Botswana trip | Ultimate Botswana and Victoria Falls 4x4 adventure

Johannesburg is South Africa’s largest city. It is also the economic heart of South Africa, home to all the major financial and industrial companies. Johannesburg was founded following the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand in 1886. At that time, the Witwatersrand lay within the borders of the South African Republic, of which Paul Kruger was president. The Republic had been established in consultation with the British government, which was administering the Cape Province at the time. Following the discovery of gold, control of the region became a matter of dispute.
Johannesburg’s city centre is colourful, lively and exotic, with its diverse cultural offerings. Of particular interest is the ‘Carlton Centre’ on Commissaris Street. This skyscraper was built in the 1970s, stands 220 metres tall and remains the tallest building in Africa. On the top floor is a viewing platform called ‘The Best of Africa’. From a height of 202 metres, you can enjoy an impressive view over Johannesburg.
Outside the city centre, in the Fourways district, you’ll find the new theme park “Monte Casino”, whilst “Gold Reef City” is situated in the south of the city. Here, you can learn about the history of gold mining in an entertaining way. The new Apartheid Museum is also well worth a visit. And if you’re looking for the best shops in the country, head to Mandela Square in Sandton.

Gauteng is South Africa’s smallest province, but it is the commercial and administrative heart of the country and indeed of the whole of southern Africa.
The name Gauteng is the Sotho name for ‘Place of Gold’. In fact, a huge gold vein was discovered in this province in 1886, and gold quickly became the foundation of the national economy. During mining operations, further riches were unearthed, such as diamonds and coal.
But Gauteng is more than just cities, money and politics. For example, the Sterkfontein Caves were designated a World Heritage Site after bones dating back no less than 3.5 million years were found there. This site is also known as the Cradle of Humankind.

One of the most culturally and geographically diverse places on earth, South Africa, affectionately known to locals as the 'Rainbow Nation', has 11 official languages, and its people are influenced by a fascinating mix of cultures. Discover Cape Town's gourmet restaurants, impressive art scene, vibrant nightlife and beautiful beaches. Enjoy a local braai (barbecue) in the community of Soweto, browse the bustling Indian markets in Durban, or taste some of the world's best wines at the numerous wine estates scattered across the Cape Winelands. Some historical attractions to explore include the Zululand battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal, the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, and Robben Island, just off the coast of Cape Town. Above all, the untamed wilderness is amazing: wildlife roams freely across huge unfenced game reserves such as the world-famous Kruger National Park.

Zimbabwe is a country in Africa and borders Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa and Botswana. Its area is 390,580 square kilometres, making it 9.4 times the size of the Netherlands. The country is known for its pristine nature and wildlife parks. The landscape is hilly and has some mountainous areas. Major attractions are therefore Lake Kariba, the Zambezi River and the Victoria Falls.

The Chobe River forms the northern border of the eponymous Chobe National Park. This park is known for its reliable and diverse wildlife experience. Both by land and water, there are wonderful game tours to be had. This part of Chobe National Park is best known for its large populations of elephants and hippos. But the water attracts a wide variety of wildlife, including large herds of buffalo and the predators that hunt them in turn (lion, leopard).

Chobe National Park is located in the far northeast of Botswana, bordering the north side of the mighty Chobe River. It is the second largest national park in Botswana with four distinct ecosystems: the Savuti Channel in the west; the Linyanti Swamps in the northwest; the arid hinterland in between and Serondela in the far northeast with fertile plains and dense forests. This diversity of habitats provides a haven for an amazing array of African wildlife. Animals you can spot in the wild here include: lions, leopards, wild dogs, impala, waterbuck, zebra and wildebeest. The parks is also known for its stunning riverboat safaris, making Chobe a prime destination for any keen safari enthusiast.

Despite recent and surprisingly rapid modernisation, Botswana's cities offer few tourist attractions. However, this is more than made up for in the surrounding desert areas of outstanding, natural beauty. The main attraction is undoubtedly the vast red expanse of the Kalahari Desert and its remarkably beautiful Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta in the world that provides a haven for an abundance of African wildlife. Other highlights include the impressive Makgadikgadi salt pans with massive zebra migrations during the flood season; the Savuti plains where large packs of lions live; and the Tsodilo Hills, where 4,500 petroglyphs form an extraordinary story of human habitation over many millennia.

The village of Khwai is located on the banks of the Khwai River, near the famous Okavango Swamp, in north-western Botswana. The village surrounds the beautiful Moremi Game Reserve, known for its incredible array of wildlife. It serves as the gateway to the reserve, just outside Moremi's northern gateway. Khwai is an excellent base from which to explore the spectacularly scenic surroundings. It is home to some of Botswana's most beautiful landscapes with vast grass plains, a patchwork of lagoons, shallow pans and lush forests. Visitors can look forward to spotting a fantastic variety of wildlife, learning about the San community and enjoying a wide selection of ecotourism activities. Frequently spotted wild animals include: lion, leopard, elephant, cheetah, hippo, wild dog and buffalo.

In 1963, Chief Moremi III declared this 4,871 km² area a game reserve. Thanks to his foresight, we now have one of the world’s most famous game reserves. The reserve’s biodiversity is exceptionally rich. The unspoilt wilderness comprises lakes, marshes, acacia forests and savannah.
This diversity supports an incredibly wide range of wildlife, ranging from large herds of buffalo, wildebeest and zebras, to the rare sitatunga and lechwe antelopes, as well as lions, cheetahs and packs of wild dogs in the open grasslands. The birdlife is extremely rich and includes the majority of the 550 bird species featured on Botswana’s national bird list. A range of luxury lodges within the reserve offer visitors the perfect base from which to experience this paradise.

Situated in the heart of the largest sand plain on Earth, the Okavango Delta is one of Africa’s most astonishing and complex environments, home to a vast variety of wildlife. Unique as one of the world’s few inland deltas, its calm waters and lush native forests provide a safe haven for countless birds and other wildlife. The Okavango Delta offers a range of activities for visitors, including safaris, birdwatching and fishing. You can experience this magical world of islands and waterways from land, from the water or from the air.
Highlights include the elusive sitatunga antelopes that have found refuge in this unspoilt wetland ecosystem, whilst birds such as the African fish eagle, the furred fish owl and many others put on a spectacular display.

Maun is the starting point for most expeditions in the Okavango Delta and, as a result, has developed into a bustling metropolis regarded as the tourist capital of Botswana.
Since Maun was founded in 1915 as the tribal capital of the Batawana people, it has had a reputation as a ‘Wild West’-style town. However, this changed with the growth of the tourism industry and the completion of a tarmac road to Nata in the early 1990s. Maun has developed rapidly and lost much of its old-town character. It is now home to around 30,000 people.
The name Maun is derived from the San word ‘maung’, which means ‘the place of short reeds’.

The Khwai area of the Okavango lies along the northern border of the Moremi Game Reserve. This is an oneness area allowing animals to move freely between the forests and wetlands. The area is a private concession allowing you to avail of some benefits such as walking safaris and night game drives.

At the heart of Botswana’s Chobe National Park lies a dynamic wilderness: a vast expanse of savannah dotted with rock formations that guard a remnant marsh and the dry channel that was once its lifeline. This is Savute, where the mysterious wet and dry cycles shape the landscape and determine the nature of its wild inhabitants. At present, it is dry, and wild dogs hunt in the channel where crocodiles swam just twenty years ago.
The Gubatsa Hills provide shelter for leopards and klipspringers, and feature rock paintings depicting wildlife observed by early humans. During the dry winter months, safaris focus on Savute’s resident bull elephants, antelopes and lion prides, as well as black-backed jackals, foxes, tsessebes and kudus, which are found in abundance.
The summer rains provide a feast for lions, hyenas and cheetahs as thousands of migrating zebras and wildebeest gather in a chaotic pattern on the marsh. Herds of Cape buffalo arrive and migratory birds swell Savute’s 300 resident species, thrilling birdwatchers with their spectacular antics.

Travellers unfortunate enough to overlook Chobe Forest Reserve on the transit route between Kasane and the Ngoma border post forfeit an opportunity to observe astonishing sights on this peaceful enclave tucked on the western edge of the eminent Chobe National Park. At Barangwe Pan, hordes of elephant, buffalo, eland, kudu, sable, roan, impala, warthog, lion, leopard, wild dog and various bird species flock to quench their thirst at the waterhole. While self-driving is possible, expert guides lead you on day and night safaris through the wilderness. Soak in the unspoiled territory with a picnic or enjoy a scenic boat cruise on the beautiful Chobe River. For the culturally curious, nearby Kachikau Village, one of the oldest villages in this area, boasts a beautiful basket shop and other highlights.