Botswana trip | Ultimate Botswana and Victoria Falls 4x4 adventure

Johannesburg is South Africa's largest city. The city is also the economic beating heart of South Africa with all major financial and industrial companies. Johannesburg came into existence after the gold discoveries in the Witwatersrand in 1886. At that time, Witwatersrand lay within the borders of the South African Republic of which Paul Kruger was president. The Republic had come into being in collusion with the English government, which at the time administered the Cape Province. After the discovery of gold, power was contested.
Downtown Johannesburg is colourful, vibrant and exotic with its diverse cultural offerings. Of interest is the "Carlton Centre" on Commissaris Street. Built in the 1970s, this skyscraper is 220 metres high and still the tallest building in Africa. On the top floor is a viewing platform called "The Best of Africa". From 202 metres, you have an impressive view of Johannesburg.
Outside the city centre, in the Fourways district you will find the new amusement park "Monte Casino" and the amusement park "Gold Reef City" is located in the south of the city. Here you will learn, in an entertaining way, about the history of gold mining. In addition, the new Apartheid Museum is very interesting. And those looking for the best shopping in the country should head to Mandela Square in Sandton.

Gauteng is South Africa's smallest province, yet 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 soon became the basis of the national economy. While mining, they stumbled upon even more wealth in the ground, such as diamonds and coal.
But Gauteng is more than just city, money and politics. The Sterkfontein Caves, for instance, were declared a World Heritage Site when bones as much as 3.5 million years old were found here. This place 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 4871 km² area a game reserve. Thanks to his foresight, we now have one of the world's most famous game reserves. The diversity of the reserve is exceptional. For instance, the pristine wilderness consists of lakes, swamps, acacia forests and savannah.
This diversity supports an incredibly broad spectrum of wildlife, ranging from large herds of buffalo, wildebeest and zebra, to the rare sitatunga and lechwe antelope and lions, cheetahs and packs of wild dogs in the open grasslands. The bird life is very rich and includes most of the 550 bird species listed on Botswana's national bird list. A series of luxury lodges in the reserve offer visitors the perfect base to experience this paradise.

Located in the middle of the largest expanse of sand on earth, the Okavango Delta is one of Africa's most amazing and complex environments that is home to a huge 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 species. The Okavango Delta offers a number of activities for visitors including; safari, bird watching and fishing. One can experience this magical world of islands and waterways from land, from the water or from the air.
Highlights include the elusive Sitatunga antelope that have found refuge in this pristine wetland ecosystem, while birds such as the African fish eagle, fur fish owl and many others make for a spectacular display.

Maun is the starting point for most expeditions in the Okavango Delta and, as a result, it has developed into a bustling metropolis considered the tourism capital of Botswana.
Since its foundation in 1915 as the tribal capital of the Batawana people, Maun has had a reputation ala "Wild West" town. Yet this changed with the growth of the tourism industry and the completion of an asphalt road to Nata in the early 1990s. Maun developed rapidly and lost much of its old town character. About 30,000 people live there today.
The name Maun is derived from the San word "maung", meaning "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 the Chobe National Park Botswana lies a dynamic wilderness, an expanse of savannah brood taken over by some rocky outcrops that guard a relic swamp and the dry channel that was once its lifeline. This is Savute, where mysterious wet and dry cycles shape the landscape and define the nature of its wild inhabitants. Right now it is dry, and wild dogs hunt in the channel, where crocodiles swam only 20 years ago.
The Gubatsa Hills shelter leopard and klipspringer and rock paintings of wildlife sightings early man. During the dry winter months safari concentrates on Savute's resident bull elephant, antelope and lion is proud, and black-backed jackal, fox, tsessebe and kudu, abound.
The summer rains provide a feast for lion, hyena and cheetah as thousands of migrating zebra and wildebeest assemble in a chaotic pattern on the swamp. Cape buffalo herds 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.