Regions—Botswana

With an area of 581,730 square kilometres, Botswana is virtually the same size as France, Kenya or Texas. Situated in the centre of Southern Africa, it is a landlocked country, with Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe as its immediate neighbours. Botswana lies an average of 950 metres above sea level and is more than 600 kilometres from the nearest coast. The Tropic of Capricorn bisects Botswana. The three main areas/reserves of Botswana are Linyanti, Okavango Delta and Kalahari - Makgadikgadi.

The most striking features of the country are its flatness and aridity. With the exception of the eastern part of Botswana where the great majority of Batswana live and where the summer rainfall is slightly higher, three quarters of Botswana is technically a desert. This is what makes the Okavango Delta even more remarkable. It is a wonderful wetland within a desert, getting its waters from rainfalling in central Africa, 1000 km away.

Botswana is one of Africa's success stories. Prior to independence in 1966, it was one of the world's poorest countries. When we started to work in Botswana in the 1970s, very few people who lived outside Botswana had even heard of the Okavango. In those early days East Africa was "king" of the safari circuit. Botswana was undiscovered and was only visited by a few hardy adventurers. But things were to change! East Africa lost its gloss in the eyes of the discerning traveller as it overcrowded its parks. South Africa became a "normal" country with Nelson Mandela's release, and the whole Southern African sub~ continent became a desirable region to explore!

Within Botswana, there were big changes, too. Diamonds were discovered in the Kalahari shortly after independence and this kick~ started the economy. Sir Seretse Khama was the country's first post~ independence president. He was a wonderful leader and one of the most pragmatic and far~thinking presidents any country could ever hope for. Seretse laid the foundations and the platforms that Botswana needed to propel itself forward. Democracy has never been compromised and the economy has been booming. On the wildlife front, Seretse's son, Ian, is one of the country's unsung conservation heroes. When he became head of the military, he positioned his troops to secure Botswana's borders from poachers. The game concentrations within the country multiplied overnight. Many people owe their jobs and careers to his actions.

The country abandoned mass tourism and focused on high quality / low volume tourism. The country's leaders took the view that high quality / low volume tourism was the best way to create a sustainable industry that would employ a large percentage of its people, while still preserving the environment. Today wildlife and tourism employs about 45% of all the people who live in northern Botswana.

The country has remained focused on delivering the finest possible, authentic wildlife experience. This is accomplished through one of Africa's most sensible land plans ever devised. Much of the country's best wildlife land is outside the parks! This land has been resurveyed over the past 10 years and has been divided into massive private reserves that are leased out to safari companies or to rural communities. Well over 30% of the country has now been set aside for wildlife. The safari companies have to manage their operations within strict guidelines and with very strict carrying capacities to prevent overcrowding. These companies have to train and employ local people ~ and they have to pay large amounts to the communities or the Government for the privilege of being there. Communities are now being brought into the mainstream of the wildlife industry.

While most of the country's best wildlife experiences are in these private reserves (or concessions, as they are known locally), the country still has areas for the general public to visit. These are not the areas to which you should be travelling to find the best private wildlife experience. The safari camps that Wilderness Safaris recommends in this brochure are all in the private reserves.

INFORMATION FOR THE VISITOR TO BOTSWANA

CLIMATE

CREDIT CARDS
Visa and MasterCard are usually accepted throughout Botswana but American Express and Diners Club are often not accepted.

CURRENCY
Botswana banks will only accept US Dollars, Pound Sterling, Euro and South African Rand cash.  Therefore, any cash payments to camps for curios, or gratuities to guides or staff, need to be in one of these currencies.  Travellers' cheques in any of the above currencies are also acceptable.

DRINKS POLICY
All Wilderness Safaris' managed camps in Botswana have
all local drinks included. Drinks in other operators' camps may be included or excluded. Please refer to your itinerary for specific details.

DUTY FREE
There is no duty free shopping available at Johannesburg International Airport on a flight to Botswana.  Please make sure any duty free purchases of camera film, alcohol, etc. are made before arriving in southern Africa.

EXCESS BAGGAGE
The most common mode of transport in Botswana is by light aircraft and usually on a seat-in-plane shared basis. If you have to bring more baggage with you, we can "sell" you and your party an extra seat on most safaris. This will allow you to bring an additional 70 kg (154 lbs). The cost of this extra seat varies - depending on your safari - but should cost in the region of US$140 per flight.

On arrival in either Maun or Kasane, you also have the option of sending your excess baggage ahead at an additional cost of US$100 per person.  If the safari begins in Maun, the excess baggage will be forwarded to Kasane and stored.  If starting in Kasane, the excess baggage will be forwarded to Maun for storage.  You can then collect this excess baggage at the end of your Botswana safari.  We would prefer to know in advance if this service will be needed so that arrangements can be made and the transfer can be handled smoothly.

Alternatively, should you be starting and ending your safari in Maun, and do not require the excess luggage to accompany you on your safari, we can store this for you at our office in Maun at no extra charge.

Wilderness Safaris and its staff will not accept responsibility for luggage kept in our office on your behalf. We do not anticipate any problems with stored luggage being damaged or stolen, but you must please ensure that you are in possession of full travel insurance including the luggage cover.

LAUNDRY
Laundry can be done at most camps. This service is complimentary at Wilderness Safaris' managed camps but there may be a nominal charge at other establishments. The camp staff will not wash underwear, due to prevailing local traditions in the country.

POWER AT CAMPS
All our camps are situated in remote areas and we have to generate our own electricity. We do so in a number of ways. Each camp has a generator that runs for about 6 hours per day (3 hours in the morning and 3 in the afternoon when guests are out on activities). These generators then charge batteries located at each tented room, which provide good 12v lights all night (if used sensibly).

There are no 220v or 110v power points in camp. If you need to have your video battery re-charged we can do so while you are out on an activity. Therefore, please bring a spare battery for use while the other is being charged. These systems are simple but perfectly functional.

Electrical plug outlets are not available in the Wilderness Safaris camp tented rooms and therefore it is not possible to use such appliances such as hairdryers or electric shavers during your stay there.

RECOMMENDED READING (in no particular order)
a) This is Botswana - Daryl Balfour
b) Botswana: A Brush with the Wild - Paul Augustinus.
c) Newman's Birds of Southern Africa and Common Birds of Botswana - Ken Newman.
d) Botswana Tourist Map & Guide - Veronica Roodt

IEveryone must bring his or her own pair of BINOCULARS in order to get the most out of the safaris