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:: Special Interests
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Botswana |
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Chobe National Park |
Chobe covers an area of 11,646 km2 and is world renowned for
the magnificent array of wildlife contained within its borders.
The elephant population alone has been estimated at between
40,000 and 60,000 individuals!
A wide range of distinctive habitat areas are represented
within the National Park providing a fascinating variety of
experiences. The lush, almost tropical Linyanti swamps are
found in the northwest of the Park while the unpredictable,
harsh and beautiful Savuti channel and marsh are located in
the southwest. The rich floodplains of the northeast run along
the banks of the meandering Chobe river which forms the northern
boundary of the Park. The remainder of Chobe is arid and hot,
underlain by Kalahari sands.
The Chobe River originates in the Angolan highlands where
it begins life as the Kwando River. Before becoming the Chobe,
the water course changes its name twice to the Linyanti and
then the Itenge. The vegetation changes dramatically throughout
the Park, the compacted clay soils along the river front being
dominated by Mopane trees while acacia species appear further
inland. The land is much drier and more open than the Okavango
area with wide plains and sand ridges.
The profusion of palatable grass species attracts an impressive
variety of herbivores including the ever present elephant,
giraffe, wildebeest, massive herds of buffalo, impala, kudu,
waterbuck, tsessebe, steenbok and warthog. Chobe is also one
of the few places on earth where you will find the rare Puku
antelope. Similar in size and colour to the lechwe, they are
never far from water and are only found in Chobe and a few
areas of Zambia. The Chobe bush-buck is another endemic species.
Chobe is also home to lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena
and jackal as well as smaller species such as genet, serval
and bat-eared fox. In addition the range of habitat from open
water and floodplain to savanna and woodland means that the
bird life is amazing. Several species of eagle, owl and vulture
are present as well as oxpeckers, francolins, hornbills, woodpeckers,
plovers and many more.
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Botswana |
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The Kalahari Desert |
The Kalahari Desert covers the entire western and central
regions of Botswana and stretches into Namibia and South Africa.
With an average annual rainfall of 250mm, it is not a true
desert but rather a "thirst-land" with grasses and
scrub vegetation prevailing. Despite the lack of surface water,
the area supports a great variety of plants, animals and birds
and many of these species have developed fascinating adaptations
to their harsh environment. Because of its remote and arid
nature, the Kalahari is difficult to access and human interference
continues to be minimal, the area is therefore extremely important
for conservation.
The best time to visit the Kalahari is between December and
April when the rains bring the area to life and the harsh
plains are transformed into swathes of lush grassland.
Two distinct conservation areas exist within the Kalahari;
the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in central Botswana and
the Kgalagadi Trans-Frontier Park in the south west of the
country.
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve covers a vast area of 52,800km2
(the approximate size of Holland and Belgium combined) and
was originally established in order to provide protection
for the San bushmen who still live in increasingly small and
remote communities within the reserve. The landscape is predominantly
sand with dry fossil valleys, dune fields and grassy plains.
The Reserve itself is one of the largest in Africa, and the
second largest protected area in the world.
Pans such as Deception Dry Valley, Piper Pans and Sunday
Pans fill with water during the rainy season and attract great
numbers of giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, gemsbok, springbok,
eland, cheetah, lion, leopard and wild dog. In addition to
these larger species, the area is home to many smaller animals
such as spring hare, suricate (meerkat) and bat eared fox.
The Kgalagadi Trans-Frontier Park was established in 1999
and incorporates the previous Gemsbok National Park of Botswana
and the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park of South Africa. The
Park now covers an area of just under 38,000km2 and is managed
as a single ecological unit with the co-operation of both
Botswana and South Africa. Rolling grasslands and pastel coloured
sand dunes provide the backdrop for a range of species including
hartebeest, eland, springbok, gemsbok, leopard, lion, cheetah
and the rare brown hyena. The Park is also a haven for thousands
of birds, more than fifty raptor species occur here. Infrastructure
is extremely basic at present with camping sites being the
only form of accommodation.
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Botswana |
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The Makgadikgadi Salt Pans |
These magnificent, vast salt pans are located in northern
central Botswana and cover a total area of over 12,000km2.
They are ancient remnants of a vast super lake which used
to cover over 60,000km2 and was up to 50m deep in some places.
This lake once stretched from the Makgadikgadi system north-westwards
and incorporated the Delta as well as the Savuti region of
Chobe. Tectonic shifts eventually reduced the flow of water
into the area from the northern rivers and caused the lake
to dry up. Today evidence of the lake can be seen in the form
of smooth, wave shaped boulders and fossil beaches.
The pan system is made up of several separate pans, the major
ones being Ntwetwe, Nxai and Sowa Pans. The Makgadikgadi and
Nxai Pan National Park was formed in 1993 by combining the
Nxai National Park and the Makgadikgadi Pans Game Reserve.
It now covers an area of 7,500km2 within this system. The
Park is unfenced, therefore allowing unhindered migration
routes for the many species which are found here.
Makgadikgadi literally means "vast, open, lifeless land"
and although it is far from lifeless, the area is certainly
vast and open and is believed to be the largest salt pan of
its kind in the world.The landscape is characterised by anendless
horizon of flat, salt pan stretching into the distance, surrounded
on the extreme fringes by low scrub. When the rains arrive
in November or December, the pans are transformed by a vast,
shallow layer of water which attracts thousands of water birds,
herds of grazing herbivores and many carnivores.
Undoubtedly the most spectacular of the bird species are
the greater and lesser flamingos which congregate on the pans
to breed each rainy season. The pans are the second largest
breeding site in Africa, and most of the birds migrate from
Etosha National Park in Namibia or even from as far as East
Africa.
Nxai Pan differs from Makgadikgadi in that the wide, open
plains are covered in lush, sweet grassland interspersed with
"islands" of trees. The grasses provide sustenance
for a wide range of herbivores including huge herds of zebra
as well as wildebeest, red hartebeest, impala, springbok,
eland and giraffe. Associated predators such as lion, leopard,
hyena and cheetah follow the migration and add their presence
to a spectacular wildlife experience. The bird life in this
area is equally breathtaking with around 250 species present.
Among these species is the 30kg Kori Bustard, the worlds'
heaviest flying bird.
Sowa Pan is located to the east of Makgadikgadi, Sowa being
the bushman word for salt. This Pan is also an important site
for breeding flamingos, as well as attracting many other species
during the winter months such as bee-eaters, kites and eagles.
The Nata Sanctuary is a private reserve that was established
to protect the bird life of this area and covers 230km2. Kubu
(hippo in the Setswana language) Island is located on the
western side of Sowa Pan and is a granite outcrop rising 20m
above the clay and sand surface. Evidence of wave action from
the bygone era of the super lake can be seen on the north-eastern
side, and the fossil beaches, stunted baobab trees and mysterious
stone walls combine to create an enigmatic atmosphere.
Another famous landmark in the Makgadikgadi area are the
seven "Baines baobabs", named after Thomas Baines
who first immortalised them in his painting of 1862. They
are positioned on a small rise and create a fascinating interruption
to the endless horizon. They have changed very little since
Baines' painting and appear strangely timeless. Many of the
majestic Baobab trees in the area have the signatures of explorers
from past ages carved into their trunks, and act as unwitting
archives of Botswana's pioneer history.
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Botswana |
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The Moremi Game Reserve |
Moremi Game Reserve covers 4,610km2 of the Okavango Delta
and was the first wildlife area to be set aside by tribal
people rather than colonial powers. Moremi extends east and
northwards to join Chobe National Park, ensuring a continuous
area of protected land all the way to Kasane. Because Moremi
reserve and Chobe National park are not fenced, animals are
able to follow their own migration routes without interference,
and use of the land adjacent to the officially protected areas
is also carefully controlled.
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Botswana |
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The Okavango Delta |
Probably the best known area of Botswana is the Okavango Delta.
This area is one of the world's largest inland water systems,
a unique oasis of life in the centre of the Kalahari desert.
It stretches over 15,000km2 and supports a staggering variety
of animal, plant and bird life. The water is once thought
to have reached the sea, but this is no longer the case. After
a series of tectonic uplifts and earthquakes running along
geological fault lines, the land at the edge of the Delta
now lies lower than that of the surrounding area.
There are two fairly distinct areas of the Delta - the permanent
swamp which is inundated with water all year round, and the
seasonal swamp which is flooded annually and dries gradually
with the onset of summer in October. The wildlife in the Delta
is rich and varied. Many of the larger herbivores are present
and include elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo and antelope
species as well as numerous smaller animals. The carnivore
populations are healthy and widespread including lion, leopard,
cheetah, wild dog, spotted hyena, crocodile and jackal. In
addition to the animal populations, the Delta is home to a
staggering variety of birds; some 450 species exist within
Northern Botswana. The most exciting aspect of encountering
this wildlife is that the populations have never been imported
or controlled in any way, and the large, protected areas are
not fenced. Therefore Botswana is one of the last remaining
areas where you are able to witness the complex interactions
of a truly natural environment.
Of the many lodges within the Delta, most are small and intimate.
Access to the Delta is generally by light aircraft into one
of the many airstrips attached to private safari lodges. Mobile
safaris operate out of Maun and Kasane and combine game viewing
with nights spent in luxury lodges or private camp sites.
It is also possible to hire a 4x4 vehicle and drive through
Moremi and Chobe stopping at the four municipal campsites,
although organised safaris are by far the easiest way to view
the area. On many of the private concession areas located
in the heart of the Delta, outside the Game Reserve, it is
possible to take part in organized walking activities from
a lodge base. These are by no means strenuous but usually
take around 3-4 hours and are included as part of the activity
packages of many lodges. The opportunity to see wildlife at
relatively close quarters on foot is one of the most exhilarating
parts of any African holiday, and the knowledgeable and experienced
guides ensure a thoroughly safe experience!
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Botswana |
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Tsodilo Hills |
 Tsodilo boasts the greatest concentration of San rock paintings in the world. Located in the extreme northwest of Botswana, the site consists of four quartzite hills rising 400m out of the surrounding landscape. Revered by the
San people as the resting place of their spirits, there are more than 3,500 paintings covering the rock faces of the hills which are known as "male, female, child and unborn" by the San. Archaeological discoveries from the area have provided evidence of continuous human occupation for the last 80-100,000 years. Most of the paintings depict animals in symbolic hunting designs.
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Botswana |
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The Tuli Block |
 A 350km² area of land in the southeastern region of Botswana, the Tuli Block was originally ceded to Cecil Rhodes in the 1890's to facilitate the construction of the Cape to Cairo railway. After some time the construction came to a standstill due to the rocky and inhospitable nature of the land, and the railway was built elsewhere.
Subsequently, the Tuli Block was given to farmers who also discovered that the terrain was unsuitable for cattle or agriculture. In the end the area was dedicated to game conservation and today many visitors enjoy the private game reserves here which offer beautiful scenery of lush woodlands, rocky sandstone outcrops, rivers and gorges. The larger reserves include Mashatu (the largest private reserve in Southern Africa) and Tuli Nature Reserve.
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