What to do in Botswana

Join your all-seeing guide as you learn to follow the scent of trampled grasses and tracks imprinted into the earth on a captivating bush walk. Leaving camp in the coolness of the morning, there's no better way to take a deeper look at this microcosm of nature. Eye out in-the-process birds nests and spot their brightly coloured builders - don't miss the flight of a lilac breasted roller, watch the scuttle of a beetle amongst the bark of a Marula tree and learn how to follow the hoofprints of a warthog who may just burst out of its burrow. You could even spy an African painted dog scampering across the sand! As you explore the Delta on foot, cast your eyes to the shimmering tributaries where kingfishers may erupt from the lush banks to dive for a fish and red lechwe splashing through the water. Get a taste of the Delta wilderness on this short but sweet walk.

Travel the tranquil waterways and lagoons of the sprawling Okavango Delta in style with a boat safari. Leave the jetty as your guide weaves past tall pockets of papyrus where jewel-bright kingfishers wait to speed after a fish and banks where the wildest of creatures stop to quench their thirst - think lions, elephant and red lechwe alike. Hear the legends of the Delta and learn all about its four-legged residents from your knowledgeable skipper. Faster and more comfortable than a mokoro, exploring the Delta by boat is always a winning choice, especially in the dry season (July to October). Enjoy the delightful views in the early morning or in the golden hours before sunset when you'll finish with feet-in-the-water sundowners.

We don't doubt you've heard of the Great Wildebeest Migration, but what about Botswana's Zebra Migration? Leave your lodge at the hornbill's call to follow the hoof prints of these striped beauties as they walk the route carved out over thousands of years. On their circular pilgrimage from North to South, they make a pitstop on the sun-cracked Makgadikgadi Pans as the rains bring sweet green shoots for them to eat. Here, they remain from December until March, filling the arid pans with a flurry of activity for you to marvel at. And Makgadikgadi's vastness makes it easy to track and spot the zebra. The big cats follow hot on their heels, so be ready for some full-throttle predator versus prey!

When planning your Central Okavango safari, there's sure to be one word on your lips, 'mokoro'. Many lodges offer a scenic ride on these traditional dugout canoes, where you'll depart in the early morning or late afternoon to traverse the liquid passageways with your guide at the helm. No one knows the Delta better! Take this time away from the rumble of a 4x4 to spot the smaller creatures of the Delta, from tiny, emerald frogs clinging to the reeds and vivid birdlife flitting between the papyrus. You'll also navigate round wallowing hippos and see members of the Big Five drinking on the banks. A true fluke of nature, the dry season months of July to October are when the Delta is at its fullest.

You'll see Khwai like never before as you take to the skies in a helicopter. Rise over the endless patchwork of forests, tranquil channels and its great river, where you'll have the clearest views of the scene. You'll be able to spot herds of ambling elephant and fleets of buffalo, while pods of hippo emerge from the water like boulders come to life. For those keen-eyed photographers, the doors can be removed for the ultimate snap from the top.

Leave your lodge in the soft morning light or as the heat of the day subsides to sail down the shimmering Linyanti waterways. Gently pass the wading pods of hippo and the sharp-eyed crocodile as your guide leads you on a scenic boat cruise. Spy massive herds of elephant and buffalo, and big cats who leave their shady turf for a drink, African painted dog panting after a chase and birdlife galore. This is the perfect time to whip your camera out! Clink your glasses before returning to the jetty - and spotting all the wildlife you can on the way.

The already lunar-like landscape of the Central Kalahari is the perfect spot to turn your gaze skywards. Leave camp under an inky sky to join an astronomy expert on an evening of star gazing. Dubbed one of the darkest places on the planet, the Kalahari has a glorious view of the star-spangled sky. Hear all about the legends of the constellations and spot the Big Five of the Southern Hemisphere. These include the most dazzling formations from each type of deep-sky class, from nebulas to galaxies! You'll find the clearest nights between April and October when stargazing is out of this world. Return to base for a warming cuppa by the fire!

Join your all-seeing guide as you learn to follow the scent of trampled grasses and tracks imprinted into the earth on a captivating bush walk. Leaving camp in the coolness of the morning, there's no better way to take a deeper look at this microcosm of nature. Eye out in-the-process birds nests and spot their brightly coloured builders - don't miss the flight of a lilac breasted roller, watch the scuttle of a beetle amongst the bark of a Marula tree and learn how to follow the hoofprints of a warthog who may just burst out of its burrow. You could even spy an African painted dog scampering across the sand! As you explore Moremi and its islands on foot, cast your eyes to the shimmering tributaries where kingfishers may erupt from the lush banks to dive for a fish and red lechwe splashing through the water. Get a taste of the Delta wilderness on this short but sweet walk.

You'll see the Okavango Delta like never before as you take to the skies in a helicopter. Rise over the endless patchwork of lagoons, islands and water-logged channels, where you'll have the clearest views of the Delta's most untouched islands. You'll be able to spot herds of ambling elephant and fleets of red lechwe as they canter through the reeds, while pods of hippo emerge from the water like boulders come to life. For those keen-eyed photographers, the doors can be removed for the ultimate snap from the top.

Join your all-seeing guide as you learn to follow the scent of trampled grasses and tracks imprinted into the earth on a captivating bush walk. Leaving camp in the coolness of the morning, there's no better way to take a deeper look at this microcosm of nature. Eye out in-the-process birds nests and spot their brightly coloured builders - don't miss the flight of a lilac breasted roller, watch the scuttle of a beetle amongst the bark of a Marula tree and learn how to follow the hoofprints of a warthog who may just burst out of its burrow. You could even spy an African painted dog scampering across the sand! As you explore the Delta on foot, cast your eyes to the shimmering tributaries where kingfishers may erupt from the lush banks to dive for a fish and red lechwe splashing through the water. Get a taste of the Delta wilderness on this short but sweet walk.

Your knowledgable guide will lead you across the sun-cracked Makgadikgadi Pans to Kubu Island. While it may not be surrounded by water (though it once was in the middle of a lake), the island is a rugged outcrop where mammoth baobabs shoot up from the landscape. Enjoy a walk beneath the towering limbs of these upside-down trees, which feel as ancient as the desert itself. A solitary pocket of life amongst vast salt pans, Kubu Island also holds a long history where artefacts have been uncovered from the early Stone Age. Cameras at the ready!

You'll see the Central Okavango like never before as you take to the skies in a helicopter. Rise over the endless patchwork of lagoons, islands and water-logged channels, where you'll have the clearest views of the Delta's most untouched islands. You'll be able to spot herds of ambling elephant and fleets of red lechwe as they canter through the reeds, while pods of hippo emerge from the water like boulders come to life. For those keen-eyed photographers, the doors can be removed for the ultimate snap from the top.

Join your all-seeing guide as you learn to follow the scent of trampled grasses and tracks imprinted into the earth on a captivating bush walk. Leaving camp in the coolness of the morning, there's no better way to take a deeper look at this microcosm of nature. Eye out in-the-process birds nests and spot their brightly coloured builders - don't miss the flight of a lilac breasted roller, watch the scuttle of a beetle amongst the bark of a Marula tree and learn how to follow the hoofprints of a warthog who may just burst out of its burrow. You could even spy an African painted dog scampering across the sand! As you explore Khwai on foot, cast your eyes to the shimmering tributaries where kingfishers may erupt from the lush banks to dive for a fish and elephant splashing through the water. Get a taste of the Delta wilderness on this short but sweet walk.

Join your all-seeing guide as you learn to follow the scent of trampled grasses and tracks imprinted into the earth on a captivating bush walk. Leaving camp in the coolness of the morning, there's no better way to take a deeper look at this microcosm of nature. Eye out in-the-process birds nests and spot their brightly coloured builders - don't miss the flight of a lilac breasted roller, watch the scuttle of a beetle amongst the bark of a Marula tree and learn how to follow the hoof prints of a warthog who may just burst out of its burrow. You could even spy an African painted dog scampering across the sand! As you explore the Linyanti on foot, cast your eyes to the shimmering tributaries where kingfishers may erupt from the lush banks to dive for a fish and red lechwe splashing through the water. Get a taste of the Linyanti wilderness on this short but sweet walk.

Strap on your safari boots for a bush walk to remember! In the sun-drenched Central Kalahari, you'll join a bush-wise guide on a intimate walk through nature where the tiniest details come into focus. Spot the scuttling Milkwood leaf beetle with its technicoloured coat, find hidden burrows of animals big and small, and learn to find tracks amongst the golden grass. Your guide doesn't miss a beat and without the hum of a 4x4 to distract, you'll have the chance to lean in close. The grasses aren't as high between May and September, which makes it the best time for a bush walk.

You'll see the Okavango Delta like never before as you take to the skies in a helicopter. Rise over the endless patchwork of lagoons, islands and water-logged channels, where you'll have the clearest views of Moremi's most untouched islands. You'll be able to spot herds of ambling elephant and fleets of red lechwe as they canter through the reeds, while pods of hippo emerge from the water like boulders come to life. For those keen-eyed photographers, the doors can be removed for the ultimate snap from the top.

You'll see the Okavango Delta like never before as you take to the skies in a helicopter. Rise over the endless patchwork of lagoons, islands and water-logged channels, where you'll have the clearest views of the Delta's most untouched islands. You'll be able to spot herds of ambling elephant and fleets of red lechwe as they canter through the reeds, while pods of hippo emerge from the water like boulders come to life. For those keen-eyed photographers, the doors can be removed for the ultimate snap from the top.

Join your all-seeing guide as you learn to follow the scent of trampled grasses and tracks imprinted into the earth on a captivating bush walk. Leaving camp in the coolness of the morning, there's no better way to take a deeper look at this microcosm of nature. Eye out in-the-process birds nests and spot their brightly coloured builders - don't miss the flight of a lilac breasted roller, watch the scuttle of a beetle amongst the bark of a Marula tree and learn how to follow the hoofprints of a warthog who may just burst out of its burrow. You could even spy an African painted dog scampering across the sand! As you explore the islands and floodplains on foot, cast your eyes to the shimmering tributaries where kingfishers may erupt from the lush banks to dive for a fish and red lechwe splashing through the water. Get a taste of the Delta wilderness on this short but sweet walk.

Depart from camp under a clear, star-spangled sky for a sultry night drive. Your knowledgable guide will lead you with an infrared light (that doesn't disturb the wildlife), which picks up the glow of eyes peering out from behind trees. In the piercing quiet of the African evening, listen for the crack of a twig or growl of a big cat on the hunt. There is a cast of creatures you wouldn't see during the day including the cartoonish bush baby, shy serval and ultra rare pangolin (if you're really lucky!). Return to camp for a warming drink before bed.

Depart from camp under a clear, star-spangled sky for a sultry night drive. Your knowledgable guide will lead you with an infrared light (that doesn't disturb the wildlife), which picks up the glow of eyes peering out from behind trees. In the piercing quiet of the African evening, listen for the crack of a twig or growl of a big cat on the hunt. There is a cast of creatures you wouldn't see during the day including the shaggy brown hyena, shy serval and feisty honey badger (if you're really lucky!). Return to camp for a warming drink before bed.

​Close your eyes and picture yourself cantering alongside a loping herd of giraffe while the reddening sun sinks behind the tall palms, casting a reflection across the flooded plains of the Central Okavango. On jeep safaris, the engine's hum creates an inevitable disconnect from the wildlife. However, approach the animals by horse (lead by your seasoned guide) and you become part of the scenery as they go about their business undisturbed, giving you unrivalled insight into their habits. Sit back in your saddle, allow the bathing elephants, splashing herds of lumbering buffalo, and nonchalantly grazing antelope to mesmerise you.​