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🇧🇼Things to Do in Botswana
From mokoro rides through the Okavango Delta to elephant herds in Chobe National Park - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Botswana built its tourism industry around a deliberate 'low volume, high value' model - fewer visitors, higher permit and lodge costs - which has kept the Okavango Delta's flooded channels and Chobe's massive elephant herds considerably less crowded than comparable safari destinations elsewhere in Africa. Here are 5 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Okavango Delta
A vast inland river delta that never reaches the sea, instead flooding seasonally into the Kalahari - explored by mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) as much as by vehicle, a genuinely different safari experience.
📍 Okavango Delta, North-West District
🚉 The delta has no roads: light aircraft from Maun fly to the camp airstrips in 15 to 30 minutes, and mokoro canoes then cover the water channels - a day trip from Maun by 4x4 reaches only the eastern edge.
Chobe National Park
Home to one of the largest concentrations of elephants in Africa, with river safaris along the Chobe River offering close sightings of elephants, hippos and crocodiles from the water.
📍 Chobe National Park, near Kasane
🚉 Kasane is the gateway town, with an airport and a road link from Victoria Falls 80km away; game drives and river cruises leave from the lodges, and a 4x4 is needed inside the park.
Kalahari Desert
A semi-arid savanna covering much of Botswana, home to San (Bushmen) communities with some of the longest continuous cultural traditions in the world, visitable through guided cultural tours.
📍 Central Kalahari Game Reserve
🚉 The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is entered from Rakops or Ghanzi on sand tracks that require a fully equipped 4x4 convoy - there is no fuel, water or phone signal inside, and bookings are made in advance.
Makgadikgadi Pans
One of the largest salt flat systems in the world, hosting a significant zebra migration in the wet season and quad-biking or walking safaris with meerkats in the dry season.
📍 Makgadikgadi Pans, Central District
🚉 The pans are reached from Gweta or Nata on the Maun-Francistown road, where lodges run quad-bike and meerkat trips; driving onto the salt alone is dangerous after rain and is best not attempted.
Moremi Game Reserve
Part of the Okavango Delta ecosystem, regularly cited as one of the most beautiful reserves in Africa, with a mix of dry savanna and permanent wetland supporting an unusually wide range of species in one park.
📍 Moremi Game Reserve, Okavango Delta
🚉 Moremi is entered by 4x4 from Maun via South Gate, three to four hours on deep sand, or by air to Xakanaxa - self-drivers must be fully self-sufficient and book campsites months ahead.
Mark Botswana, get the stamp
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Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Botswana?
A week suits the Okavango Delta plus Chobe National Park well, typically connected by a small-plane transfer given the remote lodge locations.
What's the best time to visit Botswana?
May-September (dry season) is best for wildlife viewing as animals concentrate around the Delta's remaining water. The Delta itself is often at its fullest, most photogenic flood stage around June-August.
Is Botswana good for a first-time visit?
Yes, though almost entirely through organized safari lodges given the country's low-volume tourism model and remote logistics - independent self-driving is possible but far less common for a first visit.
Do I need a visa to visit Botswana?
Many nationalities, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and most of the EU, can visit visa-free for short tourist stays. Check the official visa information for your nationality: gov.bw.
What are some things to do in Botswana on a tight budget?
Botswana's high-value tourism model keeps overall costs elevated compared to some neighboring countries, but self-driving and camping in national parks like Chobe (where permitted) is considerably cheaper than a full-service lodge safari.
Can I rent a car in Botswana, and what licence do I need?
Yes, and a properly equipped 4x4 is the only vehicle worth having - most of the parks are deep sand, and a saloon car will not reach them. A foreign licence in English is valid for up to six months; otherwise carry an International Driving Permit or a certified translation. Minimum age is generally 25. Self-drive in Botswana is genuinely expedition driving: recovery gear, extra fuel, water and a satellite communicator are normal, camps must be booked long in advance, and travelling in a second vehicle is strongly advised in the Kalahari. Official visitor information is published by Botswana Tourism at botswanatourism.co.bw.