Holly Hunt
At three years old on the West Coast of Ireland Holly decided she wanted to live with lions in Africa.
By 27 she had held addresses on the foothills... Read More
Botswana Travel Guide
Okavango Delta
Each year the Okavango River bursts its shores and spills into a basin of Botswana’s Kalahari desert, creating the living wetlands that are known as the Okavango Delta. Nicknamed 'the river that never finds the sea', the 11 cubic kilometres of water here eventually evaporate and soak into the ground, rather than draining into the sea. This huge influx of water attracts an incredible diversity of wildlife, which means more leopard, lion, elephant, hippo, zebra and red-lechwe for us to see. It is also home to hundreds of bird species including many which are rare, making this a bird watchers paradise.
From May to Sepetmeber when the floods are at their peak, you can explore the labyrinth of lagoons, in a dug out canoe which will take you to hidden islands for a glorious spot of solitude and wildlife spotting.
Chobe River Region
This huge area of natural savannah in northern Botswana is known for having the highest concentration of elephants in Africa. And where there are elephants, there are lions, and plenty of other big game and birds, the likes of which are on every safari-goers wish list. The river and floodplains teem with life, especially in the dry season, when herds of elephant can be found at the water’s edge.
Linyanti Wetlands & Savuti
A large stretch of African wilderness reaching from the Okavango Delta to the Linyanti River in Botswana’s lush north, the Linyanti Wetlands are made up of miles of open grassland, riverine forest and papyrus swamps. Leopard, cheetah, wild dog, lion and hyena can be spotted here among the huge herds of antelope, and hundreds of bird species gather along the river’s edge, which is a fantastic area for walking safaris through the untouched wilderness.
In 1851, David Livingstone came across Savuti on his travels and labelled it a ‘dismal swamp’. Since then, this area in the south west of Chobe National park has dried up and flooded again many times, creating a unique mix of hot, desert-like sands and lush rolling grassy plains filled with game. Large secretary birds stalk the marshes, herds of zebra cross the plains on a dramatic twice-yearly migration, and elephants gather at watering holes to wash and drink in groups. This unusual area of Botswana brings together different ecosystems, giving visitors the rare chance to witness game enjoying this extraordinary wet and dry terrain.
Moremi Game Reserve
Lying on the east side of the Okavango Delta, the Moremi game reserve is drier than other local reserves, dotted with pools and thick woodland where leopards hide. Endangered wild dogs roam the grasslands here and hundreds of antelope can be spotted from the reed-lined waterways of the Xakanaxa Lagoon. An exceptionally beautiful area, the Moremi game reserve is a highlight of any visit to Botswana.
Makgadikgadi Pans
The largest salt pans on the planet, the Makgadikgadi is a dry area of salty desert where the great Makgadikgadi Lake once stood. Covering land the size of Switzerland, the pans stretch out to the horizon with no interruptions but a few distinctive baobab trees. Underneath the thick salt crust lies muddy soil, which feeds the sparsely located plants, trees and algae. Barely any animals live here permanently, but the area is used for migrating herds of wildebeest and zebra, and the wet season attracts flamingos and pelicans. Evidence of primitive life - tools and fossils - have also been found, indicating a time when the earth here was inhabitable. Kubu island, a dry granite outcrop in the middle of the pans is an astonishing sight, and unsurprisingly, a sacred place for the Kalahari Bushmen.
Central Kalahari
Not a traditional desert, the Kalahari is semi-arid, meaning it contains trees amongst its sandy plains, attracting animals such as meerkats and antelope. Lions, giraffe, hyenas, jackals and reptiles also live here, in the shade of acacia trees and thorny shrubs, and the nomadic Kalahari Bushmen still roam the desert to this day. The ground here is mostly sandy, interspersed with clay islands which are packed with fossils, and from where the animals find enough salt to live.
Botswana Travel Information
UK Passport holders do not require a visa to visit Botswana.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip, please ensure the passport details we hold for you are correct.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa documentation when starting your trip. Country entry regulations can alter daily and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies for any changes.
If you are travelling on a non-UK passport, please contact your nearest consulate/embassy for up to date visa information.
Insurance:
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours.
You should be aware that many standard insurance policies may not cover you adequately for all aspects of a Wild Frontiers trip and so we strongly recommend that you purchase a suitably designed insurance policy.
One such policy is the "Wild Frontiers" policy underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE " firm reference 202803), which is available to EU residents (which excludes Norway & Switzerland) through our website or via the insurance company direct on 0845 345 3456. Under this policy there are two different levels of cover available.
Standard policy: a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides cover for all Wild Frontiers activities, including trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not provide cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel.
Elite policy: provides the same comprehensive level of cover as the standard policy. In addition the Elite policy also provides cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel. The policy will not provide cover for any claims arising from or relating to the reasons why the FCO is advising against travel.
If purchasing the Elite policy you also have the option to extend the cover provided by the policy to include cover for claims arising from a terrorist act in an area where the FCO is advising against travel. You can add this cover to your policy when purchasing online or over the telephone.
These policies are only available to those travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday.
For more information and to purchase your policy online please visit the Insurance section of our website.
The cover is underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE), and is arranged by Travel & General Insurance Service Limited. Both companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Wild Frontiers Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Travel & General Insurance Company plc, details of which can be found at the FSA's website www.fsa.gov.uk.
To contact them please visit their website at www.travel-general.com or call 0845 408 0583.
Health and Vaccinations:
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Botswana though you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. We recommend protection against Malaria and that you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
We also recommend:
• A dental check-up prior to travelling.
• You inform us of any pre-existing medical conditions or medication.
To be on the safe side you can also check on www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
Tour Leaders
Dhala Campbell
Named after a Yemeni fort and pass, Dhala was brought up in Scotland and spent her childhood mucking about on horses.
The travel bug started when... Read More
Tom Skipwith
As a baby being taken around India on the back of a motorbike by his travel-crazed parents, the adventure bug was firmly embedded and a nomadic soul was... Read More
