Writing about travelling in Botswana — the Okavango Delta, the Kalahari and one of the most tightly managed safari industries in Africa.
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Coming soon
Botswana articles are in progress. In the meantime the Africa journal carries safari planning, seasons and country comparisons.
- See the Africa journal
- Safari season guides
- Country comparisons
Botswana runs a deliberate low-volume, high-value tourism model, which means fewer camps, higher prices and far fewer vehicles at a sighting than neighbouring countries.
What this journal covers
Botswana runs a deliberate low-volume, high-value model — fewer camps, strict vehicle limits at sightings, and prices that reflect both. It produces some of the best game viewing in Africa with almost nobody else in the frame.
Why it costs what it does
Concession fees, fly-in access and camps capped at eight or ten tents. You are paying for the absence of other vehicles, and it shows.
Dry versus green season
June to October concentrates wildlife around water and floods the Delta. December to March brings newborn animals, dramatic skies and much lower rates.
Light aircraft limits
Transfers between camps are by small plane with strict weight limits, usually 20kg in soft bags. Hard suitcases are refused.
Book a year ahead
Peak-season camps genuinely sell out twelve months out. Fixed dates mean starting early.
Where we are going next
Botswana pairs naturally with Victoria Falls, which is a short hop from Chobe, and with Cape Town at the end for a gentler finish.
Where we are going next
Botswana writing here is aimed at travellers weighing a high-value safari against cheaper alternatives, and trying to work out what the difference actually buys. Recurring themes:
What the price includes. Concession fees, fly-in access, camps of eight or ten tents and strict vehicle limits at sightings. The absence of other vehicles is the product.
Botswana against Kenya and Tanzania. East Africa delivers the migration and greater volume of animals; Botswana delivers exclusivity and water-based safari. They are different holidays at different prices.
Green season value. December to March brings newborn animals, dramatic skies, migrant birds and rates a fraction of the peak. The trade-off is thicker vegetation and some camp closures.
Where this leads
Blog attracts, things to do informs, tours convert — in that order.