblivious to your presence above them.
The Chobe River forms a natural boundary between Botswana and Namibia and this little stretch of untamed water is a slice of paradise in the African wilds. Although some refer to it as “The Galapagos of Africa”, we doubt that Charles Darwin saw many elephants bathing in the waters off Galapagos – a delightful sight that is synonymous with Chobe National Park. Experience the thrill of a unique African safari from the deck of your private suite aboard a luxury 148 ft. boat. Enjoy the tranquillity of the wilderness with all the comforts as you cruise the expanse of the Chobe River. Watch the animals gather at the water’s edge at dusk while you sip on a gin & tonic on the pool deck. Settle down to dine in style, go game viewing from the smaller boat or try to land the mighty tiger fish. You will enjoy water-based wildlife excursions, 4×4 gamedrives in Chobe National Park, experience a boma dinner in the heart of the African wilderness and have the opportunity to visit a local village. Here, you are on safari all day long but in the lap of ultimate comfort and style.
Enjoy an unforgettable safari experience, and in the process also donate to an incredible cause to save the existence of the magnificent rhinos of Southern Africa. Ask us for lodges that contribute a portion of the costs to ‘The Botswana Rhino Projects’ that helps to finance the daily monitoring and anti-poaching against the Rhinos
Fewer than 5 000 black rhino exist in the world and every sighting of one of these prehistoric looking animals is a special experience, even for the guides who have seen the animals many times. Hundreds of South African Game Reserves are protecting the few rhinos still left in their natural habitat and some of them offer a unique amazing Rhino tracking experience on foot and per 4×4. For successful rhino tracking, you’ll need to know the basics of animal behavior as well as the tracks and signs they leave behind. Are you ready for this unforgettable experience?
Have you ever thought about doing a safari from a cruise ship? Yes, at Chobe National Park this is possible. A few houseboats based on the Chobe River offer guests awesome game viewing and fishing experiences. The wildlife along the Chobe River and in the Chobe National Park is incredible, you can expect to see large herds of elephants, hippo, crocodiles, buffalo, many buck species and a plethora of colorful birds.
The African bush is one of those places where you can feel its magic and beauty in your soul. And its alluring pull will tug at your heart even more so at night when it reveals its true power and mystery. What better way to experience the call of the wild than to spend the night in the heart of the African bush in the ultimate bush bedroom? A tree house room is a totally secure and lavish platform out in the open under the African stars, with all the comforts that you can expect from a five star safari lodge. You will be taken to your private and exclusive tree house at sunset, where drinks and a delightful picnic dinner await you. The hours of African dusk can be enjoyed relaxing and absorbing the vastness of the bushveld as it transforms from day to night, before turning in for slumber beneath the vast and incredible night sky. Your will spend the night completely immersed in the sounds of the bush from the roar of a pride of lions to the haunting cry of the hyena, taking it all in from the safety and comfort of your very own private kingdom in the heart of the African bush.
There are only a few places in Southern Africa where you can interact with a colony of Meerkats. One of the best places for this is in the Makgadikgadi in Botswana. Years of research have gone in to this Meerkat project in this place and the experience is really something to like no other. Some of the Meerkats in this area have become so used to people that they have become habituated and relaxed, so much so that they actually sit in people's laps and even climb on top of their heads for an excellent viewing platform.
There is another Meerkat experience in South Africa that is more accessible and is a great option for those travelling along the Garden Route.
A Meerkat experience requires an early morning start, but it is quite an adorable and special event.
With its gentle pace and close proximity to nature, a horse back safari is another excellent option for experiencing the African bush. This unique experience combines the pleasure of riding with the adventure of an African safari, giving you close access to the scenery and wildlife of the African bush. Wild animals are less afraid of the shape and smell of a horse and therefore grant them (and you on top of them) much closer quarters than you would normally achieve in a game vehicle. Imagine riding alongside a herd of giraffe or in the middle of a herd of impala or wildebeest. No matter your level of skill, this option is open to both beginners and advanced riders as you will be assigned a well-trained horse to suit your level. Here, horse and rider become one with the environment and horse-lovers and first timers alike should not miss this unique opportunity.
Something that is quite unique to BelAfrique is that we have our very own fly fishing expert!We have fly-fishing options in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana and Zambia.When it comes to fishing, the Lower Zambezi is home to the tiger fish, nicknamed the “water dog,” whose sharp teeth are matched only by its fighting spirit and reputation as one of the world’s top game fish.We offer you the chance to head out into the river in search of this formidable combatant, operating a strict catch-and-release policy in order to preserve stocks of this incredible fish.Alternatively, you can try your hand at bream fishing, where a limited catch can be brought back to camp and served up with a delicious lemon butter sauce.BelAfrique has found a unique spot near the Lower Zambezi where an exclusive, private bush camp has been purpose-built on an incredibly beautiful island in the river. Imagine your own personal fly fishing experience on your own exclusive private island!This Island Bush Camp can accommodate up to 6 guests in 3 bush rooms, each with en-suite facilities. Pop us an email for more info on this mysterious, exclusive, once in a life time experience…You could also do a 2 to 5 day canoe safari along the Lower Zambezi.Fishing can be combined with other game activities and all equipment is provided, with both conventional tackle and entry level fly rods available. We recommend serious fly fisherman should bring their own tackle. Please contact us for specifications and recommendations.As initially mentioned we have our own fly fishing experts so BelAfrique offers a whole range of possibilities: fly fishing on one of the mountain rivers of the Western Cape, in the valleys of Lesotho, on the banks of the Zambezi and Okavango….you name it we do it.
