A little more
Botswana.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Botswana: what to know before you go

Botswana is a landlocked country in southern Africa, much of it covered by the Kalahari, with the Okavango Delta spreading across its north-west. It is one of Africa's great safari destinations, known for large elephant herds, low-impact tourism and wide, empty landscapes. It suits wildlife lovers, photographers and self-drive travellers with off-road experience.

Where to go

• The Okavango Delta. A vast inland delta where the Okavango river spreads into the Kalahari, creating a maze of channels, lagoons and islands.
• Moremi Game Reserve. The protected eastern part of the Okavango, with floodplains, mopane woodland and lagoons, and good chances of seeing lions, leopards, wild dogs and huge flocks of water birds.
• Chobe National Park. Famous for its elephant herds, especially along the Chobe riverfront near Kasane in the dry season.
• Makgadikgadi Pans. Huge salt pans, the remains of an ancient lake, where meerkats, brown hyenas and, in the wet season, zebra and wildebeest migrations can be seen.

Best time to visit

The dry season from May to October is the best time for game viewing, as animals gather around water and vegetation thins out; it is also when the Okavango floods are at their highest. Nights can be very cold in June and July.

Staying online in Botswana

Mobile coverage is good in Gaborone, Francistown, Maun and Kasane, and along major roads near towns. In the Okavango Delta, the Kalahari and most national parks there is little or no signal, and many safari camps have limited or no Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is available in hotels and lodges in towns. Download offline maps, tell people when you will be out of touch, install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.