Lonely Planet named their top 10 destinations for 2016. At the top of the list is Botswana. This “must see” country has a lot to offer its travelers.
What To See And Do
Botswana has some of the greatest wildlife in the world. It’s an excellent place to go on safari. Visitors often see elephants, antelopes and lions. About 1/5 of the country is composed of wildlife parks. Popular places to visit include:
- Chobe National Park- Here visitors can see zebras, elephants and lions
- Okavango Delta- Located in Kalahari, a wide variety of animals can be found here thanks to the swamp and water channels
- Tsodilo Hills- The continent’s largest collections of rock art can be found here
- Xai-Xai and D’Kar- These villages feature locals that perform rituals specifically for tourists
- The Khama Rhino Sanctuary- This sanctuary houses 8,585 hectares of black and white rhinos, 230 species of birds and more than 30 other types of animal
Shopping And Nightlife
Botswana is not known for its nightlife. If you are looking to go out, your best bet would probably be Gaborone. While there isn’t a lot to do, there are several bars and restaurants with a few of them having live music on the weekends. When it comes to shopping, you may be pleased to find a whole host of unique things to buy. From homemade jewelry to woodcarvings, there are quite a few vendors and mom and pop type stores located throughout the country. Many of these places may even bargain a little with you so you will probably get a good price on whatever it is that you choose to buy.
Accommodations
There are quite a few different types of accommodations in Botswana. Many of them are located close to the larger cities and are usually never booked to capacity. Tourists can generally get a room for around $50 a night. There are also game lodges located near the wilderness areas. However, these do tend to fill up fast and will need to be booked well in advance.
Getting Around
It’s fairly easy to get around in Botswana. The roads are paved and usually maintained well. The only thing that visitors need to be cautious of are the stray wildlife that may try to cross the road. There is also decent public transportation. Taxis are available in most cities and are known to be safe and offer a decent rate. The biggest bus company, Seabalo, can generally be found in larger cities.
Botswana is a great place to go for those looking for an adventure or to see a variety of wildlife. We offer a variety of tours throughout the country.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published with 2016 information. Tour programs, pricing, and departure dates are updated annually by tour operators. Contact Atlas Travel Center for current 2026 availability and pricing — our advisors have the latest information from all major tour operators and can help you book with confidence. In business since 1987, CLIA-certified, A+ BBB rated.
